JP2011122856A - Chronograph timepiece - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a measurement error from being generated by a shift between an electrical start of a time measurement operation and a mechanical release timing in a chronograph timepiece of the type in which a chronograph hand is electrically driven and controlled so as to be mechanically returned to zero. <P>SOLUTION: The chronograph timepiece of the type in which the chronograph hand is electrically driven and controlled so as to be mechanically returned to zero, is equipped with: a rotation detection circuit 55 for detecting a rotation state of a chronograph hand operating motor 35; and a non-rotation correction control section 61 for measuring the drive number that the rotation detection circuit 55 detects that the chronograph hand operating motor 35 does not rotate within a predetermined time from a start operation of a start/stop button 18. After the chronograph hand operating motor 35 initiates to be driven in response to the start operation, it is driven with the drive number measured by the non-rotation correction control section 61, added thereto, before the chronograph hand operating motor 35 finishes to be driven in response to a stop operation of the start/stop button 18. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a chronograph timepiece having a time indication function and a time measurement function.

Conventionally, in a chronograph timepiece equipped with a plurality of drive motors for driving a plurality of hands each and a time function for displaying time information as a basic function, a chronograph timepiece is mounted. There have been developed ones that are electrically operated by a motor and perform zero return of a chronograph hand by a mechanical structure such as a heart cam (for example, see Patent Document 1 for a chronograph timepiece and Patent Document 2 for a motor).
In a chronograph timepiece in which the chronograph hand is electrically driven and mechanically controlled to return to zero like the chronograph timepiece disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, in a reset state, the chronograph hand A true (shaft) heart cam is mechanically nulled and regulated by a hammer.

Therefore, in the chronograph timepiece, when the start button is pressed to instruct the start of chronograph operation, the chronograph true rotation integrated with the heart cam is performed by rotating the lever related to zeroing and the hammer being displaced. Is permitted (returning zero return control), it is necessary to output a rotation drive signal of the motor (starting hand movement control) for starting the hand movement of the chronograph hand in response to the start button pressing.
However, in practice, the time required for canceling the return-to-zero control is not strictly constant, and is particularly mechanical control, and there are variations in related parts, and the structure should be simplified in order to minimize costs. Then, since the variation is likely to increase, the variation among individuals is not necessarily small.

On the other hand, there is a problem in that an accurate chronograph operation cannot be performed when the release of the zero return control is not completed when the motor rotation drive signal for starting the hand movement control is issued.
In order to avoid the occurrence of such a situation, conventionally, according to the timing period of the chronograph timepiece (for example, 1/100 second), the delay of the zero return control release takes into account the variation, and the timing period It was necessary to design and manufacture the mechanical system so as to be surely shorter. Here, if safety is expected with respect to variations, in many cases, it is necessary to prepare an expensive mechanical system rather than what is actually required.

  Also in Patent Document 1, there is one proposal regarding the necessity of matching both timings that occur as a problem peculiar to a system in which electrical drive control and control such as mechanical stop are combined. More specifically, in Patent Document 1, in order to avoid a situation in which mechanical stop control or the like is started even though a rotational drive signal for the motor is still output, There has been proposed a technique for controlling the start timing of null return control or the like by modifying a simple structure. However, the modification proposed in Patent Document 1 discloses a technique that leads to the solution of the above-described problem in starting the chronograph operation in the chronograph timepiece in the zero reset (reset) state. There is no suggestion.

JP 2005-3493 A JP 2003-185765 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. In a chronograph timepiece in which a chronograph hand is electrically driven and mechanically controlled to return to zero, an electrical start of a time measuring operation and a machine It is an object of the present invention to prevent measurement errors from occurring due to a shift in the release timing.

  According to the present invention, at least an operation means for performing a time measurement start operation and a stop operation, a setting mechanism for mechanically adjusting the chronograph hand to a zero return position in a reset state, and a response to the start operation of the operation means. Release means for releasing the regulation of the chronograph hands by the regulation mechanism, a chronograph hand movement motor for driving the chronograph hands, and a time measuring operation in response to a start operation of the operation means, In a chronograph timepiece having a control means for driving the chronograph hand movement motor by a main drive pulse at a predetermined drive cycle, a rotation detection means for detecting a rotation state of the chronograph hand movement motor, and the start operation The rotation detecting means detects that the chronograph hand movement motor has not rotated within a predetermined time from Correction counting means for counting the number of driving times, and the control means starts driving the chronograph hand movement motor in response to the start operation and then responds to the stop operation. A chronograph timepiece is provided which is driven by adding the number of driving times counted by the correction counting means until the driving of the motor for driving is stopped.

  According to the chronograph timepiece according to the present invention, in the chronograph timepiece in which the chronograph hands are electrically driven and mechanically controlled, the time measurement operation is electrically started and mechanically released. It is possible to prevent measurement errors from occurring due to timing shifts.

