JP3626923B2 - Pointer origin detection device for analog radio timepiece for vehicle and method for detecting the origin of the pointer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an analog radio timepiece for an automobile, and in particular, a pointer origin detection device for an in-vehicle analog radio timepiece for detecting the origin of a pointer and the hour for the return of a pointer required in the radio timepiece. And a pointer origin detection method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, in an analog radio-controlled timepiece, all the hands are moved to an origin such as a 12 o'clock position in order to grasp the position of the hands when the power is turned on. Conventionally, when the hour hand and the minute hand reach the origin such as the 12 o'clock position, such a movement of the pointer is brought into contact with a mechanical contact from the operation of the train wheel, or a plurality of gears are provided with holes and through the holes. An optical penetrating sensor for irradiating and receiving light was provided to detect from the sensor output that the hour and minute hands reached the origin.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the detection of the pointer origin when all of the conventional pointers have reached the origin, it is necessary to provide a mechanical contact, a light penetrating sensor, and the like inside the movement. For this reason, when changing a conventional timepiece to a radio timepiece, it is necessary to change not only the circuit part but also the entire movement, and a new movement must be developed.
[0004]
In particular, in the case of an on-vehicle watch, the specification cannot be changed unnecessarily due to the position of incorporation and the relationship with other instruments and operation switches, and development of a new movement takes time and cost.
[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and is capable of detecting the needle origin without changing the basic configuration of the movement. Is to provide.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The pointer origin detection device for an in-vehicle analog radio timepiece of the present invention is an in-vehicle analog radio timepiece that receives a radio signal including time information and displays the time by an hour hand and a minute hand, and rotates with the rotation of the minute hand, A position detection plate provided with a reflection portion in a certain region with a portion corresponding to the origin position of the surface as a boundary, a sensor that outputs a signal according to detection and non-detection of the reflection portion of the position detection plate, and the minute hand Storage means for storing the number of rotations; minute hand rotation calculation means for calculating the number of rotations of the minute hand necessary for moving the hour hand to the origin position from the number of rotations stored in the storage means; and the sensor includes a reflecting portion. Fast-forward drive means for fast-forwarding the minute hand by the number of rotations calculated by the minute hand rotation calculation means in accordance with a signal when detected or not detected, and constant signal detection by the sensor detecting and non-detecting the reflecting portion Rotation writing means for writing to the storage means as one rotation when a pattern is detected, and rotation clear means for clearing the storage means when detecting that the minute hand has made 12 rotations based on a signal when the sensor detects or does not detect the reflection portion And have. Further, the storage means in the on-vehicle analog radio-controlled timepiece origin detecting device includes a ROM that can rewrite written information.
[0007]
In addition, the method for detecting the origin of the pointer of the on-vehicle analog radio timepiece according to the present invention stores the number of rotations of the minute hand in the on-vehicle analog radio timepiece that receives a radio signal including time information and displays the time by the hour hand and the minute hand. The storage data D is read from the storage means, the calculation of D-12 = X is performed on the read storage data D, the minute hand is fast-forwarded, the part rotates with the rotation of the minute hand and corresponds to the origin position When the sensor detects or does not detect the reflection part in the position detection plate provided with a reflection part in a certain area with the boundary as T + X = 0 for the number T, fast-forward until T + X = 0, and from the sensor When the signal becomes a constant pattern due to detection and non-detection of the reflecting plate, the rotation number of the minute hand is written to the storage means as one rotation, and the sensor indicates whether the reflecting portion is detected or not detected. Determines that outputting the signals 12 times, which is intended to clear the stored data of the storage means.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the in-vehicle analog radio-controlled timepiece origin detecting device of the present invention, a position detection plate that rotates with the rotation of the minute hand and a sensor that outputs the rotation as an electrical signal are provided. On the surface of the position detection plate, a reflection portion is provided on a half of the surface, etc., with a portion corresponding to the origin such as the 12 o'clock position as a boundary. The sensor detects the presence / absence of the reflection portion of the position detection plate and outputs a signal corresponding to the detection and non-detection.
[0009]
In the present invention, each function is activated by taking a signal from the sensor into the microcomputer, and the origin is detected by storing the number of rotations of the minute hand in the storage means. That is, when the minute hand rotation calculating means calculates the number of rotations of the minute hand necessary to move the hour hand to the origin from the number of rotations of the minute hand, which is the storage data of the storage means, the fast-forward drive is performed based on the calculated number of rotations. Means fast forward the minute hand. At this time, the rotation of the minute hand is detected from the detection signal output by the sensor, and the minute hand is rotated by the calculated number of rotations.
