JP3284333B2 - Position detection device and clock - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a position detecting device for detecting the position of an hour hand in, for example, a pointer-type timepiece, and a timepiece for performing timekeeping based on such position detection.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, a timepiece is disclosed in, for example,
There is a device that detects the position of the hour hand by the following configuration disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 0-66180 and performs time reporting based on the detected position.

As shown in FIG. 5, signal electrodes EC1 to EC3 and readout electrodes ES1 to ES4 are provided on a disk-shaped substrate, rotated in conjunction with the rotation of the hour hand, and slid on the substrate to move the position of the hour hand, ie, the position of the hour hand. A conductive member A for selectively connecting any one readout electrode and any one signal electrode in accordance with the time is provided to constitute a connection position setting means. The contact a1 of the conductive member A slides on the reading electrode, and the contact a2 slides on the signal electrode. By this sliding, conduction between the three types of signal electrodes EC1 to EC3 and the four types of readout electrodes ES1 to ES4 is established. For example, the signal electrode EC1 is electrically connected to the read electrodes ES1 to ES4 at 1 o'clock to 4 o'clock, and the signal electrode EC2 is electrically connected to the read electrodes ES1 to ES4 at 12 o'clock, 11 o'clock, 6 o'clock, and 5 o'clock, respectively. EC
3 is the reading electrode ES1 at 9 o'clock, 10 o'clock, 7 o'clock and 8 o'clock.
To ES4. Thus, the combination is from 1 o'clock
The positions differ at the 12 o'clock position, and by identifying this combination, the 12-hour position of the hour hand is detected.
The circuit configuration for identifying this combination is as shown in FIG. Output terminal P1 of pulse generation circuit PG1
, P3, P3, P3,..., And P3, and supplies them to the signal electrodes EC1 to EC3 via the inverters F1 to F3 and the lead terminals C1 to C3. Readout electrodes ES1-E
S4 is connected to the inverter F4 via the lead pads S1 to S4.
To F7 and pulled down.
Here, for example, if the hour hand is at the position indicating 2 o'clock, the signal electrode EC2 and the readout electrode ES2 are conducting, and when a pulse is generated from the output terminal P1, the inverters F4 to F7
Output (“H”, “L”, “H”, “H”)
Then, at the timing when pulses are generated from the output terminals P2 and P3, the outputs of the inverters F4 to F7 become ("H", "H", "H", "H"), respectively.
The output circuit EN1 computes the outputs of the inverters F4 to F7 with the states of the output terminals P1 to P3 to generate 2:00 code outputs ("L", "H", "L", "L").
Similarly, a code output at each time is generated in accordance with the position of the hour hand, the position of the hour hand is detected, and a time is reported based on this.

[0004]

However, according to the above, in order to detect all positions at 12 o'clock,
3 for outputting a pulse from the pulse generation circuit PG1
One terminal and four terminals for inputting the states of the readout electrodes ES1 to ES4 are required. For this reason, when integrating a circuit configuration other than the connection position setting means, a total of seven pads are indispensable, making it difficult to reduce the chip area. As a result, the cost of the integrated circuit is increased, and as a result, the timepiece is made more expensive.

[0005]

Accordingly, in the present invention, a pulse voltage is applied to a first signal electrode of a plurality of signal electrodes, and the other signal electrodes are pulled up or down to a specific potential. In addition, each of the read electrodes is pulled up or pulled down to a side opposite to the pulse voltage, and the potential state of each of the read electrodes when the pulse voltage is applied and the potential when the pulse voltage is not applied. The connection position between the signal electrode and the read electrode by the conductive member is detected from the potential state of the read electrode. This reduces the number of signal electrodes requiring application of a pulse voltage and reduces the number of pads and the chip area when integrating a circuit configuration other than the connection position setting means. Further, by using such a position detecting device, the price of the timepiece can be reduced.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the present invention, a plurality of signal electrodes and a plurality of readout electrodes are provided. Among the above-mentioned signal electrodes, a pulse voltage is intermittently applied to a first signal electrode, and the other electrodes are applied to other signal electrodes. Pull-up or pull-down to specific potential, either one
Connection position setting means including a conductive member for selectively connecting one signal electrode and any one of the readout electrodes; generating the pulse voltage; Control means for applying a voltage to the read electrode, and detecting a connection position by the conductive member from a potential state of each read electrode when the pulse voltage is applied and a potential state of each read electrode when the pulse voltage is not applied. And a position detecting device including a detecting unit.