It is a block diagram of the chronograph timepiece concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a top view which shows the outline | summary of the mechanical structure of the chronograph mechanism of the chronograph timepiece which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the external appearance of the chronograph timepiece which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a timing diagram of the chronograph timepiece according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the chronograph timepiece 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is in the form of a wristwatch and is rotated around the central axis C1 to display the current time (hour hand 11, minute hand 12 and second hand 13). ) And a chronograph hand (a chronograph second hand 14 rotated around the central axis C2 and a chronograph minute hand 15 rotated around the central axis C3).
For example, the time hands 11 to 13 can be rotated by turning the winding stem 16 in a state where the winding stem 16 is pulled out in the D1 direction, and by turning the winding stem 16 in a state where the winding stem 16 is pulled out in the D1 direction. The date 17 of the date indicator displayed through the window can be changed. Since the operation related to the normal time display of the chronograph timepiece 1 is the same as that of a normal electronic timepiece and is well known to those skilled in the art, the description of the structure, function and operation related to the normal hand movement will be omitted below. .

In the chronograph timepiece 1, the chronograph hands 14 and 15 are electrically driven and controlled by a stepping motor, and are zero-controlled by a mechanical configuration.
In the chronograph timepiece 1, when the start / stop button 18 is pushed in the A1 direction, the start and stop of the chronograph operation by the chronograph timepiece 1 is instructed. More specifically, the start / stop of the chronograph operation refers to the start / stop of the movement of the chronograph hands 14 and 15, and the operation of the electric drive system and the operation of the chronograph hands as described later. Electrical position information is retained. However, in some cases, the electrical position information of the chronograph hands may not be held.

In the chronograph timepiece 1, the resetting of the chronograph operation by the chronograph timepiece 1, that is, the return to the initial state (return to zero) is instructed by pressing the reset button 19 in the B1 direction. More specifically, the resetting of the chronograph operation means that the chronograph hands 14 and 15 are forcibly returned to the initial position (time position) (returning to zero), and that the movement of the chronograph hands 14 and 15 is adjusted and the chronograph is operated. Refers to resetting the electrical position information of the graph hand.
The start / stop button 18 and the reset button 19 constitute operation means for performing at least a time measurement start operation and a stop operation.

First, the mechanical structure 5 and the operation relating to the start, hand movement and zeroing of the chronograph timepiece 1 will be described mainly based on FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b). The mechanical structure 5 relating to the start, hand movement, and zeroing of the chronograph timepiece 1 is also simply shown on the left side of the block diagram of FIG.
The chronograph timepiece 1 is provided with a chronograph hand movement motor 35 separately from a normal hand movement (time hand movement) motor (not shown), and when the chronograph hand movement motor 35 is driven to rotate, The chronograph hands 14 and 15 are moved through the chronograph hand movement wheel train 36.

  The normal hand movement motor and the chronograph hand movement motor 35 are stepping motors of a well-known configuration used for watches (see, for example, Patent Document 2). The stepping motor includes a rotor housing hole and a stator having a positioning portion for determining a stop position of the rotor, a rotor disposed in the rotor housing hole, and a drive coil, and the drive coil is alternately polarized. The stepping motor rotates the rotor by supplying different alternating signals (drive pulses) to generate magnetic flux in the stator and stops the rotor at a position corresponding to the positioning portion. The rotor rotates by a predetermined angle (for example, 180 degrees) every time it is alternately driven by drive pulses having different polarities, and it is 2 when the first drive pulse is rotated even if it is continuously driven by a plurality of in-phase drive pulses. It is prevented from rotating with in-phase drive pulses after the first.

The chronograph timepiece 1 includes a chronograph second cam 22 attached to a chronograph second hand 21 having a chronograph second hand 14 and a chronograph minute cam 24 attached to a chronograph minute hand 23 having a chronograph minute hand 15.
The chronograph timepiece 1 also has a hammer transmission first lever (hereinafter also referred to as “branch transmission lever B”) 25, a hammer transmission second lever (hereinafter also referred to as “hammer transmission lever A”). 26 and hammer 27 and a stop lever 28.
The chronograph second cam 22, the chronograph minute cam 24, and the hammer lever 27 constitute a setting mechanism, and the hammer transmission second lever 26 and the hammer 27 constitute release means. The hammer transmission second lever 26 and the hammer 27 are also configured as lever means.

  The hammer transmission first lever 25 is rotatable between a reference position J1 (solid line in FIG. 2B) and a zero return position J2 (solid line in FIG. 2A and dotted line in FIG. 2B). It is positioned at the reference position J1 or the zero return operation position J2 by engaging with a spring-shaped positioning member 29 having a groove with which the positioning pin 25a is engaged. The hammer transmission second lever 26 is engaged with the pin 25b of the hammer transmission first lever 25 through the long hole 26a. When the hammer transmission first lever 25 is moved and set from the reference position J1 to the zero return position J2, the hammer transmission second lever 26 is moved from the reference position K1 (solid line in FIG. 2B) to the zero return position. It is moved to K2 (solid line (a) in FIG. 2 and dotted line (b)).

On the other hand, when the hammer transmission second lever 26 is moved and set from the zero return position K2 to the reference position K1, the hammer transmission first lever 25 is moved from the zero return position J2 to the reference position J1 and positioned.
The hammer 27 is engaged with the pin 26b of the hammer transmission second lever 26 through the long hole 27a, and the reference lever K2 is set to the reference position K1 or the zero return position K2 according to the position setting. Positioned at a position M1 (solid line in FIG. 2B) or a null position M2 (solid line in FIG. 2A and dotted line in FIG. 2B).
When the hammer 27 is set to the return position M2, the hammer 27 hits the chronograph second cam 22 with the second hammer portion 27b to return the chronograph second hand 14 to the initial position and the minute hammer portion. At 27c, the chronograph minute cam 24 is hit to return the chronograph minute hand 15 to the initial position.

