JP2006029905A - Timer unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem wherein a means for confirming a timer time after setting the timer time is not provided in a conventional timer unit to bring inconvenience in use, because the propriety of an operation according to the set timer time is not able to be confirmed. <P>SOLUTION: This unit is provided with an analogue time setting means 1 for setting the timer time, a controller 4 for receiving an output from the analogue time setting means 1, and for outputting a prescribed frequency of flashing signals from a light emitting element corresponding to the timer time, and time exhibiting means 2, 3 for receiving an output signal from the controller 4 and for exhibiting the timer time with the prescribed frequency of flashing signals of the light emitting element. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a timer device that presents a timer time and a remaining timer time during operation.

  In the conventional timer device, the light emitting diode blinks a predetermined number of times while the timer time setting switch is operated, and the operation of the timer time setting switch is stopped when the light emitting diode blinks a certain number of times. In some cases, a timer time corresponding to the number of times is set (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In addition, there is one that displays the remaining timer time by changing the blinking interval of the light source according to the remaining timer time (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP-A-2-259488 (pages 3 to 4, FIG. 1) Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-68586 (pages 2 to 7, FIGS. 1 and 2)

  As shown in Patent Document 1, the conventional timer device has no means for confirming the timer time after setting the timer time, and it is not known whether the timer operates according to the set timer time.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a timer device that can confirm the set timer time after setting the timer time.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a timer device that presents the remaining timer time by changing the ratio of the remaining timer time to the set timer time or the maximum set timer time by operating the timer device after setting the timer time.

  To achieve the above object, the timer device of the present invention receives an analog time setting means for setting a timer time and an output signal from the analog time setting means, and a light emitting element corresponding to the timer time blinks a predetermined number of times. A control device that outputs a signal, and a time presentation unit that receives the output signal of the control device and presents the timer time by blinking the light emitting element a predetermined number of times.

In the timer device of the present invention, the time presentation means presents the timer time by blinking the light emitting element a predetermined number of times, so that after setting the timer time, the user can check and set the set timer time. There is no inconvenience in use due to the fact that it does not know whether the timer operates according to the timer time.
Further, fine setting and setting time confirmation, which has been difficult only by displaying the scale of the analog time setting means, can be clearly and easily performed only by checking the number of blinks of the light emitting element of the time presentation means. Further, it is possible to prevent erroneous setting due to deviation or variation in the printed scale of the analog time setting means.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram showing the timer device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a time setting volume of the timer device of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a timer of FIG. FIG. 4 is a control flowchart diagram of the control device of the device, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display of a set timer time by LEDs that are light emitting elements of the time presentation unit of the timer device of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the timer device includes a time setting volume 1 that is an analog time setting means for setting a timer time, a time presentation unit 2 that displays the set timer time, and a driver unit that drives the time setting unit. 3 (the time presentation unit 2 and the driver unit 3 form a time presentation unit) and a control device 4 which is a timer device body.
As shown in FIG. 2, the time setting volume 1 for setting the timer time is configured to set the timer time by rotating the central adjustment unit 11 and adjusting it to a predetermined setting scale 12 on the outside. (In FIG. 2, the timer time is set to 1 hour). The time setting volume 1 shown in FIG. 2 is an example in which the set timer time is four types of 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, and 3 hours, but it may be possible to set a finer timer time. .

The time presentation unit 2 of the time presentation means uses an LED as a light emitting element, and displays a set timer time by blinking (number of blinks) of the LED. Further, the driver unit 3 (LED driver 3) blinks the LED.
The number of LED blinks is determined in correspondence with the set timer time. For example, in the case of four types of timer setting time of 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, and 3 hours in FIG. 2, when the timer setting time is 30 minutes, the LED blinks once, and when the timer setting time is 1 hour LED blinks twice, LED blinks 3 times when timer set time is 2 hours, and LED blinks 4 times when timer set time is 3 hours.

The control device 4 includes an interface (I / F) 5 connected to each other by a bus line, a central processing unit (CPU) 6, and a memory 7 for storing a timer setting time and the number of LED blinks. A time setting volume 1 is connected to the I / F 5 and an LED driver 3 is connected to the CPU 6.
Further, a device 8 for timer operation can be connected to the control device 4, and by connecting, the CPU 6 calculates the remaining timer time, and when the remaining timer time becomes 0 or less, the CPU 6 transfers to the device 8. An “ON” or “OFF” signal is output. Alternatively, the timer setting time may be output from the CPU 6 to the device 8 and the timer 8 may be calculated by the device 8. Furthermore, when the timer device operates the dedicated device 8 as a timer, the device 8 may be connected to the timer device. Alternatively, the control device 4 may be taken into the device 8 and the timer device may be controlled by the device 8.

