JP2005091102A - Timepiece - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a timepiece capable of discriminating easily whether an alarm is set or not, confirming easily a liquid crystal display by utilizing light from a light source for illuminating a dial, reducing the number of components, and reducing cost. <P>SOLUTION: This timepiece is equipped with an analog time display part equipped with a movement having a pointer shaft for supporting a pointer displaying a time and the approximately disc-shaped dial through which the pointer shaft is arranged penetratingly at the center from the movement arranged on the back side, a liquid crystal display part for displaying digitally at least an alarm time, an alarm set switch capable of selecting setting or non-setting of the alarm, and a snooze switch for stopping vocalization of the alarm sound. The plurality of light sources are arranged close to the side of the dial, and a display frame part recessed inward is provided on the position corresponding to the liquid crystal display part on the dial surface. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a timepiece having a light emitting function, and more particularly to a timepiece capable of determining whether or not an alarm is set.

Some conventional watches having an alarm function light one of two LEDs having different emission colors by pressing a snooze switch. In this timepiece, the LED to be lit is switched depending on whether an alarm is set or not, and the state of the alarm set switch is determined based on the color of light emitted.
JP 2001-033570 A

  However, although the state of the alarm set switch can be confirmed by the emission color, it is not easy to confirm the current time and the alarm set time because the illumination light becomes dark due to being colored. This is remarkable in a type of timepiece in which the alarm setting time is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit, and it is difficult to visually recognize the liquid crystal display with illumination light from the colored LED.

  In order to solve the above problems, in the timepiece of the present invention, a movement having a pointer shaft for supporting a pointer for displaying time, and a pointer shaft penetrating from a movement disposed on the back side at the center of the movement. Analog time display unit with disk-shaped dial, liquid crystal display unit that digitally displays at least the alarm time, alarm set switch that enables selection of alarm setting and non-setting, and snooze that stops alarm sound generation A plurality of light sources are arranged close to each other on the side surface of the dial, and a display frame portion recessed inward is provided on the surface of the dial plate at a position corresponding to the liquid crystal display portion. Yes.

  A timepiece according to the present invention includes a movement having a pointer shaft, a dial having a pointer shaft penetrating from a movement disposed on the back side at a center thereof, a plurality of light sources disposed in proximity to a side surface of the dial, and a character. And a liquid crystal display portion disposed on the back side of the plate, and a display frame portion recessed inwardly at a position corresponding to the liquid crystal display portion is provided on the surface of the dial.

  The display frame portion may have a substantially rectangular shape, and preferably has a curved shape such that the bottom surface of the display frame portion approaches the center of the dial as it goes from the surface of the dial to the back.

  The display frame portion preferably includes an inclined surface whose bottom surface approaches the center of the dial as it goes from the surface of the dial toward the back.

  The light source is preferably arranged so as to enter the display frame portion from the bottom surface side.

  The light source preferably includes a first light source disposed so as to be incident on the display frame portion from the bottom surface side and a second light source disposed so as to be incident on a portion of the dial not including the bottom surface.

  The light source is disposed at a position where the light enters the display frame from the bottom surface side, a first light source disposed at a position symmetrical to the position and the center of the dial, and a portion of the dial that does not include the bottom surface. It can also comprise from the 2nd light source arrange | positioned so that it may inject.

  The first light source is turned on when the alarm set switch is in the alarm setting state and the snooze switch is turned on, and is not turned on when the alarm set switch is in the alarm non-setting state and the snooze switch is turned on. It is preferable.

  It is preferable that the display frame is disposed between the center of the dial and the 6 o'clock position, and the first light source includes a light source disposed close to the side surface of the dial from 4 o'clock to 8 o'clock.

  The display frame portion is disposed between the center of the dial and the 6 o'clock position, the first light source includes a light source disposed close to the side surface of the dial from 4 o'clock to 8 o'clock, and the second light source is the character It is preferable that the second light source is disposed close to the side surface of the plate from 12:00 to 4 o'clock, and lights when the alarm set switch is in the alarm non-set state and the snooze switch is in the on state.

