JP2010107333A - Electronic timepiece - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic timepiece that would not cause the development cost from increasing and the development period from becoming prolonged, even if the arrangement of information representation formed on a dial is changed. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic timepiece includes a plurality of electronic clock hands; the dial where the information representation pointed by the electronic clock hands is formed; a clock movement 45 for moving the electronic clock hands; and a control section 41 for controlling the clock movement 45 based on the position information of the information representation for moving the electronic clock hands to places of the information representation. Then, the electronic timepiece has a storage section 44 for storing the positional information of the information representation, and the storage section 44 can write the position information corresponding to the change in the arrangement of the information representation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic timepiece having a plurality of hands and displaying various information in addition to time.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an electronic timepiece that displays a day of the week, a state of a clock function, and the like using a small window provided on a dial and a small hand that rotates within the small window. Around the small window, for example, “SUN”, “MON”,... “SAT” indicating each day of the week, and “CHRONO”, “ALARM”, “TIMER” indicating the status of the clock function. Information marks such as “,“ WORLD ”” and the like are formed, and the small hand rotates to point to the corresponding information mark so that the day of the week and the function status of the clock are displayed to the user.

  Similarly, an electronic timepiece is also known that uses a center hand such as a second hand to display a clock function setting state and an operating state.

  In such information display by the pointer, the position information of each information mark is stored inside the watch, and the control unit rotates the pointer by the required number of steps based on this position information, and the pointer is moved to the position of the corresponding information mark. This is realized by stopping at.

As a conventional technique related to the present invention, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique that allows display data to be loaded from the outside when the portable terminal is set in a charger. Patent Document 2 discloses a program for executing a low power consumption operation such as a clock operation in a one-chip microcomputer equipped with a mask ROM (Read Only Memory) and an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM). A technique for reducing power consumption by storing in a storage is disclosed. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses a technique that allows a display design output to a display unit to be changed by replacing a memory case having a ROM in an electronic wristwatch.
JP 09-297774 A JP-A-10-254848 JP-A-11-202065

  In the field of electronic timepieces, for example, with changes in the display design of the dial, the arrangement of information marks formed around the small window and the arrangement of information marks formed at the periphery of the dial are changed. Sometimes. When the information mark arrangement is changed, the conventional electronic timepiece has a problem that the contents of the mask ROM in which the information mark position information is stored must be changed according to the new information mark arrangement. It was.

  In a conventional electronic timepiece, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes a control program and a mask ROM that stores a control program and control data are usually mounted on one semiconductor integrated circuit. Further, replacement of the mask ROM with a data rewritable one such as an EEPROM has not been performed in order to avoid an increase in power consumption. Reducing power consumption as much as possible is an important issue particularly in the field of wristwatches driven by small batteries.

  Therefore, in order to change the position information in accordance with the change in the arrangement of the information mark, the pattern of the mask ROM formed in the semiconductor integrated circuit must be changed. Therefore, the mask design of the entire semiconductor integrated circuit is changed. The problem of increasing the development cost and prolonging the development period occurred.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic timepiece that does not cause an increase in development cost or a prolonged development period even if the arrangement of information marks formed on the dial is changed.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1
Multiple guidelines,
A dial on which information notation pointed to by the pointer is formed;
A watch movement for moving the hands;
A storage unit storing position information of the information notation;
A control unit for controlling the timepiece movement based on the position information and moving the hands to the location of the information notation;
With
The storage unit is an electronic timepiece capable of writing position information corresponding to a change in the arrangement of the information notation.

The invention according to claim 2 is the electronic timepiece according to claim 1,
The storage unit storing position information corresponding to the change in the arrangement of the information notation is a nonvolatile memory.

The invention according to claim 3 is the electronic timepiece according to claim 1,
A ROM storing a control program executed by the control unit;
The control unit and the ROM are mounted on one control integrated circuit,
The storage unit is configured to be externally attached to the control integrated circuit.

