JP2002014181A - Electronic clock, external adjustment device and control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the operation efficiency of time adjustment of an electronic clock. SOLUTION: An analog electronic clock 10 has a receiving circuit 21 for receiving an adjustment mode release signal of an external adjustment device 30, and a mode control circuit 22. The mode control circuit 22 causes time measurement to take place, when the receiving circuit 21 receives the adjustment mode release signal of the external adjustment device 30.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic timepiece, an external adjusting device, and a control method thereof, and more particularly to time adjustment and rate adjustment in a manufacturing process.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when time is set in a manufacturing process of an electronic timepiece, as in the case of a general user, the display of hours, minutes, and seconds is set in advance to a predetermined time, and the time is restarted at the same time. Or, it was necessary to perform a second reset operation. This time adjustment operation is performed by an analog electronic timepiece (hereinafter, referred to as the “hour”, “minute”, “second”) hand that is mechanically driven.
"Analog electronic clock". ) Will be specifically described with examples. First, pull the crown at the 0-second position, stop the second hand at the 0-second position, then set the hour and minute hands to a predetermined time by rotating the crown, and push the crown in at the predetermined time to restart timing. Become.

[0002]

Since electronic watches have various designs (exterior, button arrangement, etc.),
It is difficult to automate a series of these operations, and manual operations are performed one by one. However, it is difficult for one person to adjust the time of many electronic watches at a time, and it takes a lot of time to adjust the time. That is, usually, the crown can only be pushed into the minute every minute, so that only one electronic clock can be set for one minute per person in charge, so that the work efficiency is extremely poor. In addition, since the time adjustment process is performed independently of the electronic timepiece inspection process and the adjustment process, there is a problem that the entire process time is increased. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic timepiece, an external adjustment device, and a control method thereof, which can improve the efficiency of the time setting operation and reduce the number of steps as a whole.

[0003]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a receiving apparatus for receiving a signal from another device, a controlling means for controlling an operation mode, and a timer for measuring time. An electronic timepiece having a clocking unit and a hand adjusting unit for adjusting a pointer position to a desired time by the user, wherein the control unit is configured to prohibit the hand movement when the receiving unit receives a clocking start signal. The electronic timepiece in the stopped state is shifted to the timekeeping operation mode.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, an operating means is further provided, and when a predetermined specific operation is performed on the operating means, the control means performs a timing operation. The electronic timepiece is stopped, the hand movement is prohibited, and the mode is shifted to an adjustment mode for adjusting the electronic timepiece.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect, the timing means includes a hand, a motor having a coil for driving the hand, and the receiving means includes:
The timing measurement start signal is received via the coil.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the third aspect, the timing start signal is transmitted as an electromagnetic signal from the other device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the electronic timepiece according to the first aspect of the present invention, further comprising an operating means, and performing a predetermined specific operation on the operating means. Stop the timekeeping operation, inhibit the hand movement and shift to the adjustment mode signal reception standby state, the receiving means receives an adjustment mode signal and an adjustment mode release signal of the external adjustment device as the other device, The control means shifts the electronic timepiece to the adjustment mode when the reception means receives the adjustment mode signal of the external adjustment device in the adjustment mode signal reception standby state, and in the adjustment mode, the reception means controls the external adjustment device. Receiving the adjustment mode release signal, the electronic timepiece starts the timekeeping operation.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the fifth aspect, the control means is arranged such that the receiving means receives the adjustment mode signal of the external adjustment device in the adjustment mode signal reception standby state; When a predetermined operation and another predetermined operation different from the predetermined operation are performed on the operation means, the electronic timepiece is shifted to an adjustment mode.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the sixth aspect, between the predetermined operation and the predetermined operation, the pointer position can be adjusted to a desired time by the hand adjusting means. It is characterized by.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the fifth aspect, the timing means includes a hand, a motor having a coil and driving the hand, and the receiving means includes:
The adjustment mode signal or the adjustment mode release signal transmitted as an electromagnetic signal from the external adjustment device is received via the coil.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration according to any one of the fifth to eighth aspects, a period of the adjustment mode signal reception standby state is set to a predetermined period.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of any of the fifth to eighth aspects, the electronic timepiece receives correction data for rate correction from the external adjustment device during the adjustment mode. It is characterized by:

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the second or fifth aspect, the specific operation needs to be completed within a predetermined time from the start to the end of the specific operation. It is characterized by including timer means for counting a predetermined time.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the second or fifth aspect, the operating means is a crown.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there are provided receiving means for receiving a signal from another device, control means for controlling an operation mode, a motor having a coil, and a pointer driven by the motor. Time measuring means for measuring time, a rate measuring pulse generating means for generating a rate measuring pulse under the control of the control means, and a transmitting means for transmitting the rate measuring pulse to the outside through the coil. It is characterized by:

