JP3280739B2 - Illuminated electronic clock - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of a lighting device in an electronic timepiece provided with a light emitting device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional illuminated electronic timepiece, when a light emitting element is turned on to illuminate a liquid crystal display panel (hereinafter referred to as an LCD), a voltage applied to a display means is constant. The contrast was constant.

FIG. 3 shows a system block diagram of a conventional illuminated electronic timepiece. The frequency divider 11 divides the frequency of the output signal output from the oscillation circuit 10. The time counter 12 configured by an arithmetic processing circuit or the like receives an output signal output from the frequency dividing circuit 11 and outputs an output signal to the display unit 5. The single display voltage boosting circuit 18 that boosts the voltage of the power supply to one voltage outputs an output signal to the display unit 5.

[0004] A switch content determination circuit 14 receives an output signal output from a light emitting element operation switch 13 which is an external operation member for operating the light emitting element. The light emission pulse shaping circuit 15 receives the output signal output from the switch content discrimination circuit 14 and calls and shapes the pulse stored in the light emission pulse storage circuit 16 based on the signal. While the pulse signal for operating the light emitting element is output, the light emitting element driving circuit 17 in which the driving circuit operates.
Inputs an output signal output from the light emission pulse shaping circuit 15 and outputs an output signal to the light emitting element 6.

While the light emitting element 6 is lit, the display means 5 is illuminated. The oscillation circuit 10, the frequency dividing circuit 11 and the time counter 12 constitute a time information calculation circuit. The switch means 2 is constituted by the light emitting element operation switch 13 and the switch content determination circuit 14.
For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-9391 discloses such a conventional structure.

[0006]

However, in the conventional illuminated electronic timepiece, when the light emitting element is turned on to illuminate an LCD or the like, the voltage applied to the display means is constant, and the contrast of the LCD or the like is constant. Was constant and the display was sometimes blurry and difficult to see. Further, the contrast of an LCD or the like was always constant regardless of the state of the light emitting element.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to increase the contrast of display means such as an LCD while the light emitting element is lit, so that the display is easy to see, and the contrast of the display means can be varied depending on the state of the light emitting element. It is an object of the present invention to obtain an illuminated electronic timepiece.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an electronic timepiece with illumination, in which an output signal output from a switch means is input, and a drive signal for driving a light emitting element is created. A light emitting operation circuit for outputting an output end signal based on the end of the output of the drive signal for driving the light emitting element, and an output signal output from the switch means,
Further, the display device has two types of display voltage boosting circuits for increasing the electric energy of the power supply applied to the display means to a predetermined electric energy based on the output end signal output from the light emitting operation circuit.

Further, in the electronic timepiece with illumination according to the present invention, an output signal output from the switch means is input to generate a drive signal for driving the light emitting element, and the output of the drive signal for driving the light emitting element is terminated. A light-emitting operation circuit for outputting an output end signal based on the above, a plurality of display voltage storage circuits for storing three or more booster circuit operation signals corresponding to predetermined switch operation contents, and an output signal output from the switch means. A plurality of display voltage selection circuits for selecting a signal stored in the plurality of display voltage storage circuits based on an output end signal output from the light emission operation circuit, and an output signal output from the plurality of display voltage selection circuits. A plurality of display voltage boosting circuits for increasing the electric energy of the power supply applied to the display means to a predetermined electric energy.

[0010]

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram showing an example of a typical configuration of an illuminated electronic timepiece according to the present invention. The time information arithmetic circuit 1 performs arithmetic processing on time information and the like. The switch unit 2 determines whether an external operation member for operating the light emitting element has been operated. Light emitting operation circuit 3
Inputs an output signal output from the switch means 2, creates a drive signal for driving the light emitting element, and outputs an output end signal based on the end of the output of the drive signal for driving the light emitting element. Further, the two-type display voltage boosting circuit 4 receives an output signal output from the switch means 2, and further, based on an output end signal output from the light emitting operation circuit 3, determines the electric energy of the power supply applied to the display means by a predetermined amount. To increase the electrical energy. The display means 5 is driven by the voltage boosted by the two kinds of display voltage boosting circuits 4 and outputs the time information arithmetic circuit 1
The input of the output signal which is output from, the information such as time is displayed. The light emitting element 6 receives an output signal output from the light emitting operation circuit 3 to emit light, and illuminates the display unit 5.

