Wristwatch radio communication device having an improved noise shielding structure

• US 5,265,265 A
• Filed: 02/08/1991
• Issued: 11/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Hama, Norio, Kurosawa, Shyogo
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, CHI H
• Application Number:
  US07/652,714
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 455/300, 455/301, 455/298, 455/299, 455/343, 455/347-349, 455/89, 455/90, 455/74, 455/274, 455/82, 455/100, 455/129, 455/269, 455/280, 455/344, 455/351, 455/283, 361/422, 361/424, 361/415, 340/825.44, 340/311.1
• US Class Current: 455/300
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133334 Electromagnetic shields
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/086 Portable receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03

Abstract

A portable radio communication device such as wristwatch receiver and/or transmitter is provided with an effective noise shielding structure. The portable radio communication device includes a high frequency analog circuitry for receiving and transmitting radio signals and further includes digital circuitry for data processing and display. The noise shielding structure protects high frequency noise from being transmitted to the analog circuitry from the digital circuitry and from other outside sources. The noise shielding structure is made of electrically conductive material. In another aspect of the invention, at least one circuit board constructed of a multi-layered construction having at least one inner printed wire pattern is provided. The inner printed wire pattern is set at ground potential with respect to the high frequency output from the analog circuitry. In this manner the inner printed wire pattern serves as a noise shielding member. In addition, the invention obtains effective noise shielding without increasing the size or the manufacturing cost of the device.

Claims

1. A wristwatch communication device for processing signals comprising:

a body portion;

a wristband portion for fastening around a user'"'"'s wrist and secured to said body portion;

an electrically conductive plate formed in said wristband portion to form a loop antenna for one of receiving and transmitting signals when fastened around said user'"'"'s wrist;

first circuit means accommodated in said body portion for at least one of receiving and transmitting said signals, said loop antenna being operatively coupled to said first circuit means;

second circuit means accommodated in said body portion for operating on said signals;

noise shielding means for shielding said first circuit means from said second circuit means wherein said first circuit means, said noise shielding means and said second circuit means are arranged in that order in the thickness direction of the device, so that said noise shielding means isolates said first circuit means from said second circuit means, said first circuit means being operatively coupled to said second circuit means at least in part by said noise shielding means;

first engaging means for mechanically coupling said first circuit means to said noise shielding means, including at least one first projection on one of said noise shielding means and said first circuit means and at least one first engaging hole on the other of said noise shielding means and said first circuit means for receiving a first projection; and

second engaging means for mechanically coupling said second circuit means and said noise shielding means and including at least one second projection on one of said holes shielding means and said second circuit means, and at least one second engaging hole on the other of said noise shielding means and said first circuit means for receiving a second projection.

2. The wristwatch communication device of claim 1, further including power source means for supplying power to said wristwatch communication device and operatively coupled to at least said first circuit means.

3. The wristwatch communication device of claim 1, wherein said first circuit means, said noise shielding means and said second circuit means are arranged in that order in the thickness direction of said body portion.

4. The wristwatch communication device of claim 2, further including a first circuit board and a second circuit board, said first circuit means being mounted on said first circuit board and said second circuit means being mounted on said second circuit board.

5. The wristwatch communication device of claim 1, further including display means for displaying information from said signals disposed on the opposite side of said noise shielding means from the side on which said first circuit means is located.

6. The wristwatch communication device of claim 1, wherein said noise shielding means is formed of an electrically conductive material, said noise shielding means being at an electrical potential substantially the same as that of the pole of said power source means facing said first circuit means.

7. The wristwatch communication device of claim 6, wherein said first noise shielding means includes a noise shielding portion essentially in the form of a plate.

8. The wristwatch communication device of claim 4, wherein said first and second engaging means mechanically couples said first circuit board and said second circuit board to said noise shielding means, at least one of a first projection and a first engaging hole being formed on said first circuit board and at least one of a second projection and a second engaging hole being formed on said second circuit board.

