JP2010217015A - Electronic timepiece and method of controlling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic timepiece that can dispose a plurality of electronic clock hands coaxially and can reliably and quickly detect the hand position of one electronic clock hand, even without installing a mechanism for detecting the hand position of the other electronic clock hand. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic timepiece 1 includes a wheel train 22 for hour/minute hands driven by an hour/minute motor 21; a wheel train 42 for 1/5 second CG hands driven by a 1/5 second CG motor 41; a light-emitting element; and an hour/minute hand photosensor which includes the light-emitting element. The wheel train 22 for hour/minute hands includes gears 23, 24, 25, including detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, 27A capable of transmitting detection light of the photosensor. The wheel train 42 for 1/5 second CG hand includes a 1/5 second CG wheel 47 coaxial with the second wheel 25. The 1/5 second CG wheel 47 includes: a long hole 471, capable of transmitting detection light at a position overlapping with the rotation locus of the detection hole 25A in the second wheel 25; and a bridge section 475 for shielding the detection light. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic timepiece having a hand position detection function represented by a radio-controlled timepiece and a method for controlling the electronic timepiece.

  In recent years, radio wave correction watches have been actively developed. Consumers want radio-controlled timepieces to be maintenance-free and accurate time display, but in the conventional maintenance-free aspect, there are cases where they disappoint consumer expectations. For example, the time display itself is performed very accurately based on the received time data. However, when the needle jumps when an impact is applied to the watch, or when a motor error occurs in a strong magnetic field, the reference position of the hand Shifts, and as a result, different times are displayed. Further, even when the power supply voltage is once lowered below the operating voltage of the timepiece and then the voltage is increased to restore the normal function, it is necessary to correct the reference position of the hand according to a predetermined procedure.

  Therefore, a radio-controlled timepiece with a hand position detection function that automatically detects and adjusts the reference position of the hand has been developed (for example, Patent Document 1). In such a radio-controlled timepiece, a light emitting element is connected to the fifth wheel, the third wheel, the second wheel to which the minute hand is attached, and the hour wheel to which the hour hand is attached, which mesh with the rotor pinion of the motor that drives the train wheel. In addition, a detection hole that can be detected by an optical sensor composed of a light receiving element is provided to detect the position of the hour / minute hand by transmitting light.

In such a radio-controlled timepiece, a fourth wheel that is driven by a motor different from the motor that drives the hour and minute hands and to which a second hand is attached is arranged coaxially with the second wheel and the hour wheel. For this reason, the fourth wheel is also provided with a detection hole for transmitting the light of the optical sensor.
The fourth wheel is driven independently of the gear that drives the hour and minute hands, so the detection hole of the fourth wheel is provided in the fifth wheel, third wheel, second wheel, and hour wheel. The light from the light emitting element may be blocked by the fourth wheel without matching with the hole. For this reason, in the train wheel including the fourth wheel, a detection hole is provided at a position where the second wheel does not overlap with the second wheel, and the light emitting element is different from the light emitting element and the light receiving element for detecting the hour and minute hands. Using the element and the light receiving element, the position of the second hand attached to the fourth wheel is detected, and after detecting the position of the fourth wheel, the hour and minute hands are detected.

JP 2006-153659 A

However, if the second hand is provided at a position different from the hour and minute hands as a pointer that is arranged coaxially with the second wheel and is driven by a different motor and train wheel, it displays other information such as a chronograph. In addition to the optical sensor for detecting the minute hand position and the optical sensor for detecting the second hand position, it is particularly preferable to provide an optical sensor for detecting the needle position of the pointer that displays other information such as a chronograph. In a small timepiece such as a wristwatch, it may be difficult in terms of arrangement space and power consumption.
And when it becomes impossible to detect the needle position of the train wheel including the gear to which the pointer indicating the other information is attached, the detection light passing through the detection hole of the second wheel or the like is blocked by the gear, and the hour / minute hand The needle position may not be detected.

  If a wheel train driven by another motor and an optical sensor for detecting the needle position of the pointer are not provided, the wheel train driven by another motor is driven step by step, and in this state, the second wheel Rotate the car etc. to detect the needle position, and in addition to the detection holes of the fifth wheel, the third wheel, the second wheel, and the hour wheel, the detection holes formed on the other gear coaxial with the second wheel By doing so, the needle position can be detected. However, when all the detection holes of these gears are made coincident and detected by the optical sensor, a long time is required, and it may take about 5 hours depending on the initial position of each gear. For this reason, when performing needle position detection in the manufacturing process, productivity is reduced, and when the user executes the needle position detection process, the user must wait for a long time until the process is completed. However, there is a problem in that convenience decreases and merchantability as a watch is impaired.

  It is an object of the present invention to detect a needle position of one pointer even if a plurality of hands driven by different motors and trains can be arranged on the same axis and a needle position detecting mechanism for the other hand is not provided. An object is to provide an electronic timepiece and a method for controlling the electronic timepiece that can be performed reliably and in a short time.

  The present invention relates to a first motor and a second motor, a first wheel train driven by the first motor, a second wheel train driven by the second motor, an optical sensor having a light emitting element and a light receiving element. The first wheel train includes one or more first gear wheel detection gears provided with detection holes capable of transmitting the detection light output from the light emitting elements of the photosensors, and the second wheel The row includes a detection light transmission gear arranged coaxially with any one first gear train detection gear in the first gear train, and the detection light transmission gear is arranged coaxially. A length that allows the detection light passing through the detection hole to be transmitted at a position overlapping the rotation locus of the detection hole of the detection gear for the first wheel train so that the length dimension in the rotation locus direction is larger than the diameter of the detection hole. That a hole and a light shielding portion for shielding the detection light are formed. And butterflies.

According to the present invention, one or a plurality of first gear train detection gears are provided in the first gear train driven by the first motor, and the detection light transmitting gear arranged coaxially with the one gear has a long hole. And the light-shielding part is provided. The elongated hole passes through the detection hole at a position overlapping the rotation locus of the detection hole of the first gear train detection gear, the length dimension in the rotation locus direction being larger than the diameter of the detection hole. It is formed in a size that allows detection light to pass therethrough. Further, the light shielding part can reliably shield the detection light.
For this reason, when the detection light of the optical sensor is blocked by the light shielding portion of the detection light transmitting gear, the light shielding portion even if the first wheel train is driven for one cycle for rotation detection. Since the detection light is surely shielded and the detection hole cannot be detected, it can be grasped that the light shielding part is arranged at a position facing the optical sensor. Driving the first gear train for one cycle for rotation detection means that when there is one first gear train detection gear, the gear is rotated once, and a plurality of first gear train detections are performed. When a gear is provided, it means that the gear having the slowest rotation speed is rotated once.
In the detection light transmitting gear, since the positional relationship and dimensional relationship between the light shielding portion and the long hole are known in advance at the time of design, the long hole faces the optical sensor from the state where the light shielding portion faces the optical sensor. It can be specified in advance how the detection light transmission gear should be rotated in order to achieve the state. Therefore, if the detection light transmitting gear is rotated at predetermined angles once or several times, the long hole can be arranged at a position facing the optical sensor.
For example, the predetermined angle is set to be equal to or smaller than an angle connecting both ends of the long hole and the rotation center of the gear, and the detection light transmitting gear is rotated once or several times, thereby ensuring the long hole at the position of the optical sensor. To place. Therefore, it is possible to detect in a shorter time than when detecting the detection hole of the first gear train detection gear while moving the second motor step by step.

In addition, since there is no need to provide a separate mechanism for detecting the rotational position of the detection light transmission gear, space efficiency can be improved, power saving can be realized, and it can be applied to a small timepiece such as a wristwatch. It can also be a long electronic watch.
Further, when the rotation angle at which the elongated hole of the detection light transmitting gear is disposed at a position where the detection light of the optical sensor can pass is set as the reference position of the detection light transmitting gear, a guideline in the manufacturing process Even when a deviation occurs during installation, or when the user manually shifts the reference position of the pointer and the rotation angle of the detection light transmitting gear at the reference position is slightly shifted, the elongated hole has a predetermined direction in the rotation direction. Since it has a length, it is possible to maintain a state in which the detection light of the photosensor can be transmitted. Accordingly, it is possible to efficiently detect the position of the detection hole of the first gear train detection gear.

