JP2016057191A - Electronic clock, time processing system, and time processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To recognize a pointer position of an electronic clock accurately in a short period of time.SOLUTION: A display part displays a time with a pointer driven by a drive part and indicates other targets different from the pointer. A control part controls the drive part to move the pointer to a target position so that the pointer is identifiable from the other targets according to movement instruction data to move the pointer received from an electronic device. The present invention can be implemented as an electronic clock, a time processing system, and a time processing method.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic timepiece, a time processing system, and a time processing method.

  Conventionally, a time correction system has been proposed that includes an electronic device including an imaging unit that captures an image and a light-emitting unit that outputs visible light, and an analog clock using a solar cell as a power source. In such a time adjustment system, the electronic device captures the dial and hand of the analog clock by the photographing unit, acquires the pointer position indicated by the captured image by image recognition, and indicates the current time given to the electronic device. Time information is transmitted from the light emitting unit to the analog timepiece as an optical signal. The analog timepiece corrects the displayed time based on the time information indicated by the optical signal received by the solar cell.

  In Patent Document 1, in order to correctly identify the hands and accurately read the time indicated by the analog clock, images of the dial and hands of the analog clock are taken at intervals of 1 second or more, and the minute hand and An imaging device for identifying a second hand is described.

JP 2008-245126 A

  However, in the method described in Patent Document 1, the time required to distinguish between the minute hand and the second hand is relatively short, at least 1 second, whereas in order to distinguish between the hour hand and the minute hand, at least 1 minute is required. It takes some time. Meanwhile, it is not practical to keep the positional relationship between the analog timepiece and the electronic device constant for photographing.

  In addition, when the hour hand and the minute hand are in a position where they overlap or are close to each other, it may be difficult to distinguish, for example, they may be mistakenly recognized as one integrated hand. In addition, on the dial of the analog clock, there is a scale for 5-minute intervals, a scale for 1-minute intervals, a scale required for functions such as a brand name, a logo for characterizing the product, and other typesetting. Have been. When the typesetting and the needle overlap each other or close to each other, it is recognized that the needle and the typesetting are integrated, and the length of the needle and the position of the pointer may be erroneously recognized. In particular, when the hour hand and the minute hand are discriminated, the length of the hour hand is shorter than the minute hand, and the respective lengths may be used as a clue. In that case, if the hour hand scale overlaps with the minute scale displayed larger than the minute scale, the hour hand length may be misrecognized, making it difficult to distinguish the minute hand from the hour hand. .

  Also, when taking an analog clock while holding the electronic device by hand, there is an error (for example, about 1 minute) in the recognized pointer position (angle) depending on the positional relationship between the imaging unit and the dial of the analog clock. May occur.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an electronic timepiece, a time processing system, and a time processing method capable of accurately recognizing the pointer position of the electronic timepiece in a short time. And

  One embodiment of the present invention is a display unit that displays time using a pointer driven by a driving unit, displays another object different from the pointer, and movement instruction data for moving the pointer received from an electronic device And a control unit that controls the driving unit to move the hands to a target position that can be identified from the other target.

  In the electronic timepiece according to another aspect of the present invention, the hands include a first hand and a second hand having a smaller time unit than the first hand, and the target position is the first hand. And the second pointer are separated from each other by a predetermined angle or more that can be distinguished from each other.

  In the electronic timepiece according to another aspect of the present invention, the pointer includes a third pointer having a time unit smaller than that of the second pointer, and a target position of the third pointer is the first pointer. This is a common reference position with the second pointer.

  In the electronic timepiece according to another aspect of the present invention, the target position of the second hand is a position discretized at an interval larger than an angle corresponding to a time unit of the first hand.

  In the electronic timepiece according to another aspect of the present invention, the target position is a position away from the other object in the plan view with respect to the display unit.

  In the electronic timepiece according to another aspect of the present invention, the other object is a pattern or a date display unit.

  The electronic timepiece according to another aspect of the present invention further includes a receiving unit capable of receiving the movement instruction data from the electronic device. When the receiving unit receives the movement instruction data, the control unit The pointer is moved by a moving amount corresponding to time, and the receiving unit receives the display time specified by the electronic device.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a time processing system including an electronic timepiece and an electronic device, wherein the time is displayed by a hand driven by a driving unit, and another object different from the hand is displayed. And a control unit that controls the drive unit to move the pointer to a target position that can be identified from the other target, based on movement instruction data for moving the pointer received from the electronic device, The electronic device acquires an imaging unit that images the display unit of the electronic timepiece and outputs an imaging result, a time specifying unit that specifies a display time displayed by the display unit based on the imaging result, and obtains a current time A time acquisition unit that performs correction, a correction amount calculation unit that calculates a correction amount for correcting the display time based on the current time, and a movement instruction unit that transmits the movement instruction data to the electronic timepiece before imaging. Preparation It is a point-in-time processing system that.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, an electronic timepiece including a display unit that displays a time by a pointer driven by a driving unit and displays another object different from the pointer is received from the electronic device. And a step of controlling the driving unit so as to move the pointer to a target position that can be identified from the other object based on movement instruction data for movement.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to recognize the pointer position of the electronic timepiece with high accuracy in a short time.

It is the schematic which showed the structure of the time correction system by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the pointer position of the display part by 1st Embodiment. 6 is a timing chart for explaining an operation example of the electronic timepiece according to the first embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the process sequence of the time correction process which the electronic device by 1st Embodiment performs. It is the flowchart which showed the process sequence of the time correction process by 1st Embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the process sequence of the pointer position movement process by 1st Embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the process sequence of the pointer position recovery process by 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the pointer position of the display part by 2nd Embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the process sequence of the pointer position movement process by 2nd Embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the process sequence of the pointer position movement process by 3rd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[First embodiment]
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a time correction system 1 according to the present embodiment. In the illustrated example, the time adjustment system 1 (time processing system) includes an electronic device 10 and an electronic timepiece 20. The electronic device 10 is, for example, an electronic device such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, or a tablet terminal. In the example illustrated, the electronic device 10 includes a time data acquisition unit 101, a control unit 102, a light source 103, an imaging unit 104, a display unit 105, and an input unit 106.

