JP6403632B2 - Display device and watch using the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device and a timepiece using the display device, and in particular, controls a full-color light source used as a backlight of a liquid crystal display panel individually to display time information and date information displayed on the liquid crystal display panel. The present invention relates to a display device and a timepiece using the display device which can change the color of a character or the like including a letter.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a display device using a backlit liquid crystal display panel is known as a display device that displays characters including time information, date information, temperature and humidity information, and the like.

  As this type of prior art, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a liquid crystal display panel, three primary color light sources used as a backlight of the liquid crystal display panel, a mode setting unit for setting various operation modes of the device, and an operation mode. By operating the three primary color light sources individually by referring to the color setting contents of the storage unit according to the operation mode set by the storage unit for storing the color setting contents for each mode and the mode setting unit. An RGB control unit that controls to change the color of the backlight for each mode, and the mode setting unit can set a demonstration mode based on an instruction from an operation unit, and the RGB control unit When the demonstration mode is set in the setting section, the video tape recorder is designed to automatically and sequentially change the backlight color. Display devices have been proposed for use in electronic devices and the like.

  In the display device described in Patent Document 1, the backlight emission color of the liquid crystal display can be switched according to each operation mode of the electronic device, and the current operation state of the electronic device can be confirmed by the backlight emission color. As a result, it is possible to reduce operational errors when switching the operation mode by remote control.

JP 2002-091401 A

  By the way, in the conventional display device as described above, the backlight color in the liquid crystal display panel is controlled to change in a single color (that is, the same color in the entire display area). For this reason, there are problems that the user's attention cannot be drawn to specific characters and the like displayed on the liquid crystal display panel, and that there is less interest as a product, and that customer attraction and purchase incentive power are low.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to attract the user's attention to a specific display object displayed on the liquid crystal display panel and to make the product interesting. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a display device having a high customer suction power and high purchase incentive power and a watch using the display device.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a display device according to the present invention includes a liquid crystal display unit, and the liquid crystal display unit displays the display target including at least one of characters, figures, and symbols. A plurality of light sources arranged in at least one line as a backlight of the liquid crystal display unit; and a control unit that controls the plurality of light sources so as to change a backlight color of the liquid crystal display unit. Is characterized in that the color of each light source automatically changes over time and the color of each light source is controlled to be different.

  In a preferred aspect, the light source has a configuration in which at least three light sources are arranged in a line, and the control unit is configured such that the color of the light source located between the two light sources is an intermediate color between the colors of the two light sources. In this way, the color of the light source is controlled.

  Further, the control unit preferably controls the color of the light source so that the color of each light source changes in the same control pattern and in the same cycle.

  In another preferred aspect, the control unit controls the color of the light source by periodically reading color information corresponding to the color of each light source from a memory unit that stores color information regarding the color of the light source.

  In another preferable aspect, the control unit automatically changes the color of each light source with time, and the gradation mode in which the color of each light source is different, and the single color in which the color of each light source is the same color. The mode can be switched.

  In a further preferred aspect, when the control unit is switched from the gradation mode to the single color mode, the color of each light source is set to the color of one of the plurality of light sources immediately before the switching. Control the color of the light source.

  In a further preferred aspect, when the control unit is switched from the monochromatic mode to the gradation mode, the color of one light source of the plurality of light sources becomes the color of the light source immediately before the switching. Control the color of the light source.

  In another preferable aspect, the display device further includes a mode changeover switch for switching between the gradation mode and the monochrome mode.

  In another preferred embodiment, the display device further includes a color setting switch that changes the color of each light source in the single color mode and / or changes the color range in which the color of each light source changes in the gradation mode.

  In another preferable aspect, the control unit automatically changes the color of each light source with the passage of time, and the gradation mode in which the color of each light source becomes a different color, and the color of each light source automatically with the passage of time. It is possible to switch between multicolor modes in which different colors are obtained without any change.

  In a further preferred aspect, the control unit controls the color of the light source so that the color of each light source becomes the color immediately before the switching when the gradation mode is switched to the multicolor mode.

  In a further preferred aspect, when the control unit is switched from the multicolor mode to the gradation mode, the control unit controls the color of the light source so that the color of each light source changes from the color of the light source immediately before the switching. .

  In another preferred aspect, the display device further includes a separate mode changeover switch for switching between the gradation mode and the multicolor mode.

  In another preferred embodiment, the control unit controls the light source so that the color of each light source automatically changes with the passage of time and the color of each light source becomes a different color when the power is turned on or reset. Control the color.

  The timepiece according to the present invention is a timepiece including the display device, and preferably the timepiece and / or temperature / humidity control the color of the light source by the control unit.

