JPH0846249A - Thermoelectric element module and portable electronic apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a portable electronic apparatus using a thermoelectric element wherein the temperature difference generated by that a user carries an electronic clock is used as energy source, and plural pairs of N-type semiconductor and P-type semiconductor are alternately connected in series, between a heat absorbing plate and a heat radiating plate excellent in thermal conductivity, on the high temperature side and the low temperature side. CONSTITUTION:Movement 401 is provided with a storing mechanism for storing energy generated by a thermoelectric element 402, a pointer driving motor, a gear train, a switching device, and a base board accommodating an electric circuit block mounting an integrated circuit. The pointer is moved by the rotation of the pointer driving motor and indicates time. The thermoelectric element 402 is buried in a trench formed in a case 405. Insulator turning to the heat absorbing side is fixed to the case 405. Insulator turning to the heat radiating side constituting a pair is thermally insulated from the case 405. A plastic member 408 is inserted between them, and the side surface is thermally isolated. The upper surface of the insulator turning to the heat radiating side is directly brought into contact with the air, and a heat radiating plate 409 is formed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermoelectric element module for realizing a portable electronic device which does not use a battery as a power source, and a portable electronic device using a thermoelectric element module as a power source, and more particularly to an electronic wristwatch. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Batteries are mainly used as a power source for electronic timepieces. However, the user always has to worry that the battery will run out during use, and if the battery runs out during use, the damage will be great.

Then, when the battery runs out, the battery must be replaced, or when the user cannot do so, he is forced to request another person. Moreover, used batteries cannot be disposed of in the same manner as general waste, as they cause environmental problems. On the other hand, one that does not use a battery as a power source for an electronic timepiece has been put into practical use. As a main method, a photoelectric conversion element such as a solar cell is used as a generator to charge the energy generated by the solar cell into a power storage means, and the electronic timepiece is driven by the stored energy, or the wristwatch is worn by the wearer of the electronic timepiece. A method has been put into practical use, in which energy generated by rotating a rotating body to rotate a generator in response to arm movement is charged in a power storage means, and the electronic timepiece is driven by the energy stored.

[0004]

When the method using no battery as the power source of the electronic timepiece is adopted as described above,
It has some problems depending on the usage of the carrier. For example, when a solar cell is used as the power generation means, power cannot be generated unless the solar cell is illuminated, so the wearer must intentionally illuminate the solar cell. Further, when a generator that rotates the generator by the rotation of the rotating body to generate electric power is installed, power cannot be generated unless the arm is moved.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to use an n-type semiconductor and a p-type between a heat radiating plate and a heat radiating plate, which have good thermal conductivity on a high temperature side and a low temperature side, by using a temperature difference caused by a user carrying an electronic timepiece as an energy source. An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic timepiece that uses thermoelectric elements in which a plurality of semiconductors are alternately connected in series and that generates electric power only by carrying the electronic timepiece in an arm, and a structure for holding the thermoelectric element in the electronic timepiece.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a thermoelectric device in which a plurality of n-type semiconductors and p-type semiconductors are alternately connected in series between two insulators having high thermal conductivity. A plurality of elements are connected in series and further placed on the case of the electronic timepiece, one of the insulating plates is in contact with the case of the electronic timepiece, so that the heat of the human body of the wearer is directly transmitted, and the other is the heat conduction The structure is such that it is thermally insulated from the case of the electronic watch by a material with a low rate and is thermally connected to the outside temperature.

[0007]

1 is a diagram showing the structure of the thermoelectric element of the present invention and the principle of power generation. When the first insulator 101 is on the heat absorbing side and the second insulator 102 is on the heat radiating side, when the temperature difference on the heat absorbing side is higher than that on the heat radiating side, the first insulator is Heat is transferred from 101 to the second insulator 102, and at that time, electrons move in the n-type semiconductor 103 toward the radiator 102 on the heat radiation side. In the p-type semiconductor 104, holes move toward the insulator 102 on the heat dissipation side.
Since the n-type semiconductor 103 and the p-type semiconductor 104 are electrically connected in series via the connecting portion 105, heat transfer is converted into a current, and electromotive force can be obtained from the output terminal portions 106 at both ends.