FIG. 2 is a system block diagram showing another example of a typical configuration of the electronic timepiece with illumination according to the present invention. The time information arithmetic circuit 1 performs arithmetic processing on time information and the like. The switch unit 2 determines whether an external operation member for operating the light emitting element has been operated. The light emitting operation circuit 3 receives the output signal output from the switch means 2, creates a drive signal for driving the light emitting element, and outputs an output end signal based on the end of the output of the drive signal for driving the light emitting element. I do. The multiple display voltage storage circuit 7 stores three or more booster circuit operation signals corresponding to predetermined switch operation contents. The multiple display voltage selection circuit 8 receives an output signal output from the switch unit 2 and further selects a signal stored in the multiple display voltage storage circuit 7 based on an output end signal output from the light emitting operation circuit 3. I do. The multiple display voltage boosting circuit 9 increases the electric energy of the power supply applied to the display means to a predetermined electric energy based on the output signal output from the multiple display voltage selection circuit 8. The display means 5 is driven by the voltage boosted by the multiple display voltage boosting circuit 9 and receives an output signal output from the time information calculation circuit 1 to display information such as time. The light emitting element 6 receives an output signal output from the light emitting operation circuit 3 to emit light, and illuminates the display unit 5.

As described above, in the electronic timepiece with illumination of the present invention, while the light emitting element is lit, the contrast of the display means such as an LCD can be increased. Can be varied.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (1) First Embodiment FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show the contrast of an LCD for 3 seconds when there is a switch input for lighting electroluminescence (hereinafter referred to as EL) for 3 seconds according to the present invention. The present invention relates to an electronic timepiece with illumination to be darkened.

To increase the electrical energy of the power supply,
There are such things as voltage boosting and changing the duty of the drive waveform. Although the present invention can be applied to any configuration, the following embodiment describes a case of boosting. FIG. 4 is a detailed block diagram around the two types of display voltage boosting circuits 4.
When a signal (HIGH) indicating that the switch has been pressed by the external switch 19 is input to the three-second timer 20, the timer operates and outputs a HIGH signal for three seconds.
When the external switch 19 is not pressed, the 3-second timer 20 outputs LOW for the signals B and C.
When the signal C outputs LOW, the inverter 23
Accordingly, the normal boosting circuit 24 for displaying the LCD at the normal time becomes HIGH and operates, and the contrast of the LCD 26 is displayed at the normal density. At this time, the high booster circuit 25 does not operate because it is LOW.

When the three-second timer 20 operates, the signals B and C output HIGH. When the signal C becomes HIGH, LOW is input to the normal boosting circuit 24 and the normal boosting circuit 24 does not operate. Instead, the high boosting circuit 25 becomes HIGH and operates, and the contrast of the LCD 26 is increased. Also,
The signal B also becomes HIGH, and the EL drive circuit 21 operates. With the voltage boosted by the EL drive circuit 21, E
L26 is an LCD 26 that emits light and has a high contrast.
Illuminate. Note that while the 3-second timer 20 is HIGH, the external switch 19 does not function even if it is pressed.

