Antenna and wristwatch equipped with antenna

Antenna and watch with antenna

Technical field

The present invention relates to an antenna and a watch with the antenna.

Background technique

In the past, it has been used as a watch that accurately displays the time until the radio watch. The radio wave watch receives the radio wave of the time information, corrects the time, and can display the correct time after correction. An antenna for receiving radio waves of time information is built in this radio timepiece. As shown in FIG. 13, the conventional antenna 70 has a conductor 72 wound in a coil shape around a magnetic body 71 made of rod-shaped ferrite. In such an antenna 70, the sensitivity is determined by the size of the radio wave receiving area, that is, the width of the area at both ends of the magnetic body 71. Therefore, in order to increase the radio wave receiving sensitivity of the antenna 70, as in the antenna 80 shown in FIG. 14, the both ends of the magnetic body 81 are enlarged to enlarge the area of the radio wave receiving area.

However, the magnetic body 81 made of ferrite is mechanically fragile. Therefore, with the increase in the receiving area of the both ends of the magnetic body 81, manufacturing becomes difficult and there are problems in strength. Therefore, the receiving area is enlarged. There is also a limit.

Summary of the invention

Therefore, the object of the present invention is an antenna that can be easily manufactured even if the receiving area of the magnetic body is further increased, and a watch having the antenna.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is characterized by having an antenna main body, which is formed separately around a magnetic body and a conductor wound in a coil shape, and a radio wave capturing section for capturing radio waves. The area of the radio wave capturing area of the radio wave capturing section is larger than The cross-sectional area of the antenna main body in the direction orthogonal to the axis of the antenna main body is also large, and the radio wave capture section is arranged to be close to the end of the antenna main body in the axial direction.

Description of the drawings

The drawings are briefly described below.

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a wristwatch according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of section II-II in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3A is a schematic plan view of the antenna according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3B is a schematic side view of the radio wave capturing part of the antenna according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

4A is a schematic plan view of an antenna according to Modification 1 of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

4B is a schematic side view of a radio wave capturing portion of the antenna according to Modification 1 of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

5A is a schematic plan view of an antenna according to Modification 2 of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 5B is a schematic side view of a radio wave capturing part of the antenna according to Modification 2 of the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6A is a schematic plan view of an antenna according to a modification 3 of the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6B is a schematic side view of a radio wave capturing part of the antenna according to Modification 3 of the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7A is a schematic plan view of an antenna according to a modification 5 of the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7B is a cross-sectional view of section VIII-VIII of Fig. 7A.

Fig. 8A is a schematic plan view of an antenna according to a sixth modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8B is a cross-sectional view of section IX-IX of Fig. 8A.

Fig. 9 is a schematic plan view of a wristwatch according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of section XI-XI in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11A is a schematic plan view of an antenna according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

Fig. 11B is a schematic side view of the radio wave capturing part of the antenna according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 12A is a schematic plan view of an antenna according to Modification 1 of Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

Fig. 12B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XIII-XIII of Fig. 12A.

Fig. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional antenna.

Fig. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional antenna.

detailed description

Hereinafter, the antenna and the wristwatch with the antenna of the present invention will be described in detail.

(Embodiment 1) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the antenna 30 is built in the wristwatch 100 and receives radio waves of time information to correct the displayed time of the wristwatch 100.

The watch 100 is provided with a watch case 2 as a case housing the watch module 1 inside, and a watch glass 3 is attached to the upper center of the watch case 2 via a gasket 4. In addition, the frame-shaped member 5 provided on the watch module 1 is arranged such that the upper part thereof is adjacent to the watch glass 3. A back cover 6 is attached to the lower surface of the watch case 2 via a waterproof ring, and a buffer member 8 is provided between the watch module 1 and the back cover 6. In addition, a screen 9 is provided on the outer periphery of the upper part of the watch case 2. A watch band B is mounted on the watch case 2 through a belt shaft 2A.

