CN2337593Y

CN2337593Y - Clock

Info

Publication number: CN2337593Y
Application number: CN97204643U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 陈炜文
Original assignee: Wanwei Science & Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: Wanwei Science & Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 1996-01-04
Filing date: 1997-01-04
Publication date: 1999-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 2007-01-04
Also published as: GB2308899A; GB9600074D0; EP0783144A1

Abstract

The utility model relates to a clock, which works through a battery to supply power. The utility model comprises a housing provided with a display which is used for indicating time, an inner electronic control circuit, and a plurality of switches which are installed on the housing and are used for controlling the running of the control circuit. The clock comprises a lighting device which is used for lighting the display so as to conveniently read the time under the condition of low circumstance lightness and a light indicator used for indicating the position of the clock under the condition of low circumstance lightness. The indicator is provided with a light-emitting element which works under a lower electrical level of power supply than the lighting device, such as flares or emits light under lower lightness, so as to save electric energy. The light-emitting element can be formed by a single LED or a part or the whole of the lighting device.

Description

Clock

The utility model relates to a kind of clock that can be easy to locate under the low environment luminance state.

The clock and the wrist-watch that comprise light source are known, and wherein light source is used to illuminate clock or wrist-watch surface, and to be easy to time for reading in the environment of dark, the fast moving of indication alarm starting or the indication of demonstration wrist-watch is so that entertainment atmosphere.In all these clocks and wrist-watch that pre-existing, light source is time for reading, alarm starting or the instant of short duration connection of wrist-watch fast moving according to specific item only.

The purpose of this utility model provides a kind of clock with light source, makes clock to be placed on simply under the situation of low environment brightness.

According to the utility model, a kind of clock is provided, it utilizes battery operated, and comprise: a housing, the display that is used for instruction time is housed on it, and an internal electron control circuit, be contained in a plurality of switches that are used to control this control circuit on the housing, one be used to illuminate display so that under the low environment brightness conditions luminaire of time for reading, it is characterized in that described clock comprises to be configured in the optical indicator that is used for telltable clock position under the low environment brightness conditions on the described housing.In order to save electric energy, described optical indicator is equipped with according to funerary objects and is operated in light-emitting component under the lower power level.

Best, optical indicator is provided with by the flash of light mode.

Best, the setting of this indicator makes the brightness ratio luminaire of the light that provides lower.

In first preferred embodiment, being provided with of indicator can be utilized one of them switch manually to come into operation or stopped using by the user.

In second preferred embodiment, being provided with of indicator can automatically be come into operation or stop using under control circuit control.

Best, control circuit is programmable, so that can can come into operation the predefined time or stop using this indicator by the user.

Best, control circuit comprises a light sensing element so that the monitoring environment luminance state, so that come into operation under suitable ambient brightness condition or stop using this indicator.

In a preferred embodiment, indicator is formed by the light source that separates with luminaire.

Particularly, the setting of luminaire utilizes one of them switch manually to come into operation by a user or stops using, and indicator is located at after the button of a described switch.

In another preferred embodiment, indicator is formed by identical light source with luminaire.

Particularly, indicator is formed by the part of luminaire.

Best, luminaire is formed by an electronic type luminous plaque and this indicator is made of part or all of this plate.

In a preferred embodiment, indicator and luminaire are made of single electronic type luminous plaque, and this plate configuration can be glistened when being used as indicator, and/or drives by low power level when as indicator rather than as luminaire.

Best, control circuit and luminaire and indicator are by separately battery power.

Above-mentioned clock can have the warning function element, and this warning function element is arranged to be independent of indicator work.

Clearly, by use the less light source of independent power consumption (for example at clock 10) or only a part of LCD display background luminescence light source (as at clock 10A) provide night the finger function, specifically but not necessarily combine, make the power consumption minimum with flash of light or intermittent illumination.By utilizing whole LCD display background luminescence light source (as at clock 10B or the 4th kind of clock) specifically but not necessarily to provide the night finger to make demand also drop to minimum to power according to the brightness that reduces in the flash of light mode.As everyone knows, the clock power consumption to the powered battery operation is very crucial.With compare for the normal background of time for reading is luminous because the formed light of finger function at night is according to brightness that reduces or average brightness.Therefore battery life can be the longest, can reduce to minimum to the interference of the user in the sleep.

