JP3323104B2 - Clock body lighting method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a timepiece having lighting means for brightening a dial when the surroundings are dark, and more particularly to a method for controlling lighting of a lighting means for illuminating a dial.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Today, analog clocks and wall clocks have come to use a clock body that brightens a dial to make it easier to see the displayed time when the surroundings are dark. In an analog timepiece for brightening the dial, a brightness detecting means such as a CdS cell is used, and a CdS cell or the like serving as the brightness detecting means is replaced with a dial as a time display portion of the timepiece or a body of the timepiece. It is located on the side of the unit.

In order to brighten the dial and make it easier to see the time indicated by the hands, the dial serving as a time display portion is formed of a light guide plate, and the inside of a frame positioned around the light guide plate serving as the dial is formed. May be provided with lighting means such as an LED. Then, when the surroundings are darkened by the brightness detecting means, the lighting means is turned on, and the entire dial is illuminated dimly to make it easier to see the display time by the hands.

Incidentally, the light guide plate is a transparent plate having a back surface as a diffuse reflection surface. When light enters the flat light guide plate from the peripheral end of the light guide plate, the back surface becomes a diffuse reflection surface. Thus, the incident light is irregularly reflected in the front direction of the light guide plate, so that the entire light guide plate appears to emit surface light. In addition, without using a light guide plate, a clock body which is made bright by illuminating a dial or a pointer serving as a time display unit by illuminating means arranged inside a frame such as an upper front side or a side front of the dial. is there.

[0005]

Today, many table clocks and wall clocks are driven by batteries, and it is desired that analog clocks and wall clocks have an accurate and long life. For this reason, even in an analog type watch body, a long life is measured with high accuracy and low power consumption using a crystal oscillator or an IC, and a step motor for driving a pointer is also devised for low power consumption. ing.

Similarly, even when brightness detection means and illumination means are added to an analog type timepiece, it is desired to minimize battery consumption when operating the brightness detection means and illumination means. Further, when the entire dial is illuminated dimly and brightly using the light guide plate, it is also desired that the entire light emitting surface be as uniformly bright as possible.

[0007] The present invention, in response to such a demand, provides an analog type clock body in which when the surroundings are dark, the dial is brightened to make it easier to see the display time, and the operating life of the battery is minimized. It is.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a method for detecting the brightness around a clock body by means of a brightness detecting means, and for illuminating the lighting means of the clock body having lighting means for brightening the dial when dark. The lighting means is repeatedly turned on for a very short time at a high speed to emit light as continuous lighting, and the operation of the brightness detecting means is also operated for a very short time every required time, so that the operating time of the brightness detecting means is reduced. The brightness of the surroundings is detected by operating in accordance with the extinguishing time during the blinking of the lighting means, and when the brightness detected by the brightness detecting means is lower than a predetermined brightness, the lighting means flashes at a high speed. And when the detected brightness is higher than a predetermined brightness, a timepiece dial illuminating method is used in which the lighting means is not turned on.

As described above, the operation of the lighting means and the brightness detecting means is interrupted at a high speed, and the operation of the lighting means and the brightness detecting means is set to an extremely short operation time, so that power consumption is reduced and battery consumption is reduced. Can be reduced. Furthermore, by making the number of blinks of the lighting means several tens or more times per second,
As in the case of continuous lighting, the dial can be illuminated faintly and brightly.

[0010]

[0011]

Furthermore, as the present invention, a plurality of lighting means
A lighting time when each lighting means is repeatedly turned on for a very short time is made different, and each lighting means is caused to perform blinking lighting in which each lighting means is sequentially turned on for a short time.
Thus, by making the lighting time of each lighting means different, it is possible to light each lighting means without increasing the instantaneous maximum current and to prevent the load on the power supply battery from increasing.

Even when a plurality of lighting means are sequentially turned on for a short period of time, the brightness detecting means operates from the end of all short-time lighting of each lighting means to the first lighting of the next lighting means. The brightness detection shall be performed, and after the short-time lighting of all the lighting means is completed, the operation of the brightness detecting means is started with a required time delay, the operation of the brightness detecting means is started, and all the lighting means are lighted for a short time. It is preferable to provide a time difference between the end of the process.

As described above, the start of the operation of the brightness detecting means is delayed from the end of the short-time lighting of all the lighting means, thereby detecting the brightness without the influence of the brightness caused by the lighting of the lighting means. And the power consumption of the brightness detecting means can be reduced.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A lighting control method for a timepiece according to the present invention performs control by using a microcomputer as a lighting control means 31, as shown in FIG. The connection between the microcomputer as the lighting control means 31 and the brightness detection means 33 is performed by connecting a detection resistor 35 between the detection output terminal and the detection input terminal of the lighting control means 31, and Brightness detection means between terminal and-power supply
A CdS cell 33 is connected.