  According to the present invention, the colors of the plurality of light sources used in parallel as the backlight of the liquid crystal display unit are automatically and sequentially changed over time (according to the time). The light sources are controlled to have different colors. Therefore, it is possible to attract the user's attention to a specific display target displayed on the liquid crystal display unit, in other words, a display target displayed on a specific display area of the liquid crystal display unit. In addition, for example, the backlight color (that is, the color to be displayed) can be changed so that it sequentially flows (moves) in the arrangement direction of the light sources in the display area of the liquid crystal display unit. The fun and emotions will increase, and the ability to attract customers and incentive to purchase will be greatly enhanced.

The front view which shows one Embodiment of the timepiece using the display apparatus which concerns on this invention. The block diagram which shows the circuit structure of the timepiece shown in FIG. The block diagram which shows the internal structure of the microcomputer for LED control shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining switching processing by a mode change switch and a color setting switch shown in FIG. 3. The figure which shows an example of the change of the backlight color of each display block of LCD in gradation mode (its full color demo mode). FIG. 4 is a diagram provided for explaining control processing of address read control by a read address control unit shown in FIG. 3.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a display device and a timepiece using the display device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In the following, a mode in which the display device according to the present invention is used in a digital timepiece that digitally displays characters including time information, date information, temperature and humidity information, etc. will be described. For example, it can be used for a display device (for example, a night display device) incorporated in an analog timepiece that displays time in an analog manner using a pointer or a display device mounted on various devices other than the timepiece. Of course.

  FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of a timepiece using a display device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the timepiece shown in FIG.

  The watch 1 of the illustrated embodiment basically has a horizontally long flat plate-like transmissive liquid crystal display (LCD) 3 disposed in a front window portion of a rectangular housing case 2, and the back of the LCD 3 ( In the illustrated example, a plurality of light sources 4a to 4c used as backlights of the LCD 3 are arranged in the horizontal direction inside the upper side portion of the front window portion of the housing case 2 and inside the upper edge portion of the LCD 3). Are deployed side by side. Note that the timepiece 1 can be used in a desired place by using a stay (not shown) provided on the back of the housing case 2, for example.

  Although the display items of the LCD 3 and the display positions of the display items are not limited to the illustrated examples, in the present embodiment, the LCD 3 is, for example, hour, minute, second, month, day of the week, year, alarm time, radio wave reception state. Multiple display items of temperature, humidity, digital display, hour / minute display, second display, month / day display, day of week display, year display, alarm time display, radio wave reception status display, temperature It has a display part and a humidity display part. The hour / minute display part is allocated to the area about 2/3 from the left of the display area of the LCD 3, and the second display part is placed small in the lower right part of the minute display in the hour / minute display part, The display unit is arranged small in the upper right portion of the minute display in the hour / minute display unit. Here, the hour / minute display unit also serves as a year display unit. In addition, a month and day display unit and a day of the week display unit are arranged in parallel in the upper part of the area about 1/3 from the right of the display area of the LCD 3, and a temperature display unit and a humidity display unit are provided in the lower part thereof. In addition to being arranged in parallel, the date display unit also serves as an alarm time display unit.

  Further, the number of the backlight light sources and the interval between the adjacent light sources are not limited to the illustrated example, but in the present embodiment, for example, the three light sources 4a to 4c are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the horizontal direction. Has been placed. The left light source (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the left light source) 4a is used as a backlight for an area (left display block) about 1/3 from the left of the display area of the LCD 3, and the central light source (hereinafter referred to as the left light source). 4b is sometimes used as a backlight for an area about 1/3 of the display area of the LCD 3 (central display block), and the right light source (hereinafter referred to as the right light source). 4c is used as a backlight for an area (right display block) about 1/3 from the right of the display area of the LCD 3. As such backlight light sources 4a to 4c, for example, LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), fluorescent tubes and the like can be adopted. However, in the following, a case where RGB LEDs as mainly full color light sources or three primary color light sources are used will be described. explain. Each of the light sources 4a to 4c may be composed of one RGB LED or a plurality (two or more) of RGB LEDs.

  In order to control the operations of the LCD 3 and the light sources 4a to 4c, a microcomputer for controlling the LCD (as shown in FIG. 2) is provided inside the housing case 2 (that is, behind the LCD 3). Hereinafter, an LCD control microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as an LCD control microcomputer) 13 and an LED control microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as an LED control microcomputer) 14 are incorporated.

  In the present embodiment, the casing case 2 receives the standard time radio signal transmitted from the temperature sensor 11 and the humidity sensor 12 for detecting the ambient temperature and humidity, the base station, and the radio broadcast station. Receiver antenna 15, AC adapter 17 for supplying power to each microcomputer 13, 14 from a household power source, and the like, as well as a clock operation switch 21, a mode switch 22, a color setting switch (+ side, − Various switches such as 23) are provided.

  The temperature sensor 11 and the humidity sensor 12 are connected to the LCD control microcomputer 13 via connection lines, and information (temperature / humidity information) about the temperature and humidity around the timepiece 1 is input to the LCD control microcomputer 13. It is like that.