  In the electronic timepiece of the invention, the first wheel train includes a fifth wheel rotated by a first motor, a second wheel to which a pointer is attached, and a third wheel disposed between the fifth wheel and the second wheel. The fifth wheel, the third wheel, and the second wheel are partially overlapped with each other in a plane, and the detection holes are respectively formed at the positions overlapping in a plane. The fifth wheel, the third wheel, and the second wheel constitute the first gear train detection gear, and the second wheel train is disposed coaxially with the second wheel and attached to the second wheel. It is preferable to provide the detection light transmission gear to which another pointer different from the provided pointer is attached.

  According to the present invention, a minute hand or the like is attached to the second wheel of the first wheel train driven by the first motor, and the detection light transmitting gear of the second wheel train driven by the second motor is A pointer for displaying other information such as a 5-second CG (chronograph) hand can be attached. That is, the pointer driven by the second motor different from the first motor can be provided coaxially with the minute hand, etc., and displays various other information instead of the pointer that displays the time such as the second hand or the hour hand. Guidelines can be provided. For this reason, various displays can be realized on the watch, and the possibility of product development can be improved.

  In the electronic timepiece according to the aspect of the invention, it is preferable that the detection light transmitting gear includes four elongated holes formed at intervals of 90 degrees in a circumferential direction around the rotation center.

  According to the present invention, each elongated hole can be arranged at a symmetrical position with the rotation center in between. Therefore, when the detection light transmitting gear is made of metal and the elongated holes and teeth are formed by press working, The applied stress can be well balanced, and the workability, assembly and accuracy of teeth and long holes can be improved.

In the electronic timepiece according to the aspect of the invention, it is preferable that a length of the light shielding portion between the long holes in the circumferential direction is 1.5 times or more a diameter of the detection hole.
With this setting, the detection hole can be reliably closed by the light shielding portion, and the detection light passing through the detection hole can be reliably shielded.
In addition, what is necessary is just to set the upper limit of the length of the circumferential direction of a light-shielding part according to the dimension and number of long holes.

  The electronic timepiece of the invention includes a rotation control unit that controls driving of the first motor and the second motor, and a detection control unit that controls the operation of the optical sensor, and the rotation control unit and the detection control unit include: The first motor is driven to rotate the first gear train detection gear, and the optical sensor is operated to detect the detection hole. If the detection hole cannot be detected by the optical sensor even if the slow detection gear is rotated once, the second motor is driven to rotate the detection light transmission gear by a set angle to block the detection light of the optical sensor. It is preferable that the detection process of the detection hole is performed by driving the first wheel train and operating the optical sensor after changing the state from the state where the part is shielded from light to pass through the long hole.

Here, the slowest detection gear in the first gear train detection gear of the first gear train means the detection gear when there is one first gear train detection gear, and when there are a plurality of first gear train detection gears, Means the detection gear with the slowest rotation speed. For example, if the first gear train is a reduction gear train, the detection gears that are farthest from the first motor among the plurality of first gear train detection gears.
According to the present invention, if the first gear train detection gear having the slowest rotation speed is rotated once, the detection gear is rotated once even when a plurality of first gear train detection gears are provided. In addition, the timing at which the detection holes of all the first gear train detection gears coincide and move to a position facing the optical sensor always occurs. Therefore, if the detection hole cannot be detected by the optical sensor during that time, the detection light transmission gear blocks the detection light from the optical sensor.
Therefore, by rotating the detection light transmitting gear by a set angle by the second motor, the long hole is opposed to the state where the light shielding portion is opposed to the optical sensor. Therefore, if the first wheel train is driven again and the optical sensor is operated, the detection hole of the first gear train detection gear can be reliably detected.

  Here, the detection control means and the rotation control means detect the detection hole of the first gear train detection gear, then drive the second motor to rotate the detection light transmission gear, and When a detection process of the detection hole is performed by operating an optical sensor and the detection hole cannot be detected, the second motor is driven to rotate the detection light transmission gear by a predetermined angle. And it is preferable to arrange | position the planar position of the detection hole of the said 1st wheel train detection gear in the center position of the circumferential direction of the said long hole.

According to the present invention, if the detection hole cannot be detected when the detection light transmitting gear is rotated, it is determined that the state immediately after the detection hole is blocked by the light shielding portion. That is, it is found that the detection hole is located adjacent to the long hole in the planar position.
Since it is already known at the time of design how many times the detection light transmission gear should be rotated in order to position the detection hole, that is, the optical sensor, at the center position in the circumferential direction of the long hole from that state, the provision is determined. By rotating the detection light transmitting gear by an angle, the planar position of the detection hole of the first gear train detection gear can be arranged at the center position in the circumferential direction of the long hole. Here, when a plurality of long holes are provided, one of the long holes is located at the reference position. In this case, when the predetermined long hole is positioned at the reference position in advance, if the pointer is also set at the reference position, the other long hole is positioned at the reference position, so that the pointer returns to the reference position. It may not be. Even in this case, for example, if the long holes are arranged at intervals of 90 degrees in the rotation direction, the pointer is arranged at any one of the rotation angles of 90, 180, and 270 degrees. In this case, the pointer can be easily returned to the reference position by setting to rotate every 90 degrees.

  The present invention is the above-described electronic timepiece control method, wherein the first motor is driven to rotate the first gear train detection gear, and the optical sensor is operated to detect the detection hole. And when the detection hole cannot be detected by the optical sensor even if the detection gear having the slowest rotation speed is rotated once in the detection gear for the first wheel train, the second motor is driven to transmit the detection light. After rotating the gear by a set angle and changing the detection light of the photosensor from the state where the light shielding portion blocks the light through the elongated hole, the driving of the first wheel train and the operation of the photosensor are performed, The detection hole is detected.

  According to the present invention, similarly to the electronic timepiece, by rotating the detection light transmission gear by a set angle by the second motor, the long hole is opposed to the state where the light shielding portion is opposed to the optical sensor. . Therefore, if the first wheel train is driven again and the optical sensor is operated, the detection hole of the first gear train detection gear can be reliably detected.

  According to the present invention, in the control method, after detecting the detection hole of the first gear train detection gear, the second motor is driven to rotate the detection light transmitting gear, and the optical sensor To detect the detection hole, and when the detection hole cannot be detected, the second motor is driven to rotate the detection light transmission gear by a predetermined angle, The planar position of the detection hole of the first gear train detection gear is arranged at the center position in the circumferential direction of the long hole.

  According to the present invention, like the electronic timepiece, the detection light transmission gear can be easily returned to the reference position, and the pointer attached to the detection light transmission gear can be automatically or simply used by the user. It can be returned to the reference position by simple manual operation.

It is a top view which shows the electronic timepiece which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the top view which looked at the internal structure of the said electronic timepiece from the back cover side. It is a top view which shows the principal part of the drive mechanism of the said electronic timepiece. It is a top view which shows the hour / minute hand drive mechanism of the said electronic timepiece. It is a sectional side view which shows the principal part of the hour / minute hand drive mechanism of the electronic timepiece. It is a top view which shows the 1/5 second CG hand drive mechanism of the said electronic timepiece. It is a figure explaining schematic structure of the optical sensor of the electronic timepiece. It is a top view which shows the 1/5 second CG wheel of the electronic timepiece. It is a flowchart which shows the position detection process of the hour / minute hand of the said electronic timepiece. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the 1/5 second CG vehicle in the position detection process of the said hour / minute hand. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the 1/5 second CG vehicle in the position detection process of the said hour / minute hand. It is a figure explaining the rotation angle lower limit of the 1/5 second CG wheel in the position detection processing of the above-mentioned hour / minute hand. It is a figure explaining the rotation angle upper limit of the 1/5 second CG wheel in the position detection processing of the above-mentioned hour / minute hand. It is a flowchart which shows the reference position movement process of the 1/5 second CG wheel of the electronic timepiece. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the 1/5 second CG vehicle in the reference | standard position movement process of the said 1/5 second CG vehicle. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the 1/5 second CG vehicle in the reference | standard position movement process of the said 1/5 second CG vehicle. It is a top view which shows the modification of this invention. It is a top view which shows the other modification of this invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a plan view of an electronic timepiece 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a view of the internal structure of the electronic timepiece 1 as viewed from the back side with the back cover removed.

