JP2001099964A - Electronic watch and control method of electronic watch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the data transmission speed and communication quality compared with the case of executing data transmission through a motor coil, in an electronic watch having a solar cell. SOLUTION: Data writing can be executed surely into a portable electronic watch 102 through a solar cell unit 10 by shifting to a data transmission mode, only when an outside input unit 14 is set in a prescribed operation state, to thereby prevent unintended data writing of a user. As a motor coil is not used as a medium in data transmission, data transmission can be executed without being influenced by a motor driving pulse signal, to thereby improve a data transmission speed and communication quality.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic timepiece and a method for controlling the electronic timepiece, and more particularly to an electronic timepiece with a built-in solar cell and a method for controlling the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-207992, rate adjustment data is received using a motor coil in synchronization with a reference signal of an analog electronic timepiece, and rate adjustment is performed based on the received rate adjustment data. I was going. Further, in the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-258644, the rate adjustment is performed by outputting a rate adjustment pulse to the motor coil.

[0003]

In the above prior art, data is received via a motor coil. Therefore, when the motor is driven, it is affected by a motor drive pulse signal, and the data transmission speed is limited. There was a problem that communication quality could not be maintained high. Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic timepiece and an electronic timepiece capable of improving data transmission speed and communication quality as compared with a case where data transmission is performed via a motor coil in an electronic timepiece having a solar cell. It is to provide a control method.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic timepiece having a solar cell, comprising: an external operating means for performing various operations by a user; and an operating state of the external operating means. Mode setting means for setting the operation mode of the electronic timepiece to the data reception mode when is in a predetermined operation state; and when the operation mode is the data reception mode, the light signal is transmitted to the solar cell. Analog / electrical conversion of the obtained electric signal
It is characterized by comprising: reception data generation means for performing digital conversion and outputting as reception data; and power storage means charged by the solar cell and supplying power to the electronic timepiece.

[0005] A second aspect of the invention is the configuration of the first aspect, further comprising: a backflow prevention diode provided in the charging path, for preventing a backflow current when the storage means is charged. The reception data generation means includes a comparator for comparing a voltage difference between both ends of the backflow prevention diode in the data reception mode and outputting the comparison result as the reception data.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect, the reception data generating unit compares the reception data by comparing an induced voltage of the solar cell with a predetermined reference voltage. It is characterized by having a comparator for generating and outputting.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the second or third aspect, there is provided a comparator operation control means for making the comparator operable only during a predetermined period including the data reception mode. It is characterized by:

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the second or third aspect, there is provided power supply control means for supplying operating power to the comparator only during a predetermined period including the data reception mode. It is characterized by that.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the electro-optical device according to the first aspect, the reception data generating unit compares the reception data by comparing an induced voltage of the solar cell with a predetermined threshold voltage. It is characterized by having an inverter for generating and outputting.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the configuration according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, a storage means for storing the received data, and a data writing means for writing the received data in the storage means And, it is characterized by having.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the configuration as set forth in any one of the first to seventh aspects, further comprising a time-measuring means driven by electric power supplied from the solar cell and performing a time-measuring operation. Features.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the method of controlling an electronic timepiece having an external operation device and a solar cell for performing various operations by a user, the operation state of the external operation means is a predetermined operation state. A mode setting step of setting the operation mode of the electronic timepiece to a data reception mode, and, when the operation mode is the data reception mode, an electric signal obtained by the solar cell photoelectrically converting an optical signal. Receiving data generating step of performing analog / digital conversion and outputting the data as received data.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the ninth aspect, the electronic timepiece has a storage device for storing the received data, and includes a data writing step of writing the received data to the storage device. It is characterized by having.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [1] First Embodiment First, a first embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, a wristwatch-type portable electronic timepiece and a data transmission system having an external data transmission device for transmitting data to the portable electronic timepiece will be described as an example of the electronic timepiece. It is not intended to limit the invention to these,
The present invention can be applied to any electronic timepiece having a solar cell as a power generation device and a data transmission system having this electronic timepiece.

