JP2002250782A - Electronic timepiece with generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To avoid a fear of malfunction of an electronic timepiece using a power source having a generator mechanism because of a possibility of large fluctuation of the power source voltage and resulting malfunction of an electronic circuit. SOLUTION: The electronic timepiece with a generator mechanism having a power generation means 26 including a generator means 51, a power detection means 27 for detecting the power state of the power generation means 26 and outputting the detection signal and the electronic circuit 100 processing a counting function and the like is constituted so as to reset the electronic circuit 100 based on the detection signal output by the power detection means 27.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic timepiece with a power generation mechanism, and more particularly to a multifunction electronic timepiece with a power generation mechanism having functions such as a chronograph.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a multifunctional electronic timepiece having not only a time but also functions other than a timepiece such as a chronograph and an alarm has been developed and commercialized. These multifunction electronic timepieces differ in what functions are added to the timepiece depending on the product. Therefore, the multifunction electronic timepiece has a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) inside, and responds to changes in the specifications of each product by changing the software of the microcomputer. In such a multifunction timepiece, it is necessary to indicate various elements (for example, the current time and the alarm time) with one hand, so that the hand has a hand position counter interlocked with the hand, and the hand position counter and the current time are provided. By matching the counters such as the above, the display is performed by the pointer. Therefore, an operation for matching the position of the pointer with the hand position counter in advance, that is, a so-called reference position adjusting operation has been required.

[0003] This reference positioning must be performed every time the internal circuit becomes unstable, such as when the battery is replaced, which is very troublesome. To solve this problem, the applicant of the present invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 5-517803, when detecting a decrease in the battery voltage, writes the contents of a needle position counter into a non-volatile memory, and writes the contents written after the battery replacement into the needle position counter. An electronic timepiece that does not need to align the hands by transferring is disclosed.

Conventionally, an electronic timepiece which includes a power generation mechanism such as a solar cell and a power storage means such as an electric double layer capacitor and which does not require battery replacement has been developed and commercialized. These watches were very convenient without the need for battery replacement.

[0005]

By the way, the power supply by the power generation mechanism and the power storage means as described above has a large fluctuation in voltage, and there is a possibility that a voltage change such as that required for ordinary battery replacement frequently occurs. That is, there is a possibility that the power supply voltage changes with the operation limit voltage of the electronic timepiece in between. Therefore, when such a power supply is applied to a multifunction timepiece, the above-described hand position storage technique becomes extremely useful. This is because if this technique is not provided, it is necessary to perform the reference positioning operation every time the power supply voltage falls below the operation limit voltage. However, when this hand position storage technology is installed, if the power supply voltage changes across the operation limit voltage point of the electronic timepiece as well, the hand position writing operation and the hand position reading operation must be repeated, resulting in waste of power consumption. In addition, there is a possibility that an accurate write operation or read operation is not performed. An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide a stable operation system in an electronic timepiece using a power supply having a power generation mechanism.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a power generating means including a power generating means, a power detecting means for detecting a power state of the power generating means and outputting a detection signal, In an electronic timepiece with a power generation mechanism having an electronic circuit for performing processing such as operation, the electronic circuit is reset based on a detection signal output from the power detection means.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. An oscillation circuit 1 outputs a reference signal of 32,768 Hz using a crystal oscillator (not shown) as an original vibration. Reference numeral 2 denotes a frequency dividing circuit, which divides the frequency of the reference signal from the oscillation circuit 1. Reference numeral 3 denotes a waveform shaping circuit, which outputs a step pulse for driving an hour / minute hand 9 and a second hand 6 described later. Reference numeral 4 denotes a second motor drive circuit which converts the step pulse from the waveform shaping circuit 3 into a motor drive signal. 5
Is a second motor, which is rotated by a drive signal from a second motor drive circuit 4. A second hand 6 performs a step operation by rotation of the second motor 5. An hour / minute hand motor driving circuit 7 converts the step pulse from the waveform shaping circuit 3 into a motor driving signal. Reference numeral 8 denotes an hour / minute motor, which is rotated by a drive signal from the hour / minute hand motor drive circuit 7.
An hour / minute hand 9 performs a step operation by rotation of the hour / minute motor 8.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a second hand position counter, which is a 60-digit counter interlocked with the second hand 6. A chrono motor driving circuit 11 converts a 1/20 second signal from the waveform shaping circuit 3 into a chrono motor driving signal. Reference numeral 12 denotes a chrono motor, which receives a signal from the chrono motor drive circuit 11 and rotates. Reference numeral 13 denotes a chrono hand.
Step by rotating. Reference numeral 14 denotes a chronograph position counter, which is linked with the chronograph hand 13. Reference numeral 15 denotes a chronograph counter, which counts a chronograph time.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a second counter, which counts seconds at the current time. Reference numeral 17 denotes a 21 counter, which is fixed at a value of 21. Similarly, 18 is 24 counters, 19 is 1
8 counters. Reference numeral 20 denotes a selector means, and when any one of the control terminals C1, C2, and C3 is input, the corresponding input terminals I1 and I1
2 or I3 is output. When signals are input to a plurality of control terminals at the same time, the one with the smaller number is output preferentially. Reference numeral 21 denotes a coincidence detection circuit which outputs a detection signal to the waveform shaping circuit 3 when the coincidence between the content outputted from the selector means 20 and the counter content of the second hand position counter 10 is detected. Reference numeral 22 denotes a counter control unit which writes counter information of the second hand position counter 10 and the chronograph position counter 14 in a nonvolatile memory described later, and reads out the information from the nonvolatile memory. Further, it outputs a write end signal when writing is completed, and outputs a read end signal when reading is completed. Reference numeral 23 denotes a nonvolatile memory, which stores counter information of the second hand position counter 10 and the chronograph position counter 14 under the control of the counter control circuit 22.