The meter module 1 has an analog function. As shown in Figure 2, the watch module 1 is provided with an upper bracket 10 and a lower bracket 11 as intermediate members, a dial 12 is arranged on the upper surface of the upper bracket 10, and a frame member 5 is arranged on the upper surface of the dial 12 . In addition, under the frame member 5, that is, between the upper support 10 and the lower support 11 having a predetermined interval, a circuit board 13 as an electronic substrate is arranged. The watch module 1 has a structure in which the dial 12, the upper bracket 10, the circuit board 13, and the lower bracket 11 are mounted on the middle frame 14 of the watch case 2.

In addition, an analog pointer mechanism 15 is provided on the upper support 10, and a battery (not shown) for the operation of the analog pointer mechanism 15 is arranged on the lower support 11.

An antenna 30 is provided on the upper bracket 10.

The antenna 30 has a magnetic body 31 magnetized by electric waves as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, and a conductor 34 that is wound around a part of the magnetic body 31, and a current flows through the magnetic body 31 according to the magnitude of the magnetic field generated in the magnetic body 31.

The magnetic body 31 has a radio wave capturing section 32 that captures radio waves of time information, and an antenna main body section 33 formed separately from the radio wave capturing section 32 and wound with a conductor 34.

The radio wave capturing portion 32 is made of ferrite, is bent into a strip shape along the upper bracket 10 and is arranged on the upper bracket 10. In addition, a concave portion 132 a for connecting the antenna main body portion 33 is formed in the radio wave capturing portion 32. The radio wave capturing unit 32 is provided at a position facing each other across the antenna main body 33, for example, at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock. The ends of the antenna main body 33 are fitted into the recesses of the antenna main body 33 respectively. In 132a, the radio wave capturing section 32 and the antenna main body section 33 are connected. That is, the radio wave capturing unit 32 is provided so as to be detachable from the antenna main body 33.

The antenna main body portion 33 is provided so as to be connectable to the concave portion 132 a of the radio wave capture portion 32, and its both ends are supported on the upper bracket 10 where the radio wave capture portion 32 is arranged.

In addition, in the antenna main body 33, a conductor 34 such as copper wire is wound into a coil shape, and the antenna main body 33 is magnetized by radio waves, and a current of the magnitude of a magnetic field generated in the antenna main body 33 along with the magnetization flows through the conductor 34.

The analog pointer mechanism 15 has a pointer shaft 17 extending upward from a shaft hole 13 provided on the dial 12, and a pointer 18 such as hour and minute hands mounted on the pointer shaft 17, and the pointer 18 moves above the dial 12 needle. Here, the dial 12 and the pointer 18 are respectively provided with a light-emitting portion 19 that receives light from a light-emitting element and emits light at predetermined places.

The frame-shaped member 5 is formed of, for example, a synthetic resin having light transmittance, particularly a transparent synthetic resin. As shown in FIG. 2, the frame member 5 is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the watch case 2 in a state in which the lower surface of the peripheral portion of the watch glass 3 and the upper surface of the peripheral portion of the dial 12 (upper holder 10) are contacted. In addition, in a predetermined place of the frame-shaped member 5, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, ultraviolet light emitting elements 201 called black light are arranged at places corresponding to 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock. The frame-shaped member 5 in which the ultraviolet light emitting element 201 is arranged is a member that also functions as a protection member or a buffer member. The ultraviolet light emitting element 201 is composed of, for example, an ultraviolet light emitting diode (LED) that emits ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 254 to 420 nm (nanometers) or an ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 374 to 389 nm, more preferably ultraviolet light in the vicinity of 365 nm.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the ultraviolet light emitting element 201 is supported and fixed by a connecting member 21A composed of a contact member 21 in contact with the ultraviolet light emitting element 201 and a spring 22 that provides elastic force to the contact member 21. The contact member 21 has a pair of support shafts 21a (only one is shown in FIG. 2) that is connected to an electrode terminal (not shown) of the ultraviolet light emitting element 201, and the support shaft 21a is in contact with the electrode terminal.

