JP2000075064A - Time-signal repeating apparatus and time correction system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a time-signal repeating apparatus and a time correction system in which the time can be corrected with high accuracy and surely without misreading a code, even when the signal field strength of repeating radio waves becomes close to that of standard radio waves. SOLUTION: A time-signal repeating apparatus 2 is constituted in such a way that a time signal is transmitted once a day at an extremely special time, e.g. at 2.38 a.m. When a standard-time radio-wave signal S1 is received on the side of a radio-wave corrected watch 3, the receivable time band of the standard-time radio-wave signal S1 from a key station 1 is made different from the receivable time band of a radio-wave signal S2 from the time-signal repeating apparatus 2. As a result, that the radio-wave signal S2 from the time-signal repeating apparatus 2 becomes disturbance radio waves can be suppressed to a minimum, and the time of the radio-wave corrected watch 3 can be corrected with high accuracy and surely.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a time signal relay device and a time correction system for relaying a radio signal including a time code for a radio-controlled timepiece which receives a radio signal and corrects the time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a radio-controlled timepiece is a long-wave (40 kHz) standard time radio wave (J) which transmits Japan Standard Time with high accuracy.
G2AS), and has a function of performing so-called zero return based on the received signal. A pointer position detecting device is provided to accurately adjust the position of the pointer to the correct hour at the time of zero return.

This type of radio-controlled timepiece has a built-in receiving system circuit for receiving a standard time radio signal, and a control circuit for driving a pointer driving system based on the received signal to correct the time. In the mode, the pointer position is corrected to a position corresponding to the time code of the received radio signal.

The radio-controlled timepiece is usually installed indoors, but often cannot be received at the installation location, for example, in a steel house or basement. Therefore, in order to eliminate the restriction on the installation location of the radio-controlled timepiece, a time signal relay device that receives a standard time radio signal, modulates the received time signal with a predetermined carrier wave, and transmits the signal is provided. There has been proposed a device in which the corrected signal is received by a radio-controlled timepiece to correct the time (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-333170).

[0005]

However, in the case of the above-described conventional repeater, since there is only one radio tower for standard time radio waves nationwide, the electric field strength is extremely weak at distant points and the carrier wave (40 kHz) is used. ) Is difficult to reproduce, there is a possibility that the transmission radio wave of the relay device cannot be synchronized with the standard time radio wave. Therefore, the code is inverted due to the phase difference. For example, the code “0” is changed to “1”.
There is a possibility that inconveniences such as misreading and the like may occur. Hereinafter, this problem will be described in more detail.

The standard time radio wave is a radio wave whose frequency is exactly 40.000 kHz as described above. Since it is difficult to synchronize the transmission radio wave of the relay device with the standard time radio wave,
The phase and frequency are always off. Further, ignoring the phase and trying to set the frequency to just 40.000 kHz will greatly increase the cost.

Therefore, when an oscillator having an error of ± 25 ppm including a temperature change is used in a general crystal oscillation circuit, the frequency is shifted by ± 1 Hz. Thus, the signal waveform processed by the radio-controlled timepiece when the oscillation frequency of the repeater is 40.001 kHz is as shown in FIG.

That is, the JG2AS code is an ASK signal for transmitting 1-bit data per second. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 16A, when the standard time radio wave is input to the receiving circuit of the radio-controlled timepiece without noise, the output waveform (1, 1) as shown in FIG.
0, 1) is reproduced. Here, if the radio-controlled timepiece is installed in a place where the electric field strength of the radio wave of the 40.001 kHz relay and the electric field strength of the standard radio wave are equal to each other, the synthesized radio wave generates a beat of 1/2 Hz. . If the phase of the radio wave from the relay device coincides with the phase of the standard radio wave at the beginning of the first 1-bit data, the envelope of the synthesized radio wave is as shown in FIG. When this radio wave is received and decoded, it becomes a waveform as shown in FIG. 16 (d), which is a normal code and all codes "1"
There is a great risk of being misread as.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to accurately and accurately measure the time without misreading a code even if the signal electric field strength between a relay radio wave and a standard radio wave becomes close. It is an object of the present invention to provide a time signal relay device and a time correction system that can perform correction.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a radio-controlled timepiece for receiving a standard time radio signal in a predetermined time zone and correcting the time. A time signal relay device for relaying, the receiving means for receiving the standard time radio signal,
There is provided a transmitting means for transmitting the standard time radio signal received by the receiving means to the radio-controlled timepiece as the radio signal at a time different from a reception time zone of the standard time radio signal of the radio-controlled timepiece.

The time correction system of the present invention receives a standard time radio signal at a predetermined time zone and a radio signal obtained by relaying the standard time radio signal at a time different from the time zone, and receives the hand position. , A radio-controlled timepiece that corrects the time according to the time code included in the received signal, receiving means for receiving the standard time radio signal, and the standard time radio signal received by the receiving means as the radio signal. A time signal relay device having transmission means for transmitting the corrected timepiece at a time different from the reception time zone of the standard time radio signal of the radio timepiece.

Further, according to the present invention, the radio-controlled timepiece includes:
Compares the reception condition of the radio signal with a predetermined reference range, and sets the pointer position when the reception condition is within the reference range, and sets the pointer position when the reception condition is outside the reference range. The control circuit does not perform the control.

In the present invention, when the standard time signal received in a predetermined time zone is normally received, the control circuit controls so as not to receive the radio signal by the time signal relay device. .

