Abstract: A timepiece includes a dial plate and a solar battery which is disposed on a rear surface side of the dial plate. The dial plate has an area larger than the solar battery. The solar battery is encompassed by the dial plate in a planar view. The dial plate is provided with grooves or ridges which have a function of condensing incident light.

Abstract: A timepiece includes a dial plate, and a solar battery which is disposed on a rear side of the dial plate. The dial plate is provided with grooves or ridges. The grooves or the ridges have portions where inclination angles with regard to a normal line of the dial plate are different, and due to this, light which is transmitted through the dial plate is incident from a plurality of directions with angles which are different with regard to the solar battery.

Abstract: A timepiece includes a movement, a ring member, and an hour plate. Upward engagement convex portions of the ring member have contact parts placed near an outer peripheral surface of the ring member. The hour plate has a plurality of interposition portions and a plurality of convex portion accommodation grooves opened to the peripheral surface thereof. The interposition portions divide the convex portion accommodation grooves, come into close contact with the contact parts in the state of being elastically deformed, and interpose the engagement convex portions therebetween along a direction perpendicular to a radial direction of the ring member. The convex portion accommodation grooves are housed in the respective engagement convex portions, and the hour plate is attached to the ring member.

Abstract: A timepiece, comprising first and second arms connected at one end at an acute angle, and a bar locking system located in a wedge area of the timepiece where the arms are connected at the acute angle, wherein the first and second arms are hollow such that they can house electrical components, and wherein the bar locking system is employed to attach the timepiece to a leash plug of a surfboard.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece that uses electrical power produced by photovoltaic generation as a power source and has a function for receiving microwave signals, including a dial for displaying time information on a front surface thereof, a solar cell that receives light passing through the dial and produces electrical power by photovoltaic generation, and an antenna that is disposed so that at least part of the signal receiving surface opposes at least a part of the back surface of the dial, and receives microwave signals through the dial. The solar cell is not disposed in space between the back side of the dial and the signal receiving surface of the antenna.

Abstract: To provide an electronic timepiece with a solar cell whereby a movement can be reduced in size and whereby a calendar function using a calendar wheel can be achieved, an electronic timepiece with a solar cell is provided with: a solar cell, a character plate, a ground plate arranged on a back surface of the solar cell, a ring-shaped date wheel arranged between the character plate and the ground plate, and a circuit board electrically connected to an electrode of the solar cell via a conduction spring. The conduction spring is arranged on the inside of the date wheel when in plan view seen from the character plate side. In comparison to a case where a conduction spring is provided to the outside of a date wheel, the movement can be reduced in size, and because the date wheel can be arranged, a calendar function can be achieved.

Abstract: The solar battery includes a plurality of cells having a same electromotive force with each other. The display device further includes a display means to display time, and a control means to control operation of the display means. The electromotive force of the solar battery is lower than a deterioration-start voltage of the rechargeable battery. The electromotive force of the cells is higher than a lower-limit driving voltage of the display device, in which a number of such cells equals a total number of cells include in the solar battery minus one. A driving voltage of the display means is lower than the aforementioned lower-limit driving voltage, and an operational voltage of the control means is lower than the aforementioned lower-limit driving voltage.

Abstract: A timepiece dial has excellent transparency to electromagnetic waves (radio and light), and an excellent appearance, a timepiece dial manufacturing method enables manufacturing the timepiece dial, and a timepiece has the timepiece dial. The timepiece dial 1 has a substrate 2 that is electromagnetically transparent, and a dispersion film 3 containing a dispersion of metal powder 31 with an average particle diameter of 5 ?m?20 ?m and an average particle thickness of 30 nm?50 nm. The average thickness of the dispersion film 3 is 0.5 ?m?3.0 ?m. The metal powder 31 is disposed with a specific gap therebetween in the through-thickness direction of the dispersion film 3.

