JP4978973B2 - Clock device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a timepiece device that uses a phosphorescent material to improve its display function and decoration.

In general, there is known a timepiece having a configuration in which a luminous material is provided on a pointer to form a light emitting unit, and the light emitting unit is irradiated with light that excites the luminous material. By using the phosphorescent material in this way, it is possible to improve the time display function in a dark place. There is also an advantage that the decorativeness is improved. This type of timepiece is also disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-174866 JP-A-8-95509 JP 2000-292558 A

  In recent years, the functions and designs of watches have been diversified, and further contrivances are required for using the phosphorescent materials described above more effectively.

  The phosphorescent material is a fluorescent material having a long emission life. The fluorescent material emits light by luminescence. That is, it is excited by light of a specific wavelength such as ultraviolet rays and emits visible light. Ordinary fluorescent materials have a short light emission lifetime in which the emission of visible light stops immediately when the excitation light is stopped. A material having a long emission life, that is, a material that stores light energy and emits phosphorescence is called a phosphorescent material.

  While the phosphorescent material emits light, the brightness is attenuated, so the time for maintaining the required brightness is limited. For this reason, moderate brightness may be maintained by appropriately irradiating light from the light emitting means. Here, when the light emitting means is provided outside the pointer, it is necessary to consider that the positional relationship between the light emitting means and the phosphorescent material provided on the pointer changes. For example, in the case of a small timepiece such as a wristwatch, it is possible to supply sufficient light to move the entire driving range of the pointer with one or two light emitting means. Then, their positional relationship suitable for light irradiation and the timing of irradiation become very important problems.

  For example, as in Patent Documents 1 and 2, in the case where the light emitting means is provided on the turning portion of the watch case, the light emitting means is required for the dial because it is necessary to secure the angle of the light of the light emitting means with respect to the surface of the pointer. Must be placed in front of the pointer. In particular, in the case of a relatively large timepiece such as a wall clock or a table clock, the distance between the light emitting means and the phosphorescent material becomes long. There was an inconvenience that it had to be set and this restricted the design of the watch. Further, as in Patent Document 3, it is possible to provide a light emitting means on the back of the dial and guide the light with a light guide, but this complicates the structural members and causes a loss of light quantity. There was an inconvenience.

  This invention is made | formed in view of this situation, The objective is to provide the timepiece apparatus which irradiates light efficiently to the light emission part of the pointer | guide provided with the luminous material.

  The invention described in claim 1 of the present application is a timepiece device including a dial, a pointer disposed in front of the dial, and a movement for rotating the pointer, and the pointer is provided with a phosphorescent material. A light emitting means for irradiating the light emitting portion with light that excites the phosphorescent material, and the light emitting portion includes a light guide provided with the phosphorescent material. The light emitting means is provided on the dial side, and irradiates light to the light emitting part from behind the driving area of the light emitting part, and the light emitting part The timepiece device is configured to light up when passing through the front.

  The invention described in claim 2 of the present application is the timepiece device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the light emitting means are arranged at an equiangular pitch around the rotation axis of the pointer.

  The invention described in claim 3 of the present application is that, in claim 1, the pointer includes an hour hand and a minute hand that rotate around a common rotation axis, and the light emitting portion includes a first hand provided on the hour hand. A light-emitting unit; and a second light-emitting unit provided on the minute hand. The light-emitting unit includes a first light-emitting unit that irradiates light to the first light-emitting unit and a light that irradiates light to the second light-emitting unit. A plurality of first light emitting means are arranged at an equiangular pitch around the rotation axis, and the second light emitting means 520 is also arranged at an equiangular pitch around the rotation axis. It is a timepiece device having a configuration in which a plurality are arranged.