In the present invention, the transmission means of the time signal relay device is configured to be able to change the transmission time of the radio signal. Further, when the transmission time of the radio signal is changed, the transmission means adds the setting change information to the radio signal to be transmitted at the time before the setting is changed, and transmits the radio signal. Receives the radio signal including the transmission time setting change information, and changes the setting of the reception time of the radio signal by the time signal relay device.

According to the time correcting repeater of the present invention, the receiving means receives the standard time radio signal including the time code of the predetermined frequency and outputs the signal to the transmitting means. In the transmitting means, the received standard time radio signal is subjected to predetermined processing and transmitted as a radio signal including a time code at a time different from the reception time zone of the standard time radio signal of the radio-controlled timepiece.

According to the time adjustment system of the present invention, the radio-controlled timepiece receives a standard time radio signal at a predetermined time zone, for example, at every hour.
The reception state of the radio signal is compared with a predetermined reference range, and when the reception state is within the reference range, the pointer position is corrected according to the time code. On the other hand, when the reception state is out of the reference range, the pointer position is not corrected, and the notification unit notifies the reception position, for example. Further, in the time correction relay device, the receiving means receives the standard time radio signal including the time code of the predetermined frequency and outputs the signal to the transmitting means. The transmission means receives predetermined processing with the received standard time radio signal, and transmits the radio signal as a radio signal including a time code at a time different from the reception time zone of the standard time radio signal of the radio-controlled timepiece. In the radio-controlled timepiece, the time is adjusted according to the time code included in the radio signal.

In the radio-controlled timepiece, when a standard time signal received in a predetermined time zone is normally received, no radio signal is received by the time signal relay device.

In the time signal relay device, when the setting of the transmission time of the radio signal is changed, the setting change information is added to the radio signal to be transmitted at the time before the setting is changed and transmitted. . The control circuit of the radio-controlled timepiece receives the radio signal including the transmission time setting change information, and changes the setting of the reception time of the radio signal by the time signal relay device. The radio signal is received by the device.

[0019]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a time correction system to which a time signal relay device according to the present invention is applied.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present time correction system uses a long-time (40 kHz) standard time radio wave (JG2AS).
, A time signal relay device 2, and a radio-controlled timepiece 3.

The key station 1 transmits a long-wave (40 kHz) standard time radio wave (JG2AS) S1 having a format as shown in FIG. Key station 1
Long wave (40
Specifically, in the format of the standard radio wave (JG2AS) S1 of “kHz”, in the case of the “1” signal, a signal of 40 kHz is transmitted for 500 ms (0.5 s) within one second (s) and “0” 800 ms for 1 second (s)
(0.8 s), a signal of 40 kHz is sent, and in the case of a “P” signal (synchronous signal), 200 ms in one second (s)
A signal of 40 kHz is sent for (0.2 s). FIG.
(A) shows a waveform example when data is (1, 0, 1).

The time signal relay device 2 transmits the AM signal from the key station 1
A standard time radio signal S1 including a time code of a predetermined frequency (40 kHz) transmitted after being modulated is received, and the frequency of the received standard time radio signal is converted to a radio-controlled timepiece 3 on the receiving side.
However, it cannot be discriminated as a time code from the frequency of the standard time radio signal, and has the same format as the JG2AS baseband signal within a receivable frequency range, for example, 4 Hz, and complies with the weak radio standard of the Radio Law. As a radio signal S2 having a frequency of 40.004 kHz, the radio signal is transmitted to a radio-controlled timepiece installed indoors, for example.

The time signal relay device 2 is, specifically, shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the receiving antenna 20, the receiving RF amplifier 2
1, a detection circuit 22, a rectifier circuit 23, an integration circuit 24, a microcomputer 25, a sine wave oscillator 26 having a frequency of 40.004 kHz, an analog switch 27, a transmission RF amplifier 28, and a transmission antenna 29. Then, the receiving antenna 20, the receiving RF amplifier 2
1. Receiving means is constituted by a detection circuit 22, a rectifier circuit 23, an integrating circuit 24, and a microcomputer 25, and transmitted by a microcomputer 25, a sine wave oscillator 26, an analog switch 27, a transmitting RF amplifier 28, and a transmitting antenna 29. Means are configured.

In the time signal repeater 2, the standard time radio signal S1 received by the receiving antenna 20 passes through a receiving RF amplifier 21, a detecting circuit 22, a rectifying circuit 23, and an integrating circuit 24 as shown in FIG. The signal is converted into a baseband signal of the standard time radio signal S1 as shown and input to the microcomputer 25.

As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, the microcomputer 25 first receives the baseband signal from the integration circuit 24, decodes the JG2AS time code, and obtains time data such as hours, minutes, and 00 seconds. (S
1). Next, since the JG2AS data transmits one code per minute, one minute is added to the obtained time data,
Time data to be transmitted is created (S2). Then, the time data is output as a gate pulse S25 to the control terminal of the analog switch 27 in the same format as the JG2AS baseband signal (S3).

The analog switch 27 includes a sine wave oscillator 2
The output of the oscillation signal S26 oscillated from 6 is turned on / off by the gate pulse S25 by the microcomputer 25 to obtain an AM modulated RF signal. This AM-modulated RF signal is amplified by the transmitting RF amplifier 28 and transmitted by the transmitting antenna 2.
9 is transmitted as a radio signal S2 in the same format as JG2AS as shown in FIG.

It should be noted that the time signal relay device 2 transmits the radio signal S
2 can be transmitted at all times,
In the present embodiment, transmission is performed once a day only at a very special time, for example, at 2:38 am. FIG. 4 shows an operation flow of the time signal relay device 2 in that case.