Reference numeral 24 denotes input means, which is constituted by an external operation switch. Reference numeral 25 denotes a hand setting warning signal output means which outputs a hand setting warning signal immediately after a reset signal of a microcomputer reset means to be described later is released, and stops the output of the hand setting warning signal by an operation signal from the switch means 24. I do. Reference numeral 26 denotes an electric power generation unit which is constituted by, for example, a solar cell and a power storage unit. Reference numeral 27 denotes a voltage detection means, which outputs a signal S1 when the voltage of the power generation means 26 is 1.27 V or less, a signal S2 when the voltage is 1.20 V or less, and a signal S3 when the voltage of the power generation means 26 is 1.15 V or less. Reference numeral 28 denotes a charge warning signal output unit, which outputs a charge warning signal JS when receiving the signal S1 of the voltage detection unit 27, and stops outputting the charge warning signal JS when 30 minutes elapse after the signal S1 is released. A stop warning signal output unit 29 outputs a stop warning signal TS when receiving the signal S3 from the voltage detection unit 27, and stops outputting the stop warning signal TS when the signal S2 is released. Needle alignment warning signal output means 25, charge warning signal output means 28, and stop warning signal output means 2
9 is configured to output each signal immediately after starting the operation. Reference numeral 30 denotes a mode control unit which receives a signal from the input unit 24 and controls mode switching of the electronic timepiece. Reference numeral 31 denotes an OR circuit which controls the mode control means 30 not to operate when any one of the hand adjustment warning signal, the charge warning signal, and the stop warning signal is output. The above selector means 20 and counter control means 2
2. The microcomputer 100 is constituted by the mode control means 30 and the like.

An oscillation detection circuit 32 outputs an oscillation detection signal when the oscillation circuit 1 oscillates. Reference numeral 33 denotes a microcomputer reset unit which outputs a microcomputer reset signal when an oscillation detection signal output from the oscillation detection circuit 32 or a write end signal from the counter control unit 22 is received while a stop warning signal is being output. Among the above components, the clock circuit 2 is constituted by the oscillation circuit 1, the microcomputer 100, and the like.
00 is configured.