Abstract: Dyes for a dye-sensitized solar cell are provided. The dyes for a dye-sensitized solar cell have a structure of wherein each of X and Y independently comprises a substituent, comprising a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic group, and combinations thereof, and at least one of the X and Y comprises an aromatic group which are substituted a pyrene derivative substituted with an alkyl group or an aryl group, and Z comprises a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group, a vinyl group, and a substituted or unsubstituted polyvinyl group, and A comprises an acid functional group.

Abstract: The electronic timepiece has an external case; a time indicating section that indicates the time; a solar panel; and a battery housing section that is provided in a main plate, a positive side contact terminal that is electrically connected to a positive supply terminal of the indication controlling section and configured such that the positive side contact terminal can be brought into contact with a positive terminal of a battery housed in the battery housing section; a negative side contact terminal that is electrically connected to a negative supply terminal of the indication controlling section and configured such that the negative side contact terminal can be brought into contact with a negative terminal of a battery housed in the battery housing section; and a contact section is positioned such that the contact section is not in contact with a battery housed in the battery housing section.

Abstract: A dial assembly held within a timepiece case together with a movement for which the hour hand and minute hand are supported to be able to rotate is provided. The movement supports at least one miniature hand to be able to rotate at a position different from the hour hand and minute hand. The dial assembly comprising includes a first dial that is light transmissive, a second dial arranged on the back surface side of the first dial, and at last one spacer forming a ring shape arranged between the first dial and the second dial. The miniature hand rotates within a space enclosed by the first dial, the second dial, and the spacer.

Abstract: A wristwatch is provided with hand(s) and a disk-shaped indicating member disposed between a first dial and a second dial. The disk-shaped indicating member is structured such that a part of the disk-shaped indicating member is exposed from an opening portion of the first dial and that the disk-shaped indicating member indicates, at a region corresponding to the opening portion, one of a plurality of function display portions SPL, STP and RUN provided on the second dial. The hand(s) and the disk-shaped indicating member rotate about a common driving shaft.

Abstract: A power unit allows insertion of a cell therein, and supplies an electric power output from the inserted cell. A solar cell charges the cell inserted in the power unit. A CPU detects a voltage value of the cell inserted in the power unit, determines that the cell inserted into the power unit is a secondary cell when the detected voltage value is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value, and determines that the cell inserted into the power unit is a primary cell when the detected voltage value is larger than the predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A solar cell electronic device includes a cover glass fitted into a case opening of an exterior case via a glass packing, and a solar panel disposed on the back face of the cover glass with a predetermined distance from the cover glass. The case opening has a base portion on the inner periphery thereof for mounting an outer peripheral portion of the cover glass and for positioning the solar panel in a plane direction. The glass packing includes a packing main body interposed between the case opening and the cover glass, and a flange portion that extends from an end on the base portion side of the packing main body and that is interposed between the cover glass and the base portion. The base portion has a base opening through which at least a part of the flange portion is exposed.

Abstract: A timepiece is equipped with a movement (module), a solar cell panel, a ring member, and a dial (timepiece display plate). The panel is fixed to the module. The ring member is fixed to the peripheral portion of the movement. The ring member has, at a plurality of positions thereof, recesses, and a pair of engagement protrusions protruding upwardly from the bottom of each recess. The recesses are respectively open in an upper surface and the outer peripheral surface of the ring member. The pair of engagement protrusions form a gap G between them, and are capable of elastic deformation. A proximal portion of each engagement protrusion is situated below the upper surface of the ring member. The dial has cutouts at a plurality of positions of its peripheral portion. Each of these cutouts is engaged with each pair of engagement protrusions to cover the panel, and the dial is mounted to the ring member such that the peripheral portions of the cutouts cover the recesses.

Abstract: A timepiece includes a movement, a ring member, and an hour plate. Upward engagement convex portions of the ring member have contact parts placed near an outer peripheral surface of the ring member. The hour plate has a plurality of interposition portions and a plurality of convex portion accommodation grooves opened to the peripheral surface thereof. The interposition portions divide the convex portion accommodation grooves, come into close contact with the contact parts in the state of being elastically deformed, and interpose the engagement convex portions therebetween along a direction perpendicular to a radial direction of the ring member. The convex portion accommodation grooves are housed in the respective engagement convex portions, and the hour plate is attached to the ring member.