  The reception antenna 15 is connected to the LCD control microcomputer 13 via the reception IC 16 and a connection line, and a standard time radio signal including a time code transmitted from a base station or a radio broadcasting station is received by the LCD control microcomputer 13. Are input at an appropriate timing. The LCD control microcomputer 13 can automatically correct the time measured by the internal clock of the clock 1 based on the time code included in the input standard time radio signal.

  The AC adapter 17 is connected to the LCD control microcomputer 13 and the LED control microcomputer 14 via a regulator 18 and a connection line, and power for driving the LCD control microcomputer 13 and the LED control microcomputer 14. Is to be secured.

  The clock operation switch 21 is for changing the display content of the LCD 3 of the clock 1, for example, and is connected to the LCD control microcomputer 13 via a connection line. The clock operation switch 21 includes, for example, a reset switch for forcibly receiving the standard time radio signal described above to correct the time of the internal clock, a correction switch for setting the current time and alarm time, an up switch, A down switch, a mode setting switch for setting a desired mode from various modes related to the watch 1 (for example, a reception mode in which a standard time radio signal can be received, a plurality of display modes, an alarm notification mode, etc.); It can be composed of a ring stop switch for stopping alarm sounds, melody, etc., and various information received via the clock operation switch 21 is input to the LCD control microcomputer 13 via a connection line. It has become.

  The LCD control microcomputer 13 includes temperature / humidity information input from the temperature sensor 11 and humidity sensor 12 described above, a standard time radio signal input via the receiving antenna 15, and various information input via the clock operation switch 21. Based on the above, a drive signal (common signal and segment signal) for driving the LCD 3 is generated, and the drive signal is output to the LCD 3 through the common line 5 and the segment line 6 connected to the LCD 3, A voltage is selectively applied to the common electrode provided on the back surface of the substrate of the LCD 3 and the segment electrode provided on the front surface of the substrate. Thereby, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules of the LCD 3 can be changed, and for example, numerals 0 to 9, letters of the day of the week in Chinese characters, symbols representing temperature and humidity, and the like can be displayed on each display section of the LCD 3 described above. .

  In addition, the LCD control microcomputer 13 includes various kinds of information such as time information (for example, second information, minute information, hour information, year / month / day information, day information, daylight saving time information, etc.) and temperature / humidity information. A storage unit (not shown) for storing information and a communication unit (not shown) for exchanging information with the LED control microcomputer 14 are built-in. Various information stored in the storage unit is output to the control microcomputer 14.

  Of the various information input to the LCD control microcomputer 13, when temperature / humidity information is not required, the temperature sensor 11 and the humidity sensor 12 may be omitted, or the automatic time of the internal clock may be omitted. It goes without saying that the reception antenna 15 and the reception IC 16 may be omitted when correction is not necessary. The power required for driving the LCD control microcomputer 13 and the LED control microcomputer 14 may be supplied from a primary battery such as a dry battery, a rechargeable secondary battery, a solar battery using a solar battery panel, etc. In this case, the AC adapter 17 and the regulator 18 may be omitted.

  On the other hand, the mode changeover switch 22 and the color setting switch (+ side, − side) 23 are for changing the display color (backlight color) of the LCD 3 of the timepiece 1 and are used for LED control via a connection line. It is electrically connected to the microcomputer 14. The mode switch 22 is a switch for switching the display color mode of the display color of the LCD 3 (gradation mode and single color mode, as will be described later in detail), and the color setting switch 23 is further provided in each display color mode. This is a switch for changing the display color, and various information received via the switches 22 and 23 is input to the LED control microcomputer 14 via connection lines.

  The LED control microcomputer 14 is configured to drive signals (control pulses) for driving the light sources 4a to 4c based on various information input via the mode change switch 22 and the color setting switch (+ side, − side) 23. ), And the control pulses are amplified by the drive output units 7a to 7c provided corresponding to the light sources 4a to 4c, and sent to the light sources 4a to 4c via the RGB control three lines 8a to 8c. Output. As a result, for example, the light sources 4a to 4c are caused to emit light (light on) in a manner corresponding to the operation of the mode change switch 22 and the color setting switch (+ side, − side) 23, and are displayed on each display unit of the LCD 3 described above. The color of numbers, letters, symbols, etc. can be changed as desired.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the LED control microcomputer 14 and the control contents of the light emission control of the light sources 4a to 4c by the LED control microcomputer 14 are described in detail with reference to FIGS. To do.

[Configuration of the microcomputer 14 for LED control]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the LED control microcomputer 14 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the LED control microcomputer 14 is basically provided corresponding to the memory unit 41, the mode / color setting unit 42, the read address control unit 43, and the light sources 4a to 4c. The plurality of (three in the illustrated example) RGB control units 44a to 44c are communicably connected via connection lines.