The invention according to claim 4 is the electronic timepiece according to claim 3,
A RAM capable of reading and writing data by the control unit,
The controller is
When the power is turned on, the position information is moved from the storage unit to the RAM, and when the pointer is moved to the location of the information notation, the position information is read from the RAM and the timepiece movement is controlled based on the position information. It is characterized by control.

The invention according to claim 5 is the electronic timepiece according to claim 1,
The dial is provided with a small window set in a partial region of the dial and a plurality of information notation formed accompanying the small window,
The plurality of pointers include a small needle that rotates in the small window,
The position information stored in the storage unit includes position information of the plurality of information notations formed accompanying the small window.

The invention according to claim 6 is the electronic timepiece according to claim 1,
On the periphery of the dial, one or more information notations pointed to by the center hand are formed,
The position information stored in the storage unit includes the position information of the one or more information notations indicated by the center needle.

  According to the present invention, when there is a change in the arrangement of the information notation, the position information corresponding to the change in the arrangement of the information notation can be written in the storage unit. Therefore, compared with the case where the design of the mask of the integrated circuit is changed every time the arrangement of the information notation is changed, the development cost and the development period can be greatly reduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a dial structure of an electronic timepiece 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  An electronic timepiece 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is, for example, a watch body of a wristwatch, and has various additional functions in addition to a time display function. As shown in FIG. 1, the dial 20 of the electronic timepiece 1 has time display scales 21, 21... At the periphery thereof, and at the 12 o'clock position, 9 o'clock position, and 6 o'clock position. Circular small windows 31, 32, and 33 are formed, respectively. On the dial plate 20, there are a center hand (hour hand 2, minute hand 3, second hand 4) having a rotation axis at the central portion of the dial plate 20, and a rotation shaft at the center of each small window 31 to 33. Small needles 5, 6, 7, and 8 that rotate in the windows 31 to 33 are provided. These center needles 2 to 4 and small needles 5 to 8 are pointers.

  In the dial plate 20, information marks representing various information are formed on the peripheral portion of the small window 31 on the 12 o'clock side or the entire peripheral portion of the dial plate 20. For example, around the small window 31, there are information marks M1 to M7 such as “SUN”, “MON”,... “SAT” representing each day of the week, and “CHR (CHRONO)” representing the functional state of the electronic timepiece. Information marks M8 to M11 such as “,“ ALARM ”,“ TIMER ”,“ WORLD ”” are formed by printing or the like. Further, on the peripheral portion of the dial plate 20, for example, “Y (YES)” and “N (NO)” information marks M12 and M13 indicating success / failure of radio wave reception, the alarm is turned on when the alarm is set. / "ON" and "OFF" information marks M14 and M15 indicating "off", and "R (READY)" and "W (WORK)" indicating that radio wave reception is being prepared or being executed. Information marks M16, M17, etc. are formed.

  In addition, the dial 2 is provided with a date display window 35 for displaying the date, and the date plate disposed on the back side of the dial is exposed.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the electronic timepiece 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining control data and control programs stored in each storage unit.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the electronic timepiece 1 includes a CPU 41 as a control unit, a control circuit 40 incorporating a ROM 42 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 43, and data externally attached to the control circuit 40. EEPROM 44 as a storage unit that is capable of reading, a timepiece movement 45 having a train wheel mechanism coupled to a plurality of stepping motors and hands, and rotationally driving center hands 2-4 and small hands 5-7, A needle position detection unit 46 that detects the position of the center needles 2 to 4 and the small needles 5 to 7 by detecting the rotation position of the row mechanism, and a power supply unit 47 that supplies an operating voltage from a battery or a secondary battery, A detection circuit 48 that receives a standard radio wave via an antenna 49 and detects a time code included therein, and an oscillation that generates a timing signal having a constant frequency for timekeeping. A path 50 and a frequency dividing circuit 51; an operation unit 52 including a plurality of operation buttons (not shown) provided on a casing side surface of the electronic timepiece 1; an illumination unit 53 and an illumination drive circuit 54 that illuminate the dial 20; A speaker 55 for outputting an alarm, a buzzer circuit 56, and the like are provided.

