IP Library Granted Patent US 7,242,641
Granted Patent B2
US 7,242,641 · App. 10/399,780 · Granted Jul 10, 2007

Timepiece dial and production method therefor

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,242,641
App. No.
10/399,780
Granted
Jul 10, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A dial for a watch has a transmissive substrate ( 11 ) and a series of projections and recesses ( 11 a, 11 b ). A nontransmissive film ( 12 ) is formed in each of the recesses with a metallic film.

Claims (37)

1. A solar cell watch comprising an outer dial and an inner solar cell, the outer dial comprising:

a transmissive substrate;

a series of projections and recesses formed on a first surface of the substrate oriented toward the inner solar cell, the series of projections and recesses being in regularly distributed disposition over a whole area of the first surface, each of the projections being disposed between recesses;

a nontransmissive film formed on a whole inner surface of each of the recesses;

a transmissive portion formed on a top of each of the projections; and

a light passage being formed in each of the projections, such that light outside the dial assembly passes through the light passage, wherein

the width of the light passages is 70 μm or less, and

the total area of the light passages is between 20 and 50% of the area of a second surface opposite the first surface.

2. The watch according to claim 1 wherein the nontransmissive film has reflectance.

3. The watch according to claim 1 wherein the series of projections and recesses are formed into a pattern selected from the group consisting of a latticed pattern, a stripe pattern, a circle pattern and a geometric pattern.

4. The watch according to claim 1 wherein the substrate is colored.

5. The watch according to claim 1 wherein a projected surface of the projection is formed into a flat smooth face.

6. The watch according to claim 1 wherein the projection is formed into a wave shape having a trapezoid section.

7. The watch according to claim 1 further comprising a colored transmissive film formed on an underside of the nontransmissive film in the recess.

8. The watch according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of projections formed on a second surface opposite to the first surface.

9. The watch according to claim 8 further comprising a transparent protection film formed on the projections and recesses on the second surface of the substrate.

10. The watch according to claim 9 wherein an ultraviolet rays absorbent is included in the transparent protection film.

11. The watch according to claim 1 wherein the recess is formed into a semispherical shape with respect to incident light.

12. The watch according to claim 11 further comprising a plurality of lenses formed on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the substrate, corresponding to the semispherical recess.

13. The watch according to claim 1 wherein the nontransmissive film is a metallic film.

14. The watch according to claim 1 wherein the nontransmissive film is a painting film.

15. The watch according to claim 1 wherein the projections and the recesses are disposed at regular intervals.

16. The watch according to claim 1 wherein an upper surface of the transmissive substrate is a flat smooth surface.

17. A method for manufacturing a solar cell watch, comprising the steps of:

forming a transmissive substrate having a series of projections and recesses on a whole area of a first surface of the substrate by injecting a transparent resin in a mold having projections and recesses;

forming a nontransmissive film on the first surface including the projections and recesses;

removing the nontransmissive film on a projected surface of each of the projections to expose the transmissive surface of the substrate;

forming the exposed surface of the projected surface of the substrate into a flat smooth surface, and

orienting the first surface toward a solar cell, and an opposite surface for exposure to ambient light.

18. The method according to claim 17 further comprising the steps of:

forming each of the projections into a triangular section;

removing a peak portion of the triangular section; and

forming the removed portion into a flat smooth surface.

19. The method according to claim 17 further comprising:

forming the nontransmissive film on the projections and recesses into a projection and recess shape along the projections and recesses.

20. The method according to claim 17 further comprising:

forming the surface of the nontransmissive film in the recess and the surface of the exposed surface of the substrate into a coplanar surface.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 25, 2017
From: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
To: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 041479/0804 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 10, 2013
From: CITIZEN WATCH KAWAGUCHIKO CO., LTD.
To: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 031173/0668 →