Further, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the operating principle of an electronic timepiece using the thermoelectric element of the present invention as a power source. When a temperature difference is applied to the thermoelectric element 201 and an electromotive force is generated, electricity is stored in the power storage mechanism 202. When the voltage of electricity stored in the power storage mechanism 202 reaches a sufficient level to drive the drive mechanism 203, the drive mechanism 203 is driven and the operation / display mechanism 204 starts working.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure and power generation principle of a thermoelectric element of the present invention. One insulator 101, for example, aluminum having an oxide film formed on the heat absorption side, and the other insulator 1
02 For example, when aluminum having an oxide film is used as the heat radiation side, heat is transferred from the insulator 101 to the insulator 102 when a temperature difference is given such that the heat absorption side has a high temperature and the heat radiation side has a low temperature. At that time, in the n-type semiconductor 103, for example, a bismuth-tellurium system or a Namari-tellurium system, an electron is emitted, and in the p-type semiconductor 104, for example, a bismuth-tellurium system, or a Namari-tellurium system, a hole is a heat radiating side insulator. Move in the direction of 102. n-type semiconductor 103 and n
Since the mold semiconductor 103 is electrically connected in series via the electrode 105, the transfer of heat is converted into a current, and an electromotive force is generated in the electrodes 106 at both ends.

Next, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the operating principle of an electronic device using the thermoelectric element of the present invention as a power source. When a temperature difference is applied to the thermoelectric element 201 and an electromotive force is generated, electricity is stored in the power storage mechanism 202. When the voltage of electricity stored in the power storage mechanism 202 reaches a sufficient level to drive the drive mechanism 203, the drive mechanism 203 is driven and the operation / display mechanism 204 starts working.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the structure of the thermoelectric element module of the present invention. This is a plate in which one insulator 301, for example, aluminum having an oxide film formed thereon is on the heat absorption side, and the other insulator 302, for example, aluminum having an oxide film formed thereon is on the heat dissipation side. This insulator 301 and 30
Since 2 absorbs and radiates heat, it is desirable that the material 2 has excellent thermal conductivity. On the insulator 301, an electrode 306 for making an external connection, an n-type semiconductor 303 such as a bismuth-tellurium-based or Namari-tellurium-based material, and a p-type semiconductor 304 such as a bismuth-tellurium-based or Namari-tellurium-based material are alternately arranged. The electrode 305 connected to is wired.
The insulator 302 includes an n-type semiconductor 303 such as bismuth-
Tellurium-based or Namari-tellurium-based and p-type semiconductor 30
4. For example, the electrodes 305 are alternately connected to the bismuth-tellurium type or the namari-tellurium type. A plurality of n-type semiconductors 302 and p-type semiconductors 303 are electrically connected in series via electrodes 305, heat transfer is converted into current, and electromotive force is generated in electrodes 306 at both ends. In the case of bismuth-tellurium system, when a temperature difference of 1 ° C occurs, theoretically 200μ
Generates an electromotive force of V.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the structure of an electronic wristwatch as an example of an electronic apparatus using the thermoelectric element of the present invention as a power source. As the structure of electronic wristwatch,
The movement 401 is an electric circuit in which a secondary battery or a large-capacity capacitor, a pointer drive motor, a train wheel device, a switching device, and an integrated circuit (IC) are mounted as a power storage mechanism for storing energy generated by the thermoelectric element 402. The base plate used for the timepiece that houses the block is used as a support member. The pointer is the dial 4 which is the exterior member
It is fixed by a central shaft in the space between 03 and the surface glass 404, and the pointer moves by the rotation of the pointer drive motor to display the time. The casing of the wristwatch includes a dial 403, a case 405 for fixing the surface glass 404, and a back cover 406.

In this embodiment, the thermoelectric element 402 is embedded in the groove provided in the case 405, and the insulator on the heat absorption side shown in FIG. 3 is fixed to the case 405 with an adhesive having excellent thermal conductivity. Further, a pair of insulators on the heat radiation side are thermally insulated on the side surface by inserting a plastic member 408 having a low thermal conductivity between them so as to be thermally insulated from the case 405. A heat radiating plate 40 having an excellent thermal conductivity so that the upper surface of the body is in direct contact with the atmosphere and further contacts the insulator on the heat radiating side in order to enhance the heat radiating effect.
9 is provided. The case 405 is a heat absorbing side for touching an arm that is generally hotter than the ambient temperature, and the heat radiating plate 409 is a heat radiating side for direct contact with the atmosphere. When the case 405 absorbs the heat of the human body from the arm and a temperature difference occurs between the case 405 and the heat dissipation plate 409, an electromotive force is generated by the Seebeck effect of the thermoelectric element and the electricity is stored in the power storage mechanism, and the stored electric energy causes the movement 401. Is driven.

