JP2001264464A - Electronics - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide an electronic device driven by a solar cell having improved transparency by making a photovoltaic cell extremely thin. SOLUTION: In an electronic apparatus including a solar cell and having a device driven by electric power generated by the solar cell, the solar cell is provided around a transparent substrate 12 and the transparent substrate 12, and is connected in series. a plurality of conductive portions ₁₄ 1 to 14 ₄ connected, while being more formed at appropriate intervals on the transparent substrate 12, the conductive portions ₁₄ 1 to 1
4 is a light-transmitting type solar cell having ₄ to the connected thin-wire and photovoltaic cell 18.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a solar cell,
Regarding electronic equipment having a device driven by the power generated by this solar cell, in particular, by utilizing a transparent solar cell having a thin line photovoltaic cell,
The present invention relates to an electronic device that enables diversification of designs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is well known an electronic apparatus having a solar cell and a device that operates using the solar cell as a power supply. By the way, since a photovoltaic cell that generates light by receiving light is usually formed of an opaque material such as dark brown, a solar cell is provided on a digital display member or an analog display member. I couldn't do that. Therefore, when mounting a solar cell on an electronic device equipped with a digital display member or an analog display member, the display device must be mounted avoiding these display members, which not only deteriorates the appearance but also restricts the design of the electronic device due to design restrictions. Will receive.

In order to solve such a problem, a solar cell made transparent by forming thin line-shaped photovoltaic cells at regular intervals on a transparent substrate has been used. This is known from, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 94964/94. The solar cell described in this publication is such that a photovoltaic cell is etched on a transparent substrate so as to be sufficiently thin, so that the solar cell appears transparent within the visual range of humans. However, the electronic device described in this publication constitutes a solar cell by forming a single photovoltaic cell in a single stroke on a transparent substrate, so that sufficient electric power required for operation of the electronic device is provided. It cannot be substantially obtained from the solar cell and has not yet been realized.

[0004] In recent years, skeletons that allow the inside of the watch to be seen through have become popular.
What is more transparent is being demanded. However, in the conventional timepiece using a solar cell, the above-mentioned reason is considered to be opaque due to the nature of the solar cell and the functional reason that sufficient electromotive force cannot be obtained if the effective area of the solar cell is reduced. It was difficult to meet such demands.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has an advantage that the photovoltaic cell is made extremely thin to improve transparency and to operate electronic equipment. An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device capable of satisfying a user's playfulness by using a solar cell capable of obtaining an electromotive force, thereby greatly improving the degree of freedom in selecting a design of the electronic device.

[0006]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus having a solar cell and a device driven by electric power generated by the solar cell. A transparent substrate, a plurality of conductive portions provided around the transparent substrate and connected in series, and a plurality of thin lines of light formed at appropriate intervals on the transparent substrate and connected to the conductive portion. It is configured as a translucent solar cell having a power generation cell. According to this configuration, by forming a plurality of thin line-shaped photovoltaic cells on the transparent substrate at appropriate intervals, the photovoltaic cells are less visible and a transparent solar cell can be obtained. The intervals between the photovoltaic cells are preferably equal. By doing so, a solar cell with higher transparency can be obtained. Further, by connecting a plurality of conductive parts in series and connecting the photovoltaic cell to the conductive parts, it becomes possible to obtain a sufficient electromotive force necessary for the operation of the electronic device.

The thin photovoltaic cell is formed by extending from each of the conductive portions in a direction transverse to the transparent substrate, and is extended to the vicinity of the conductive portion, so that a portion where the photovoltaic cell is not formed becomes transparent substrate. The area can be limited to a very small peripheral area, and color unevenness of the translucent solar cell can be reduced. By using the translucent solar cell as described above, the solar cell can be disposed above the display member of the electronic device, and the degree of freedom in design selection can be increased.

The display member may be a liquid crystal display, and the liquid crystal display may be provided on a back surface of the transparent substrate. Further, it may be formed integrally with the translucent solar cell. Further, the light-transmitting solar cell is disposed above a case of the electronic device, and the device is disposed below the light-transmitting solar cell in the case, and a space is provided between the device and the case. May be formed, and a transparent member may be arranged on the lower surface side of the electronic device so that the electronic device can be seen from the upper side to the lower side. In this case, the translucent solar cell may be arranged below the case. Further, a translucent solar cell may be arranged only on the lower side of the case.

