JP2000235084A - Electronic watch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To drive a calendar train wheel to produce an optimum reduction ratio by providing a date indicator driving wheel meshed with both a date indicator and a Geneva wheel to transmit the motion of the Geneva wheel to the date indicator. SOLUTION: When a generating state is judged on the basis of the detection signal of a generating state detection part 127 in no electricity-saving mode, time display is continued. On the other hand, in non-generating state, a non- generating time measuring circuit 134 counts the non-generating time, and when the non-generation time is continued over a prescribed set time, the time display is automatically stopped and transferred to electricity-saving mode. When the generating state detection part 127 detects that a generating mechanism 210 is in generating state, and the capacity of a secondary power source 25 is sufficient, a rapid traverse pulse is transmitted from a drive control circuit 125 to a hour hand and minute hand driving part 113a and a second hand driving part 113b to restore the time display to the present time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic timepiece,
In particular, the present invention relates to a reduction ratio of an hour / minute train that is optimal in an electronic timepiece having a power save function and a function of returning to the current time after canceling the power save.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a calendar function is added to an electronic timepiece, a structure in which a second hand, a minute hand and an hour hand are driven by one motor and a date wheel is driven by a calendar wheel train driven by the motor is generally used. It was a target. In this case, the date indicator is positioned by a date jumper (spring control spring). Recently, many motors equipped with a motor dedicated to a calendar have been increasing.

[0003]

By the way, in an electronic timepiece having a power saving function and a function of returning to the current time after canceling the power saving, the power saving effect and the time required for returning to the current time are reduced. In order to improve the effect, the second wheel train and the hour / minute wheel train are driven by separate motors, and the hour / minute wheel train has a two-hand wheel train configuration. In an electronic timepiece having such a two-hand wheel train configuration, when a calendar function is added, in addition to the two motors already mounted, a generator is also mounted. Unless it is not large, it is extremely difficult to mount a dedicated motor for the calendar. In addition, since the size of the movement is an important factor that determines the commercial value, it is necessary to make the movement smaller and thinner. Therefore, in such an electronic timepiece,
It is necessary to drive the calendar by the hour and minute train wheel. However, the torque obtained by the operation of the hour / minute train wheel is smaller than that of the configuration in which the second hand, minute hand, hour hand and even the calendar are fed by one motor, and the torque is insufficient in the conventional calendar structure using the date jumper. A problem arises.

[0004] Here, regarding the conventional Japanese jumper structure,
This will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 13, a timepiece having a date jumper structure includes a minute wheel Kana 302 and a hour wheel 301 which mesh with a second wheel (not shown) which is a minute hand wheel and transmit driving force to an hour wheel 301 which is an hour hand wheel. Date wheel 301a that rotates together with the date wheel 301a, date wheel 303 that meshes with the date wheel intermediate wheel 301a and makes one revolution in 24 hours, and a date feeding claw provided to feed the date wheel 305 once a day Part 303a,
And a date jumper 3 for positioning the date wheel 305 at normal times and for preventing the date wheel 305 from rotating even in the event of a disturbance.
04 is provided. Day wheel, hour wheel 301 and date wheel 30 that rotate in conjunction with a minute hand wheel (not shown)
As the 3 rotates, the date feeding claw 303a pushes the teeth of the date wheel 305. And day jumper 304
13 is bent in the state shown by the dashed line in FIG. 13 and when the date wheel 305 is driven over by the spring force of the date jumper 304, the date wheel 305 is stably stopped at the next jump control position. As described above, in the case of the timepiece using the date jumper structure, it is necessary to send the date wheel 305 against the date jumper 304 that is preventing the date wheel 305 from rotating. Cannot send the date wheel 305.

[0005] Further, in a watch operated by the generated energy, in order to increase the duration as much as possible,
It is necessary to reduce energy consumption, and it is necessary to suppress the power supplied to the motor for the hour and minute as much as possible.

In an electronic timepiece having a power saving function and a function of returning to the current time after canceling the power save, the energy consumption is reduced as much as possible, and the time required for returning to the current time is reduced. But they need to be shortened. In order to satisfy such demands, it is only necessary to reduce the reduction ratio of the hour and minute wheel train as much as possible and to increase the hand movement interval. However, as the reduction ratio of the hour / minute wheel train is reduced, the allowable unbalance amount of the minute hand is accordingly reduced. In other words, long and heavy hands cannot be used, and the degree of freedom in designing a timepiece decreases. Therefore, if the reduction ratio is too small, disadvantages will occur. Further, if the hand movement interval is lengthened by reducing the speed reduction ratio of the hour / minute wheel train, the amount of the minute hand that moves by one hand movement increases, and the sense of discomfort with the movement of the minute hand increases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and in an electronic timepiece having a power saving function and a function of returning to the current time after canceling the power save, the calendar wheel train can be operated even with a small torque. It is an object of the present invention to provide a timepiece that can be driven and has an hour and minute wheel train that produces an optimal reduction ratio.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an invention according to claim 1 is a drive motor and a wheel train mechanism for moving a time display hand by n seconds (5 ≦ n ≦ 20). An electronic timepiece having a power supply to the drive motor under a predetermined power saving condition, wherein the date wheel is driven by a wheel train driven by the drive motor; and And a date wheel that meshes with both the date wheel and the Geneva wheel to transmit the operation of the Geneva wheel to the date wheel.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electronic timepiece according to the first aspect, the drive motor is an hour / minute hand drive motor for driving an hour / minute hand.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the electronic timepiece according to the second aspect, the hour / minute hand driving motor moves the hands by 10 seconds.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic timepiece according to the third aspect, the wheel train includes a second wheel, which is a minute hand, from the rotor of the hour / minute hand drive motor to the second wheel. Is characterized in that the reduction ratio is 1/180.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic timepiece according to the first aspect, power generation means for converting external energy into electric energy to generate power, power generation detection means for detecting a power generation state of the power generation means, Wherein the predetermined condition is a case where the non-power generation state is detected by the power generation detection means.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic timepiece according to the fifth aspect, in the non-power generation state, it is detected that a power generation amount of the power generation means is equal to or less than a predetermined power generation amount. It is characterized by being in a state.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the electronic timepiece according to the first aspect, the date indicator has external teeth, the date indicator has internal teeth, and the date indicator has the date indicator. It is characterized in that it is configured to be inscribed and engaged with the car.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic timepiece according to the first aspect, when a predetermined display condition is satisfied while the power supply is stopped, the drive motor is connected to the drive motor. It is characterized by resuming the power supply.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic timepiece according to the eighth aspect, a counter means for counting a value corresponding to an elapsed time of the period during which the power supply is stopped, and controlling the drive of the drive motor. Drive control means,
The drive control unit performs a current time return operation by outputting a fast-forward pulse corresponding to a value counted by the counter unit to the drive motor when power supply to the drive motor is restarted. It is characterized by.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [1] Configuration of Embodiment [1.1] Overall Schematic Configuration First, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an electronic timepiece according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the timepiece includes a body (support) 201, and each mechanism is housed inside the body 201. In the upper part of the figure, a rotary weight 210a, which is a part of the power generation mechanism, is arranged. The power generation mechanism generates power by the rotation of the rotary weight 210a, and stores the generated power in a secondary power supply.