The contact member 21 has conductivity, and its central portion is inserted into the through hole 10a provided on the upper bracket 10, and passes through the through hole 12b provided in the dial plate 12 and the through hole 5a provided in the frame member 5. The upper end part of the member 5 is arrange|positioned so that it may protrude upward. The ultraviolet light emitting element 201 is in contact with the upper end portion (a pair of support shafts 21a) of the protrusion. A buffer member 23 is installed between the ultraviolet light emitting element 201 and the watch glass 3.

The coil spring 22 has conductivity and is inserted into the through hole 10 a provided on the upper bracket 10. Its lower end is in elastic contact with the connection terminal T formed on the circuit board 13, and its upper end is in elastic contact with the lower end of the contact member 21. Accordingly, the coil spring 22 makes the contact member 21 abut the ultraviolet light emitting element 201 and elastically supports it. In addition, the ultraviolet light emitting element 201 and the circuit board 13 are electrically connected by the connection member 21A composed of the contact member 21 and the coil spring 22.

As shown in FIG. 2, the light-emitting portion 19 is used as a resin portion, a printing portion, or a coating portion at a predetermined location on the dial 12, such as the upper surface of the marking portion or the time characters, and the pointer 18 of the analog pointer mechanism 15 form. The upper surface of the light-emitting portion 19 is desirably covered and protected by a transparent protective layer (not shown).

These light-emitting parts 19 react with ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 350 to 420 nm or 254 to 365 nm, for example, to emit colored light, and assume a transparent state in a normal state where no ultraviolet rays are irradiated. That is, in response to the ultraviolet light output from the ultraviolet light emitting element 201 or the ultraviolet light emitted from the light-transmitting frame-shaped member 5, the light emitting portion 19 emits colored light.

According to the antenna 30 of the present embodiment, since the antenna main body 33 and the radio wave capturing section 32 are formed independently, the antenna main body 33 and the radio wave capturing section 32 can be made into simple shapes. Therefore, even if the radio wave capturing section 32 is increased The area of the capture region also makes it easy to manufacture the entire magnetic body. In addition, in terms of strength, no load is locally applied, so the mechanical strength of the antenna section 30 can be improved. Therefore, compared with the past, the area of the radio wave capturing area of the radio wave capturing portion 32 can be further increased than the antenna main body in the direction orthogonal to the axis of the antenna main body 33 (the winding direction of the conductor 34 wound on the antenna main body 33). The section 33 has a large cross-sectional area, can improve the sensitivity of radio wave reception, and the receivable direction is increased, so the directivity can be further eased.

Next, a modification example of the antenna 30 of the first embodiment will be described.

(Modification 1) As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the antenna 30a of Modification 1 has grooves 35a formed on the radio wave catching portion 32a, and protrusions that engage with the grooves 35a are formed on both ends of the antenna main body portion 33a. 36a. The groove 35a is formed to extend from the upper surface side to the lower surface of the wristwatch 100 when the radio wave capturing portion 32a is arranged on the upper bracket 10, and to insert the antenna main body portion 33a with the conductor 34a wound into a coil shape from above. The portion 36a constitutes the antenna 30a.

By adopting such a structure, after the radio wave capturing portion 32a is mounted on the upper bracket 10, the antenna main body portion 33 can be mounted, so the degree of freedom in manufacturing is increased. In addition, when the antenna main body portion 33a is removed, only the antenna main body portion 33a can be pulled out along the groove portion 35a, so the removal work can be easily performed.

(Modification 2) As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the antenna 30b of Modification 2 has an arc-shaped radio wave capturing portion 32a of Modification 1 having a nearly L-shaped radio wave capturing portion 32b.

The two radio wave capturing parts 32b are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the center position of the upper surface of the watch, and a groove 35b is formed in each. In addition, protruding portions 36b that fit into the groove portion 35b are formed at both ends of the antenna main body portion 33b. The groove 35b is formed to extend from the upper surface side to the lower surface of the wristwatch 100 when the radio wave capturing portion 32b is arranged on the upper bracket 10, and to insert the antenna main body portion 33b wound with the conductor 34a into a coil shape from above. The portion 36b constitutes the antenna 30b.