The connection position setting means includes a substrate on which a plurality of read electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes are formed, and includes the conductive member capable of contacting the read electrodes and the signal electrodes. It is preferable to include a rotating means for rotating any one of the conductive members and selectively connecting any one readout electrode and any one signal electrode by the conductive member.

[0008] The plurality of signal electrodes include second and third signal electrodes in addition to the first signal electrode.
It is also preferable to pull up and pull down the third signal electrodes to different potentials.

In addition, using the above-mentioned position detecting device which rotates the rotating means in conjunction with the rotation of the hour hand, receiving the output of the detecting means of the position detecting device, the time means for reporting the hour It is also preferable to configure a timepiece having the following.

Further, the connection position setting means includes a plurality of signal electrodes and a plurality of read electrodes, and among the signal electrodes,
One electrode is pulled up or down to a specific potential, or two electrodes are pulled up or down to different potentials, respectively, and the other electrodes are pulsed sequentially and intermittently. Is also preferred.

[0011]

Next, a timepiece according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

First, the circuit configuration of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numerals 1 to 3 denote a plurality of signal electrodes, which are first to third signal electrodes, respectively. First
A pulse voltage, which will be described later, is applied to the signal electrode 1 of the power supply terminal.
DD, VSS, that is, pulled up and pulled down. 4 to 7 are a plurality of readout electrodes. Any one of the first to third signal electrodes 1 to 3 and any one of the readout electrodes 4 to 7 are connected in accordance with the time indicated by an hour hand (not shown). The configuration for this connection is
Although it is similar to that shown in FIG. 5 and will not be described in detail,
The first to third signal electrodes 1, 2, and 3 are signal electrodes E, respectively.
C2, EC1, EC3, the read electrodes 4 to 7 correspond to the read electrodes ES1 to ES4, and the second signal electrode 2 is set to 1 by a conductive member (not shown) corresponding to the conductive member A.
At the time to 4 o'clock, they are electrically connected to the readout electrodes 4 to 7, respectively.
The first signal electrode 1 is electrically connected to the readout electrodes 4 to 7 at 12 o'clock, 11 o'clock, 6 o'clock and 5 o'clock, and the third signal electrode 3 is connected to the readout electrodes at 9 o'clock, 10 o'clock, 7 o'clock and 8 o'clock. 4-7
Is conducted. The connection position setting means is configured as described above. In addition, it is assumed that the circuit configuration described below is integrated on a timepiece IC. This I
C has other components necessary for a normal timepiece IC, such as a one-second signal generator for driving a timepiece move.

D1, s1 to s4 are pads to which the first signal electrode 1 and the read electrodes 4 to 7 are connected, respectively.
Reference numeral 8 denotes a pulse generation circuit which generates a pulse voltage intermittently and outputs the pulse voltage to the first signal electrode 1 via the pad d1. Reference numerals 9 to 12 denote inverters which generate 13
Is inverted. The output terminals of these inverters 9 to 12 are connected to pads s1 to s4 via resistors, respectively. As a result, an inverted voltage of the pulse voltage is applied to the readout electrodes 4 to 7, and the readout electrodes 4 to 7 are pulled up or pulled down to the side having the opposite phase to the pulse voltage. The pulse generation circuit 8 and the inverters 9 to 12 constitute control means.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a time reading circuit as detecting means, which receives the potentials of the pads s1 to s4, ie, the potentials of the readout electrodes 4 to 7, via inverters 13 to 16 as buffers. At the same time, it receives the potential state of the pad d1, that is, the pulse voltage applied to the first signal electrode 1. The connection position by the conductive member is detected from the potential states of the readout electrodes 4 to 7 when the pulse voltage is applied and the potential states of the readout electrodes 4 to 7 when the pulse voltage is not applied. Here, the time displayed by the hour hand is detected and a time code is output.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a timing circuit as timing means.
The time code from the time reading circuit 15 is received, and it is the hour and a predetermined alarm sound signal is generated based on the time code. The alarm sound signal is played as an alarm sound by a speaker (not shown). The notifying circuit includes, for example, a selection unit (not shown) that selects predetermined notifying sound data for each time stored in a ROM or the like in accordance with a time code from the time reading circuit 20; It comprises a signal reproducing section for reading out data together with the hour and reproducing the data as an analog signal of the alarm sound.

The timepiece of this embodiment is composed of the above-described configuration and a time display unit including a timepiece move, an hour hand, and a minute hand (not shown).

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

The pulse from the terminal a of the pulse generating circuit 8 is supplied to the signal electrode 1. On the other hand, it is inverted by inverters 9 to 12 and supplied to readout electrodes 4 to 7 via respective resistors R3.