  The memory unit 41 includes a RAM (Random access memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like, and includes various information (programs to be executed, initial data, various parameters, and processing) regarding the processing of the LED control microcomputer 14. In this memory unit 41, color information relating to the colors of the light sources 4a to 4c is mainly stored with addresses. In the present embodiment, the backlight color (that is, the color of each of the light sources 4a to 4c) is red → red → orange → yamabuki → yellow → yellow within a predetermined time in the gradation mode full color demo mode described later. Green → Green → Blue Green → Blue → Blue Purple → Purple → Red Purple → Red, etc., gradually (continuously) changing around the hue circle and continuously after going around the vivid hue circle It changes periodically so as to go around the pastel hue circle. For this reason, the memory unit 41 includes color information (for example, R that is the three primary colors) of a plurality of colors (for example, several tens to several hundreds of colors) constituting a vivid hue circle and a pastel hue circle. (Information including the ratio of G and B) is stored in a state where addresses according to the order of constituting the hue circle are given (see also FIG. 6).

  When the mode changeover switch 22 is operated, the mode / color setting unit 42 receives an operation signal of the mode changeover switch 22, generates an instruction signal related to the display color mode of the LCD 3, and outputs it to the read address control unit 43. . When the color setting switch (+ side, − side) 23 is operated, an operation signal for the color setting switch (+ side, − side) 23 is received to generate an instruction signal relating to color setting in each display color mode. And output to the read address control unit 43.

  In the present embodiment, the display color mode that can be switched (selected) by the mode selector switch 22 is a gradation mode (the color of each light source automatically changes with time, and the color of each light source is different from that of the color). Mode) and a single color mode (a mode in which the color of each light source is fixed to the same color) are set (details will be described later). Further, when the color setting switch 23 is operated in the gradation mode, the full color demonstration mode (the mode in which the backlight color changes periodically in all the vivid and pastel color ranges) and the group demonstration mode (preliminarily determined). Further, a mode in which the backlight color changes periodically only in a part of the color range) can be switched. More specifically, the group demo mode includes a group demo mode “red” in which the backlight color changes only in the red color range, a group demo mode “green” in the green color range, and a blue color range. A group demo mode “blue”, a group demo mode “orange” for an orange color range, and a group demo mode “pastel” for a pastel color range are provided. Every time the switch on the side is operated, full color demo mode → group demo mode “red” → group demo mode “green” → group demo mode “blue” → group demo mode “orange” → group demo mode “pastel” → full color demo When the color setting switch 23 is switched in the order of the modes and the negative switch is operated, the switching is performed in the reverse order. In the single color mode, when the color setting switch 23 is operated, the backlight color is changed according to the above-described address order. More specifically, when the + side switch of the color setting switch 23 is operated, the backlight color is changed in the above-mentioned ascending order, and when the − side switch of the color setting switch 23 is operated, the reverse is performed. It is changed in descending order. Further, as will be described in detail later, when the single color mode is switched to the gradation mode by the mode change switch 22, the full color demo mode is selected from the gradation modes (see FIG. 4).

  The read address control unit 43 can be switched between a gradation mode including the full color demo mode and the group demo mode and a single color mode, and normally (for example, when the power is turned on), the read address control unit 43 periodically with the memory unit 41. The color information to which a predetermined address is assigned is read from the memory unit 41 by communication (at predetermined time intervals). When an instruction signal is input from the mode / color setting unit 42, the instruction is received. An RGB signal including R, G, and B values is generated from the color information according to the control content corresponding to the signal, and is distributed to the RGB control units 44a to 44c for output.

  Each of the RGB control units 44a to 44c generates a control pulse by converting the R, G, and B values contained in the RGB signal input from the read address control unit 43 into a pulse width (PWM (Pulse Wide Modulation)) Control), the control pulse is output to each light source 4a-4c via each drive output part 7a-7c and each RGB control 3 line 8a-8c.

[Control contents of microcomputer 14 for LED control]
Next, the control content of the light emission control of the light sources 4a to 4c by the LED control microcomputer 14 will be described in more detail according to the usage status of the timepiece 1 by the user.

<When the power is turned on or reset (gradation mode)>
First, when the user turns on or resets the power of the watch 1, the read address control unit 43 starts or restarts the operation, and the read address control unit 43 performs the full color of the gradation mode in the display color mode. Operates in demo mode.

  In the full color demonstration mode of the gradation mode, the read address control unit 43 uses the entire color range of vivid and pastel, and uses the color information to which a certain address is given from the memory unit 41 (in the following, Color information “0” may be referred to as central color information, color information having addresses before and after (hereinafter, color information “−1” as previous color information, and color information “−1” as subsequent color information) +1 ”) and read continuously in accordance with the order of the addresses given to the color information, generate RGB signals based on the three types of color information, and based on the color information“ 0 ” The generated RGB signal is transmitted to the RGB control unit 44b corresponding to the central light source 4b, the RGB signal generated based on the color information “−1” is transmitted to the RGB control unit 44a corresponding to the left light source 4a, and based on the color information “+1”. Generated RGB signal The RGB control unit 44c corresponding to the right light source 4c, which in each successive output. The RGB control units 44a to 44c generate control pulses from the RGB signals input from the read address control unit 43, and the operations of the light sources 4a to 4c (that is, light emission states) based on the control pulses. Is controlled.

