JP2007225872A - Mobile electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide mobile electronic equipment capable of preventing a defect of a display state from being held until next switching of display contents even if the defect of the display state is caused owing to an external shock, and of maintaining a normal display state even in the case of a defect of a display state due to application of external force as electronic equipment using a display element having memory ability. <P>SOLUTION: The mobile electronic equipment has a shock detecting means 26 of detecting a shock being applied to a display panel 24 and outputting a detection signal, and a display control means 25 makes a display panel 24 update and display display information stored in a display information storage means 22 based upon a timing signal RF and the detection signal SK from the shock detecting means 26. The mobile electronic equipment can put a display picture back in a normal display state right after receiving the shock. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a configuration of a portable electronic device, particularly an electronic device including a display device using a liquid crystal having a memory property.

  Conventionally, few portable electronic devices use display elements having memory properties. However, since a display element having a memory property is not used to drive the display element at all times, it is considered promising as an effective display element for reducing the power consumption of equipment.

  When liquid crystal display elements used in conventional electronic devices are subjected to external forces such as shock and vibration, the gap between the two upper and lower glass substrates constituting the liquid crystal display element becomes narrow, resulting in a display problem. However, since the drive signal is constantly applied to the liquid crystal display element, the external force is lost, and when the normal gap is restored, the drive signal can return to the normal display state.

  Conventionally, as described in Patent Document 1, for example, when the mode switching by the operation unit has not been performed for a predetermined time, the display content is updated based on the information stored in the storage unit.

The display device using the liquid crystal having the memory property is regularly updated, but when the display is disturbed, the updating operation for correcting the display is not performed immediately after the display is disturbed. . That is, in portable electronic devices that are subject to frequent external impacts, when impacts are applied, the display content is not corrected immediately after the impacts, but the display remains distorted until the predetermined display update time is reached. there were.
In addition, assuming that an external impact is applied to the display device, a structure that softens the impact applied to the liquid crystal display element has not been positively adopted.

In addition, in the display device with memory characteristics of the dot matrix pixel screen, even if an external force is applied during the rewriting of the dot matrix pixel screen and a defect such as a black dot occurs in the display, the display screen at that time remains defective. Will be displayed.
JP 2000-278572 A (paragraphs 0006 to 0010 and FIGS. 21 and 31)

  For example, in a portable electronic device that needs to reduce power consumption as much as possible and extend battery life, such as a watch, it is indispensable to reduce power consumed to drive a display device. Especially in the case of a dot matrix display device, the reduction in power consumption becomes even more serious.

Therefore, for example, in an electronic device that displays calendar information for the month, day, and day of the week, the display information may be updated at least once a day. For this purpose, a memory-type display device that can maintain the display information even when no voltage is applied once writing is an effective display means for reducing power consumption.

However, when the electronic device has a defect in the display state due to an external force such as an impact, the defect state of the calendar information for the month, day, and day of the week is maintained throughout the day. In a display device, generally, two glass substrates are bonded together, and a liquid crystal material is injected into a gap which is a gap between the two glass substrates. The liquid crystal substance is in a uniform molecular arrangement between the glass substrates. The liquid crystal molecule arrangement is controlled by an electric signal to display a predetermined black and white color.

When an external force that narrows or widens the gap dimension between the glass substrates is applied, the alignment state of the liquid crystal is disturbed, the white display state becomes the black display state, the black display state becomes the white display state, Or it becomes the intermediate color, and the defect display state is maintained.

In order to eliminate the above-described problems caused by the prior art, even in an electronic device using a memory-type display device, a normal display is provided even if a display state such as an external force is applied. An object is to provide a portable electronic device capable of maintaining a state.