Next, the operation of one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is an external view of a multifunction electronic timepiece with a power generation mechanism according to the present invention.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 150 denotes a state indicating unit indicating the state of the electronic timepiece, which is a "warning" for displaying a charging warning state.
150a, a "stop" 150b for displaying the stopped state, and a "hand setting" 150c for displaying the hand adjustment state. Reference numeral 151 denotes a mode instructing unit, and the mode indicated by the mode hand 151a is currently selected. In FIG. 2, “TIME” is indicated, which is the normal time mode.

First, it is assumed that the voltage of the power generation means 26 is 0V. At this time, all the components shown in FIG. 1 are stopped. When the voltage of the power generating means exceeds 0.75 V due to light or the like, the oscillation circuit 1 starts oscillating. Then, the oscillation detection circuit 32 outputs an oscillation detection signal. The microcomputer reset circuit 33 receives this signal and outputs a microcomputer reset signal. Therefore, the microcomputer 100 is in a reset state. Elements other than the microcomputer 100,
For example, the stop warning signal output means 29 and the like are also reset by a power-on reset circuit (not shown) to be in an initial state.

Further, when the voltage of the power generation means 26 rises and exceeds 1.15 V, the voltage detection circuit 27 releases the signal S3 output to the stop warning signal output means 29. 29 continues to output the stop warning signal. When the voltage of the power generation means 26 further rises and exceeds 1.20 V, the voltage detection circuit 27 outputs the signal S
Release 2. Therefore, the stop warning signal output means 29 cancels the stop warning signal.

When the stop warning signal is released, the microcomputer reset means 33 is controlled, and as a result, the reset of the microcomputer 100 is released. Therefore, the microcomputer 100 starts operating. The hour / minute hand 9 also starts operating because the hour / minute hand control means 16 also passes the step pulse from the waveform shaping circuit 3. Next, the counter control means 22 starts operation,
The counter contents of the second hand position counter 10 and the chronograph hand position counter 14 are read from the non-volatile memory 23 and are transferred to the respective counters. However, since it is in the initial state, the contents to be read are not stored, and as a result, the two position counters have undefined values. However, the counter control means 22 outputs a read end signal to the coincidence detection circuit 21 to end the read control. Since the microcomputer 100 has just been reset, the hand setting warning signal output means 25 and the charging warning signal output means 28 are outputting respective signals. Therefore, in the selector means 20, the stop warning signal is given priority and the contents of the 24 counter 18 are output. The coincidence detection circuit controls the waveform shaping circuit 3 until the contents of the 24 counter 18 and the second hand position counter 10 match, but as described above, since the contents of the second hand position counter 10 are indeterminate, the second hand 6 can be set at any point. It stops. Therefore, at this point, 0
It is necessary to perform a positioning operation. This is an operation in which the second hand 6 is stepped and adjusted to the position of 0 second while the second hand position counter 10 is electrically set to 0. This operation is shown in FIG.
Can be set to the position of "(0)". However, since it is a known technique and is not directly related to the present invention, a detailed description is omitted.

When the zero position of the second hand 6 is adjusted, the second hand position counter 10 is made to coincide with the 24 counter 18 by the coincidence detecting circuit 21. Therefore, the second hand 6 stops at the 24-second position, that is, at the "hand setting" 150c shown in FIG. That is, a hand alignment warning state is set. In this mode, the electronic timepiece is temporarily stopped, and the user is warned that the time indicated by the hour and minute hands 9 is different from the correct time. Here, when the user operates the switch means 24 to set the hour and minute hands 9 to the correct time, the hand setting warning signal creating means 25 receives the operation signal from the switch means 24 and cancels the output of the hand setting warning signal. I do. Therefore, the selector 20 outputs the contents of the 18 counter 19, and as a result, the second hand 6 stops at the position of 18 seconds, that is, at the position of the "warning" 150a shown in FIG. This is a display for urging the user to further charge the battery because the power of the power generator 26 is insufficient. Here, while the needle adjustment warning signal or the charging warning signal is being output by the OR 31, the mode control means 30
Does not work. Therefore, even if the switch means 24 is operated, the mode is not shifted, and in the charging warning state, only the time function can be operated.