Abstract: A timepiece includes a movement contained in a timepiece exterior assembly. A panel is fixed onto the movement. Upward engagement convex portions having pressing portions in upper portions thereof are formed in a plurality of locations of the ring member, and a ring member is fixed to the peripheral portion of the movement. A display plate has a plurality of reception portions in a peripheral portion thereof with which the pressing portion comes into contact from above. The reception portions are vertically interposed by an upper surface of the ring member and the pressing portions, the display plate is attached to the ring member, and the panel is covered with the display plate.

Abstract: A display plate for a solar cell device provided with a solar cell on the bottom surface side includes a light transmission substrate, a light transmission reflecting plate that is disposed on the bottom surface side of the light transmission substrate, and a decorative member that is disposed on the top surface side of the display plate. The light transmission substrate is provided with a reflecting surface on the bottom surface side or on the top and bottom surface sides of the light transmission substrate. The reflecting surface of the light transmission substrate is made of a prism reflecting surface.

Abstract: A motor drive device includes a charging detection and reverse current prevention portion and a pulse selection control portion. The charging detection and reverse current prevention portion detects a charging state of a secondary battery that is charged by an electromotive force of a solar battery, the charging state indicating whether the secondary battery is being charged. The pulse selection control portion causes a first drive pulse for driving a motor to be generated and, in a case where the charging state that is detected by the charging detection and reverse current prevention portion is different after the first drive pulse has been output from what it was before the first drive pulse was output, causes a second drive pulse for driving the motor to be generated.

Abstract: A method for the synthesis of well-defined rod-coil block copolymers consisting of P3HT donor and C60 acceptor chromophores (P3HT-b-P(SxAy)-C60) in a molecular architecture is reported for use in bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells. In thin films of the resulting block copolymer, reproducible self-assembly into well-defined “nanofibrils” is observed. This is the first example of a block copolymer containing a C60 derivative that shows exclusively a nanofibrilar structure. A substantial improvement in device performance is achieved when the block copolymer is used as a “surfactant” for controlling the interface morphology of the P3HT:PCBM donor-acceptor phase domains within the composite.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic device in which a transparent member, a decorative plate, and a solar panel are arranged in this order in a metallic device case from an end side of an opening of the device case, wherein the decorative plate has light permeability and has a light refractive part made of a concavo-convex portion on a surface of the decorative plate on the side of the solar panel, and a semi-transmissive reflective plate having both light permeability and light reflectivity is provided between the decorative plate and the solar panel, and the semi-transmissive reflective plate has metal-free vapor deposited film.

Abstract: An external element for a wristwatch, containing an electronic device and a power source for powering the electronic device with electric energy, wherein the electronic device and power source are integrated in the exterior element, to form an autonomous electronic module, which is completely independent of the wristwatch movement.

Abstract: Provided is a photovoltaic panel in which a plurality of photovoltaic cells is electrically connected in series, and in which at least one of the photovoltaic cells is set as a non-use cell which is not electrically connected to the other photovoltaic cells and not used.

Abstract: A timepiece dial has excellent transparency to electromagnetic waves (radio and light), and an excellent appearance, a timepiece dial manufacturing method enables manufacturing the timepiece dial, and a timepiece has the timepiece dial. The timepiece dial 1 has a substrate 2 that is electromagnetically transparent, and a dispersion film 3 containing a dispersion of metal powder 31 with an average particle diameter of 5 ?m?20 ?m and an average particle thickness of 30 nm?50 nm. The average thickness of the dispersion film 3 is 0.5 ?m?3.0 ?m. The metal powder 31 is disposed with a specific gap therebetween in the through-thickness direction of the dispersion film 3.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece that receives signals and displays information can be driven using solar power while suppressing antenna sensitivity loss to a sufficiently low level. An electronic timepiece 200 has a dial 52 on the face 52a of which time is displayed, a flat antenna 11, and a solar cell 51. The flat antenna 11 is disposed on the back 52b side of the dial 52 vertically overlapping the dial 52 in a direction perpendicular to the dial 52, extends in the plane direction of the dial 52, and receives signals passing through the dial 52. The solar cell 51 is vertically disposed between the dial 52 and the flat antenna 11, and extends in the plane direction of the dial 52.