In order to achieve the above object, the portable electronic device of the present invention employs the following configuration.
A portable electronic device according to the present invention includes a display device having a display screen using a display element having a memory property, display information storage means for storing display information updated by a predetermined timing signal, and the display information storage In a portable electronic device having control means for updating and displaying the display information stored in the display means on the display device based on the timing signal, it detects that an impact has been applied to the display device and outputs a detection signal. Shock detection means, and the control means causes the display device to update and display the display information stored in the display information storage means based on the timing signal and the detection signal from the shock detection means. It is characterized by that.
In the portable electronic device of the present invention, the portable electronic device has an alarm notification unit using a piezoelectric element, and the impact detection unit generates a voltage generated from the piezoelectric element by an impact applied to the alarm notification unit. It is a voltage detection means for detecting and outputting the detection signal.
The portable electronic device of the present invention is characterized in that the voltage detection means detects the level of the voltage generated from the piezoelectric element, and outputs the detection signal only when it is above a predetermined level. Furthermore, the portable electronic device according to the present invention may be configured such that when the control means detects the detection signal from the impact detection means during a period in which the display device is updated based on the timing signal, the detection signal The display information is updated again based on the above.
Furthermore, in the portable electronic device of the present invention, when the control unit detects the detection signal, the update operation of the display device is a first update operation for displaying the same color on the entire effective pixel region of the display device. And a second update operation for displaying the display information of the display information storage means.

According to the present invention, in an electronic device that uses a memory-type display device effective for reducing power consumption for display, the display information storage means uses the detection signal from the impact detection means and the timing signal for updating and displaying the display information. The stored display information is updated and displayed on the display device.
For this reason, in the portable electronic device of the present invention, there is no problem in the display state due to the application of an external force such as impact or vibration, and a good display state can always be maintained.

  Exemplary embodiments for implementing a portable electronic device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following embodiments, a digital display timepiece will be described as an example of a portable electronic device.

(Description of electronic device configuration)
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a display state of a digital display timepiece according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 (A) shows a normal display state, and FIG. 1 (B) shows an external force such as strong impact or vibration. A state where a display defect has occurred on the receiving display screen is shown.

As shown in FIG. 1A, a display panel 1 is housed in a watch case 2 as a display device. The display panel 1 includes 33 columns and 33 rows of dot matrix pixels 1a as indicated by thin lines. Using the dot matrix pixel 1a, year, month, day, am afternoon, hour, and minute information “2006, am 10:58, December 30” is displayed on the display panel 1.
When a strong external force such as shock or vibration is applied to the watch case 2, the gap dimension between the two substrates constituting the display panel 1 changes from a predetermined dimension, the liquid crystal alignment state is disturbed, and the display disorder 1b is white. From the display, black display or halftone display, or conversely, black display changes to white display or halftone display. FIG. 1B illustrates a pattern in which the display panel 1 receives a strong impact and the display disturbance 1b generates black display disturbance.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a sectional structure of the digital display timepiece shown in FIG. The structure of the digital display timepiece will be described with reference to FIG.
The digital display timepiece has a windshield 8 that is fixed to the front surface side of the timepiece case 2 and a case back lid 9 that is fixed to the back surface side of the timepiece case 2. The case back cover 9 is fixed to the watch case 2 by forming a female screw on the watch case 2 and forming a male screw on the case back cover 9 and screwing them together.
The display panel 1 is disposed on the windshield 8 side in the watch case 2. The display panel 1 is configured by sequentially arranging a first polarizing plate 1c, a first substrate 1d, a second substrate 1e, and a second polarizing plate 1f from the windshield 8 side.
Further, on the opposite side of the display panel 1 from the windshield 8, a timepiece module 3 in which an electronic circuit for driving and controlling the display panel 1 and the like is built is disposed.

A conductive connecting member 4 made of zebra rubber is disposed between the timepiece module 3 and the display panel 1 to transmit display information processed by the timepiece module 3 to the display panel 1.
Further, an impact absorbing member 7 is provided between the timepiece module 3 and the display panel 1, and an impact absorbing member 6 is provided between the display panel 1 and the panel pressing member 5 that holds and fixes the display panel 1 to the timepiece module 3. . The shock absorber 6 and the shock absorber 7 are made of an elastic member such as a rubber material, absorb external force such as impact and vibration from the outside, and reduce the external force and are transmitted to the display panel 1. The impact force is reduced and reduced. The panel pressing member 5 is made of a thin metal member.