[0010]
On the other hand, when the rotational writing means determines that the signal from the sensor has a certain pattern, the writing of the minute hand rotation speed to the storage means is written as one rotation in the storage means. In this way, every time the minute hand makes one rotation, it is stored in the storage means, and when the rotation clear means determines that it has made 12 rotations, both the minute hand and the hour hand reach the origin, so the storage means is cleared.
[0011]
The position detection plate and the sensor can be provided outside the movement, and the fact that the pointer is at the origin position can be detected by the microcomputer and the storage means only by inputting a signal from the sensor. Therefore, the origin can be detected without changing the basic configuration of the movement.
[0012]
【Example】
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a pointer origin detecting device for an in-vehicle analog radio timepiece according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0013]
Reference numeral 2 denotes a timing unit including the movement and its drive circuit. This time measuring unit inputs a standard radio wave signal including time information and corrects the time, and displays the time with an hour hand and a minute hand.
[0014]
Reference numeral 4 denotes a position detection plate that rotates as the minute hand rotates. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the position detection plate 4 is disposed on the back surface side of the movement 6 so that the center of rotation is the same as the hour hand wheel 8 and the minute hand wheel 10, and the minute hand shaft surface side of the minute hand wheel 10. It is attached to the end 10a and rotates together with the minute hand. On the surface of the position detection plate 4, as shown in FIG. 4, a reflection portion 4 a printed in silver or the like that reflects infrared rays or the like is provided in a region corresponding to 12:00 to 6 o'clock, and the remaining 6 o'clock. A non-reflective portion 4b printed in black or the like that hardly reflects infrared rays or the like is provided in a region corresponding to 12:00.
[0015]
Reference numeral 12 denotes a reflection type optical sensor, which is disposed so as to face the position detection plate 4 as shown in FIGS. The optical sensor 12 is attached so that external light does not enter the attachment portion 14 a of the light shielding plate 14 that covers the position detection plate 4.
[0016]
Reference numeral 16 denotes a microcomputer, and reference numeral 18 denotes a storage means including an EEPROM or the like that can rewrite stored data and retains the memory even when the power is turned off. The microcomputer 16 has a function of reading stored data from the storage means 18 and a function of calculating the minute hand rotation required to move the hour hand to the 12 o'clock position, a function of calculating the minute hand rotation, a function of fast-forwarding the minute hand, and a calculation. The fast-forward drive means comprising the function of judging whether the minute hand has been rotated by the number of rotations of the minute hand, the function of judging whether the signal from the optical sensor 12 is a constant pattern indicating one revolution of the minute hand, and the minute hand making one revolution Then, a rotation writing unit having a function of writing the number of rotations of the minute hand in the storage unit 18, a function of determining whether or not the detection signal of the reflecting portion 4a from the optical sensor 12 has been generated 12 times, and a storage unit 18 when 12 times have occurred. Rotation clear means having a function of clearing the stored data. When the hour hand and the minute hand are moved to the 12 o'clock position, the microcomputer 16 in the present embodiment corrects the pointer quickly at the current time stored or the time corrected by receiving the radio signal, and then performs normal hand movement. It also has time correction means consisting of functions.
[0017]
The microcomputer 16 is connected to the drive circuit of the timer unit 2 via the interface 20 and performs operation control related to the detection of the pointer origin as described above.
[0018]
Next, the operation of the pointer origin detection device and the pointer origin detection method will be described based on the time chart shown in FIG. 5 and the flowchart shown in FIG. When the operation starts in step ST1 due to the engine key being turned on, the stored data is read from the storage means 18 in step ST2. The stored data read out here is data indicating the number of rotations of the minute hand stored until the operation is ended by turning off the engine key or the like. When the data D of the number of rotations of the minute hand is read out, calculation of D-12 = X is performed in step ST3 to calculate how many more minutes the minute hand will rotate to reach the 12 o'clock position. For example, if the minute hand rotation number data D is “8”, X = −4, and it is calculated that the minute hand must be rotated four times to move the hour hand to the 12 o'clock position.
[0019]
Next, in step ST4, the minute hand is driven forward. In step ST5, it is determined from the signal output by the optical sensor 12 at this time whether the minute hand has been rotated by the necessary number of rotations. That is, the number of occurrences T of the signal output from the optical sensor 12 when the minute hand passes the 12 o'clock position is added to the rotation number X of the minute hand required to move the hour hand to the 12 o'clock position, and X + T = 0. Judge. For example, when X is “−4”, when T = 4, that is, when the minute hand reaches the 12 o'clock position for the fourth time, the process proceeds to the next step.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 5, the optical sensor 12 outputs an H level detection signal and detects the non-reflective portion 4b when the reflective portion 4a of the position detection plate 4 is detected while the minute hand makes one rotation per hour. Then, an L level non-detection signal is output. In step ST5 described above, it is determined whether or not X + T = 0 when the output signal of the optical sensor 12 becomes H level.
