Solar battery timepiece dial plate and timepiece

• US 20060028920A1
• Filed: 07/07/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Nakanishi, Nobuhiko, Kojima, Kazuyuki
• Application Number:
  US11/175,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20060028920A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/205
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 19/12 Selection of materials for dials or graduations markings
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 10/02 the power supply being a radioactive or photovoltaic source
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/042 PV modules or arrays of single PV cells supporting structures for PV modules H02S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 10/40 Mobile PV generator systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/38 Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

The object of the present invention is to provide a solar timepiece dial having excellent light transmittance and ornamental qualities (aesthetic appearance) and to provide a timepiece that can supply a sufficient amount of external light to a solar battery and has excellent ornamental qualities. The solar timepiece dial is configured to be used in a solar timepiece provided with a solar battery and includes a substrate made of a material having a light transmissive quality, a light polarizer provided on the surface of the substrate that faces toward the solar battery and functioning to polarize incident light, and a diffusion layer that is arranged between the substrate 11 and the light polarizer 13 and made of a material containing a diffusion agent functioning to diffuse incident light. The light polarizer is configured to transmit a first light having a prescribed vibrational direction and reflect a second light having a vibrational direction that is perpendicular to the vibrational direction of the first light.

Claims

1. A solar timepiece dial for covering a solar battery, the solar timepiece dial comprising:

a plate-like substrate that is arranged closely adjacent to the solar battery and possesses a light transmissive quality;

a light polarizer that is provided between the substrate and the solar battery and functions to polarize incident light;

a diffusion layer that is arranged between the substrate and the light polarizer and contains a diffusion agent functioning to diffuse incident light.

2. The solar timepiece dial recited in claim 1, wherein letters for indicating the time are provided on the substrate.

3. The solar timepiece dial recited in claim 1, wherein the light polarizer is a reflective light polarizer configured to transmit a first light that vibrates in one direction and reflect a second light that vibrates in a direction perpendicular to the vibrational direction of the first light.

4. The solar timepiece dial recited in claim 1, wherein the light polarizer is a film comprising a plurality of layers laminated on top of one another.

5. The solar timepiece recited in claim 1, wherein the light polarizer is a film comprising alternating first and second layers, the first layers being made chiefly of polyethylene naphthalate and the second layers being made chiefly of a co-polyester of naphthalene dicarbonate and terephthalate.

6. The solar timepiece dial recited in claim 5, wherein the total number of layers making up the light polarizer is equal to or more than 2 and less than or equal to 20.

7. The solar timepiece dial recited in claim 1, wherein the light polarizer is made chiefly of a polyester resin.

8. The solar timepiece dial recited in claim 1, wherein the average thickness of the light polarizer is equal to or larger than 20 μ

m and smaller than or equal to 300 μ

m.

9. The solar timepiece dial recited in claim 1, wherein

the diffusion layer has an adhesive or bonding quality and is made chiefly of an acrylic adhesive;

and

the diffusion layer is made of silica, glass, or resin.

10. The solar timepiece dial recited in claim 1, wherein the substrate is made of a heat resistant plastic.

11. The solar timepiece dial recited in claim 1, wherein the substrate is made chiefly of polycarbonate and/or an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer.

12. The solar timepiece dial recited in claim 1, wherein the substrate is substantially white in color.

13. The solar timepiece dial recited in claim 1, wherein the light transmittance of visible light traveling from the substrate to the light polarizer is 20% or higher.

14. The solar timepiece dial recited in claim 1 wherein the substrate includes a base part and a coloring layer provided on the base part.

15. The solar timepiece dial recited in claim 14, wherein the coloring layer is made using a paint application method, a printing method, a wet plating method, or a dry plating method.

16. The solar timepiece dial recited in claim 1, wherein the substrate has the form of a curved plate.

20. The timepiece recited in claim 13, further provided with a case serving to house the drive unit, the solar battery, and the solar timepiece dial.

21. The timepiece recited in claim 15, further provided with a band that is connected to the case and configured to attach the timepiece to a user'"'"'s body.

17. A timepiece, having:

a drive unit;

a solar battery that is connected to the drive unit and configured to supply electric power to the drive unit; and

a solar timepiece dial comprising;

a plate-like substrate that is arranged closely adjacent to the solar battery and possesses a light transmissive quality;

a light polarizer that is provided between the substrate and the solar battery and functions to polarize incident light; and

a diffusion layer that is arranged between the substrate and the light polarizer and contains a diffusion agent functioning to diffuse incident light.

18. The timepiece recited in claim 17, wherein

the drive unit is configured to process time information.

19. The timepiece recited in claim 17, wherein

letters for indicating the time are provided on the solar timepiece dial;

and

the drive unit is configured to indicate the time in cooperation with the letters.