Next, the operation of the timer device will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, the setting value of the time setting volume 1 (for example, the timer time is set to 2 hours) is read into the setting value reading unit of the CPU 6 via the I / F 5 (step S1 in the flowchart of FIG. 3).
Next, the timer time is calculated by the timer setting time calculation unit of the CPU 6 from the read setting value of the time setting volume 1. That is, it is calculated that the time is set to 2 hours (step S2).
Next, the LED blink frequency setting unit of the CPU 6 sets the LED blink frequency corresponding to the timer time. That is, the number of LED blinks 3 times is set from the memory 7 corresponding to the timer time of 2 hours (step S3).
Finally, the LED driver output unit of the CPU 6 outputs a set blink frequency, that is, a signal for causing the LED to blink three times, to the LED driver 3, and the set blink frequency by the LED which is the light emitting element of the time presentation unit 2, that is, Flashing is performed three times (step S4).
The state of the LED at this time is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the LED blinks for a predetermined number of cycles T, that is, blinks three times. After the timer time is set, this LED blinks repeatedly every period until the remaining timer time becomes zero.
Thereafter, when the timer time is changed, the setting value reading unit reads the setting value of the time setting volume 1 again. The timer time thus changed is read, and the LED blinks with the number of blinks corresponding to the changed timer time by the above-described processing.

As described above, since the timer device of the present embodiment displays the set timer time in the time presentation unit 2 after setting the timer time, the user can check the timer time, and the set timer time There is no inconvenience in use due to the fact that it does not know whether to operate.
Further, the LED of the time presentation unit 2 blinks in accordance with the set timer time, so that detailed setting and setting timer time which are difficult only by displaying the scale of an analog adjusting device such as the time setting volume 1 are displayed. The confirmation can be performed clearly and easily only by confirming the number of blinks of the LED. Further, it is possible to prevent erroneous setting due to deviation of printed scales or variations in the time setting volume 1.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
The timer device according to the second embodiment displays the remaining timer time by the LED that is the light emitting element of the time presentation unit 2 that forms time presentation means during operation of the timer device. The configuration of this timer device is the same as that of the timer device shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 of the first embodiment, and the control device 4 displays the remaining time of the timer with the LED of the time presentation unit 2. And controls the driver unit 3a.
Hereinafter, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the control of the control device 4 of the timer device according to the second embodiment. With reference to this flowchart, the control operation of the control device 4 will be described.
First, it is first determined whether or not the timer device is in operation (step S11).
If the timer is not operating, the timer remaining time display is unnecessary and the process is terminated. If the timer device is in operation, the remaining timer time is updated at a predetermined interval, for example, every one minute. That is, it is determined whether one minute has passed (step S12).
If 1 minute has elapsed, the timer remaining time is subtracted by 1 minute (step S13),
It is determined whether the remaining time of the timer has become 0 or less (step S14).
When the remaining timer time becomes 0 or less, the timer operation is set to end (step S15), and the process is ended by the timer operation determination (step S11).
If the remaining timer time is greater than 0, the lighting time T _ON and the extinguishing time T _OFF of the LED 2 are calculated from the ratio between the set timer time and the remaining timer time (step S16).
Then, a cycle time of turning on and off is set to a predetermined time T, and a signal is output to the LED driver 3 so as to blink the LED 2 based on T _ON and T _OFF , and the LED repeats blinking every cycle (step S17).

Here, an example of the LED lighting time T _ON and extinguishing time T _OFF in step S16 is shown. For example, the timer time is set to 2 hours, the remaining time of the timer is 30 minutes, and the lighting and extinguishing cycle T is 3 seconds.
Since the timer is operating at this time, the lighting time and the extinguishing time of the LED are calculated as follows in step S16.
LED lighting time T _ON = 3 seconds × 30 minutes / 2 hours = 0.75 seconds LED lighting time T _OFF = 3 seconds−0.75 seconds = 2.25 seconds A signal is output to the LED driver 3 so as to blink for 75 seconds and turn off 2.25 seconds. The state of the LED 2 at this time is shown in FIG.
As described above, the lighting time and turning-off time of the LED 2 are set according to the ratio between the set timer time and the remaining timer time, and the lighting time of the LED 2 determined by the ratio between the timer time and the remaining timer time is periodically reduced. By doing so, the remaining timer time can be confirmed clearly and easily.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
The timer device of the present embodiment is a modification of the timer remaining time calculation process of the timer device of the second embodiment.
In the calculation process of the remaining timer time described in the second embodiment, the formula for calculating T _ON is:
By setting T _ON = T × timer remaining time / maximum timer time, the blinking interval can be set regardless of the timer setting time.
For example, assume that the timer time is 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, and 3 hours, and the remaining timer time is 30 minutes. In the same manner as described above, the cycle T of lighting and extinguishing is 3 seconds. At this time, the maximum timer time that can be set is 3 hours. Therefore, in step S16, the LED turn-on time and turn-off time LED turn-on time T _ON = 3 seconds × 30 minutes / 3 hours = 0.5 seconds LED turn-off time T _OFF = 3 seconds−0.5 seconds = 2.5 seconds is calculated. Thus, in step S17, a signal is output to the LED driver 3 so that the LED blinks for 0.5 seconds to turn on and 2.5 seconds to turn off.