On the other hand, a narrow pulse is generated from the terminal b of the pulse generating circuit 8 at the center of the pulse of the terminal a, whereby the outputs of the inverters 13 to 16 are latched. Latch output when pulse from terminal a is "H" and "L"
Are combined into a set of 8 bits of output, which is updated every cycle of the pulse.

This combination is uniquely determined by the connection position, that is, the time pointed by the hour hand. In this regard, one read electrode, for example, the read electrode 4 is connected to the first, second, and third electrodes. Each case connected to the signal electrode will be described.

If the hour hand points to 12 o'clock, the first signal electrode 1 and the readout electrode 4 are connected. At this time, when the potential of the pad d1 becomes "H", the readout electrode 4 is pulled up to the pad d1 side and the inverter 9 is pulled up.
Is pulled down to the pad s1 side by the output of the pad s1, and the pad s1 is set to be pulled down via the resistor R3 so that the effect of the pull-up becomes stronger.
Becomes "H". The other read electrodes 5 to 7 are only pulled down by the outputs from the inverters 10 to 12, and the potential states of the pads s2 to s4 are "L". When the potential of the pad d1 becomes "L", the potential state of the pad s1 becomes "L" and the potential states of the pads s2 to s4 become "H".

If the hour hand points to 1 o'clock, the second signal electrode 2 is connected to the read electrode 4, and the read electrode 4 is pulled up to the power supply terminal VDD by the resistor R1. On the other hand, when the output from the inverter 9 is "L", the readout electrode 4 is pulled down via the resistor R3, but the resistance of the resistor R1 is set smaller than the resistance of the resistor R3, The voltage is set to a half value of the voltage between the power supply terminals VDD and VSS. When the voltage is simultaneously pulled up and pulled down, the potential of the readout electrode 4 is １ ／ of the voltage between the power supply terminals VDD and VSS when viewed from the power supply terminal VSS. , And the potential state of the pad s1 becomes “H”. The other readout electrodes 5 to 7 are pulled down,
The potential states of the pads s2 to s4 become "L". When the output of the inverter 9 becomes "H", the potential state of the pad s1 becomes "H", and the potential states of the pads s2 to s4 also become "H".

If the hour hand points to 9 o'clock, the third signal electrode 3 is connected to the read electrode 4, and the read electrode 4 is pulled down to the power supply terminal VSS by the resistor R2. On the other hand, when the output from the inverter 9 is "H", the read electrode 4
Is pulled up via the resistor R3, but the resistance value of the resistor R2 is set to be smaller than the resistance value of the resistor R3 as in the case of the second signal electrode 2, and the potential state of the pad s1 is "L". ". At this time, the potential states of the pads s2 to s4 become "H". Also, the output from the inverter 9 is "L".
In this case, the readout electrode 4 is also pulled down through the resistor R3 together with the resistor R2, and the potential state of the pad s1 becomes "L". The other readout electrodes 5 to 7 are also pulled down, and the pads s
The potentials of 2 to s4 become “L”.

As described above, the read electrode not connected to the signal electrode has a potential state in which the potential state of the pad d1 is inverted, and the read electrode connected to the first signal electrode 1 has:
The same potential state as that of the pad d1 appears. In the read electrode 2 connected to the second signal electrode, the potential is always "H" regardless of the potential state of the pad d1, and in the read electrode connected to the third signal electrode 3, , Not only the potential state of the pad d1 but always "L"
It is set to be. Therefore, the combination of the potential states “H” and “L” of the pad d1 at a certain connection position, that is, the time, and the potential states of the pads s1 to s4 for each of these are uniquely determined. FIG. 2 shows this combination for each time.

The time reading circuit 17 latches the outputs of the inverters 13 to 16 in synchronization with the pulse at the terminal b, and outputs the latch output when the pulse voltage is "H" and the latch output when the pulse voltage is "L". In addition, an 8-bit binary code corresponding to the combination at each time as shown in FIG. 2 is obtained,
This is decoded by a decoder (not shown) to output a time code specifying the current time.

Based on the time code output from the time reading circuit 17, the time notification circuit 18 selects a predetermined time sound at that time, and generates a time sound signal when the current time comes. The alarm sound signal is played from the speaker as an alarm sound, and an hour alarm is performed.