  The stop lever 28 includes a spring portion 28a, an engaging arm portion 28b, and a locking arm portion 28c, and a correction control position or a setting position E2 at the time of return (a solid line in (a) in FIG. 2 and a dotted line in (b)). And a correction control release position or a regulation release position E1 (solid line in FIG. 2B) can be rotated around the pin 28d. The locking arm portion 28c of the stop lever 28 is attached to one of the vehicles 36a of the chronograph hand train wheel train 36 connected to the rotor gear 35a of the chronograph hand drive motor 35 in the state SE2 where the stop lever 28 is in the setting position E2. In the state SE1 in which the rotation of the train wheel 36 is engaged and the stop lever 28 is in the regulation release position E1, the rotor gear of the chronograph hand movement motor 35 is separated from the wheel 36a of the train wheel 36. 35a and the train wheel 36 are allowed to rotate.

  The stop lever 28 receiving a biasing force in the direction toward the setting position E2 at the spring portion 28a is engaged with the engaging arm when the hammer transmission first lever 25 is rotationally displaced from the return zero position J2 to the reference position J1. The portion 28b is engaged with the arm portion 25d of the hammer transmission first lever 25 and is rotationally displaced from the regulation position E2 at the time of zero return to the regulation release position E1. On the other hand, when the first hammer 25 is moved from the reference position J1 to the zero return position J2, the arm 25d of the first hammer 25 is disengaged from the engaging arm 28b, so that it stops. The lever 28 is returned from the regulation release position E1 to the regulation position E2 by the spring force of the spring portion 28a.

  When the chronograph timepiece 1 is in the zero return (reset) state S2 shown in FIG. 2A, when the start / stop button 18 is pressed in the A1 direction, the hammer transmission second lever 26 is The protrusion 26c is pushed in the A1 direction and displaced from the position K2 to the position K1, the hammer transmission first lever 25 is displaced from the position J2 to the position J1, and the hammer 24 is displaced from the position M2 to the position M1. Is done. As a result, the rotation regulation (return-to-zero control) of the heart cams 22 and 24 and the chronograph hands 14 and 15 by the hammer portions 27b and 27c is released. Further, in response to the rotation of the hammer transmission first lever 25 from the position J2 to the position J1, the stop lever 28 engaged with the arm portion 25d of the hammer transmission first lever 25 by the arm portion 28b is set to the set position E2. From the chronograph train wheel 36 to release the rotational regulation (stop control) of the train wheel 36. Thereby, the mechanical control mechanism 5 is returned to the state S1, and the chronograph hands 14 and 15 can be rotated.

  On the other hand, when the chronograph timepiece 1 is in the start state or the hand movement state S1 shown in FIG. 2B, when the reset button 19 is pressed in the B1 direction, the hammer transmission first lever 25 protrudes. The hammer 25 is pushed in the direction B1 by the portion 25c, and the hammer transmission first lever 25 is displaced from the position J1 to the position J2. When the hammer transmission first lever 25 is displaced from the position J1 to the position J2, on the other hand, the hammer transmission second lever 26 engaged with the lever 25 is moved from the position K1 to the position K2, and the lever 26 is moved to the lever 26. The engaged hammer 27 moves from the position M1 to the position M2, and the second hammer 27b and the minute hammer 27c strike the second heart cam 22 and the minute heart cam 24 to return the chronograph second hand 14 and the chronograph minute hand 15 to zero. On the other hand, the locking of the arm portion 25d with respect to the stop lever 28 is released, the stop lever 28 is rotated from the position E1 to the position E2, and the arm portion 28c is engaged with the chronograph wheel train 36 to Correct.

The electrical aspect of the chronograph timepiece 1 in the range related to the mechanical structure 5 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B is as follows.
When the chronograph timepiece 1 is in the reset state S2 shown in FIG. 2A, when the start / stop button 18 is pressed in the A1 direction, the start / stop button 18 is located in the vicinity of the back end thereof. The start / stop switch spring 33 that exerts a biasing force in the A2 direction is pushed to close the contact portion 34, and a start signal Pa (FIG. 1) is generated via the contact portion 34. When the chronograph timepiece 1 is in the start state S1 shown in FIG. 2B, when the start / stop button 18 is pressed in the A1 direction, the start / stop button 18 is turned on by the start / stop switch. The spring 33 is pushed to close the contact portion 34, and a stop (stop) signal Pb (FIG. 1) is generated via the contact portion 34.

On the other hand, when the chronograph timepiece 1 is in the start state (or stop state) S1 shown in FIG. 2B, when the reset button 19 is pressed in the B1 direction, the reset button 19 The reset switch spring 31 that exerts a biasing force in the B2 direction is pressed in the vicinity of to close the contact portion 32, and the reset signal Qa (FIG. 1) is generated via the contact portion 32.
Among the operations described above, the following description will focus on the start and progress of the start operation when the start / stop button 18 is pressed in the A1 direction in the null state S2 of FIG. To do.

