Solar battery wristwatch

• US 4,087,960 A
• Filed: 06/02/1976
• Issued: 05/09/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha
• Inventors: Koichi, Oguchi
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackmon, Edith S.
• Application Number:
  US05/692,070
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 58/23 R, 58/23 BA, 58/23 C, 58/55, 58/127 R, 136/89 AC, 136/89 TF, 361/398
• US Class Current: 368/205
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 10/02 the power supply being a radioactive or photovoltaic source
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/291 Applications

Abstract

A solar-battery wristwatch makes use of a flexible printed-circuit board for connecting the cells of the battery in series and for connecting said battery with a storage battery. The arrangement eliminates the need for connecting wires and extraneous supports in that the flexible printed-circuit board holds the solar battery against the dial plate of the watch.

Claims

1. In a solar battery wristwatch including a solar battery, a dial plate, an electronic circuit and storage battery for storing energy generated by said solar battery, the improvement comprising a flexible printed-circuit assembly mounted on said dial plate, said assembly being in the form of a thin tape-shaped strip of electrically-insulating material, said strip having two ends, and including electrically-conductive leads for making electrical contacts among said solar battery, dial plate, electronic circuit and storage battery, at least one cell in said solar battery being bonded by a lead in said strip, said strip being mounted on said dial plate of said wristwatch, both ends of said strip being connected with said electronic circuit said dial plate and printed-circuit assembly being free of openings for transit of electrically-conductive leads therethrough.

2. The improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein said solar battery is fastened to the exterior surface of said printed-circuit board.

3. The improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein said solar battery is fastened to the interior surface of said printed-circuit board.

4. The improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein said flexible circuit board is so disposed that said solar cell battery is connected to said storage battery for charging same.

5. The improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein said solar battery is of silicon.

6. The improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein the cells in said solar battery have end portions and said end portions are encased in a resin disposed for fastening said solar battery to said circuit board.

8. The improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein said printed circuit board is of a polyimide.

7. The improvement as defined in 6, wherein said end portions have electrode portions, and each of said end portions has thereon a material selected from the group consisting of gold and solder for making electrical contact between said electrode portions and said electrically-conductive leads.