JP2002055175A - Alarm time piece - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an alarm time piece capable of confirming the set of an alarm easily. SOLUTION: A dark condition detecting circuit 5 detects a dark condition when brightness in the periphery of a time piece is brought into a fixed value or less, and outputs a dark condition detection signal to an EL driving circuit 10. The driving circuit 10 input with the dark condition detection signal outputs a drive signal to the first EL light emitting part 6. The first EL light emitting part 6 input with the drive signal is lighted on to illuminate a time display part and an alarm time pointer. When an alarm setting switch 7 is set, an alarm set signal is output to the EL driving circuit, and the circuit 10 input with the alarm set signal outputs drive signals to the first EL light emitting part 6 and the second light emitting part 8. The first and second EL light emitting parts 6, 8 input with the drive signals are lighted on. The second EL light emitting part is lighted on thereby only in the alarm set to allow easy confirmation whether the alarm is set or not, even in the dark condition.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an alarm clock capable of confirming an alarm set.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an alarm clock as disclosed in, for example, JP-A-6-43270. To briefly explain the technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-43270, when an alarm is set, an EL light-emitting unit that illuminates a time display unit is turned on. The EL light emitting unit is turned on. This makes it possible to easily confirm whether or not the alarm is set based on whether or not the EL light emitting unit is lit, and also to easily confirm the time even in a dark state.
Further, since one light-emitting unit also serves as a light-emitting unit for confirming the alarm set and a dark-state light-emitting unit, the configuration can be simplified as compared with the case where separate light-emitting units are provided.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned device emits light in response to detection of a dark state by a dark state detection circuit and an EL light-emitting section which lights when an alarm is set.
Since the L light emitting unit is the same, the EL light emitting unit is lit in the dark state regardless of the alarm set state,
Can't confirm if alarm is set.
As a result, for example, if the user goes to bed after setting the alarm and wakes up in the middle of the night and is worried whether the alarm is set, the user bothers to turn on the room lighting and check the alarm setting state. However, the user has to perform the troublesome work of holding the clock and checking the alarm setting state.

Therefore, it is conceivable to use an LED or a light-emitting paint as a light-emitting part for confirming the alarm set, separately from the light-emitting part for the dark state. In this case, the user can confirm the alarm set, but the visibility is poor with the LED or the light-emitting paint, and in order to improve the visibility, an increase in the number of LEDs used, an increase in the power required for the LED to emit light, and There arises a problem that the coating area needs to be enlarged.

In the device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 6-43270, a light emitting unit for dark state and a light emitting unit for confirming the alarm set are used in common. Will do. However, the light amount actually required differs between the light emission for the dark state and the light emission for confirming the alarm set. That is, in the light emission for the dark state in which the time display unit is illuminated only when the surroundings are dark, the contrast between the surrounding darkness and the brightness of the lighting can be easily obtained, so that a large amount of light is not required. On the other hand, it is necessary to emit light not only in the dark state but also in the bright surroundings, so that it is necessary to emit light not only in the dark state but also in the dark state. Light amount is required. Therefore, in the above-described apparatus, the structure can be simplified by also using the light-emitting section, but the respective light amounts cannot be appropriately set for the dark state and the alarm set confirmation. In addition, it is conceivable to increase the light emission luminance of the light emitting unit at the time of alarm setting. However, when an EL element is used as the light emitting unit, there is also a problem that the life of the EL element is shortened if the EL element emits light at high luminance. is there.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an alarm clock capable of easily checking an alarm set while simplifying the configuration.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a dark state detecting circuit, a first EL light emitting section for illuminating a time display section when the dark state detecting circuit detects a dark state, and an alarm set. And a second EL light-emitting portion that is turned on when the light is emitted. For this reason, the second EL light-emitting portion is turned on only when the alarm is set, and the light-emitting portion for dark state and the light-emitting portion for confirming the alarm set are separated from each other. Can be easily confirmed. In addition, since the EL light emitting unit is used for both the light emitting unit for the dark state and the light emitting unit for confirming the alarm set, the number of LEDs used and the power required for the light emission of the LED are increased as compared with the case of using the LED or the light emitting paint. Can be solved.