In this case, when the power is turned on, the time signal relay device 2 receives the standard time radio wave signal S1, corrects the internal clock, and increments the internal clock (S11, S11).
S12, S13). Next, it is determined whether or not the reception time of the standard time radio signal S1 is, for example, 2:36 am (S14). If the reception time is, the standard time radio signal S1 is received and the internal clock is received. Is corrected, and the internal clock is incremented (S15, S16). Next, it is determined whether or not the transmission time of the standard time radio signal S1, for example, 2:38 am, is determined (S17), and if it is the transmission time, the time code radio signal S2 is transmitted (S18).

The radio-controlled timepiece 3 is, in principle, a key station 1
A predetermined frequency (40 kHz) transmitted by AM modulation from
z) the standard time radio signal S1 including the time code, or the frequency 40.004 transmitted from the time signal relay device 2.
kHz radio wave signal S2, and receives the standard time radio wave signal S1.
Alternatively, if the reception state of the radio signal S2 is good, the pointer position is corrected at the time indicated by the time code, and if the reception state is bad, the user is notified that radio wave reception is not good.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a signal processing system circuit of the radio-controlled timepiece according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 is an entire embodiment of a pointer position detecting device of the radio-controlled timepiece according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration, and FIG. 7 is a plan view of the main part of the pointer position detecting device of the radio-controlled timepiece according to the present invention.

In the figure, 30 is a signal processing system circuit, 31
Is a standard time radio signal reception system, 32 is a reset switch,
33 is an oscillation circuit, 34 is a control circuit, and 35 is a drive circuit.
Road, 36 is a light emitting element as a notifying means, 37 is a buffer
Circuit, 38 is a drive circuit, V _CCIs the power supply voltage, C₁~ C
_ThreeIs a capacitor, R₁~ R₈Is a resistance element, 100 is a clock
The main body, 200 is the second hand drive system, and 300 is the first reflective optical sensor.
400, minute hand drive system, 500 hour hand wheel, 600
The minute wheel as an intermediate car, 700 is a manual correction axis, 800
Is a rotation detection plate, and 900 is a second reflection type optical sensor.
Is shown.

The standard radio wave receiving system 31 includes a receiving antenna 31
and a long wave receiving circuit 31b which receives a long wave (for example, 40 kHz) including a time code signal transmitted from a key station, performs predetermined signal processing, and outputs the signal to the control circuit 34 as a pulse signal S31. . The long wave receiving circuit 31b includes an RF amplifier, a detecting circuit, a rectifying circuit, and an integrating circuit, similar to the receiving system of the time signal relay device 2, although not shown.

The reset switch 32 is turned on when returning various states of the control circuit 34 to the initial state. When the reset switch 32 is turned on or when a battery (not shown) is set, the radio-controlled timepiece enters the initial correction mode.

The oscillation circuit 33 includes a crystal oscillator CRY and capacitors C ₂ and C ₃ , and supplies a basic clock having a predetermined frequency to the control circuit 34.

The control circuit 34 has a minute hand counter, a second hand counter, a standard minute / second counter, etc. (not shown).
In the initial correction mode, upon receiving the pulse signal S31 from the standard radio wave reception system 31, for example, the reception state of the received standard time radio wave signal is compared with a predetermined reference range, and when the reception state is within the reference range. the control signal CTL _1, CTL ₂ initializes the pointer position and outputs such to the stepping motor 210 and hour-minute stepping motor 410 of the needle for the second hand through the buffer 37, namely to perform the zero-reset operation, the reception state Telecommunications but if not within the reference range, without outputting a control signal CTL _1, CTL _2, and outputs a drive signal DR ₁ to the drive circuit 35, to the user by the light emitting element 36 as the notification means Notify that reception is almost impossible. Further, when the receiving state is within the reference range, a zero-return operation is performed, and then the received radio signal is decoded. As a result of the decoding, if the time can be converted, the base clock by the oscillation circuit 33 is used. Count control of various counters and detection signals DT by the first and second reflection-type optical sensors
_1, in accordance with the input level of the DT _2, the control signal CTL _1, C
The TL ₂ is transferred via the buffer 37 to the stepping motor 210 for the second hand and the stepping motor 410 for the hour and minute hands.
To perform the time correction control by performing the rotation control. On the other hand, as a result of the decoding, when time cannot be set, the drive signal DR ₁ is output to the drive circuit 35 without outputting the control signals CTL _{1 and} CTL _2, and the light emitting element 36 serving as a notification unit is output. To notify the user that the radio wave reception is not good. Thus, the operation in the initial correction mode is completed.

After completing the operation in the initial correction mode, the control circuit 34 controls the normal correction mode. In the normal correction mode, the driving power from a power source (not shown) is supplied to the standard radio wave receiving system 31 for one minute before and after the hour including the every hour so that the standard time radio signal S1 from the key station 1 can be received at every hour. At the same time, the standard radio wave receiving system 31 is supplied with driving power from a power source (not shown) for one minute before and after including 2:38 am so that the radio wave signal S2 from the time signal relay device 2 can be received. In this way, when the standard time radio signal S1 is received, the receivable time zone of the standard time radio signal S1 from the key station 1 and the time are set so that the radio signal S2 from the time signal relay device 2 does not become an interfering radio wave. Control is performed so that the receivable time zone of the radio signal S2 from the signal relay device 2 is different.