A circuit section 209 having a circuit board on which a crystal, an IC, and the like are mounted is disposed below the rotary weight 210a. The circuit unit 209 is operated by the electric power stored in the secondary power supply by the power generation mechanism described above, and
The second hand 204, the minute hand 205, the hour hand 206 and the like are rotated by 2.

Below the circuit section 209, a train wheel bridge 41 and a main plate 40 are arranged to face each other, and a hand wheel mechanism 212 composed of a train wheel and a stepping motor is supported between them.
Is arranged. A switching unit 211 that is operated by a user via a crown (operation member) (not shown) is disposed above the main plate 40.

A calendar mechanism 2 is provided on the lower surface of the main plate 40.
08 is arranged. A dial 203 is arranged on the lower surface side of the calendar mechanism 208 so that a user can look through a window 207 formed in a part of the dial 203 to see a date displayed by the calendar mechanism 208. . A cover glass 202 is arranged below the cover 203, and the second hand 2 rotated by a hand moving mechanism 212 or the like between the cover glass 202 and the dial 203.
04, a minute hand 205 and an hour hand 206 are arranged.

The timepiece according to the present embodiment has a display mode in which the time is displayed by driving the hand movement mechanism 212 in accordance with the power generation state of the power generation mechanism, and a power saving in which power supply to the hand movement mechanism 212 is stopped to save power. The mode can be switched.

The arrangement of each part shown in FIG. 1 is a schematic arrangement, and the details of the structure and operation of each part constituting the timepiece will be described below.

[1.2] Configuration of Power Generation Mechanism First, the power generation mechanism 210 of the timepiece will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 11 denotes a generator. The generator 11 includes a rotor 30 having a stator 31.
This is an AC power generation device that induces electric power in the coil 32 connected to the stator 31 by rotating inside the.
As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
A rotor transmission wheel 33 that is pivotally supported by the main plate 40 is meshed, and a rotating weight wheel 34 is meshed with the rotor transmission wheel 33. Thus, the rotation of the rotary wheel 34 is increased in speed and transmitted to the rotor 30.

Reference numeral 35 denotes a rotary weight. Rotating weight 3
5 is integrated with the oscillating wheel 34 by being fitted into the oscillating wheel 34, so that the oscillating wheel 34 rotates with the rotation of the oscillating weight 35. An inner ring 36 is disposed on the inner peripheral side of the oscillating wheel 34, and the inner ring 36 is fixed to an oscillating weight receiver 38 by a screw 37. A plurality of balls 39 are inserted between the inner ring 36 and the rotary wheel 34. Under this configuration, when a movement or the like occurs in the user's arm, the rotating weight 35 captures the movement and rotates integrally with the rotating weight wheel 34, and this rotation is performed via the rotor transmission wheel 33. Is transmitted to the rotor 30. Here, even when the rotary weight 35 rotates, the inner ring 36 does not rotate, thereby preventing the screws 37 supporting the rotary weight 35 and the like from loosening. In this way, the generator 11 is able to rotate the rotor 3 from the movement of the user's arm and the like.
0 is rotated at high speed to generate power. The power generated by the generator 11 is stored in the secondary power supply 25 via a rectifier circuit (not shown).

[1.3] Configuration of Hand Movement Mechanism Next, the hand movement mechanism 212 for rotating the hour hand, minute hand, second hand and date wheel will be described. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the driving force of the hour / minute driving stepping motor 13 is controlled by the hour / minute wheel train 15 including a plurality of gears and the like supported between the main plate 40 and the wheel train bearing 41. And the minute hand. The hour / minute drive stepping motor 13 is a motor driven by a drive pulse supplied from a drive unit described later. The hour and minute driving stepping motor 13
A coil 13a for generating a magnetic force by a driving pulse from a driving unit, and a stator 1 excited by the coil 13a
3b and a rotor 50 that rotates by a magnetic field excited inside the stator 13b.