A piezoelectric element 10 that detects an impact and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the impact force is fixed to the inner wall surface of the case back cover 9 on the timepiece module 3 side. The piezoelectric element 10 constitutes a part of alarm notification means. Electrodes are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the piezoelectric element 10. Of the electrodes on the upper and lower surfaces of the piezoelectric element 10, the first electrode 11 a on the upper surface is electrically connected to the timepiece module 3, and the second electrode 11 b on the lower surface is electrically connected to the case back cover 9.

Next, the system configuration of the digital display timepiece according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the circuit block diagram of FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the digital display timepiece includes a clock means 21 including an alarm notification means, a display information storage means 22, a display drive circuit 23, a display control circuit 25 that is a control means, and an alarm notification means. An impact detection unit 26 that is a voltage detection unit that detects a voltage generated from the piezoelectric element by an impact and outputs a detection signal, and a display panel 24 are provided.
The time counting means 21 counts a reference signal for clock timing and outputs a data update signal RF (timing signal) to the display control circuit 25 when information necessary for display is updated, and also displays time data DAT as display information storage means. 22 to output. The display information storage means 22 receives the time data DAT, converts it into display information DSP, and outputs it to the display drive circuit 23. The display information storage means 22 outputs the storage completion signal LCC to the display control circuit 25 when the time data DAT is input and the conversion to the display information DSP is completed.

The display drive circuit 23 receives the display information DSP and converts it into a display format for the dot matrix pixel 1a shown in FIG. Further, the display drive circuit 23 outputs a segment signal SEGm in which the write signal to the dot matrix pixel 1a is matched with each scanning signal COMn to the display panel 24 in synchronization with the normal display synchronization signal CL1 or the emergency display synchronization signal CL2. .

The display panel 24 has the same configuration as that of the display panel 1 described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, in which liquid crystal is sealed between two substrates, and polarizing plates are arranged above and below the substrates. The display control circuit 25 outputs the normal display synchronization signal LC1 to the display drive circuit 23 when the data update signal RF and the storage completion signal LCC are input, and the emergency display synchronization when the shock detection signal SK from the impact detection means 26 is input. The signal LC2 is output to the display drive circuit 23, and the storage information call signal MEC is output to the display information storage means 22, respectively.

The impact detection means 26 comprises the piezoelectric element 10 described with reference to FIG. 2 as detection means. Therefore, when an alarm signal ALM, which is an output from the time measuring means 21, is input, an alarm sound is emitted. When the watch case 2 receives an impact and the piezoelectric element 10 generates electric power by the impact force, the impact detection means 26 outputs the impact signal SK.

Next, the configuration of the impact detection means 26 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 5 that are the same as those described in FIGS. 2 and 3 are assigned the same reference numerals.
The impact detection means 26 includes the piezoelectric element 10, a detection coil 30, an alarm drive circuit 31, and an impact signal output circuit 32.
The detection coil 30 is a step-up coil for applying a high voltage to the piezoelectric element 10. The alarm drive circuit 31 receives the alarm signal ALM from the time measuring means 21 and outputs an alarm drive signal ALM1 that performs an alternating operation of storing and releasing electric charge in the detection coil 30.

The impact signal output circuit 32 receives the piezoelectric signal SK1 output by the piezoelectric element 10 in response to an external force, and outputs it as an impact signal SK when the voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined voltage level. The shock signal output circuit 32 has a filter function. By this filter function, the impact signal output circuit 32 accepts only the piezoelectric signal SK1 due to impact because the frequency of the alarm drive signal ALM1 due to the operation of the alarm drive circuit 31 and the piezoelectric signal SK1 due to impact are different.

FIG. 4 is a follow chart for explaining the flow of the operation for driving the display panel 24 by the display driving circuit 23 in FIG. Here, in FIG. 4, the driving operation is performed by a continuous operation in which the refresh operation shown on the left side of FIG. 4 is performed and then the write operation shown on the right side of FIG. That is, in the portable electronic device of the present invention, when the display control means 25 detects the detection signal SK, the update operation of the display panel 24 is the first update that displays the same color on the entire effective pixel area of the display panel 24. An operation (refresh operation) and a second update operation (write operation) for displaying the display information DSP in the display information storage means 22 are performed.
As described with reference to FIG. 3, when the data update signal RF is output or the impact detection signal SK is output as described above, the display information DSP is input from the display information storage circuit 22 to the display drive circuit 23. .