In the normal correction mode, the standard time radio signal S1 from the key station 1 is received in principle, and the radio signal is decoded. Count control of various counters based on the basic clock, and detection signals DT ₁ and DT ₁ by the first and second reflective optical sensors 300 and 900
In accordance with the input level of the DT _2, the control signal CTL _1, CTL
₂ is output to the stepping motor 210 for the second hand and the stepping motor 410 for the hour and minute hands via the buffer 37 to perform the rotation control and perform the time correction control, and to indicate that the standard time radio wave has been received normally. Set the radio wave normal reception flag. When the standard radio wave normal reception flag is set, the radio signal S2 from the time signal relay device 2 is not received, that is, 2:38 am
During one minute before and after the minute, the driving power is not supplied from the power supply (not shown) to the standard radio wave receiving system 31, the standard radio wave normal reception flag is reset, and the standard time from the key station 1 at every hour is reset. The time radio signal S1 is received to correct the time.

On the other hand, as a result of decoding, if time cannot be set, the drive signal DR ₁ is output to the drive circuit 35 without outputting the control signals CTL _{1 and} CTL ₂ , for example, as an alarm means. The light emitting element 36 emits light to notify the user that the radio wave reception is not good. In this case, the radio signal S2 is received from the time signal relay device 2, and when the radio signal S2 is received normally, the time is corrected according to the time code of the radio signal S2 obtained as a result of decoding.
Can not be received normally, if the signal waveform is as shown in FIG. 2 (f), as the installation position of the time signal repeater 2 is inadequate, it outputs a control signal CTL _1, CTL ₂ without, for example, it outputs a drive signal DR ₁ to the drive circuit 35, while the light emitting element 36 serving as notifying means to notify the user. After the completion of the time correction, or when the reception of the radio signal S2 from the time signal relay device 2 is not normal, the signal waveform is as shown in FIG. 2 (f), and the light emitting element 36 emits light to notify the user. 2 or when the signal waveform is not as shown in FIG. 2 (f), the standard radio wave normal reception flag is reset to receive the standard time radio signal S1 from the key station 1 every hour. To return to the time adjustment mode.

Drive circuit 35 is an npn-type transistor
Q1 and resistance element R₁, R_TwoIt consists of.
The collector of the transistor Q1 comprises a light emitting diode
The emitter is connected to the cathode of the light emitting element 36, and the emitter is grounded.
And the base is a resistive element R_TwoThrough the driver of the control circuit 34.
Eve signal DR₁Connected to the output line. Also,
Resistance element R₁Is the power supply voltage V_CCSupply line and light emitting element 3
6 is connected to the anode. That is, the light emitting element 3
6 is a high-level drive signal DR from the control circuit 34.
₁Drive circuit 35 to emit light when is output.
It is connected to the.

[0040] The drive circuit 38 is constituted by npn type transistors Q2, Q3 and a resistor R ₅ to R _8,.

As shown in FIG. 6, the timepiece main body 100 has a middle plate 120 connected to the lower plate 110 at a substantially central portion in a space formed by the lower plate 110 and the upper plate 130, and With respect to predetermined positions of the lower plate 110, the middle plate 120, and the upper plate 130 in the space, the second hand drive system 200, the first reflection type optical sensor 300, the second drive system 400, the hour wheel 500, the back of the day. The car 600, the manual correction shaft 700, and the second reflection type optical sensor 900 are fixed or supported.

The second hand drive system 200 includes a first stepping motor 210, a first fifth wheel & pinion 220, and a second hand wheel 230.
It consists of. First stepping motor 21
0 indicates a control circuit 34 in which the stator 210a is mounted on the lower plate 110, the rotor 210b is supported by the lower plate 110 and the upper plate 130, and is input via the buffer circuit 37.
Rotational direction based on the output control signal CTL _1, the rotational angle and the rotational speed is controlled.

The first fifth wheel & pinion 220 is rotatably supported by the lower plate 110 and the upper plate 130, and its wheel teeth are meshed with the rotor 210 b of the first stepping motor 210, and
The rotation speed of 10b is reduced to a predetermined speed. The first fifth wheel & pinion 220 is configured to rotate once every 15 seconds, for example, and a slit-shaped through hole 220a is formed in a part of a region where the second wheel & pinion 230 overlaps.

The second hand wheel 230 has one end of its shaft portion
The other end side penetrates the middle plate 120 to the lower plate 110 side, and the second hand shaft 230a is press-fitted to the other end side. The second hand shaft 230a is inserted through a through hole 440b of a minute hand pipe 440a that penetrates a lower plate 110 to be described later and protrudes to a surface side on which a timepiece dial and the like are formed. Can be Second hand wheel 230
The second hand pinion is engaged with the pinion of the first fifth wheel & pinion 220 so that the pinion rotates once every 60 seconds. The second hand wheel 230
A light reflection surface 230b is formed in a part of the overlapping area with the first fifth wheel & pinion 220 so as to face the through hole 220a formed in the first fifth wheel & pinion 220. The second hand drive system 200 is configured such that the second hand points to the hour when the light reflecting surface 230b is overlapped with the through hole 220a, that is, when the light reflecting surface 230b faces the hole 220a.

In the first reflection type optical sensor 300, a light emitting element 310 composed of a light emitting diode and a light receiving element 320 composed of an npn transistor are arranged in parallel, and the light emitting portion of the light emitting element 310 and the light receiving surface of the light receiving element 320 are arranged. Through the through hole 130a formed in the upper plate 13,
The second hand wheel 230 is disposed on the upper plate 130 so as to face the surface on which the light reflecting surface 230b of the second hand wheel 230 is formed through the through hole 220a of the second wheel 220.