  That is, as the start / stop button 18 is pressed in the A1 direction, an electrical drive start signal Pa is issued via the switch contact 34, thereby rotating the chronograph hand movement motor 35. On the other hand, the mechanical zero return control state is released by the rotation of the hammer 27 according to the rotation of the hammer transmission second lever 26, and the hammer transmission second lever 26 and hammer transmission first. The rotation (stop control state) of the train wheel 36 is released by the rotation of the stop lever 28 accompanying the rotation of the lever 25, and the hand movement is mechanically permitted (the mechanical regulation is released).

Next, the outline of the electric drive mechanism 6 of the chronograph timepiece 1 will be described mainly based on the block diagram of FIG. 1 with reference to the mechanical structure 5 of FIG.
The rotation of the chronograph hand movement motor 35 of the chronograph timepiece 1 is driven and controlled on the basis of clock pulses supplied via the oscillation circuit 41 and the frequency dividing circuit 42. An integrated circuit for driving control of the chronograph hand movement motor 35. 50.

The motor drive control integrated circuit 50 includes a basic drive control unit 51, a drive pulse generation circuit 52, a motor drive circuit 53, a zero return control unit 54, a rotation detection circuit 55, and a non-rotation correction control unit 61. Have.
The motor drive control integrated circuit 50 further includes a chronograph second counter 57 for counting chronograph seconds and holding the chronograph second information, and a chronograph minute counter for counting chronograph minutes and holding the chronograph minute information. 58. A chronograph hour counter for counting the chronograph hour and holding the chronograph hour information may be further provided.

  Here, the drive means of the chronograph hand movement motor 35 is constituted by a motor drive circuit 53. The basic drive control unit 51, drive pulse generation circuit 52, motor drive circuit 53, zero return control unit 54, chronograph second counter 57, and chronograph minute counter 58 constitute control means. Further, the rotation detection circuit 55 constitutes a rotation detection means, and the non-rotation correction control unit 61 constitutes a correction counting means.

  The basic drive control unit 51 receives a start signal or an operation signal Pa given through the contact unit 34 in response to depression of the start / stop button 18 when the chronograph timepiece 1 is in the zero return (reset) state S2. . The non-rotation correction control unit 61 also receives a start signal or an operation signal Pa. The non-rotation correction control unit 61 counts the number of times that the hand movement has not been performed due to the mechanical regulation release at the time measurement operation start operation or the timing of the start of the electrical time measurement operation being shifted. The number of times that the rotation detection circuit 55 did not detect that the rotation detection circuit 55 was rotated in spite of driving the chronograph hand movement motor 35 within a predetermined time from the start operation, ie, from the rotation detection circuit 55 The number of times of receiving the detection signal indicating non-rotation (non-rotation number) is counted and stored.

When receiving the start signal or the operation signal Pa, the basic drive control unit 51 issues a drive control signal Pd after a short period for preventing chattering. In the following, it is assumed that the reception time point of the start signal or actuation signal Pa and the transmission time point of the drive control signal Pd are substantially the same unless otherwise specified. The drive control signal Pd is a signal that is kept at a high level during the period in which the chronograph operation is performed.
The basic drive control unit 51 also receives a stop (stop) signal Pb given through the contact unit 34 in response to the depression of the start / stop button 18 when the chronograph timepiece 1 is in the start state S1 (or contact). When transmission of the start signal or operation signal Pa from the unit 34 is stopped), transmission of the drive control signal Pd is stopped.

  The drive control signal Pd from the basic drive control unit 51 is also supplied to the chronograph second counter 57, and the chronograph second counter 57 is supplied from the frequency dividing circuit 42 while the drive control signal Pd is kept at a high level. A clock pulse is received and chronograph seconds are counted, and a time period T (in other words, a chronograph hand driving period) is started from the time point t1 at which time measurement as a chronograph is started based on the drive control signal Pd. A chronograph timing pulse Ph is emitted every time. The period T of the pulse Ph corresponds to the time measurement accuracy of the chronograph timepiece 1 and is, for example, 1/100 second (that is, 10 ms).

When the drive pulse generation circuit 52 receives the drive control signal Pd, it supplies the motor drive circuit 53 with a main drive pulse G for driving a normal chronograph hand. The motor drive circuit 53 applies a motor drive pulse U corresponding to the main drive pulse G to the chronograph hand movement motor 35 to rotationally drive the chronograph hand movement motor 35. The chronograph hand movement motor 35 is driven by the predetermined drive cycle T by main drive pulses U having different polarities supplied from the motor drive circuit 53, and rotates in one direction by a predetermined angle.
The rotation detection circuit 53 detects whether or not the chronograph hand movement motor 35 is rotated every time the motor drive circuit 53 drives the chronograph hand movement motor 35 by the main drive pulse U, and the detection result is not rotated. Output to the correction controller 61. The non-rotation correction control unit 61 receives a detection signal indicating that the chronograph hand movement motor 35 is non-rotated for a predetermined time from the start operation as described above, and counts the number of times. Remember.

  On the other hand, when the basic drive control unit 51 receives the stop signal Pb, the drive control unit 51 drives the drive pulse generation circuit 52 when the non-rotation number stored in the non-rotation correction control unit 61 is zero. The transmission of the control signal Pd is immediately stopped (the drive stop signal Pf may be given if desired), the transmission of the drive pulse G from the drive pulse generation circuit 52 is stopped, and the motor drive pulse by the motor drive circuit 53 is stopped. The sending of U is stopped, the rotational drive of the chronograph hand movement motor 35 is stopped, the rotation of the rotor or output shaft of the motor 35 is stopped, and the chronograph hand 14 via the chronograph hand movement train wheel 36 is stopped. , 15 are stopped.

