HK9181A - Method of manufacturing digital electronic timepieces - Google Patents

Description

(54) METHOD OF MANUFACTURING DIGITAL ELECTRONIC TIMEPIECES (71) We, KABUSHIKI KAISHASUWA SEIKOSHA, a Japanese Company of 3-4, 4-chome, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo,Japan, do hereby declare the invention, for which we ray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention concerns a method of manufacturing digital electronic timepieces, and although the invention is not so restricted, it is more particularly concerned with the manufacture of digital electronic wrist watches.

In the case of all timepieces, whether digital or analogue timepieces, it is desirable to be able to use the same movement in a number of different models. For example, it is desirable to be able to use a movement suitable for a small ladies' watch in a much larger mens' dress watch.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing digital electronic timepieces comprising making a plurality of identically shaped digital electronic movements the length of each of which differs from its breadth, and respectively assembling the said movements in the cases of different models of the timepieces, each such case having a length which differs from its breadth, each said model being that of a watch provided with a watch band, the length of at least one said movement being at right angles to the length of its watch band, and the length of at least one other said movement being aligned with that of its watch band.

Each watch band is preferably nonreleasable from its respective case.

Each case may have a back cover provided with at least one switch actuating member, the or each said switch actuating member being operable from the exterior of the case to adjust or to operate an electronic display provided by said movement.

Each movement preferably has sets of hour and minute display digits, which sets are arranged longitudinally of each other in the longitudinal direction of the movement.

The length of each movement is preferably at least 40% greater than its breadth.

Each movement may have a substantially rectangular digital display device which is electrically connected to a circuit on a substantially rectangular circuit carrying member by means of electrical connectors, the electrical connectors being respectively disposed adjacent at least one of the shorter sides of the digital display device.

Each said electrical connector may comprise a plurality of alternately arranged electrically conductive and electrically insulating layers.

Each movement preferably comprises a liquid crystal display panel. Alternatively, the movement may be provided with light emitting diodes or with electrochromic material.

The invention also comprises a digital electronic timepiece made by the method set forth above.

The invention is illustrated, merely by <RTI> way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which:-</RTI> Figures 1 to 4 are plan views showing four different models of digital electronic wrist watches, the four models being provided with identical digital electronic movements, Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1, Figure 6 is an underneath plan view of the structure shown in Figure <RTI>5</RTI> Figure 7 is a plan view of a liquid crystal panel used in the wrist watches of Figures 1 and <RTI>3</RTI> Figure 8 is a plan view of a liquid crystal panel used in the wrist watches of Figures 2 and 4, Figures 9 and 10 are plan views of two different models of wrist watches according to the present invention provided with the same movement, and <RTI>Figure</RTI> 11 is a sectional view through the movement used in the wrist watches of Figures 9 and 10.

Figures 1 - and 3 respectively show digital electronic wrist watches la, <RTI>ib</RTI> which are respectively provided with digital electronic movements Ic having identical external shapes. Each of the movements Ic has a substantially rectangular shape in plan, the length L of each movement 1c differing from, and preferably being at least 40% greater than, its breadth B. Each of the movements 1c is assembled in a watch case 24 which is non-releasably attached to a watch band le of the bracelet type. Each of the watch cases 24 has a length L' which differs from and preferably is at least 40% greater than its breadth B'.

In the case of the wrist watch la of Figure 1, the length L of the movement <RTI>ic</RTI> is at right angles to the length of the watch band le, whereas in the case of the wrist watch <RTI>ib</RTI> of Figure 3, the length L of the movement <RTI>ic</RTI> is aligned with the length of the watch band le.

Figures 2 and 4 show two further models of digital electronic wrist watches, namely watches <RTI>if,</RTI> <RTI>ig,</RTI> which have digital electronic movements <RTI>ic</RTI> which have external shapes identical to those of Figures 1 and 3. As will be appreciated, the length of the movement Ic of the wrist watch if is aligned with that of the watch band le of the watch <RTI>if,</RTI> whereas the length of the movement <RTI>ic</RTI> of the wrist watch <RTI>ig</RTI> is at right angles to the length of its watch band le.

Thus it is possible to manufacture a number of identically shaped digital electro nic movements <RTI>ic</RTI> and assemble them in four different wrist watch models whose appearance differs considerably.

As stated above, the length L of each movement <RTI>ic</RTI> is preferably at least 40% greater than its breadth B. Indeed the larger the difference in size between L and B, the greater the difference in the appearance of the various models of wrist watches which can be produced employing the same move ment.

The construction of the movement <RTI>ic</RTI> of Figures 1 to 4 is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, each such movement <RTI>ic</RTI> comprises a substantially rec tangular liquid crystal panel 2 which consti tutes a digital display device. The liquid crystal panel 2 comprises a top panel glass 3 and a bottom panel glass 4 which are sealed together with the interposition therebe tween of liquid crystal material (not shown).