According to the present invention, the degree of freedom in selecting a design in a timepiece can be improved by using the timepiece. The clock may be an analog clock or a digital clock. By using a translucent solar cell, the solar cell can be provided above the pointer of an analog timepiece.

In addition, the scale of the dial of the analog clock is
It may be provided on the front surface or the back surface of the transparent substrate. Also in this timepiece, the translucent solar cell is arranged on the front side of the case of the timepiece, a pointer of the analog display member below the translucent solar cell in the case, and a movement for driving the pointer. And forming a space between the movement and the case, and
A transparent plate may be arranged on the lower surface side of the timepiece so that the timepiece can be seen from above to below. In this case, the size of the transparent substrate can be set to a size that covers the movement and the space.

The translucent solar cell may be arranged not only on the front side of the case but also on the back cover side. The translucent solar cell may be arranged only on the case back side of the case. Further, the case and the movement may be connected to each other by one or a plurality of ribs so that the movement is supported at the center of the case. In this case, it is preferable to arrange a conductive member for supplying power to the movement from the translucent solar cell through the inside of the rib. In particular, the conductive portion of the transparent substrate and the conductive member are connected by a connecting member, and the connecting member is urged by a first contact portion biased to an output terminal of the conductive portion, and biased by the conductive member. And a second contact portion to be formed. By using such a connection member, the solar cell can be easily assembled, and the solar cell and the conductive member can be reliably connected. In addition, it is preferable that at least a minute hand, which indicates a minute, of the hands of the analog display member is extended to above the space between the case and the movement. This makes it possible to know the time from the back of the watch.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a translucent solar cell used in the electronic device of the present invention. The translucent solar cell 10 (hereinafter, referred to as solar cell 10)
It is formed using a highly transparent transparent substrate 12 such as glass or an acrylic plate as a base material. The solar cell 10 shown in FIG. 1 uses a circular transparent substrate 12 as a base material. As the transparent substrate 12, a display member 22 (shown by a virtual line in FIG. 1) of an electronic device using the solar cell 10 is used. According to the shape, circular,
Various shapes such as an ellipse, a rectangle, a polygon, and an irregular shape can be used.

Along the periphery of the transparent substrate 12,
And a plurality of (four in this embodiment) conductive portions 14₁, 1
4₂, 14₃, 14₄Is arranged. These four conductive
Part 14₁~ 14₄Are connected in series by the connection unit 15.
Have been. Four conductive parts 14 ₁~ 14₄At both ends
Conductive part 14 to be positioned₁, 14₄At the end,
Output terminals 16a for extracting electric power from the positive battery 10,
16b are formed. Conductive part 14₁, 14₂, 14
₃, 14₄Is an electronic device in which the solar cell 10 is used.
It is preferable to dispose it outside of the display member 22.

[0014] The conductive portion ₁₄ 1-14 ₄ and the connecting portion 1
5 can be formed by etching a thin conductive film such as copper or aluminum on the transparent substrate 12, but may be formed by attaching a thin foil such as copper foil or aluminum foil on the transparent substrate 12. Good. Further, instead of copper, aluminum, or the like, a transparent conductive material may be applied on the transparent substrate 12 to be formed.

Further, from the surface of the transparent substrate 12, adjacent conductive portions ₁₄ 1, 14 ₄ or adjacent conductive portions ₁₄ 2, 14 one of the conductive portion of the ₃ (e.g., conductive portions 14 _1),
Across the transparent substrate 12, the corresponding other of the conductive portion (e.g., conductive portion 14 ₄₎ to a linear photovoltaic cell 18 are a plurality of formed in parallel. The photovoltaic cells 18 may be formed at irregular intervals, but in this embodiment, the solar cells 10
Are formed at equal intervals s in order to further increase the transparency of. This interval s and the photovoltaic cell 1 for the interval s
The line width of 8 makes it possible to increase the transparency of the solar cell 10 by making the photovoltaic cell 18 inconspicuous in appearance, and to obtain the electromotive force necessary for operating the electronic device with the solar cell 10. It should be something that can be done. For example, the interval s is about 0.1 mm, and the line width for the interval s is 3% to 30%, preferably 5% to 20%.

