Wrist watch containing internal tag, radio watch, and antenna for wrist watch

• US 6,992,952 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2002
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
• Inventors: Yahata, Seirou, Endo, Takanori, Tsuchida, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOODWIN, JEANNE M
• Application Number:
  US10/292,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20040090868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/47, 368/281, 368/276, 368/278, 368/88, 368/309, 368/223, 340/572.1, 340/573.1, 340/572.7, 343/718, 455/351
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 60/12 inside metal cases
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/041 Constructional details G06K19/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07762 the adhering arrangement making the record carrier wearable, e.g. having the form of a ring, watch, glove or bracelet record carriers for insertion in the human body for medical purposes A61B90/00; record carriers adapted for attachment to animals A01K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07779 the inductive antenna being a coil
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07781 the coil being fabricated in a winding process
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/24 Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/08 Ferrite rod or like elongated core

Abstract

The wrist watch with internal tag according to the present invention includes a watch case 12 which includes a ring shaped case 12a and a rear lid 12c, a drive section 13 which is housed in the watch case, a display section 14 which is housed in the watch case 12, is driven by the drive section 13, and displays a time instant, and an RFID tag (18) which is housed in the watch case 12 and includes an antenna 16 and an IC chip 17. The antenna includes a rod shaped magnetic core member 16a which is provided to follow around the inner surface of the rear lid 12c between the ring shaped case 12a and the drive section 13, and a coil 16b which is wound in a helical shape around the magnetic core member 16a. And the magnetic core member 16a is shaped so as to bend around following the inner surface of the ring shaped case (12a), and is made from a layered amorphous foil material or a composite material so as to have a certain flexibility.

Claims

1. A wrist watch with internal tag, comprising:

a watch case comprising a ring shaped case, a glass lid configured to seal a front side of said ring shaped case, and a rear lid configured to seal a rear side of said ring shaped case;

a drive section housed in said watch case;

a display section housed in said watch case, the display section being configured to be driven by said drive section and to display a time instant; and

an RFID tag housed in said watch case and comprises an antenna and an IC chip;

wherein said antenna comprises a rod shaped magnetic core member provided between said ring shaped case and said drive section and along the inner surface of said rear lid, and a coil is wound in a helical shape around said magnetic core member.

2. A wrist watch with internal tag according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic core member is shaped so as to bend around along the inner surface of said ring shaped case.

3. A wrist watch with internal tag according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic core member is made from a layered amorphous foil material so as to have a certain flexibility.

4. A wrist watch with internal tag according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic core member is made from a composite material which is a mixture of powder or flakes of a soft magnetic ferrite or a soft magnetic metal with plastic or rubber.

5. A wrist watch with internal tag according to claim 4, wherein said composite material contains a volume percentage of from 10% to 70% of said powder or said flakes of said soft magnetic ferrite or said soft magnetic metal, and is flexible.

6. A wrist watch with internal tag according to claim 4, wherein said magnetic core member is formed by injection molding or compression forming said composite material.

7. A wrist watch with internal tag, comprising:

a watch case comprising a ring shaped case, a glass lid configured to seal a front side of said ring shaped case, and a rear lid configured to seal a rear side of said ring shaped case;

a drive section housed in said watch case;

a display section housed in said watch case, the display section being configured to be driven by said drive section and to display a time instant; and

an RFID tag which is housed in said watch case and comprises an antenna and an IC chip;

wherein said antenna comprises a magnetic backing provided to follow around an inner surface of said rear lid, a pair of magnetic core members configured to project from said magnetic backing on opposite sides of said drive section, and a series coil which is wound in a helical shape upon said pair of magnetic core members.

8. A wrist watch according to claim 7, wherein said magnetic backing is configured to be inserted between said ring shaped case and said drive section.

9. A wrist watch according to claim 7, wherein said magnetic backing is between said ring shaped case and said drive section and is formed in a circular arc shape following along an inner surface of said ring shaped case.

10. A wrist watch according to claim 7, wherein any one, each, or all of said magnetic backing and said pair of magnetic core members is made from a composite material which is a mixture of powder or flakes of a soft magnetic ferrite or a soft magnetic metal with plastic or rubber.

11. A wrist watch according to claim 10, wherein said composite material contains a volume percentage of from 10% to 70% of said powder or said flakes of said soft magnetic ferrite or said soft magnetic metal, and is flexible.

12. A wrist watch according to claim 10, wherein all of said magnetic backing and said pair of magnetic core members are formed integrally by injection molding or compression forming said composite material.

13. A radio watch, comprising:

a watch case comprising a ring shaped case, a glass lid configured to seal a front side of said ring shaped case, and a rear lid configured to seal a rear side of said ring shaped case;

a drive section housed in said watch case;

a display section housed in said watch case, the display section being configured to be driven by said drive section and to display a time instant;

an antenna configured to receive a radio signal including time instant information; and

a controller housed in said watch case and configured to control said drive section based upon the detected an output from said antenna;

wherein said antenna is configured to be between said ring shaped case and said drive section and to follow around an inner surface of said ring shaped case; and

said ring shaped case is formed from a metallic material, and said ring shaped case comprises a first slit configured to cut completely through said ring shaped case in at least one place.

14. A radio watch according to claim 13, wherein a non electrically conductive resin is filled into said first slit, and is configured to mutually adhere together opposing sides of said first slit.

15. A radio watch according to claim 14, wherein said opposing sides of said first slit are made up of a plurality of linked sectional planes.