Light emitting element 3 of first reflection type optical sensor 300
One end of the anode of the power supply voltage V _CCDora connected to
Resistance element R in Eve circuit 38_FiveIs connected to the other end of
The cathode is a dry circuit which is also provided in the drive circuit 38.
It is connected to the collector of the transistor Q2. this
The emitter of driver transistor Q2 is grounded,
Is the resistance element R₆Drive signal of the control circuit 34 via
DR_TwoConnected to the output line. That is, light emission
The element 310 is driven from a high level by the control circuit 34.
Signal DR_TwoDrive to emit light when output
It is connected to a circuit 38.

Light receiving element 3 of first reflection type optical sensor 300
The collector of 20 with is connected to the power supply voltage V _CC via the resistor element R _3, are connected to the control circuit 34, the emitter is grounded. That is, the light receiving element 320
Indicates that the light emitted from the light emitting element 310
The light reaching the second hand wheel 230 via the light-reflecting surface 230b through the light-transmitting holes 130a and 220a.
through a only when received by the light receiving element 320, is input to the control circuit 14 a detection signal DT ₂ in the low level.

The minute hand drive system 400 includes a second stepping motor 410, a second fifth wheel & pinion 420, a third wheel & pinion 430 and a minute hand wheel 440. The second stepping motor 410 has a configuration in which the stator 410 a is mounted on the lower plate 110, the rotor 410 b is supported by the lower plate 110 and the upper plate 130, and the control circuit 34 receives an input via the buffer circuit 37. rotational direction based on the output control signal CTL _2, the rotation angle and rotation speed is controlled.

The second fifth wheel & pinion 420 is rotatably supported by the lower plate 110 and the upper plate 130, and its wheel teeth are meshed with the rotor 410b of the second stepping motor 410, so that the
The rotation speed of 10b is reduced to a predetermined speed.

The third wheel & pinion 430 is configured such that one end of a shaft portion has an upper plate 130.
, And the other end side is disposed so as to penetrate the middle plate 120, and the wheel tooth portion is meshed with the pinion portion of the second fifth wheel & pinion 420.

The minute hand wheel 440 has a through hole 440b at the center.
Is formed, and one end of the minute hand pipe 440a is pivotally supported by the middle plate 120, and the shaft portion on the other end side is formed by the lower plate 11
0, a through-hole 500 of an hour hand pipe 500a of an hour wheel 500 protruding toward the surface on which a timepiece dial or the like is formed.
b, and a minute hand (not shown) is attached to the tip of the cartridge. The minute hand wheel 440 is configured to make one rotation every 60 minutes.
The second hand shaft 230a is inserted through 0b, and its ring tooth portion is engaged with the pinion portion of the third wheel & pinion 430. Such a minute hand 440 has a so-called slip mechanism.

The hour wheel 500 has a through hole 500b at the center.
Is formed in a substantially T-shape with a ring-tooth portion formed in a watch body 1
The hour hand pipe 500a is provided in the clock dial 00, protrudes through the lower plate 110, and protrudes toward the dial of the timepiece. The hour wheel 500 is 1
It is configured to rotate by 30 ° in time and make one rotation in 12 hours, and the minute hand pipe 440a is inserted through the through-hole 500b as described above. A through hole 500d as a first light transmission portion is formed on a surface 500c of the hour wheel 500 facing the minute wheel 440. This hour wheel 5
As shown in FIG.
One of the positions equally divided into 12 at 30 ° in the circumferential direction of 0
It is formed at 11 places except the place. That is, it is configured such that position detection for one hour out of twelve hours is not performed.

The minute wheel 600 is rotatably supported by a protrusion 110 a formed on the lower plate 110, and its wheel teeth are engaged with the minute hand pipe 440 a of the minute hand wheel 440, and the hook part is an hour wheel 500. Of the minute hand wheel 44
The rotation speed of 0 is reduced to a predetermined speed and transmitted to the hour wheel 500. In addition, the minute wheel 600 is configured to make one revolution at N (N is a positive integer) time, and its wheel teeth mesh with the correction pinion 700a of the manual correction shaft 700 and partially. Are provided so as to face a part of the rotation detection plate 800.

The manual correction shaft 700 has a substantially T-shape.
A correction pinion 700a at the tip is pivotally supported by a projection 110b formed on the lower plate 110 in a state of penetrating an opening 130b formed on the upper plate 130, and a head 700b is moved from the upper plate 130 to a clock. It is arranged so as to protrude out of the main body 100. The manual correction shaft 700 is configured to rotate once every 60 minutes in the same phase as the minute hand wheel 440. As described above, the wheel teeth of the minute wheel 600 are engaged with the correction pinion 700a, and the minute hand is driven. When the minute hand wheel 440 is driven by the system 400, it rotates in the same phase as the minute hand wheel 440 via the minute wheel 600, and when the minute hand drive system 400 is not operated, the head position is rotated by rotating the head 700b. It is configured to allow manual correction.

The rotation detecting plate 800 has a disk shape, and its central portion rotates in accordance with the rotation of the minute hand wheel 440.
The shaft of the minute hand wheel 440 between the minute hand wheel 440 and the hour hand wheel 500 is fixed with its axis substantially coincident. Further, a light reflecting surface 800a as a second light transmitting portion is provided in a part of a region of the rotation detecting plate 800 facing the surface 500c of the hour wheel 500 so as to face the through hole 500d as shown in FIG. Is formed.