By adopting such a structure, in addition to obtaining the same effects as in Modification 1, the two radio wave capturing portions 32b have a nearly quadrangular outer periphery, so the antenna 30b can be used in a quadrangular wristwatch.

(Modification 3) As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the antenna 30c of Modification 3 has the two ends of the antenna main body 33c formed into a continuous zigzag shape with a mountain-shaped portion and a valley-shaped portion, and the radio wave capture portion 32c is connected to the antenna main body. The connecting part of the part 33c forms a zigzag shape in which the mountain-shaped part and the valley-shaped part are continuous, and mutually connects the mountain-shaped part and the valley-shaped part.

By adopting such a structure, the contact area between the radio wave capturing portion 32c and the antenna main body portion 33c is increased compared with the modification 1 or the modification example, so the friction generated at the connection place of the radio wave capturing portion 32c and the antenna main body portion 33c is increased. The antenna 30c can be maintained in a more stable state, so the reception sensitivity of radio waves can be further stabilized.

(Modification 4) As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the antenna 30e of Modification 4 is formed by patterning and forming the arc-shaped radio wave capturing portion 32 of the first embodiment on the circuit board 13, and the radio wave capturing portion 32 is mounted as The circuit board 13 can be removed.

The radio wave catching portion 32e is formed on the circuit board 13 with copper foil or the like patterned at two places, and mounting holes H for mounting the antenna main body portion 33e are formed between the radio wave catching portions 32e of the circuit board 13. By fitting the antenna main body 33e in the mounting hole H, the antenna 30e is formed.

By adopting such a structure, the thickness of the antenna 30e is thinner than the thickness of the antenna main body 33e by the thickness of the circuit board 13. Therefore, the antenna 30e can be reduced in thickness, and the wristwatch 100 can be further reduced in thickness.

(Modification 5) As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the antenna 30f of Modification 5 has: on the film substrate F, a radio wave capturing portion 32f formed with copper foil patterning at two places; The antenna main body portion 33f composed of film-shaped coil elements between 32f. The antenna main body 33f is formed by bonding two base films 50a, 50b made of synthetic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to each other through an adhesive 51, and then on the base film 50a, 50b. A thin film medium 52 is provided between the films 50a and 50b. In addition, on the surface of each base film 50a, 50b, thin-film conductors 53a, 53b, such as copper foil, are respectively joined at positions opposed to each other with the thin-film medium 52 interposed therebetween. The two thin-film conductors 53a and 53b are connected by a through hole 54 as a connection conductor. The thin film conductors 53a and 53b connected by the through hole 54 are spirally wound around the thin film conductors 53a and 53b to form an analog coil with the thin film dielectric 52 as a core material.

By adopting such a structure, the thickness of the antenna 30f can be significantly reduced compared to when the antenna main body portion 33e is mounted on the circuit board 13 shown in FIG. 7A. Therefore, the antenna 30f can be made thinner, and the watch can be made thinner.

(Embodiment 2) As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the antenna 40 of Embodiment 2 is built in the watch 200 and receives radio waves of time information to correct the display time of the watch 200. It should be noted that the same reference numerals are given to the same constituent elements as in the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B, the antenna 40 has a magnetic body 41 magnetized by electric waves, and a conductor 44 through which a current flows according to the magnitude of the magnetic field generated in the magnetic body 41.

The magnetic body 41 has an antenna main body portion 43 wound with a conductor 44, and a radio wave capturing portion 42 formed separately from the antenna main body portion 43 and capturing radio waves. The difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is that the radio wave capturing part 42 is arranged away from the antenna main body part 43.

The radio wave capturing portion 42 is made of a magnetic material such as ferrite, and as shown in FIG. 10, it is provided in a storage portion S formed in the watch case 2 and the middle frame 14, and is bent into a band shape along the watch case 2 and the middle frame 14. In addition, the radio wave capturing unit 42 is provided at positions facing each other, such as a 3 o'clock position and a 9 o'clock position, and is arranged in a state of being away from each end of the antenna main body portion 43.