First, in the refresh operation, it is determined in step 1S1 whether the output from the display control circuit 25 is the normal display synchronization signal CL1 or the emergency display synchronization signal CL2. At that time, if it is the emergency display synchronization signal CL2, the process proceeds to step 2S2, and the refresh count t is returned to zero. In step 3S3, the refresh count t is incremented.

In step 4S4, a drive signal for displaying all the dot matrix pixels 1a in black on the display panel 24 is output. Next, at step 5S5, on the contrary, a drive signal for displaying all the dot matrix pixels 1a in white is output. Then, in step 6S6, it is determined whether or not the refresh count t is 60. If it is 60 or less, the process returns to step 3S3, and all the dot matrix pixels 1a are repeatedly driven for black display and white display.

That is, when the emergency display synchronization signal CL2 is input, the refresh operation for repeating black display and white display for all the dot matrix pixels 1a of the display panel 24 is repeated 60 times. However, if it is determined in step 1S1 that the normal display synchronization signal CL1 has been input, the refresh count t is set to 60 in step 7S7, and all the dot matrix pixels 1a in steps 4S4 and 5S5 are displayed in black and white. Is repeated once.

In any case, when the refresh operation is completed, the process proceeds to the write operation after step 8S8. In the write operation, the scan electrode number n is reset in step 8S8, and the scan electrode number n is incremented in step 9S9. In step 10S10, the segment number m is reset. In step 11S11, the segment number m is incremented.

Then, the display drive signal of the segment number m for the scan electrode number n at that time is output (step 12S12). Next, in step 13S13, the presence or absence of the emergency display synchronization signal CL2 is confirmed. If there is no emergency display synchronization signal CL2, that is, an impact detection signal, the process proceeds to step S14. If there is an emergency display synchronization signal CL2 which is an impact detection signal, the process returns to step 8S8 and the refresh operation is performed again.
Next, it is determined whether or not the segment number m has ended up to address 33 (step 14S14). When the segment number m is 33 or less, the process returns to step 11S11, and the display drive signal corresponding to the next segment number m is output again. To do. When the segment number m becomes 33, the scanning electrode number n is repeated until it becomes 33 (step 15S15).

When all the segment numbers m and the scan electrode numbers n are 33, the process proceeds to step 16S16, and the display of the dot matrix pixels 1a of the display panel 24 to the display contents according to the display information DSP at that time is completed.

(Explanation of electronic device operation)
First, the operation of the digital display timepiece according to the embodiment of the present invention in a normal state will be described. The digital display timepiece in the normal state is in a display state as shown in FIG. At this time, in FIG. 3, the time measuring means 21 outputs a data update signal RF when information necessary for display is updated. That is, when there is an update of 1 minute digit, a data update signal RF (timing signal) is output.

  The time measuring means 21 outputs time data DAT simultaneously with the output of the data update signal RF. The display information storage means 22 to which the time data DAT has been input is converted into display information DSP based on the time data DAT and stored. The display information storage unit 22 outputs the stored display information DSP and outputs a storage completion signal LCC to the display control circuit 25.

The display control circuit 25 having received the storage completion signal LCC outputs a normal display synchronization signal CL1 to the display drive circuit 23. Next, the display drive circuit 23 to which the normal display synchronization signal CL1 is input performs the refresh operation and the write operation as described in FIG. That is, when the display control means 25 detects the detection signal SK, the update operation of the display panel 24 includes a first update operation (refresh operation) for displaying the same color on the entire effective pixel area of the display panel 24, and display information. A second update operation (write operation) for displaying the display information DSP in the storage means 22 is performed.

On the other hand, in FIG. 3, the time measuring means 21 outputs a predetermined alarm signal ALM to the impact detecting means 26 when the alarm set time is reached. The impact detection means 26 that has input the alarm signal ALM operates the alarm drive circuit 31 as described in FIG. 5, drives the piezoelectric element 10 by the output of the alarm drive signal ALM1, and emits an alarm sound.