  According to the present invention, when the snooze switch is turned on when the alarm set switch is on, the lower part of the liquid crystal display unit emits light using the light from the light source for illuminating the dial, and the display unit is Since it is illuminated, it can be easily confirmed that an alarm has been set, and the alarm set time can be easily read. Furthermore, since a light source dedicated for liquid crystal display is not necessary, the number of parts can be reduced and the cost can be reduced. Furthermore, since the liquid crystal display unit can be illuminated and illuminated with the snooze switch turned on, the display on the liquid crystal display unit can be easily confirmed even during the daytime.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a table clock will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The table clock 10 shown in FIG. 1 has a front case 11 arranged on the left side (front side or front side) and a rear case 12 arranged on the right side (rear side or back side) in FIG. A casing 13 is provided. A synthetic resin cover 16 is fitted on the front surface of the front case 11.

  Inside the front case 11, a movement plate 20 and a liquid crystal display unit 23 are screwed and fixed to the back surface, and a disk-shaped fixing plate 14 for attaching a substantially disk-shaped dial plate 30 to the front surface is engaged. The fixing plate 14 is attached to the front case 11 so as to be concentric with the dial plate 30 via the reflection plate 15 in a state where the dial plate 30 is pressed against the front end portion 11a of the front case 11 bent toward the rear side. . A through hole 14a and a through hole 30a are provided at the centers of the fixed plate 14 and the dial plate 30, respectively. When the fixed plate 14 and the dial plate 30 are mounted in the front case 11, the through hole 14a and the through plate 14 are formed. A through hole is formed by the hole 30a.

  The movement 20 includes a pointer shaft 21 that extends forward through the through hole 14a and the through hole 30a when attached to the fixed plate 14, and a pointer 22 including an hour hand, a minute hand, and a second hand at the front end portion of the pointer shaft 21. Is rotatably supported.

  A snooze switch 24 that is sandwiched between the front case 11 and the rear case 12 and is movable in the vertical direction is provided on the top of the table clock 10. The snooze switch 24 is turned on when the user depresses it downward (in the direction toward the inside of the table clock 10), and when the user releases the hand, the snooze switch 24 is located between the spring 24 a disposed inside and the contact surface 26 inside the table clock 10. It returns to the initial position by the elastic force acting on the, and is turned off.

  On the back of the table clock 10, an alarm set switch 25 is disposed so as to protrude from the inside of the table clock 10 through the rear case 12 to the outside, and be movable up and down. The alarm set switch 25 can be positioned at two positions, up and down, by being operated by the user. When the alarm set switch 25 is in the upper position, the alarm set switch 25 is in the on state (alarm setting state) and is in the lower position. Sometimes it is off (alarm is not set).

  The dial 30 is a plate-shaped transparent synthetic resin formed by molding, and as shown in FIGS. Two light incident portions 42 and 43 are provided at 12 o'clock (top) and 6 o'clock (bottom), and a light incident portion 44 is provided at 2 o'clock. The light incident portions 42, 43, 44 are respectively provided with light source accommodating portions 42 b, 43 b, 44 b that are recessed in a hemispherical shape on the center O side at the center of the convex portions 42 a, 43 a, 44 a raised outward from the outer periphery 31 a It is a thing. In the light source accommodating portions 42b, 43b, and 44b, tips of LED (light emitting diode) 52 (first light source), LED 53 (first light source), and LED 54 (second light source) as light sources are arranged close to each other. The dial plate 30 is disposed in the front case 11 in a state where the front end portion 11a of the front case 11 is pressed at a position a predetermined distance away from the outer periphery 31a toward the center O side. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the light incident portions 42, 43, 44 are disposed outside the front end portion 11 a of the front case 11, and the light incident portions 42, 43, 44 and the LEDs 52, 53 disposed therein. , 54 are not visible from the front side of the table clock 10. For this reason, strong emitted light near the LEDs 52, 53, and 54 can be hidden. The LEDs 52, 53, and 54 have the same shape and the same performance, but those having different shapes and different performances can also be used.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a substantially rectangular display frame portion 37 recessed inward is formed on the front surface (front surface) 34 of the dial 30 at the same time as the dial 30 is molded. When the dial 30 is disposed in the front case 11, the display frame portion 37 is located at a position corresponding to the liquid crystal display 23 (a position between the center O of the dial 30 and the lowest part (6 o'clock position)). ) (See FIG. 2). Here, the shape of the display frame portion 37 can be freely changed in accordance with the shape of the liquid crystal display portion 23, and may be a shape that does not correspond to the liquid crystal display portion 23 for design and design reasons. it can.