A fourth wheel 51 is engaged with the pinion of the rotor 50 of the hour / minute driving stepping motor 13, and a third wheel 52 is engaged with the fourth wheel 51. The third wheel 52 is provided with a second wheel 53 arranged at the center of the timepiece.
No. 2 gear is meshed. The minute hand is attached to the second wheel 53, and the minute hand is rotated with the rotation of the second wheel 53. The second wheel of the second wheel & pinion 53 is the second wheel & pinion 53
The second wheel gear 53 slides with respect to the second wheel & pinion 53 body when a torque equal to or more than a predetermined value is applied.

The speed reduction ratio from the rotor 50 to the center wheel & pinion 53 is set to 1/180. Therefore, the hour / minute drive motor during normal hand movement is 180 times every 10 seconds.
The minute hand attached to the center wheel & pinion 53 will rotate 1 ° every 10 seconds. As a result, the minute hand becomes 1
Step movement is performed every 0 seconds.

Here, assuming that the reduction ratio from the rotor 50 to the center wheel & pinion 53 is 1/90, the minute hand attached to the center wheel & pinion 53 can be set to a 20-second hand that moves stepwise every 20 seconds. However, in the 20-second hand movement, there is a problem that the movement of the minute hand is larger than that in the 10-second hand movement because the minute hand rotates 2 ° every 20 seconds, and the sense of discomfort increases.

Also, in the 20-second hand operation, the smaller the reduction ratio, the greater the effect on the rotor of the minute hand rotational force generated when an impact or the like is applied, so that the allowable unbalance amount of the minute hand becomes smaller than that in the 10-second hand operation. I will. Here, the allowable unbalance amount is represented by a numerical value obtained when the distance from the center of rotation of the needle to the center of gravity of the needle is multiplied by the weight of the needle. The hands can be used, and the design freedom as a watch can be increased.

It is also possible to set the reduction ratio from the rotor 50 to the center wheel & pinion 53 to 1/360 and move the minute hand attached to the center wheel & pinion 53 step by step every 5 seconds. In this case, there is a problem that the energy balance during normal carrying is deteriorated compared to the 10-second hand operation. More specifically, for example, the power consumption per drive pulse per hour and minute drive motor is 0.6 [μ
Α], the current consumption per second of the second motor is 0.3
It is assumed that the circuit consumes 5 [μΑ / sec] and consumes 0.08 [μΑ / sec] per second in the circuit. From the following equation, the average current consumption per second in the entire circuit is 0.55 [μΑ / sec] for the 5-second operation and 0.49 [μΑ / sec] for the 10-second operation.

When the hand is moved for 5 seconds: 0.6 [μA] / 5 [sec] + 0.35 [μA]
/ sec] + 0.08 [μA / sec] = 0.55 [μA / sec] During 10-second hand movement: 0.6 [μA] / 10 [sec] + 0.35 [μA / sec] +
0.08 [μA / sec] = 0.49 [μA / sec]

Therefore, when the input energy is the same, the energy balance in the 5-second hand movement is 1
It can be seen that the energy balance in the 0 second hand movement is about 10% worse.

Also, in the 5-second hand movement, there is a problem that the time required for the current time return operation performed when switching from the power saving mode to the display mode is twice as long as the 10-second hand movement. More specifically, for example, when the rotor of the drive motor is driven at about 256 [HZ], the time required for the return operation for 24 hours is about 30 seconds in the 10-second hand operation, and 5 seconds. In hand operation, it takes about 1 minute.
Therefore, it can be seen that the time required to return to the current time in the 5-second hand movement is about twice as long as the time required to return to the current time in the 10-second hand movement.

A minute wheel 54 is meshed with the pinion of the center wheel & pinion 53 main body. The minute wheel 54 protrudes toward the rear surface (lower surface in the figure) of the main plate 40, and a gear disposed at the protruding portion is meshed with an hour wheel 55 to which an hour hand is attached. As a result, the driving force of the hour / minute driving stepping motor 13 is transmitted to the hour wheel 55, and the hour hand is rotated. The hour wheel 55 is meshed with an intermediate wheel of a calendar mechanism described later.

As described above, in this timepiece, the hour / minute driving stepping motor 13 for driving the minute hand, the hour hand and the like is used.
And a second driving stepping motor 14 for driving the second hand. The second driving stepping motor 14 is the same as the hour / minute driving stepping motor 13 described above.
Similarly to the above, the configuration includes the coil 14a, the stator 14b, and the rotor 47, and the rotor 47 is rotated by a drive pulse supplied from a drive unit described later.

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the driving force of the second driving stepping motor 14 is
The second hand is rotated by the second wheel train 16 which is supported between the second hand and the second hand so that the second hand rotates. The second wheel train 16
The second intermediate wheel 45 and the second wheel 46 are provided, and the second intermediate wheel 45 is meshed with the rotor 47 of the second driving stepping motor 14, and the second wheel 46 is meshed with the second intermediate wheel 45. ing. Thus, the second hand attached to the second wheel 46 is rotated with the rotation of the rotor 47. In the present embodiment, since the second hand and the minute hand are driven by the hour / minute driving stepping motor 13 and the second driving stepping motor 14, respectively, the holding hands are held between the center wheel & pinion 53 and the second wheel 46. Member 4
8 is arranged to prevent transmission of driving force between the center wheel & pinion 53 and the second wheel & pinion.

[1.4] Configuration of Calendar Mechanism Next, the calendar mechanism 208 of the timepiece will be described. As described above, the hour / minute drive stepping motor 1
The driving force from the third wheel 3 is transmitted to the hour wheel 55 via the hour / minute wheel train 15, and the hour hand attached to the hour wheel 55 is rotated (see FIGS. 5 and 6). As shown in FIG. 7, an intermediate wheel 70 is engaged with the hour wheel 55, and a Geneva wheel 71 is engaged with the intermediate wheel 70. As a result, the hour and minute driving stepping motor 13
Is transmitted to the Geneva wheel 71, so that the Geneva wheel 71 rotates.