The CdS cell used as the brightness detecting means 33 has a small resistance value when the amount of received light is large, and has a large resistance value when the amount of received light is small. Therefore, the detection signal H which is an output signal from the detection output terminal is output.
When a drive signal of a predetermined voltage is output to 0, the voltage of this drive signal is divided by the detection resistor 35 and the brightness detection means 33, and the detection input terminal corresponds to the resistance value of the brightness detection means 33. The changed voltage is input as the detection input. When the light is bright, the value of the detection voltage input to the detection input terminal is low, and when it is dark, the value of the detection voltage input to the detection input terminal is high.

The lighting control means 31 includes three lighting means 2.
1, 22 and 23 are connected, and the first to third output terminals of the lighting control means 31 are connected to bases which are control input terminals of the first to third switching transistors 41 to 43, respectively. is there. The emitters of the first to third switching transistors 41 to 43 are connected to the + power source, and the collectors of the first to third switching transistors 41 to 43 are connected to the first to third limiting resistors 45 to 45, respectively. Connected to the anodes of the LEDs as the lighting means 21, 22, and 23 through a lighting device 47, and the first to third lighting means 21 to 23 are connected.
The cathode of each LED is connected to a negative power source.

Therefore, when the L-level lighting signal T1 is output from the first output terminal of the lighting control means 31, the first switching transistor 41 is turned on to light the first lighting means 21, and the L level is output from the second output terminal. When the lighting signal T2 is output, the second switching transistor 42 is turned on to turn on the second lighting means 22, and when the lighting signal T3 at L level is output from the third output terminal, the third switching transistor 43 is turned on to turn on the third switching transistor 43. The lighting means 23 can be turned on.

The above-mentioned brightness detecting means 33 is provided in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3 and provided on the dial, embedded in a mounting plate 15 to which the watch movement 11 is attached.
With the light receiving surface facing the front of the watch body 10, the front glass 19 and the light guide plate
External light transmitted through 25 can be received. or,
The lighting control means 31 includes switching transistors 41, 42, 43
And a limiting resistor 45, 46, 47 together with a board 49, and this board 49 is attached to the back surface of the mounting plate 15.

The first to third illumination means 21 to 3
Reference numerals 23 are arranged at equal intervals inside the frame 17 so as to be located at the end of the light guide plate 25 in front of the mounting plate 15. As shown in FIG. 3, on the surface of the light guide plate 25 attached to the front surface of the attachment plate 15, appropriate characters indicating time are engraved, and the light guide plate 25 is used as a dial plate. Between them, a hand 13 as an hour hand and a minute hand attached to the hand shaft of the timepiece movement 11 is arranged.

The lighting control means 31 includes a monitor switch.
37 and a test switch 39 are connected, the lighting of the dial is monitored by the monitor switch 37, and the test switch 39 can be used to test whether the dial is lit by the surrounding light and darkness. The operation of the lighting control means 31 is to detect the lighting of the lighting means 21, 22, and 23 and the brightness of the dial position by the brightness detecting means 33, for example, by interruption processing every 10 milliseconds.

In this brightness detection and lighting control, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, first, it is determined whether or not a drive signal of a required voltage is output to the brightness detection means 33 (S101). When the drive signal is being output, the detection voltage of the detection input terminal is read and stored as a detection value (S102).
Then, a detection flag is set (S103).

Further, after the detection value is read, the output of the drive signal is stopped (S104), and it is determined whether or not the monitor switch 37 is turned on (S105). When it is determined that the drive signal is not output by the determination (S101) as to whether the drive signal is output to the brightness detecting means 33, the monitor switch is immediately turned on.
It is determined whether or not 37 is turned on (S105).

If the monitor switch 37 is in the ON state, a lighting signal is output from the first to third output terminals (S106) and the interrupt processing is terminated.
If the monitor switch 37 is off, the lighting flag is further determined (S110), and if the lighting flag is on, a lighting signal is output from the first to third output terminals (S111). .

When outputting the lighting signal, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the lighting signal T1 is output from the first output terminal.
As a result, an L pulse of about 0.2 msec is output, an L pulse as the lighting signal T1 is output from the first output terminal, and then an L pulse of about 0.2 msec is output from the second output terminal to the lighting signal T2. Further, after the output of the lighting signal T2 from the second output terminal is completed, an L pulse of about 0.2 msec is output from the third output terminal as the lighting signal T3, so that the lighting signal is extremely short in sequence. Time lighting signals T1, T
2 and T3 are output with their output timings sequentially shifted.