Abstract: A timepiece is equipped with a movement (module), a solar cell panel, a ring member, and a dial (timepiece display plate). The panel is fixed to the module. The ring member is fixed to the peripheral portion of the movement. The ring member has, at a plurality of positions thereof, recesses, and a pair of engagement protrusions protruding upwardly from the bottom of each recess. The recesses are respectively open in an upper surface and the outer peripheral surface of the ring member. The pair of engagement protrusions form a gap G between them, and are capable of elastic deformation. A proximal portion of each engagement protrusion is situated below the upper surface of the ring member. The dial has cutouts at a plurality of positions of its peripheral portion. Each of these cutouts is engaged with each pair of engagement protrusions to cover the panel, and the dial is mounted to the ring member such that the peripheral portions of the cutouts cover the recesses.

Abstract: A timepiece with a wireless function, including a movement for displaying time; a conductive case that holds the movement; a crystal that is disposed on the face side of the case and covers the face side of the movement; a conductive plate that is electrically conductive, disposed between the movement and the crystal, and reflects radio waves; and an antenna that has a substantially annular, conductive antenna electrode, and is disposed along the outside edge of the conductive plate between the conductive plate and the crystal.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece comprises a drive module configured to drive a hand, an electricity generation module, first and second capacitor modules, the second capacitor module having smaller capacitance than the first capacitor module, and an auxiliary drive control module which causes the drive module to perform the auxiliary driving when the charge level of the second capacitor module exceeds a third level indicating an amount of electricity which enables the auxiliary driving, and waits until the charge level of the second capacitor module exceeds the third level after performing the auxiliary driving.

Abstract: An electronic device such as a watch comprises a solar cell (14) and window portions (2, 6) which is located on the solar cell (14) and through which light is applied to the solar cell (14). The solar cell (14) is divided into a plurality of divided cells such that irradiated portions (14A to 14F) of the divided cells are equal in area, in consideration of the shapes, areas, and number of the window portions (2, 6) and the number of divisions of the solar cell (14).

Abstract: An electronic timepiece that uses electrical power produced by photovoltaic generation as a power source and has a function for receiving microwave signals, including a dial for displaying time information on a front surface thereof, a solar cell that receives light passing through the dial and produces electrical power by photovoltaic generation, and an antenna that is disposed so that at least part of the signal receiving surface opposes at least a part of the back surface of the dial, and receives microwave signals through the dial. The solar cell is not disposed in space between the back side of the dial and the signal receiving surface of the antenna.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photovoltaic module, comprising: a dye-sensitized solar cell; a supercapacitor, which is electrically connected to said dye-sensitized solar cell to store the electrical energy generated therefrom; and an electricity-consuming device, which is electrically connected to said dye-sensitized solar cell and said supercapacitor; wherein, when exposed to light, said dye-sensitized solar cell absorbs the light energy to transform into electrical energy, part of said electrical energy is to provide the operation of said electricity-consuming device, and the other part of said electrical energy is stored in said supercapacitor; in the circumstance of no light, said supercapacitor releases the stored electrical energy to said electricity-consuming device to maintain the operation thereof.

Abstract: A solar-powered clock and thermometer having solar energy system for powering an electrical subsystem is disclosed. The electrical subsystem may include lighting elements for illuminating the clock and thermometer and the area around the clock and the thermometer in a decorative and functional manner.

Abstract: A display for a watchband includes a housing member having a first shell and a second shell member, each shell having a joining means, when assembled such first and second shell members form a cavity. At least a portion of a top surface of such second shell of such housing member is transparent. A predetermined power source is located at a predetermined location within such cavity. A control unit is located at a predetermined location within such cavity operably connected to such power source and having an integrated circuit with a clock function to output day, date and other information. A display mechanism is located within such cavity operably connected to such power source and such control unit. An input mechanism on such housing member is operably connected to such control unit. A band attaching mechanism attaches such housing member to such watch band.