Further, the voltage of the power generation means rises and
When the voltage exceeds 27 V, the voltage detection means 27 outputs the second signal S2
Is output to the charge warning signal output means 28. When the charge warning signal output means 28 detects the second signal S2 for 30 minutes continuously, it cancels the charge warning signal output from the initial state. Then, the selector means 20 outputs the second counter 16, and as a result, the second position counter 10 matches the second counter.
Therefore, the second hand 6 displays the current time second and starts a one-second step. Since the mode control means 30 is also in the operating state, the electronic timepiece can be shifted to the chronograph mode by operating the switch means 24. A specific mode transition is performed by matching the second hand position counter 10 with a chrono second counter (not shown).
Detailed description is omitted because it is not directly related to the present invention.

Further, when the voltage of the power generating means 26 rises to 2.6 V, a limiter circuit (not shown) operates so that the voltage does not exceed 2.6 V. Therefore, when the power generation means 26 is between 1.27 V and 2.6 V, it can be used as a normal multifunctional timepiece.

Next, the case where the voltage decreases will be described. The power generation means 26 functions as a normal multifunction clock up to 1.27V. Here, the voltage of the power generation means 26 is 1.
When the voltage becomes 27 V, the voltage detection means 27 outputs the signal S1. Therefore, the charging warning signal output means 28 outputs a charging warning signal. As a result, the selector means 20 switches the output from the second counter 16 to the contents of the 18 counter 19. Therefore, the second hand 6 stops at the position of 18, and the watch enters a charge warning state. Further, since the charge warning signal is output to the mode control circuit 30 via the OR 31, the mode control circuit 30 becomes inoperable and the mode cannot be switched.

Further, the voltage of the power generation means 26 decreases,
When the voltage becomes 1.20 V, the voltage detection means 27 outputs the second signal S
2 is output. However, the stop warning signal output means 29 does not perform any operation even when receiving the second signal. When the voltage of the power supply unit further decreases to 1.15 V, the stop warning signal output unit 29 outputs a stop warning signal. As a result, the selector means 20 switches the output from the 18 counter 19 to the 21 counter 17. Therefore, the second hand 6 stops at the position of 21 seconds, that is, "stop" 150b shown in FIG.
The clock enters the stop warning state. Further, since the hour / minute hand control means 16 becomes inoperable, the hour / minute hand 9 stops. Next, when the stop warning signal TS is received and the counter value of the second hand position counter 10 becomes 21, the counter control circuit 22 writes the counter contents of the second hand position counter 10 and the chronograph hand position counter 14 into the nonvolatile memory 23. When the writing is completed, the write end signal is sent to the microcomputer reset means 33.
Output to The microcomputer reset means 33 outputs a reset signal in response to the write end signal. Therefore, the microcomputer 100 is reset.

Next, a specific configuration of the power generating means 26 will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 51 denotes a solar cell, which generates a voltage when irradiated with light. Reference numeral 52 denotes a small-capacity capacitor, which is charging means for quickly operating the clock circuit 200 shown in FIG. Reference numeral 53 denotes a secondary battery, which is a charging unit for storing electric power generated by the solar battery 51. 55 and 56 are a small capacity capacitor 52 and a secondary battery 53
Is a backflow prevention diode for preventing the electric charge accumulated in the battery from leaking through the solar cell 51. Reference numeral 54 denotes a time-division switch, which is constituted by an NPN-type MOS transistor. The time-division switch 54 is a switch for receiving a predetermined clock from the frequency dividing circuit 2 and charging the small-capacity capacitor 52 and the secondary battery 53 alternately. 55
Is a capacitor connection switch, which is composed of an NPN type MOS transistor. Capacitor connection switch 5
Numeral 5 is controlled by the above-mentioned stop warning signal, and is turned on when the stop warning signal is released.