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the thirteenth aspect, the receiving means receives a correction data signal generated by the external adjustment device, which is the other device, receiving the rate measuring pulse. It is characterized by doing.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the fourteenth aspect, the correction data storage means for storing correction data corresponding to the correction data signal, and the correction data stored in the correction data storage means And a rate adjusting means for adjusting the rate based on the rate.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clock start signal transmitting means for transmitting a clock start signal for starting a clock operation to the electronic timepiece in a stopped state to an external electronic timepiece. And

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, an external electronic timepiece has an adjustment mode signal for shifting the electronic timepiece to an adjustment mode for performing various adjustments while the timekeeping operation is stopped, and the electronic timepiece in the adjustment mode. An adjustment mode control signal transmitting means for transmitting an adjustment mode release signal for starting a clock operation of the timepiece is provided.

[0020] According to a eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the seventeenth aspect, the adjustment mode control signal transmitting means includes:
It is characterized in that the adjustment mode signal and the adjustment mode release signal are transmitted as an electromagnetic signal.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rate measuring pulse receiving means for receiving a rate measuring pulse transmitted from an external electronic timepiece, and a rate measuring means for performing a rate measurement based on the rate measuring pulse. Correction data generating means for generating rate correction data based on the result of rate measurement, and correction data transmitting means for transmitting the rate correction data as a correction data signal to the electronic timepiece. .

According to a twentieth aspect, in the configuration of the nineteenth aspect, the correction data transmitting means transmits the correction data signal as an electromagnetic signal.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, a receiving unit for receiving a signal from another device, a control unit for controlling an operation mode, a time counting unit for counting time, and a hand position set at a desired time by a user. A time adjustment unit for adjusting the time.A method for controlling an electronic timepiece, comprising: when the reception unit receives a timekeeping start signal, the operation of the electronic timepiece is stopped and the timekeeping operation is started by the electronic timepiece in a stopped state. And

According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the twenty-first aspect, the electronic timepiece is provided with an operation unit, and when a predetermined specific operation is performed on the operation unit. The timer operation is stopped, the hand movement is prohibited, and the mode is shifted to an adjustment mode for adjusting the electronic timepiece.

[0025] The structure of claim 23 is characterized in that, in the structure of claim 22, the pointer position can be adjusted to a desired time by the hand adjusting section during the adjustment mode.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling an electronic timepiece having a receiving part for receiving a signal from another device, a control part for controlling an operation mode, and a time keeping part for keeping time. The electronic timepiece is provided with an operation unit, and when a predetermined specific operation is performed on the operation unit, stops the timekeeping operation of the electronic timepiece, and enters an adjustment mode signal reception standby state. In addition to shifting, when the adjustment mode release signal is received in the adjustment mode signal reception standby state, a timekeeping operation is started.

According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, a timekeeping start signal for starting a timekeeping operation of the stopped electronic timepiece is transmitted to an external electronic timepiece.

According to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adjustment mode signal for shifting an external electronic timepiece to an adjustment mode for performing various adjustments while the timepiece is stopped, and an electronic timepiece in the adjustment mode. It is characterized by transmitting an adjustment mode release signal for starting the clock operation of the timepiece.

According to a twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention, a rate measurement pulse transmitted from an external electronic timepiece is received, a rate measurement is performed based on the rate measurement pulse, and a correction data signal is generated based on a result of the rate measurement. Is transmitted to the electronic timepiece.

[0030]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. [A] First Embodiment FIGS. 1 to 4 are explanatory diagrams of a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an analog electronic timepiece, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the external adjustment device of the timepiece, FIG. 3 is a timing chart in a time adjustment step of the electronic timepiece according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a time chart of the electronic timepiece according to the first embodiment. It is a flowchart of an alignment process.

In the analog electronic timepiece 10 shown in FIG. 1, the oscillation circuit 11 is, for example, a crystal oscillator and generates a reference oscillation signal. The frequency dividing circuit 12 includes a counter or the like, and divides an input reference oscillation signal to output a reference pulse signal. Drive pulse generation circuit 13
Is for generating a drive pulse signal based on an input reference pulse signal constituted by a gate circuit or the like. The motor driver 14 is composed of a high output current MOS transistor or the like, and drives the motor coil 15 for driving the hands based on the input drive pulse signal. Receiving circuit 2
1 includes a comparator circuit, a latch circuit, a gate circuit, and the like, and receives various data from an external adjustment device described later via a motor coil 15. The mode control circuit 22 includes a gate circuit, a latch circuit, and the like, and performs various controls based on data received by the reception circuit 21.