1 and 2, an electronic timepiece 1 is a radio wave correction clock with a hand position detection function that receives a standard radio wave as an external signal on which time information is superimposed and corrects a display time. In addition to the 12-hour display based on each minute and second hand, a plurality of display functions of a 24-hour display, a date display, a 1/5 second CG (chronograph) display for performing a stopwatch function, and a minute CG display are provided.
As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic timepiece 1 includes an hour hand 2, a minute hand 3, a small second hand 4 for displaying time for 12 hours, a 24-hour hand 5 for displaying time for 24 hours, a 1/5 second CG hand 6, and a minute CG. A hand 7 and a date wheel 8 for displaying the date are provided.

The electronic timepiece 1 also has an hour / minute hand driving mechanism 20 for driving the hour hand 2, minute hand 3 and 24 hour hand 5, a second hand driving mechanism 30 for driving the small second hand 4, and 1 / for driving the 1/5 second CG hand 6. A 5-second CG hand drive mechanism 40, a minute CG hand drive mechanism 50 that drives the minute CG hand 7, and a calendar drive mechanism 60 that drives the date wheel 8 are provided.
Furthermore, the electronic timepiece 1 includes a secondary battery 9 that drives each drive mechanism 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, an antenna 10 that receives a standard radio wave, and an external operation unit 11 that can be operated by a user from the outside. And the above-mentioned drive mechanisms 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, the secondary battery 9, the ground plate 12 that supports the antenna 10 and the like. The ground plane 12 is formed in a substantially circular planar shape, and each component of the electronic timepiece 1 is disposed on the ground plane 12.
2 is a view of the electronic timepiece 1 as viewed from the side opposite to the time display side (the back cover side). The upper direction is the 3 o'clock direction of the electronic timepiece 1, the lower direction is the 9 o'clock direction, and the right direction is the right direction. The 12 o'clock direction and the left direction are the 6 o'clock direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hour hand 2, the minute hand 3 and the 1/5 second CG hand 6 are provided coaxially and rotatably at the approximate center of the dial 13 of the electronic timepiece 1 (substantially the center of the main plate 12). It has been.
The small second hand 4 is rotatably provided on an axis independent of the hour hand 2 and the minute hand 3 on the 9 o'clock side from the center of the dial 13.
The 24-hour hand 5 is rotatably provided on an axis independent of the hour hand 2 and the minute hand 3 on the 3 o'clock side from the center of the dial 13.
The minute CG hand 7 is rotatably provided on an axis independent of the 1/5 second CG hand 6 on the 6 o'clock side from the center of the dial 13.

[Hour / minute hand drive mechanism]
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the hour / minute hand driving mechanism 20 includes an hour / minute motor 21 that is the first motor of the present invention and an hour / minute hand that is a first wheel train that transmits the driving force from the hour / minute motor 21. And a train wheel train 22. 3 is an enlarged view in which the hour / minute hand driving mechanism 20, the second hand driving mechanism 30 and the 1/5 second CG hand driving mechanism 40 in FIG. 2 are extracted, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the hour / minute hand driving mechanism 20. FIG. 5 is a sectional view mainly showing a train wheel of the hour / minute hand drive mechanism 20.

The hour / minute motor 21 is formed of a general stepping motor, and is disposed at a position approximately 3 o'clock from the center of the electronic timepiece 1.
The hour / minute hand train 22 includes a fifth wheel 23 that meshes with a rotor pinion 211A formed integrally with the rotor 211 of the hour / minute motor 21, a third wheel 24 that meshes with the fifth wheel 23, and a third wheel. A second wheel 25 that meshes with the minute wheel 24, a minute wheel 26 that meshes with the pinion 251 of the second wheel 25, and an hour wheel 27 that meshes with the pinion 261 of the minute wheel 26.
The second wheel 25 and the hour wheel 27 are arranged coaxially with a 1/5 second CG wheel 47 to which a 1/5 second CG hand 6 described later is attached, and the minute hand 3 is fixed to the second wheel 25. . The hour hand 2 is fixed to the hour wheel 27.

  Here, when the hour / minute motor 21 is driven, the rotor 211 rotates, and this rotational motion is transmitted while being decelerated at an appropriate reduction ratio in the order of the rotor kana 211A, fifth wheel 23, third wheel 24, second wheel 25. The second wheel 25 and the minute hand 3 rotate at a speed of making a round in one hour. In addition, the rotational movement of the center wheel 25 is transmitted while being decelerated at an appropriate reduction ratio in the order of the minute wheel 26 and the hour wheel 27, and the hour wheel 27 and the hour hand 2 rotate at a speed of one round in 12 hours. Move.

[24 hour hand drive mechanism]
The 24-hour hand 5 is driven by a 24-hour hand train 28 that transmits the rotation of the hour wheel 27. The 24-hour hand wheel train 28 includes a 24-hour intermediate wheel 281 that meshes with the pinion 271 of the hour wheel 27 integrally formed with the hour wheel 27 and a 24-hour wheel (not shown) that meshes with the 24-hour intermediate wheel 281. With.
The 24-hour wheel is arranged on the dial side of the hour / minute motor 21 in the approximately 3 o'clock direction of the electronic timepiece 1, and the 24-hour hand 5 is fixed. Since the 24-hour intermediate wheel 281 is interposed between the hour wheel 27 and the 24-hour wheel, the hour hand 2 and the 24-hour hand 5 have the same rotation direction.
The reduction ratio of the 24-hour intermediate wheel 281 with respect to the hour wheel 27 is set to 1: 2. The 24-hour wheel is formed to have the same diameter as the 24-hour intermediate wheel 281. The 24-hour wheel and the 24-hour intermediate wheel 281 are driven at the same rotational speed.
For this reason, the rotational movement of the hour wheel 27 is decelerated to 1/2 by the 24-hour intermediate wheel 281 and transmitted to the 24-hour wheel, and the 24-hour wheel and the 24-hour hand 5 rotate at a speed that makes a full turn in 24 hours. Thus, the 24-hour intermediate wheel 281 has a lower rotational speed than the hour wheel 27 with respect to the hour / minute motor 21.

[Second hand drive mechanism]
As shown in FIG. 3, the second hand drive mechanism 30 includes a second motor 31 and a second hand wheel train 32 that transmits a driving force from the second motor 31.

The second motor 31 is also composed of a general stepping motor, and is disposed at a position in the direction of about 8 o'clock from the center of the electronic timepiece 1.
The second hand wheel train 32 includes a second intermediate wheel 33 that meshes with a rotor pinion 311 </ b> A formed integrally with a rotor 311 of a second motor 31, and a second wheel 34 (fourth wheel) that meshes with the second intermediate wheel 33. ing. A small second hand 4 (FIG. 1) is fixed to the second wheel 34.

  Here, when the second motor 31 is driven, the rotor 311 rotates, and this rotational motion is transmitted while being decelerated at an appropriate reduction ratio in the order of the rotor kana 311A, the second intermediate wheel 33, and the second wheel 34, and the small second hand 4 is transmitted for 60 seconds. Rotate at a speed that makes a full circle.

[1/5 second CG hand drive mechanism]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the 1/5 second CG hand drive mechanism 40 generates a drive force from the 1/5 second CG motor 41, which is the second motor of the present invention, and the 1/5 second CG motor 41. 1/5 second CG hand wheel train 42 as a second train wheel for transmission.

The 1/5 second CG motor 41 is also formed of a general stepping motor, and is disposed at a position in the direction of about 5 o'clock from the center of the electronic timepiece 1.
The 1/5 second CG hand train wheel 42 meshes with a first intermediate wheel 43 that meshes with a rotor pinion 411A formed integrally with a rotor 411 of a 1/5 second CG motor 41. A second intermediate wheel 44, a third intermediate wheel 45 that meshes with the second intermediate wheel 44, a fourth intermediate wheel 46 that meshes with the third intermediate wheel 45, and a 1/5 second CG wheel 47 that meshes with the fourth intermediate wheel 46. ing. A 1/5 second CG hand 6 (FIG. 1) is fixed to the 1/5 second CG wheel 47.

  Here, when the 1/5 second CG motor 41 is driven, the rotor 411 rotates, and this rotational motion is appropriate in the order of the rotor kana 411A, the first intermediate wheel 43 to the fourth intermediate wheel 46, and the 1/5 second CG wheel 47. The CG hand 6 is transmitted while being decelerated at a reduction ratio, and the 1/5 second CG hand 6 moves one step every 1/5 second, and rotates at a speed of making a round in 60 seconds.