  The time data acquisition unit 101 acquires the current time (hour minute second). For example, the time data acquisition unit 101 obtains the current time by accessing a time server on the Internet, the method of acquiring the current time using GPS (Global Positioning System), or the control signal from the base station. A method for obtaining the current time is used. Note that any method may be used to acquire the current time.

  The control unit 102 controls each unit included in the electronic device 10. The control unit 102 includes a movement instruction unit 1021, a position detection unit 1022, a time specification unit 1023, and a correction amount calculation unit 1024.

  The movement instruction unit 1021 outputs movement instruction data as an optical signal using the light source 103 when the input unit 106 receives an operation input (time correction instruction input) for instructing correction of the display time of the electronic timepiece 20. . The movement instruction data indicates that at least one of the pointers 2082 of the display unit 208 of the electronic timepiece 20 is moved to a target position that can be distinguished from other objects (for example, other pointers, typesetting, scales, patterns, decorations). It is the data to instruct. The movement instruction data may be used in combination with a synchronization signal described later. An example of the target position will be described later. The “position” of the pointer 2082 means its “direction” or “azimuth”.

  The position detection unit 1022 detects the position of the pointer 2082 using a known image processing technique (for example, binarization and image recognition) for the image data of the image representing the display unit 208 of the electronic timepiece 20 captured by the imaging unit 104. To do. Here, the position detection unit 1022 includes a bright region (signal value 1) having a luminance value higher than a predetermined luminance value threshold value among the luminance values for each pixel forming the image data, and a predetermined luminance value threshold value. Binary data is generated by binarizing into a dark region (signal value 0) having the following luminance values. The position detection unit 1022 is based on the shape and size of the boundary between the bright region and the dark region in the binarized data, and the scales displayed on the dial 2081 and the hour hand 2083, the minute hand 2084, the second hand 2085 of the display unit 208. Are identified, and each display area is specified. The position detection unit 1022 detects the positions (angles) of the hour hand 2083, the minute hand 2084, and the second hand 2085 with reference to the specified scale position.

  The time specifying unit 1023 specifies the reading time (current time) of the electronic timepiece 20 based on the detected positions of the hour hand 2083, the minute hand 2084, and the second hand 2085.

  The correction amount calculation unit 1024 calculates a time correction amount for correcting the time displayed by the electronic timepiece 20 from the difference between the display time specified by the time specification unit 1023 and the current time acquired by the time data acquisition unit 101. . The correction amount calculation unit 1024 outputs time correction amount data indicating the calculated time correction amount as an optical signal using the light source 103.

  The light source 103 is, for example, a flash LED (Light Emitting Diode) included in the electronic device 10 or a backlight of a liquid crystal display. The light source 103 operates as a transmission unit that transmits an optical signal indicating movement instruction data or time correction amount data to the electronic timepiece 20. The imaging unit 104 is, for example, a CCD (Charge-coupled Device) camera. The imaging unit 104 captures an image of the subject (the display unit 208 of the electronic timepiece 20), and outputs image data indicating the captured image to the control unit 102 as an imaging result. The display unit 105 is a liquid crystal display (LCD: Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and displays information. The input unit 106 receives an operation input by a user. The input unit 106 includes, for example, a touch sensor, a switch button, and the like.

  The electronic timepiece 20 is a timepiece that displays time in an analog display. In the illustrated example, the electronic timepiece 20 includes a solar battery 201, a control circuit 202, a switch 203, a secondary battery 204, a diode 205, a reference signal generation circuit 206, a stepping motor 207, and a display unit 208. A storage unit 209 and an input unit 210.

  In the charging period, the solar cell 201 operates as a power generation unit that receives light (sun, illumination, etc.) and converts it into electrical energy. In addition, the solar cell 201 (reception unit) operates as a reception unit that performs optical communication with the electronic device 10 and receives an optical signal indicating time correction amount data from the electronic device 10 during the communication period. The charging period and the communication period will be described later.

  The control circuit 202 controls each unit included in the electronic timepiece 20. The control circuit 202 controls charging of the secondary battery 204 by the solar battery 201. The control circuit 202 performs overcharge prevention control of the secondary battery 204. In addition, the control circuit 202 performs optical communication using the solar cell 201. For example, the control circuit 202 operates with electric power output from the secondary battery 204 connected to the power supply terminal and the GND terminal. At this time, the control circuit 202 determines the charge state (full charge, overdischarge, etc.) of the secondary battery 204 by detecting the output voltage of the secondary battery 204, and performs predetermined charge control. For example, the control circuit 202 performs on / off control of the switch 203 by a control signal output from the control terminal in accordance with the state of charge of the secondary battery 204. Accordingly, the control circuit 202 charges the secondary battery 204 by connecting the solar battery 201 and the secondary battery 204. In addition, the control circuit 202 prevents the secondary battery 204 from being overcharged by disconnecting the solar battery 201 and the secondary battery 204.

  Further, the control circuit 202 outputs a switch control signal based on the reference signal output from the reference signal generation circuit 206, and performs on / off control of the switch 203. As a result, the control circuit 202 connects the solar battery 201 and the secondary battery 204 and disconnects the solar battery 201 and the secondary battery 204.

  In addition, the control circuit 202 detects the output voltage of the solar cell 201 input to the input terminal during the communication period, and converts the detected voltage into an electric signal, so that the external device (the electronic device 10 in the present embodiment) is detected. ) Receives time correction amount data or movement instruction data transmitted by optical communication. Then, the control circuit 202 drives the stepping motor 207 based on the received time correction amount data, and corrects the time indicated by the pointer 2082.