The reset circuit 25 includes a gate circuit, a counter, and the like, includes a chattering prevention circuit, detects that a crown switch (reset switch) 24 has been operated, and outputs the frequency dividing means 12 and the mode control circuit 22. And reset processing of the timer 23. The hand adjusting section 50 is composed of a crown, a hand adjusting wheel train, and the like, and adjusts the pointer position to a desired time by the user. The crown switch 24 is turned on / off in conjunction with the operation of the hand adjusting section 50. Will be done.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the external adjustment device 30 used in the present embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 31 denotes a timing circuit including an oscillation circuit, a frequency dividing circuit, and the like (not shown), and outputs a timing end signal to the control circuit 32 when the preset time is counted. The control circuit 32 is constituted by a gate circuit, a latch circuit, or a microprocessor, etc., and outputs a generation instruction signal indicating that an adjustment mode release signal should be generated to the mode signal generation circuit 33 in response to the clock end signal from the clock circuit 31. I do. The mode signal generation circuit 33 is configured by a gate circuit or the like, generates an adjustment mode release signal in response to the input generation instruction signal, and outputs the adjustment mode release signal to the transmission circuit 34. The transmission circuit 34 includes a high output current MOS transistor, a latch circuit,
The adjustment mode release signal is input to the analog electronic timepiece 10 via the coil 35. A switch 36 switches the external adjustment device 30 between an operation mode and a non-operation mode.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
A time setting step of the analog electronic timepiece according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the time setting process, first, it is determined whether or not the operation of pulling out and pushing the crown of the hand adjusting unit 50 at the moment when the second hand reaches the 0 second position is repeated three times in succession (step S1).
In this case, when the crown is pulled, the crown switch 24 is in the “ON” state, and when the crown is pushed in, the crown switch 24 is in the “OFF” state. If the determination in step S1 is N, the process ends and returns to the normal timekeeping operation. Also, if step S1 is Y, three ON / OFF operations are 1
It is determined whether the operation has been performed within seconds (step S
2). If step S2 is Y, the analog electronic timepiece 1
The operation mode of 0 is the adjustment mode (step S3),
If N, the process is terminated and the operation returns to the normal timekeeping operation.

Next, in the adjustment mode, the operator pulls the crown of the needle adjusting unit 50 again (the crown switch 24 is in the ON state) and rotates the crown to rotate at a predetermined time, that is, after another scheduled end time of the adjustment work. The hour hand and minute hand are set at the predetermined time (step S4). In this case, once the mode is shifted to the adjustment mode, the analog electronic timepiece 10 does not start the hand movement until receiving the adjustment mode release signal described later. Then, the operator performs the operations from step S1 to step S4 on the plurality of analog electronic watches 10. Thus, a plurality of analog electronic timepieces 10 set at a predetermined time and in the adjustment mode are prepared. Then, the external adjustment device 30 performs various adjustments such as a rate adjustment on each analog electronic timepiece. When all the adjustments are completed and the predetermined time at which the plurality of analog electronic timepieces 10 are set (the time adjusted in step S4), the external adjustment device 30 is set.
Transmits an adjustment mode release signal from the transmission circuit 34 to the coil 35
Is transmitted to all the analog electronic timepieces 10 at the same time (step S5).

Each analog electronic timepiece 10 has a motor coil 1
5, the receiving circuit 21 receives the adjustment mode release signal and outputs it to the mode control circuit 22. Upon receiving the adjustment mode release signal, the mode control circuit 22 releases the adjustment mode, initializes the frequency dividing circuit 12 via the reset circuit 25, and restarts the output of the motor drive pulse (step S7). As a result, each analog electronic timepiece 10 starts the timekeeping operation. Therefore, if the required number of coils 35 of the external adjustment device 30 are provided in parallel with the transmission circuit 34, by arranging a plurality of analog electronic watches corresponding to the plurality of coils, a plurality of analog electronic watches can be provided. The time can be adjusted at the same time.

Next, with reference to the timing chart of FIG. 3, the time setting step of the analog electronic timepiece according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described more specifically. In the time setting process, first, at the moment when the second hand reaches the 0 second position, the operator pulls the crown of the hand setting unit 30 to turn the crown switch 24 ON, pushes the crown of the hand setting unit 30 in, and turns the crown switch 24 OFF. The operation of setting the state is repeated three times. As a result, FIG.
A crown signal as shown in FIG. At this time, the frequency divider 12, the mode control circuit 22, and the timer 23 are reset to the initial state by the reset circuit 25 in synchronization with the time t1 at which the crown switch 24 is turned ON by first pulling the crown in the hand adjusting section 50. After being reset, as shown in FIG. 3C, the ENABLE signal rises and maintains the "H" level for a predetermined time (in this example, one second until time t3).
If the time t2 of the third push of the crown (OFF operation of the crown switch 24) is earlier than the falling time t3 of the ENABLE signal, the analog electronic timepiece 10 synchronizes with the time t2 as shown in FIG. The adjustment mode is set. In this case, if the time t2 is later than the falling time t3 of the ENABLE signal, the analog electronic timepiece 10 ends the processing without returning to the adjustment mode and returns to the normal timekeeping operation.