  Among the above-described configurations, the control circuit 40 having at least the CPU 41, the ROM 42, and the RAM 43 is integrated in one control integrated circuit and performs overall control of the electronic timepiece 1. The ROM 42 is a mask ROM, and the RAM 43 is a static RAM or the like.

  The EEPROM 44 is connected to the control circuit 40 so that data can be read out by the CPU 41 in the control circuit 40. The EEPROM 44 is configured so that data can be written by an external ROM writer in a state where the EEPROM 44 is mounted on the substrate of the electronic timepiece 1 in the manufacturing process of the electronic timepiece 1. The EEPROM 44 is configured so that the power can be turned off under the control of the control circuit 40. When the power is turned off, the standby current is significantly lower than the normal standby current.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining control data and control programs stored in each storage unit.

  The ROM 42 stores an initial processing program 42a that the CPU 41 executes only once when the power is turned on, and a clock control program 42b that is continuously executed by the CPU 41 thereafter. In addition, control data 42c that does not cause a slight change due to a change in the design of the watch or the like is stored.

  The EEPROM 44 stores control data, such as the pointer position information 44a, which can be changed slightly by changing the design of the dial plate 20. Since the EEPROM 44 has a relatively large current consumption, a small capacity is applied, and only minimum data such as the pointer position information 44a among the control data that can be changed is stored. The control data stored in the EEPROM 44 is written by an external ROM writer at the manufacturing stage of the electronic timepiece 1.

  The RAM 43 provides the CPU 41 with a working memory space for executing the control program. In addition, a storage area is set in the RAM 43 in which the control data of the EEPROM 44 is moved and stored when the power is turned on. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3C, the pointer position information storage area 43a is set in the RAM 43, and the pointer position information 44a of the EEPROM 44 is moved. This information is stored.

  FIG. 4 shows a data chart showing an example of the contents of the pointer position information.

  The pointer position information 44a stored in the EEPROM 44 and the pointer position information transferred to the storage area 43a of the RAM 43 are position information for indicating the plurality of information marks M1 to M17 formed on the dial plate 20 described above. More specifically, for each of the plurality of information marks M1 to M17, when the circumference of the dial 20 or small window 31 is set to 60 steps clockwise, the corresponding information mark from the reference position (for example, the upper end position). Data up to the position of is represented by the number of steps. For example, since the information mark “SUN” is formed at a position of 45 minutes when the circumference of the small window 31 is 60 minutes, the pointer position information corresponding to this information mark is “45”. Further, since the information mark “W (WORK)” is formed at a position of 37 minutes on the dial plate 20, the pointer position information corresponding to this information mark is “37”.

  The pointer position information stored in the EEPROM 44 and the RAM 43 is only the data value shown in the “pointer position information” row of the data table of FIG. Which of the plurality of information marks M1 to M17 corresponds to the data value is identified by the storage address of the data value. Although the amount of data is slightly increased, as the pointer position information stored in the EEPROM 44 or the RAM 43, as shown in the data table of FIG. A data table in which data values representing the pointer position (line data of “pointer position information”) are associated with each other may be employed.

  Next, the operation of the electronic timepiece 1 of this embodiment will be described.

  In addition to the normal clock display function, the electronic timepiece 1 of this embodiment includes a chronograph (stopwatch) function, a world time function that displays the time of each city in the world, a timer function that counts up and down a set period, An alarm setting function for setting an alarm time, a radio wave reception function for receiving a standard radio wave including a time code, and the like are provided, and these functions can be switched based on an operation of the operation unit 52.

  The control circuit 40 counts the signal sent from the frequency dividing circuit 51 to measure the current date and time. In a normal clock display function state, the control circuit 40 controls the center hands 2 to 2 based on the time measurement data. By rotating and controlling 4 by a predetermined step, the current time is displayed by these center hands 2-4.