  In addition, when receiving the movement instruction data, the control circuit 202 (control unit) drives the stepping motor 207 to move at least one of the pointers 2082 from another target (for example, another pointer, typesetting, scale). Move to an identifiable target position. The target position is, for example, a position where a first hand (for example, hour hand 2083) and a second hand (for example, minute hand 2084) are separated by a predetermined angle or more. In addition, the target position of the third pointer (for example, the second hand 2085) related to the smallest timing unit among the pointers is a predetermined reference position (for example, the position of 0 second). Further, the target position is any one of positions (for example, 30 °, 60 °, 90 °) discretized at intervals larger than an angle corresponding to a time unit (for example, 1 minute) of the second pointer (for example, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, and 15 minutes). “Positive to minute” means a value that is an integral multiple of the minute interval and is not rounded, or a position that indicates the value.

  The switch 203 connects the solar battery 201 and the secondary battery 204 and disconnects the solar battery 201 and the secondary battery 204 based on a switch control signal input from the control circuit 202. The secondary battery 204 supplies power to each unit included in the electronic timepiece 20. The diode 205 prevents current from flowing backward to the secondary battery 204. The reference signal generation circuit 206 includes an oscillation circuit (for example, 32 kHz) and a frequency dividing circuit, and generates a reference signal of 1 Hz, for example.

  The stepping motor 207 drives (rotates) the pointer 2082 and the date display unit 2086 based on the pulse signal input from the control circuit 202.

  The display unit 208 includes a dial 2081, a pointer 2082, and a date display unit (date window) 2086. Display unit 208 displays time and date in an analog display using dial 2081, hands 2082, and date display unit 2086. The display unit 208 indicates the time by a dial 2081 and a pointer 2082, and the date by a date display unit 2086. A scale is displayed on the periphery of the dial 2081 at intervals of 6 ° from the center. Among the displayed scales, the scales displayed at 30 ° intervals are longer and thicker than the other scales. Above the center of the dial 2081, the typesetting “Solar Watch” is displayed in the left-right direction. The position detection unit 1022 specifies the 0:00 direction (upward with respect to the drawing) as the reference direction based on the position of this typesetting and the position of the date display unit 2086 displayed below the center of the dial 2081. The pointer 2082 includes an hour hand 2083, a minute hand 2084 related to a time unit “minute” smaller than the time unit “hour” of the hour hand 2083, and a second hand 2085 related to a time unit “second” smaller than the time unit “minute” of the minute hand 2084. Is included. The length of each hand becomes longer in the order of the hour hand 2083, the minute hand 2084, and the second hand 2085, and the second hand 2085 is the longest. The width of the second hand 2085 is narrower than the width of the hour hand 2083 and the minute hand 2084. The position detection unit 1022 determines the hour hand 2083, the minute hand 2084, and the second hand 2085 based on the length and width of the pointer.

  The storage unit 209 is a nonvolatile memory, for example, and stores data used by each unit included in the electronic timepiece 20. The input unit 210 receives a user operation input and outputs an input signal instructed by the received operation input to the control circuit 202.

Next, the target position of the pointer 2082 suitable for time detection will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the pointer position of the display unit 208 according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2A is an example of a pointer position that is not suitable for time detection. In the example shown in FIG. 2A, the minute hand 2084 crosses the typesetting “Solar Watch” attached on the dial 2081. Since the position detection unit 1022 recognizes that the minute hand 2084 is an object integrated with the typesetting, the length and the direction instructed may be erroneously recognized. The second hand 2085 is in contact with the date display portion 2086. For this reason, the position detection unit 1022 recognizes that the second hand 2085 is an object integrated with the date display unit 2086 and the scale adjacent to the date display unit 2086. There are things to do. Further, since the second hand 2085 is directed from the center of the dial 2081 to the position of 30 seconds shown in the lower part of the drawing, the direction of the minute hand 2084 is separated from the position discretized at intervals of 6 ° (corresponding to 1 minute). Therefore, spatially high accuracy is required for position detection.

  In addition, when the pointer position of the hour hand 2083 and the position of the minute hand 2084 are the same or close to each other, the position detection unit 1022 recognizes that the hour hand 2083 and the minute hand 2084 are an integrated target. The number of hands 2082 may be recognized incorrectly.

  FIG. 2B is an example of a pointer position suitable for time detection. In the example shown in FIG. 2B, the hour hand 2083 and the minute hand 2084 are located at positions sufficiently away from the other hands, typesetting, scale, and date display portion 2086, respectively. Therefore, the position detection unit 1022 can identify the hour hand 2083 and the minute hand 2084 and accurately detect their positions. Further, the second hand 2085 crosses the typesetting “Solar Watch”, but is directed in the reference direction (the direction of 0 second) shown in the upper part of the drawing, so that the position of the minute hand 2084 is set at an interval of 6 ° (in 1 minute). It is directed to one of the positions set in (equivalent). Therefore, spatially high accuracy is not required in detecting the position of the pointer 2082.

  Further, the position of the minute hand 2084 is larger than the angle corresponding to 1 minute which is the timing unit (for example, 30 ° (corresponding to 5 minutes), 60 ° (corresponding to 10 minutes), 90 ° (positive). If the position is one of the positions discretized at 15), etc., since the candidate for the pointer position is limited, the accuracy required for detecting the position may be even lower. In other words, the time specifying unit 1023 can specify the value of “minute” indicated by the minute hand 2084 more accurately.