When the analog electronic timepiece 10 shifts to the adjustment mode, as described above with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4, the operator sets the hour hand and the minute hand at predetermined times and performs external adjustment. Various adjustments such as a rate adjustment are performed by the device 30. Then, at time t4 after these various adjustments and the like are performed, the predetermined pattern transmitted from the external adjustment device 30 (FIG. 3).
(B)), the analog electronic timepiece 10 receives the adjustment mode release signal, and the adjustment mode is released in synchronization with the last pulse of the adjustment mode release signal at time t5. Further, in synchronization with this time t5, the frequency dividing circuit 12 is initialized, and as shown in FIG. 3A, a motor drive pulse is generated after one second, and the analog electronic timepiece 10 starts to move hands.

In the above description, the adjustment mode is set on condition that the crown switch 24 is operated three times within one second by operating the crown in the hand adjusting section 50. However, these conditions are not limited to these. That is, the necessary condition is that the second hand is stopped at the 0 second position and that the operation is not normally performed by a general user. In addition, when the second hand is allowed to set the time with a rough accuracy that does not require the time to be set exactly at the 0 second position, it goes without saying that this condition is alleviated. FIG. 3 shows a modification of the method of shifting the analog electronic timepiece 10 to the adjustment mode.
This will be described with reference to FIGS.

That is, first, at the moment when the second hand reaches the 0 second position, the operator pulls the crown at the hand adjusting section 50 to turn the crown switch 24 to the ON state.
The second hand is stopped at the 0 second position (time t1). Next, the state of the crown switch 24 of the analog electronic timepiece 10 is set to O.
The crown of the needle adjusting unit 50 is operated so that the FF / ON / OFF / ON / OFF and OFF states appear three times.
Then, three OFF operations of the crown switch 24 are 1
It is determined whether the operation has been performed within seconds. At this time, the first O
In synchronization with the FF operation (time t1 '), the timer 23 outputs the ENABLE signal of the mode control circuit from time t1' to time t3.
Set to "H" level for 1 second up to '. And this one
If three OFF operations are performed within seconds, the analog electronic timepiece 10 enters the adjustment mode.

In this way, the operator operates the crown at the hand adjusting section 50 at the moment when the second hand reaches the 0 second position, and turns the crown switch 24 three times continuously.
There is no need to perform an N / OFF operation. That is, first, at the moment when the second hand reaches the 0 second position, the crown is pulled in the hand adjusting section 50, the crown switch 24 is turned ON, the second hand is stopped at the 0 second position, and the crown switch 24 is turned OFF / ON / OFF / ON / OFF
By operating the crown in the hand adjusting unit 50 such that the OFF state appears three times, the analog electronic timepiece can be shifted to the adjustment mode, and the burden on the operator can be reduced. According to this modification, the second hand is not moved even if the crown is operated in the hand adjusting section 50 so that the crown switch 24 is turned ON / OFF within one second. After the crown is pulled, the hour and minute hands can be set at a predetermined time, and then the adjustment mode can be entered.

[B] Second Embodiment FIGS. 5 to 8 are explanatory diagrams of a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of an analog electronic timepiece. 6 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an external adjustment device of the electronic timepiece, FIG. 7 is a timing chart in a time adjustment step and a rate adjustment step of the electronic timepiece according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a second embodiment. 5 is a flowchart of a time adjustment step and a rate adjustment step of the electronic timepiece according to the embodiment. Analog electronic timepiece 10 shown in FIG.
In ′, the same parts as those of the analog electronic timepiece 10 according to the first embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is partially omitted. In FIG. 5, a rate measurement pulse generation circuit 26 is configured by a gate circuit or the like, generates a pulse for rate measurement in accordance with a command from the mode control circuit 22, generates a drive pulse generation circuit 13, a motor driver 1
4. External adjustment device 3 to be described later via motor coil 15
A rate measurement pulse is transmitted to 0 '.

The data control circuit 27 includes a gate circuit,
An external adjusting device 30 which is constituted by a latch circuit and the like
The correction data signal transmitted from the motor coil 15,
The data is obtained through the receiving circuit 21, converted into correction data under the control of the mode control circuit 22, and output to the storage circuit 28. The storage circuit 28 is a non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM and stores the correction data. The rate adjusting circuit 29 controls the frequency dividing means 12 based on the correction data stored in the storage circuit 28 to adjust the rate. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the external adjustment device 30 'used in the second embodiment of the present invention. In the external adjustment device 30 'shown in FIG. 6, the same parts as those of the external adjustment device 30 according to the first embodiment described above with reference to FIG. Omitted.