  Further, in this normal timepiece display function state, the control circuit 40 controls the movement of the timepiece movement 45 to rotate each of the small hands 5 to 8, so that the small hand 31 in the small window 31 on the 12 o'clock side causes the day of the week. Of the corresponding day of the week is indicated, and the world time of the designated city is displayed by the small hands 7 and 8 in the small window 33 on the 6 o'clock side, and the small window 32 on the 9 o'clock side is displayed. Then, the time of 24 hours is displayed by the small hand 6.

  On the other hand, when a predetermined operation is performed via the operation unit 52 to shift to the function state of the chronograph, the control circuit 40 indicates that the center second hand 4 is the second of the stopwatch and the 12 o'clock side small hand 5 is the stop. The watch movement 45 is driven and controlled so that the 1/20 second of the watch and the small hands 7 and 8 on the 6 o'clock side respectively indicate the hour and minute of the stopwatch. In this functional state, before the start of the stopwatch measurement, the 12 o'clock side hand 5 stops at the position of the “CHR” information mark M8 to indicate that it is in the functional state of the chronograph. ing. The center hour and minute hands 2 and 3 and the small hand 6 on the 9 o'clock side are controlled in the same manner as in the normal clock display function.

  In addition, when a predetermined operation is performed through the operation unit 52 and the state shifts to the timer function state, the control circuit 40 causes the “TIMER” information mark M10 in which the small hand 5 on the 12 o'clock side indicates the timer mode. The clock movement 45 is controlled so that the second hand 4 of the center indicates the second of the timer and the small hands 7 and 8 on the 6 o'clock side indicate the hour and minute of the timer. The center hour and minute hands 2 and 3 and the small hand 6 on the 9 o'clock side are controlled in the same manner as in the normal clock display function.

  In addition, when a predetermined operation is performed via the operation unit 52 and the state shifts to the world time display function state, the control circuit 40 indicates that the small hand 5 on the 12 o'clock side indicates “World Time Mode”. The clock movement 45 is driven and controlled so that the second hand 4 of the center points to the city for which the time is displayed on the bezel or the like of the electronic timepiece 1 (not shown). ing. The center hour and minute hands 2 and 3 and the small hand 6 on the 9 o'clock side are controlled in the same manner as in the normal clock display function.

  In addition, when a predetermined operation is performed via the operation unit 52 and the control circuit 40 shifts to the alarm setting function, the control circuit 40 displays the “ALARM” information mark indicating that the small hand 5 on the 12:00 side indicates the alarm setting mode. M9 is indicated, and the center second hand 4 drives and controls the timepiece movement 45 so as to indicate the information marks M14 and M15 of "ON" or "OFF" according to the contents of the alarm ON / OFF setting. . The 6 o'clock side hands 7 and 8 are controlled so as to display the alarm set time according to the operation of the operation unit 52, and in addition to the center hour and minute hands 2, 3 and the 9 o'clock side hand 6 The same control as in the normal clock display function is performed.

  In addition, when the operation of the radio wave reception function is started by performing a predetermined operation via the operation unit 52 or when a predetermined radio wave reception time is reached in the state of the normal clock display function First, the control circuit 40 points to an information mark M16 of “R (READY)” indicating that the center second hand 4 is in a preparatory stage before receiving a radio wave, and then, when radio wave reception is executed, the radio wave is being received. The watch movement 45 is driven and controlled so as to point to the “W (WORK)” information mark M17 indicating the above.

  When the user makes an inquiry as to whether or not the radio wave reception is successful by a predetermined operation of the operation unit 52, the control circuit 40 moves the center second hand 4 in accordance with the result of the previous radio wave reception. The timepiece movement 45 is driven and controlled to indicate either the “Y (YES)” information mark M12 indicating successful reception or the “N (NO)” information mark M13 indicating failed reception. Yes.