The antenna main body portion 43 is made of a magnetic body such as ferrite, and is provided between the opposed radio wave capturing portions 42, and its both ends are supported by the upper bracket 10.

In addition, on the antenna main body 43, the conductor 44 is wound in a coil shape. According to this, the antenna main body 43 is magnetized by the radio waves captured by the radio wave capture unit 42, and a current of the magnitude of the magnetic field formed by the magnetized antenna main body 43 flows through the conductor 44.

According to the antenna 40 of this embodiment, since the antenna main body 43 and the radio wave capturing section 42 are formed independently, the antenna main body 43 and the radio wave capturing section 42 can be made into simple shapes. Therefore, even if the radio wave capturing section 43 is increased The area of the capture region also makes it easy to manufacture the entire magnetic body. In addition, in terms of strength, there is no place where a load is locally applied, so the mechanical strength of the antenna section 40 can be improved. Therefore, compared with the prior art, the area of the radio wave capturing area of the radio wave capturing portion 42 can be further increased than the antenna main body in the direction orthogonal to the axis of the antenna main body 33 (the winding direction of the conductor 34 wound on the antenna main body 33). The section 43 has a large cross-sectional area, can improve the sensitivity of radio wave reception, and the receivable direction is increased, so the directivity can be further eased.

By disposing the radio wave capturing section 42 away from the antenna main body section 43, the degree of freedom in the layout of the antenna 40 can be increased, and it is suitable for use in small electronic devices such as watches subject to installation space constraints.

(Modification 1) As shown in Figs. 12A and 12B, the antenna 40a of the modification 1 is patterned on the circuit board 13 to form the arc-shaped radio wave capturing portion 42 of the second embodiment, and the antenna main body 43 is mounted to The circuit board 13 can be removed.

The radio wave catching part 42a is formed on the circuit board 13 with copper foil patterns at two places, and mounting holes H for mounting the antenna main body part 43a are formed between the radio wave catching parts of the circuit board 13. The antenna 40a is constructed by fitting the antenna main body 43a into the mounting hole H.

By adopting such a structure, the thickness of the antenna 40a is thinner than the thickness of the antenna main body 43a by the thickness of the circuit board 13. Therefore, the antenna 40a can be reduced in thickness, and the wristwatch 200 can be further reduced in thickness.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. For example, the antenna is not limited to analog watches, and can also be built into digital watches. In addition, the shape or arrangement of the radio wave capturing part and the antenna main body part can also be freely designed and changed. In addition, it can be changed as long as it does not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

As described above, according to the present invention, by separately forming the antenna main body and the radio wave capturing section, the areas of the antenna main body and the radio wave capturing section can be made into simple shapes. Therefore, even if the area of the radio wave capturing area of the radio wave capturing section is increased, The production of the entire magnetic body also becomes easy. In addition, there is no place where the load is locally applied in terms of strength, so the mechanical strength of the antenna portion can be improved. Therefore, compared with the past, the area of the radio wave capturing area of the radio wave capturing portion can be further increased than the antenna main body portion in the direction orthogonal to the axis of the antenna main body portion 33 (the winding direction of the conductor 34 wound on the antenna main body portion 33). The large cross-sectional area can improve the receiving sensitivity of radio waves, and the receivable direction is increased, so the directivity can be further eased.

In addition, by disposing the radio wave capturing part away from the antenna body part, the freedom of the antenna layout can be increased, and it is suitable for use in small electronic devices subject to installation space constraints.

In addition, by patterning the radio wave trapping portion on the electronic substrate, the thickness of the radio wave trapping portion can be reduced, and the antenna can be made thinner.

In addition, by disposing the radio wave capturing part away from the antenna body part, the freedom of the antenna layout can be increased, and it is suitable for use in small electronic devices subject to installation space constraints.

By incorporating the antenna of the present invention, it is possible to provide a wristwatch with improved radio wave reception sensitivity and an increase in the receiving direction compared with the prior art, so that the directivity can be further alleviated.