A date wheel 72 having five teeth is arranged above the Geneva wheel 71 in the figure. The rotation shaft of the date indicator wheel 72 is movably supported along a concave groove 73 provided in the main plate 40. The rotating shaft of the date driving wheel 72 is pressed downward in the figure by a thin plate-like spring member 74 fixed to the main plate 40.
Is in contact with the outer peripheral edge of the Geneva wheel 71.
The date indicator wheel 72 is meshed with a tooth formed on the inner peripheral side of the ring-shaped date indicator 75 in a state of being in contact with the outer peripheral edge of the Geneva wheel 71.

Here, the ring-shaped date indicator 75 described above,
A structure including a date wheel 72 that meshes with both the date wheel 75 and the Geneva wheel 71 to transmit the rotation of the Geneva wheel 71 to the date wheel 75 is referred to as a Geneva structure. In the present embodiment, the Geneva structure is used as the structure for driving the date wheel instead of the conventional jumper structure for the following reason. First,
In order to rotate the date indicator by one step using the conventional jumper structure, a large torque is needed to deform and rotate the date jumper provided to prevent the display of the date indicator from jumping. Accordingly, the date wheel could be rotated with the torque held in the conventional wheel-drive wheel train, but the torque held in the 10-second hand wheel train was one of the torque held in the wheel drive wheel train per second. / 10
Therefore, the date wheel cannot be rotated. In other words, in the timepiece using the date jumper structure, the motor and the wheel train mechanism are set so as to generate a retained torque that can secure a safety factor of at least 10 times the load torque by the date jumper. It is carried out. However, if the train wheel mechanism is changed from a hand-operated wheel train that has a safety factor of 10 times to a 10-second hand wheel train,
Since the train wheel holding torque is 1/10 of the driving wheel train per second,
The safety factor against the load torque by the jumper cannot be secured. Therefore, the date wheel cannot be rotated. For the above reasons, in the present embodiment, a Geneva structure is used as a structure for driving the date wheel. As described above, by using the Geneva structure, the date wheel can be driven with a small torque, and energy consumption can be reduced.

The outer periphery of the Geneva wheel 71 has one recess 71a.
It is formed in the place. The Geneva wheel 71 is configured to make one revolution in 24 hours by the hour / minute drive stepping motor 13 and each wheel train, and at a predetermined time, the teeth of the date wheel 72 mesh with the concave portion 71a. This allows
The date wheel 72 is rotated with the rotation of the Geneva wheel 71, and the date wheel 75 is also rotated with this. Thus, the date dial 75 is rotated, and the date displayed at the position of the window 207 formed on the dial 203 shown in FIG. 2 is changed. The Geneva car 71
In a state where the outer peripheral edge of the wheel is in contact with the date wheel 72, that is, in a state where the date wheel 72 is not meshed with the concave portion 71a, the date wheel 72 slides on the outer peripheral edge of the Geneva wheel 71. It has become. That is, the driving force is not transmitted from the Geneva wheel 71 to the date driving wheel 72, and the date driving wheel 72 is not rotated.

Further, above the rotation axis of the date driving wheel 72,
A bar-shaped spring member 77 integrally formed with the date wheel holder 76 is arranged. The spring member 77 is the same as the spring member 7 described above.
This is a member having a spring constant greater than 4, and in this embodiment, the ratio of the spring constants of the spring members 74 and 77 is set to about 1:20. Here, since the spring member 77 is disposed slightly above the rotation axis of the date driving wheel 72, the date driving wheel 7 is used in a normal date feeding operation.
Although it is not in contact with the rotating shaft of No. 2, if an impact or the like is applied to this timepiece and the date wheel 72 attempts to move upward in the drawing against the pressing force of the spring member 74, The spring member 77, together with the spring member 74, applies a pressing force to the rotating shaft of the date driving wheel 72 to regulate the displacement of the date driving wheel 72, thereby suppressing the occurrence of day jumps and the like. Therefore, the date wheel 72 in the normal date feeding operation is not pressed by the spring member 77 having a large spring constant, but is pressed by the spring member 74 having a small spring constant and is in contact with the outer peripheral edge of the Geneva wheel 71. Therefore, friction between the two is reduced. For this reason, the daily feed load torque for driving the Geneva wheel 71 can be reduced.

[1.5] Configuration of Switching Section Next, the switching section 21 operated by the user via the crown.
1 will be described. 8 and FIG.
1 indicates a winding stem. A crown 80 is attached to the end of the winding stem 81 on the outside of the timepiece body. By operating the crown 80, the user can perform positioning and the like of the crown 80 and perform time correction and the like.

A shim 82 is engaged with the winding stem 81, and the shim 82 is swingably supported by a shaft 82a. Thus, when the winding stem 81 is moved along the axial direction, the posterior 82 is rotated about the shaft 82a. Further, the projection 82d formed on the setting member 82 is positioned in any one of the positioning members 82e having three concave portions. By positioning the projections 82d of the shims 82 in the three concave portions of the positioning member 82e,
The winding stem 81 is positioned in one of the normal hand operation, calendar correction (drawing one step) and time correction (drawing two steps).