9. The wristwatch communication device of claim 7, wherein said plate of said noise shielding means includes at least one first tab portion projecting from the plate of said plate in a first direction, said at least one first engaging hole being formed therein, and at least one second tab portion projecting from the plate of said plate in a second direction, said at least one second engaging hole being formed therein, said at least one first and second tab portions being displaceable to permit first and second projections respectively on said first and second circuit means to enter said first and second engaging holes.

10. The wristwatch communication device of claim 1, wherein said first circuit means includes high frequency analog circuitry.

11. The wristwatch communication device of claim 1, wherein said second circuit means includes digital circuitry.

12. The wristwatch communication device of claim 1, wherein said noise shielding means is formed of a stainless steel core plated with a first layer of nickel and a second layer of gold.

13. The wristwatch communication device of claim 12, wherein said stainless steel is a plate having a thickness of about 0.1 to 0.3 mm.

14. The wristwatch communication device of claim 12, wherein said stainless steel plate has a thickness of about 0.15 mm.

15. The wristwatch communication device of claim 12, wherein said first layer has a thickness in the range of about 1 to 3 μ

m.

16. The wristwatch communication device of claim 12, wherein said second layer has a thickness of about 0.1 μ

m.

17. A wristwatch device for processing signals comprising:

first circuit means for at least one of receiving and transmitting said signals;

second circuit means for operating on said signals;

noise shielding means for shielding said first circuit means from said second circuit means wherein said first circuit means, said noise shielding means and said second circuit means are arranged in that order in the thickness direction of the device, so that said noise shielding means isolates said first circuit means from said second circuit means;

said first circuit means being operatively coupled to said second circuit means at least in part by said noise shielding means;

a body portion for accommodating said first circuit means, said second circuit means and said noise shielding means; and

a wristband portion secured to said body portion for fastening around a user'"'"'s wrist, said wristband portion including an electrically conductive plate integrally formed therein forming a loop antenna for at least one of receiving and transmitting radio signals when fastened around said user'"'"'s wrist;

wherein said second circuit means is positioned so as to be substantially outside said loop antenna.

18. A wristwatch radio communication device for processing signals comprising:

a body portion;

a wristband portion for fastening around a user'"'"'s wrist attached to said body portion;

a circuit assembly accommodated in said body portion;

antenna means coupled for at least one of receiving and transmitting said signals coupled to said wristband portion;

said body portion including a first casing member and a second casing member attached to said first casing member to form a hollow center for accommodating said circuit assembly, said second casing member being directed towards said user'"'"'s wrist when fastened to said user'"'"'s wrist;

said circuit assembly further including a circuit board having a multi-layered construction including at least one inner printed wire pattern, first circuit means for at least on part performing one of receiving and transmitting said signals mounted on a first surface of said circuit board directed towards said second casing member of said body portion, second circuit means for data processing disposed on a second surface of said circuit board directed toward said first casing member of said body portion and power source means having at least a first pole and a second pole for supplying power to said wristwatch radio communication device, said first and second casing members together enclosing said circuit assembly;

said second casing member being constructed of an electrically conductive material operatively coupled to at least one of said first pole and said second pole of said power source means; and

said inner printed wire pattern being operatively coupled to at least one of said first and said second pole of said power source means.

19. The wristwatch radio communication device of claim 18, wherein said first casing member of said body portion is constructed of an electrically conductive material and is electrically coupled to said second casing member.

20. The wristwatch radio communication device of claim 19, further including a first electrically conductive plate for substantially enclosing said second circuit means mounted on said second surface of said circuit board, said first electrically conductive plate and said inner printed wire pattern being operatively coupled to at least one of said first pole and said second pole of said power source means.

21. The wristwatch radio communication device of claim 20, wherein said power source means is positioned between said first surface of said circuit board and said second casing member, said first electrically conductive plate also serving as an electrode plate for one of said first pole and said second pole of said power source means directed towards said first surface of said circuit board.

22. The wristwatch radio communication device of claim 19, further including a first electrically conductive plate for substantially enclosing said second circuit means mounted on said second surface of said circuit board, said first electrically conductive plate being operatively coupled to a first pole of said power source means and said inner printed wire pattern being operatively coupled to a second pole of said power source means.

23. The wristwatch radio communication device of claim 18, wherein said first circuit means includes a high frequency analog circuitry.