  The hand position suitable for time detection described above is (a) the position where the hour hand 2083 as the first hand is separated from the minute hand 2084 as the second hand by a predetermined angle or more, and (b) the smallest time measurement. A reference position (0 second position) indicating 0 second as a target position of the second hand 2085 which is the third pointer relating to the unit, and (c) the minute hand 2084 which is the second pointer corresponds to 1 minute which is the timing unit. Any of the positions discretized at an interval (for example, 30 degrees) larger than the angle (6 degrees) (for example, a position corresponding to positive 5 minutes). In (b), the reference position is the reference position of the first pointer (for example, the position of 0 o'clock in the case of the hour hand 2083) and the reference position of the second pointer (for example, 0 in the case of the minute hand 2084). And the common origin. The hand 2082 may include the hour hand 2083 as the first hand, the minute hand 2084 as the second hand, and the second hand 2085 may not be included as the third hand. In this case, since the pointer relating to the smallest timing unit is the minute hand 2084 which is the second pointer, the minute hand 2084 is also handled as the third pointer.

  Therefore, when the movement instruction data is received from the electronic device 10 via the solar battery 201, the control circuit 202 sets the pointer position that satisfies (a) to (c) as the target position. The control circuit 202 calculates a difference value between the position currently indicated by the pointer 2082 and the set target position, drives the stepping motor 207 based on the calculated difference value, and sets the position indicated by the pointer 2082 as the target. Move to position. For example, when the current pointer position is the position shown in FIG. 2A, the control circuit 202 moves the pointer 2082 to the position shown in FIG. Thereby, the time specifying unit 1023 of the electronic device 10 can more accurately detect the time indicated by the pointer 2082 based on the image of the display unit 208 imaged by the imaging unit 104.

  Next, a communication method between the electronic device 10 and the electronic timepiece 20 will be described. In the present embodiment, the electronic device 10 transmits data using the light source 103. For example, the electronic device 10 causes the light source 103 to emit light when transmitting “1”, and turns off the light source 103 when transmitting “0”. The electronic timepiece 20 receives data using the solar cell 201. For example, the control circuit 202 of the electronic timepiece 20 detects a voltage generated when the solar cell 201 receives light, and receives “1” when the detected voltage is higher than a predetermined voltage threshold. judge. If the detected voltage is not as high as the threshold voltage, the control circuit 202 determines that “0” has been received.

  When the solar battery 201 and the secondary battery 204 are connected, the voltage generated by the solar battery 201 cannot be accurately determined based on the output voltage of the secondary battery 204. Therefore, in this embodiment, at the time of data reception, the switch 203 is controlled to disconnect the solar battery 201 and the secondary battery 204 (OFF state) in order to detect the voltage generated by the solar battery 201 with higher accuracy. Note that a period in which the solar battery 201 and the secondary battery 204 are disconnected is referred to as a “communication period (OFF period)”.

  In a period other than the communication period, the switch 203 is controlled to connect the solar battery 201 and the secondary battery 204 (ON state). A period in which the solar battery 201 and the secondary battery 204 are connected is referred to as a “charging period (ON period)”. Thereby, data can be received with higher accuracy during the reception period.

  In addition, since the secondary battery 204 cannot be charged during the communication period, it is desirable that the communication period be shorter. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the electronic timepiece 20 is normally set as a charging period, and a short communication period is provided for each fixed period. When the electronic timepiece 20 receives the synchronization signal from the electronic device 10 during the short communication period, the electronic timepiece 20 continues the communication period until the reception of the time correction amount data is completed. On the other hand, when the electronic timepiece 20 does not receive the synchronization signal from the electronic device 10 during the communication period, the electronic timepiece 20 is set to the charging period.

  FIG. 3A is a timing chart showing the transmission timing of the synchronization signal, the start signal, and the time correction amount data that the electronic device 10 transmits to the electronic timepiece 20. FIG. 3B is a timing chart showing the output timing of the switch control signal output from the control circuit 202 of the electronic timepiece 20.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the electronic device 10 transmits a synchronization signal before transmitting time correction amount data (time t3 to time t5). Note that the synchronization signal is also used as movement instruction data. Thereafter, the electronic device 10 transmits a start signal (time t6 to time t7). Thereafter, the electronic device 10 transmits time correction amount data (time t8 to time t9).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, the electronic timepiece 20 turns off the switch 203 after a certain time has elapsed since the transition to the charging period, and transitions to the communication period (time t1). In addition, the electronic timepiece 20 does not receive the synchronization signal after the transition to the communication period, and after a certain time has elapsed, the electronic clock 20 turns on the switch 203 and transitions to the charging period (time t2). In addition, after a predetermined time has passed since the electronic timepiece 20 has shifted to the charging period, the electronic timepiece 20 turns off the switch 203 and shifts to the communication period (time t4). At time t4, since the synchronization signal is transmitted from the electronic device 10, the electronic timepiece 20 receives the synchronization signal. By receiving the synchronization signal, the electronic timepiece 20 maintains the OFF state and sets the communication period. In addition, when the reception of the time correction amount data is completed, the electronic timepiece 20 turns on the switch 203 and shifts to the charging period (time t9). Thereafter, similarly, the electronic timepiece 20 repeats the charging period and the communication period, and receives time correction amount data transmitted from the electronic device 10.

  As described above, the electronic timepiece 20 repeats the charging period and the communication period shorter than the charging period. When a synchronization signal is received during a short communication period, the communication period is set until reception of time correction amount data is completed. Thereby, the electronic timepiece 20 can receive the optical signal with higher accuracy while extending the charging period.