The latch 82 is engaged with a latch 83. The latch 83 is rotatably supported by a shaft 83a, and the latch 83 is rotated with the movement of the lever 82. Barrel 83
Is engaged with a pinwheel 84 movably provided along the axial direction of the winding stem 81, and moves along the axial direction of the winding stem 81 when the latch 83 is rotated. Let me do. The lower side of the thumbwheel 84 in FIG. 8 (the right side in FIG. 9).
Is provided with a small iron wheel 89, and when the winding stem 81 is positioned in the time correction state, the continuous wheel 84
3 allows it to be moved to a position where it meshes with the small iron wheel 89. When the winding stem 81 is rotated in this state, the rotation of the winding stem 81 is continued through a continuous wheel 84 and a small iron wheel 89
Intermediate wheel 90 which is transmitted to
Is rotated. The above-mentioned minute wheel 54 is meshed with the middle minute wheel 90, so that the center wheel 53 attached with the minute hand and the hour wheel 55 attached with the hour hand are attached with the rotation of the winding stem 81. Is rotated.

When the winding stem 81 is positioned in the time adjustment state, the setting lever 91 is moved by the guide 82. When the train wheel setting lever 91 is moved, one end 91a of the train wheel setting lever 91 comes into contact with the fourth wheel & pinion 51, whereby the rotation of the fourth wheel & pinion 51 is stopped. At this time, the other end portion 91b of the setting lever 91 contacts a reset pin or the like of a circuit board (not shown),
This watch is electrically reset. In this state, since the fourth wheel & pinion 51 is stopped, the third wheel & pinion 52 and the second wheel & pinion 53 are also in the stopped state. When the torque from the true 81 is applied, the gear meshed with the third wheel & pinion 52 of the second wheel & pinion 53 and the gear meshed with the minute wheel & pinion 54 of the second wheel & pinion 53 rotate individually. Will be. With this configuration, when the winding stem 81 is rotated, the minute hand and the hour hand can be arbitrarily rotated.

The winding stem 81 is engaged with a first calendar correction transmission wheel (first transmission wheel) 92. The first calendar correction transmission wheel 92 is engaged with a corner formed on the winding stem 81, whereby the first calendar correction wheel 92 is
At all times, that is, in any of the hand movement state, the calendar correction, and the time correction, it rotates integrally with the winding stem 81.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, a second calendar correction transmission wheel 93 is engaged with the first calendar correction transmission wheel 92. As described above, since the first calendar correction transmission wheel 92 is always rotated together with the winding stem 81, the second calendar correction transmission wheel 93 also rotates with the rotation of the winding stem 81 at all times. As shown in FIG. 7, a calendar correction wheel (second transmission wheel) 94 is engaged with the second calendar correction transmission wheel 93, and the calendar correction wheel 94 is also constantly wound with a winding stem 81.
It can be rotated with the rotation of.

The rotating shaft 94a of the calendar correction wheel 94 is swingably supported along a concave groove 94b provided in the main plate 40. In normal hand operation and time correction, the rotating shaft 94a is connected to the end of the latch 83. The position is regulated by the portion 83b (see FIG. 8), so that the calendar correction wheel 94 does not mesh with the teeth provided on the inner periphery of the date indicator 75. Therefore, in the normal hand operation and the time adjustment state, the calendar correction wheel 94 rotates with the rotation of the winding stem 81, but since the calendar correction wheel 94 and the date wheel 75 are not engaged, the date wheel 75 has the rotation. Is not transmitted.

On the other hand, when the winding stem 81 is positioned at the calendar correction position, the latch 83 is rotated with the movement of the winding stem 81 as shown in FIG. The guide is guided to a position where it meshes with a tooth portion provided on the inner periphery of the wheel 75. When the winding stem 81 is positioned in the calendar correction state in this way, the date dial 75 is rotated with the rotation of the winding stem 81, and the user turns the crown 80 to correct the calendar. can do.

Returning to FIG. 8, on the right side of the drawing of the first calendar correction transmission wheel 92 engaged with the winding stem 81, a switch pin (switch portion) 95 made of a conductive metal is arranged. One end of the switch pin 95 is attached to a circuit seat fixed to the ground plate 40 as an insulating member, and the other end thereof is brought into contact with a wiring pattern of a circuit board (not shown). The switch pin 95 is disposed at a position where the switch pin 95 contacts the end portion 83b of the latch 83 when the winding stem 81 is positioned in the calendar correction state. The latch 83 is positioned at the left side in the figure by a pin 83c having an end erected on the main plate 40. The pins 83c are made of a conductive metal, and the latch 83 is energized by the base plate 40 via the pins 83c. With this configuration, when the winding stem 81 is positioned in the calendar correction state as described above, the latch 83 moves to the position shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 8, and the latch 83 contacts the switch pin 95. As a result, power is supplied to a switching detection unit (detection unit) described later via the switch pin 95. A control circuit, which will be described later, can determine whether or not switching has been performed, based on whether or not power has been supplied from the switch pin 95. In the present embodiment, when the switch pin 95 is energized and switching is performed, the mode shifts to a power saving mode described later.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the winding stem 81
In the state where is positioned in the calendar correction state, the latch 83 and the switch pin 95 are brought into contact with each other to perform switching. When switching is performed by this device, the user pulls out the winding stem 81 by one step and positions it in the calendar correction state. At this time, the user should pull out the winding stem 81 and think that the one-step pull-out has been performed when there is some response. In this device, the user feels some response because the protrusion 8
2d is set in the concave portion of the positioning member 82e (positioned in the calendar corrected state).
3 and the switch pin 95 are in contact with each other.
This is because, in this device, since the first calendar correction transmission wheel 92 is always engaged with the winding stem 81, when the winding stem 81 is positioned in the calendar correction state, the projection 82d fits in the recess of the positioning member 82e. This is because the structure does not provide any response to the user except when the user is in a hurry. In the conventional apparatus, only when the winding stem was positioned in the calendar correction state, the pawl wheel engaged with the winding stem was engaged with the first calendar correction transmission wheel. In the case where the switching structure is provided, the user can obtain some response even in the state where the tip of the wheel and the first calendar correction transmission wheel are in contact with each other, and mistakenly think that the user has switched at this position. Sometimes. However, as described above, in the present embodiment, when the winding stem 81 is pulled out from the normal hand operation state and a certain response is obtained, it is positioned in the calendar correction state, that is, the switch pin 95 and the latch 83 come into contact with each other. Therefore, reliable switching can be performed.