In the lighting flag determination (S110), when it is detected that the lighting flag is not set, dummy output processing (S112) is performed, and a lighting pulse that is not output to the outside is generated inside the lighting control means 31. Then, a processing time equivalent to the above-described lighting signal output processing (S111) elapses. After the output of the lighting signal (S111) or the dummy output processing (S112), it is determined whether or not the detection flag is set (S115). If it is determined that the detection flag is set, the flag is reset (S116), and it is further determined whether the stored detection value is equal to or less than a predetermined value (S120).

When it is determined that the detected value is equal to or less than the predetermined value, that is, when the surroundings are bright, 0 is set as the lighting flag (S121). When the detected value exceeds the predetermined value, 1 is set as the lighting flag (S122), and the flag is set. After the setting of the lighting flag for setting the lighting flag to 0 or 1, and when it is detected that the above-mentioned detection flag has not been set (S115), the test switch 39 is set. Of whether or not is ON (S130)
If the test switch 39 is in the OFF state, it is determined whether or not the required time has elapsed (S131).

The determination of the elapse of the required time (S131)
Using a timer counter provided separately in the lighting control means 31, it is determined whether or not a required time such as 2 seconds or 5 seconds has elapsed. In addition, the number of times of the interrupt processing is counted by a counter, and when it reaches 200 times or 500 times, it may be determined that the required time has elapsed.

If the required time has not elapsed, the interrupt processing is terminated, and if the required time has elapsed,
The delay process (S135) of about 5 milliseconds is performed, the output of the drive signal is started (S136), and the interrupt process is ended. Note that the on / off determination of the test switch 39 (S
In 130), when it is detected that the test switch 39 is in the ON state, a delay process (S135) is performed, and the output of the drive signal is started (S136).

Accordingly, the lighting control of each of the lighting means 21, 22, and 23 by the lighting control means 31 is performed as shown in FIG.
The brightness detection unit 33 and the illumination units 21, 22, and 23 are controlled by interrupt processing performed every required short time such as milliseconds.First, a drive signal is output to the brightness detection unit 33. It is determined whether or not the brightness detection means 33 is activated (S101), and if not, whether or not the illumination means 21, 22, 23 is turned on is determined by a flag (S110). When lighting, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, each of the lighting means 21, 22, and 23 is lighted for a short time by a lighting pulse, and each of the lighting means 21, 22, and
Lighting signals T1, T2, T3 are output so as to light up the lamps 23 sequentially (S111). When this interrupt process is performed a required number of times, such as 200 times, that is, when the required time has elapsed, as shown in FIG.
After the output of T2 and T3 (S111), further delay processing (S1)
35), and after a lapse of time such as 5 milliseconds, the output of the drive signal to the brightness detection means 33 is started to the detection signal H0 (S
136). The output of this drive signal is
By stopping (S104) in the next interrupt processing, the brightness detecting means 33 is operated for a short time. In the next interrupt processing, the detection signal is determined by judging whether or not the drive signal is output (S101). Is stored (S10
2) After that, the output of the drive signal is stopped and the brightness detection means
The operation of 33 is stopped (S104), and each lighting means 21, 22, 23
After a lighting pulse is output (S111) and lighting is performed for a short time, it is determined whether the stored detection value is equal to or less than a predetermined value (S111).
120), a lighting flag is set (S121, 122) for determining whether to turn on the lighting means 21, 22, and 23 in the interrupt processing from the next time.

Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, a drive signal having a predetermined H-level voltage is output to the detection signal H0 from the detection output terminal every two seconds,
The brightness of the surroundings is determined based on the value of the detection signal, and when the surroundings become dark and the detection value becomes larger than a predetermined value, the pulse-like signals are turned on by the interrupt processing performed at intervals of 10 milliseconds. T3 is sequentially shifted and output.
Lighting for a short time of about 0.2 millisecond on 1,22,23 every second
Blinking lighting is performed in which lighting is performed at a rate of 00 times.

The start of driving signal output every two seconds is as follows:
This is started after performing the required processing including the lighting signal output and the delay processing from the start of the interrupt processing. When the lighting signal is not output, the dummy signal processing is performed so that the lighting signal is not output. Also, the time from the start of the interrupt processing performed at regular time intervals to the start of the output of the drive signal is made constant.