The photovoltaic cell 18 shown in FIG. 1 is formed in a parallel straight line, but is not limited to this, and may be formed in various forms such as a waveform, a radial, a semicircle, a ladder, and the like. Is possible. In consideration of the shape of the transparent substrate 12, the electromotive force necessary for operating the electronic device, and the like, the optimal photovoltaic cell 1
It is preferable to select the form of formation 8.

One end of the photovoltaic cell 18 is
Two conductive parts 14 on the extension of ₁, 14₂Or conductive
Part 14₃, 14₄Connected to either one of In FIG.
As shown, the conductive portion 14₁, 14₂Or conductive part 14₃,
14₄The photovoltaic cells 18 connected to are alternately arranged,
Each conductive part 14₁, 14₂, 14₃, 14₄Connected to
So that the total area of the photovoltaic cells 18 is equal to each other
Is preferred. Conductive part 14₁, 14₂, 14₃, 1
4₄Of the photovoltaic cells 18 connected to one conductive portion
Is about 0.4V to 0.6V
If the four conductive parts 14₁, 14₂, 14₃, 14₄Directly
Connecting to a column is sufficient to drive the electronics
A voltage of about 1.6 V to 2.4 V can be obtained. this
Thus, a plurality of conductive portions connected to the photovoltaic cell 18 are provided,
By connecting these conductive parts in series, the electronic device operates.
It is possible to obtain sufficient voltage to operate.

The other end of the photovoltaic cell 18 extends to the vicinity of the other conductive part on its extension. For example, photovoltaic cells 18 having one end connected to the conductive portion 14 _3, across the transparent substrate 12, beyond the display member 22 of the electronic device, extends to the front of the conductive part 14 ₃ to face the other of the conductive portion 14 ₂ ing. The gap g between the other end of the photovoltaic cell 18 and the other conductive part is preferably as narrow as possible. No photovoltaic cell 18 is formed in the gap g,
This is because, since the transparent portion is a portion having high transparency, such a gap g having high transparency gathers on the periphery of the transparent substrate 12, so that color unevenness is easily generated in the solar cell 10.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment in which the solar cell 10 having the above configuration is used in a wristwatch as an example of electronic equipment.
It is a top view of a wristwatch. Display member 22 of this watch 20
Is an analog display member having a pointer and a dial.

The display member 22 has a pointer including an hour hand 24 indicating time, a minute hand 26 indicating minute, and a second hand 28 indicating second, and characters for displaying time arranged along the periphery of the display member 22. The dial has a scale 23 made of a pattern or the like. In this embodiment, the solar cell 1 of FIG.
0 is attached to the watch 20 with its front and back reversed.
That is, the solar cell 10 includes the conductive portions 14 ₁ , 14 ₂ , 1
4 _3, 14 ₄ and conditions of forming the surface photovoltaic cell 18 facing downward is attached to the wristwatch 20. In addition, the solar cell 10 of this embodiment is provided with the display member 2 of the wristwatch 20.
It is formed larger than 2. Conductive portions 14 ₁ to 14 ₄ of the solar cell 10, the formed parting portion 30a projecting inwardly of the outer casing 30 is hidden so as not to be seen easily from the outside.

The wristwatch 20 of this embodiment has a solar cell 1
On the back surface of the transparent substrate 12 constituting 0, a scale 23 indicating time is stamped or printed. Therefore, in this embodiment, the dial of the analog display member is formed by the back surface of the transparent substrate 12 and the scale 23. Of course, the scale 23 is not limited to the back surface of the transparent substrate 12, but may be provided on the front surface. The scale 23 may be formed by a photovoltaic cell. A movement 42 for driving the hour hand 24, the minute hand 26 and the second hand 28 is arranged at the center of the wristwatch 20, and is supported by four rib portions 19a, 19b, 19c, 19d extending from the inner peripheral surface of the outer case 30. The rib portions 19a, 19b, 19c and 19d are provided at positions where the hour hand 24 points to 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock and 9 o'clock, respectively, and constitute a part of the display member 22 of the wristwatch 20. I have.