If the first EL light emitting section is configured to illuminate the time display section when the dark state detecting circuit detects a dark state and when an alarm is set, the first EL light emitting section is configured to illuminate the first EL light emitting section.
The structure can be simplified by using the EL light-emitting portion of the present invention for both the dark state and the alarm set confirmation. Further, the first EL light-emitting portion is turned on in a dark state, and the first EL light-emitting portion and the second EL light-emitting portion are turned on when an alarm is set. Without shortening the life of the light emitting unit, the amount of emitted light for checking the alarm set can be made larger than the amount of emitted light in the dark state. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately set the respective light emission amounts for the dark state and for the alarm set confirmation while extending the life of the EL light emitting unit.

If the first EL light emitting section and the second EL light emitting section are configured to be lit in different colors, it is easy to determine whether the second EL light emitting section is lit. , You can easily check the alarm setting status.

An hour / minute hand with an EL light emitting portion, an alarm time hand with an EL light emitting portion, and a dark state detecting circuit are included. The hour / minute hand with an EL light emitting portion is turned on when the dark state detecting circuit detects a dark state. If the alarm time indicator with the EL light emitting portion is configured to light when an alarm is set, compared to a case where the time display portion is illuminated by an EL element,
The use amount of the light emitting EL element can be reduced. Further, the above EL
Since the alarm time indicator with a light emitting section emits light only when the alarm is set, it is easy to confirm whether the alarm is set even in the dark state.

The hour / minute hand with an EL light emitting section is illuminated when the dark state detecting circuit detects a dark state and when an alarm is set. The configuration can be simplified by also using the function for confirming the alarm set. Further, in the dark state, the hour / minute hand with the EL light emitting unit is turned on, and when the alarm is set, the hour / minute hand with the EL light emitting unit and the alarm time hand with the EL light emitting unit are turned on. Without shortening the life of the EL light emitting unit, the light emission amount for confirming the alarm set can be made larger than the light emission amount in the dark state. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately set the respective light emission amounts for the dark state and for the alarm set confirmation while extending the life of the EL light emitting unit.

If the hour and minute hands with the EL light emitting section and the alarm time hands with the EL light emitting section are configured to be lit in different colors, it is easy to determine whether or not the alarm time hands with the EL light emitting section are lit. It can be determined and the alarm setting status can be easily checked.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the alarm clock of this embodiment. In FIG. 1, a time display unit 1 includes a dial 2 and an hour hand 3.
And a minute hand 4. CdS5a is used for dark state detection. The first EL light emitting section 6 illuminates the time display section 1 and the like when the CdS 5a detects a dark state and when the alarm set switch 7 is set, and has a time scale 2a on the light emitting surface. . The second EL light emitting section 8 is turned on when the alarm set switch 7 is set. The alarm time indicator 9 displays an alarm time.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the present embodiment. In the figure, a dark state detection circuit 5 includes CdS5a, and outputs a dark state detection signal when detecting a dark state. The EL driving circuit 10 drives the first EL light emitting section 6 when a dark state detection signal output from the dark state detecting circuit 5 is input, and emits the first EL light when the alarm set switch 7 is set. The unit 6 and the second EL light emitting unit 8 are driven. In FIG. 2, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Next, the operation will be described.

When the brightness around the watch falls below a certain level,
The dark state detection circuit 5 detects the dark state, and the EL drive circuit 10
To output a dark state detection signal. The EL drive circuit 10 that has received the dark state detection signal transmits the drive signal to the first EL light emitting unit 6.
Output to The first EL light-emitting unit 6 that has received the drive signal lights up, and illuminates the time display unit 1 and the alarm time indicator 9. Therefore, the current time and the alarm time can be easily confirmed even in the dark state.

When the alarm set switch 7 is set, an alarm set signal is output to the EL drive circuit 10 and the EL drive circuit 10 to which the alarm set signal has been input.
Outputs a drive signal to the first EL light emitting unit 6 and the second EL light emitting unit 8. First EL light emitting unit 6 to which a drive signal is input
Then, the second EL light emitting unit 8 turns on.

As described above, since the second EL light emitting section 8 emits light only when the alarm is set, it can be easily confirmed whether or not the alarm has been set even in the dark state. The troublesome work of having to check or check the alarm setting state by holding a clock can be reduced.

Since the EL light emitting unit is used for both the light emitting unit for the dark state and the light emitting unit for confirming the alarm set, the LE
Compared with the case where D or a luminescent paint is used, the configuration can be prevented from becoming complicated.