Abstract: A display plate for a solar cell device provided with a solar cell on the bottom surface side includes a light transmission substrate, a light transmission reflecting plate that is disposed on the bottom surface side of the light transmission substrate, and a decorative member that is disposed on the top surface side of the display plate. The light transmission substrate is provided with a reflecting surface on the bottom surface side or on the top and bottom surface sides of the light transmission substrate. The reflecting surface of the light transmission substrate is made of a prism reflecting surface.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece with a solar cell includes a timepiece movement, a timepiece case for housing the timepiece movement, a casing ring for housing and holding the timepiece movement in the timepiece case, a solar cell and a dial. The solar cell is disposed almost vertically to a solar cell positioning portion provided in the casing ring, and the solar cell has a slender strip shape formed on a flexible substrate. Consequently, the solar cell is not disposed in the timepiece movement, and it is only necessary to change the casing ring as an external component even when a panel cover diameter is changed. Further, a solar cell can be coiled to match the size of the casing ring when it is incorporated in the casing ring, so that a common solar cell can be used despite a change in the panel cover diameter of the timepiece.

Abstract: A wristwatch having a display unit with memory that retains the display state of a last preceding display update operation, and a solar cell for displaying operating power at least to the display unit with memory during the display update operation. The display unit with memory and the solar cell render a dial or a display panel.

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

Abstract: A timepiece provided with a liquid crystal display panel (9) for displaying thereon at least one of time information (5) and calendar information (4), wherein a solar battery unit (12) is provided to face at least a part of a visual recognition side surface of the liquid crystal display panel (9) or an opposite-side (lower-side) surface thereof, the light being applied to a power generation portion of the solar battery unit (12) through a transmission portion of the liquid crystal display panel (9) to generate electric power or what is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel (9) being visually recognized through a transmission portion of the solar battery unit (12), a timepiece circuit and the liquid crystal display panel (9) being driven by utilizing the electric power generated by the solar battery unit (12).

Abstract: When a time keeping apparatus is in a power saving mode, performing time display is stopped, and the apparatus periodically receives a time data from outside and sets the data to a second time counter 98 and an hour-and-minute time counter 99. When the operation mode of the time keeping apparatus is switched from the power saving mode to the display mode, the apparatus resumes to display the current time based on the counted values in the second time counter 98 and the hour and minute time counter 99.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a timepiece and an electronic apparatus, which comprise a casing, a digital face and a time counting module, both being provided in the casing. A bulb-shaped solar battery element is mounted on the digital face. The bulb-shaped solar battery element is allowed to receive the external light sufficiently to generate the electric power efficiently.

Abstract: A solar battery module (5) is provided by forming a solar battery (13) on a surface on one side of an insulating substrate (12) and forming an electrode thin film (11), which is connectable to a reference potential (32) and integrated with the solar battery (13) with an insulating state kept therebetween by the insulating substrate (12), on substantially the entire area of a surface on a side, where the solar battery (13) is not formed, of the insulating substrate (12). The solar battery module (5) is mounted on a portable electronic device (1) with the electrode thin film (11) being connected to the reference potential (32).

Abstract: In an electronic timepiece 1 having a main plate 10, a drive circuit 36, a stepper motor 33, a train wheel, a dial plate, a power supply 15, and an insulation sheet 12, the insulation sheet 12 covers at least the vicinity of the power supply 15 as well functioning as a guide to position an hour wheel 11 in an axial direction. Since the insulation sheet 12 has a predetermined size, it is neither dislocated nor removed when it is attached, whereby the insulation sheet 12 can reliably perform insulation, and an assembly property is improved thereby. Further, the insulation sheet 12 can achieve the dual roles of insulation and assembly guide, which can reduce cost and ease an assembly job.

