Thermoelectrically powered wrist watch

• US 5,889,735 A
• Filed: 10/15/1997
• Issued: 03/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Takakura, Akira, Kawata, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US08/950,987
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 368/64, 368/88, 368/203-204, 368/276, 136/205, 136/211, 136/212, 136/224, 307/48, 307/72
• US Class Current: 368/64
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 10/00 Arrangements of electric power supplies in time pieces circuits G04G19/00; mounting, assembling of components of electromechanical watches G04C3/008, of electronic watches G04G17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/00 Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects integrated devices or assemblies of multiple devices H10N19/00

Abstract

A thermoelectriocally powered wristwatch has an endothermic plate affixed to the underside of a case back for absorbing external heat, and a thermal conduction plate for conducting the absorbed heat through heat transfer pins to a thermoelectric conversion element which converts the absorbed heat to electricity for powering the wristwatch. Thermal conduction preventive packings formed of a material having low thermal conductivity, such as plastic or rubber, are interposed between the endothermic plate and the case back and between the case back and the thermal conduction plate.

Claims

1. A thermoelectrically powered wrist watch comprising:

a case back, a case body whose temperature comes into equilibrium with an outside air temperature and which is made of a metallic material, a thermoelectric element for thermally converting a temperature difference to an electric energy, thermal input means composed of an endothermic plate disposed under a bottom portion of the case back and a heat transfer pin, and thermal conduction means comprised of at least one metallic member in contact with one end of the thermoelectric element;

wherein at least two thermal conduction preventive packings each made of a plastic or rubber material are disposed between the endothermic plate and the case back and between the case back and the thermal conduction means, respectively, as viewed in vertical section; and

wherein the heat transfer pin is inserted into through-holes formed in the thermal conduction preventive packings, thermal conduction means and case back and, by mechanical fixing means such as caulking or screwing, the heat transfer pin and the thermal conduction means are fixed to thereby bring the thermal input means, thermal conduction means, thermal conduction preventive packings and case back into pressure contact with one another.

2. A thermoelectrically powered wrist watch as set forth in claim 1, including at least one thermal conduction spring consisting of a metallic elastic member provided on the thermal conduction means.

3. A thermoelectrically powered wrist watch as set forth in claim 1, including a plurality of through-holes, other than those used to insert the heat transfer pin, formed in one of the thermal conduction preventive packings.

4. A thermoelectrically powered wrist watch as set forth in claim 1, wherein by using in place of the case back a case bottom portion moulded integrally with the case body, the thermal input means, thermal conduction means, thermal conduction preventive packings and case bottom portion are brought into pressure contact with each other.

5. A thermoelectrically powered wrist watch as set forth in claim 1, wherein the heat transfer pin is located at the center of a movement.

6. A thermoelectrically powered wrist watch as set forth in claim 1, wherein positioning of the thermal conduction spring is performed in a flat plane using a recess portion of the thermal conduction means.

7. A thermoelectrically powered wrist watch as set forth in claim 1, including thermal ray condensing means composed of a condensing member for condensing light such as sunlight or a condensing portion, and a light guiding hole or a light transmission member for causing the condensed light to be radiated onto the thermal conduction means.

8. A thermoelectrically powered wrist watch as set forth in claim 7, wherein the condensing member is formed of thermoplastic resin such as glass, acrylic or polycarbonate.

9. A thermoelectrically powered wrist watch as set forth in claim 7, wherein the light transmission member is formed of thermoplastic resin such as glass, acrylic or polycarbonate.