[1.6] Configuration of Electrical System Next, the electrical configuration of the timepiece according to the present embodiment is shown in FIG.
1 will be described. As shown in the figure, the electric system of this timepiece includes the power generation mechanism 210 described above and a power supply unit 111.
, A control unit 112, a drive unit 113, and a switching detection unit 114.

The power supply unit 111 includes a limiter circuit 120 for preventing an excessive voltage from being applied to a subsequent circuit,
A secondary power supply 25 in which power generated by the power generation mechanism 210 is stored, and a booster circuit 121 are provided. The booster circuit 121 has a plurality of capacitors. The booster circuit 121 can perform boosting and stepping-down at other stages by using these capacitors, and can adjust a voltage supplied to the drive unit 113 by a control signal from the control unit 112. Further, the output voltage of the booster circuit 121 is also supplied to the control unit 112 as a monitor signal, so that the output voltage can be monitored, and whether or not the power generation mechanism 210 is generating power by a small increase or decrease in the output voltage can be determined. You can now judge. Here, the power supply unit 1
Numeral 11 takes Vdd (high voltage side) as a reference potential (GND) and generates Vss (low voltage side) as a power supply voltage.

The control section 112 includes a pulse synthesis circuit 122, a mode setting section 123, a time information storage section 124, and a drive control circuit 125. The pulse synthesizing circuit 122 includes a reference oscillation source 126 such as a quartz oscillator.
An oscillation circuit that oscillates a reference pulse having a stable frequency using a multiplexing circuit, and a combining circuit that combines a divided pulse obtained by dividing the reference pulse and the reference pulse to generate a pulse signal having a different pulse width and timing. Is provided.

The mode setting section (switch means, mode control circuit) 123 includes a power generation state detection section 127 and a set value switching section 12 for switching a set value used for power generation state detection.
8, a voltage detection circuit 129 for detecting a charging voltage of the secondary power supply 25, a central control circuit 130 for controlling a time display mode according to a power generation state, and controlling a boost ratio based on the charging voltage, Mode storage unit 1 for storing
31.

The power generation state detection unit 127 includes a power generation mechanism 210
The first detection circuit 132 that compares the electromotive voltage Vgen with the set voltage value Vo to determine whether or not power generation is detected, and the electromotive voltage Vgen that is equal to or higher than the set voltage value Vbas, which is considerably smaller than the set voltage value, is obtained. A second detection circuit 133 that determines whether or not power generation has been detected by comparing the generated power generation continuation time Tgen with the set time To, and which one of the first detection circuit 132 and the second detection circuit 133 is provided. If either one of the conditions is satisfied, it is determined that the vehicle is in a power generation state. Here, each of the set voltage values Vo and Vbas is a negative voltage based on Vdd (= GND), and indicates a potential difference from Vdd. Note that the configurations of the first detection circuit 132 and the second detection circuit 133 will be described later.

Here, the set voltage value Vo and the set time T
o can be switched by the set value switching unit 128. When switching from the display mode to the power saving mode, the set value switching unit 128 changes the set values Vo and To of the first detection circuit 132 and the second detection circuit 133 of the power generation state detection unit 127. In the present embodiment, lower values than Vb and Tb in the power saving mode are set as the setting values Va and Ta in the display mode. Therefore, large power generation is required to switch from the power saving mode to the display mode. Here, the degree of the power generation is not enough to be obtained by carrying this watch normally, and it is necessary that the degree of power generation be large when the user forcibly charges the watch by hand gesture. In other words, the set values Vb and Tb of the power saving mode are set so that forced charging by hand movement can be detected.

The central control circuit 130 includes the first detection circuit 1
32 and a non-power generation time measuring circuit 134 for measuring a non-power generation time Tn during which power generation is not detected by the second detection circuit 133. When the non-power generation time Tn continues for a predetermined time or more, the display mode shifts to the power saving mode. It is supposed to.

On the other hand, the transition from the power saving mode to the display mode is based on the condition that the power generation state detection unit 127 detects that the power generation mechanism 210 is in the power generation state and the charging voltage VC of the secondary power supply 25 is sufficient. Is executed when is completed.

In the present embodiment, since the power supply section 111 includes the booster circuit 121, the power supply voltage is boosted using the booster circuit 121 even when the charging voltage VC is low to some extent. Can be driven. Therefore, the central control circuit 130
The boosting factor is determined based on the charging voltage VC, and the boosting circuit 1
21 is controlled. However, if the charging voltage VC is too low, it is not possible to obtain a power supply voltage that can operate the hand movement mechanism 212 and the like even if the charging voltage is increased. In such a case, when the mode is shifted from the power saving mode to the display mode, accurate time display cannot be performed, and wasteful power is consumed.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is determined whether the charging voltage VC is sufficient by comparing the charging voltage VC with a predetermined set voltage value Vc, and this is changed from the power saving mode to the display mode. It is one condition for shifting to. Further, as described above, the central control circuit 130 determines whether the time during which the winding stem 81 is pulled out by one step and positioned in the calendar correction state and the switch pin 95 is conductive is within a predetermined time as described above. A power saving mode counter (measurement means) 135 for monitoring whether or not the power saving mode is established.