The panel glasses 3, 4, are themselves disposed between a top polarising plate 5 and a bottom polarising plate 6 so as to form a single unit, the bottom polarising plate 6 being provided with a reflective surface.

The liquid crystal panel 2 is electrically connected to a circuit on a substantially rectangular circuit board 10 by means of electrical connectors 8, 9. Each of these electrical connectors 8, 9 is made of socalled "zebra" electrically conductive rubber, that is to say it comprises a plurality of alternately arranged electrically conductive and electrically insulating layers. The electrical connectors 8, 9 are, as shown in Figure 5, respectively disposed adjacent the shorter sides of the liquid crystal panel 2.

The thickness of the watch case 24 is governed by the need to provide the necessary space for the electrical connectors 8, 9.

Consequently by arranging that the electrical connectors 8, 9 are disposed adjacent the shorter sides of the movement <RTI>ic,</RTI> the appearance of the wrist watch is improved since the thickness of the case needs to be increased only at the parts where the electrical connectors 8, 9 are disposed.

In Figure 5 the electrical connectors 8, 9 are shown as being disposed on opposite sides of the movement Ic, but if desired both the electrical connectors 8, 9 may be disposed adjacent one side only of the liquid crystal panel 2 provided that the latter has only a small number of terminals for the various display segments thereon. In those cases in which it is possible to provide the connectors 8, 9 on one such side only, the appearance of the watch is yet further improved.

The circuit board 10 is provided with anMOSIC chip 11 which is bonded to the circuit board 10, the latter being made of epoxy resin and being clad with copper foil patterns on each of its opposite planar surfaces. The circuit board 10 is also provided with a moulded frame 13 which constitutes a housing for the MOSIC chip 11, the circuit board 10 additionally being provided with a housing 13a for a small button-shaped battery 12 constituting a power source. The movement also comprises a quartz crystal oscillator 14, a trimmer condenser 15, a cathode terminal plate 16 for contacting the cathode of the battery 12, and an anode terminal plate 17 for contacting the anode of the battery 12. The terminal plates 16, 17, which are arranged to engage the battery 12, are soldered or otherwise electrically connected to the copper foil pattern on the circuit board 10.

Electrical connectors 18, 19, which constitute switch actuating members, and which are formed of "zebra" electrically conductive rubber, are arranged on the circuit board 10 on the surface thereof opposite that facing the liquid crystal panel 2. The switch actuating members 18, 19 are respectively arranged to make contact with a "select" electrode and a "plus" electrode, and with a "set" electrode and a "plus" electrode which are led out from theMOSIC chip 11.

The movement is designed to permit time correction by the known select-set switching actuation, and this may be performed by bringing buttons 20 and 21, which are operable from the exterior of a back cover or case rear 27, either into contact with or out of contact with the electrical connectors 18, 19. Thus the buttons 20, 21 are operable to adjust or to operate an electronic display provided on the liquid crystal panel 2.

In the construction shown in Figures 1 to 6, the display area of the liquid crystal panel 2 is as large as possible, while the watch case 24 is as thin as possible, and this makes for a wrist watch having a smart design.

The watch case 24 is provided with a watch glass 22 which is sealed to the watch case 24 by means of a water-resisting ring 23. The movement 1c is mounted within the watch case 24 by way of a panel frame 25 made of plastics material, the panel frame 25 both helping to guide the movement 1c into the watch case 24 during assembly and also acting as a shock absorbing member.

After the liquid crystal panel 2, the electrical connectors 8, 9, and the circuit board 10 and the parts connected thereto are assembled in the watch case 24, a circuit holder 26, which is made of plastics material and carries thereon a movement number, a brand name or the like, is fixed in position.

The circuit holder 26 has a spring portion 26a at the periphery of the movement, the circuit holder 26 being positioned by forcing the back cover 27 rearwardly so as to bring the spring portion 26a into engagement with a recess 26b in the watch case 24, the spring portion 26a then firmly gripping the back cover 27. As clearly shown in Figure 5, the buttons 20, 21 do not extend outwardly of the rear surface of the back cover 27. For this purpose the back cover 27 is provided with an internally extending tubular portion 28 to which is soldered a tubular housing 29 provided with a C-shaped ring 30.

The movements 1c of the wrist watches shown in Figures 1 and 3 are provided with liquid crystal panels 2 as shown in Figure 7.

As indicated in Figure 7, the liquid crystal panel 2 has sets of hour and minute digits 2a, which sets are arranged longitudinally of each other in the longitudinal direction of the liquid crystal panel 2. The liquid crystal panel 2 is also, of course, provided with other characters (not shown) to indicate functions additional to the hours and mi nutes, such as the month, or the date.