  As described above, the LED blinking interval is set regardless of the set timer time by setting the LED lighting time and the light-off time of the time presentation unit 2 according to the ratio of the timer time that can be set to the maximum and the remaining timer time. By making the remaining timer time into an image, it becomes possible to confirm more clearly and easily.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
The timer device according to the present embodiment can perform both the display of the timer time of the timer device of the first embodiment and the display of the remaining timer time of the second or third embodiment.
The configuration of the timer device of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first and second embodiments. That is, under the control of the control device 4, the driver unit 3 (LED driver 3) blinks the LED that is the light emitting element of the time presentation unit 2 and displays the timer time and the remaining timer time.
For example, the timer set time is displayed when the timer is not operated, and the remaining timer time is displayed during the timer operation. Alternatively, by providing display switching means such as a display switching switch, the display of the timer time and the remaining timer time is switched and displayed by the light emitting elements of the common time presentation unit 2.
This makes it possible to display both the timer time and the remaining timer time easily and inexpensively, and is more convenient for the user.

Embodiment 5. FIG.
The timer device according to the first to fourth embodiments is a method of displaying the timer time and the remaining timer time by blinking the LED which is the light emitting element of the time presentation unit 2, but the timer device according to the present embodiment is By replacing the LED with a sounding element such as a buzzer, sounding and muting of the sounding element is performed instead of blinking the LED so that a visually impaired person can easily check the timer setting time and timer remaining time. It is a thing. Other configurations are the same as those of the timer device according to the first to fourth embodiments.

  In addition, the method of presenting the timer time and the remaining timer time by the light emitting element or the sounding element has been described. However, the time presentation unit 2 has a combination of the light emitting element and the sounding element so that a person with visual impairment or hearing impairment can be provided. Alternatively, the timer time and the remaining timer time may be confirmed.

It is a block block diagram which shows the timer apparatus of Embodiment 1 concerning this invention. It is a figure which shows the time setting volume of the timer apparatus of FIG. It is a control flowchart figure of the control apparatus of the timer apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the display of the timer setting time by LED which is a light emitting element of the timer apparatus of FIG. It is a control flowchart figure of the control apparatus of the timer apparatus of Embodiment 2 which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the display of the timer remaining time by LED which is a light emitting element of the timer apparatus of Embodiment 2 which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 hour setting means, 2 and 3 hours presentation means, 4 control device.

Claims (6)

  An analog time setting means for setting a timer time, a control device for receiving an output signal from the analog time setting means, and outputting a flashing signal of a predetermined number of times corresponding to the timer time, and the control device And a time presentation means for presenting the timer time by flashing the light emitting element a predetermined number of times. During the timer operation, the control device calculates the ratio of the timer remaining time and the timer remaining time to the set timer time, and the light emitting element lighting time corresponding to the ratio of the predetermined one period and the remaining extinguishing time of the one period Output a signal consisting of
2. The timer device according to claim 1, further comprising time presentation means for receiving an output signal of the control device, periodically flashing a light emitting element based on the output signal, and presenting a remaining timer time. . During the timer operation, the control device calculates the ratio of the remaining timer time and the remaining timer time to the maximum set timer time, and the light emitting element lighting time corresponding to the ratio of the predetermined one period of time and the remaining extinction of the one period Outputs a signal consisting of time,
2. The timer device according to claim 1, further comprising time presentation means for receiving an output signal of the control device, periodically flashing a light emitting element based on the output signal, and presenting a remaining timer time. .   The timer device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the timer time and the remaining timer time are switched and presented by a common time presentation unit.   The sound generation element is used in place of the light emitting element of the time presentation means, and the timer time or the remaining timer time is presented by the sound generation and mute of the sound generation element. The timer device according to claim 1. The said time presentation means has both a light emitting element and a sound generation element, and presents the said timer time or the said timer remaining time by both a light emitting element and a sound generation element. The timer device according to claim 1.

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