  As a result, the backlight color of each display block (left display block, center display block, right display block) in the display area of the LCD 3 automatically and sequentially changes with the same control pattern and the same cycle, and at a certain moment, The backlight color of the matching display block is changed so as to be a display color in which the addresses are shifted one by one. Therefore, for the user of the watch 1, the backlight color of the LCD 3 (that is, the color to be displayed) is sequentially and smoothly from the left side (left display block) to the right side (right display block) of the display area of the LCD 3. It appears to flow (move) (see FIG. 5).

  In addition, since the partition etc. are not provided between the light sources 4a-4c arranged behind LCD3, the boundary of each display block (left display block, center display block, right display block) of the display area of LCD3 The backlight color in the vicinity appears to be an intermediate color by overlapping the colors of adjacent light sources.

  In this situation, when the user operates the color setting switch (+ side, − side) 23, the operation signal is sent to the mode / color setting unit 42. The mode / color setting unit 42 receives an operation signal from the color setting switch (+ side, − side) 23 and receives an instruction signal related to color setting in the gradation mode, specifically, from full color demo mode to group demo mode (color setting). An instruction to change to the group demo mode “red” when the + side switch of the switch 23 is operated, and the group demo mode “pastel” when the − side switch of the color setting switch 23 is operated. A signal is generated and output to the read address control unit 43.

  When the read address control unit 43 receives the instruction signal from the mode / color setting unit 42, the read address control unit 43 once generates an RGB signal for turning off the light sources 4a to 4c and outputs the RGB signal to the RGB control units 44a to 44c. After darkening the display area, only the color range specified by the instruction signal (red color range in group demo mode “red”, pastel color range in group demo mode “pastel”) is used. The three types of color information (color information “0”, color information “−1”, and color information “+1”) are read out periodically and continuously from the memory unit 41 in the same manner as in the full color demo mode described above. Then, an RGB signal is generated based on the three types of color information and is continuously output to each of the RGB control units 44a to 44c. The RGB control units 44a to 44c generate control pulses from the RGB signals input from the read address control unit 43, and the operations of the light sources 4a to 4c (that is, light emission states) based on the control pulses. Is controlled.

  Further, when the user further operates the color setting switch (+ side, − side) 23, the color range used for the light emission control of each of the light sources 4a to 4c is sequentially changed as shown in FIGS. Thus, the operation (that is, the light emission state) of each of the light sources 4a to 4c is controlled within the color range.

  As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, in the group demo mode “red”, the group demo mode “green”, the group demo mode “blue”, and the group demo mode “orange” in the gradation mode, the backlight color of the LCD 3 ( That is, the read address control unit 43 reads the color information from the memory unit 41 in the order of addresses that reciprocate in the color range to be used so that the colors of the light sources 4a to 4c change continuously. It is like that.

<Switching from gradation mode to single color mode>
When the user operates the mode switch 22 in the gradation mode described above, an operation signal is sent to the mode / color setting unit 42. The mode / color setting unit 42 receives the operation signal of the mode changeover switch 22, generates an instruction signal for switching the display color mode of the LCD 3 from the gradation mode to the single color mode, and outputs the instruction signal to the read address control unit 43.

  As described above, the read address control unit 43 always uses the three types of color information (color information “0”, color information “−1”, color information “1”) in the gradation mode before switching (the full color demo mode and the group demo mode). +1 "), but when the instruction signal is received from the mode / color setting unit 42, the operation in the single color mode is started, and reading of the color information from the memory unit 41 is stopped. Only the central color information (color information “0”) is used among the three types of color information, and an RGB signal is generated based on the color information, distributed to the RGB control units 44a to 44c and output. The RGB control units 44a to 44c generate control pulses from the RGB signals input from the read address control unit 43, and the operations of the light sources 4a to 4c (that is, light emission states) are based on the control pulses. Be controlled.

  As a result, the backlight color of each display block (left display block, center display block, right display block) in the display area of the LCD 3 is a single color, specifically, the mode changeover switch 22 is operated in the entire display area of the LCD 3. It becomes the color of the center display block at the time.

  In this situation, when the user operates the color setting switch (+ side, − side) 23, the operation signal is sent to the mode / color setting unit 42. The mode / color setting unit 42 receives an operation signal of the color setting switch (+ side, − side) 23 and receives an instruction signal related to color setting in the single color mode, specifically, color information used by the read address control unit 43. (When the + side switch of the color setting switch 23 is operated, the color information is changed to the color information having an address after the color information at that time, and the − side switch of the color setting switch 23 is changed. When operated, an instruction signal for changing to color information having an address in the order before the color information at that time is generated and output to the read address control unit 43.