  Next, of the above-described drive control of the hands 2 to 8, the control processing for pointing the information marks M1 to M17 with the center second hand 4 and the 12:00 hour hand 5 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of initial processing executed by the CPU 41 of the control circuit 40.

  In order to realize drive control in which the information marks M1 to M17 are pointed to by the center second hand 4 and the small hand 5, the CPU 41 of the control circuit 40 first executes the initial process shown in FIG. When the power is turned on, for example, when the battery is connected for the first time in the manufacturing process of the electronic timepiece 1, when the battery is replaced after the product is shipped, or when the power source of the secondary battery is temporarily turned on in the electronic timepiece 1 equipped with the secondary battery. For example, when the control circuit 40 is consumed and the secondary battery is charged after the control circuit 40 is stopped, the control circuit 40 is restarted.

  When the initial process is started, the CPU 41 first reads the pointer position information 44a from the EEPROM 44 (step S1) and writes it in the pointer position information storage area 43a of the RAM 43 (step S2). In addition to the pointer position information 44 a, if control data that can be changed slightly is stored in the EEPROM 44, it is similarly read out from the EEPROM 44 and written in a predetermined area of the RAM 43.

  After the control data is moved, next, the power supply to the EEPROM 44 is stopped (step S3) in order to make the consumption current of the EEPROM 44 almost zero, and this initial process is terminated. Thereafter, the process shifts to a clock control program 42b for realizing the various functions described above.

  By such initial processing, the pointer position information 44a is stored in the storage area 43a of the RAM 43, and the CPU 41 can read these control data from the RAM 43 and use them even if the operation of the EEPROM 44 is stopped thereafter. It becomes possible.

  In FIG. 6, the flowchart of the 1st small needle drive process performed by CPU41 of the control circuit 40 is shown.

  In the first small hand drive processing, the function state of the electronic timepiece 1 is changed to a clock display function, a chronograph function, a world time function, a timer function, or an alarm by a change of day of the week or a predetermined operation via the operation unit 52. This is a subroutine process for moving the small hand 5 to the designated information marks M1 to M11 when transitioning to the setting function.

  The subroutine processing of the first small needle driving process is started in a state where an information mark to which the small needle 5 is moved is designated in the preceding process, although not shown. The designation of the information mark is performed, for example, by calculating the next day of the week from the value of the time counter for the information marks M1 to M7 representing the day of the week, and for the information marks M8 to M11 representing the respective functional states, This is performed by selecting an information mark corresponding to the next function state according to the operation content of the operation unit 52.

  When the process proceeds to the first small needle driving process, first, the CPU 41 reads the data value of the pointer position information corresponding to the designated information mark from the pointer position information storage area 43a of the RAM 43 (step S11). This pointer position information can be acquired by reading data from the address of the RAM 43 that is previously associated with the designated information mark.

  After reading the pointer position information of the information mark, the CPU 41 calculates the difference between the current pointer position of the small hand 5 and the target pointer position, and steps from the current pointer position of the small hand 5 to the target pointer position. The number is calculated (step S12).

  Thereafter, the CPU 41 issues a command to the first small hand motor of the timepiece movement 45 that rotates the small hand 5 so as to perform pulse output for the number of steps calculated in step S12 (step S13). Then, the first small needle driving process is terminated, and the process returns to the next step after the original control process.

  By such first small needle drive processing, the small needle 5 can be moved to the positions of designated information marks M1 to M11 based on the pointer position information moved from the EEPROM 44 to the RAM 43.

  FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of the center needle information display driving process executed by the CPU 41 of the control circuit 40.

  This center hand information display drive processing is performed when the second hand 4 of the center is designated when there is an inquiry operation about whether or not the radio wave reception is successful, when the alarm setting function is executed, and when the radio wave reception process is executed. This is a subroutine process for moving to information marks M12 to M17. The center hand information display driving process is not shown in the figure, but is started in a state where the information mark that is the movement destination of the center second hand 4 is designated in the preceding process. The designation of the information mark is performed by selecting an information mark corresponding to these states according to the setting state and the operating state of the electronic timepiece 1 at that time.

