Portable wrist device

• US 6,426,921 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1999
• Issued: 07/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Mitamura, Gen
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOODWIN, JEANNE M
• Application Number:
  US09/439,827
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 368/64, 368/88, 368/203, 368/204, 368/276, 368/281, 368/289, 136/205, 136/230, 136/292
• US Class Current: 368/204
• 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

Abstract

A portable wrist device has a thermoelectric generator for generating electric energy from a temperature difference between a heat receiving portion and a heat radiating portion. A heat radiating upper frame radiates heat from the heat radiating portion of the thermoelectric generator. A back cover supplies heat to the heat receiving portion of the thermoelectric generator. The back cover has an inner surface connected to the heat receiving portion of the thermoelectric generator and an outer surface for contacting a wrist of a user. A heat collecting plate is disposed on the inner surface of the back cover and has a contact portion disposed in contact with the heat receiving portion of the thermoelectric generator. The contact portion of the heat collecting plate has a thickness greater than other portions of the heat collecting plate for storing higher temperature heat.

Claims

1. A portable wrist device comprising:

a thermoelectric generator for generating electric energy from a temperature difference between a heat receiving portion and a heat radiating portion;

a heat radiating upper frame for radiating heat from the heat radiating portion of the thermoelectric generator;

a back cover for supplying heat to the heat receiving portion of the thermoelectric generator, the back cover having an inner surface connected to the heat receiving portion of the thermoelectric generator and an outer surface for contacting a wrist of a user; and

a heat collecting plate disposed on the inner surface of the back cover and formed of a material having a thermal conductivity higher than a thermal conductivity of material of the back cover, the heat collecting plate having a portion disposed in contact with the heat receiving portion of the thermoelectric generator;

wherein the portion of the heat collecting plate disposed in contact with the heat receiving portion of the thermoelectric generator is thicker than other portions of the heat collecting plate; and

wherein the heat collection plate is smaller in cross-section than one of a contact plane of the entire inner surface of the back cover and a portion of the back cover for contacting the wrist of the user.

2. A portable wrist device as claimed in claim 1;

wherein the heat collecting plate has a thermal conductivity greater than four times the thermal conductivity of the back cover.

3. A portable wrist device as claimed in claim 1;

wherein when the heat receiving portion of the thermoelectric generator has a portion which protrudes out from a contact area with the back cover, the heat collecting plate provides a gap for preventing the protruding portion from contacting a base surface of the back cover directly.

4. A portable wrist device as claimed in claim 1;

wherein when a plane projection between the heat receiving portion of the thermoelectric generator and the heat collecting plate protrudes out from respective contact areas with the back cover, a gap is provided for preventing the protruding portion from contacting a base surface of back cover directly.

5. A portable wrist device as claimed in claim 1;

wherein the heat collecting plate is fixedly adhered to the back cover.

6. A portable wrist device as claimed in claim 1;

further comprising an insulating paint coating disposed on a surface of the heat collecting plate except for portions thereof in contact with the back cover and the heat receiving portion of the thermoelectric generator.

7. A portable wrist device as claimed in claim 1;

further comprising an insulating sheet disposed on a surface of the heat collecting plate except for portions thereof in contact with the back cover and the heat receiving portion of the thermoelectric generator.

8. A portable wrist device as claimed in claim 1;

wherein the heat collecting plate is generally ring-shaped.

9. A portable wrist device has claimed in claim 1;

further comprising a thermal conductivity material for connecting the heat collecting plate to the inner surface of the back cover.

10. A portable wrist device as claimed in claim 1;

further comprising an elastic heat conductor comprised of silicon resin for undergoing elastic deformation, the elastic heat conductor being disposed between the inner surface of the back cover and the heat receiving portion of the thermoelectric generator.

11. A portable wrist device as claimed in claim 10;

wherein at least one surface of one;

of the back cover and the heat receiving portion of the thermoelectric generator is in contact with the elastic heat conductor.

12. A portable wrist device as claimed in claim 10;

wherein the elastic heat conductor is generally ring-shaped.

13. A portable wrist device as claimed in claim 1;

further comprising an elastic heat conductor comprised of silicon resin for undergoing elastic deformation, the elastic heat conductor being disposed between the heat radiating upper frame and the heat radiating portion of the thermoelectric generator.

14. A portable wrist device comprising:

a thermoelectric generator for generating electric energy from a temperature difference between a heat receiving portion and a heat radiating portion;

a heat radiating upper frame for radiating heat from the heat radiating portion of the thermoelectric generator;

a back cover for supplying heat to the heat receiving portion of the thermoelectric generator, the back cover having an inner surface connected to the heat receiving portion of the thermoelectric generator and an outer surface for contacting a wrist of a user; and

a heat collecting plate disposed on the inner surface of the back cover and having a contact portion disposed in contact with the heat receiving portion of the thermoelectric generator, the contact portion having a thickness greater than other portions of the heat collecting plate for storing higher temperature heat.

15. A portable wrist device as claimed in claim 14;

wherein the heat collecting plate is integrally connected to the back cover.

16. A portable wrist device as claimed in claim 14;

further comprising an insulating paint coating disposed on portions of the heat collecting plate other than portions thereof in contact with the back cover and the heat receiving portion of the thermoelectric generator.

17. A portable wrist device as claimed in claim 14;

further comprising an insulating sheet disposed on portions of the heat collecting plate other than portions thereof in contact with the back cover and the heat receiving portion of the thermoelectric generator.

18. A portable wrist device has claimed in claim 16;

further comprising a thermal conductivity material for connecting the heat collecting plate to the inner surface of the back cover.