In FIG. 6, the rate measuring circuit 38 includes a signal from the analog electronic timepiece 10 'during normal hand movement to the receiving circuit 3'.
At step 7, the rate measuring pulse received is measured. Control circuit 32
Controls the entire external adjustment device 30 '. The mode signal generation circuit 33 generates and outputs a control signal for the mode transition of the analog electronic timepiece 10 ′ under the control of the control circuit 32. The correction data generation circuit 39 is configured by a counter, a latch circuit, a gate circuit, or the like, or a microprocessor, etc., and generates rate correction data under the control of the control circuit 32. The correction data signal generation circuit 40 includes a counter, a latch circuit, a gate circuit, and the like, and generates a correction data signal used for transmission based on the generated rate correction data. The transmission circuit 34 includes the control circuit 32
Transmits the rate correction data signal and the adjustment mode release signal via the coil 35 to the analog electronic timepiece 10 '.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
Analog electronic timepiece 10 according to a second embodiment of the present invention
'Will be described below. In the time setting process, the operator first pulls the crown at the hand setting unit 50 at the moment when the second hand reaches the 0 second position (step S0). In the following description, in a state where the crown is pulled in the needle adjusting portion 50,
It is assumed that the crown switch 24 is in the “ON” state, and that the crown switch 24 is in the “OFF” state when the crown is pressed in the hand adjusting section 50. Then, the second hand is stopped at the 0 second position to stop the hand movement (step S1). By this operation, the analog electronic timepiece 10 ′
The processing shifts to a state of waiting for reception of the adjustment mode signal from the external adjustment device 30 '. Next, the operator adjusts the hour hand and the minute hand to predetermined times by rotating the crown in the hand adjusting section 50 (step S2).

When an adjustment mode signal is received from the external adjustment device 30 'in the adjustment mode signal reception standby state (Y in step 3), the process proceeds to step 4. Next, it is determined whether or not an adjustment signal has been received within a certain period of time after the crown is pulled in the hand adjusting section 50 in Step 1 (after the crown switch 24 is turned on) (Step S4). If step 4 is Y, the process proceeds to step S5. When step S4 is Y, when the crown is pushed in the hand adjusting section 50 and the crown switch 24 is turned off (step S5), the analog electronic timepiece 10 '.
Shifts to the adjustment mode (step S6). In this case, in a normal analog electronic timepiece, when the crown is pushed in the hand adjusting unit 50, the frequency dividing circuit is initialized, and
After a second, a motor drive pulse is output to start hand movement,
In the analog electronic timepiece 10 'according to the present embodiment, once the mode is shifted to the adjustment mode, the output of the motor drive pulse is not restarted even if the crown is pulled or pushed again in the hand adjusting section 50, and the adjustment mode is maintained. Is done. The operation of adjusting the hour hand and the minute hand to the predetermined time previously performed in step S2 may be performed after shifting to this adjustment mode.

Next, the adjustment process of the analog electronic timepiece after shifting to the adjustment mode in step S6 will be described.
When the analog electronic timepiece 10 'shifts to the adjustment mode, it sends a rate measurement pulse to the external adjustment device 30' (step S7). The external adjustment device 30 ′ receives the rate measurement pulse and calculates correction data relating to the rate (Step S).
8) Convert the analog electronic timepiece 10 into a correction data signal
'(Step S9). Then, the analog electronic timepiece 10 'writes the correction data signal into the storage circuit 28 (Step S10). The rate adjustment process from step S7 to step S10 is performed during the adjustment mode. The operator performs the operations from step S0 to step S5 on a plurality of analog electronic timepieces 10 '.
Do about. As a result, the analog electronic timepiece 10 is set at a predetermined time to enter the adjustment mode, and the rate is adjusted (steps S6 to S10).
'Will be prepared.

Then, at a predetermined time when the plurality of analog electronic timepieces 10 'are set (time set in step S2), the external adjustment device 30' transmits an adjustment mode release signal to the analog electronic timepiece 10 '. (Step S1
1). The analog electronic timepiece 10 ′ receives the adjustment mode release signal, initializes the frequency dividing circuit 12 (Step S).
13) The output of the motor drive pulse is restarted to release the stop of the hand operation (step S14). As a result, each analog electronic timepiece 10 'starts a timekeeping operation. Therefore,
If a required number of coils 35 of the external adjustment device 30 'are provided in parallel with the transmission circuit 34, a plurality of analog electronic watches 10' are arranged corresponding to the plurality of coils, thereby providing a plurality of analog electronic watches. It is possible to simultaneously adjust the rate and time for 10 '. In the example described here, when the adjustment mode signal is received from the external adjustment device 30 ′ in the adjustment mode signal reception standby state and the crown switch 24 is pressed, the analog electronic timepiece 1 is turned on.
0 'has been described as shifting to the adjustment mode (step S6). However, the invention is not limited to this. The adjustment mode signal is received from the external adjustment device 30' during the adjustment mode signal reception standby state (step S3). , S4 may be shifted to the adjustment mode immediately after Y).