The mode thus set is stored in the mode storage section 131, and the information is stored in the drive control circuit 125,
It is supplied to the time information storage unit 124 and the set value switching unit 128. In the drive control circuit 125, when switching from the display mode to the power saving mode, the supply of the pulse signal to the driving unit 113 is stopped, and the hour / minute hand driving unit 113
The operation of a and the second hand drive unit 113b is stopped. As a result, the hour / minute driving stepping motor 13 and the second driving stepping motor 14 do not rotate, and the time display is stopped.

Next, the time information storage section 124 is more specifically composed of an up / down counter (not shown), and is generated by the pulse synthesis circuit 122 when the display mode is switched to the power saving mode. Upon receipt of the reference signal, time measurement is started, the count value is increased (up-count), and when the mode is switched from the power saving mode to the display mode, the time measurement is terminated. Thus, the duration of the power saving mode is measured.

When the mode is switched from the power saving mode to the display mode, the count value of the up / down counter is reduced (down count). During the down count, the drive control circuit 125 causes the second hand drive unit 113b and the hour hand drive unit 113a to send the count value. The supplied fast-forward pulse is output. When the count value of the up / down counter is zero, that is, when the fast-forward hand movement time corresponding to the duration of the power saving mode has elapsed, a control signal for stopping the sending of the fast-forward pulse is generated, and the control signal is transmitted to the second hand drive unit 113b and the hour hand. It is supplied to the drive unit 113a. As a result, the time display is returned to the current time. Thus, the time information storage unit 1
24 also has a function of returning the redisplayed time display to the current time. In the present embodiment, the time information storage unit 1
The 24 up / down counter has a count value of 24
When the time has passed, the count value is set to zero and the up-counting is continued again. By performing such an up-count, even when performing the current time return operation exceeding 24 hours, the return operation to the current time can be performed without rotating the hour and minute hands for 24 hours or more. Power consumption during operation can be reduced.

Next, the drive control circuit 125 generates a drive pulse according to the mode based on various pulses output from the pulse synthesis circuit 122. First, in the power saving mode, the supply of the driving pulse is stopped. Next, immediately after switching from the power saving mode to the display mode, in order to return the redisplayed time display to the current time, the hour and minute hand driving unit 113a uses a fast-forward pulse with a short pulse interval as a driving pulse. It is supplied to the second hand drive unit 113b. Then, after the supply of the fast-forward pulse is completed,
The drive pulse at the normal pulse interval is supplied to the hour / minute hand drive unit 113a.
And the second hand drive 113b.

Next, the switching detection section 114 includes a conduction section connected to the switch pin 95 described above. When the winding stem 81 is positioned in the calendar correction state as described above, the latch 83 comes into contact with the switch pin 95, whereby the switch pin 95 is made conductive and the conduction part of the switching detection unit 114 is energized. The switching detection unit 114 detects this energization state, and determines that switching has been performed when energization is completed within a predetermined time (for example, one second) by the above-described power saving mode counter 135. In this way, it is determined that the switching has been performed only when the power supply has been completed within the predetermined time. This is because the switch pin 95 is used even when the user actually corrects the calendar.
This is because the latch 83 comes into contact with the switch 83, and the switch-on is detected only when the energization within a predetermined time is detected in order to distinguish from such an energization state.

[2] Operation of Embodiment Next, the operation of the timepiece having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. First, the control unit 112 determines whether or not a power saving mode operation is being performed (step S1). If it is determined in step S1 that the vehicle is in the power saving mode, the process proceeds to step S7 described below. On the other hand, step S
If the determination is not in the power saving mode, that is, in the display mode, the central control circuit 130 determines the power generation mechanism 21 based on the detection signal of the power generation state detection unit 127.
0 is a power generation state (step S)
2). If it is determined in step S2 that the power is being generated, the time display is continued (step S2).
9) The process returns to step S1.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2 that the power generation mechanism 210 is in the non-power generation state, the non-power generation time measurement circuit 134 of the central control circuit 130 counts up the non-power generation time Tn (step S2). S3). Then, the central control circuit 130 determines whether or not the non-power generation time Tn has continued beyond a predetermined set time (step S4).

If it is determined in step S4 that the non-power generation time Tn has not continued beyond the predetermined time, the process returns to step S2, and the processes from step S2 to step S4 are repeated. On the other hand, step S4
If the non-power generation time Tn has been longer than the predetermined set time, the time display is automatically stopped and the mode shifts to the power saving mode (step S6).

When the mode shifts to the power saving mode, the time information storage unit 124 measures the stop time of the time display in the power saving mode (step S6). Then, it is determined whether or not the power generation mechanism 210 is in a power generation state, that is, whether or not there is an electromotive force (step S7). Here, when the power generation state detection unit 127 detects that the power generation mechanism 210 is in the power generation state and the capacity of the secondary power supply 25 is sufficient, the power generation mechanism 210 is based on the time measured in the time information storage unit 124. A fast-forward pulse is sent from the drive control circuit 125 to the hour / minute hand driving unit 113a and the second hand driving unit 113b. As a result, the minute hand and the second hand are rotated at a rapid traverse, and the time display is returned to the current time (step S8).

[3] Effects of the Embodiment In the above-described embodiment, the reduction ratio from the rotor 50 of the hour / minute drive motor to the center wheel & pinion 53 is 1/180 (1
(0 second hand), the time required to return to the current time is shorter than that of an electronic timepiece in which the reduction ratio from the rotor 50 to the second wheel 53 is set to 1/360 (5 second hand). Can be greatly reduced.