When the external force 50 is applied as shown in FIG. 2 in the normal display state shown in FIG. 1A, the impact force is transmitted to the timepiece circuit module 3 via the windshield 8 and the timepiece case 2. Further, the impact force is transmitted from the watch case 2 to the case back cover 9 and also to the piezoelectric element 10.

The impact force applied to the display panel 1 is transmitted between the panel pressing member 5 and the timepiece circuit module 3 via the impact absorbing material 6 and the impact absorbing material 7 as shown in FIG. Therefore, the impact force moderated to some extent is applied to the panel by both of the shock absorbers 6 and 7, but if an external force 50 that cannot be absorbed by the shock absorbers 6 and 7 is applied, the display disturbance 1b shown in FIG. Appears in a part of the dot matrix pixel 1a.

When such an external force 50 is applied, the impact signal output circuit 32 in FIG. 5 determines the level of the signal output from the piezoelectric element 10 shown in FIG. 2, and when it is determined to be above a certain level, the impact signal SK is displayed. Output to the control circuit 25. The display control circuit 25 to which the shock signal SK is input outputs a stored information call signal to instruct the display information storage means 22 to output the display information DSP. In addition, the display control circuit 25 outputs an emergency display synchronization signal CL2 to the display drive circuit 23.

The display drive circuit 23 to which the emergency display synchronization signal CL2 is input performs a long-time refresh operation and a write operation in the operation described with reference to FIG. By performing the refresh operation for a long time, the display disturbance 1b shown in FIG. 1B becomes a normal display state, and new display information DSP can be written.

In addition, by making the refresh operation time width for eliminating the display disturbance due to the impact longer than the refresh operation time width for normal display rewriting, the effect of eliminating the display disturbance 1b is great.
Further, when the display control circuit 25 detects the detection signal SK from the impact detection means 26 during the period in which the display panel 24 is updated based on the data update signal RF (timing signal), it is based on the detection signal SK. The display information on the display panel 24 is updated again.
It should be noted that by holding the display panel 1 with the shock absorbers 6 and 7 shown in FIG. 2, it is possible to alleviate the impact of the impact from the outside to some extent, but even if a stronger external force 50 is applied, the display disturbance is instantaneous. It is possible by eliminating it at home.

1A and 1B are plan views showing a digital display watch as an example of a portable electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A shows a normal display state, and FIG. 2B shows a display state in which display disturbance occurs due to an impact. Show. It is sectional drawing which shows the digital timepiece of an example of the portable electronic device in embodiment of this invention. It is a circuit block diagram which shows the whole system configuration | structure of the portable electronic device in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the display drive circuit of the portable electronic device in embodiment of this invention. It is a circuit block diagram which shows the system configuration | structure of the impact detection means of the portable electronic device in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 24 Display panel 1a Dot matrix pixel 6, 7 Shock absorber 10 Piezoelectric element 21 Timing means 22 Display information storage means 23 Display drive circuit 25 Display control circuit 26 Impact detection means

Claims (5)

A display device configured with a display screen using a display element having a memory property;
Display information storage means for storing display information updated at a predetermined timing signal;
In a portable electronic device having control means for updating and displaying the display information stored in the display information storage means on the display device based on the timing signal,
Shock detection means for detecting that an impact is applied to the display device and outputting a detection signal; and the control means is configured to display the display information based on the timing signal and the detection signal from the shock detection means. A portable electronic apparatus, wherein the display information stored in a storage means is updated and displayed on the display device. The portable electronic device has an alarm notification means using a piezoelectric element,
2. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the impact detection means is voltage detection means for detecting a voltage generated from the piezoelectric element due to an impact applied to the alarm notification means and outputting the detection signal. machine. The portable electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the voltage detection unit detects a level of a voltage generated from the piezoelectric element and outputs the detection signal only when the voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined level. If the control means detects the detection signal from the impact detection means during a period in which the display device is updated based on the timing signal, the display information is updated again based on the detection signal. The portable electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the portable electronic device is performed. The update operation of the display device when the control means detects the detection signal includes a first update operation for displaying the same color on the entire effective pixel region of the display device, and the display of the display information storage means. The portable electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a second update operation for displaying information.

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