  The invention described in claim 4 of the present application is that, in claim 1, the pointer includes an hour hand and a minute hand that rotate about a common rotation axis, and the light emitting portion includes a first hand provided on the hour hand. A light emitting unit; and a second light emitting unit provided on the minute hand. The light emitting unit includes a first light emitting unit that irradiates light to the first light emitting unit, and a light that irradiates light to the second light emitting unit And a plurality of the first light emitting means are arranged at an equiangular pitch around the rotation axis, and the second light emitting means is provided at one location in a predetermined direction with respect to the rotation axis. It is a timepiece device having a configuration arranged only in the case.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the timepiece apparatus which irradiates light efficiently to the light emission part of the pointer | guide provided with the luminous material can be obtained.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The timepiece device 1 of this example is an analog radio wave correction clock that receives a standard time radio wave and corrects the display time based on information on the standard time radio wave. The timepiece device 1 includes a control means (not shown) that stores a required program for controlling the timepiece device 1, a dial plate 100, hands 210, 220, and 230 disposed on the front face of the dial plate 100. The movement 300 that rotates the hands 210, 220, and 230, and the housing 400 that houses them are provided. The dial plate 100 is covered with a transparent cover 410 supported on the front surface of the housing 400.

  As hands, an hour hand 210, a minute hand 220, and a second hand 230 are provided. The movement 300 is provided on the back portion of the dial plate 100, and is configured to rotate the hands 210, 220, and 230 at a predetermined speed via a pointer pipe 310 protruding to the front side of the dial 100. . In the center of the dial 100, a through hole 101 that penetrates the pointer pipe 310 is provided. The hour hand 210, the minute hand 220, and the second hand 230 rotate around a common rotation axis A.

  In this example, the hour hand 210 and the minute hand 220 are provided with light emitting portions 211 and 221 provided with a phosphorescent material, respectively, and light that excites the phosphorescent material is provided outside the hour hand 210 and the minute hand 220. Light emitting means 510 and 520 for irradiating 221 are provided. The light emitting unit includes a first light emitting unit 211 provided on the hour hand 210 and a second light emitting unit 221 provided on the minute hand 220. As the light emitting means, a first light emitting means 510 for irradiating light to the first light emitting section 211 and a second light emitting means 520 for irradiating light to the second light emitting section 221 are provided. Each of the light emitting means 510 and 520 is provided on the dial 100 side, and irradiates the light emitting units 211 and 221 with light from the rear of the driving range of the light emitting units 211 and 221. Light from the light emitting means 510 and 520 is irradiated perpendicularly to the light emitting units 211 and 221.

  Further, an optical sensor 600 for detecting the brightness of the environment is provided on the back of the dial 100, and a translucent part 102 corresponding to the optical sensor 600 is provided at a key point of the dial 100. ing. The control means turns on the light emitting means 510 and 520 at a predetermined timing when the environment becomes dark, for example, the room is turned off at night. Thereby, since each light emission part 211,221 emits phosphorescence of appropriate brightness regularly, the person who watches the time display part can visually recognize the time even in a dark place.

  The hour hand 210 of this example is provided with a hole portion for attaching the pointer pipe 310, that is, a pointer pipe attachment portion 210a, and a hole portion for attaching the first light emitting portion 211, that is, the light emitting portion attachment portion 210b, at the essential parts of the constituent members. It has been. Similarly, the minute hand 220 of the present example has a hole for attaching the pointer pipe 310 to the main part of its constituent member, that is, a hole for attaching the second light emitting unit 221, that is, a hole for attaching the second light emitting unit 221. A portion 220b is provided.

  The first light emitting portion 211 is a plate-like member made of a light guide, and is positioned on the front side of the hour portion 210 and the main body portion 211a having a predetermined thickness that is attached to the light emitting portion attaching portion 210b. And a paint 211c containing a phosphorescent material is applied to the surface of the main body 211a on the dial 100 side. The main body portion 211a is fixed to the light emitting portion mounting portion 210b by press fitting, hooking, welding, or adhesion.

  The light of the first light emitting means 510 is directly applied to the paint 211c. Further, the light transmitted through the paint 211c is incident on the inside of the first light emitting unit 211 made of a light guide and reaches the entire paint 211c. When the phosphorescent material contained in the paint 211c is excited, when the hour hand 210 is viewed from the front, the first light emitting unit 211 appears to shine. The configuration of the second light emitting unit 221 is the same as the configuration of the first light emitting unit 211. Therefore, illustration is abbreviate | omitted.