In this embodiment, the connection between each signal electrode and each readout electrode is performed by patterning each electrode so as to take place at the hour and the time code is determined immediately before the hour. Further, there may be a case where a connection cannot be made between any of the signal electrodes and the read electrodes due to a limitation of patterning of the signal electrodes and the read electrodes. In this case, an inversion voltage of the pulse voltage is applied to any of the pads s1 to s4. Therefore, all the potential states of the pads s1 to s4 are out of phase with respect to the pulse voltage (note that the time reading circuit 17 holds the in-phase potential state with respect to the pulse voltage). Therefore, in this case, the time reading circuit 17 holds the immediately preceding time code. In this example, the pulse voltage is generated intermittently at a constant period in the present example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an electronic timekeeping circuit or the like may be provided to synchronize it with the clock move. Thus, control may be performed so that a pulse voltage is generated only while the connection between the signal electrode and the readout electrode is performed. In this connection, the pulse voltage may be generated only for an appropriate period. Also,
For the hour detection, a general configuration is used in a timepiece. For example, a photo sensor or the like is provided in the timepiece movement to detect the hour position of the minute hand wheel.

As described above, in this example, since the pulse voltage is applied only to the first signal electrode 1 among the first, second, and third signal electrodes 1 to 3, the output pad is one. And the chip area can be easily reduced. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the price of the timepiece.

In the above embodiment, the signal electrodes are first, second, and third signal electrodes 1 to 3, and a pulse voltage is applied to the first signal electrode 1, and the second and third signal electrodes 2 to 3 are applied. 3 are pulled up and down, respectively, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a configuration as shown in FIG. 3 can be adopted. According to FIG.
And read electrodes 23 to 25 are provided. These are, for example, the signal electrodes EC1 to EC in the configuration shown in FIG.
3. The read electrodes ES1 to ES4 may be used as the read electrodes and the signal electrodes, respectively, by exchanging the applications as the signal electrodes and the read electrodes. The twelve connection positions are indicated by circles 1 to 12 for convenience of description, but these numbers do not correspond to 1 to 12:00, respectively. The signal electrodes 19 and 22 are pulled up and down, respectively. A pulse voltage is sequentially applied to the signal electrodes 20 and 21. Here, pulse voltages p1 and p2 sequentially output from output terminals OUT1 and OUT2 of the pulse generation circuit 26 are applied to the signal electrodes 20 and 21, respectively. The read electrodes 23 to 25 are applied with inversion voltages of the pulse voltages p1 and p2 applied to the signal electrodes 20 and 21, and are pulled up or down to the side opposite to the pulse voltages p1 and p2. Is done. Here, the pulse voltages p1 and p2 from the output terminals OUT1 and OUT2 of the pulse generation circuit 26 are changed to match circuits 27 to 2 corresponding to the respective readout electrodes.
9 to read electrodes 23 to 25. Readout electrode 2
The potential states of 3 to 25 are output to the reading circuit 33 via the inverters 30 to 32. Also in such a configuration, the potential states of the terminals O1 and O2 connected to the signal electrodes 20 and 21 at the connection points Mar1 to Mar12 between any one of the signal electrodes 19 to 22 and any of the readout electrodes 30 to 32 are described. The combination with the potential states of the terminals I1 to I3 connected to the readout electrodes 23 to 24 can be uniquely determined as shown in FIG. As a result, the read circuit 33 sequentially switches the terminals O1 and O2 in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment.
Latch outputs 0-32. That is, pulse voltages p3 and p4 having a narrow width are generated from the output terminals OUT3 and OUT4 of the pulse generation circuit 26.
To 31 are latched. Here, the combination of the output states of the inverters 30 to 31 obtained for each of the terminals O1 and O2 is combined into one combination, which is decoded to detect the connection position. If a time code in which the connection positions Mar 1 to Mar 12 correspond to the time is output at the time of decoding, the time circuit 34 similar to that described above can be used in accordance with the connection position detected by the reading circuit 33. Can be timed.

According to the configuration shown in FIG. 3, the number of pads for pulse voltage output increases by one compared with the configuration of FIG. 1, but the number of pads for signal input decreases by one.
The number of pads can be reduced as compared with the conventional one. Also,
The number of signal electrodes may be appropriately increased according to the number of connection positions. In that case, the number of pads can be reduced as a whole. Further, depending on the number of connection positions, two signal electrodes may be used and either one may be pulled up or down, and a pulse voltage may be applied to the other.