Only introduce the utility model with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of example in more detail.

Fig. 1 is the front elevation according to the clock of first embodiment of the present utility model, the lid that its expression clock disassemble is set level;

Fig. 2 is and the corresponding front elevation of Fig. 1 the lid that the expression folding closes;

Fig. 3 is the block schematic diagram of the electronic control circuit of the clock among Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is the front elevation according to second embodiment of clock of the present utility model, the lid that expression clock disassemble is set level;

Fig. 5 is the right side view of the clock among Fig. 4, and expression is rolled over backward so that form the lid of a rear support.

Fig. 6 is the block schematic diagram of the electronic control circuit of the clock among Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is the front elevation according to the 3rd embodiment of clock of the present utility model, the lid that the disassemble of expression clock is set level.

Fig. 8 is the right side view of the clock among Fig. 7, and expression is rolled over backward so that form the lid of a rear support.

Fig. 9 is the block schematic diagram of the electronic control circuit of the clock in the key diagram 7; And

Figure 10 is the block schematic diagram according to the electronic control circuit of the 4th embodiment of the utility model clock;

At first referring to figs. 1 through Fig. 3, represented that is embodied first kind of clock 10 of the present utility model, this clock 10 is of portable form, and utilizes the dry cell work of standard.Clock 10 has a less rectangular case 11 that is suitable for the pocket size, and its front is provided with digital LCD (LCD) display 13.Clock 10 comprises the lid 11 ' that is hinged on the housing 11, is used for folding to forward positive 12, covering the front 12 except that a LCD display 13, and launches to the right in an acute anglely to prop up pressure as the back from the rear side of clock case 11.LCD display 13 is used for showing the current time and can setting in advance the time that indicator that the mode utilization with quarter-bell sets is reported to the police with digital form, electron luminescence (EL) formula background luminescence plate 13 ' is located at the back of LCD display 13, so that or permission time for reading under the condition of dark or low environment brightness.

Below the positive 12LCD display 13 of housing, be provided with a plurality of switches, be used to control the operation of clock 10, comprising being used to select TIME SET (time set), the slide switch 14 of LOCK (interlocking) and ALARM SET (alarm settings) mode, the a pair of pressing switch 15 of triangle that is used for regulating up and down the numeral demonstration, be used to change another slide switch 16 of ALARM (warning) function ON (work) and OFF (stopping), and another pressing switch 17, be used to carry out SNOOZE (wakening) function and conversion input and withdraw from back-LIGHT (background luminescence) function, all these is a technique known.

As shown in Figure 3, clock 10 comprises the internal electron control circuit that is used to control clock 10 operations.This control circuit is the clock driving circuit 20 that is used as according to microprocessor Design, so that carry out various time clock features, clock driver circuit 20 is directly connected to LCD display 13 and also is connected to indirectly on the EL background luminescence plate 13 ' through background luminescence driving circuit 21 as prior art is known, so that control their function separately.First battery supply 23 is used for to clock driver circuit 20 power supplies.Second battery supply 24 is used for being used to switch on and off the Push switch 17 of EL background luminescence plate 13 ' to 21 power supplies of background light emission drive circuit through this.Push switch 17 is directly connected to and is used to control the clock driver circuit 20 that wakens function.User's controller 18 is made of switch 14 to 16, and it is directly connected on the clock driver circuit 20.

Button in the Push switch 17 is translucent or transparent, is provided with a LED (light emitting diode) 17 ' in inside, makes button luminous when needing with box lunch.Another slide switch 19 of utilization process is connected to led drive circuit 22 driving LED 17 ' on second battery supply 24 indirectly.Slide switch 19 is located at the back side of clock case 11, is used to come into operation and the operation of inactive led drive circuit 22.Led drive circuit 22 is used for mode driving LED 17 ' interrupted or flash of light.

It should be understood that driving circuit 20 to 22 can partly or wholly integrate.In addition, two battery supplies 23 and 24 can be replaced by single battery supply.Battery supply be rechargeable and be used in combination with solar power supply board.