  Next, a time correction method in the time correction system 1 will be described. When the input unit 106 receives a time correction instruction input, the movement instruction unit 1021 of the electronic device 10 causes the light source 103 to output movement instruction data (synchronization signal) as an optical signal. When receiving the movement instruction data, the control circuit 202 of the electronic timepiece 20 moves the pointer position of the pointer 2082 to the target position. The position detection unit 1022 of the electronic device 10 causes the imaging unit 104 to image the display unit 208 of the electronic timepiece 20 after the movement instruction unit 1021 transmits movement instruction data. The position detection unit 1022 detects the position of each pointer 2082 from the image captured by the imaging unit 104. Subsequently, the time specifying unit 1023 specifies the display time of the electronic timepiece 20 based on the position of each hand 2082 detected by the position detecting unit 1022. Subsequently, the correction amount calculation unit 1024 calculates a time correction amount from the difference between the display time specified by the time specification unit 1023 and the current time acquired by the time data acquisition unit 101, and a time indicating the calculated time correction amount The correction amount data is output from the light source 103 as an optical signal. When receiving the time correction amount data, the control circuit 202 of the electronic timepiece 20 moves the pointer 2082 based on the received time correction amount data, and corrects the display time.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of time correction processing executed by the electronic apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment.
(Step S <b> 101) The user adjusts the positional relationship between the electronic device 10 and the electronic timepiece 20 so that the electronic device 10 can capture an image of the display unit 208 of the electronic timepiece 20. Thereafter, the user operates the input unit 106 of the electronic device 10 to input a time correction instruction. When the input unit 106 of the electronic device 10 receives an input of a time correction instruction (YES in step S101), the process proceeds to step S102. When the input of the time correction instruction is not accepted (NO in step S101), the process of step S101 is repeated.

(Step S102) The control unit 102 controls the light source 103 and transmits movement instruction data (synchronization signal) for a certain period. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S103.
(Step S <b> 103) After completing the transmission of the movement instruction data (synchronization signal), the control unit 102 controls the imaging unit 104 to capture an image on the display unit 208 of the electronic timepiece 20. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S104.

(Step S <b> 104) The control unit 102 performs image processing, and identifies the time indicated by the electronic timepiece 20 based on the captured image of the display unit 208 of the electronic timepiece 20 captured by the imaging unit 104. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S105.
(Step S105) The time data acquisition unit 101 acquires a current time as a reference. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S106.

  (Step S106) The control unit 102 calculates the difference between the time indicated by the electronic timepiece 20 specified in the process of step S104 and the current time acquired by the time data acquisition unit 101 in the process of step S105, thereby A time difference of 20 is calculated. Further, the control unit 102 calculates a moving amount for moving the hands 2082 of the electronic timepiece 20, that is, an amount for driving the stepping motor 207, in order to eliminate the time lag of the electronic timepiece 20. Hereinafter, the amount of driving the stepping motor 207 of the electronic timepiece 20 in order to eliminate and correct the time lag of the electronic timepiece 20 is referred to as a time correction amount. For example, it is assumed that the pointer 2082 advances by 1 second when the stepping motor 207 operates in one step. In this case, when the time displayed on the display unit 208 of the electronic timepiece 20 is delayed by 10 seconds, the time correction amount is “10”. The control unit 102 generates time correction amount data indicating the calculated time correction amount. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S107.

(Step S107) The control unit 102 controls the light source 103 and transmits a start signal. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S108.
(Step S108) The control unit 102 controls the light source 103 and transmits time correction amount data. Thereafter, the process ends.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of time correction processing executed by the electronic timepiece 20 according to the present embodiment.
(Step S201) The control circuit 202 controls the switch 203, and controls the transition between the communication period and the charging period at regular intervals. When it is determined that the movement instruction data (synchronization signal) has been received via the solar cell 201 during the communication period, the control circuit 202 performs a pointer position movement process described later. At this time, the control circuit 202 maintains the switch 203 in the OFF state and sets the communication period. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S202.
(Step S202) The control circuit 202 receives a start signal and time correction amount data via the solar cell 201 during the communication period. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S203.

(Step S203) The control circuit 202 controls the switch 203 to the ON state, and shifts to the charging period. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S204.
(Step S204) The control circuit 202 sets the time correction amount based on the time correction amount data received in the process of step S202. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S205.

(Step S205) The control circuit 202 drives the stepping motor 207 by one step. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S206.
(Step S206) The control circuit 202 subtracts 1 from the set time correction amount, and sets the value after subtraction as the time correction amount. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S207.

  (Step S207) The control circuit 202 determines whether or not the set time correction amount is zero. The control circuit 202 ends the process when the set time correction amount is 0 (YES in step S207), and otherwise returns to the process of step S205 (NO in step S207).

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the hand position movement process executed by the electronic timepiece 20 according to the present embodiment. The process shown in the figure corresponds to the process of step S201 described above.

  (Step S <b> 221) The control circuit 202 determines whether an optical signal indicating movement instruction data is received from the electronic device 10 based on the output voltage of the solar battery 201. If the control circuit 202 determines that it has been received (YES in step S221), the process proceeds to step S222. If the control circuit 202 determines that it has not been received (NO in step S221), the control circuit 202 repeats the process of step S221.

  (Step S222) The control circuit 202 sets a movement target value indicating the target position of the pointer 2082. The target position of the second hand 2085 is the 0 second position. The target position of the minute hand 2084 is the positive 5 minute position next to the current position. The next 5 minute position next to the current position is a position that is arranged clockwise from the current position among the positions set at intervals of 30 ° and is closest to the current position. The target position of the hour hand 2083 is a position displaced from the current position in accordance with the movement of the second hand 2085 and the minute hand 2084. The movement of the second hand 2085 and the minute hand 2084 means movement of the second hand 2085 and the minute hand 2084 from the current position to the target position. For example, when the time from the time indicated by the current position of the second hand 2085 and the minute hand 2084 to the time indicated by the target position is α minutes and β seconds, the displacement of the hour hand 2083 is α / 12 + β / 120 (°). . Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S223.

  (Step S223) The control circuit 202 calculates the angle formed by the target position of the hour hand 2083 and the target position of the minute hand 2084. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S224.

  (Step S224) The control circuit 202 determines whether or not the calculated angle is equal to or greater than a predetermined interval (for example, 30 °), so that the target position of the hour hand 2083 and the target position of the minute hand 2084 are It is determined whether or not the distance is greater than the interval. If the control circuit 202 determines that they are separated (YES in step S224), the process proceeds to step S226. If the control circuit 202 determines that they are not separated (NO in step S224), the process proceeds to step S225.