[0031]

According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the number of pads and the chip area when integrating a circuit configuration other than the connection position setting means by reducing the number of signal electrodes requiring application of a pulse voltage. Becomes possible. As a result, the use of such a position detecting device makes it possible to reduce the price of the timepiece.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a position detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a position detection device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a connection position setting unit.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a configuration of a conventional position detection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

EC1 to EC3 (2, 1, 3) signal electrodes (connection position setting means) ES1 to ES4 (4 to 7) readout electrodes (connection position setting means) A conductive member (connection position setting means) 1 first signal electrode 8 Pulse voltage generation circuit (control means) 9 to 12 Inverter (control means) 17 Time reading circuit (detection means) 18 Time notification circuit (time notification means) 19 to 22 Signal electrode 23 to 25 Reading electrode 26 Pulse voltage generation circuit (Control Means) 27-29 Matching circuit (control means) 33 Reading circuit (detection circuit) 34 Time circuit (time means)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01D 5/00-5/62 G01B 7/00-7/34 G04C 3/00 G04C 3/14 G04C 9 / 00-9/08 G04C 19/00-23/50

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of signal electrodes and a plurality of read electrodes, wherein a pulse voltage is intermittently applied to a first signal electrode of the signal electrodes, and the other electrodes are pulled up or pulled up to a specific potential. Connection position setting means which is pulled down and includes a conductive member for selectively connecting any one signal electrode and any one readout electrode; generating the pulse voltage; Control means for pulling up or pulling down each of the readout electrodes on the side to be applied; and a potential state of each of the readout electrodes when the pulse voltage is applied and a potential state of each of the readout electrodes when the pulse voltage is not applied. A position detection device comprising: a detection unit configured to detect a connection position of the conductive member. 2. The connection position setting means includes: a substrate on which a plurality of read electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes are formed; and the conductive member capable of contacting the read electrodes and the signal electrodes.
2. A rotating means for rotating one of the substrate and the conductive member and selectively connecting any one readout electrode and any one signal electrode by the conductive member. The position detecting device as described in the above. 3. The plurality of signal electrodes include second and third signal electrodes in addition to the first signal electrode.
Signal electrodes are pulled up to different potentials,
2. The position detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the position detecting device is pulled down. 4. A substrate having a plurality of readout electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes formed thereon, wherein a pulse voltage is intermittently applied to a first signal electrode among the signal electrodes, and the other electrodes are set to a specific potential. Pull-up or pull-down, comprising the conductive member capable of contacting the readout electrode and the signal electrode, and rotating one of the substrate and the conductive member in conjunction with the rotation of the hour hand. A connection position setting means including a rotation means for selectively connecting one of the readout electrodes and one of the signal electrodes; and generating the pulse voltage; and Control means for pulling up or pulling down each read electrode; potential state of each read electrode when the pulse voltage is applied; and each read electrode when the pulse voltage is not applied Broadcast time timepiece characterized by comprising detecting means for detecting a connection position by the conductive member and a potential state, and a broadcast time unit for performing the hour during broadcast receiving an output of said detecting means. 5. The plurality of signal electrodes include second and third signal electrodes in addition to the first signal electrode.
Signal electrodes are pulled up to different potentials,
The timepiece according to claim 4, wherein the timepiece is pulled down. 6. A plurality of signal electrodes and a plurality of read electrodes, wherein one of the signal electrodes is pulled up or down to a specific potential, or two electrodes are pulled up to different potentials, respectively. A connection position setting means comprising a conductive member that is pulled down, a pulse voltage is sequentially applied to the other electrodes intermittently, and selectively connects any one signal electrode and any one readout electrode; Control means for generating the pulse voltage and pulling up or pulling down each of the read electrodes to a side opposite in phase to the pulse voltage; and a potential state of each of the read electrodes when the pulse voltage is applied. Detecting means for detecting a connection position by the conductive member from a potential state of each of the readout electrodes when the pulse voltage is not applied. Position detecting device according to symptoms. 7. The connection position setting means includes: a substrate on which a plurality of read electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes are formed; and the conductive member capable of contacting the read electrodes and the signal electrodes.
7. A rotating means for rotating one of the substrate and the conductive member and selectively connecting any one readout electrode and any one signal electrode by the conductive member. The position detecting device as described in the above. 8. A substrate having a plurality of readout electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes formed thereon, wherein one of the signal electrodes is pulled up or down to a specific potential or two electrodes are respectively set to different potentials. Pull-up, pull-down, pulse voltage is sequentially applied to the other electrodes intermittently, comprising the conductive member capable of contacting the readout electrode and the signal electrode, any one of the substrate and the conductive member A connection position setting means comprising: a rotating means for rotating one of them in conjunction with the rotation of the hour hand to selectively connect any one readout electrode and any one signal electrode by the conductive member; and Control means for pulling up or pulling down each of the readout electrodes to a side which is generated and has a phase opposite to that of the pulse voltage; and Detecting means for detecting a connection position by the conductive member from a potential state of each of the readout electrodes and a potential state of each of the readout electrodes when the pulse voltage is not applied; A timepiece for providing a timepiece.