  When the read address control unit 43 receives the instruction signal from the mode / color setting unit 42, the read address control unit 43 reads the color information specified by the instruction signal from the memory unit 41 as color information “0”, and performs RGB based on the color information. A signal is generated and continuously output to each of the RGB control units 44a to 44c. The RGB control units 44a to 44c generate control pulses from the RGB signals input from the read address control unit 43, and the operations of the light sources 4a to 4c (that is, light emission states) based on the control pulses. Is controlled.

<Switching from single color mode to gradation mode>
Further, when the user operates the mode switch 22 in the above-described single color mode, the operation signal is sent to the mode / color setting unit 42. The mode / color setting unit 42 receives the operation signal of the mode changeover switch 22 and generates an instruction signal for switching the display color mode of the LCD 3 from the single color mode to the gradation mode (full color demo mode). Output.

  As described above, the read address control unit 43 always uses only one type of color information (color information “0”) in the single color mode before switching, but receives the instruction signal from the mode / color setting unit 42. When received, the operation in the gradation mode is resumed, and the reading of the color information from the memory unit 41 is resumed. As described above, the color information (color) having the color information “0” and the addresses before and after the color information “0”. Information “-1”, color information “+1”) is sequentially read out according to the order of the addresses given to the color information, an RGB signal is generated based on the three types of color information, and based on the color information “0” The generated RGB signal is input to the RGB control unit 44b, the RGB signal generated based on the color information “−1” is input to the RGB control unit 44a, and the RGB signal generated based on the color information “+1” is input to the RGB control unit 44c. Output continuously. The RGB control units 44a to 44c generate control pulses from the RGB signals input from the read address control unit 43, and the operations of the light sources 4a to 4c (that is, light emission states) based on the control pulses. Is controlled.

  Thus, in the timepiece 1 of the present embodiment, in the gradation mode, the colors of the light sources 4a to 4c used in parallel as the backlight of the LCD 3 are the same as the colors of the light sources 4a to 4c. The light sources 4a to 4c are controlled so that the colors of the light sources 4a to 4c are different from each other automatically and sequentially (according to time). Therefore, the user's attention can be drawn to a specific display object displayed on the LCD 3, in other words, a display object displayed on a specific display area of the LCD 3. Further, the backlight color (that is, the color to be displayed) can be changed so that it sequentially flows (moves) in the arrangement direction of the light sources 4a to 4c in the display area of the LCD 3, so that the product is interesting. And emotionality can be increased, and customer attraction and purchase incentives can be greatly enhanced.

  Further, in the timepiece 1 of the present embodiment, the read address control unit 43 can be switched from the gradation mode to the single color mode by the mode switch 22, and the colors of the light sources 4 a to 4 c are the same color in the single color mode. The colors of the light sources 4a to 4c are controlled so as to be fixed. Therefore, the display object displayed on the LCD 3 is displayed in the same color, and the display object is easy to see. Further, at the time of switching, communication between the read address control unit 43 and the memory unit 41 is stopped, and the color of each of the light sources 4a to 4c is the color of one of the light sources 4a to 4c immediately before the switching, Specifically, since the colors of the plurality of light sources 4a to 4c are controlled so as to be the color of the central light source 4b, there is an effect that the usability as a product is increased.

  Further, the read address control unit 43 can be switched from the monochromatic mode to the gradation mode by the mode changeover switch 22, and at the time of the switching, the color of one light source among the plurality of light sources 4a to 4c, specifically, Since the colors of the plurality of light sources 4a to 4c are controlled so that the color of the central light source 4b is the color of the light sources 4a to 4c immediately before the switching, the effect of increasing the ease of use as a product from that point as well. There is.

  Furthermore, the color setting switch 23 is provided for changing the color range of each light source 4a to 4c in the monochrome mode and changing the color range in which the color of each light source 4a to 4c is changed in the gradation mode. Interestingness, emotion, and visibility of the display object are further increased, and customer attraction and purchase incentive power can be further enhanced.

[Modified form of LED control microcomputer 14]
In the above-described embodiment, the color of each light source automatically and sequentially changes with time, the gradation mode in which the color of each light source is different, and the single color mode in which the color of each light source is fixed to the same color However, instead of or in addition to the single color mode, a multicolor mode is set in which the color of each light source is fixed with a different color without automatically changing over time. May be.

  In this case, for example, when the user operates a mode switch provided separately and the operation signal is sent to the mode / color setting unit 42, the mode / color setting unit 42 receives the operation signal of the mode switch. In response, an instruction signal for switching the display color mode of the LCD 3 from the gradation mode to the multicolor mode is generated and output to the read address control unit 43.