Abstract: A first voltage detector detects whether the voltage of a secondary cell has reached to 1.2V and a first timer counts a time duration for which the voltage is equal to or above 1.2V. If the time counted by the first timer reaches one hour, a second timer starts counting time for one hour. An amount of charge accumulated in the secondary cell is displays after counting of the one hour by the second timer is over. As a result, an accurate display of the amount of charge accumulated in the secondary cell can be achieved.

Abstract: A timepiece is provided with a solar cell 8 comprising a power generation unit 39, having a first electrode, a photovoltaic layer, and a second electrode, stacked up in that order on the solar cell substrate 31 so as to be superimposed on each other, and electric power generated by the solar cell 8 is used as an energy source for executing time display on a time display unit by a dial 14 and hands 5, 6 or a liquid crystal display panel 50. The solar cell 8 is constructed such that a plurality of the power generation units 39, and transmitting portions 40 having a transmittance of light, larger than that for the power generation units, are alternately patterned on a solar cell substrate 31, and is disposed on the visible side of the time display unit so as to be superimposed thereon, thereby ensuring satisfactory power generation efficiency of the solar cell without impairing visibility of the time display unit, and without introducing restrictions on the design feature of the timepiece.

Abstract: An electronically controlled timepiece includes an analog circuit (160) driven by a power source (22), a logic circuit (170) driven by a constant voltage regulator circuit (161) forming part of the analog circuit, an oscillator circuit (51) driven by the constant voltage regulator, a power source switch (162) for cutting off the supply of power to the analog circuit other than the constant voltage regulator circuit from the power source during a time correction operation, and a clock cutoff gate (171) for cutting off a clock input from the oscillator circuit to the logic circuit. During the time correction operation, power consumption is reduced because only the oscillator circuit and the constant voltage regulator circuit are operative. The oscillator circuit is not suspended, and an error in time display is eliminated.

Abstract: A solar counter to provide an accurate way of measuring the middle of the night or another selected fraction of the day or night. The solar counter activates an electronic event when it has finished counting down. For example, a lamp can be turned off half way through the dark part of the night. This process is extremely accurate, and adaptations of this concept can be used in the safety industry, irrigation, or in agriculture. One embodiment of this concept has a battery back-up circuit, but a substitute 50/60 Hz clock input frequency in the case of AC power loss can also be provided using an uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a timepiece and an electronic apparatus, which comprise a casing, a digital face and a time counting module, both being provided in the casing. A bulb-shaped solar battery element is mounted on the digital face. The bulb-shaped solar battery element is allowed to receive the external light sufficiently to generate the electric power efficiently.

Abstract: When a time keeping apparatus is in a power saving mode, performing time display is stopped, and the apparatus periodically receives external time data and sets the data into a second time counter and an hour-and-minute time counter. When the operation mode of the time keeping apparatus is switched from the power saving mode to the display mode, the apparatus resumes display of the current time based on the counted values in the second time counter and the hour and minute time counter.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece is controlled such that, when an amount of the actual capacity that remains in storage means 30 thereof is found to be less than a predetermined amount as a result of measurement of a voltage between the terminals of the storage means 30 by voltage measurement means 80, all electrical discharge paths from the storage means 30 to timing means 20 and an electric power generator 10 are completely shut off by the agency of charge/discharge control means 40, thereby preventing occurrence of wasteful over-discharge from the storage means 30. As a result, upon resumption of power generation by the electric power generator 10, entire electric energy generated can be effectively utilized, so that the restart of a time-keeping operation by the timing means 20 is speeded up, and the operation thereafter is stabilized.

Abstract: The present invention is an alarm clock device which programmably and automatically coordinates the movement of one or more electric toy trains, or the like. The present invention alarm clock preferably triggers the movement of an electric toy train when a pre-set alarm time is reached. The alarm clock device comprises at least one base that defines an elongated substantially non-linear track for regulating the movement of a toy train. The traveling speed of the train is preferably regulated by a voltage varying device, such as a transformer, that is attached to the track and also coupled to a manually adjustable speed controlling member within the alarm clock. The movement of the train is preferably accompanied by applicable audible sounds that correspond therewith. The duration of movement may be programmed manually and may be adjusted in any variety of ways.