In the second reflection type optical sensor 900, a light emitting element 910 composed of a light emitting diode and a light receiving element 920 composed of an npn transistor are arranged side by side, and the light emitting portion of the light emitting element 910 and the light receiving surface of the light receiving element 920 are arranged. , Through the through-hole 110c formed in the lower plate 110 and further through the through-hole 500d formed in the hour wheel 500, the rotation detecting plate 8
The light reflecting surface 800a is disposed on the lower plate 110 so as to face the surface 800b on which the light reflecting surface 800a is formed.

Light emitting element 9 of second reflection type optical sensor 900
One end of the anode of the power supply voltage V _CCDora connected to
Resistance element R in Eve circuit 38₇Is connected to the other end of
The cathode is a dry circuit which is also provided in the drive circuit 38.
It is connected to the collector of the transistor Q3. this
The emitter of driver transistor Q3 is grounded,
Is the resistance element R₈Drive signal of the control circuit 34 via
DR_ThreeConnected to the output line. That is, light emission
The element 910 is driven from the control circuit 34 to a high level.
Signal DR_ThreeDrive to emit light when output
It is connected to a circuit 38.

Light receiving element 9 of second reflection type optical sensor 900
The collector of the transistor 20 is connected to the power supply voltage V _CC via the resistor R ₄ , and also connected to the control circuit 34, and the emitter is grounded. That is, the light receiving element 920
Indicates that the light emitted from the light emitting element 910 passes through the through-hole 500d.
It reaches the surface 800b of the rotation detection plate 800 through, and the light reflected by the light reflecting surface 800a only when received by the light receiving element 920 through the hole 500d, a detection signal DT ₂ in the low level It is input to the control circuit 34.

The light reflecting surface 800 of the rotation detecting plate 800
The relationship between “a” and the through-hole 500d of the hour wheel 500 is set so that the minute hand and the hour hand (not shown) indicate the hour when the light reflecting surface 800a faces the through-hole 500d.

Next, the time adjustment control operation according to the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the normal mode operation of the minute hand system will be described as an example.

From the key station 1, a standard time radio wave (JG2AS) S1 of a long wave (40 kHz) having a format as shown in FIG. 2A is AM-modulated and transmitted. The standard time radio signal S1 transmitted from the key station 1 is received by the time signal relay device 2 and the receiving antennas 20 and 31a of the radio-controlled timepiece 3.

In the time signal relay device 2, the standard time radio wave S 1 received by the receiving antenna 20 is
Amplifier 21, detection circuit 22, rectifier circuit 23, integration circuit 2
4 is converted into a baseband signal of the standard time radio signal S1 as shown in FIG. The microcomputer 25 receives the baseband signal, decodes the JG2AS time code, and obtains time data such as hours, minutes, and 00 seconds. Then, one minute is added to the obtained time data to create time data to be transmitted. This time data is supplied to the control terminal of the analog switch 27 in the same format as the JG2AS baseband signal and the gate pulse S
25 is output. In the analog switch 27, the output of the oscillation signal S26 oscillated from the sine wave oscillator 26
The signal is turned on / off at 25, and an AM modulated RF signal is obtained.
The AM modulated RF signal is amplified by the transmission RF amplifier 28 and transmitted from the transmission antenna 29 as a radio signal S2 having the same format as JG2AS as shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the time signal relay device 2
The transmission of the radio signal S2 is performed only once a day at 2:38 am.

In the radio-controlled timepiece, as shown in FIG.
In the control circuit 34, the standard time radio signal S1 from the key station 1 is received one hour before and after the hour including the hour.
During a minute, the standard radio wave receiving system 31 is supplied with driving power from a power supply (not shown). Thereby, the standard radio wave receiving system 31
The long wave (for example, 40 kHz) including the time code signal from the key station received by the receiving antenna 31a of the above-mentioned is subjected to predetermined signal processing by the long wave receiving circuit 31b, and the pulse signal S3
1 is output to the control circuit 34 (ST1, ST1
2).

In the control circuit 34, the received radio signal is decoded, and as a result of the decoding, it is determined whether or not time can be set (normal reception) (ST3). If it is determined in step ST3 that the reception is normal, count control of various counters based on the basic clock by the oscillation circuit 33 and detection signals DT ₁ and DT by the first and second reflective optical sensors 300 and 900 are performed. _Two
The control signals CTL _{1 and} CTL ₂ are transmitted via the buffer 37 in accordance with the input level of the second hand stepping motor 210.
In addition, the output is output to the stepping motor 410 for the hour and minute hands to perform rotation control, thereby performing time correction control (ST4). Then, a standard radio wave normal reception flag indicating that the standard time radio wave has been received normally is set (ST).
5).

If it is not the reception time of the standard time radio signal S1 (ST1) and if it is determined in step ST3 that the reception is not normal or if the standard radio wave normal reception flag is set, the time signal relay device 2 Radio signal S
2 is determined (ST)
6). If it is determined in step ST6 that the time is not the reception time of the radio signal S2, the process proceeds to step ST1.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step ST6 that the current time is the reception time of the radio signal S2, it is determined whether or not the standard radio wave normal reception flag is set (ST7). If it is determined in step ST7 that the standard radio wave normal reception flag has been set, 2:38 am
During one minute before and after the minute, drive power is not supplied from the power supply (not shown) to the standard radio wave reception system 31, the normal radio wave normal reception flag is reset (ST8), and the process proceeds to step ST1.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step ST7 that the standard radio wave normal reception flag has not been set, the radio wave signal S2 from the time signal repeater 2 is received so that it can receive the radio wave signal S2 before and after 2:38 am Standard radio wave reception system 3 for minutes
1 is supplied with driving power from a power supply (not shown). In this case, the radio signal S2 is received from the time signal relay device 2, and the control circuit 34 determines whether or not the radio signal S2 is normally received (ST9, ST10). Step ST
In 10, when it is determined that the reception is normal, count control of various counters based on the basic clock by the oscillation circuit 33 and detection signals DT ₁ and DT ₂ by the first and second reflection type optical sensors 300 and 900 are performed. in accordance with the input level of the control signal CTL _1, CTL ₂ buffer 3
7 is output to the second hand stepping motor 210 and the hour / minute hand stepping motor 410 via the motor 7 to perform rotation control, thereby performing time correction control (ST1).
1).