[1.1] Schematic Configuration of Data Transmission System FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration block diagram of the data transmission system. The data transmission system 100 includes an external data transmission device 101 having four light-emitting diodes (LEDs) L1 to L4 connected in series, and a portable electronic timepiece 102 having four solar cells SC1 to SC4 connected in series. And is provided. Thereby, at the time of data transmission,
The light emitting diodes L1 to L4 blink according to the data to be transmitted, and the light signals emitted from the light emitting diodes L1 to L4 are received by the solar cells SC1 to SC4, and the data is transmitted.

[1.2] Schematic Configuration of Portable Electronic Timepiece FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of an electronic timepiece. As shown in FIG.
The portable electronic timepiece 102 roughly includes solar cells SC1 to SC4 that perform photoelectric conversion of incident environmental light (external light) or an incident optical signal and output an electric signal (for charging or data). A solar cell unit 10 provided;
A charge control circuit 11 that performs control during charging based on the electric signal output from the solar cell unit 10, a large-capacity capacitor 12 that stores electric charge corresponding to the electric signal output from the solar cell unit 10 and supplies power, Portable electronic timepiece 10 based on electric power supplied from large-capacity capacitor 12
2, a control unit 13 for controlling the overall operation, an external input unit 14 provided with various button switches, a crown, and the like, and a display unit 15 for displaying various data, time, and the like. Control unit 13
The oscillation / division circuit 21 has a crystal oscillator (not shown), generates a reference pulse signal having a predetermined reference frequency from the reference oscillation signal, and divides the reference pulse signal to output various pulse signals. A control circuit 22 for controlling the entire control unit 13 based on various pulse signals output from the oscillation / frequency dividing circuit 21 and data stored in a data storage circuit 24 described later, and charging under the control of the control circuit 22 A detection circuit 23 for detecting various data input through the control circuit 11 and outputting the data as detection data DD;
And a data writing circuit 25 for writing the detection data DD output by the detection circuit 23 under the control of the control circuit 22 into the data storage circuit 24 for storage. In this case, the control circuit 22 oscillates based on the data written in the data storage circuit 24.
The frequency dividing ratio in the frequency dividing circuit 21 is variably controlled.

[1.3] Schematic Configuration of Charge Control Circuit FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration diagram of the charge control circuit. The charge control circuit 11 calculates the voltage V12 (= Vdd−V
ss) to generate a detection voltage VC.
And a reference voltage generating circuit 11B for generating a reference voltage VCREF based on the low-potential-side power supply Vss, a backflow prevention diode 11C for preventing a backflow of the charging current, and comparing the detection voltage VC with the reference voltage VCREF. If it is VCREF,
The comparator 11D outputs an "L" level charge control signal SCC, and is turned on when the "L" level charge control signal SCC is output, and the solar cells SC1 to SC4
A P-channel MOS transistor 11E for short-circuiting and stopping charging of the large-capacity capacitor 12;
It is provided with.

[1.4] Schematic Configuration of Detection Circuit FIG. 4 shows a schematic configuration diagram of the detection circuit. The detection circuit 23
When the operation mode is the data transmission mode based on the enable signal SEN from the control circuit 22, the forward voltage of the backflow prevention capacitor 11C of the charge control circuit 11 is detected, and "H" is set in accordance with the potential level of the detected voltage. It is provided with a comparator 23A that outputs a "level" or "L" level signal as detection data DD.

[1.5] Operation of First Embodiment Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. In this case, as the operation mode of the portable electronic timepiece 102, the solar cell unit 10 is used for charging the large-capacity capacitor 12, and the control unit 13 performs normal operations other than data transmission such as data reception and storage. It is assumed that there are a normal operation mode to be performed and a data transmission mode in which data is received via the solar cell unit 10 and stored in the data storage circuit 24, and the normal operation mode is set in an initial state. FIG. 5 shows an operation processing flowchart of the first embodiment. First, the control circuit 22 determines whether or not the operation state of the external input unit 14 corresponds to the operation state when the operation mode is instructed to shift from the normal operation mode to the data transmission mode (step S1). ). If it is determined in step S1 that the operation state of the external input unit 14 indicates any operation while the operation mode is the normal operation mode, that is, the external input unit 1
When the operation state of No. 4 does not instruct the transition of the operation mode from the normal operation mode to the data transmission mode (Step S1; No), the processing corresponding to the operation is performed and the apparatus enters the standby state.