[0021]
If X + T = 0 is determined in step ST5 as described above, the time is corrected by fast-forwarding the pointer so that the current time stored in step ST6 or the time corrected by reception of the radio signal is displayed, and the correction ends. Then, switch to normal operation.
[0022]
Next, in step ST7, it is determined whether the output signal of the optical sensor 12 is a pattern that shifts from the L level to the H level. As shown in FIG. 5, this pattern is generated when the minute hand makes one rotation, and by detecting this pattern, it can be detected that the minute hand has made one rotation. Thus, when it is detected that the minute hand has made one rotation, writing is performed by adding one rotation to the number of rotations of the minute hand stored in the storage means 18 in step ST8. Such writing to the storage means 18 is performed each time the minute hand rotates once.
[0023]
Next, in step ST9, it is determined whether the detection signal (H level signal) from the optical sensor 12 has been generated 12 times. When an H level signal, which is a detection signal of the reflecting portion 4a, is output from the optical sensor 12 12 times, the minute hand has rotated 12 times, and the hour hand returns to the origin position. Thus, when the minute hand and hour hand return to the 12:00 position, the stored data in the storage means 18 is cleared in step ST10, and the number of rotations is updated again every time the minute hand rotates.
[0024]
As described above, just by inputting a signal from the optical sensor 12, the minute hand and hour hand are fast-forwarded to reach the origin position, and thereafter, the stored data of the number of rotations is updated every time the minute hand rotates, This makes it possible to always accurately grasp the origin position and send the pointer.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the position detection plate and the sensor are attached to the movement, and the pointer can be sent to the origin and the hour can be detected simply by inputting a signal from the sensor, so that it is not necessary to develop a new movement. Can be reduced.
[0026]
In addition, since the storage data of the storage means is updated every time the minute hand makes one rotation, the latest data is always stored even if the power is frequently turned on / off by turning on / off the engine key, etc. Based on the data, the pointer origin can be grasped.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a pointer origin detection device for an in-vehicle analog radio timepiece according to one embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the movement showing the arrangement of the position detection plate and the optical sensor shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a back view showing the back side of the movement shown in FIG. 2;
4 is a front view of the position detection plate shown in FIG. 2. FIG.
5 is a time chart of output signals of the photosensor shown in FIG. 2. FIG.
6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the pointer origin detection device and the pointer origin detection method of the in-vehicle analog radio timepiece shown in FIG. 1; FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Timekeeping section 4 Position detection plate 4a Reflecting section 4b Non-reflecting section 6 Movement 10 Minute wheel 12 Optical sensor 16 Microcomputer 18 Storage means

Claims (3)

In an in-vehicle analog radio clock that receives radio signals including time information and displays the time with the hour and minute hands,
A position detection plate that rotates with the rotation of the minute hand and is provided with a reflecting portion in a certain region with a portion corresponding to the origin position of the surface as a boundary;
A sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to detection and non-detection of the reflection portion of the position detection plate;
Storage means for storing the number of rotations of the minute hand;
Minute hand rotation calculating means for calculating the number of rotations of the minute hand necessary for moving the hour hand to the origin position from the number of rotations stored in the storage means;
Fast-forward drive means for fast-forwarding the minute hand by the number of rotations calculated by the minute hand rotation calculation means in accordance with a signal when the sensor detects or does not detect the reflection portion;
Rotation writing means for writing to the storage means as one rotation when the sensor detects a certain pattern of signals by detection and non-detection of the reflection part;
Rotation clearing means for clearing the storage means when detecting that the minute hand has rotated 12 times by a signal when the sensor detects or does not detect the reflection part;
An on-vehicle analog radio timepiece pointer origin detection device characterized by comprising: 2. The pointer origin detection device for an on-vehicle analog radio timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the storage means comprises a ROM capable of rewriting written information. In an in-vehicle analog radio clock that receives radio signals including time information and displays the time with the hour and minute hands,
Read stored data D from storage means for storing the number of rotations of the minute hand,
An operation of D−12 = X is performed on the read storage data D,
Fast-forward drive the minute hand,
When the sensor detects or does not detect a reflection portion in a position detection plate that rotates with the rotation of the minute hand and that has a reflection portion in a certain region with a portion corresponding to the origin position as a boundary, T + X = for the number T Find 0, fast forward until T + X = 0,
When the signal from the sensor becomes a constant pattern by detection and non-detection of the reflector, the rotation number of the minute hand is written in the storage means as one rotation,
Determining that the sensor has output a signal indicating the detection or non-detection of the reflective portion 12 times
A method for detecting a pointer origin of an in-vehicle analog radio timepiece, wherein the stored data in the storage means is cleared.

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