Under the condition of dark or low environment brightness, for example at dead of night, the user of clock 10 may wish readout time.Can must at first find or locate clock 10 by clock before 10 readout times the user.Utilize the described flash of light mode of LED17 ' provide night locating function, therefore, Push switch 17 can make the user be easy to find clock 10.In case get clock 10, the user can press this pressing switch 17 so that change logical 13 ' such time that just can read out on the LCD display 13 of background luminescence plate.

Connecting background luminescence plate 13 ' continuously will not only cause battery supply 24 too many power consumptions but also unnecessarily disturb user's sleep.When the slide switch 19 that utilizes rear side came into operation LED17 ', (visible pressing switch) LED17 ' flash of light was under reasonably low frequency is controlled, so that do not consume too much electric energy and enough positions of telltable clock 10 significantly.

In this example, Night Finder (finger at night) LED17 ' has special advantage with the pressing switch 17 that is used to connect background luminescence plate 13 ' suitable the connection, promptly before can readout time as a necessary step, be easy to locate according to this pressing switch 17 of position of connecting the 13 ' indication of background luminescence plate for the user, yet what will face is that Night Finder (finger at night) LED17 ' may be located at an independent position.For example the center is on LCD display 13, so that more seem outstanding extraordinarily.

Though the enforcement of the warning function of clock 10 and night finger LED17 ' irrelevant, but owing to utilize the reason of the illumination of finger LED17 ' at night, realize arousal function by the user in response to the warning start-up function, pressing switch 17 (also as wakening button) is easy to the location.

Below with reference to Fig. 4 to 6, represented among the figure to embody second kind of clock 10A of the present utility model, because its structure is similar to first kind of above-mentioned clock 10, compare with first kind of clock, adopt identical reference number but the similar element of additional letter " A " mark.In this clock 10A, lid 11A ' but design to such an extent that capping comprises the positive 12A of trimming of the clock case 11A of LCD display 13A.In addition, the form in the back of clock case 11A with microswitch is provided with a switch 17A (being used to waken and the background luminescence function), is moved by lid 11A ' being used as under the state of rear support.To waken function and/or connect background luminescence plate 13A ' in order to carry out, the user needs the slight bearing of lid relatively 11A ' to press clock housing 11A backward with operation microswitch 17A.The internal control circuit of clock 10A also is similar to aforementioned clock 10 and operation in an identical manner.

Only key distinction is the setting of finger function at night, under the situation of clock 10A, realizes the sub-fraction 17A ' that be used for LCD display 13A of this functional utilization at the place, right base angle of EL background luminescence plate 13A '.Be in operation, the finger driving circuit 22A at night that can be switched on and off by the switch 19A on the back that is located among the clock case 11A drives EL part 17A ', so that glisten for the position of telltable clock 10A.

Because EL part 17A ' only is the very little part of whole EL background luminescence plate 13A ', therefore power consumption is much smaller by comparison, and can power continuously rather than power supply intermittently.No matter should be appreciated that by flash of light or continuous drive mode luminous (on average) brightness that provides of EL part 17A ' is relative by comparison low with the brightness that luminous plaque 13A ' by whole background is provided.

Can select Night Finder finger at the night part 17A ' of EL background luminescence plate 13A ' to be formed on positive back or other preferred positions of the bar section of time figure or time colon (per second flash of light), so that have the visual effect of expection.

Below with reference to Fig. 7 to 9, wherein represented the 3rd embodiment 10B of the present utility model.The structure of this clock 10B is similar to the above-mentioned

second embodiment

10A, and 10A compares with second clock, uses identical number designation but marks similar element with additional letter " B " replacement " A ".Internal control circuit among the clock 10B is also similar with previous clock 10A and work by identical mode basically.

Main is the aspect that is provided with that difference only is finger function at night, utilizes to be provided with independent finger driving circuit at night by background luminescence driving circuit 21B and to drive whole EL background luminescence plate 13B ' its function is set under the situation of clock 10B.Night, finger timing circuit 22B was connected to background luminescence driving circuit 21B, this timing circuit 22B can utilize switch connection or the disconnection that is located on the clock case 11B back, and is designed to that background luminescence signal plate 13B ' provides timing signal so that the position of flash of light read clock 10A.By this flash of light mode, it is luminous but drive background luminescence plate 13B ' by lower intensity that driving circuit 21B is different from a continuous manner normal background.Flash of light and comprehensively make power consumption minimum than what low-intensity drove.