The number of ribs is not limited to four but may be one to three or five or more as long as the movement 42 can be supported at the center of the wristwatch 20. Four space portions 32 are formed between the rib portions 19a, 19b, 19c, and 19d, which extend in the radial direction of the wristwatch 20 and penetrate in the vertical direction. And this watch 2
At 0, the watch 20 can be seen from above to below (or from below to above) through the space 32 by using a transparent substrate such as a glass plate as the back cover.

Details of this wristwatch 20 are shown in FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the wristwatch taken along the line II in FIG. 2, and FIGS. 4 to 6 are exploded perspective views of the wristwatch. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the windshield 34 and the packing 3 are provided above the outer case 30.
5. The solar cell 10 and the solar cell holding member 36 are attached.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, on the lower side of the outer case 30, a windshield 56 as a back cover, a holding member 58, a movement holding member 50, a middle frame 44,
The movement support member 40 and the parting ring 38 are attached. Hereinafter, the members attached to the upper side of the outer case 30 will be described in detail in order. On the back surface (upper surface in FIG. 3) of the transparent substrate 12, a time display scale 23 constituting the dial of the wristwatch 20 is formed in advance by printing, engraving, pasting, or the like. Solar cell 10
Is held by the ring-shaped solar cell holding member 36 and fitted into the outer case 30 from above. The inner peripheral surface of the solar cell holding member 36 is formed with a stepped receiving portion 36 a that engages with the peripheral edge of the solar cell 10 and receives the solar cell 10. Then, when the solar cell 10 is fitted into the solar cell holding member 36 from above the solar cell holding member 36, the periphery of the solar cell 10 engages with the receiving portion 36 a and is held by the solar cell holding member 36.

A notch 17 for preventing rotation is formed in a part of the circumference of the solar cell 10, and a notch engaging portion 36 b engaging with the notch 17 is formed in the solar cell holding member 36. ing. By inserting the solar cell 10 into the solar cell holding member 36 such that the notch 17 engages with the notch engaging portion 36b, rotation of the solar cell 10 with respect to the solar cell holding member 36 can be prevented.

Notch engaging portion 36b of solar cell holding member 36
A groove 37 is formed in the portion where is formed to penetrate from the receiving portion 36a to the other side of the solar cell holding member 36. A connection member 60 for supplying electric power of the solar cell 10 to the movement 42 and the like is arranged in the groove 37. On one side of the connecting member 60, the solar cell 10 with the solar cell holding member 36 when incorporated into the package case 30, the conductive portion 14 1 of the solar cell _10, 14 ₄ to form output terminals 16a, 16b (see FIG. 1), and has two contacts 61 and 62 as a first contact portion. The contacts 61 and 62 are connected to the output terminals 16a and 1
It is formed in a leaf spring shape so as to ensure the contact state with the solar cell 10 and ensure the supply of power from the solar cell 10 to the movement 42.

On the other side of the connecting member 60, a contact 63 conducting to the contact 61 and a contact 64 conducting to the contact 62 are provided.
Is provided. The contacts 63 and 64 are formed in a leaf spring shape so as to securely contact the positive input terminal (not shown) formed on a part of the conductive pattern 46 and the negative input terminal while being pressed. ing. By forming each of the contacts 61 to 64 in a leaf spring shape in this manner, not only can the solar cell 10 and the conductive pattern 46 be reliably connected to each other, but also the wristwatch 20 receives a large impact. Can maintain this connection state. The above-described groove 37 and connection member 60 are formed by a parting ring 38 described later fitted inside the solar cell holding member 36.
It is hidden from view from the outside.

A flange-shaped receiving portion 30a is formed on the inner surface of the outer case 30, and when the solar cell holding member 36 holding the solar cell 10 is fitted into the outer case 30 from above, the receiving portion 30a The solar cell holding member 36 is supported inside the outer case 30. And the solar cell 10
The packing 35 is placed on the top, and the windshield 34 is fitted into and fixed to the outer case 30 via the packing 35. Needless to say, the windshield 34 is made of an adhesive material or the like.
May be fixed. Thus, the upper part of the wristwatch 20 is completed.