FIG. 5 is a detailed time chart when the external switch 19 is pressed after 1 second, 10 seconds and 12 seconds. First, when the external switch 19 is pressed after one second, a pulse is generated in the signal A. At the rising edge of the signal A, the 3-second timer 20 is activated, and the signals B and C become H for 3 seconds.
It becomes IGH. Since the signal D is a signal obtained by passing the signal C through the inverter 23, when the signal C is HIGH, the signal D becomes L
When the signal C is LOW and the signal C is LOW, the signal D becomes HIGH.
While the signal B is HIGH, the EL 22 emits light and illuminates the LCD 26. When the signal C is HIGH, the high booster circuit 25
Operate, and the contrast of the LCD 26 is increased. When the three-second timer ends, the signals B and C become LOW, so that the EL 22 stops emitting light and the contrast of the LCD 26 returns to the normal darkness. Next, after 10 seconds, the external switch 19 is pressed, and the 3-second timer 20 operates. The state of the contrast of each signal, the EL 22 and the LCD 26 is the same as when the external switch 19 is pressed one second later. Even if the external switch 19 is pressed 12 seconds later, it does not function because the timer is running.

FIG. 6A shows a state when the EL 22 is not emitting light (normal time), and FIG.
3 shows a state in which the contrast of the LCD 26 is increased when the light is emitted. (2) Second Embodiment FIG. 7 shows that according to the present invention, when there is a switch input for lighting the EL for 5 seconds, three types of LCD contrast can be changed by the switch signal. It is a detailed block diagram regarding an electronic timepiece with illumination. A signal indicating that the switch has been pressed is input to the counter 29 by the external switch 19. The counter 29 is a 2-bit 0 to 3 counter,
The initial state is 0. The decoder 30 receives an output signal output from the counter 29. Multiple display voltage storage circuit 7
Stores the input voltage value to be applied to the multiple display voltage booster circuit 9, and each voltage is set to 0.75
V, 1.00 V, 1.25 V, and 1.50 V. When the output signal output from the decoder 30 is 1, the switch group 32 is turned on.

When the counter 29 is 0, 0.75 V is applied to the multiple display voltage boosting circuit 9 by the decoder 30.
Similarly, when the counter 29 is 1, the voltage is 1.00 V, and when the counter 29 is 2, the voltage is 1.2.
In the case of 5V and 3, 1.50V is applied to the multiple display voltage booster circuit 9. The multiple display voltage boosting circuit 9 includes a decoder 30
The voltage applied to the LCD 26 is boosted and output to the LCD 26. The 3-input OR circuit 31 determines that the value of the counter 29 is 1, 2
At times 3 and 3, the decoder 30 inputs a 1-output terminal. The 5-second timer 33 receives an output signal output from the three-input OR circuit 31 and outputs E when the signal is 1 (HIGH).
The L drive circuit 21 operates. The EL 22 emits light by the voltage boosted by the EL drive circuit 21 and illuminates the LCD 26. When the 5-second timer 33 ends, the 5-second timer 33 outputs a reset pulse to the counter 29 to reset the counter value to 0. Note that while the 5-second timer 33 is operating, the external switch 19 does not function even if it is pressed.

[0019]

According to the electronic timepiece with illumination of the present invention, in the electronic timepiece with illumination, a driving signal for driving the light emitting element is generated by inputting the output signal output from the switch means, and the light emitting element is driven. A light emitting operation circuit for outputting an output end signal based on the end of the output of the drive signal, an output signal output from the switch means are input, and further applied to the display means based on the output end signal output from the light emitting operation circuit. Increase the electrical energy of the power supply to a predetermined electrical energy
And two types of display voltage boosting circuits.

Further, in the electronic timepiece with illumination according to the present invention, the output signal output from the switch means is input, a drive signal for driving the light emitting element is generated, and the output of the drive signal for driving the light emitting element is completed. A light-emitting operation circuit for outputting an output end signal based on the above, a plurality of display voltage storage circuits for storing three or more booster circuit operation signals corresponding to predetermined switch operation contents, and an output signal output from the switch means. A plurality of display voltage selection circuits for selecting a signal stored in the plurality of display voltage storage circuits based on an output end signal output from the light emission operation circuit, and an output signal output from the plurality of display voltage selection circuits. Increase the electric energy of the power supply applied to the display means to the specified electric energy
And a plurality of display voltage boosting circuits, which have the following effects.