In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 5, the bezel 501 for accommodating the thermoelectric element is separated from the case 502 in the sectional view showing the structure of the electronic wristwatch shown in FIG.
A cross-sectional view of a structure for thermally connecting 01 and the case 502 is shown. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the structure of an electronic wristwatch as an example of an electronic device using the thermoelectric element of the present invention shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 as a power source, as viewed from the top of the electronic wristwatch. In the case of the n-type semiconductor 103 and the p-type semiconductor 104 which are bismuth tellurium power generation elements in the principle of power generation shown in FIG. 1, when a temperature difference of 1 ° C. theoretically and experimentally occurs, a voltage of about 200 μV is generated. It has been confirmed. In the case of an electronic wrist watch driven by a general silver oxide battery, the drive voltage is about 1.5 V (volt). However, in the case of the n-type semiconductor 103 and the p-type semiconductor 104, which are the bismuth tellurium-based power generation elements described above, the temperature is about 1 ° C. between the heat absorbing side and the heat radiating side.
If there is a temperature difference of, it is necessary to connect about 7,500 power generating elements in series in order to generate a voltage of 1.5V.

The thermoelectric element 601 is such that twelve modules, each of which is connected in series, are arranged in the clockwise direction and each of them is connected in series. The structure of the thermoelectric element 601 is shown in FIG. The number of modules directly connected depending on the number of n-type semiconductors and p-type semiconductors connected in series in the module of the thermoelectric element 601 is the temperature difference between the heat absorbing side and the heat radiating side and the integrated circuit (IC that operates the electronic wristwatch). ) It is possible to calculate from the condition of the drive voltage.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A thermoelectric element module in which electrodes are arranged so that an n-type semiconductor and a p-type semiconductor, which are thermoelectric elements that generate an electromotive force due to a temperature difference between a pair of insulators, can be connected in series alternately By arranging a plurality of them in the above, a structure for generating a required electromotive force is provided. It is desirable to structurally directly contact the temperature of the human body as the heat absorbing side and the atmosphere as the heat radiating side, and to provide a structure in which the heat absorbing side and the heat radiating side are thermally insulated. By simply carrying an electronic wristwatch, it becomes possible to generate an electromotive force necessary for driving the timepiece by a temperature difference.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a structure and a power generation principle of a first thermoelectric element of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an operation principle of an electronic device using the thermoelectric element of the present invention as an energy source.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a structure of an embodiment of the thermoelectric element module of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of an electronic wristwatch as an example of an electronic apparatus using a thermoelectric element of the present invention as a power source.

5 is a sectional view showing the structure of the embodiment of the electronic wristwatch of the present invention shown in FIG. 4, a bezel 501 for accommodating a thermoelectric element.
Separates the case 502 from the bezel 501 and the case 50.
It is sectional drawing of the structure which connects with 2 thermally.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the structure of an electronic wristwatch as an example of an electronic device using the thermoelectric element of the present invention shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 as a power source, as seen from the top surface of the electronic wristwatch.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 first insulator 102 second insulator 103, 303 n-type semiconductor 104, 304 p-type semiconductor 105 connection portion 106 output terminal portion 201, 601 thermoelectric element 202 storage mechanism 203 drive mechanism 204 operation, display mechanism 301 Insulator 302 Other insulator 305, 306 Electrode 401 Movement 402 Thermoelectric element 403 Dial 404 Surface glass 405, 502 Case 406 Back cover 408 Plastic member 409 Heat sink 501 Bezel

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A first electrode having a plurality of electrode portions for alternately connecting a plurality of n-type semiconductors and a plurality of p-type semiconductors so as to be electrically connected in series, and fixing every other one of the connection portions. Either one of the first insulator or the second insulator of the thermoelectric element module having an insulator and a second insulator that fixes a connection portion not connected by the first insulator, the thermoelectric element A thermoelectric element module, in which electrodes are arranged so that the element modules can be connected in series. 2. The thermoelectric element module according to claim 1, wherein an insulator provided with electrodes so as to be connected in series has a larger area than an insulator not provided with electrodes. 3. A heat dissipation plate comprising the thermoelectric element module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one insulator is connected to the case and the other insulator is in contact with the atmosphere. A portable electronic device using a thermoelectric element module, which is connected and configured between one insulator and the other insulator by a material different from that of the case. 4. The thermoelectric element module according to claim 1, wherein one insulator is connected to a bezel, the bezel is connected to a case, and the other insulator is A portable electronic device using a thermoelectric element module, characterized in that it is connected to a heat radiating plate that comes into contact with the atmosphere, and one insulator and the other insulator are made of a material different from that of the case. 5. A portable electronic device using the thermoelectric element module according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the thermoelectric element module according to claim 1 or 2 is used. A portable electronic device using a thermoelectric element module, characterized in that a plurality of them are arranged in a ring on the same plane. 6. A portable electronic device using the thermoelectric element module according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the thermoelectric element module according to claim 1 or 2. A portable electronic device using a thermoelectric element module, characterized in that the insulator not connected to the case or the bezel is in direct contact with the atmosphere.