Next, the members attached to the lower side of the outer case 30 will be described. The parting ring 38 is fitted into the inside of the solar cell holding member 36 to hide the inner peripheral surface of the solar cell holding member 36, and the parting ring 38 a
0 and a flange 38b having substantially the same outer diameter. When the parting ring 38 is inserted into the inside of the outer case 30 from below, the outer peripheral surface of the flange portion 38b contacts the inner peripheral surface of the outer case 30 and the parting ring 38 is positioned inside the wristwatch 20. The ring-shaped movement support member 40 that supports the movement 42 includes a parting ring 38.
Placed under The movement support member 40 has an outer ring portion 40 b having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the outer case 30, and a disk-shaped support portion 40 a for supporting the movement 42. The surface of the support portion 40a is finished like the dial of a normal wristwatch. The diameter of the support portion 40a is preferably smaller than the length of at least the minute hand 26 of the wristwatch 20. It is more preferable that the length of the hour hand 24 is smaller than the length of the hour hand 24.

The supporting portion 40a and the outer ring portion 40b are connected by four ribs 41 formed at positions of the wristwatch 20 at 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock and 9 o'clock. The cross-sectional shape of the rib 41 is formed in a downward U-shape, and the downward U-shaped portion forms a passage 41a.

If the support portion 40a and the outer ring portion 40b can be firmly connected, the rib 4
The number of 1 is not limited to four, but may be one to three or five or more. Further, the position at which the rib 41 is provided is not limited to the above position, and any appropriate position can be selected in consideration of the design of the wristwatch 20 and the like.

A middle frame 44 attached to the movement support member 40 from below has an inner ring portion 44a having a movement fitting portion 44c into which the movement 42 is fitted.
And an outer ring portion 44b formed around the inner ring portion 44a, and a rib 45 connecting the inner ring portion 44a and the outer ring portion 44b. The outer shape of the inner ring portion 44a is formed so as to fit into the gap 41b between the movement 42 attached to the lower surface of the support portion 40a of the movement support member 40 and the end of the rib 41. Further, the outer ring portion 44 b is inscribed in the inner peripheral surface of the outer case 30, and the outer ring portion 44 b of the movement support member 40.
0b. Further, the rib 45 is provided in the passage 4 of the rib 41 of the movement support member 40.
It is formed so as to be fitted into 1a. Of the four ribs 45 of the middle frame 44, the rib 45 located at the 3 o'clock position of the wristwatch 20 has a downward U-shaped passage 45 a through which the winding stem 49 of the crown 48 can be inserted.

The movement holding member 50 has an outer ring portion 50b having the same outer shape as the outer ring portion 40b of the movement support member 40, and a hole 50c into which the inner ring portion 44a of the middle frame 44 is fitted. A ring-shaped inner ring portion 50a having the same outer diameter as the outer diameter of the support portion 40a of the member 40 is provided. Inner ring 50
a and the outer ring portion 50b
Are connected by four ribs 51 provided at the same positions as the ribs 41 of the first embodiment. The cross-sectional shape of the rib 51 is formed in an upward U-shape.
A passage 51a into which the fourth rib 45 is fitted is formed.