[4] Modifications The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications as described below are possible.

[4.1] First Modification In the embodiment described above, the reduction ratio from the rotor 50 of the hour / minute drive motor to the center wheel & pinion 53 is 1/180 (10
Second hand), but it is not necessary to limit the reduction ratio to 1/180 (10-second hand), and the reduction ratio is between 1/360 (5-second hand) to 1/90 (20-second hand). The energy consumption during normal hand operation can be reduced, the time required to return to the current time can be reduced, the discomfort to the movement of the minute hand can be further reduced, and the allowable unbalance amount of the minute hand can be set larger. Any reduction ratio can be used.

[4.2] Second Modification In the above-described embodiment, the hour / minute driving stepping motor 13 and the second driving stepping motor 1 are used.
4 is configured to drive the hour, minute and second hands, respectively. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the hour hand, the minute hand, the second hand, and the like may be driven by one motor.

[4.3] Third Modification In the above-described embodiment, the power generation mechanism 210
Although the description has been given of the timepiece with the power generation mechanism that generates the power by capturing the movement of the arm of the user or the like, the invention is not limited to this, and the invention can be applied to a battery-driven timepiece and a clock-driven timepiece. Of course, in addition to the above-described power generating mechanism using the rotating weight, the present invention can be applied to a timepiece including a power generating device that generates power using a solar cell or the like.

[0076]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By driving the date indicator using the Geneva structure, energy consumption can be reduced. In addition, by making the wheel train arranged between the hour / minute hand drive motor and the second wheelset a 10-second hand wheel train, compared to the 5-second hand wheel train, the time required to return to the current time is reduced. It is possible to reduce the energy consumption as well as to reduce the amount of unbalance of the minute hand, and to reduce the amount of the minute hand that is moved by one movement of the hand as compared with the 20-second hand operation. As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electronic timepiece having a calendar function in addition to a power saving function and a current time return function. In addition, it is possible to provide an electronic timepiece in which the effect of power saving, the time required for returning to the current time is reduced, and the degree of freedom in designing hands is balanced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an assembled plan view showing the vicinity of a switching section of a conventional timepiece.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a timepiece according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an assembly plan view showing a power generation mechanism of the timepiece according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of a power generation mechanism and a second wheel train of the timepiece according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing the vicinity of an hour and minute wheel train of the timepiece according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an assembly plan view showing the vicinity of a train wheel of the timepiece according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an assembled plan view showing the vicinity of a calendar mechanism of the timepiece according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an assembly plan view showing the vicinity of a switching unit of the timepiece according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view showing the vicinity of a switching unit of the timepiece according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an assembly plan view showing a state of the calendar mechanism in a calendar correction state.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electric system in the timepiece according to the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the timepiece according to the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an assembly plan view showing a configuration of a conventional Japanese jumper structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 generator, 13 hour / minute driving stepping motor, 14 seconds driving stepping motor, 15 hour / minute wheel train, 16 seconds wheel train, 25 secondary power supply, 50
Hour and minute rotor, 51 ... 4th wheel, 52 ... 3rd wheel, 53
…… second wheelchair, 71… Geneva car, 71a …… recess, 72
... Date wheel, 75 date wheel, 127 power generation state detector, 135 power saving mode counter, 125 drive control circuit

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Kojima 3-5-5 Yamato, Suwa-shi, Nagano F-term in Seiko Epson Corporation (Reference) 2F001 AA05 AB01 AD00 AE03 AF02 AG02 AG06 AG16 AH03 2F082 AA01 BB02 CC01 DD04 DD06 DD10 EE05 EE06 EE08 FF01 JJ00

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A hand for displaying time is moved by n seconds (5 ≦ n ≦).
20) an electronic timepiece having a drive motor and a wheel train mechanism for performing power supply to the drive motor under a predetermined power saving condition. A date wheel that operates by a train; a Geneva wheel that controls the operation of the date wheel; a date wheel that meshes with both the date wheel and the Geneva wheel to transmit the operation of the Geneva wheel to the date wheel; An electronic timepiece comprising: 2. The electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the drive motor is an hour / minute hand drive motor for driving an hour / minute hand. 3. The electronic timepiece according to claim 2, wherein the hour / minute hand drive motor moves the hands for 10 seconds. 4. The electronic timepiece according to claim 3, wherein the wheel train includes a second wheel that is a minute hand, and a reduction ratio from the rotor of the hour / minute hand drive motor to the second wheel is 1/180. An electronic timepiece characterized by the following. 5. The electronic timepiece according to claim 1, further comprising: a power generation unit configured to generate power by converting external energy into electric energy; and a power generation detection unit configured to detect a power generation state of the power generation unit; An electronic timepiece shown below is a case where a non-power generation state is detected by the power generation detection means. 6. The electronic timepiece according to claim 5, wherein the non-power generation state is a state in which it is detected that a power generation amount of the power generation unit is equal to or less than a predetermined power generation amount. Electronic clock. 7. The electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the date indicator has external teeth, the date indicator has internal teeth, and the date indicator is inscribed in and meshes with the date indicator. An electronic timepiece characterized by being configured as follows. 8. The electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein when the power supply is stopped, the power supply to the drive motor is restarted when a predetermined display condition is satisfied. An electronic watch featuring 9. The electronic timepiece according to claim 8, further comprising: a counter unit that counts a value corresponding to an elapsed time of a period during which the power supply is stopped; and a drive control unit that controls driving of the drive motor. The drive control means, when power supply to the drive motor is restarted, outputs a fast-forward pulse corresponding to the value counted by the counter means to the drive motor to perform a current time return operation. An electronic timepiece characterized by performing.