  On the other hand, when the basic drive control unit 51 receives the stop signal Pb, if the non-rotation number of the chronograph hand movement motor 35 at the predetermined time stored in the non-rotation correction control unit 61 is not zero, The drive control unit 51 controls the drive pulse generation circuit 52 so as to rotationally drive the chronograph hand movement motor 35 by the number of times corresponding to the non-rotation number stored in the non-rotation correction control unit 61, and then the drive The transmission of the drive control signal Pd to the pulse generation circuit 52 is stopped, and the driving of the chronograph hands 14 and 15 is stopped.

  As a result, the basic drive control unit 51 ends the time measurement operation in response to the stop operation, stops the driving pulse G from the drive pulse generation circuit 52 after performing the moving operation for the non-rotation number. Control to do. Accordingly, the motor drive circuit 53 stops sending the motor drive pulse U, the rotation drive of the chronograph hand movement motor 35 is stopped, and the rotation of the rotor or output shaft of the chronograph hand movement motor 35 stops. Then, the movement of the chronograph hands 14 and 15 through the chronograph handwheel train 36 is stopped. Therefore, even if the chronograph hands 14 and 15 are not moved due to a shift in the regulation release timing or the like even though the chronograph hand movement motor 35 is driven at the beginning of the time measurement operation, the time point when the time measurement operation is stopped. Then, the accurate measurement time can be displayed by the chronograph hands 14 and 15.

  When the switch spring 31 is pushed down by the reset button 19 and the contact portion 32 is closed, the reset signal Qa is given to the zero return control unit 54. When the zero return control unit 54 receives the reset signal Qa from the contact unit 32, it supplies the drive pulse generation circuit 52 with a drive stop signal Pf. As a result, the drive pulse generation circuit 52 stops the generation of the drive pulse G and stops the transmission of the motor drive pulse U by the motor drive circuit 53. Accordingly, the rotational drive of the chronograph hand movement motor 35 is stopped, and the movement of the chronograph hands 14 and 15 is stopped. The zero return control unit 54 resets the count values of the chronograph second counter 57, the chronograph minute counter 58, and the non-rotation correction control unit 61 to zero in response to reception of the reset signal Qa.

  Next, regarding the chronograph timepiece 1 of FIG. 1, the operation of the non-rotation correction control unit 61 will be specifically described based on the time chart of FIG. In FIG. 4, the chronograph hand movement is used for driving (driving by the main driving pulses 401 and 402) in a predetermined time from the time measurement operation start time t0 to the time t3 when the mechanical regulation considering the variation is canceled. It is assumed that the motor 35 does not rotate, and that the chronograph hand movement motor 35 is rotated by driving after the predetermined time has elapsed (driving by the main driving pulses 403 to 405).

Assume that the start / stop button 18 is pushed in the A1 direction at the time point t0 in a situation where the chronograph timepiece 1 is in the reset state S2. As the start / stop button 18 is depressed, the contact 34 is closed and a start signal Pa is output via the contact 34. This start signal Pa is continued until a time point tx when the closing of the contact portion 34 accompanying the depression of the start / stop button 18 is continued.
When the start signal Pa is given to the basic drive control unit 51, the basic drive control unit 51 starts a chrono-timer operation at time t0. The basic drive control unit 51 receives the start signal Pa and simultaneously outputs the drive control signal Pd to the drive pulse generation circuit 52. The drive pulse generation circuit 52 activates the motor drive circuit 53 in response to the drive control signal Pd. The drive is ready.

At a time t1 after the drive cycle T has elapsed from the time measurement start time t0, the drive pulse generation circuit 52 outputs a drive pulse G to the motor drive circuit 53, and the motor drive circuit 53 uses the main drive pulse 401 to drive the chronograph hand movement motor. 35 is rotated. The rotation detection circuit 55 detects whether or not the chronograph hand movement motor 35 is rotated by the main drive pulse 401 and outputs the detection result to the non-rotation correction control unit 61.
At time t1, since the mechanical regulation is not released and the chronograph hand movement motor 35 does not rotate, the rotation detection circuit 55 detects that the chronograph hand movement motor 35 is not rotating, and displays the detection result. Output to the non-rotation correction control unit 61. The non-rotation correction control unit 61 receives a detection result indicating that the chronograph hand movement motor 35 is non-rotated from the rotation detection circuit 55 for a predetermined time after the start signal Pa is received, Count and store the number of times the drive has become.

  The drive pulse generation circuit 52 further drives the chronograph hand movement motor 35 by the main drive pulse 402 having the reverse polarity via the motor drive circuit 53 at the time t2 after the drive cycle T. At time t2, since the mechanical regulation is not released due to variations in the regulation release timing and the chronograph hand movement motor 35 does not rotate, the rotation detection circuit 55 indicates that the chronograph hand movement motor 35 is not rotating. Is detected. The non-rotation correction control unit 61 receives a detection result indicating that the chronograph hand movement motor 35 is non-rotating from the rotation detection circuit 55, and adds 1 to the count value of the number of times of non-rotating driving and stores it. To do.