As described above, the brightness detection by the brightness detection means 33 during the lighting of the lighting means 21, 22, and 23 includes the output of the lighting signal (S111), the determination of the detection flag (S115), and the test. Detection of the switch 39 (S130),
After the elapse of time is determined (S131), a delay process (S135) of about 5 milliseconds is performed, and then the drive signal is output to the brightness detection means 33, as shown in FIG. After a lapse of about 5 milliseconds from the short-time lighting of each of the lighting means 21, 22, and 23, the brightness detecting means 33 is operated, and the detection signal is output immediately before the lighting of the lighting means 21, 22, and 23 to be performed in the next interrupt processing. Is read, and the output of the drive signal ends.

Therefore, the lighting of each of the lighting means 21, 22, and 23, that is, the light emission of the light guide plate 25, can be seen by the human eye to be continuously lit, but the brightness of the external light by the brightness detecting means 33 is high. The detection is performed when the lighting units 21, 22, and 23 are turned off, and the brightness of the external light can be detected except for the lighting lights of the lighting units 21, 22, and 23. . Incidentally, the interval of the interrupt processing time, that is, the lighting interval of each lighting means 21, 22, 23,
It is not limited to 10 milliseconds, but may be extended to about 30 milliseconds, and it is sufficient if the illumination means 21, 22, and 23 are flashed at a high number of times that cannot be determined by human eyes.

The delay processing performed when the drive signals are output after the lighting means 21, 22, and 23 are turned on for a short time is not limited to 5 milliseconds. In accordance with the response speed of the unit 33 and the processing speed of the lighting control unit 31, the output of the drive signal is performed so as to secure the operation response time of the brightness detection unit 33 before reading the detection value in the next interrupt processing. It is sufficient to determine that the lighting should be started, and by increasing the time of this delay processing, each lighting due to the afterglow of the lighting means 21, 22, 23 or a delay in the resistance value changing speed of the brightness detecting means 33, etc. The influence of the lighting of the means 21, 22, 23 can be eliminated.

Further, the output interval of the drive signal, that is, the interval for operating the brightness detecting means 33 is not limited to 2 seconds or 5 seconds, but may be slightly longer or shorter. When this detection interval is shortened, the power consumption of the brightness detection means 33 increases, but when the surroundings of the clock body 10 are suddenly darkened, such as when the interior light is turned off, the dial is turned on. Can be done quickly.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the output of the drive signal for operating the brightness detection means 33 is made to be an extremely short pulse for each required time, and only the power consumption of the brightness detection means 33 is reduced. When the surrounding brightness is dimmed, even if the value input to the input buffer becomes an intermediate value and a leak current flows, the operation time of the brightness detection means 33, that is, the input of the intermediate value of the detection signal The time can be shortened, and the consumption of the battery due to the leak current can be extremely reduced.

The output of the driving signal is started by setting a time interval after the output of the lighting signal by setting the delay time. When the lighting signal is not output, the dummy signal is output and the time is adjusted. By shortening the output time of the drive signal until the output of the drive signal is stopped by the next interrupt processing according to the response speed of the brightness detection means 33, the power consumption by the brightness detection means 33 is extremely reduced. Can be.

Further, when lighting the plurality of lighting means 21, 22, 23, the lighting signals of the lighting means 21, 22, 23 are pulsed to reduce the power consumption of the lighting means 21, 22, 23. The short-time lighting of the plurality of lighting means 21, 22, 23 is shifted in sequence to light the lighting, thereby reducing the maximum current value and preventing a sudden large load from being applied to the power supply battery, thereby reducing battery consumption. Can be smaller.

The number of the illumination means 21, 22, 23 is not limited to three, but may be an appropriate number such as two to six or twelve. As described above, by increasing the number of the illuminating means 21, 22, and 23, it is possible to prevent the position of the light guide plate 25 apart from the illuminating means 21, 22, and 23 from becoming dark, and to uniformly brighten the entire light guide plate 25. It becomes easy to do.

Needless to say, the dial can be made bright even if the number of the illumination means 21, 22, 23 is one. When increasing the number of illumination means 21, 22, 23, the pulse width as a lighting signal is reduced, and
Each of the lighting means 21 and 2 should be proportional to the increase in the number of 1,22,23
Lighting means by reducing the duty ratio of 2,23 lighting signals
It is desirable not to increase the power consumption of 21, 22, and 23 as a whole.

The lighting control means 31 has a monitor input terminal. When the monitor switch 37 is turned on and a low-level monitor signal is input as the monitor input signal M0 from the monitor input terminal, the lighting control means 31 shown in FIG. As shown, only the determination as to whether or not the drive signal is output (S101) and the output of the lighting signal (S112) are performed. Therefore,
As shown in FIG. 9, each time an interrupt process is performed in accordance with the input of the monitor signal, a lighting signal is output, and the lighting units 21, 22, and 23 are turned on so as to blink at a high speed. At a predetermined interval such as 2 seconds, a drive signal is output to the detection signal H0 to determine the brightness, and when dark, a lighting signal is output so that each of the lighting means 21, 22, and 23 blinks at high speed.