24. The wristwatch radio communication device of claim 18, wherein said second circuit means includes digital circuitry.

25. The wristwatch radio communication device of claim 18, and including display mounted on said second surface of said circuit board.

26. The wristwatch radio communication device of claim 25, wherein said display means includes a liquid crystal display.

27. The wristwatch radio communication device of claim 18, wherein said antenna means includes a loop antenna provided in said wristband portion.

28. The wristwatch radio communication device of claim 18, wherein said first casing member is a front casing member and said second casing member is a rear covering member.

29. The wristwatch radio communication device of claim 27, wherein said second circuit means is positioned so as to be substantially outside said loop antenna.

30. A wristwatch radio communication device for processing signals comprising:

a body portion;

a wristband portion for fastening around a user'"'"'s wrist attached to said body portion;

a circuit assembly accommodated in said body portion;

antenna means for at least one of receiving and transmitting said signals coupled to said wristband portion;

said body portion including a first casing member and a second casing member attached to said first casing member to form a hollow center for accommodating said circuit assembly, said second casing member directed towards said user'"'"'s wrist when fastened to said user'"'"'s wrist;

said circuit assembly further including a first circuit board having a multi-layered construction with at least one inner printed wire pattern, a second circuit board having a multi-layered construction with at least one inner printed wire pattern disposed between said first circuit board and said first casing member of said body portion, first circuit means for at least one of receiving and transmitting said signals mounted on said first circuit board on the side thereof facing aid second casing member, second circuit means for data processing and display means displaying information from said signals mounted on said second circuit board on the side thereof facing away from said first circuit board, power source means having at least a first pole and a second pole for supplying power to said wristwatch radio communication device disposed between said first circuit board and said second casing member, and first electrical conductive means positioned for controlling the potential between said first circuit board and said second circuit board for providing noise shielding therebetween;

said second casing member being constructed of electrically conductive material coupled to at least one of said first pole and said second pole of said power source means;

said inner printed wire patterns of said first circuit board and said second circuit board being operatively coupled to at least one of said first pole and said second pole of said power source means; and

said first electrical conductive means being operatively coupled to at least one of said first pole and said second pole of said power source means.

31. The wristwatch radio communication device of claim 30, wherein said first casing member of said body portion constructed of an electrically conductive material and is electrically coupled to said second casing.

32. The wristwatch radio communication device of claim 30, and including display means for displaying information from said signals disposed between said second circuit board and said first casing member.

33. The wristwatch radio communication device of claim 31, further including third circuit means including digital circuitry for in part processing input and output of said first circuit means and mounted on said first circuit board on the side thereof facing said second casing member and a second electrical conductive means positioned between said second casing member and said third circuit means positioned on said first circuit board operatively, said third circuit means being substantially enclosed by said second electrical conductive means, said second electrical conductive means being operatively coupled to at least one of said first pole and said second pole of said power source means.

34. The wristwatch radio communication device of claim 33, wherein said third circuit means and said second electrical conductive means are directed towards said power source means, said second electrical conductive means also serving as an electrode plate for said at least one of said first pole and said second pole of said power source means.

35. The wristwatch radio communication device of claim 34, wherein said first casing member of said body portion is constructed of electrically conductive material and is electrically coupled to said second casing means.

36. The wristwatch radio communication device of claim 30, wherein said first circuit means includes a high frequency circuitry.

37. The wristwatch radio communication device of claim 30, wherein said second circuit means includes digital circuitry.

38. The wristwatch radio communication device of claim 32, wherein said display means includes a liquid crystal display.

39. The wristwatch radio communication device of claim 30, wherein said antenna means includes a loop antenna provided in said wristband portion.

40. The wristwatch radio communication device of claim 30, wherein said first casing member is a front casing member and said second casing member is a rear covering member.

41. The wristwatch radio communication device of claim 30, wherein said first electrical conductive means includes an electrically conductive plate.

42. The wristwatch radio communication device of claim 33, wherein said second electrical conductive means includes an electrically conductive plate.

43. The wristwatch radio communication device of claim 39, wherein said second circuit means is positioned so as to be substantially outside said loop antenna.