  When shifting to the center needle information display drive process, first, the CPU 41 reads the data value of the pointer position information corresponding to the designated information mark from the pointer position information storage area 43a of the RAM 43 (step S21). This pointer position information can be acquired by reading data from the address of the RAM 43 that is previously associated with the designated information mark.

  After reading the pointer position information of the information mark, the CPU 41 calculates the difference between the current pointer position of the center second hand 4 and the target pointer position, and calculates the number of steps from the current pointer position to the target pointer position. Calculate (step S22). Thereafter, a command is issued to the center hand motor for driving the second hand 4 in the timepiece movement 45 so as to perform pulse output for the number of steps calculated in step S22 (step S23). Then, the center needle information display driving process is terminated, and the process returns to the next step of the original control process.

  By such center hand information display drive processing, the center second hand 4 can be moved to the positions of designated information marks M12 to M17 based on the pointer position information moved from the EEPROM 44 to the RAM 43.

  As described above, according to the electronic timepiece 1 of this embodiment, the pointer position information 44a indicating the arrangement of the information marks M1 to M17 is not stored in the ROM 42 of the control circuit 40 but is stored in the EEPROM 44. For example, even when the design of the dial 20 is changed and the arrangement of the information marks M1 to M17 is changed, or when a plurality of types of electronic watches having different designs of the dial 20 are manufactured, one type of control is performed. These electronic timepieces 1 can be manufactured using the circuit (integrated circuit for control) 40 in common.

  That is, the information mark M1 to M17 is controlled by a common program control by the common control circuit 40 by correcting the pointer position information 44a written in the EEPROM 44 to a data value matching the arrangement of the information marks M1 to M17 on the dial plate 20. It is possible to control the driving of the pointer in accordance with the arrangement of.

  FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a configuration example of other dials 20A and 20B that can be handled by changing the pointer position information written in the EEPROM.

  For example, like the dial 20A shown in FIG. 8A and the dial 20B shown in FIG. 8B, the information marks M1 to M11 formed around the small windows 31A and 31B, the dial, When the arrangement of the information marks M12 to M17 formed around 20A and 20B is different, the corresponding information from each reference position (for example, the upper end position) in the small windows 31A and 31B and the dial plates 20A and 20B. By creating pointer position information in which the number of steps up to the mark position is a data value and writing this pointer position information in the EEPROM 44, information display matching the arrangement of the information marks M1 to M17 is controlled. Is possible.

  The dial 20 of FIG. 1 and the dial 20A of FIG. 8A differ in the setting positions of the small windows 31 and 31A between the 12 o'clock side and the 9 o'clock side. This can be dealt with by changing the arrangement and connection structure of the step motor and the gear train mechanism of the movement 45. Even if there is such a difference in configuration, the control circuit 40, the programs 42a and 42b and the control data 42c in the ROM 42 can be the same.

  Therefore, in the conventional electronic timepiece, even when the arrangement of the information marks on the dial plate 20 is changed, the entire control integrated circuit (control circuit 40) is changed in order to change the contents of the pointer position information stored in the ROM. Compared with that, in the electronic timepiece 1 of this embodiment, the control circuit 40 does not change anything and only changes the data written in the EEPROM 44. It is possible to cope with a change in the arrangement of Therefore, the development cost of the electronic timepiece 1 can be greatly reduced and the development period can be greatly shortened.

  Further, since the EEPROM 44 is used as a storage unit for storing the pointer position information 44a, it is possible to make a correction after data is once written.

  Further, since the control program and control data that do not need to be changed are stored in the ROM 42, only the minimum control data that can be changed is stored in the EEPROM 44. Therefore, the size of the EEPROM 44 that consumes relatively large power is minimized. However, the power consumption of the electronic timepiece 1 is reduced.