In step S3 or step S4, N
In this case, when the crown switch 24 is pushed in without shifting to the adjustment mode of the analog electronic timepiece 10 '(step S12), the reset circuit 25 initializes the frequency dividing circuit 12 (step S13) and releases the hand stoppage state. Then, time measurement is started in the same manner as a normal analog electronic timepiece (step 14). Next, with reference to the timing chart of FIG. 7, the time setting step and the rate adjusting step of the analog electronic timepiece according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described more specifically. In the time adjusting step and the rate adjusting step, the operator first pulls the crown at the hand adjusting section 50 to stop the hand movement at the moment when the second hand reaches the 0 second position, and adjusts the hour hand and the minute hand to predetermined times during this time. In synchronization with the operation of pulling the crown (operation of turning the crown switch 24 ON) in the hand adjusting unit 50, FIG.
As shown in (e) and (d), at the time t1, the crown signal and the ENABLE signal rise at the same time and go to the “H” level. In addition, the frequency dividing circuit 12, the mode control circuit control 22, and the timer 23 are reset to the initial state by the reset circuit 25 by the operation of pulling the crown of the hand adjusting unit 50 (the operation of turning the crown switch 24 to the ON state).

Here, the ENABLE signal shown in FIG. 7D is maintained at "H" level for a predetermined time (in this example, one second until time t2), during which time the analog electronic timepiece 10 'is controlled by the external adjustment device 30'. To the adjustment mode signal reception standby state. In the standby state for receiving the adjustment mode signal, the mode signal generation circuit 3 of the external adjustment device 30 '
The analog electronic timepiece 10 ′ receives the adjustment mode signal (see FIG. 7C) generated by the transmission circuit 34 and transmitted through the coil 35 via the motor coil 15 and the reception circuit 21, and then adjusts the hand. In the unit 30, when the crown is pushed in at time t3 (when the crown switch 24 is turned off), the analog electronic timepiece 10 'shifts to the adjustment mode (see FIG. 7 (f)). Analog electronic clock 10
′ Indicates that the rate measurement pulse generation circuit 26 operates in response to a command from the mode control circuit 22 when the mode shifts to the adjustment mode.
2 generates a rate measurement pulse from the currently generated reference pulse signal, and outputs the pulse to the external adjustment device 30 ′ via the drive pulse generation circuit 13, the motor driver 14, and the motor coil 15.
(See FIG. 7A). Here, the rate measurement pulse is a short pulse (for example, 0.244 msec) that does not rotate the motor, and its cycle is proportional to the oscillation frequency of the oscillation circuit 11.

The external adjustment device 30 ′ receives the rate measurement pulse by the receiving circuit 37 via the coil 35 and outputs the pulse to the rate measurement circuit 38. The rate measuring circuit 38 measures the rate measuring pulse, compares it with the accurate rate pulse, and outputs an error signal to the correction data generating circuit 39. The correction data generation circuit 39 generates rate correction data under the control of the control circuit 32 based on the error data, and outputs the data to the correction data signal generation circuit 40. Then, the correction data signal generation circuit 40 generates a correction data signal used for transmission based on the generated rate correction data, and outputs the correction data signal to the transmission circuit 34. The transmission circuit 34 outputs the correction data signal to the coil 35
To the analog electronic timepiece 10 'via the. The analog electronic timepiece 10 ′ has a receiving circuit 2 via a motor coil 15.
1 receives this correction data signal (see FIG. 7 (c)),
Output to the data control circuit 27. The data control circuit 27 controls the storage circuit 2 under the control of the mode control circuit 22.
8 is written with correction data. The rate adjusting circuit 29 controls the frequency dividing means 12 based on the correction data stored in the storage circuit 28 to adjust the rate.

After the rate adjustment has been performed on the plurality of analog electronic timepieces 10 ', the external adjustment device 30'.
Is measured by the clock circuit 31, and when the predetermined time t4 at which the plurality of analog electronic timepieces 10 'are set is reached,
An adjustment mode release signal having a predetermined pattern (see FIG. 7C) is transmitted from the transmission circuit 34 to the analog electronic timepiece 10 ′ via the coil 35. Analog electronic clock 10 '
Is received by the receiving circuit 21 via the motor coil 15 and output to the mode control circuit 22. Upon receiving the adjustment mode release signal, the mode control circuit 22 releases the adjustment mode in synchronization with the adjustment mode release signal at time t5, initializes the frequency dividing circuit 12 via the reset circuit 25, and outputs the motor drive pulse. Restart the output and release the hand stop. [C] Modified Example In the above description, an analog electronic timepiece (an analog electronic timepiece in which the hour hand, minute hand, second hand, etc. are mechanically driven)
However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the present invention is also applicable to a so-called digital electronic timepiece (an electronic timepiece in which hour, minute, second, etc. are performed by liquid crystal display or the like). In this case, an element having a function of a receiving antenna may be separately used instead of the motor driving coil used for receiving a signal from the external adjustment device in the analog electronic timepiece.