  As described above, the read address control unit 43 always reads three types of color information (color information “0”, color information “−1”, and color information “+1”) in the gradation mode before switching. When the instruction signal is received from the mode / color setting unit 42, operation in the multi-color mode is started, reading of color information from the memory unit 41 is stopped, and three types of color information (color information) at the time of reception are stopped. "0", color information "-1", color information "+1"), and RGB signals are generated based on the three types of color information, and the RGB signals generated based on the color information "0" are RGB controlled The RGB signal generated based on the color information “−1” is output to the RGB controller 44 a and the RGB signal generated based on the color information “+1” is output to the RGB controller 44 c. The RGB control units 44a to 44c generate control pulses from the RGB signals input from the read address control unit 43, and the operations of the light sources 4a to 4c (that is, light emission states) based on the control pulses. Is controlled.

  As a result, the backlight color of each display block (left display block, center display block, right display block) in the display area of the LCD 3 is different, specifically, when the above-described separate mode changeover switch is operated. It becomes the color.

  In the above-described multicolor mode, when the user operates the above-described separate mode switch and the operation signal is sent to the mode / color setting unit 42, the mode / color setting unit 42 switches the mode switching. In response to the switch operation signal, an instruction signal for switching the display color mode of the LCD 3 from the multicolor mode to the gradation mode (full color demo mode) is generated and output to the read address control unit 43.

  As described above, the read address control unit 43 always uses three types of color information (color information “0”, color information “−1”, and color information “+1”) in the multicolor mode before switching. However, when the instruction signal is received from the mode / color setting unit 42, the operation in the gradation mode is resumed, and the reading of the color information from the memory unit 41 is resumed. Starting from color information (color information “0”, color information “−1”, color information “+1”), three types of color information are read out sequentially according to the order of the addresses given to the color information. An RGB signal is generated based on the three types of color information, the RGB signal generated based on the color information “0” is generated in the RGB control unit 44b, and the RGB signal generated based on the color information “−1” is input in the RGB control unit 44a. The RGB signals generated based on the color information “+1” are continuously output to the RGB control unit 44c. The RGB control units 44a to 44c generate control pulses from the RGB signals input from the read address control unit 43, and the operations of the light sources 4a to 4c (that is, light emission states) based on the control pulses. Is controlled.

  Even when such a multicolor mode is set, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained. Even when this multicolor mode is set, a switch similar to the mode / color setting switch described above is prepared, and by operating the switch, the color of each light source is changed in the multicolor mode, and in the gradation mode. It is also possible to change the color range in which the color of each light source changes.

  The above-described LED control microcomputer 14 (the read address control unit 43) is based on various types of information such as time information and temperature / humidity information input from the LCD control microcomputer 13, and the gradation mode and the single color mode (or multiple modes). Color mode), switching between full color demo mode and group demo mode in gradation mode, changing color information used in single color mode (or multicolor mode), etc. You may control the color of each light source 4a-4c so that it may become a backlight color according to an hour, a month, a day of the week, a season, temperature, humidity, etc.).

  In the above-described embodiment, the backlight color (that is, the color of each light source 4a to 4c) is continuously changed to a pastel hue circle after going around the vivid hue circle in the gradation mode full color demo mode. In the single color mode, the color range is changed in the same color range, but the color range in which the backlight color is changed or changed in each display color mode can be arbitrarily changed. Needless to say.

  In the above-described embodiment, in the gradation mode, the read address control unit 43 reads the color information to which the continuous addresses are assigned from the memory unit 41. However, it is necessary to read the color information to which the continuous addresses are assigned. For example, color information to be read from the memory unit 41 may be selected according to a user's request or preference.

  In the above-described embodiment, the read address control unit 43 operates in the gradation mode full color demo mode when the power is turned on or reset. Of course, the operation mode can also be arbitrarily changed. In addition, the control contents of the LED control microcomputer 14 at the time of switching between the display modes are not limited to the above-described embodiments.

  In the above-described embodiment, the LCD control microcomputer 13 that controls the operation of the LCD 3 and the LED control microcomputer 14 that individually controls the operations of the light sources 4a to 4c are configured separately. The microcomputer 13 for LEDs and the microcomputer 14 for LED control may be configured from one microcomputer (in other words, integrally configured).

  In the above-described embodiment, various types of information such as time information and temperature / humidity information are basically displayed in the display area of the LCD 3 by the segment method. For example, a dot matrix method using a TFT circuit or the like is used. Of course, it may be displayed by other display methods.

  In the above-described embodiment, the plurality of light sources for the backlight are arranged in a line in the horizontal direction. For example, the light sources may be arranged in the vertical direction, or each light source may be arranged in the horizontal direction. Alternatively, they may be arranged in the vertical direction. Each light source may be arranged and used in two or more rows in the horizontal direction or in two or more rows in the vertical direction.