If it is determined in step ST10 that the reception is not normal, it is determined whether the signal waveform is as shown in FIG.
It is determined whether or not a beat signal of z is generated (ST12). Here, the radio signal S2 by the time signal relay device 2 and the standard time radio signal S by the key station 1 happen to occur.
When the radio-controlled timepiece 3 is installed in a place where the electric field strengths of the radio waves 1 and 2 are equal to each other, the synthesized radio waves generate a beat of 2 Hz. At this time, the envelope of the synthesized radio wave is shown in FIG.
The input signal to the control circuit 34 is as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. In this case, step ST12
In, affirmative determination is made, this signal is from a completely different than when normal, as the installation position of the time signal repeater 2 is inadequate, without outputting a control signal CTL _1, CTL ₂ For example, drive signal DR ₁ is supplied to drive circuit 3
5 to make the light emitting element 36 as a notifying unit emit light to notify the user (ST13). Then, the standard radio wave normal reception flag is reset (ST8), and the process proceeds to step ST1. The signal waveform is shown in FIG.
Even if it is not as shown in (f), the standard radio wave normal reception flag is reset (ST8), and step S8 is executed.
The process proceeds to T1.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the time signal repeater 2 is configured to transmit once a day only at a very special time, for example, at 2:38 am When the timepiece 3 receives the standard time radio signal S1, the time zone in which the standard time radio signal S1 can be received from the key station 1 and the radio signal S from the time signal relay device 2 are received.
2 is controlled so that the receivable time zone is different,
The radio signal S2 from the time signal relay device 2 can be minimized from becoming an interference wave, and the time of the radio-controlled timepiece 3 can be accurately and reliably corrected.

According to the present embodiment, the standard time radio signal S1 including the time code of the predetermined frequency (40 kHz) transmitted from the key station 1 after being AM-modulated is received, and the frequency of the received standard time radio signal is received. The radio-controlled watch 3
The time code cannot be determined from the frequency of the standard time radio signal and is within a receivable frequency range, for example, 4
A time signal relay device 2 having the same format as that of the JG2AS baseband signal and shifted to a frequency of 40.004 kHz and transmitted to a radio-controlled timepiece installed indoors, for example, by shifting the frequency by 2 Hz. Thus, even if the signal electric field strength between the relay radio wave and the standard radio wave becomes close, the time of the radio-controlled timepiece 3 can be accurately and reliably corrected without misreading the code.

The control circuit 34 determines whether or not the time can be set even in the normal correction mode. If the time can be set, the control circuit 34 corrects the pointer position. If not, the control circuit 34 turns on the light emitting element 36. Since the notification is performed, the radio wave reception state can be recognized at any time during operation.

In this embodiment, the transmission time of the time code radio signal S2 of the time signal repeater 2 is set to 2:38 am
Although the present invention has been described as being fixedly performed, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be configured to be changed according to the situation. The examples are shown below in FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

Transmission time of time signal relay device 2 2: 3 am
Depending on the installation location of the radio-controlled timepiece 3, the eight-minute time zone may have a large amount of external noise and may not be suitable as the reception time of the time signal relay device 2. Therefore, the time signal relay device 2 is configured to be able to change the transmission time by providing, for example, a time setting change interrupt key or the like.

FIG. 11 shows a standard time radio signal (JG2A).
S) shows an example of the time code of S1. This example
At 114: 17 on the 114th day from January 1, nine codes "0" are continuously continuous from the 50th second for synchronization in JG2AS. Therefore, the time signal relay device 2 is configured to output the transmission radio signal as a relay device identifier code, for example, as shown in FIG. Constitute.

Here, it is assumed that the user changes the setting to receive the radio signal S2 from the time signal relay device 2 at 11:25 am FIG. 13 shows a transmission time change interrupt routine in this case.

When the time setting change interrupt key is pressed, it is determined that a transmission time change interrupt has occurred (S
21) The standard time radio signal S1 is received and decoded, and the time is stored as a transmission time (S22). Then, at the initial setting transmission time of 2:38 am, a continuous signal of the above-mentioned 0.2 second mark, which is a setting change signal, is transmitted as shown in FIG. 14 (S23, S24). At this time, even if the reception environment is poor due to noise or the like, it is sufficient that a part of the continuous signal of the 0.2 second mark cannot be received, so that the relative sensitivity is extremely good. Then, the processing of steps S13 to S18 of the flowchart of FIG. 4 is repeated so as to transmit at 11:25 am, which is the new set time (S25). In this case, the time 2:36 am at step S13 becomes 11:23 am and step S17
The time 2:38 am is 11:25 am.