Also, the test switch 39 is turned on,
When an L-level test signal is input from the test input terminal as the test input signal T0, the delay processing (S135) and the driving signal output (S136) are performed in each interrupt processing without determining whether the required time has elapsed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, in the interrupt processing with a required time interval such as every 10 milliseconds, the drive signal is output every time,
The surrounding brightness is detected every 10 milliseconds, etc., and when the surroundings are dark and the detected value exceeds a predetermined value, a lighting signal is output, and each of the lighting means 21, 22, and 23 is sequentially turned on and off at high speed. is there.

In illuminating the hands and the dial, the time display is not limited to the case of using the light guide plate 25, but may be performed by illuminating means arranged inside the frame 17 such as the front upper side or the front side of the dial. Sometimes it illuminates the dials and pointers that serve as a part.

[0045]

【The invention's effect】

[0046]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a plurality of illuminating means for illuminating the dial are turned on when the surroundings are detected by the brightness detecting means and the darkness is low, each illuminating means is provided with an extremely short time. Lighting is repeated at high speed, blinking is repeated, and each lighting unit is turned on for a short time, and each lighting time is sequentially shifted. A timepiece dial illuminating method in which the operating time of the means is operated in accordance with the extinguishing time during blinking of all the illuminating means, and when the detected brightness is darker than a predetermined brightness, each illuminating means repeatedly blinks and illuminates. It is assumed that.

Therefore, even when a plurality of lighting means are turned on, the plurality of lighting means are turned on without increasing the maximum current consumption, thereby reducing the difference in brightness generated on the dial and making the dial uniform. Can be brightened. Also, turn off the battery
Wear time is low, and the watch time is easy to see in dark places.
Thus, a clock body having a long life can be obtained. In addition, billing
The invention described in Item 2 is to detect the surrounding brightness during the lighting of each lighting means, start the operation of the brightness detecting means after a required time delay after the short lighting of all the lighting means, A clock face dial lighting method in which the brightness is detected immediately before the next lighting of each lighting means and the operation of the brightness detecting means is stopped, and then each lighting means is lighted for a short time to repeatedly blink and light. It is assumed that.

Therefore, the consumption of the battery can be reduced while the dial is uniformly brightened by the plurality of illumination means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a timepiece illuminating means for performing lighting control according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a timepiece that performs lighting control according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a timepiece that performs lighting control according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a lighting control method according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a lighting control method according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a time chart showing signals according to a lighting control method according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a time chart showing signals according to a lighting control method according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a time chart showing signals according to a lighting control method according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a time chart showing signals during a monitor operation by the lighting / lighting control means according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a time chart showing a signal at the time of a test operation by the lighting / lighting control means according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 watch body 11 watch movement 13 hands 15 mounting plate 17 frame body 19 front glass 21, 22, 23 lighting means 25 light guide plate 31 lighting control means 33 brightness detection means 35 detection resistor 37 monitor switch 39 test switch 41 42,43 Switching transistor 45,46,47 Limiting resistor 49 Substrate

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G04B 19/30 G04G 9/00 308

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] The brightness detecting means detects the brightness around the clock body, and when lighting a plurality of lighting means for brightening the dial when it is dark, each lighting means has a very short time. Lighting is repeated at high speed to make it blink like a continuous light, and each lighting means is lighted for a short time.
Sequentially shifted, also, the operation of the brightness detection means also a Rukoto is only a very short time operation for each required time, upon detecting by brightness detecting means ambient brightness, all operating time of the brightness detecting means The ambient brightness is detected by operating in accordance with the turning-off time during the blinking of the lighting means, and when the brightness detected by the brightness detecting means is lower than a predetermined brightness, each lighting means blinks and lights. If the detected brightness is brighter than the predetermined brightness,
A timepiece dial illuminating method, wherein each lighting means is not turned on. Upon wherein detecting ambient brightness during lighting of each illumination means is intended to perform a short lighting of each illumination means immediately after detecting ambient brightness by operating the brightness detecting means, When operating the brightness detection means only for a short time,
After the lighting of all the lighting means is completed for a short time, the operation of the brightness detecting means is started with a delay of a required time, and the brightness is detected immediately before the next lighting of each lighting means, and the operation of the brightness detecting means is stopped. 2. The timepiece dial illuminating method according to claim 1, wherein the lighting means is turned on to repeat blinking lighting after the lighting.