  (Step S225) The control circuit 202 resets the movement target value indicating the target position of the pointer 2082. The target position of the second hand 2085 after the resetting is also the 0 second position. The target position of the minute hand 2084 after resetting is the next positive 5 minute position after the target position before resetting. The target position of the hour hand 2083 after resetting is a position displaced in accordance with the movement of the second hand 2085 and the minute hand 2084 from the target position before resetting to the target position after resetting. Thereafter, the process returns to step S223.

  (Step S226) The control circuit 202 starts moving the pointer 2082 to the target position indicated by the set movement target value. Here, the control circuit 202 calculates a movement amount indicating a difference between the current time indicated by the current position from the target time indicated by the target position. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S227.

(Step S227) The control circuit 202 drives the stepping motor 207 by one step, and subtracts the movement amount corresponding to one step. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S228.
(Step S228) The display unit 208 updates the pointer position indicated by the pointer 2082 in accordance with the driving of the stepping motor 207. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S229.

(Step S229) The control circuit 202 determines whether or not the pointer position matches the target position based on whether or not the movement amount has reached zero. If the control circuit 202 determines that they match (YES in step S229), the process proceeds to step S230. If the control circuit 202 determines that they do not match (NO in step S229), the process returns to step S227.
(Step S230) The control circuit 202 ends the process of FIG. 6 by ending the movement of the pointer 2082.

  When the elapsed time from the start of the pointer position movement process exceeds a predetermined time (timeout time, for example, 10 seconds), the control circuit 202 stops the pointer position movement process and sets the pointer position of the pointer 2082 May be returned to the pointer position representing the current time (pointer position recovery process). This current time may be a time that has elapsed by a time required for returning the pointer position of the pointer 2082 from the start of the pointer position movement process (for example, twice the timeout time). Accordingly, the target position of the pointer 2082 is a pointer position that represents a time that has elapsed for a required time from the start of the pointer position movement process.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the hand position recovery process executed by the electronic timepiece 20 according to the present embodiment.
(Step S241) The control circuit 202 checks the elapsed time from the start of the pointer position movement process. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S242.

  (Step S242) The control circuit 202 determines whether or not the confirmed elapsed time has passed a predetermined time. If the control circuit 202 determines that the time has elapsed (YES in step S242), the process proceeds to step S243. When the control circuit 202 determines that the time has not elapsed (NO in step S242), the process returns to step S241.

(Step S243) The control circuit 202 sets the set value indicating the current time described above as the movement target value indicating the target position of the pointer 2082. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S244.
(Step S244) The control circuit 202 starts to move the pointer 2082 to the target position indicated by the set movement target value. Here, the control circuit 202 calculates a movement amount indicating a difference in display time immediately before the start of movement from the target time indicated by the target position. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S245.

(Step S245) The control circuit 202 drives the stepping motor 207 by one step, and adds a movement amount corresponding to one step. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S246.
(Step S246) The display unit 208 updates the pointer position indicated by the pointer 2082 in accordance with the driving of the stepping motor 207. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S247.

(Step S247) The control circuit 202 determines whether or not the pointer position matches the target position based on whether or not the movement amount has reached zero. If the control circuit 202 determines that they match (YES in step S247), the process proceeds to step S248. If the control circuit 202 determines that they do not match (NO in step S247), the process returns to step S245.
(Step S248) The control circuit 202 ends the processing of FIG. 7 by ending the movement of the pointer 2082.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the electronic device 10 images the display unit 208 of the electronic timepiece 20 and specifies the time indicated by the electronic timepiece 20 based on the captured image. The electronic device 10 calculates a time correction amount based on the difference between the current time and the time indicated by the electronic timepiece 20, and transmits the calculated time correction amount to the electronic timepiece 20. The electronic timepiece 20 corrects the time indicated by the display unit 208 based on the received time correction amount. Accordingly, the time indicated by the electronic timepiece 20 can be corrected to the correct time more accurately and easily without the user operating the electronic timepiece 20.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the electronic timepiece 20 receives the movement instruction data, the electronic timepiece 202 moves the hands 2082 to positions that can be distinguished from each other. Therefore, the electronic device 10 can more accurately detect the electronic timepiece based on the captured image. The positions of the 20 pointers 2082 can be recognized. Thereby, the electronic device 10 can correct the time more accurately based on the recognized position of each pointer 2082. Also, the electronic device 10 does not need to wait until the hands 2082 move to positions where they are identified from each other.

  In addition, since the electronic device 10 and the electronic timepiece 20 transmit and receive the time correction amount by the optical communication method described above, a connector for connecting the electronic device 10 and the electronic timepiece 20 with a wire and an antenna for wireless communication are electronically connected. There is no need to mount it on the device 10 or the electronic timepiece 20. That is, since the electronic device 10 can communicate with the light source 103 and the electronic timepiece 20 as standard equipment such as the solar battery 201, the design of the electronic device 10 and the electronic timepiece 20 is not impaired by mounting a new device.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the time correction system 1 in the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. Moreover, the optical communication method of the time adjustment system 1 in this embodiment is the same as the optical communication method shown in FIG.

  The target position of the pointer 2082 suitable for time detection is different between the present embodiment and the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the target position is determined on the main surface of the display unit 208 from another target (for example, typesetting, scale, pattern, decoration) on which the first pointer (for example, hour hand 2083, minute hand 2084) appears on the display unit 208. On the other hand, it is a position separated in plan view. Further, the target position is a position away from the date display unit 2086 where the pointer 2082 displays the date.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the pointer position of the display unit 208 according to the present embodiment.
In the example shown in this figure, the pointer positions of the hour hand 2083 and the minute hand 2084 are at positions away from the placement prohibition areas f1 and f2. The placement prohibition areas f1 and f2 indicate the areas where the pointer 2082 intersects the typesetting “Solar Watch” and the date display portion 2086, respectively. Therefore, the control circuit 202 sets the target positions of the hour hand 2083 and the minute hand 2084 at positions away from the placement prohibited areas f1 and f2. As a result, the position detection unit 1022 can identify each pointer 2082 as a separate object from the typesetting “Solar Watch” or the date display unit 2086 as another object, and can correctly recognize the length and direction thereof. Therefore, the time specifying unit 1023 can correctly recognize each indicated value.