If it is determined in step S1 that the operation state of the external input unit 14 indicates that the operation mode should be changed from the normal operation mode to the data transmission mode (step S1; Yes), the control circuit 22 returns to step S1. To shift the operation mode to the data transmission mode, the enable signal SEN corresponds to the data transmission mode. As a result, the portable electronic timepiece 102 shifts to the data transmission mode (step S2), and the detection circuit 23 enters an operation state (enable state) (step S3). In this case, a display for notifying the user of the transition to the data transmission mode may be made on the display unit 15 to notify the user. Specifically, if the portable electronic timepiece is an electronic analog timepiece, it performs irregular hand movements different from the normal operation, or if the portable electronic timepiece is a digital timepiece, it is in a data transmission mode on a liquid crystal display. May be displayed. Accordingly, the external data transmission device 101 causes the light emitting diodes L1 to L4 of the external data transmission device to blink according to the transmission data,
An optical signal of a predetermined pattern corresponding to the transmission data is emitted (Step S4). In this case, it is assumed that an optical signal of the same pattern (corresponding to a data signal of the same pattern) is transmitted a plurality of times in order to secure transmission reliability. In parallel with this, the detection circuit 23 determines whether or not a data signal has been received (step S5). If it is determined in step S5 that no data signal has been received (step S5; No), it is determined whether or not the data signal non-reception time T has exceeded a predetermined standby time limit TLIM (step S9). ).

If it is determined in step S9 that the data signal non-reception time T is shorter than a predetermined waiting time limit TLIM period (T ≦ TLIM) (step S9; N).
o), the process proceeds to step S to wait in the data transmission mode.
Move to If it is determined in step S9 that the data signal non-reception time T has exceeded the predetermined waiting time limit TLIM period (T> TLIM), the process proceeds to step S7 to end the data transmission mode. In the determination of step S5, when the data signal is received, more specifically, when the data signal of the same pattern can be received a plurality of times (step S5; Yes), the detection circuit 23 detects the data signal corresponding to the data signal. The data is output to the data writing circuit 25 as data DD. Thereby, the data writing circuit 25
Writes the detection data DD into the data storage circuit 24 (step S6). The detection data DD in this case is data for adjusting the time required for the number of pulses of the reference pulse signal in the oscillation / frequency dividing circuit to reach a predetermined number of pulses. Correction data, ID number data for specifying the portable electronic timepiece, various adjustment data of sensors and detection circuits, or various writing data at the store front or after-sales service. Thus, when the writing of data to the data storage circuit 24 is completed, the control circuit 22 ends the data transmission mode (step S7), and sets the enable signal SEN to correspond to the normal operation mode.

As a result, the detection circuit 23 enters the non-operation state (non-enable state) again (step S8), and the process shifts to step S1. As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the user operates the external input unit 14, the mode shifts to the data transmission mode. The transition to the transmission mode prevents inadvertent rewriting of important data. Also, in the unlikely event that the user does not intend, the portable electronic timepiece 10
2 shifts to the data transmission mode, the step S
In the determination, if the data signal has not been received for a predetermined period or more, the mode shifts to the normal operation mode, so that careless data writing can be prevented.

[1.6] Specific Example of First Embodiment FIG. 6 shows a schematic configuration diagram when an electronic analog timepiece is used as the portable electronic timepiece 102 of the first embodiment. FIG.
In FIG. 2, the same parts as those in FIG. The electronic analog clock 50 is roughly divided into solar cells SC1 to S
Solar cell unit 10 having C4 and charge control circuit 1
1, the large-capacity capacitor 12, and the display unit 15 for displaying the time, an analog clock unit 51 driven by power supplied from the large-capacity capacitor 12, the control unit 13, And a crown switch 52 for realizing the function of the unit 14. This allows the crown switch 52
When the operation shifts to the data transmission mode by the operation of (1), the external data transmission device 101 (see FIG. 1)
When an optical signal is input from the device, various data such as rate data is written to the data storage circuit 24 in the control circuit 13.