The movement supporting member 40 and the movement holding member 50 formed as described above are overlapped with the middle frame 44 fitted in the middle. That is,
With the rib 45 of the middle frame 44 aligned with the passage 41a of the movement support member 40 and the passage 51a of the movement holding member 50, the gap 41b (see FIG. 5) of the movement support member 40 and the inner ring of the movement holding member 50 The inner ring portion 4 of the middle frame 44 is inserted into the hole 50c of the
4a is fitted. Thereby, the movement support member 4
The outer ring portion 40b of the zero and the outer ring portion 50b of the movement holding member 50 are fitted inside the outer ring portion 44b of the middle frame 44. Then, the movement support member 40
Of the wristwatch 20, the ribs 45 of the middle frame 44, and the ribs 51 of the movement holding member 50
19d is formed. The passage 41a of the movement support member 40 and the passage 51a of the movement holding member 50 located at the 3 o'clock position of the wristwatch 20
The inner passage 43b (see FIG. 3) is formed, and the passage 41a and the passage 51a located at the 9 o'clock position form the inner passage 43d of the rib portion 19d.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the rib portions 19b and 19c in a state where the movement supporting member 40, the middle frame 44 and the movement holding member 50 are assembled.
2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 2, and FIG. 7B is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the rib 45 of the middle frame 44 fits into both the passage 41a of the rib 41 of the movement support member 40 and the passage 51a of the rib 51 of the movement holding member 50. The movement support member 40 and the movement holding member 50 do not relatively rotate.

A winding stem 49 is provided through an internal passage 43b of the rib portion 19b located at the 3 o'clock position of the wristwatch 20, and an internal passage 43d of the rib portion 19d provided at the 9 o'clock position of the wristwatch 20 is A sheet-like conductive pattern 46 for supplying power of the solar cell 10 to the movement 42 is provided. In this embodiment, the conductive pattern 46 forms a conductive member. The conductive pattern 46 is stuck on the rib 45 of the middle frame 44 constituting the rib portion 19d. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the winding stem 49 and the conductive pattern 46 are separated from each other.
The ribs 19b may be provided on the same rib portion, for example, the rib portion 19b through which the winding stem 49 is inserted.

In this embodiment, the movement support member 40, the middle frame 44 and the movement holding member 50 assembled as described above constitute an inner case. Then, the inner case is fitted into the outer case 30 from below. Thereafter, from the lower side of the outer case 30, the O-ring 57
, A ring-shaped holding member 58 having a screw portion 58a is screwed into the outer case 30.

Thus, the movement support member 40,
The movement 42, the middle frame 44, and the movement holding member 50 are fixed in the outer case 30. At this time, the contacts 63 and 64 of the connection member 60 of the solar cell holding member 36 already installed on the upper side of the outer case 30 are connected to the positive input terminal and the negative input terminal (not shown) of the conductive pattern 46. Contact, the movement 4 from the solar cell 10
2 can be supplied with power. It should be noted that a nameplate 54 on which predetermined items are entered is pasted on the back surface of the movement 42.

A windshield 56 on the back side is fitted into the opening of the ring-shaped holding member 58 via a packing 59 and fixed. The waterproofness of the wristwatch 20 of this embodiment is maintained by the O-ring 57, the packing 35, and the packing 59. The windshield 56 is provided with a packing 59.
In addition, it may be fixed to the outer case 30 with an adhesive or the like. In this way, the completed wristwatch is at 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock.
Rib portion 19a provided at the hour, 9 o'clock and 12 o'clock positions
Between ~ 19d, spreading in the radial direction of the wristwatch 20, and
A space 32 penetrating in the vertical direction is formed. further,
Since the transparent windshield 56 is also used for the back cover of the wristwatch 20, a novel design that can see from the upper side to the lower side can be obtained.

Instead of providing the solar cell 10 on the front side of the wristwatch 20, the solar cell 10 may be provided on the back cover side (the windshield 56 side). In addition, back cover side (windshield glass 56 side)
In addition, a solar cell similar to the solar cell 10 may be additionally provided. Since the light transmitted through the space portion 32 reaches the back cover side, an electromotive force can be obtained also by the solar cell provided on the back cover side. In particular, if the solar cells are provided on both the front side and the back cover side, even if the electromotive force of the front side solar cell 10 is reduced, it can be compensated for by the electromotive force of the back cover side solar cell. Therefore, the line width of the photovoltaic cells 18 of the solar cell 10 can be further reduced, or the interval s can be further increased, so that the transparency of the solar cell 10 can be increased.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the wristwatch 20 of this embodiment has a support portion 4 of a movement support member 40.
Since the diameter of 0a is smaller than the length of the hour hand 24, minute hand 26 and second hand 28 of the wristwatch 20, these hands 24, 26,
Since the tip of 28 protrudes from the support portion 40a and can be seen from the back side of the wristwatch 20, and the scale 23 is provided on the transparent substrate 12 of the solar cell 10, the time can also be known from the back side of the wristwatch 20. There is.