[Minute CG hand drive mechanism]
As shown in FIG. 2, the minute CG hand driving mechanism 50 includes a minute CG motor 51 and a minute CG needle wheel train 52 that transmits the driving force from the minute CG motor 51.

The minute CG motor 51 is also composed of a general stepping motor, and is arranged at a position in the direction of about 6 o'clock from the center of the electronic timepiece 1.
The minute CG hand train 52 includes a first intermediate wheel 53 that meshes with a rotor pinion 511 </ b> A formed integrally with a rotor 511 of the minute CG motor 51, and a minute CG wheel 54 that meshes with the first intermediate wheel 53. I have. A minute CG hand 7 (FIG. 1) is fixed to the minute CG wheel 54.

  Here, when the minute CG motor 51 is driven, the rotor 511 rotates, and this rotational motion is transmitted while being decelerated at an appropriate reduction ratio in the order of the rotor kana 511A, the first intermediate wheel 53, and the minute CG wheel 54, and the minute CG hand. 7 moves one step every 60 seconds, and rotates at a speed of making a round in 60 minutes.

[Calendar drive mechanism]
As shown in FIG. 2, the calendar drive mechanism 60 includes a calendar motor 61 and a calendar wheel train 62 that transmits the driving force from the calendar motor 61.

The calendar motor 61 is also composed of a general stepping motor, and is arranged at a position approximately 11:00 from the center of the electronic timepiece 1.
The calendar wheel train 62 includes a first intermediate wheel 63 that meshes with a rotor pinion 611A formed integrally with the rotor 611 of the calendar motor 61, a second intermediate wheel 64 that meshes with the first intermediate wheel 63, and a second intermediate wheel. An unillustrated date driving wheel that meshes with the wheel 64 and a ring-shaped date wheel 8 having internal teeth that mesh with the date driving wheel are provided.
The date wheel 8 is printed with numerals representing the date, and a part of the date wheel 8 is visible from the window portion of the dial 13. The dial plate 13 is made of a light-transmitting material such as glass or plastic. As shown in FIG. 5, power generation is performed between the dial plate 13 and the ground plate 12 by incident light. A solar panel 14 is arranged as a means. When the solar panel 14 is not disposed on the back side of the dial plate 13, the dial plate 13 does not have to be light transmissive, and is not limited to plastic and may be made of metal. However, since the dial 13 is directly above the radio wave receiving antenna 10, it is preferable that the dial 13 is made of plastic or the like in order to improve radio wave reception performance.

The electric power generated by the solar panel 14 is charged in the secondary battery 9. The secondary battery 9 is arranged in the approximately 1 o'clock direction of the electronic timepiece 1 and is arranged at a position relatively distant from the antenna 10.
The gears provided in each of the drive mechanisms 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 are made of metal or plastic. If a metal gear is used, the timepiece 1 can be thinned because the thickness can be reduced while ensuring rigidity that is not damaged by an impact applied when the electronic timepiece 1 is dropped. On the other hand, when a plastic gear is used, the thickness is increased to ensure the rigidity as compared with the case where a metal gear is used, but the cost can be reduced and the antenna 10 can receive signals. Sensitivity can be improved.

[Needle position detection mechanism]
Next, the needle position detection mechanism of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 7, in this embodiment, an hour / minute hand light sensor 71, a 24-hour hand light sensor 72, and a second hand light sensor 73, which are optical sensors, are provided in the present invention.
Each optical sensor 71, 72, 73 includes a light emitting element 711, 721, 731 and a light receiving element 712, 722, 732, respectively, and is controlled by a detection control means 81.
The motors 21, 31, 41, 51, 61 are driven and controlled by the rotation control means 80.

The hour / minute hand light sensor 71 indicates that the hour hand 2 and the minute hand 3 driven by the hour / minute motor 21 and the hour / minute hand train 22 are in a reference position, specifically, a 12 o'clock position (0: 0 or 12: 0). Position).
The 24-hour hand light sensor 72 is a reference position of the 24-hour hand 5 driven by the 24-hour hand train 28 to which the rotation of the hour / minute hand train 22 is transmitted, specifically, from 23:00 to 24:00 (described later). (0 o'clock).
The second hand light sensor 73 detects that the small second hand 4 driven by the second motor 31 and the second hand wheel train 32 is located at the reference position, specifically, the 0 second position.

Hereinafter, each optical sensor will be described in detail.
[Hour / minute hand light sensor]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the fifth wheel 23, third wheel 24, second wheel 25, and hour wheel 27 have detection holes 23 </ b> A used for detection by the hour / minute hand light sensor 71, respectively, in areas overlapping each other. , 24A, 25A, and 27A are formed.
When the hour hand 2 and the minute hand 3 are arranged at the 12 o'clock position, the positions of the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, and 27A are set to coincide with each other. That is, the reference position of the hour hand 2 and the minute hand 3 is set to the 12 o'clock position.
These fifth wheel 23, third wheel 24, second wheel 25, and hour wheel 27 constitute the first gear train detection gear of the present invention.

  A transmission type hour / minute hand light sensor 71 is provided at a position where the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, and 27A coincide. The hour / minute hand light sensor 71 includes a light emitting element 711 (light emitting means) and a light receiving element 712 (light receiving means). The light emitting element 711 and the light receiving element 712 include a 1/5 second CG wheel 47, a fifth wheel 23, The third wheel 24, the second wheel 25, and the hour wheel 27 are provided on both sides in the thickness direction, and are arranged to face each other with these interposed therebetween.

The light emitting element 711 is mounted on a circuit block 71 </ b> A disposed between the ground plane 12 and the solar panel 14. The light receiving element 712 is mounted on a circuit block 72 </ b> A disposed on the back cover side of the ground plane 12. Five wheels 47, 23, 24, 25, 27 are arranged between the light emitting element 711 and the light receiving element 712.
The base plate 12 is also provided with a light transmitting hole 12 </ b> A (FIG. 5) so as not to disturb the light transmission of the hour / minute hand light sensor 71. Although not shown in the drawings, on the back cover side (the upper side in FIG. 5) of the third wheel & pinion 24, a train wheel bridge that pivotally supports each gear is provided. A translucent hole that does not hinder the translucency of the light is provided.

[1/5 second CG car structure]
In addition, the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 of the 1/5 second CG hand drive mechanism 40 is arranged coaxially with the second wheel 25 and the hour wheel 27 and is formed to have substantially the same size. A region overlapping each detection hole 23A, 24A, 25A, 27A is provided.
For this reason, in the 1/5 second CG wheel 47, as shown in FIG. 8, four light transmitting long holes 471 to 474 for transmitting light from the light emitting element 711 are formed.
Each of the long holes 471 to 474 is extended along the movement locus (rotation locus) R (circumference R around the rotation center of the 1/5 second CG wheel 47) of the detection hole 25A of the coaxial second wheel 25. It is a long hole. And when each said matched detection hole 23A, 24A, 25A, 27A is arrange | positioned in the plane of each long hole 471-474, each detection hole 23A, 24A, 25A, 27A is not hidden. It is configured as follows. For this reason, when the positions of the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, and 27A coincide with each other and are disposed in the plane of any one of the long holes 471 to 474, the light from the light emitting element 711 is transmitted. The light-receiving element 712 is configured to pass through each of the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, and 27A and further pass through one of the long holes 471 to 474.

The long holes 471 to 474 are arranged at equal intervals (90 degree intervals) in the circumferential direction with respect to the rotation center of the 1/5 second CG wheel 47. Further, the length dimension of each of the long holes 471 to 474 in the circumferential direction (the direction along the rotation locus R) is larger than the diameter of the detection hole 25A, and the length of the long holes 471 to 474 in the radial direction. The size is also larger than the diameter of the detection hole 25A, and the detection light passing through the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, and 27A can be transmitted.
Further, the bridge portion 475 between the long holes 471 to 474 is set such that the circumferential length thereof is larger than the diameter of the detection hole 25A. Therefore, when each of the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, and 27A is positioned so as to overlap the bridge portion 475, the light that has passed through the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, and 27A from the light emitting element 711 is bridged. It is blocked by the part 475 so as not to reach the light receiving element 712.
Therefore, the light shielding portion of the present invention is constituted by the bridge portion 475, and the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 having the light shielding portion and the long holes 471 to 474 constitutes a detection light transmitting gear.
The length L1 in the circumferential direction of the bridge portion 475 is, for example, a clearance dimension of 0.15 mm in the clock cross-sectional direction from the fifth wheel 23 to the 1/5 second CG wheel 47, and the detection hole 23A of the fifth wheel 23. When the diameter of the light-emitting element is 0.5 mm, it is preferable to set the diameter of the detection hole 23A to 1.5 times or more (0.75 mm or more) from the viewpoint that light from the light-emitting element 711 can be surely blocked.