[1.7] Effect of First Embodiment As described above, according to the first embodiment, data can be reliably written to a portable electronic timepiece via a solar cell. At the same time, data writing unintended by the user can be prevented. Further, since data transmission does not involve a motor coil, data transmission can be performed without being affected by a motor drive pulse signal, and data transmission speed and communication quality can be improved.

[2] Second Embodiment FIG. 7 shows a schematic block diagram of a detection circuit 23 'according to a second embodiment. Other configurations of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, and thus the detailed description thereof will be cited.
In the detection circuit 23 ′, the detection circuit 23 of the first embodiment performs data transmission using the forward voltage of the backflow prevention diode. However, in the second embodiment, the induced voltage of the solar cell unit 10 and the predetermined reference This is an embodiment in which data detection is performed by comparing with a voltage. [2.1] Schematic Configuration of Detection Circuit As shown in FIG. 7, the detection circuit 23 ′ includes a pull-up resistor RPU that pulls up the induced voltage VSU of the solar cell unit 10 to the high-potential power supply Vdd, Reference voltage generation circuit 26A that generates reference voltage VREF with reference to power supply Vdd
When the operation mode is the data transmission mode based on the enable signal SEN from the control circuit 22, the reference voltage VREF and the induced voltage VSU are compared, and a signal of "H" level or "L" level is generated. Based on the comparator 26B that outputs the detection data DD and the enable signal SEN from the control circuit 22, when the operation mode is the data transmission mode, it is opened (off state) and the large capacity capacitor 12 of the solar cell unit 10 is turned off. And an N-channel MOS transistor 26C for cutting off the charging path for In this case, the diode d is a parasitic diode of the N-channel MOS transistor 26C. When the N-channel MOS transistor 26C is in the off state, the diode d is oriented so that the charging current does not flow through the parasitic diode d. Here, the reason why the N-channel MOS transistor 26C is provided will be described. When a secondary battery is used in place of the large-capacity capacitor 12, the solar cell SC is also used for data transmission.
When the secondary battery is charged by the generation of the electromotive voltages of 1 to SC4, the waveform of the voltage Va is shown in FIG.
Even after the irradiation of the pulsed light, it takes time to return to a stable voltage while the voltage remains low due to the chemical reaction, and the waveform of the detection data DD also changes as shown in FIG. This is different from the light irradiation pattern, and causes a problem that the data transmission speed cannot be increased. Therefore, when the mode is switched to the data transmission mode by the operation of the external input unit 14, the N-channel MOS transistor 26C is opened by the enable signal SEN from the control circuit 22, and the charging path is cut off. Battery SC1-S
The generated voltage of C4 is output as it is as the voltage Va, the pulse light irradiation pattern and the waveform of the detection data DD become closer, and the data transmission speed can be increased. It is necessary to pay sufficient attention to the intensity of irradiation light applied to the solar cells SC1 to SC4 so that a generated voltage higher than the withstand voltage of the semiconductor device including the N-channel MOS transistor is not generated.

[2.2] Operation of Detection Circuit In the solar cell unit 10, when power is generated by the incidence of an optical signal, a charging current flows. As a result, the terminal voltage of the solar cell unit 10, which has been pulled up to the high-potential-side power supply Vdd by the pull-up resistor RPU, falls to a potential obtained by subtracting the generated voltage VF from the low-potential-side power supply VSS. This voltage drop is detected by the comparator 25B, and the detection data DD is output. [2.3] Modification of the Second Embodiment In the above description, the detection data D
Although D was generated, it is also possible to use an inverter. In this case, the circuit configuration is simplified, and the current consumption of the circuit can be reduced. However, the reference voltage VREF cannot be adjusted like a comparator, and is substantially a voltage intermediate between the voltage of the high-potential power supply Vdd and the voltage of the low-potential power supply Vss, that is, VREF = (Vdd + Vss) / 2. Become.

[3] Modifications [3.1] First Modification In the above description, an analog electronic timepiece having only an analog pointer has been described. However, measurement of a digital timepiece that performs digital display and a sensor for various measurements is performed. The present invention is also applicable to an analog electronic timepiece with a digital display for digitally displaying the result on a liquid crystal display device.