  A plurality of first light emitting means 510 are arranged at an equiangular pitch around the rotation axis A of the hands 210, 220, 230, and the second light emitting means 520 is also centered on the rotation axis A of the hands 210, 220, 230. Are arranged at an equiangular pitch. In the illustrated example, two black lights mounted on the substrate 501 are arranged at three positions at intervals of 120 °. There are three locations in the 12 o'clock direction, the 4 o'clock direction, and the 8 o'clock direction. Three black lights with a short distance from the rotation axis A are the first light emitting means 510, and three black lights with a long distance from the rotation axis A are the second light emitting means 520. Each light emitting means 510, 520 emits light by applying a pulse current. The substrate 501 is supported on the back side of the dial plate 100. In addition, light emitting portions 103 corresponding to the first light emitting means 510 and the second light emitting means 520 are provided at important points of the dial plate 100. The transparent cover 410 is provided with an ultraviolet ray preventing film that cuts ultraviolet rays. The ultraviolet rays emitted by the light emitting means 510 and 520 do not leak to the outside.

  The plurality of light emitting units 510 and 520 are controlled by the control unit, and are configured to light up when the light emitting units 211 and 221 pass the front thereof.

  An example of a method for controlling the light emitting units 510 and 520 is shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, the optical sensor 600 is constantly operating, and based on the detection, it is always determined whether or not the environment of the timepiece device 1 is in a dark place (STEP 1). If it is not a dark place, all the light emitting means 510 and 520 are turned off (STEP 2).

  In a dark place, each first light emitting means 510 is turned on when the first light emitting section 211 passes through the front thereof, and each second light emitting means 520 is provided with the second light emitting section 221 facing the front. Lights when passing through.

  That is, if the position indicated by the hour hand 210 is between 11:59 and 12: 1 (STEP 3), the first light emitting means 510 in the 12 o'clock direction is turned on (STEP 4). If it is between 3:59 and 4:01 (STEP 5), the first light emitting means 510 in the 4 o'clock direction is turned on (STEP 6). If it is between 7:59 and 8: 1 (STEP 7), the first light emitting means 510 in the 8 o'clock direction is turned on (STEP 8). The phosphorescent material provided in the first light emitting unit 211 emits light to the extent that the time can be visually recognized for about 4 to 5 hours by irradiating the light of the first light emitting means 510 for 2 minutes. .

  Further, if the position indicated by the minute hand 220 is between 59 minutes 55 seconds and 0 minutes 05 seconds (STEP 9), the second light emitting means 520 in the 12 o'clock direction is turned on (STEP 10). If it is between 19 minutes 55 seconds and 20 minutes 05 seconds (STEP 11), the second light emitting means 520 in the 4 o'clock direction is turned on (STEP 12). If it is between 39 minutes 55 seconds and 40 minutes 05 seconds (STEP 13), the second light emitting means 520 in the 8 o'clock direction is turned on (STEP 14). The phosphorescent material provided in the second light-emitting unit 221 emits light from the second light-emitting means 520 for 10 seconds so that the time can be visually recognized for about 20 to 30 minutes.

  The timepiece device 1 automatically receives standard time radio waves at night when the reception environment is improved. The reception of the standard time radio wave is performed while the first light emitting means 510 and the second light emitting means 520 are turned off in order to avoid the influence of noise.

  According to the timepiece device of this example described above, even a relatively large timepiece can irradiate light efficiently on the phosphorescent material provided on the hands. In addition, it is needless to say that the configuration of each part in the present example can be appropriately changed in design within the technical scope described in the claims, and is not limited to that illustrated in the drawings.

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the case of this example, the second light emitting unit 520 that irradiates the second light emitting unit 221 with light is disposed only at one place in a predetermined direction (12 o'clock direction) with respect to the rotation axis A. In contrast to the embodiment described above, the second light emitting means in the 4 o'clock direction and the 8 o'clock direction are omitted. The second light emitting means 520 is lit when the position indicated by the minute hand 220 is between 59 minutes 55 seconds and 0 minutes 05 seconds in a dark place. Other basic configurations are the same as those in the above-described embodiment.