The drive pulse generation circuit 52 further drives the chronograph hand movement motor 35 by the main drive pulse 403 having the reverse polarity via the motor drive circuit 53 at the time t4 after the drive cycle T. At time t4, the mechanical regulation has already been released, and the chronograph hand movement motor 35 rotates.
At the time point t4, since the predetermined time from the time point t0 to the time point t3 has elapsed, the non-rotation correction control unit 61 does not add to the count value regardless of the detection result of the rotation detection circuit 55.

When the rotation detection circuit 55 detects that the chronograph hand movement motor 35 has not rotated after the predetermined time has elapsed, the basic drive control unit 51 forcibly has a larger energy than the main drive pulse. The graph needle movement motor 35 may be driven by a correction drive pulse that can be rotated. Alternatively, a plurality of types of main drive pulses having different energies may be prepared in advance and the correction drive pulse may be used. You may comprise so that control, such as changing to a main drive pulse with big energy after a drive, may be performed.
Thereafter, the drive pulse generation circuit 52 drives the chronograph hand movement motor 35 alternately with the main drive pulses 404 and 405 having opposite polarities via the motor drive circuit 53 every drive cycle T, and the hand movement operation is performed. .

  When the basic drive control unit 51 receives a stop (stop) signal Pb given through the contact unit 34 in response to depression of the start / stop button 18 when the chronograph timepiece 1 is in the start state S1, the basic drive control unit 51 performs non-rotation correction. When the non-rotation number of the chronograph hand movement motor 35 at the predetermined time stored in the control unit 61 is zero, the transmission of the drive control signal Pd to the drive pulse generation circuit 52 is immediately stopped (if desired). The drive stop signal Pf may be given). As a result, the transmission of the drive pulse G from the drive pulse generation circuit 52 is stopped, the transmission of the motor drive pulse U by the motor drive circuit 53 is stopped, and the rotational drive of the chronograph hand movement motor 35 is stopped. The rotation of the rotor or output shaft of the chronograph hand movement motor 35 is stopped, and the movement of the chronograph hands 14 and 15 via the chronograph hand movement wheel train 36 is stopped.

  When the stop operation is performed in the start state S1 and the basic drive control unit 51 receives the stop signal Pb, the non-rotation number of the chronograph hand movement motor 35 in the predetermined time stored in the non-rotation correction control unit 61 Is not zero, the base drive control unit 51 rotates the chronograph hand movement motor 35 by the number of times corresponding to the non-rotation number stored in the non-rotation correction control unit 61. After controlling 52, transmission of the drive control signal Pd to the drive pulse generation circuit 52 is stopped.

Thus, after the time measurement operation is stopped in response to the stop operation, the chronograph hand moving motor 35 is driven by the number of times corresponding to the non-rotation speed, and the chronograph hands 14 and 15 are moved, and then a drive pulse is generated. The transmission of the driving pulse G from the circuit 52 is stopped, the transmission of the motor driving pulse U by the motor driving circuit 53 is stopped, and the rotational driving of the chronograph hand movement motor 35 is stopped. Accordingly, the rotation of the rotor or output shaft of the chronograph hand movement motor 35 is stopped, and the movement of the chronograph hands 14 and 15 via the chronograph hand movement train wheel 36 is stopped.
Accordingly, even when the chronograph hand movement motor 35 is driven at the beginning of the time measurement operation, even when the chronograph hands 14 and 15 are not moved due to a deviation in the regulation release timing or the like, the time point when the time measurement operation is stopped. Then, the accurate measurement time can be displayed on the chronograph hands 14 and 15.

Next, the operation of the chronograph timepiece 1 configured as described above will be described mainly based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 with reference to FIGS. This flowchart mainly shows the operations of the basic drive control unit 51 and the non-rotation correction control unit 61 of the integrated circuit 50 in the chronograph timepiece 1 of FIG. 1 as a processing flow of a program corresponding to the operations. It is.
In the chronograph timepiece 1, it is checked in the first processing step S501 whether the start (start) of the chronograph operation is instructed. In this start check step S501, the contact portion 34 is closed and contacted by the displacement of the switch spring 33 in the A1 direction due to the pressing of the start / stop button 18 in the A1 direction at time t0, and the operation signal or the start signal Pa is accumulated from the contact portion 34. This corresponds to checking whether or not it is given to the basic drive control unit 51 of the circuit 50.

  If the start signal Pa has not been issued, it is checked in step S509 whether a reset (return to zero) instruction has been issued. In this reset check step S509, the contact point 32 is closed by the B1 direction displacement of the switch spring 31 due to the B1 direction pressing of the reset (return to zero) button 19, and the reset signal Qa is returned from the contact point 32 to the zero return control of the integrated circuit 50. This corresponds to checking whether it is given to the unit 54 or not. If the reset signal Qa has not been issued, the process returns to the first processing step S501. When the reset signal Qa has been issued, in step S510, the zero return control unit 54 performs count reset processing for returning the contents of the chronograph second counter 57 and the chronograph minute counter 58 to zero, and the non-rotation correction control unit 61 After performing the reset process for returning the contents to zero, the process returns to the first process step S501.