  In other words, in addition to (a) to (c) described above as one mode of the pointer position suitable for time detection, the other target whose first pointer is represented on the display unit 208 is the main surface of the display unit 208. It may be considered that the position is far from the position. Such positions include, for example, (d) a position away from an area where the pointer 2082 overlaps the scale on the dial 2081, and (e) an area where the pointer 2082 overlaps a pattern (typesetting, etc.) on the dial 2081. There are a distant position, (f) a position distant from an area where the pointer 2082 overlaps the date display portion 2086, and the like. However, the target position of the second hand 2085 may be a reference position (0 second position) indicating 0 second.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the hand position movement process executed by the electronic timepiece 20 according to the present embodiment.
Since the process from step S301 to S305 is the same as the process from step S221 to S225 described above, the description thereof is omitted.

  However, in the process shown in this figure, when the control circuit 202 determines in step S304 that the target position of the hour hand 2083 and the target position of the minute hand 2084 are separated by a predetermined interval (for example, 30 °) or more. (YES in step S304), the process proceeds to step S306.

(Step S306) The control circuit 202 checks whether or not the position of the hour hand 2083 and the position of the minute hand 2084 are outside the placement prohibited areas f1 and f2, respectively. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S307.
(Step S307) If the control circuit 202 determines that both the position of the hour hand 2083 and the position of the minute hand 2084 are outside the placement prohibited areas f1, f2 (YES in Step S307), the process proceeds to Step S308. If the control circuit 202 determines that at least one of the position of the hour hand 2083 and the position of the minute hand 2084 is within the placement prohibited areas f1 and f2 (NO in step S307), the process proceeds to step S305.

  Since the process from step S308 to S312 is the same as the process from step S226 to S230 described above, the description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the electronic timepiece 20 sets the position away from the placement prohibited area as the target position of the pointer 2082. Thereby, according to this embodiment, in addition to the effect of 1st Embodiment, the electronic device 10 can recognize each pointer 2082 more accurately.

[Third embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the time correction system 1 in the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. Moreover, the optical communication method of the time adjustment system 1 in this embodiment is the same as the optical communication method shown in FIG.

  This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the electronic device 10 retransmits the movement instruction data when the time specified by the pointer 2082 fails based on the captured image. The time specifying unit 1023 may fail to specify the time indicated by the pointer 2082 based on the image of the display unit 208 imaged by the imaging unit 104. As an example of failing to specify the time, for example, when the number of hands 2082 identified by the position detection unit 1022 is smaller than the number to be originally identified (3 in the present embodiment), or the hour hand 2083 and the minute hand 2084 And so on.

  Therefore, when the movement specifying unit 1021 of the electronic apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment determines that the time specifying unit 1023 has failed to specify the time, the movement instruction data is transmitted to the electronic timepiece 20 as an optical signal using the light source 103. Resend.

  Thereafter, the position detection unit 1022 causes the imaging unit 104 to capture an image of the display unit 208 and detects the position of the pointer 2082 based on the image data acquired by the imaging. Then, the time specifying unit 1023 specifies the display time of the electronic timepiece 20 based on the detected position of the pointer 2082. These processes may be repeated until the display time is specified successfully. The time specifying unit 1023 transmits display time data indicating the specified display time to the electronic timepiece 20 as an optical signal. Since the other structure of the electronic device 10 is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  Based on the output voltage of the solar cell 201, the control circuit 202 of the electronic timepiece 20 determines whether or not an optical signal indicating the retransmitted movement instruction data has been received. When the control circuit 202 receives the retransmitted movement instruction data, the control circuit 202 advances the pointer 2082 (for example, hour hand 2083, minute hand 2084) of the display unit 208 from the current display position for a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes). . The control circuit 202 receives an optical signal indicating display time data based on the output voltage of the solar cell 201. Since the other structure of the electronic timepiece 20 is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the hand position movement process executed by the electronic timepiece 20 according to the present embodiment.
Since the processing up to steps S401 and S402 is the same as the processing up to steps S201 and S202 described above, the description thereof is omitted. After step S402, the process proceeds to step S403. Since the process from step S403 to S407 is the same as the process from step S206 to S210 described above, the description thereof is omitted. After the process in step S407, the process proceeds to step S408.

  (Step S408) The control circuit 202 determines whether or not an optical signal indicating movement instruction data is received again within a predetermined time. The movement instruction data received again is data transmitted by the movement instruction unit 1021 when the time specifying unit 1023 determines that the time specification has failed. If the control circuit 202 determines that it has been received (YES in step S408), the process returns to step S402. When step S402 is repeated, the position detection unit 1022 sets the movement target value so that the target position of the minute hand 2084 is the next positive 5 minute position that is a position further rotated clockwise by 30 °. Further, the position detection unit 1022 sets the target position of the hour hand 2083 to a position displaced in accordance with the movement of the minute hand 2084. The control circuit 202 receives an optical signal indicating display time data based on the output voltage of the solar cell 201. If the control circuit 202 determines that the movement instruction data has not been received (NO in step S408), the process ends.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the display time cannot be specified from the captured image, the electronic device 10 retransmits the movement instruction data. When the electronic timepiece 20 receives the movement instruction data again, the electronic timepiece 20 further advances the pointer 2082 for a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes). Accordingly, the electronic device 10 can reliably specify the display time of the electronic timepiece 20 based on the image obtained by capturing the display unit 208 of the electronic timepiece 20.