(1) The contrast of display means such as an LCD can be varied depending on the state of a light-emitting element such as an EL, so that a display that is easier to see can be obtained. (2) To increase the contrast of the LCD, extra power is needed, but only when the EL is emitting light.
Since the contrast of the CD is increased, power can be saved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram showing an example of a typical configuration of an illuminated electronic timepiece according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system block diagram showing an example of a typical configuration of an illuminated electronic timepiece according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a conventional electronic timepiece with illumination.

FIG. 4 is a detailed block diagram around a two-type display voltage boosting circuit in the first embodiment of the electronic timepiece with illumination according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a detailed time chart when the external switch is pressed three times from 0 to 13 seconds in the first embodiment of the illuminated electronic timepiece according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a state when the EL is not emitting light (normal time) in the first embodiment of the electronic timepiece with illumination according to the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the contrast of the LCD is increased when the EL is emitting light.

FIG. 7 is a detailed block diagram of a second embodiment of the illuminated electronic timepiece according to the present invention in which when there is a switch input for turning on the EL for 5 seconds, three types of LCD contrast can be changed by the switch signal; FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Time information calculation circuit 2 Switching means 3 Light emission operation circuit 4 2 types display voltage booster circuit 5 Display means 6 Light emitting element 7 Multiple display voltage storage circuit 8 Multiple display voltage selection circuit 9 Multiple display voltage booster circuit 10 Oscillator circuit 11 Divider circuit Reference Signs List 12 time counter 13 light emitting element operation switch 14 switch content discriminating circuit 15 light emitting pulse shaping circuit 16 light emitting pulse storage circuit 17 light emitting element driving circuit 18 single display voltage boosting circuit 19 external switch 20 3 second timer 21 EL driving circuit 22 EL 23 inverter 24 Normal booster circuit 25 High booster circuit 26 LCD 27 EL OFF 28 EL ON 29 Counter 30 Decoder 31 3-input OR circuit 32 Switch group 3 3 5 second timer

Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G04G 9/00 306 G04G 9/00 308

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A time information calculation circuit (1) for calculating time information and the like, a switch means (2) for determining whether an external operating member for operating a light emitting element has been operated, and a switch means (2). A) a light emitting operation circuit (3) that receives the output signal output in step (d), generates a drive signal for driving the light emitting element, and outputs an output end signal based on the end of the output of the drive signal for driving the light emitting element. An output signal output from the switch means (2) is input, and further, the electric energy of the power supply applied to the display means is increased to a predetermined electric energy based on the output end signal output from the light emitting operation circuit (3). Two types of display voltage boosting circuits (4), and driven by the boosted voltages of the two types of display voltage boosting circuits (4), input the output signal output from the time information calculation circuit (1), and input information such as time. And a light emitting element (6) for inputting an output signal output from the light emitting operation circuit (3) to emit light to illuminate the display means (5). With electronic clock. 2. A time information calculation circuit (1) for calculating time information and the like; switch means (2) for determining whether an external operating member for operating a light emitting element has been operated; and switch means (2). A) a light emitting operation circuit (3) that receives the output signal output in step (d), generates a drive signal for driving the light emitting element, and outputs an output end signal based on the end of the output of the drive signal for driving the light emitting element. , 3 corresponding to the predetermined switch operation
A plurality of display voltage storage circuits (7) for storing one or more booster circuit operation signals; an output signal output from the switch means (2); and an output end signal output from the light emission operation circuit (3). A plurality of display voltage selection circuits (8) for selecting a signal stored in the plurality of display voltage storage circuits (7) based on the output signal of the plurality of display voltage selection circuits (8); Electric energy
A plurality of display voltage boosting circuits (9) for increasing the electric energy; and a drive signal driven by the plurality of display voltage boosting circuits (9). And a light emitting element (6) for inputting an output signal output from the light emitting operation circuit (3) to emit light and illuminating the display means (5). Illuminated electronic clock.