[0053]

As described above, according to the electronic timepiece and the method of controlling the same according to the present invention, the operator can restart the hand operation and reset the seconds after waiting for every minute on each electronic timepiece as in the prior art. It is not necessary to perform the operation, and it is possible to adjust the time of a large number of electronic timepieces at one time, thereby greatly improving the work efficiency of the time adjusting process. In addition, the time adjustment step and the rate adjustment step can be performed in the same step, and the process period can be reduced. Furthermore, in the time setting step, the minute hand and the hour hand need only be set to the same time for each of a large number of electronic timepieces, so that it is possible to reduce mistakes in setting the hour and minute by the operator.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of an analog electronic timepiece according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of an external adjustment device of the electronic timepiece.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart in a time setting step of the electronic timepiece according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a time setting process of the electronic timepiece according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of an analog electronic timepiece according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of an external adjustment device of the electronic timepiece.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart in a time setting step and a rate adjusting step of the electronic timepiece according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a time adjustment step and a rate adjustment step of the electronic timepiece according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 10 '... analog electronic timepiece 11 ... oscillation circuit 12 ... frequency dividing circuit 13 ... driving pulse generation circuit 14 ... motor driver 15 ... motor coil 21 ... receiving circuit 22 ... mode control circuit 23 ... ... Timer 24... Crown switch 25... Reset circuit 26... Rate measuring pulse generating circuit 27... Data control circuit 28... Circuit 32 Control circuit 33 Mode signal generation circuit 34 Transmission circuit 35 Coil 36 Changeover switch 37 Reception circuit 38 Rate measuring circuit 39 Correction data generation circuit 40 Correction data Signal generation circuit

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Fumiaki Miyahara 3-3-5 Yamato, Suwa-shi, Nagano F-term in Seiko Epson Corporation (reference) 2F002 AA03 AA11 AD06 BB04 2F083 AA00 DD11 DD20 GG01 GG07 GG09 JJ12

Claims (27)