Next, the operation of the power generation means 26 will be described. First, it is assumed that the amount of charge stored in the small-capacity capacitor 52 and the secondary battery 53 is 0 and there is no light irradiation. Here the solar cell 51
Is irradiated with light, a voltage is generated. Since the time-division switch 54 is off at this point, the generated voltage is stored in the small-capacity capacitor 52. Since the small-capacity capacitor has a small capacity, it is charged immediately, and the clock circuit starts operating using this as power. First, the oscillating circuit 1 starts oscillating, and the time-division switch 54 is controlled by a predetermined clock frequency-divided, thereby charging the small-capacity capacitor 52 and the secondary battery 53 alternately. However, since the voltage of the secondary battery 53 does not rise immediately, the clock circuit is operated by the small-capacity capacitor 52 for a while. Thereafter, when the voltage of the secondary battery 53 exceeds 1.15 V, the voltage detecting means 27 outputs the first signal S1 as described above,
When 1 is output continuously for 30 minutes, the stop warning signal is released. When the stop warning signal is released, the capacitor connection switch 58 is turned on, and as a result, the power of the secondary battery 53 is supplied to the clock circuit.

When the voltage of the rechargeable battery 53 decreases, a stop warning signal is output when the voltage of the rechargeable battery 53 becomes 1.15 V. Is also switched from the secondary battery 53 to the small-capacity capacitor 52.

Next, the characteristics of the secondary battery in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows the discharge characteristics of the titanium-lithium-ion secondary battery used in this embodiment. This secondary battery is small in size and has a much larger storage capacity than a conventional large-capacity capacitor, and is suitable for use as a power source for an electronic timepiece with a power generation mechanism. However, in this titanium-lithium-ion secondary battery, as shown in FIG. 4, when the charged amount decreases, the voltage sharply drops around 1.2V. However, in order to use the charged secondary battery as long as possible, it is better to stop the microcomputer at around 1.15 V as in this embodiment. However, in this case, as described at the beginning of this specification, the needle position storage operation must be performed every time the voltage of the secondary battery crosses 1.15V. Therefore, as in this embodiment, when the voltage for stopping the operation of the microcomputer is 1.15 V and the voltage for starting it is 1.2 V, the voltage of the secondary battery is stable when the operation is restarted even after the microcomputer is stopped. Therefore, the above-described problem can be prevented. As described above, the present invention relates to titanium lithium ion 2
A particularly great effect is exhibited in a power supply having characteristics such as a secondary battery.

In the above embodiment, the time hysteresis is provided at the switching point between the normal state and the charging warning state, and the voltage hysteresis is provided at the switching point between the charging warning state and the stop state. However, the present invention is not limited to this. However, the object of the present invention can be achieved regardless of which type of hysteresis is provided.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, the electronic circuit of the electronic timepiece is reset based on the control from the power detection circuit for detecting the power state of the power supply means or the oscillation detection circuit for detecting the oscillation state of the oscillation circuit. So that
A stable system can be provided even when the power supply voltage fluctuates greatly, such as a power supply having a power generation mechanism.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing a multifunction electronic timepiece with a power generating mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a multifunction electronic timepiece with a power generation mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram of power generation means of the multifunction electronic timepiece with a power generation mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a discharge characteristic diagram of the secondary battery according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Oscillation circuit 25 Needle adjustment signal output means 27 Voltage detection means 28 Charge warning signal output means 29 Stop warning signal output means 51 Solar cell 53 Secondary battery 100 Microcomputer

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Isamu Kobayashi F-term (reference) in CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD. GG04 HH15 HH16 HH22 HH23 JJ01 JJ07 KK02 KK03 LL01 LL03

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A power generation mechanism comprising: a power generation unit including a power generation unit; a power detection unit configured to detect a power state of the power generation unit and output a detection signal; and an electronic circuit performing a process such as a clock operation. An electronic timepiece with a power generating mechanism, wherein the electronic circuit is reset based on a detection signal output from the power detection means. 2. An electronic timepiece with a power generation mechanism, comprising: a power generation means including a power generation means; an oscillation circuit; and an electronic circuit for performing a process such as a timekeeping operation based on a reference signal of the oscillation circuit. An electronic timepiece with a power generating mechanism, comprising: an oscillation detection circuit for detecting a state, wherein the electronic circuit is reset based on an output signal of the oscillation detection circuit. 3. The electronic circuit according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of said electronic circuit comprises a microcomputer.
An electronic timepiece with a power generation mechanism as described in the above.