  Each of the long holes 471 to 474 is formed on the center side (inner peripheral side) of the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 in a straight line perpendicular to the radial direction of the 1/5 second CG wheel 47, and the outer peripheral side is the detection hole. An arc having a larger curvature than the curvature of the movement locus R of 25A is formed. For this reason, the outer circumference of the long holes 471 to 474 has the center position in the circumferential direction closest to the outer circumference of the 1/5 second CG wheel 47, and the radial dimension W2 of the portion is that of the long holes 471 to 474. It is smaller than the dimension W3 in the radial direction between both ends and the outer periphery of the 1/5 second CG wheel 47.

By configuring the long holes 471 to 474 as described above, the workability and assembly of the gear can be improved. That is, it is necessary for the long holes 471 to 474 not to block the light from the light emitting element 711 when detecting the hour / minute hands position, and the position of the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 at the time of detecting the hour / minute hands position is slightly shifted. However, it is preferable to make it as large as possible so that light can be transmitted.
On the other hand, in order to ensure the function and rigidity of the gear, a bridge portion 475 that connects the center of the gear and the tooth portion is required, and the length L1 of the bridge portion 475 is also required to have a certain length as described above. It becomes. That is, when the bridge portion 475 is made thin, even if the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, and 27A overlap with the bridge portion 475, part of the light from the light emitting element 711 is transmitted and received by the light receiving element 712. There is a fear. If the amount of light received at this time changes only by the light-shielding area of the bridge portion 475, it is possible to detect that the bridge portion 475 overlaps from the amount of light received, but in reality, the light emitting element 711 and the light receiving element Since the amount of light also changes due to fluctuations in the power supply voltage that drives the 712 and a decrease in the opening area of the detection hole due to the phase shift of the fifth wheel 23, third wheel 24, etc., accurate detection cannot be performed and reliability is improved. Lack. For this reason, in this embodiment, it is necessary to set the length dimension L1 of the bridge portion 475 to a predetermined value or more so that light can be reliably shielded when the bridge portion 475 overlaps the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, and 27A. is there.

  Under such conditions, the metal 1/5 second CG wheel 47 needs to form the long holes 471 to 474 and teeth by press working. At this time, if the long hole is formed at a position deviated from the center of the 1/5 second CG wheel 47, the stress applied to the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 at the time of press processing also varies. descend. For this reason, it is preferable that the long holes are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Further, considering the length of the long holes and the length of the bridge, it is desirable to form three or more long holes. In particular, when a long hole is formed by press working, if the long hole is formed even at a position symmetrical with respect to the rotation center of the 1/5 second CG wheel 47, variations in how stress is applied can be reduced. Therefore, it is most preferable to form the four long holes 471 to 474 at intervals of 90 degrees in the circumferential direction as in this embodiment.

  As described above, the fifth wheel 23, the third wheel 24, the second wheel 25, and the hour wheel 27 are rotated so that the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, and 27A coincide with each other, and further, a 1/5 second CG wheel. Detection light is emitted from the light emitting element 711 of the hour / minute hand light sensor 71 in a state where the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, 27A are arranged in a plane in the plane of any one of the long holes 471 to 474. The light receiving element 712 passes through the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, 27A and the long holes 471-474. For this reason, it is detected that the hour hand 2 and the minute hand 3 are at the 12 o'clock position, that is, the reference position.

[Second hand light sensor]
The second hand drive mechanism 30 is also provided with a second hand light sensor 73 as a detection mechanism for detecting the second hand position.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the second intermediate wheel 33 and the second wheel 34 are respectively formed with detection holes 33A and 34A in areas where they overlap each other. The detection holes 33A and 34A are set to coincide with each other when the small second hand 4 is arranged at the 12 o'clock position, that is, once per minute. A transmission-type second hand light sensor 73 similar to the hour / minute hand light sensor 71 is provided at a position where the detection holes 33A and 34A coincide with each other. The second hand light sensor 73 detects the 12 o'clock position of the small second hand 4, that is, the reference position.

[24 hour hand light sensor]
Furthermore, in this embodiment, a mechanism for detecting the position of the 24-hour hand 5 is also provided.
That is, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 7, a detection hole 281 </ b> A is formed in the 24-hour intermediate wheel 281 of the 24-hour hand train wheel 28. The 24-hour intermediate wheel 281 rotates once in 24 hours, and the detection hole 281A is located at any position between the 24:00 hand and 24:00 (midnight). It is provided in a region that does not overlap any of the cars. Further, the detection hole 281A has the detection light of the 24-hour hand light sensor 72 provided for detecting the position of the 24-hour hand, regardless of the position of the 24-hour hand 5 from 23:00 to 24:00. The inner diameter is such that it can pass through 281A. In the present embodiment, the detection hole 281A is a circular hole, but may be an elliptical hole or a long hole. Thus, the state in which the 24-hour intermediate wheel 281 is in the position from 23:00 to 24:00 is set as the state in which the 24-hour intermediate wheel 281 of the present invention is in the reference position.

A transmission type 24-hour hand light sensor 72 similar to the hour / minute hand light sensor 71 is provided at the position of the detection hole 281A. Here, when the 24-hour intermediate wheel 281 rotates and the detection hole 281A moves to the position of the 24-hour hand light sensor 72, the detection light from the light emitting element 721 of the 24-hour hand light sensor 72 passes through the detection hole 281A and is received. Light is received by the element 722. Therefore, it can be detected that the 24-hour hand 5 is currently located between 23:00 and 24:00.
The 24-hour hand light sensor 72 is not necessarily provided in the present invention, but if provided, the following advantages are obtained.
First, by using the hour / minute hand light sensor 71 for detecting the hour / minute hand every 12 hours (0 and 12:00) and the 24-hour hand light sensor 72, the time when the light sensor 71 detects the hour / minute hand light sensor 72 is used. It can be determined whether the minute hand is at 00:00 (0) or 00:00 (12:00).
Secondly, if the position of the hour / minute hand is detected when the 24-hour hand 5 is positioned at 23:00 to 24:00 by the 24-hour hand light sensor 72, the time for detecting the position of the hour / minute hand can be shortened.

  Each of the above-described optical sensors 71, 72, and 73 is not limited to a transmissive optical sensor, and for example, a reflective optical sensor may be used. As a sensor for detecting the position of the 24-hour hand 5, a magnetic pattern is formed on the circumference of the 24-hour intermediate wheel 281, and the position of the 24-hour hand 281, that is, the 24-hour hand 5 is detected by reading this magnetic pattern. May be.

[Needle position detection operation]
Next, the needle position detection operation will be described. The hand position detection operation includes a first detection mode that is performed during normal hand movement, a second detection mode that is performed when the pointer is corrected when the electronic timepiece 1 is not correctly detected during assembly and manufacturing, system reset, or steady hand movement. There is.

[First detection mode]
In the first detection mode, the detection control unit 81 operates the optical sensors 71, 72, and 73 in conjunction with the operations of the hour hand 2, the minute hand 3, the small second hand 4, and the 24-hour hand 5 by the rotation control unit 80.
That is, the rotation control means 80 drives the motors 21 and 31 in conjunction with the internal timepiece which is timed by counting the reference signal output from the quartz oscillator provided in the electronic timepiece 1. Yes. For this reason, the detection control means 81 operates the second hand light sensor 73 at a timing (every minute) when the second counter of the internal clock becomes 0 second, and the small second hand 4 is located at the reference position (0 second position). Make sure.
Further, the rotation control means 80 operates the hour / minute hand light sensors 71 and 72 at the timing (every 12 hours) when the hour / minute counter of the internal clock becomes 0:00 (midnight) and 12:00 (midnight), It is confirmed whether the hour hand 2 and the minute hand 3 are located at the reference position (12 o'clock position) and whether it is 0 o'clock or 12 o'clock.
As described above, it can be confirmed that there is no deviation in the instructions of the hour hand 2, the minute hand 3, and the small second hand 4 during normal hand movement.