[Claims] 1. A receiving means for receiving a signal from another device, a controlling means for controlling an operation mode, a time measuring means for measuring time, and a hand adjusting means for adjusting a hand position to a desired time by a user. An electronic timepiece having the following features: wherein, when the receiving means receives a timekeeping start signal, the control means shifts the electronic timepiece in a stopped state in which the hand movement is prohibited to a timekeeping operation mode. Electronic clock. 2. The electronic timepiece according to claim 1, further comprising an operation means, wherein a predetermined specific operation is performed on the operation means, whereby the control means stops the clocking operation, and The electronic timepiece according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the electronic timepiece is prohibited from operating and the mode is shifted to an adjustment mode for adjusting the timepiece. 3. The electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the time keeping means includes a hand, and a motor having a coil and driving the hand, and the receiving means starts the time keeping via the coil. An electronic timepiece which receives a signal. 4. The electronic timepiece according to claim 3, wherein the timing start signal is transmitted as an electromagnetic signal from the other device. 5. The electronic timepiece according to claim 1, further comprising an operation means, wherein a predetermined specific operation is performed on the operation means, whereby the control means stops the timing operation of the electronic timepiece. And disabling the hand movement and shifting to an adjustment mode signal reception standby state, wherein the receiving means receives an adjustment mode signal and an adjustment mode release signal of an external adjustment device which is the other device; and When the receiving unit receives the adjustment mode signal of the external adjustment device in the adjustment mode signal reception standby state, the electronic timepiece shifts to the adjustment mode, and the reception unit releases the adjustment mode of the external adjustment device in the adjustment mode. An electronic timepiece which starts a timing operation of the electronic timepiece when receiving a signal. 6. The electronic timepiece according to claim 5, wherein the control unit receives the adjustment mode signal of the external adjustment device in the adjustment mode signal reception standby state, and controls the operation unit. An electronic timepiece, wherein the electronic timepiece is shifted to an adjustment mode when a predetermined operation and another predetermined operation different from the predetermined operation are performed. 7. The electronic timepiece according to claim 6, wherein the hand position can be adjusted to a desired time by the hand adjusting means between the predetermined operation and the another predetermined operation. Electronic clock. 8. The electronic timepiece according to claim 5, wherein the time keeping means includes a hand, a motor having a coil and driving the hand, and the receiving means as an electromagnetic signal from the external adjusting device. An electronic timepiece which receives the transmitted adjustment mode signal or the adjustment mode release signal via the coil. 9. The electronic timepiece according to claim 5, wherein a period of the adjustment mode signal reception standby state is set to a predetermined period. 10. The electronic timepiece according to claim 5, wherein the electronic timepiece receives correction data for rate correction from the external adjustment device during the adjustment mode. Electronic clock. 11. The electronic timepiece according to claim 2, wherein the specific operation needs to be completed within a predetermined time from the start to the end of the specific operation, and counts the predetermined time. An electronic timepiece comprising timer means. 12. The electronic timepiece according to claim 2, wherein said operating means is a crown. 13. A receiving means for receiving a signal from another device, a control means for controlling an operation mode, a motor having a coil and a pointer driven by the motor, and a time measuring means for measuring time. An electronic device, comprising: a rate measuring pulse generating means for generating a rate measuring pulse under the control of the control means; and a transmitting means for transmitting the rate measuring pulse to the outside via the coil. clock. 14. The electronic timepiece according to claim 13, wherein the receiving means receives a correction data signal generated by the external adjustment device, which is the other device, receiving the rate measurement pulse. Electronic clock. 15. The electronic timepiece according to claim 14, wherein correction data storage means for storing correction data corresponding to the correction data signal; and adjusting a rate based on the correction data stored in the correction data storage means. An electronic timepiece comprising: a rate adjusting means for performing the adjustment. 16. An external adjusting device comprising: a time-measurement start signal transmitting means for transmitting a time-measurement start signal to an external electronic timepiece for starting the timekeeping operation of the electronic timepiece in a stopped state. 17. An external electronic timepiece starts an adjustment mode signal for shifting the electronic timepiece to an adjustment mode for performing various adjustments while the timekeeping operation is stopped, and starts a timekeeping operation of the electronic timepiece in the adjustment mode. An external adjustment device, comprising: an adjustment mode control signal transmission unit that transmits an adjustment mode release signal for causing the adjustment device to transmit an adjustment mode. 18. The external adjustment device according to claim 17, wherein the adjustment mode control signal transmitting means transmits the adjustment mode signal and the adjustment mode release signal as electromagnetic signals. 19. A rate measuring pulse receiving means for receiving a rate measuring pulse transmitted from an external electronic timepiece; a rate measuring means for performing a rate measurement based on the rate measuring pulse; An external adjustment device comprising: correction data generation means for generating rate correction data based on the correction data; and correction data transmitting means for transmitting the rate correction data to the electronic timepiece as a correction data signal. 20. The external adjustment device according to claim 19, wherein the correction data transmitting unit transmits the correction data signal as an electromagnetic signal. 21. A receiving unit for receiving a signal from another device, a control unit for controlling an operation mode, a time counting unit for counting time, and a hand setting unit for adjusting a hand position to a desired time by a user. A control method for an electronic timepiece, comprising: when the receiving unit receives a timekeeping start signal, the timekeeping operation is started by the electronic timepiece whose hand movement is inhibited and stopped. Method. 22. The control method of an electronic timepiece according to claim 21, wherein the electronic timepiece is provided with an operation unit, and a timekeeping operation is performed when a predetermined specific operation is performed on the operation unit. And stopping the hand movement and shifting to an adjustment mode for adjusting the electronic timepiece. 23. The electronic timepiece control method according to claim 22, wherein the pointer position can be adjusted to a desired time by the hand adjusting section during the adjustment mode. Method. 24. A control method for an electronic timepiece having a receiving unit for receiving a signal from another device, a control unit for controlling an operation mode, and a timer unit for measuring time, wherein the electronic timepiece includes: An operation unit is provided, and when a predetermined specific operation is performed on the operation unit, the timer operation of the electronic timepiece is stopped, and a transition is made to an adjustment mode signal reception standby state, and the adjustment is performed. A method for controlling an electronic timepiece, wherein a timing operation is started when an adjustment mode release signal is received in a mode signal reception standby state. 25. A method for controlling an external adjusting device, comprising: transmitting a timekeeping start signal to an external electronic timepiece to start a timekeeping operation in the stopped electronic timepiece. 26. An external electronic timepiece starts an adjustment mode signal for shifting the electronic timepiece to an adjustment mode for performing various adjustments while the timekeeping operation is stopped, and starts a timekeeping operation of the electronic timepiece in the adjustment mode. A method for controlling an external adjustment device, comprising transmitting an adjustment mode release signal for causing the adjustment device to perform an adjustment. 27. A rate measuring pulse transmitted from an external electronic timepiece is received, a rate is measured based on the rate measuring pulse, and a correction data signal is sent to the electronic timepiece as a correction data signal based on the result of the rate measuring. Transmitting the external adjustment device.