1 Clock 2 Case 3 LCD (Liquid Crystal Display Panel)
4a to 4c Light source 5 Common line 6 Segment line 7a to 7c Drive output part 8a to 8c RGB control 3 line 11 Temperature sensor 12 Humidity sensor 13 LCD control microcomputer 14 LED control microcomputer (control part)
15 receiving antenna 16 receiving IC
17 AC Adapter 18 Regulator 21 Clock Operation Switch 22 Mode Change Switch 23 Color Setting Switch 41 Memory Unit 42 Mode / Color Setting Unit 43 Read Address Control Units 44a to 44c RGB Control Unit

Claims (18)

A plurality of liquid crystal display units arranged in at least one line as a backlight of the liquid crystal display unit in order to display a display target consisting of at least one of characters, figures, and symbols on the liquid crystal display unit A light source, and a control unit that controls the plurality of light sources in order to change a backlight color of the liquid crystal display unit,
The control unit controls the color of the light source in a gradation mode in which the color of each light source automatically changes with time and the color of each light source is different ,
The gradation mode includes only a full color demo mode in which the color of each light source changes periodically in the entire color range of a hue circle composed of a plurality of colors, and a predetermined color range of the hue circle. A plurality of group demo modes in which the color of each light source periodically changes and each color range is different,
The display device characterized in that the control unit can switch between the full-color demonstration mode and the plurality of group demonstration modes in a predetermined order . 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is capable of switching each of the full-color demo mode and the plurality of group demo modes in an order reverse to the predetermined order. . 3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is capable of switching between the full-color demonstration mode and the plurality of group demonstration modes after the plurality of light sources are turned off. . The light source has a configuration in which at least three light sources are arranged in a line,
The said control part controls the color of the said light source so that the color of the light source located between two light sources may become the intermediate color of the color of the said two light sources . The display device described in 1. Wherein the control unit, so that the color of each light source changes at the same control pattern and the same period, the display device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that to control the color of the light source. The said control part controls the color of the said light source by regularly reading the color information corresponding to the color of each light source from the memory part which memorize | stores the color information regarding the color of the said light source. 6. The display device according to any one of 5 to 5 . Wherein the control unit, the display device according to claim 1, wherein 6 in that said gradation mode, a monochrome mode in which the color of the light sources are the same color has become switchable. When the control unit is switched from the gradation mode to the monochromatic mode, the color of each light source is the color of one of the plurality of light sources immediately before the switching, or from the monochromatic mode. when switched to the gradation mode, the color of one light source of said plurality of light sources is the color of the light source of the switching immediately prior to claim 7, characterized in that to control the color of the light source The display device described. The display device according to claim 7 or 8 , further comprising a mode changeover switch for switching between the gradation mode and the monochrome mode. The display device, the at monochrome mode to change the color of the light sources, and / or, further comprising a toggle its color setting switch each of said full demonstration mode and the plurality of groups demo mode in the gradation mode display device according to any one of claims 7 to 9. The control unit, from claim 1 and the gradation mode, the multi-color mode in which a rather different colors the color of each light source automatically changes over time, characterized in that it becomes possible to switch The display device according to any one of 10 . When the control unit is switched from the gradation mode to the multicolor mode, the color of each light source is the color immediately before the switching, or when the multicolor mode is switched to the gradation mode, The display device according to claim 11 , wherein the color of each light source is controlled so that the color of the light source changes from the color of the light source immediately before switching . The display device according to claim 11 or 12 , further comprising a separate mode changeover switch for switching between the gradation mode and the multicolor mode. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the color of the light source in the gradation mode at power-on or reset.   A timepiece comprising the display device according to claim 1.   The timepiece according to claim 15, wherein the control unit controls the color of the light source based on information on time and / or temperature and humidity. A plurality of liquid crystal display units arranged in at least one line as a backlight of the liquid crystal display unit in order to display a display target consisting of at least one of characters, figures, and symbols on the liquid crystal display unit A light source, and a control unit that controls the plurality of light sources in order to change a backlight color of the liquid crystal display unit,
The controller can switch between a gradation mode in which the color of each light source automatically changes with the passage of time, and a single color mode in which the color of each light source is the same color. And
When the control unit is switched from the gradation mode to the monochromatic mode, the color of each light source is the color of one of the plurality of light sources immediately before the switching, or from the monochromatic mode. The display device according to claim 1, wherein when the gradation mode is switched, the color of the light source is controlled so that a color of one of the plurality of light sources becomes a color of the light source immediately before the switching. A plurality of liquid crystal display units arranged in at least one line as a backlight of the liquid crystal display unit in order to display a display target consisting of at least one of characters, figures, and symbols on the liquid crystal display unit A light source, and a control unit that controls the plurality of light sources in order to change a backlight color of the liquid crystal display unit,
The control unit automatically changes the color of each light source with the passage of time, the gradation mode in which the color of each light source becomes a different color, and without the color of each light source automatically changing with the passage of time. It is possible to switch between multicolor modes that are different colors,
When the control unit is switched from the gradation mode to the multicolor mode, the color of each light source is the color immediately before the switching, or when the multicolor mode is switched to the gradation mode, A display device, wherein the color of each light source is controlled so that the color of the light source changes from the color of the light source immediately before switching.

Images