  When the start instruction (start signal Pa) is confirmed in the start check step S501, the timing period of the chronograph operation (that is, the chronograph hand drive period) T (in this example, for example, 1) It is checked whether or not a time corresponding to / 100 seconds, that is, 10 ms (milliseconds) has elapsed. When the timing period T is reached, the process moves to step S503. This corresponds to the fact that the chronograph second counter 57 measures the time after the timing start time t0 of the chronograph operation, and when the time corresponding to the timing period T (time t1) is reached, the timing pulse Ph is output. .

When the time T has elapsed, the drive pulse generation circuit 52 gives the main drive pulse G to the motor drive circuit 53 at time t1. The motor drive circuit 53 applies a main drive pulse U corresponding to the main drive pulse G to the chronograph hand movement motor 35 to rotationally drive the chronograph hand movement motor 35. The chronograph hand movement motor 35 is driven by the main drive pulse U.
The rotation detection circuit 55 detects whether or not the chronograph hand movement motor 35 has rotated, and outputs the detection result to the non-rotation correction control unit 61 (step S504).

  If the predetermined time has not elapsed since the start operation (reception of the start signal Pa), the non-rotation correction control unit 61 adds 1 to the number of non-rotation driving when the detection result of the rotation detection circuit 55 is non-rotation. Store (step S505). When the start / stop button 18 is stopped, the basic drive control unit 51 causes the counters 57 and 58 to stop the time measurement operation in response to the stop signal Pb, and stores it in the non-rotation correction control unit 61. The chronograph hand moving motor 5 is rotationally driven by the number of non-rotating driving times, and the chronograph hands 14 and 15 are added by the number of times that the chronograph hands 14 and 15 cannot be driven within the predetermined time, and are driven (corrected chronograph hand driving). In this manner, the drive pulse generation circuit 52 is controlled (step S506). The drive pulse generation circuit 52 moves the chronograph hands 14 and 15 through the motor drive circuit 53 by the number of times of non-rotation driving, and displays an accurate measurement time.

Next, the basic drive control unit 51 stops the driving of the chronograph hand movement motor 35 by the drive pulse generation circuit 52 and stops the movement of the chronograph hands 14 and 15 (step S507).
Next, the zero return control unit 54 resets the count values of the chronosecond counter 57, the chrono minute counter 58 and the non-rotation correction control unit 61 to zero in response to the reset operation of the reset button 19, and returns to processing step S501 ( Step S508). At the same time, the mechanical structure 50 performs a reset operation.

The basic drive control unit 51 determines that the timing period T of the chronograph operation has not arrived in processing step S502, or the rotation detection circuit 55 determines that the chronograph hand movement motor 35 has rotated in processing step S504. In the case where the reset operation is performed by the reset button 19, the process proceeds to processing step S507 (step S511), and when the reset operation is not performed, it is determined whether or not the time measurement operation is stopped. (Step S512).
When it is determined in process step S512 that the stop operation of the time measurement operation has been performed, the basic drive control unit 51 stops the time measurement operation and generates a drive pulse so as to stop the driving of the chronograph hands 14 and 15 The circuit 52 is controlled (step S513), and when it is determined that the stop operation of the time measurement operation has not been performed, the process returns to the processing step S502.

  As described above, the chronograph timepiece according to the present embodiment mechanically regulates the chronograph hand to the zero return position in the reset state S2 and the start / stop button 18 that performs at least the start and stop operations of time measurement. A setting mechanism that releases the setting of the chronograph hands 14 and 15 by the setting mechanism in response to a start operation of the start / stop button 18, and a chronograph hand movement that drives the chronograph hands 14 and 15. A chronograph having a motor 35 and a control means for starting a time measuring operation in response to a start operation of the start / stop button 18 and driving the chronograph hand movement motor 35 by a main drive pulse at a predetermined drive cycle. In the timepiece 1, a rotation detection circuit for detecting the rotation state of the chronograph hand movement motor 35. 55 and a non-rotation correction control unit 61 that counts the number of times that the rotation detection circuit 55 has detected that the chronograph hand movement motor 35 has not rotated within a predetermined time from the start operation, The control means starts driving the chronograph hand movement motor 35 in response to the start operation and then stops driving the chronograph hand movement motor 35 in response to the stop operation. The non-rotation correction control unit 61 is driven by adding the number of driving times counted.

In this way, in the chronograph that is mechanically nulled and electrically driven, the number of times of driving that did not rotate at the start is counted, and the count value is added at the end of the measurement to add the chronograph hands 14, By moving the hand 15, the measurement time is correctly displayed.
Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a measurement error from occurring due to a shift in the timing of electrical start and mechanical release of the time measurement operation.
In addition, in a chronograph timepiece in which the chronograph hands are electrically driven and mechanically controlled to return to zero, a measurement error occurs due to a deviation in the timing of electrical start and mechanical release of the time measurement operation. Can be prevented.

  In the present embodiment, when driving is stopped in response to a stop operation of the start / stop button 18, the chronograph hand movement motor 35 is added by adding the number of driving times counted by the non-rotation correction control unit 61. The driving is stopped after driving, but after the driving of the chronograph hand movement motor 35 is started in response to the start operation, the chronograph hand movement motor 35 is responded to the stop operation. The chronograph hand movement motor 35 can be driven by adding the number of driving times counted by the non-rotation correction control unit 61 until the driving is stopped.