In the dark state, only the first EL light emitting section 6 is turned on, and when the alarm is set, the first EL light emitting section 6 and the second EL light emitting section 8 are turned on. It is possible to make the light emission amount for checking the alarm set larger than the light emission amount in the dark state, while suppressing and extending the life.

Further, if the first EL light emitting section 6 and the second EL light emitting section 8 emit light of different colors, it can be easily determined whether or not the second EL light emitting section 8 is lit. You can easily check the alarm setting status.

In place of the first EL light emitting section 6 and the second EL light emitting section 8, an EL light emitting section is provided on the display surface side of the hour hand 3, the minute hand 4 and the alarm time indicator 9, and the hour hand with the EL light emitting section is provided. The 3 and the minute hand 4 with an EL light-emitting unit are turned on when the dark state detection circuit 5 detects a dark state and when an alarm is set, and the alarm time indicator 9 with an EL light-emitting unit turns on when the alarm is set. With the lighting configuration, the same effect as above can be obtained, and the amount of the EL element for light emission can be reduced as compared with the case where the time display unit 1 including the dial 2 is illuminated as described above.

[0024]

According to the alarm clock of the present invention, the time display section is illuminated when the first EL light-emitting section is in the dark state, and the second E-timer is illuminated.
Since the L light emitting unit is turned on when the alarm is set, it is easy to confirm whether the alarm is set even in the dark state. Further, since the EL light emitting unit is used for confirming the alarm set, the structure can be prevented from becoming complicated as compared with the case where the LED or the light emitting paint is used.

Since the first EL light-emitting unit illuminates the time display unit in the dark state and in the alarm setting, the first EL light-emitting unit can be used for both the dark state and the alarm set confirmation. Since the first and second EL light emitting portions are turned on when the alarm is set, the amount of light emitted when the alarm is set can be increased without increasing the brightness of the EL light emitting portion. It is possible to appropriately set the amount of emitted light for each of the dark state and the alarm set confirmation while extending the life of the EL light emitting unit.

The first EL light-emitting portion and the second EL light-emitting portion are
With a configuration in which the lights are emitted in different colors, it can be easily determined whether or not the second EL light emitting unit is turned on, and the set state of the alarm can be easily confirmed.

An EL hour and minute hand with an EL light emitting part, an alarm time hand with an EL light emitting part, and a dark state detecting circuit are included.
The hour and minute hands with a light-emitting part are lit in the dark state or in the dark state and when an alarm is set, and the alarm time hand with an EL light-emitting part is illuminated when the alarm is set. The use amount of the light emitting EL element can be reduced as compared with the case where the unit is illuminated with the EL element.

If the hour / minute hand with the EL light emitting part and the alarm time indicator with the EL light emitting part are illuminated in different colors, it is easy to determine whether the alarm time hand with the EL light emitting part is lit. It can be determined and the alarm setting status can be easily checked.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an alarm clock according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Time display part 3 Hour hand 4 Minute hand 5 Dark state detection circuit 6 First EL light emitting part 8 Second EL light emitting part 9 Alarm time indicator

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A dark state detection circuit, and a first E illuminating a time display unit when the dark state detection circuit detects a dark state.
L light emitting unit and a second light that lights when an alarm is set
An alarm clock, comprising: an EL light-emitting unit according to claim 1. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first EL light-emitting unit illuminates the time display unit when the dark state detection circuit detects a dark state and when an alarm is set. Alarm clock. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein
The alarm clock according to claim 1, wherein the first EL light emitting unit and the second EL light emitting unit are lit in different colors. 4. An EL display, comprising: an hour / minute hand with an EL light emitting portion, an alarm time hand with an EL light emitting portion, and a dark state detection circuit.
An alarm clock, wherein the hour / minute hand with a light emitting section is turned on when the dark state detection circuit detects a dark state, and the alarm time indicator with an EL light emitting section is turned on when an alarm is set. 5. The alarm clock according to claim 4, wherein the hour / minute hand with the EL light emitting section is turned on when the dark state detection circuit detects a dark state and when an alarm is set. 6. The method according to claim 4, wherein
An alarm clock, wherein the hour and minute hands with an EL light emitting unit and the alarm time hands with an EL light emitting unit are lit in different colors.