The hour / minute hand light sensor 71 is executed in a state where the chronograph function is stopped and the 1/5 second CG hand 6 is located at the reference position (12 o'clock position). At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, when the hour hand 2 and the minute hand 3 are located at the 12 o'clock position, the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 has the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, 27A (in FIG. 8 and subsequent figures, the matching detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, and 27A are abbreviated as “detection holes 25A”) are arranged at the center position of the long hole 471. Is set to
That is, when the 1/5 second CG hand 6 is attached to the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 in the state of FIG. 8, the 1/5 second CG hand 6 is positioned at the 12 o'clock position (reference position). The light from the light emitting element 711 of the minute hand light sensor 71 is set to pass through the long hole 471. Accordingly, the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 does not prevent the position detection of the hour hand 2 and the minute hand 3 by the hour / minute hand light sensor 71.

  In addition, since the long hole 471 is a long hole extending in the circumferential direction, the user has shifted the reference position of the 1/5 second CG hand 6 by about 1 to 2 degrees by manual setting, so that 1/5. When the second CG hand 6 returns to the reference position, even if the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 moves to a position rotated by 1 to 2 degrees from the state of FIG. Therefore, the position detection can be performed without any problem.

[Second detection mode]
On the other hand, in the process of assembling the electronic timepiece 1 at the factory, when the gears are moved to the reference position in order to attach the pointer to each wheel train, or the reference position is shifted due to strong impact or external magnetic field on the timepiece. For this reason, when the system is reset, the rotational angle positions of the gears are not known. Therefore, the detection control unit 81 and the rotation control unit 80 perform the hour hand 2 and the minute hand 3 according to the procedure described in the flowchart of FIG. The needle position is detected.

  When the hour / minute hand position detection process in the second detection mode is started, the rotation control means 80 drives the hour / minute motor 21 to fast-forward (S1). The detection control means 81 operates the 24-hour hand light sensor 72 every time the 24-hour intermediate wheel 281 rotating through the hour-minute hand train 22 is rotated by a predetermined angle by the hour / minute motor 21, Position detection is performed (S2). The predetermined angle is, for example, 5 degrees. Since the 24-hour intermediate wheel 281 rotates once in 24 hours, when it rotates 5 degrees, the 24-hour hand 5 rotates by 1/3 hour (20 minutes).

Then, the detection control means 81 determines whether or not the detection hole 281A of the 24-hour intermediate wheel 281 has been detected based on the output from the light receiving element 722 of the 24-hour hand light sensor 72 (S3). Here, when the detection hole 281A cannot be detected (in the case of “No” in S3), the rotation control means 80 and the detection control means 81 continue the processes of S1 and S2.
On the other hand, when the detection hole 281A can be detected (in the case of “Yes” in S3), the detection control means 81 initializes a variable N indicating the number of hour / minute hand position detections to 0 (S4). Further, the rotation control means 80 drives the hour / minute motor 21 step by step (S5), and each time the detection control means 81 activates the hour / minute hand light sensor 71 to detect the positions of the hour hand 2 and the minute hand 3 ( S6). Further, the detection control means 81 adds “1” to the position detection count N and updates it (S7).

The detection control means 81 determines whether or not the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, and 27A have been detected by the hour / minute hand light sensor 71 (S8). Here, when the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, 27A can be detected by the hour / minute hand light sensor 71 (in the case of “Yes” in S8), the detection control means 81 ends the position detection of the hour / minute hands.
On the other hand, if the hour / minute hand light sensor 71 cannot detect the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, and 27A (“No” in S8), the detection control means 81 determines whether N is less than a predetermined value. Judgment is made (S9).

Here, N is the number of steps of the hour / minute motor 21 when S5 is repeatedly executed. Therefore, the predetermined value of S9 is not shielded by the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 if the hour / minute motor 21 is driven by the predetermined number of steps after detecting the detection hole 281A of the 24-hour intermediate wheel 281. In this case, the number of steps is set so that the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, and 27A can be surely detected by the hour / minute hand light sensor 71.
In this embodiment, the minute hand 3 is set to move 1 minute when the hour / minute motor 21 is driven 12 steps, and the predetermined value is 1080 (the number of steps to move the hour hand 2 and the minute hand 3 by 90 minutes). = 12 × 90). As a result, after the detection hole 281A is detected by the 24-hour hand light sensor 72 and it becomes clear that it is 23:00, if the hour / minute motor 21 is moved 1080 steps = 90 minutes, the state will always be 24:00:00. The positions of the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, and 27A should match and be detected by the hour / minute hand light sensor 71. Therefore, when the position of the hour / minute hand cannot be detected even when N = 1080, it is determined that the detection light of the hour / minute hand light sensor 71 is shielded by the CG wheel 47 for 1/5 second.

  Then, if N is less than the predetermined value (1080) (in the case of “Yes” in S9), the detection control unit 81 returns to the process of S5, and the rotation control unit 80 drives the hour / minute motor 21 by one step. (S5), the process of detecting the position of the hour / minute hand by operating the hour / minute hand light sensor 71 by the detection control means 81 (S6), the process of adding “1” to N (S7), and the position of the hour / minute hand can be detected. The determination process (S8) is repeatedly executed.

On the other hand, when N becomes a predetermined value (1080) and it is determined “No” in S9, the rotation control means 80 drives the hour / minute motor 21 in N (= 1080) steps in reverse rotation (S10).
That is, as described above, when the position of the hour / minute hand cannot be detected even when N = 1080, the long holes 471 to 474 of the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 are different from the detection holes 25A and the like as shown in FIG. This is a case where the bridge portion 475 of the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 is blocking the light from the light emitting element 711.

Accordingly, the rotation control means 80 drives the hour / minute motor 21 in N-step reverse rotation to return the gears 23, 24, 25, 27, 281 and the hour hand 2 and the minute hand 3 to their original positions (S10), 1 / The 5-second CG motor 41 is operated to move the 1 / 5-second CG wheel 47 by a set angle (S11). That is, as shown in FIG. 11, the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, 1/5 second CG wheel 47 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction (arrow direction) in FIG. The long hole 471 moves to the position of 27A and overlaps in a plane.
Thereby, since the light from the light emitting element 711 is not blocked by the 1/5 second CG wheel 47, the rotation control means 80 and the detection control means 81 again perform the detection process from S1, thereby The position can be reliably detected.

If the set angle is less than the set angle, the planar positions of the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, and 27A are adjacent to the bridge portion 475 from the bridge portion 475 even if the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 rotates. The angle that does not move to the part and cannot be detected by the hour / minute hand light sensor 71 is set as the lower limit value.
On the other hand, when the angle is larger than the set angle, when the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 is rotated, the planar position of the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, 27A exceeds the one long hole and the next bridge portion. The angle that has moved to 475 and cannot be detected by the hour / minute hand light sensor 71 is defined as the upper limit value.

For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the lower limit value R1 of the set angle is the case where the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, and 27A are located at positions away from the long holes 471 in the bridge portion 475 and the long holes of the long holes 471. The rotation angle R1 is the same as that when the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, and 27A are present at the end portion on the 474 side.
Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the upper limit value R2 of the set angle is determined when the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, and 27A are located near the long holes 471 in the bridge portion 475 and the long holes 472 of the long holes 471. The rotation angle R2 is the same as that when the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, and 27A are present at the end on the side.

After detecting the position of the hour / minute hand in the above procedure, the angular position of the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 is corrected, and the reference position moving process of the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 is performed. This process will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.
The rotation control means 80 drives the 1/5 second CG motor 41 (S21), and the detection control means 81 activates the hour / minute hand light sensor 71 to detect the positions of the hour hand 2 and the minute hand 3 (S22).
Then, the detection control means 81 determines whether or not detection by the hour / minute hand light sensor 71 can no longer be performed (S23).

Here, in the flowchart of FIG. 9, since the process is completed with the hour / minute position detected, the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, and 27A are planar when the 1/5 second CG motor 41 is started. The hour and minute hand light sensor 71 is located in the long hole 471.
If the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, and 27A are out of the position of the long hole 471 with the rotation of the 1/5 second CG wheel 47, the hour / minute hand light sensor 71 cannot be detected. For example, from the state shown in FIG. 11, the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 rotates counterclockwise (arrow direction) in FIG. 11, and the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, 27A are elongated holes as shown in FIG. At the time when it deviates from 471, the detection light from the light emitting element 711 is completely blocked by the bridge portion 475 and cannot be detected by the hour / minute hand light sensor 71. In this state, the angular positions of the long holes 471 to 474 with respect to the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, and 27A become clear.