  The LEDs 52, 53, and 54 are disposed in the light source accommodation portion 42 b, the light source accommodation portion 43 b, and the light source accommodation portion 44 b toward the center O of the main body portion 31, respectively. In particular, since the LEDs 52 and 53 are provided at symmetrical positions with respect to the pointer shaft 21, shadows appearing around the pointer shaft 21 can be reduced when illumination light is emitted simultaneously.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the display frame portion 37 has a curved shape having a predetermined radius of curvature R that goes from the front surface 34 toward the back surface 37 b toward the top surface 37 b at the bottom surface 37 a near the LED 53. . When the illumination light is emitted from the LED 53 toward the bottom surface 37a having such a shape, the traveling direction of the reflected light is appropriately dispersed according to the reflection angle corresponding to the radius of curvature R of the bottom surface 37a, and the liquid crystal display unit 23 is irradiated. . For this reason, the visibility of the liquid crystal display unit 23 can be improved without providing a light source for the liquid crystal display unit 23. The bottom surface 37a is caused to emit light strongly by light that is refracted in a curved shape and leaks to the outside. By emitting and illuminating the liquid crystal display unit 23, the display content can be easily confirmed by making the liquid crystal display unit 23 stand out even during the daytime. In addition, if the light-incident part 43 and LED53 are arrange | positioned between 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock, the same effect can be obtained. Furthermore, the same effect can be confirmed by providing an inclined portion instead of the curved shape.

  On the other hand, the light emitted from the LEDs 52 and 54 does not enter the display frame portion 37 from the lower side of the bottom surface 37 a like the light emitted from the LED 53. For this reason, the light reflected by the bottom surface 37 a hardly emits or illuminates the liquid crystal display unit 23. The positions of the light incident portion 42 and the LED 52 are not limited to the above-mentioned position at 12 o'clock, but are symmetrical with respect to the light incident portion 43 and the LED 53 with respect to the center O of the dial 30 from 12 o'clock to 4 o'clock or 8 o'clock. It can be placed between twelve o'clock. The positions of the light incident part 44 and the LED 54 are not limited to the above-mentioned 2 o'clock position, and can be arranged between 12:00 and 4 o'clock or between 8 o'clock and 12 o'clock. However, if the illumination of the dial is intended to confirm the time at night, it is inevitable that the dial is arranged at a position where the night time is illuminated.

  In addition, if the light irradiated from LED53 is irregularly reflected by forming a fine recessed part (or convex part) in the bottom face 37a, the light irradiated to the liquid crystal display part 23 will become more uniform, and it will improve visibility further. Is preferable. The concave portion (convex portion) can be formed on the bottom surface 37a by forming a convex portion (concave portion) on the molding surface of the molding die of the dial 30 and using this to form the dial 30 at the same time.

  Next, the circuit configuration of the table clock 10 will be described with reference to FIG. In this circuit, the control circuit 75 includes a current time clock circuit 61, a mode designation switch 62, an input unit 63, an alarm time storage circuit 64, a coincidence detection circuit 65, an analog time display unit 66, a digital time display unit 67, a report sound. The unit 68, the snooze switch 24, the alarm set switch 25, and the light emitting unit driving circuit 74 are connected. The control circuit 75 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and controls various operations of the table clock 10.

  The current time counting circuit 61 has a crystal oscillator and a frequency divider, and measures the current time and calendar information. The mode designation switch 62 designates a mode (for example, a current time set mode, an alarm time set mode, and a calendar set mode). The input unit 63 includes an up / down switch, and the current time and the alarm time can be set by operating in the mode designated by the mode designation switch 62.

  The set current time and alarm time are sequentially switched and displayed on the digital time display unit 67 having the liquid crystal display unit 23 by pressing the mode specifying switch 62. Here, the digital time display unit 67 can display not only the current time and the alarm time, but also setting information for each mode designated by the mode designation switch 62.