  Further, since the control data of the EEPROM 44 is moved to the RAM 43 when the power is turned on, and thereafter, the control data moved to the RAM 43 is used, the operation period of the EEPROM 44, which consumes relatively large power, is minimized, and the electronic watch 1 is reduced.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the above embodiment, the EEPROM 44 is exemplified as a storage unit for storing the pointer position information. However, for example, a flash memory may be applied, or a PROM that can write information only once may be applied. it can. In the above embodiment, the EEPROM 44 is externally attached to the control circuit 40, and the power supply to the EEPROM 44 is turned off when the pointer position information 44a is transferred to the RAM 43. However, the power reduction effect is somewhat reduced. However, for example, an EEPROM or a PROM may be provided in the control circuit (control integrated circuit) 40 so that the pointer position information is written from the outside.

  In addition, as information notation, information marks such as information marks indicating morning and afternoon, which are indicated by the pointer, are displayed to the user, and the placement angle is not uniquely determined on the dial or small window. For example, various information marks or characters, symbols, and numbers may be included.

  In the above embodiment, the electronic timepiece 1 having both the information marks M1 to M11 formed around the small window 31 and the information marks M12 to M17 formed around the dial 20 is illustrated. The present invention can also be applied to an electronic timepiece having no small window and an information mark formed only around the dial plate 20 and an electronic timepiece having an information mark formed only around the small window.

  In addition, the details shown in the embodiments such as the configuration of the dial plate, the internal circuit configuration, and the functional configuration of the electronic timepiece can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the invention. The present invention can also be applied to an electronic timepiece other than a wristwatch.

It is a top view which shows the dial structure of the electronic timepiece of embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the electronic timepiece of embodiment. It is a figure showing the control data and control program which are memorize | stored in each memory | storage part. It is a data chart which shows a detailed example of pointer position information. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the procedure of the initial process performed by CPU after all clear. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the procedure of the 1st small hand drive process performed in the middle of a timepiece control process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the procedure of the center hand information display process performed in the middle of a timepiece control process. It is a top view which shows the structural example of the other dial which can respond | correspond by changing the pointer position information written in EEPROM.

Explanation of symbols

1 Electronic clock 2 Hour hand 3 Minute hand 4 Second hand (center hand)
5-8 Small hand 20 Dial 31-33 Small window M1-M7 Information mark indicating the day of the week M8-11 Information mark indicating the function state M12-M17 Information mark indicating the operation state and setting information 40 Control circuit (control integrated circuit)
41 CPU
42 ROM
42 Initial processing program 43 RAM
43a Pointer position information storage area 44 EEPROM (storage unit)
44a Pointer position information 20A, 20B Dial 31A, 31B Small window 5A, 5B Small needle

Claims (6)

Multiple guidelines,
A dial on which information notation pointed to by the pointer is formed;
A watch movement for moving the hands;
A storage unit storing position information of the information notation;
A control unit for controlling the timepiece movement based on the position information and moving the hands to the location of the information notation;
With
The electronic timepiece is characterized in that the storage unit is capable of writing position information corresponding to a change in the arrangement of the information notation.   The electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit storing the position information corresponding to the change in the arrangement of the information notation is a nonvolatile memory. A ROM storing a control program executed by the control unit;
The control unit and the ROM are mounted on one control integrated circuit,
2. The electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is externally attached to the control integrated circuit. A RAM capable of reading and writing data by the control unit,
The controller is
When the power is turned on, the position information is moved from the storage unit to the RAM, and when the pointer is moved to the location of the information notation, the position information is read from the RAM and the timepiece movement is controlled based on the position information. The electronic timepiece according to claim 3, wherein the electronic timepiece is controlled. The dial is provided with a small window set in a partial region of the dial and a plurality of information notation formed accompanying the small window,
The plurality of pointers include a small needle that rotates in the small window,
The electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the position information stored in the storage unit includes position information of the plurality of information notations formed accompanying the small window. On the periphery of the dial, one or more information notations pointed to by the center hand are formed,
2. The electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the position information stored in the storage unit includes position information of the one or more information notations indicated by the center hands.

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