Therefore, the processing of S21 and S22 is repeated until the hour / minute hand position cannot be detected by the hour / minute hand light sensor 71 in S23, and if the hour / minute hand position cannot be detected in S23, the rotation control means 80 The 1/5 second CG motor 41 is operated to rotate the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 by a predetermined angle (S24).
For example, as shown in FIG. 16, when the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 is rotated counterclockwise, if the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 is rotated by an angle R3, the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A are rotated. 27A can move the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 to a position where it moves to the center position in the longitudinal direction (circumferential direction) of the next slot 472. The 1/5 second CG wheel 47 is rotated by a specified angle in the clockwise direction so that the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, and 27A move to the center position in the longitudinal direction (circumferential direction) of the long hole 471. Good.

In the factory, when the above processing is performed at the stage before attaching the hands, the hour hand 2, the minute hand 3, and the 24-hour hand 5 are set to the 12 o'clock position (reference position) with the state shown in FIG. It only has to be attached to face.
On the other hand, at the time of system reset, the hour hand 2 and the minute hand 3 move to the 12:00 position by the above processing, but the 24-hour hand 5 has four long holes 471 to 474, and any of the long holes 471 to 474 is the detection hole 23A. , 24A, 25A, and 27A depends on the state at the time of stoppage. However, since the 24-hour hand 5 is disposed at any one of the 12 o'clock position, the 3 o'clock position, the 6 o'clock position, and the 9 o'clock position, for example, the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 can be manually operated by the user. The 24-hour hand 5 may be returned to the 12 o'clock position by controlling to rotate every 90 degrees, and that position may be set as the reference position.
As described above, the hour hand 2, the minute hand 3, and the 24-hour hand 5 are set at correct reference positions.

  The position of the small second hand 4 may be detected by driving the second motor 31 step by step and operating the second hand light sensor 73 to detect the position where the detection holes 33A and 34A coincide.

[Effects of this embodiment]
According to this embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.
Detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, and 27A are respectively formed in the fifth wheel 23, third wheel 24, second wheel 25, and hour wheel 27 that are driven by the hour / minute motor 21, and the detection light of the hour / minute hand light sensor 71 is used. When detecting, since the long holes 471 to 474 are formed in the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 coaxial with the second wheel 25 and driven by the 1/5 second CG motor 41, the optical sensor 71 If the rotation angle at which the long holes 471 to 474 are arranged at positions where the detection light can be transmitted is used as the reference position of the 1/5 second CG wheel 47, a deviation occurs when the pointer is attached in the manufacturing process. Even if the user manually shifts the reference position of the pointer and the rotation angle of the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 at the reference position is slightly shifted, the long holes 471 to 474 have a predetermined length in the rotation direction. Since the optical sensor 71 is provided, Idemitsu can be maintained permeable state.
That is, when detecting the position of the hour / minute hand, the position of the hour / minute hand can be detected even if the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 is slightly deviated from the reference position. Can be done.

In addition, when an impact is applied to the electronic timepiece 1, the reference position changes due to the influence of an external magnetic field, or when a system reset occurs due to a decrease in power supply voltage or user operation, 1/5 second. In some cases, the rotation of the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 is stopped in a state where the bridge portion 475 of the CG wheel 47 is disposed at a position facing the hour / minute hand light sensor 71.
Even in such a case, according to the present embodiment, if the hour / minute hand light sensor 71 cannot detect while the hour / minute motor 21 is driven and the hour wheel 27 makes one rotation, the 1/5 second CG wheel 47. Can grasp that the bridge portion 475 is in a position facing the hour / minute hand light sensor 71. Since the positional relationship and the dimensional relationship between the bridge portion 475 and the long holes 471 to 474 are known in advance at the time of designing, the bridge portion 475 is rotated by the set angle by rotating the CG wheel 47 by a set angle. Can be shifted from the state of facing one of the long holes 471 to 474 to the state of facing the optical sensor 71. Therefore, if the hour / minute motor 21 and the hour / minute hand light sensor 71 are driven again, it is possible to reliably detect the hour / minute hand position while the hour wheel 27 rotates once.
Therefore, when the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 is provided with a detection hole having the same size as the detection hole 23A, the position of the hour / minute hand each time the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 rotating once in 300 steps is moved by one step. In the case of detection, there is a possibility that the process of detecting the hour / minute hand by rotating the hour hand 2 once will be repeated up to 300 times, but in this embodiment, the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 is moved twice at the maximum. Thus, that is, the hour / minute hand position can be detected only by rotating the hour hand 2 at most twice, and the detection time can be greatly shortened.

  Furthermore, since the 1/5 second CG hand wheel train 42 including the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 is not provided with an optical sensor, space efficiency can be improved and power saving can be realized. For this reason, the electronic timepiece 1 can be used as a small wristwatch having a long duration.

  In addition, since the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 is formed with four long holes 471 to 474 formed at intervals of 90 degrees in the circumferential direction, each of the long holes 471 to 474 has a symmetrical position across the rotation center. Can be placed. For this reason, when manufacturing the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 by forming the long holes 471 to 474 and teeth from the metal plate by press working, the balance of the stress applied to the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 can be improved, Workability, assembly, and accuracy can be improved.

  Further, the length of the bridge portion 475 in the circumferential direction, that is, the length between the long holes 471 to 474 is about twice the diameter of the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, and 27A. Since it is 5 times or more, the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, 27A can be reliably closed by the bridge portion 475, and the detection light passing through the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, 27A can be surely shielded. it can. Therefore, it can be determined with certainty that the bridge portion 475 of the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 is at a position facing the hour / minute hand light sensor 71.

  Further, after the hour / minute hand position is detected by the hour / minute hand position detection process shown in FIG. 9, the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 shown in FIG. 6 can be moved to a position indicating any of 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, and 9 o'clock. Therefore, if there is a 1/5 second CG hand 6 at the 12 o'clock position, it automatically returns to the reference position as it is, and even if there is a 1/5 second CG hand 6 at another position, By providing a function of rotating the 1/5 second CG hand 6 by 90 degrees each time it is pressed once, it can be easily returned to the reference position, and convenience can be enhanced.

Further, a detection hole 281A is formed in a 24-hour intermediate wheel 281 that rotates once in 24 hours, and a 24-hour hand light sensor 72 that detects the detection hole 281A is provided, so that the state where the 24-hour hand 5 has reached 24:00 can be detected. Thus, when the hour / minute hand position detected every 12 hours is detected, it is possible to determine whether it is 0 o'clock (24 o'clock) or 12 o'clock, that is, AM / PM.
In addition, when detecting the hour / minute hand position, first the detection hole 281A of the 24-hour intermediate wheel 281 is detected, and the hour / minute hand light sensor 71 is operated during the detection to detect the position of the hour / minute hand. Therefore, it is not necessary to continue operating the hour / minute hand light sensor 71 while the hour hand 2 makes one rotation, while the hour hand 2 indicates from 23:00 to 24:00 (from 11:00 to 12:00 in the dial 13). Only the hour / minute hand light sensor 71 needs to be activated. For this reason, power consumption can be significantly reduced. In addition, the detection hole 281A can be detected by the 24-hour hand light sensor 72 while the size of the detection hole 281A is adjusted and the 24-hour hand 5 indicates from 23:00 to 24:00, so that the detection hole 281A is not detected. The 24-hour intermediate wheel 281 can be driven at a fast feed. For this reason, the time for detecting the needle position can be further shortened.