As shown in FIG. 15 showing the control flow of the radio-controlled timepiece, the control circuit 34 of the radio-controlled timepiece 3 receives the radio signal S2 when the time signal relay device 2 receives the radio signal S2 (ST21). Is received, and it is determined whether or not there is a reception time change request in the data (ST2).
2). When there is a request for changing the reception time, the reception mode is set to the constant reception mode (ST23), and when the time code of the radio signal S2 of the relay device having the data format of FIG. 12 is received (ST24), the time signal relay device is set. 2 to change the reception time of the radio signal S2 from 2:38 am to 11:25 am, and release the setting of the constant reception mode (ST2).
5). Thereafter, the radio signal S2 is received at a new reception time of 11:25 AM, and the processing of FIG. 10 is executed (ST2).
6).

As described above, by configuring the time signal relay device 2 so that the transmission time can be changed by providing a time setting change interrupt key or the like, the transmission time of the initially set time signal relay device 2 is 2:00 am The time zone of 38 minutes can be reset to a time suitable for arbitrary reception even if external noise is large and is not suitable as the reception time of the time signal relay device 2 depending on the installation location of the radio-controlled timepiece 3. Further, there is an advantage that the time signal can be relayed more reliably and the time of the radio-controlled timepiece can be accurately and reliably corrected.

[0079]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to minimize the radio signal from the time signal relay device to become a disturbance wave, and to accurately and reliably correct the time of the radio-controlled timepiece.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a time correction system to which a time signal relay device according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing main part waveforms of a time correction system to which the time signal relay device according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining processing by a microcomputer in the time signal relay device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the time signal relay device according to the present invention for transmitting a radio signal at a specific time.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a signal processing circuit of the radio-controlled timepiece according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an overall configuration of an embodiment of a hand position detecting device for a radio-controlled timepiece according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a main part of the pointer position detecting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a forming pattern of a through hole of the hour wheel according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a formation pattern of a light reflection surface of the rotation detection plate according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a receiving operation and a time adjusting operation of the radio-controlled timepiece according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a time code of a standard time radio signal (JG2AS) S1.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a code format in which a mark of 0.2 seconds is continuously output as a relay device identifier code from a 56th second to a transmission radio signal of a time signal relay device.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining a transmission time changing operation of the time signal relay device.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a code format of a transmission radio signal after the transmission time of the time signal relay device is changed.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the radio signal correction clock after the transmission time of the time signal relay device is changed.

FIG. 16 is a timing chart for explaining a problem of a conventional time signal relay device.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 radio wave transmitting base (key station) 2 time signal relay device 20 reception antenna 21 reception RF amplifier 22 detection circuit 23 rectifier circuit 24 integration circuit 25 microcomputer 26 sine wave with frequency of 40.004 kHz Oscillator 27 ... Analog switch 28 ... Transmission RF amplifier 29 ... Transmission antenna 3 ... Radio time correction clock 30 ... Signal processing system circuit 31 ... Standard time radio wave signal reception system 32 ... Reset switch 33 ... Oscillation circuit 34 ... Control circuit 35 ... Drive circuit 36 Light-emitting element as notification means 37 Buffer circuit 38 Drive circuit 100 Clock body 110 Lower plate 120 Middle plate 130 Upper plate 200 Second hand drive system 210 First stepping motor 220 Second 5 Clock wheel 220a: Through hole 230: Second hand wheel 230b: Light reflecting surface 300: First reflection Optical sensor 400: minute hand drive system 410: second stepping motor 420: second fifth wheel 430 ... third wheel 440 ... minute hand wheel 440a: minute hand pipe 500: hour hand wheel 500d: through hole 600: minute wheel ( intermediate wheel) 700 ... manual correction shaft 800 ... rotation detection plate 800a ... light reflecting surface 900: second reflective optical sensor V _CC ... supply voltage C ₁ -C ₃ ... capacitor R ₁ to R ₈ ... resistance element

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A time signal relay device for relaying a radio signal including a time code for a radio-controlled timepiece that receives a standard time radio signal in a predetermined time zone and corrects the time. Receiving means for receiving a signal, the standard time radio signal received by the receiving means, as the radio signal to the radio-controlled clock, at a time different from the reception time zone of the standard time radio signal of the radio-controlled clock A time signal relay device having a transmitting means for transmitting. 2. The time signal relay device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission means is configured to be able to change the transmission time of the radio signal. 3. Receiving a standard time radio signal at a predetermined time zone and a radio signal obtained by relaying the standard time radio signal at a time different from the time zone, and converting the hand position into a time code included in the received signal. A radio-controlled timepiece for correcting the position to a corresponding position; a receiving means for receiving the standard time radio signal; and a standard time radio signal received by the receiving means as the radio signal to the radio-controlled timepiece. A time signal relay device comprising: a time signal relay device having transmission means for transmitting at a time different from a reception time zone of a standard time radio signal of a corrected timepiece. 4. The radio-controlled timepiece compares a reception state of a radio signal with a predetermined reference range, and sets the pointer position when the reception state is within the reference range.
4. The time correction system according to claim 3, further comprising a control circuit that does not set the pointer position when the reception state is outside the reference range. 5. The control circuit according to claim 4, wherein when the standard time signal received in a predetermined time zone is normally received, the control circuit controls the time signal relay device not to receive the radio signal. Time correction system. 6. The time correction system according to claim 3, wherein the transmission means of the time signal relay device is configured to be able to change the transmission time of the radio signal. 7. When the transmission time of the radio signal is changed, the transmission means adds the setting change information to the radio signal to be transmitted at the time before the setting is changed, and transmits the radio signal. 7. The time correction system according to claim 6, wherein the control circuit of the radio-controlled timepiece receives the radio signal including the transmission time setting change information and changes the setting of the reception time of the radio signal by the time signal relay device.