The wrist watches of Figures 2 and 4 are provided with a liquid crystal panel 2 as shown in Figure 8. It will be noted that although the digits 2a of Figure 8 are arranged at right angles to those of Figure 7, nevertheless in the case of the digits 2a ofFigure 8 these too are arranged in sets which are disposed longitudinally of each other in the longitudinal direction of the liquid crystal panel 2.

It will be noted from Figures 7 and 8 that the arrangement of the digits 2a does not affect the disposition of terminals 2b which are connected to the individual portions of the digits 2a. Thus the arrangement of the digits in Figures 7 and 8 has no effect on the wiring between the liquid crystal panel 2 and the circuit board 10.

Although therefore the disposition of the digits 2a, and the shape of the wiring thereto, of the various movements 1c differ from each other, the various movements are otherwise absolutely identical to each other.

The different disposition of the digits 2a of the various movements does not constitute a practical problem, since it is well-known to form wrist watches having similar liquid crystal panels except that the colours of the liquid crystals or of the polarising plates or the form of the characters shown thereon differ from each other.

Figures 9 and 10 show two models of wrist watches according to the present invention which may be provided with a common movement similar to that used in the wrist watches of Figures 1 to 4. In the wrist watch of Figure 9, externally operable switch actuating members 35, 36 are provided, while in the wrist watch of Figure 10 externally operable switch actuating members 37, 38 are provided. The switch actuating members 35 to 38 are provided at the side of the respective watch cases, the construction of the wrist watches shown inFigures 9 and 10 being useful in those cases in which there is difficulty in providing externally operable switch actuating members on the back cover of the watch case.

For example, the construction shown inFigures 9 and 10 is useful in the case in which the watch usually indicates the ordinary time but can also indicate months, dates, or seconds on appropriate operation of an externally operable switch actuating member.

Figure 11 is a plan view, partly in section, of a movement which may be employed in each of the models shown in Figures 9 and 10. The movement comprises "zebra" electrically conductive rubber connector members 31, 32, 33, 34, similar to those described above, and at positions corresponding to those occupied by the externally operable switch actuating members 35, 36, 37 and 38. Consequently switch actuation can be performed by operating one of the buttons 35 to 38.

As will be appreciated, the wrist watch shown in Figure 9 incorporates only the electrically conductive rubber connector members 31, 32, while the wrist watch shown in Figure 10 incorporates only the electrically conductive rubber connector members 33, 34. It is therefore possible to employ the same movements in a number of <RTI>dirrerent</RTI> models if a plurality of spaces are provided for the mounting of switching members for every function button provided.

Thus in the case of the present invention an externally operable switch actuating member may be either provided on the back cover or, for each function, there may be a plurality of spaces provided to ensure that the switch members can make contact with the externally operable switch actuating members.

The present invention thus makes it possible to use the same movement in a number of watches of very different design such as ladies' watches and dress watches.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A method of manufacturing digital electronic timepieces comprising making a plurality of identically shaped digital electronic movements the length of each of which differs from its breadth, and respectively assembling the said movements in the cases of different models of the timepieces, each such case having a length which differs from its breadth, each said model being that of a watch provided with a watch band, the length of at least one said movement being at right angles to the length of its watch band, and the length of at least one other said movement being aligned with that of its watch band.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 in which each watch band is non-releasable from its respective case.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which each case has a back cover provided with at least one switch actuating member, the or each said switch actuating member being operable from the exterior of the case to adjust or to operate an electronic display provided by said movement.

4. A method as claimed in any <RTI>reced-</RTI> ing <RTI>Claim</RTI> in which each movement has sets of hour and minute display digits, which are arranged longitudinally of each other in the longitudinal direction of the movement.

5. A method as <RTI>claimed in any preced-</RTI> ing Claim in which the length of each movement is at least 40% greater than its breadth.

6. A method as claimed in any preceding Claim in which each movement has a substantially rectangular digital display device which is <RTI>electrically</RTI> connected to a circuit on a substantially rectangular circuitcarrying member by means of electrical connectors, the electrical connectors being respectively disposed adjacent at least one of the shorter sides of the digital display device.

7. A method as claimed in Claim 6 in which each said electrical connector comprises a plurality of alternately arranged electrically conductive and electrically insulating layers.

8. A method as <RTI>daimed in any preced-</RTI> ing Claim in which each movement <RTI>compris-</RTI> es a liquid crystal display panel.

9. A method of manufacturing digital electronic timepieces substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.

10. A digital electronic timepiece made by the method claimed in any preceding

Claims (1)

1. claim.