The present invention is applicable not only to the above-mentioned analog timepiece but also to a digital timepiece. FIG. 8 shows a plan view of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a digital timepiece.
The digital display member 72 may be provided on the display plate 71 of the wristwatch 70, or may be provided on the lower surface (back surface) of the solar cell 10. Further, the transparent substrate 1 constituting the solar cell 10
2, the digital display member 72 may be formed directly. In this case, by using a polarizing plate as the transparent substrate 12, the polarizing plate of the digital display member 72 can be omitted.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, although a wristwatch has been described as an example of an electronic device, the present invention is also applicable to other clocks such as a table clock and a wall clock, and is also applicable to other electronic devices other than a clock. .

Although only an analog clock and a digital clock have been described, the present invention can be applied to an analog / digital combination clock.
In the above embodiment, the windshield 3 of the wristwatch 20 is used.
4, the solar cell 10 having the transparent substrate 12 as a base material has been described. However, by forming the thin-line photovoltaic cell 18 directly on the windshield 34, the thickness of the wristwatch 20 can be reduced. Can be.

[0045]

According to the present invention, the transparency of a solar cell can be improved by making the photovoltaic cell extremely thin and providing the photovoltaic cell across substantially the entire surface of the display member. By using such a translucent solar cell, the degree of freedom in selecting the design of an electronic device, particularly a timepiece, can be greatly improved. In addition, the watch has a novel design that can be seen from the upper side to the lower side by forming a space that extends in the radial direction of the watch and penetrates vertically, and also uses transparent glass for the back cover of the watch. A watch can be obtained, and the user's playfulness can be satisfied.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a light-transmitting solar cell used in an electronic device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a wristwatch according to an embodiment in which the solar cell of FIG. 1 is used in a wristwatch as an example of an electronic device.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line II of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the wristwatch shown in FIG. 2, which is a perspective view of a member incorporated on an upper side of an outer case.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the wristwatch of FIG. 2, which is a perspective view of a parting ring and a movement support member incorporated into a lower side of an outer case.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the wristwatch of FIG. 2 and is a perspective view of other members incorporated under the outer case.

7 is a sectional view of a rib portion in a state where the movement supporting member, the middle frame and the movement holding member are assembled, FIG. 7 (a) is a sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 2, and FIG. 7 (b) is a sectional view of FIG. It is a III-III sectional view.

FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 solar cell (translucent solar cell) 12 transparent substrate 14 _{1 to} 14 ₄ conductive part 15 connecting part 16 a, 16 b output terminal 17 notch engaging part 18 photovoltaic cell 19 a to 19 d rib part 20 wrist watch 22 display part 23 scale 24 Hour hand 26 minute hand 28 second hand 30 outer case 30 a parting-off part 32 space part 34, 56 windshield 36 solar cell holding member 36 a receiving part 38 parting-off ring 38 a parting-off part 38 b flange 40 movement support member 42 movement 43 b, 43 d internal passage 44 middle frame 46 Conductive pattern (conductive member) 50 Movement holding member 60 Connecting member 61, 62 Contact (first contact portion) 63, 64 Contact (second contact portion) 70 Watch (other embodiment) 71 Display plate 72 Digital display members

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H01L 31/04 Q F term (Reference) 2F002 AA00 AA06 AB02 AB04 AB06 AC03 DA00 EA01 EB01 ED01 ED02 ED05 ED06 EF01 2F084 AA00 BB06 EE02 EE03 EE04 EE13 EE18 FF01 2H089 HA40 JA10 QA11 TA11 5F051 BA04 BA05 EA01 JA02

Claims (30)