[Modification of the present invention]
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and modifications, improvements, and the like within the scope that can achieve the object of the present invention are included in the present invention.
In the above embodiment, the four long holes 471 to 474 are formed in the 1/5 second CG wheel 47. However, one long hole 476 may be formed as shown in FIG. May form two, three, or five or more long holes.
Even in such a case, if the rotation angle of the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 is set according to the length of the long hole 476 in the circumferential direction, the distance between the long holes 476 on the rotation locus R of the detection hole 25A is set. By rotating the CG wheel 47 once or several times from the state where the light of the hour / minute hand light sensor 71 is blocked by the bridge portion 475, the slot 476 is formed at a position facing the hour / minute hand light sensor 71. Can be moved.
For example, in FIG. 17, when the angle θ connecting the center of the detection hole 25A disposed at both ends of the long hole 476 and the center of the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 is 120 degrees, the set angle is the angle. What is necessary is just to be below θ. For example, when the set angle is 110 degrees, the long hole 476 can be moved to a position facing the hour / minute hand light sensor 71 by rotating the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 1-3 times.
In particular, when the number of the long holes 476 is one, the reference position movement process of the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 shown in FIG. 14 is always performed, the state shown in FIG. Since the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 can be rotated so that the positions correspond to the detection holes 23A, 24A, 25A, 27A, the 1/5 second CG hand 6 is always in the reference position (12 o'clock position). ), And there is no need for the user to manually return it, so the convenience can be further improved.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although each long hole 471-474 was arrange | positioned at equal intervals, you may arrange | position by changing the length of each bridge | bridging part 475 as shown in FIG. In this case, the length of each bridge portion 475 is detected by detecting the hour / minute hand light sensor 71 while rotating the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 by the diameter of each detection hole 23A, 24A, 25A, 27A. be able to. Since the length of each bridge portion 475 is different, it is possible to grasp which bridge portion 475 is currently opposed to the hour / minute hand light sensor 71, and the rotation angle for returning one long hole 471 to the reference position is also possible. Prove. Therefore, the 1/5 second CG hand 6 can be automatically returned to the reference position.

  In the above embodiment, the reference position moving process of the 1/5 second CG wheel 47 shown in FIG. 14 is performed, but this process may not be performed. In this case, after the hour / minute hand position detection process in FIG. 9 is performed, the user may manually return the 1/5 second CG hand 6 to the reference position.

  In the embodiment described above, the detection hole 281A is formed in the 24-hour intermediate wheel 281 and the 24-hour hand light sensor 72 for detecting the detection hole 281A is provided. However, these configurations may not be provided. However, in this case, since it takes time to detect the position of the hour / minute hands, it is preferable to configure as in the above embodiment in order to shorten the processing time.

  Further, the pointer arranged coaxially with the minute hand attached to the center wheel & pinion 25 is not limited to the 1/5 second CG hand 6. That is, since the train wheel 42 is independently driven by the motor 41, it is possible to provide a pointer that indicates various information that may be displayed on the timepiece.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the case where the pointer disposed at the center of the timepiece and the other hands are disposed coaxially, but small hands such as the small second hand 4, the 24-hour hand 5 and the minute CG hand 7 in the above-described embodiment. In addition, the present invention may be applied when other pointers are arranged coaxially.

In addition, the best configuration, method and the like for carrying out the present invention have been disclosed above, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the invention has been illustrated and described with particular reference to certain specific embodiments, but without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, Various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art in terms of material, quantity, and other detailed configurations.
Therefore, the description limited to the shape, material, etc. disclosed above is an example for easy understanding of the present invention, and does not limit the present invention. The description by the name of the member which remove | excluded the limitation of one part or all of such is included in this invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic timepiece, 2 ... Hour hand, 3 ... Minute hand, 4 ... Small second hand, 5 ... 24 hour hand, 6 ... 1/5 second CG hand, 7 ... Minute CG hand, 10 ... Antenna, 12 ... Ground plate, 12A ... Translucent Hole: 20 ... Hour / minute hand drive mechanism, 21 ... Hour / minute motor, 22 ... Hour wheel for hour / minute hands, 23 ... Fifth wheel, 24 ... Third wheel, 25 ... Second wheel, 26 ... Sunday wheel, 27 ... Hour wheel, 23A, 24A, 25A, 27A ... detection hole, 28 ... 24-hour hand train wheel, 30 ... second hand drive mechanism, 31 ... second motor, 32 ... second hand train wheel, 40 ... 1/5 second CG hand drive mechanism 41 ... 1/5 second CG motor, 42 ... 1/5 second CG wheel train, 47 ... 1/5 second CG wheel, 50 ... minute CG hand drive mechanism, 51 ... minute CG motor, 52 ... minute CG hand Train wheel, 60 ... calendar drive mechanism, 61 ... calendar motor, 62 ... calendar wheel train, 71 ... hour / minute hand light sensor, 72 ... 24 hour hand light sensor 73, second hand light sensor, 80, rotation control means, 81, detection control means, 281, 24-hour intermediate wheel, 281A, detection hole, 471-474, 476, long hole, 475, bridge part (light-shielding part), 711, 721, 731... Light emitting element, 712, 722, 732.

Claims (8)

A first motor and a second motor;
A first train wheel driven by the first motor;
A second train wheel driven by the second motor;
An optical sensor having a light emitting element and a light receiving element,
The first wheel train includes one or more detection gears for the first wheel train provided with detection holes capable of transmitting the detection light output from the light emitting elements of the photosensors,
The second wheel train includes a detection light transmission gear arranged coaxially with any one first wheel train detection gear in the first wheel train,
The detection light transmitting gear has a length in the direction of the rotation locus larger than the diameter of the detection hole at a position overlapping the rotation locus of the detection hole of the first gear train detection gear disposed coaxially. An electronic timepiece comprising: a long hole through which the detection light passing through the detection hole can be transmitted; and a light blocking portion that blocks the detection light. The electronic timepiece according to claim 1,
The first wheel train includes a fifth wheel rotated by a first motor, a second wheel to which a pointer is attached, and a third wheel disposed between the fifth wheel and the second wheel. And
The fifth wheel, the third wheel, and the second wheel are partially overlapped with each other in a plane, and the detection holes are respectively formed at the positions overlapping in a plane, the fifth wheel, the third wheel, The second wheel constitutes the first gear train detection gear,
The second wheel train includes the detection light transmitting gear that is disposed coaxially with the second wheel and to which another pointer different from the pointer mounted on the second wheel is mounted. Electronic watch. The electronic timepiece according to claim 1 or 2,
The electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the detection light transmitting gear includes four elongated holes formed at intervals of 90 degrees in a circumferential direction around the rotation center. The electronic timepiece according to claim 3,
The length of the circumferential direction of the light-shielding part between the long holes is 1.5 times or more the diameter of the detection hole. The electronic timepiece according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Rotation control means for controlling driving of the first motor and the second motor;
Detection control means for controlling the operation of the optical sensor,
The rotation control means and detection control means are:
The first motor is driven to rotate the first gear train detection gear, and the optical sensor is operated to detect the detection hole,
If the detection hole cannot be detected by the optical sensor even if the detection gear having the slowest rotation speed is rotated once in the first gear train detection gear, the second motor is driven to set the detection light transmission gear. After rotating at an angle and changing the detection light of the photosensor from the state where the light shielding part blocks the light, it passes through the slot,
An electronic timepiece characterized in that the detection process of the detection hole is performed by driving the first wheel train and operating the optical sensor. The electronic timepiece according to claim 5,
The detection control means and the rotation control means are:
After detecting the detection hole of the first gear train detection gear, the second motor is driven to rotate the detection light transmitting gear, and the optical sensor is operated to detect the detection hole. Done
When the detection hole can no longer be detected, the second motor is driven to rotate the detection light transmission gear by a predetermined angle, and the plane of the detection hole of the first gear train detection gear An electronic timepiece characterized in that the position is arranged at a center position in a circumferential direction of the long hole. A method for controlling an electronic timepiece according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The first motor is driven to rotate the first gear train detection gear, and the optical sensor is operated to detect the detection hole,
If the detection hole cannot be detected by the optical sensor even if the detection gear having the slowest rotation speed is rotated once in the first gear train detection gear, the second motor is driven to set the detection light transmission gear. After rotating at an angle and changing the detection light of the photosensor from the state where the light shielding part blocks the light, it passes through the slot,
The electronic timepiece control method, wherein the detection processing of the detection hole is performed by driving the first wheel train and operating the optical sensor. In the control method of the electronic timepiece according to claim 7,
After detecting the detection hole of the first gear train detection gear, the second motor is driven to rotate the detection light transmitting gear, and the optical sensor is operated to detect the detection hole. Done
When the detection hole can no longer be detected, the second motor is driven to rotate the detection light transmission gear by a predetermined angle, and the plane of the detection hole of the first gear train detection gear An electronic timepiece control method, wherein the position is arranged at a center position in a circumferential direction of the elongated hole.

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