  That is, since the rotation speed of the minute hand 220 is faster than the rotation speed of the hour hand 210, if the number of the first light emitting means 510 and the second light emitting means 520 is the same, the first light emitting section 211 passes through the first light emitting means 510. The number of times the second light emitting unit 221 passes through the second light emitting unit 520 is greater than the number of times. Therefore, the number of the second light emitting means 520 is made smaller than the number of the first light emitting means 510 in consideration of the balance between the irradiation time and the irradiation time interval, thereby reducing the number of parts. The phosphorescent material provided in the second light emitting unit 221 emits light from the second light emitting means 520 for 10 seconds so that the time is visible for about 60 to 70 minutes. The pulse current applied to the second light emitting unit 520 is set so that the light amount of the second light emitting unit 520 is larger than that of the above-described embodiment. The light quantity of each light emitting means 510, 520 can be adjusted by the pulse width or pulse voltage of the pulse current.

  As described above, the number and amount of the light emitting units 510 and 520 can be appropriately set in consideration of the characteristics of the phosphorescent material to be used.

  The clock device of the present invention can be suitably used as a wall clock or table clock having a time display function at night.

1 is a front view showing a timepiece device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a side sectional view showing a timepiece device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a side sectional view showing an important section of a timepiece device concerning an example of the present invention. (A) is a front view of a member constituting an hour hand, (b) is a side sectional view of a member constituting an hour hand, (c) is a front view of a member constituting a minute hand, ) Is a side sectional view of a member constituting the minute hand. It is a side exploded sectional view showing an important section of an hour hand concerning an example of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing control of light emitting means according to the embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a front view showing a timepiece device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing control of light emitting means according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Clock apparatus 100 Dial 101 Through-hole 102 Translucent part 103 Light emission part 210 Hour hand (pointer)
210a Pointer pipe mounting part 210b Light emitting part mounting part 211 First light emitting part 211a Main body part 211b Hook part 211c Paint 220 Minute hand (pointer)
220a Pointer pipe mounting part 220b Light emitting part mounting part 221 Second light emitting part 230 Second hand (pointer)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 300 Movement 310 Pointer pipe 400 Case 410 Transparent cover 501 Board | substrate 510 1st light emission means 520 2nd light emission means 600 Optical sensor A Rotating shaft

Claims (4)

In a timepiece device comprising a dial, a pointer disposed in front of the dial, and a movement for rotating the pointer,
The pointer includes a light emitting portion provided with a phosphorescent material, and outside the pointer is provided with a light emitting means for irradiating the light emitting portion with light that excites the phosphorescent material,
The light emitting unit is formed by attaching a light guide provided with the phosphorescent material to the pointer,
The light emitting means is provided on the dial side, and irradiates light to the light emitting part from behind the driving range of the light emitting part, and is turned on when the light emitting part passes through the front surface thereof. A timepiece device characterized by that.   2. The timepiece device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the light emitting means are arranged at an equiangular pitch around the rotation axis of the pointer. The pointer includes an hour hand and a minute hand that rotate about a common rotation axis, and the light emitting unit includes a first light emitting unit provided on the hour hand and a second light emitting unit provided on the minute hand. The light emitting means includes a first light emitting means for irradiating light to the first light emitting section, and a second light emitting means for irradiating light to the second light emitting section,
A plurality of the first light emitting means are arranged at an equiangular pitch around the rotation axis, and a plurality of the second light emitting means 520 are also arranged at an equiangular pitch around the rotation axis. The timepiece device according to claim 1. The pointer includes an hour hand and a minute hand that rotate about a common rotation axis, and the light emitting unit includes a first light emitting unit provided on the hour hand and a second light emitting unit provided on the minute hand. The light emitting means includes a first light emitting means for irradiating light to the first light emitting section, and a second light emitting means for irradiating light to the second light emitting section,
A plurality of the first light emitting means are arranged at an equiangular pitch around the rotation axis, and the second light emitting means is arranged only at one place in a predetermined direction with respect to the rotation axis. The timepiece device according to claim 1.

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