With reference to Figure 10, the figure shows the internal control circuit that embodies the 4th clock of the present utility model at last.This control circuit is similar to previous clock 10B and works in essentially identical mode, utilizes the digital additional letter of identical reference " C " rather than " B " to represent similar part.Main difference only is the structure of clock driver circuit 20C, and the finger timing circuit at night that this circuit comprises at present also provides timing signal for background luminescence plate 13C ', so that by the intensity flash of light that reduces, to indicate the clock position.

Should see that LCD display can utilize for example one or more LED to realize background luminescence, these one or more LED glisten according to suitable frequency, or preferably luminous continuously according to reducing intensity, with the telltable clock position.

In described embodiment, user's manual operation switch 19 or 19A can make night finger function enter and use or dead status.Should see that in addition finger function at night can automatically come into operation/stop using under the control of the internal control circuit of clock.In a kind of design, microprocessor in the control circuit is programmed, so that respectively according to the different time for example dusk and dawn enter use and inactive night the finger function, these times can be preestablished by the user, so that only automatically be suitable in the interlunation of several hrs.In other design, this control circuit comprises light sensing element, photodiode/sensor for example, so that the brightness around monitoring, thereby, when the room brilliancy state becomes too dark or enough bright for observation, respectively according to reasonable time automatically enter use or inactive night the finger function.

In addition, will be appreciated that clock of the present utility model can be for utilizing the simulated time display of hour hands, minute hand and second hand.

The utility model is only introduced by way of example, and person skilled in the art can carry out various other improvement and/or replacement to the embodiment that is introduced under the prerequisite that does not break away from the scope of the present utility model that is limited by the claim that is proposed.

Claims

1 one kinds of clocks, use battery-powered operation, it comprises: a housing which is provided with the display that is used for instruction time, an internal electron control circuit, be located at a plurality of switches that are used to control this control circuit on the housing, and the luminaire that is used to be convenient under the low environment brightness conditions, illuminate the display time for reading, it is characterized in that, described clock comprises that is configured in an optical indicator that is used for telltable clock position under the low environment brightness conditions on the described housing, described indicator is equipped with the light-emitting component that is operated in according under the relatively low power level of funerary objects, so that save electric energy.

2 clocks as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that indicator is arranged to glisten.

3 clocks as claimed in claim 1, the indicator that it is characterized in that are arranged to can be luminous according to the relatively low brightness of funerary objects.

4 clocks as claimed in claim 1, the indicator that it is characterized in that are arranged to and can are utilized one of them switch manually to come into operation or stopped using by the user.

5 clocks as claimed in claim 1, the indicator that it is characterized in that are arranged to automatically to come into operation under the control of control circuit or are stopped using.

6 clocks as claimed in claim 5, the control circuit that it is characterized in that is able to programme, so that come into operation the predefined time by the user or stopping using indicator.

7 clocks as claimed in claim 1, the control circuit that it is characterized in that comprise light sensing element so that the monitoring of environmental luminance state, thereby come into operation or stop using indicator by suitable ambient brightness.

8 clocks as claimed in claim 1, the indicator that it is characterized in that is formed by the light source that separates with luminaire.

9 clocks as claimed in claim 8, the luminaire that it is characterized in that are arranged to and can are utilized one of them switch manually to come into operation or stopped using by the user, and indicator is located at the back of the button of a described switch.

10 clocks as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that indicator is formed by identical light source with luminaire.

11 clocks as claimed in claim 10, the indicator that it is characterized in that is formed by the part of luminaire.

12 clocks as claimed in claim 10, the luminaire that it is characterized in that is formed by the electronic type luminous plaque, and indicator is formed by part or all of this plate.

13 clocks as claimed in claim 10, indicator that it is characterized in that and luminaire are formed by single electronic type luminous plaque, and this luminous plaque is arranged to glisten when as indicator and/or is compared under the brightness conditions low when being used as luminaire when as indicator and is driven.

14 clocks as claimed in claim 1, control circuit that it is characterized in that and luminaire and indicator are by separately battery power.

15 clocks as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that having the warning function element, and this function element is configured to be independent of the work of indicator ground.