  In addition, since the display time specified by the electronic device 10 is transmitted to the electronic timepiece 20, the electronic timepiece 20 can acquire the control circuit 202 even when the position (or display time) of the pointer 2082 is not given in advance. The position of the pointer 2082 can be associated with the count value obtained by counting the number of pulses of the reference signal described above by the control circuit 202. This count value indicates the current time measured by the electronic timepiece 20.

  Note that all or some of the functions of each unit included in the electronic device 10 or the electronic timepiece 20 in the embodiment described above are recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the recording medium It may be realized by reading the program recorded in the above into a computer system and executing it. The “computer system” here is not limited to a control device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and includes hardware such as an OS (Operating System) and peripheral devices.

  The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, and a CD-ROM, and a storage unit such as a hard disk built in the computer system. Furthermore, the “computer-readable recording medium” dynamically holds a program for a short time like a communication line when transmitting a program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In this case, a volatile memory inside a computer system serving as a server or a client in that case may be included and a program held for a certain period of time. The program may be a program for realizing a part of the functions described above, and may be a program capable of realizing the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in a computer system.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the electronic timepiece 20 repeats the charging period and the communication period in which optical communication is performed at a predetermined cycle. The charging period and the communication period may be switched by controlling 203. Alternatively, in the communication period, the electronic timepiece 20 first detects a synchronization signal at a low communication rate, and after detecting the synchronization signal, switches to a high communication rate (for example, four times the low communication rate), and generates a start signal and a data signal. May be received. Thereby, the power consumption of the electronic device 10 and the electronic timepiece 20 can be reduced.

The control unit 102 may calculate a time correction amount, and may calculate an additional correction amount according to the time required for correction in the electronic timepiece 20 based on the calculated time correction amount. The additional correction amount is an amount for driving the stepping motor 207 of the electronic timepiece 20 corresponding to the time required for correcting the time in the electronic timepiece 20. The additional correction amount increases as the time correction amount increases, and decreases as the time correction amount decreases. This is because it is considered that it takes time to correct the time as the time correction amount increases. Then, the control unit 102 outputs time correction amount data obtained by adding the additional correction amount to the time correction amount as an optical signal using the light source 103.
When receiving the time correction amount data, the control circuit 202 of the electronic timepiece 20 corrects the time based on the received time correction amount data and restarts the time measurement. That is, since the electronic device 10 and the electronic timepiece 20 correct the time in consideration of the time required for correcting the time, the time can be corrected more accurately in addition to the effects of the first embodiment.

  In the embodiment described above, the case where the electronic timepiece 20 is a three-hand timepiece having the hour hand 2083, the minute hand 2084, and the second hand 2085 as the hands 2082, is exemplified. However, the number of the hands 2082 of the electronic timepiece 20 is limited to three. I can't. The number of hands 2082 may be two, that is, only the hour hand 2083 and the minute hand 2084, or may be four or more.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Time correction system, 10 ... Electronic device, 101 ... Time data acquisition part,
102 ... Control unit, 1021 ... Movement instruction unit, 1022 ... Position detection unit,
1023: Time specifying unit, 1024 ... Correction amount calculating unit,
103 ... light source, 104 ... imaging unit, 105 ... display unit, 106 ... input unit,
20 ... an electronic timepiece, 201 ... a solar cell, 202 ... a control circuit, 203 ... a switch,
204 ... secondary battery, 205 ... diode, 206 ... reference signal generation circuit,
207 ... Stepping motor, 208 ... Display section,
2081 ... Dial, 2082 ... Hand, 2083 ... Hour hand, 2084 ... Minute hand,
2085 ... second hand, 2086 ... date display part,
209 ... Storage unit, 210 ... Input unit

Claims (9)

A display unit for displaying time by a pointer driven by the driving unit, and for displaying other objects different from the pointer;
Based on movement instruction data for moving the pointer received from the electronic device, a control unit that controls the drive unit to move the pointer to a target position that can be identified from the other target;
Electronic watch with The guide includes a first guide and a second guide having a smaller time unit than the first guide,
The electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the target position is a position where the first hand and the second hand are separated from each other by a predetermined angle or more that can be distinguished from each other. The pointer includes a third pointer having a time unit smaller than that of the second pointer, and a target position of the third pointer is a common reference position for the first pointer and the second pointer. The electronic timepiece according to claim 2. The electronic timepiece according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the target position of the second hand is a position discretized at an interval larger than an angle corresponding to a time unit of the first hand. The electronic timepiece according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the target position is a position away from the other object in a plan view with respect to the display unit. The electronic timepiece according to claim 5, wherein the other object is a pattern or date display unit. A receiving unit capable of receiving the movement instruction data from the electronic device;
When the receiving unit receives the movement instruction data, the control unit moves the pointer by a moving amount corresponding to a predetermined time, and the receiving unit receives a display time specified by the electronic device. The electronic timepiece according to any one of claims 1 to 6. A time processing system comprising an electronic timepiece and an electronic device,
A display unit for displaying time by a pointer driven by the driving unit, and for displaying other objects different from the pointer;
Based on movement instruction data for moving the pointer received from the electronic device, a control unit that controls the drive unit to move the pointer to a target position that can be identified from the other target;
With
The electronic device is
An imaging unit that images the display unit of the electronic timepiece and outputs an imaging result;
A time specifying unit for specifying a display time displayed by the display unit based on the imaging result;
A time acquisition unit for acquiring the current time;
A correction amount calculation unit for calculating a correction amount for correcting the display time based on the current time;
A movement instruction unit that transmits the movement instruction data to the electronic timepiece before imaging;
A time processing system comprising: An electronic timepiece having a display unit for displaying time by a pointer driven by the driving unit and displaying another object different from the pointer is based on movement instruction data for moving the pointer received from an electronic device, Controlling the drive unit to move the pointer to a target position identifiable from the other object;
A time processing method.

Images