[0028]

According to the present invention, unlike data transmission using a motor coil, data transmission / reception can be performed without being affected by a motor drive pulse signal, thereby improving data transmission speed and communication quality. Can be. Further, according to the present invention, the mode is shifted to the data reception mode depending on the operation state of the external operation member, and the reception mode is enabled only after the mode shifts to the reception mode.
Further, the power consumption (current consumption) can be further suppressed by setting the reception data generation means according to the present invention to an operable state only at least in the data reception mode.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration block diagram of a data transmission system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a portable electronic timepiece according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration block diagram of a charge control circuit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration block diagram of a detection circuit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an operation processing flowchart according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a specific example of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration block diagram of a detection circuit according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the reason for using an N-channel MOS transistor in the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 data transmission system 101 external data transmission device 102 portable electronic timepiece 10 solar cell 11 charging control circuit 12 large-capacity capacitor 13 control unit 14 external input unit 15 display unit 21 oscillation / division Circuit 22 ... Control circuit 23 ... Detection circuit 23A ... Comparator 24 ... Data storage circuit 25 ... Data writing circuit 26A ... Reference voltage generation circuit 26B ... Comparator 26C ... N-channel MOS transistor 50 ... Analog 51 ...

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04B 10/105 H04B 9/00 R 10/10 10/22 F term (Reference) 2F002 AA00 AB05 AD06 AD09 AE01 BB02 BB05 GA04 2F082 AA00 BB00 CC01 CC03 FF01 FF06 HH02 HH05 2F084 AA05 BB06 BB09 CC03 GG02 GG04 GG08 JJ01 JJ07 LL01 LL02 LL03 5F051 BA04 JA07 JA17 KA03 5K002 AA03 BA03 DA06 EA04 FA04

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An electronic timepiece having a solar cell, comprising: an external operation means for performing various operations by a user; and an operation mode of the electronic timepiece when an operation state of the external operation means is a predetermined operation state. Mode setting means for setting the data reception mode, when the operation mode is the data reception mode,
A reception data generating unit that performs photoelectric conversion of an optical signal by the solar cell, performs analog / digital conversion of the obtained electric signal, and outputs the received signal as reception data, and is charged by the solar cell and supplies power to the electronic timepiece. An electronic timepiece comprising: a power storage unit; 2. The electronic timepiece according to claim 1, further comprising: a backflow prevention diode provided in the charging path to prevent a backflow current when the power storage unit stores power. An electronic timepiece comprising: a comparator that compares a voltage difference between both ends of the backflow prevention diode in a data reception mode and outputs the comparison result as the reception data. 3. The electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the reception data generation unit generates and outputs the reception data by comparing an induced voltage of the solar cell with a predetermined reference voltage. An electronic timepiece comprising: 4. The electronic timepiece according to claim 2, further comprising a comparator operation control unit that makes the comparator operable only during a predetermined period including the data reception mode. Electronic clock. 5. The electronic timepiece according to claim 2, further comprising power supply control means for supplying operating power to the comparator only during a predetermined period including the data reception mode. Electronic clock. 6. The electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the reception data generation unit generates an output of the reception data by comparing an induced voltage of the solar cell with a predetermined threshold voltage. An electronic timepiece comprising: 7. The electronic timepiece according to claim 1, further comprising: a storage unit configured to store the received data; and a data writing unit configured to write the received data into the storage unit. An electronic timepiece characterized by the above. 8. The electronic timepiece according to claim 1, further comprising a time-measuring unit driven by electric power supplied from the solar cell and performing a time-measuring operation. . 9. A control method of an electronic timepiece having an external operation device and a solar cell for performing various operations by a user, wherein when the operation state of the external operation means is a predetermined operation state, the electronic timepiece is controlled. A mode setting step of setting an operation mode to a data reception mode, and when the operation mode is the data reception mode,
A method for controlling an electronic timepiece, comprising: a receiving data generating step of performing an analog / digital conversion of an electric signal obtained by the solar cell performing photoelectric conversion of an optical signal and outputting the converted signal as received data. 10. The control method for an electronic timepiece according to claim 9, wherein the electronic timepiece has a storage device for storing the received data, and has a data writing step of writing the received data to the storage device. A control method of an electronic timepiece characterized by the above-mentioned.