  The time of the analog time display unit 66 is set by an adjustment knob (not shown) provided in the movement 20. Here, the analog time display unit 66 includes the above-described movement 20, pointer shaft 21, and pointer 22. The analog time display unit 66 and the digital time display unit 67 set with the time in this way display the current time measured by the current time counting circuit 61 thereafter.

  The alarm time set by the input unit 63 is stored in an alarm time storage circuit 64 including, for example, a RAM as a storage medium. The stored alarm time information is compared in the coincidence detection circuit 65 with the current time information timed by the current time clock circuit 61. When a coincidence of these pieces of information is detected, the coincidence detection circuit 65 sends a coincidence signal to the control circuit 75. Is output.

  The sound report unit 68 includes a sound generation circuit 69, an amplifier 70, and a speaker 71. When a match signal is output from the match detection circuit 65 when the alarm set switch 25 is in the on state, the sound generation circuit 69 operates and an alarm sound signal is output. This alarm sound signal is amplified by the amplifier 70 and is output from the speaker. From 71, an alarm sound is generated. The alarm sound signal output from the sound generation circuit 69 continues to be output for a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes) until the alarm set switch 25 is turned off or the snooze switch 24 is turned on. . Here, when the snooze switch 24 is turned on while the alarm set switch 25 is in the on state, the output of the alarm sound signal is temporarily stopped, but is output again after a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes) has passed. As long as the set switch 25 is in the ON state, this operation is repeated a predetermined number of times (for example, three times).

  Further, when the snooze switch 24 is turned on, the control circuit 75 sends a control signal to the light emitting unit driving circuit 74. This control signal is output as a signal corresponding to the state of the alarm set switch 25 by the control circuit 75 that has detected the state of the alarm set switch 25. That is, when the alarm set switch 25 is on, a control signal for causing the LEDs 52 and 53 to emit light is output. When the alarm set switch 25 is off, a control signal for causing the LED 54 to emit light is emitted. To the unit drive circuit 74. The light emitting unit drive circuit 74 receives these signals and outputs a drive signal to the LEDs 52, 53 or LED 54. The LEDs 52, 53, and 54 that have received the drive signal each emit illumination light toward the center O of the dial 30.

  Next, the illumination operation of the dial 30 in the table clock 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the snooze switch 24 is pressed by the user to turn on (YES in step S11), the control circuit 75 detects the state of the alarm set switch 25 (step S12). If the alarm set switch 25 is in the ON state (YES in step S12), the control circuit 75 outputs a control signal to light the LEDs 52 and 53 to the light emitting unit driving circuit 74, and the light emitting unit driving circuit 74 In response, a drive signal is output to the LEDs 52 and 53, and the LEDs 52 and 53 are lit (step S14). On the other hand, when the alarm set switch 25 is in the off state (NO in step S12), the control circuit 75 outputs a control signal so that the LED 54 is lit to the light emitting unit driving circuit 74, and the light emitting unit driving circuit 74. In response to this, a drive signal is output to the LED 54, and the LED 54 is turned on (step S13). When the alarm switch 24 is not pressed and is in the off state (NO in step S11), and when the snooze switch 24 is turned off after the LED 52, 53 or LED 54 is lit, the lighting operation is once finished and the initial state (step S10). ) (Step S15).

  As described above, when the snooze switch 24 is turned on when the alarm set switch 25 is turned on, the liquid crystal display unit 23 emits light using the light for illuminating the dial 30, so that the alarm is activated. It can be easily confirmed that the alarm has been set, and the alarm setting time can be easily read. Further, when the snooze switch 24 is turned on when the alarm set switch 25 is on, the two LEDs 52 and 53 are lit. When the alarm set switch 25 is off, only one LED 54 is lit. Since the amount of illumination light varies depending on the state of the alarm set switch 25, it can be easily determined whether or not an alarm has been set. Furthermore, when the alarm set switch 25 is on, the time indicated by the pointer 22 can be easily read. In addition, since a light source dedicated to the liquid crystal display unit is unnecessary, the number of parts can be reduced and the cost can be reduced. Furthermore, since the liquid crystal display unit 23 can be illuminated by turning on the snooze switch 24, the display on the liquid crystal display unit 23 can be easily confirmed even during the daytime.