16. A radio watch according to claim 13, wherein concave portions are formed on either or both of said front side and said rear side of said ring shaped case, said first slit is formed in a position to confront said concave portions, and inlay members made from the same substance as said ring shaped case are attached with non electrically conductive resin in said concave portions.

17. A radio watch according to claim 13, wherein said rear lid is either a metallic main lid, or a combination of a non metallic main lid and a supplementary metallic lid adhered upon an outer surface of said non metallic main lid so as to cover said non metallic main lid;

and

in said metallic main lid or said supplementary metallic lid, one or plural second slits are formed, of which at least one end portion reaches the outer edge of said metallic main lid or said supplementary metallic lid.

18. A radio watch according to claim 17, wherein plural second slits are formed in a radiating arrangement from the center of said metallic main lid or said supplementary metallic lid.

19. A radio watch according to claim 17, wherein a non electrically conductive resin is filled into said second slit or slits.

20. A radio watch according to claim 13, wherein said antenna comprises a magnetic core member configured to follow the inner surface of said ring shaped case and surround said drive section, and a coil which is wound around the outside of said magnetic core member.

21. A radio watch according to claim 20, wherein said magnetic core member is formed in a bobbin shape having a coil winding case, from a composite material made from magnetic powder or flakes and plastic.

22. A radio watch according to claim 21, wherein said magnetic core member is formed by injection molding or compression forming said composite material.

23. A radio watch according to claim 20, wherein said magnetic core member is made by winding a magnetic coated film which is formed by applying and drying an ink or a paint containing powder or flakes made from a magnetic material into a ring shape.

24. An antenna for a wrist watch which comprises a watch case comprising a ring shaped case, a glass lid which seals a front side of said ring shaped case, and a rear lid which seals a rear side of said ring shaped case, and a drive section which is housed in said watch case, wherein:

said antenna is housed within said watch case, and comprises a magnetic core member and a coil assembly;

said magnetic core member has a hole in which said drive section can be inserted, and is formed in a ring shape which can be inserted between said drive section and said ring shaped case; and

said coil assembly comprises a first coil which is wound around the outer peripheral surface of said ring shaped magnetic core member so as to have a magnetic core axis which coincides with the central axis of said ring shaped magnetic core member, and a second coil which is wound in a helical shape upon said ring shaped magnetic core member so as to have said ring shaped magnetic core member as its magnetic core axis.

25. An antenna for a wrist watch according to claim 24, wherein said magnetic core member is formed by injection molding or compression forming a composite material which is a mixture of magnetic powder or flakes with plastic.

26. An antenna for a wrist watch according to claim 24, wherein said magnetic core member is made by winding a magnetic coated film which is formed by applying and drying an ink or a paint containing powder or flakes made from a magnetic material into a ring shape.

27. A wrist watch comprising:

a watch case comprising a ring shaped case and a rear lid both of which are formed from a non electrically conductive plastic material;

a display section which is housed in said watch case and displays a time instant;

a drive section which is housed in said watch case and is made so as to be able to drive said display section;

an antenna according to any one of claims 24 through 26, housed in said watch case so as to follow around the inner surface of said ring shaped case of said watch case and surround said drive section;

a controller which is housed in said case, is electrically connected to said first coil, and is made so as to be able to control said drive section based upon a detected output of said antenna; and

an IC chip which is housed in said case, is electrically connected to said second coil, and is made so as to be able to store predetermined information.

28. A wrist watch according to claim 27, wherein a supplementary metallic lid, in which one or two or more second slits are formed with at least one end portion thereof reaching to the outer edge of said supplementary metallic lid, is adhered upon the outer surface of said rear lid which is formed from said non electrically conductive plastic.

29. A wrist watch comprising:

a watch case comprising a ring shaped case which is formed from a metallic material and a rear lid which is formed from a non electrically conductive plastic material;

a display section which is housed in said watch case and displays a time instant;

a drive section which is housed in said watch case and is made so as to be able to drive said display section;

an antenna according to any one of claims 24 through 26, housed in said watch case so as to follow around the inner surface of said ring shaped case of said watch case and surround said drive section;

a controller which is housed in said case, is electrically connected to said first coil, and is made so as to be able to control said drive section based upon a detected output of said antenna; and

an IC chip which is housed in said case, is electrically connected to said second coil, and is made so as to be able to store predetermined information;

wherein a first slit is formed in said ring shaped case by cutting through said ring shaped case in at least one place.

30. A wrist watch according to claim 29, wherein a supplementary metallic lid, in which one or two or more second slits are formed with at least one end portion thereof reaching to the outer edge of said supplementary metallic lid, is adhered upon the outer surface of said rear lid which is formed from said non electrically conductive plastic.

31. A wrist watch comprising:

a watch case comprising a ring shaped case and a rear lid both of which are formed from a metallic material;

a display section which is housed in said watch case and displays a time instant;

a drive section which is housed in said watch case and is made so as to be able to drive said display section;

an antenna according to any one of claims 24 through 26, housed in said watch case so as to follow around the inner surface of said ring shaped case of said watch case and surround said drive section;

a controller which is housed in said case, is electrically connected to said first coil, and is made so as to be able to control said drive section based upon a detected output of said antenna; and

an IC chip which is housed in said case, is electrically connected to said second coil, and is made so as to be able to store predetermined information;

wherein a first slit is formed in said ring shaped case by cutting through said ring shaped case in at least one place; and

one or two or more second slits are formed in said rear lid with at least one end portion thereof reaching to the outer edge of said rear lid.