[Claims] 1. An electronic apparatus having a solar cell and having a device driven by electric power generated by the solar cell, wherein the solar cell is provided around a transparent substrate and connected to the transparent substrate, and is connected in series. And a plurality of conductive parts, and a plurality of formed at an appropriate interval on the transparent substrate, a light-transmitting solar cell having a thin line photovoltaic cell connected to the conductive part, Electronic equipment. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the thin-line photovoltaic cells are formed at equal intervals on the transparent substrate. 3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the thin-line photovoltaic cells are formed so as to extend from the respective conductive portions in a direction crossing the transparent substrate. 4. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the thin-line photovoltaic cell is extended to the vicinity of the corresponding conductive portion across the transparent substrate. 5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the width of the thin-line photovoltaic cell ranges from 3% to 30% per interval. 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein a part of the conductive portion is formed as an output terminal for supplying power from the translucent solar cell to the device. Electronics. 7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the device includes a display member that displays a predetermined content. 8. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the translucent solar cell is disposed above the display member. 9. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the display member includes a liquid crystal display. 10. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the display member is provided on a back surface of the transparent substrate. 11. The light-transmitting solar cell is disposed above a case of the electronic apparatus, and the device is disposed below the light-transmitting solar cell in the case. A space is formed therebetween, and a transparent member is arranged below the electronic device so that the electronic device can be seen from above to below. An electronic device according to claim 1. 12. The light-transmitting solar cell is disposed below the case instead of the upper side of the case, or the light-transmitting solar cell is disposed above and below the case. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein: 13. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the electronic device is a clock, and the display member includes a time display member for displaying time. 14. The display member includes an analog display member for displaying time using a pointer and a dial, and the translucent solar cell is provided above the dial. An electronic device according to claim 1. 15. The electronic apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the transparent substrate is larger than an outer periphery of a movement for driving a pointer of the analog display member. 16. The electronic device according to claim 14, wherein the translucent solar cell is provided above the pointer. 17. The scale of the dial is provided on the front surface or the back surface of the transparent substrate.
The electronic device according to any one of the above items 16. 18. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein the transparent substrate is a windshield of the timepiece. 19. The watch according to claim 1, wherein the translucent solar cell is disposed on a front side of a case of the timepiece, a pointer of the analog display member is provided below the translucent solar cell in the case, and a pointer for driving the pointer. Along with disposing the movement, a space is formed between the movement and the case, and a transparent plate is disposed on the lower surface side of the watch so that the watch can be seen from the upper side to the lower side. The electronic device according to any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein: 20. The translucent solar cell is disposed on the back cover side of the case instead of the front side of the case, or the translucent solar cell is disposed on the front and back cover sides of the case. The electronic device according to claim 19, wherein: 21. The case according to claim 1, wherein the case and the movement are connected by one or a plurality of ribs, and the movement is supported at a center side of the case.
The electronic device according to 9 or 20. 22. The case according to claim 2, wherein the case has an outer case and an inner case fitted inside the outer case, and the rib is formed on the inner case.
2. The electronic device according to 1. 23. A conductive member for supplying electric power from the translucent solar cell to the movement through the inside of the rib.
An electronic device according to claim 1. 24. The electronic device according to claim 21, wherein a winding stem is provided through the inside of the rib. 25. The electronic apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the conductive member is provided through a rib different from a rib through which the winding stem is inserted. 26. The conductive portion of the transparent substrate and the conductive member are connected by a connecting member, the connecting member being connected to a first contact portion biased by an output terminal of the conductive portion, and being connected to the conductive member. The electronic device according to any one of claims 23 to 25, further comprising a second contact portion biased by the member. 27. The solar cell is held by a solar cell holding member fitted into the case, the connection member is provided on the solar cell holding member, and the first contact portion is the solar cell receiving the solar cell. The receiving portion of the battery holding member contacts the output terminal of the conducting portion of the solar cell, and the second contact portion contacts the conductive member when the solar cell holding member is accommodated in the case. The electronic device according to claim 26, wherein: 28. The hand according to claim 19, wherein a minute hand for displaying at least a minute of said hands of said analog display member is extended above said space between said case and said movement. An electronic device according to any one of the above. 29. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein the size of the translucent solar cell is larger than the size of the display member. 30. The case according to claim 14, wherein the case has a portion having an inner diameter smaller than that of the transparent substrate, and the portion hides the conductive portion provided on the transparent substrate. An electronic device according to any one of the above.