  Although the present invention has been described with reference to the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be improved or changed within the scope of the purpose of the improvement or the idea of the present invention. In the present invention, the dial has a disk shape, but there are also square and polygonal dial alarm clocks as products. The position of the liquid crystal display unit 23 is also a position vertically descending from the pointer axis, but it can be arranged at any position on the dial by design. Although the bottom surface portion 37a of the display frame portion 37 has an R shape, it may be an inclined surface. The R-shaped or inclined surface can illuminate the liquid crystal display unit with reflected light, and the light transmitted to the outside emits light and collects the line of sight.

It is a partial cross section figure which shows the internal structure of the table clock which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows arrangement | positioning of the dial plate, LED, and liquid crystal display part in the table clock which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the structure of the table clock in the state which has arrange | positioned the dial which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the advancing direction of reflected light when illumination light is irradiated to the bottom face of the display frame part provided in the dial plate which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the connection relation of the circuit of the table clock which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the illumination operation | movement which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 clock 20 movement 21 pointer shaft 22 pointer 23 liquid crystal display 24 snooze switch 25 alarm set switch 30 dial 34 front surface (front surface)
36 Rear surface 37 Display frame portion 37a Bottom surface 42 Light incident portion 43 Light incident portion 44 Light incident portion 52 LED (first light source)
53 LED (first light source)
54 LED (second light source)
66 Analog time display 67 Digital time display

Claims (11)

A movement having a pointer shaft for supporting a pointer for displaying the time, and an analog time display section provided with a dial plate through which the pointer shaft is pierced from the movement disposed on the back side at the center thereof;
A liquid crystal display that digitally displays at least the alarm time;
An alarm set switch that enables selection of alarm setting and non-setting;
A snooze switch that stops the sound of the alarm sound,
A plurality of light sources are arranged close to the side of the dial,
A timepiece having an inwardly recessed display frame portion provided at a position corresponding to the liquid crystal display portion on a surface of the dial. A movement having a pointer shaft;
At its center, a dial plate through which the pointer shaft passes from the movement arranged on the back side;
A plurality of light sources arranged close to the side of the dial,
A liquid crystal display unit disposed on the back side of the dial,
A timepiece having a display frame portion recessed inward at a position corresponding to the liquid crystal display portion on a surface of the dial. The timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the display frame portion has a substantially rectangular shape. 4. The timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the display frame portion has a curved shape such that a bottom surface thereof approaches a center of the dial plate as it goes from a front surface of the dial plate to a back surface. The timepiece according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the display frame portion includes an inclined surface whose bottom surface approaches the center of the dial as it goes from the surface of the dial toward the back. The timepiece according to claim 4, wherein the light source includes a first light source disposed so as to be incident on the display frame portion from the bottom surface side. The light source includes a first light source disposed so as to be incident on the display frame portion from the bottom surface side, and a second light source disposed so as to be incident on a portion of the dial plate not including the bottom surface. The timepiece according to claim 4 or 5. The light source includes a first light source disposed at a position that is incident on the display frame portion from the bottom surface side and a position that is symmetrical with respect to the position and the center of the dial plate, and the dial plate that does not include the bottom surface. The timepiece according to claim 4, further comprising: a second light source disposed so as to be incident on the portion of the timepiece. The first light source is lit when the alarm set switch is in an alarm setting state and the snooze switch is in an on state, and the alarm set switch is in an alarm non-setting state and the snooze switch is in an on state. The timepiece according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the timepiece is not lit when it is turned on. 8. The display frame portion is disposed between a center of the dial and a 6 o'clock position, and the first light source includes a light source disposed in proximity to a side surface of the dial from 4 o'clock to 8 o'clock. The timepiece according to any one of? 9. The display frame portion is disposed between a center of the dial and a 6 o'clock position, and the first light source includes a light source disposed in proximity to a side surface of the dial from 4 o'clock to 8 o'clock, The second light source is disposed close to the side face of the dial at 12 o'clock to 4 o'clock, and the second light source is lit when the alarm set switch is in the alarm non-set state and the snooze switch is in the on state. The timepiece according to claim 7.

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