Further, the chronograph hand movement motor 35 may be driven by a drive pulse having energy capable of reliably rotating within a predetermined time starting from the start operation. Thereby, it is possible to reliably count the number of times the chronograph hand movement motor 35 could not be rotated due to a shift in operation timing between the mechanical mechanism and the electric mechanism.
In this case, the chronograph hand movement motor 35 can be configured to be driven by a fixed drive pulse having a predetermined energy that is larger than the main drive pulse within the predetermined time. Further, the chronograph hand movement motor 35 may be configured to be driven by a correction driving pulse having energy that can be forcibly rotated when the rotation by the main driving pulse cannot be performed within the predetermined time. .

In addition, a plurality of main drive pulses having different energy from each other are prepared as the main drive pulse, and the basic drive control unit 51 is capable of reliably rotating the chronograph hand movement motor 35 within the predetermined time. It may be configured to be driven by a main drive pulse having (for example, a main drive pulse of maximum energy).
In this case, the basic drive control unit 51 drives the chronograph hand movement motor 35 in response to the start operation, and then the energy is small when the chronograph hand movement motor 35 rotates continuously a predetermined number of times. The main drive pulse may be changed (pulse down).

  Further, in the present embodiment, the description has been given by using the example of the chronograph in which the chronograph second hand is arranged at the 6 o'clock side and the chronograph minute hand is arranged at the 9 o'clock side. May be.

  The time and chronograph hands are electrically driven by a motor, and in the reset state, the mechanical mechanism is set so that the chronograph hands do not move, and the driving of the chronograph hand is released from the mechanical mechanism. It can be applied to various chronograph watches that are made after the operation.

1 Chronograph Clock 5 Mechanical Zero Return Control Mechanism 6 Electric Drive Mechanism 11 Hour Hand 12 Minute Hand 13 Second Hand 14 Chronograph Second Hand 15 Chronograph Minute Hand 16 Winding Truth 17 Date 18 Start / Stop Button 19 Reset Button 21 Chronograph Second Truth 22 Chronograph Graph second cam 23 Chronograph minute stem 24 Chronograph minute cam 25 Return hammer transmission first lever (Return needle transmission lever B)
26 Second hammer transmission lever (A hammer transmission lever A)
27 Return lever 28 Stop lever 31 Reset switch spring 32 Contact part 33 Start / stop switch spring 34 Contact part 35 Chronograph hand movement motor 36 Chronograph hand movement wheel train 41 Oscillation circuit 42 Dividing circuit 50 Motor drive control integration Circuit 51 Basic drive control unit 52 Drive pulse generation circuit 53 Motor drive circuit 54 Zero return control unit 55 Rotation detection circuit 57 Chronograph second counter 58 Chronograph minute counter 61 Non-rotation correction control unit A1, A2 Direction B1, B2 Direction C1, C2, C3 Center axis D1 direction G Drive pulses J1, K1, M1 Reference positions J2, K2, M2 Zero return position Pa Start signal (actuation signal)
Pb Drive stop signal Pd Drive control signal Pf Drive stop signal Qa Reset signal S1 Hand movement state S2 Zero return state T Timing period U Motor drive pulse

Claims (7)

An operation means for performing at least a start operation and a stop operation for time measurement, a regulation mechanism for mechanically regulating the chronograph hand to a zero return position in a reset state, and the regulation mechanism by the regulation mechanism in response to a start operation of the operation means Release means for releasing the chronograph hand setting, a chronograph hand moving motor for driving the chronograph hand, and a time measuring operation in response to a start operation of the operation means, In a chronograph timepiece having control means for driving the chronograph hand movement motor by a drive pulse,
Rotation detection means for detecting the rotation status of the chronograph hand movement motor, and the number of times the rotation detection means has detected that the chronograph hand movement motor has not rotated within a predetermined time from the start operation. Correction counting means for counting
The control means starts driving the chronograph hand movement motor in response to the start operation, and then stops driving the chronograph hand movement motor in response to the stop operation. A chronograph timepiece which is driven by adding the number of driving times counted by the correction counting means.   When the control means stops driving the chronograph hand movement motor in response to the stop operation, the control means adds the number of driving times counted by the correction counting means and then drives the chronograph hand movement motor. The chronograph timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the chronograph timepiece is stopped.   3. The chronograph timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the control means drives the chronograph hand movement motor with a drive pulse having energy capable of reliably rotating within the predetermined time. 4.   The said control means drives the said chronograph hand movement motor with the fixed drive pulse whose energy is larger than the said main drive pulse within the said predetermined time, It is any one of Claim 1 thru | or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Chronograph clock described.   4. The chronograph timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the control means drives the chronograph hand movement motor by a correction drive pulse within the predetermined time. 5. The main drive pulse includes a plurality of main drive pulses having different energy from each other,
The said control means drives the said chronograph hand movement motor with the main drive pulse which has the energy which can rotate reliably within the said predetermined time, The Claim 1 thru | or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Chronograph clock.   The control means drives the chronograph hand movement motor in response to the start operation, and then pulses the main drive pulse with low energy when the chronograph hand movement motor rotates continuously a predetermined number of times. The chronograph timepiece according to claim 6, wherein the chronograph timepiece is down.

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