JP3652982B2 - Radio correction clock with lighting function - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a radio-controlled timepiece that receives a standard radio wave (time standard radio signal) including a time signal and sets the time based on the time signal, and particularly relates to a watch having an illumination function.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A radio-controlled timepiece automatically receives a radio wave at a preset time, receives the radio wave, corrects the time based on the time signal included in the received radio signal, and always displays an accurate time. ing.
[0003]
Normally, reception of radio waves is automatically performed a plurality of times a day at a predetermined time. In general, reception is often better at night when there is less noise than during the day.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Some of the radio-controlled timepieces as described above are provided with illumination so that the time can be read in a dark place, and have an illumination function for illuminating the time display unit. In such a radio-controlled timepiece with illumination function, light and dark are detected by a CdS sensor, and illumination is turned on or off according to the detection result. An LED or the like is used for this illumination. In order to reduce power consumption, the illumination is driven so as to be repeatedly turned on / off by a pulse signal to the extent that it cannot be discerned by the eyes.
[0005]
When such illumination is provided, noise is generated when the lamp is turned on / off, and radio waves may not be received due to the noise. In particular, reception conditions are often better at night than in the daytime, and if reception becomes impossible at night, reception may not be possible all day depending on the installation location.
[0006]
On the other hand, if the illumination is not provided or the illumination is turned off, the reception state can be improved, but the reading of the time in a dark place is hindered.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and provides a radio-controlled timepiece with an illumination function that can be reliably received without causing any trouble in the interpretation of time in a dark place. .
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The radio-controlled timepiece with illumination function of the present invention is a radio-controlled timepiece that turns on the illumination when the light / dark sensor detects a dark state, and detects the number of receptions and the dark state when the light / dark sensor detects the light state. A reception control means for setting the number of receptions when changing and setting the number of receptions to be reduced when the darkness sensor is detecting a dark state rather than when the light and dark sensor is detecting a light state; And a lighting control unit that turns off the illumination when the reception time is reached when the light / dark sensor detects a dark state.
[0009]
Further, the radio-controlled timepiece with illumination function of the present invention is a radio-controlled timepiece that turns on the illumination when the light / dark sensor detects a dark state, and sets a plurality of reception times while the light / dark sensor detects the dark state. In addition, the reception control means that does not perform the reception operation at the subsequent reception time if it has been received last time, and the lighting control that turns off the illumination when the reception time comes when the brightness sensor detects a dark state Means.
[0010]
Further, the radio wave correction timepiece with illumination function has a display unit, and when the illumination is turned on, the display unit is illuminated, and the display contents are switched between a bright state and a dark state.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The reception control means in the radio-controlled timepiece with illumination function of the present invention sets the reception time and the number of receptions in the bright state and the dark state, respectively. That is, since there is a lot of noise in the bright state (mainly daytime), the reception time is increased by increasing the reception time, and the reception state is improved in the dark state (mainly at night). Reduce the number. Further, the lighting control means for controlling the lighting state of the lighting turns off the lighting when it is time to receive the radio wave in the dark state, prevents the occurrence of noise, and makes sure that the lighting can be received.
[0012]
As described above, even if the illumination is turned off during reception, minimizing the number of receptions in the dark state reduces the probability that the illumination will turn off and the time cannot be read, minimizing the effects of turning it off. be able to.
[0013]
In the dark state, not only the number of reception times that are set is small, but also the reception operation at the next time is not performed when reception is possible. Therefore, when the reception of the radio wave is completed at the time of the first reception in the dark state, the subsequent reception operation in the dark state is not performed, so that the illumination is not turned off and the time reading is not affected.
[0014]
【Example】
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional configuration diagram of a main part of a radio-controlled timepiece with illumination function according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a schematic circuit configuration thereof.
[0015]
First, the circuit configuration of the radio-controlled timepiece with illumination function will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the radio-controlled timepiece with illumination function according to the present embodiment is provided with circuits and mechanisms such as a receiving unit, a pointer driving and correcting unit, and an illuminating unit with a control circuit 2 formed of a microcomputer as a center. The function set in the control circuit 2 and the function of each circuit interact to illuminate the display unit, automatically receive a radio signal, and detect and correct the pointer position. That is, as a receiving unit that receives radio waves, a receiving circuit 6 that converts a radio signal received by the antenna 4 into an electric signal, and reads the time information by sampling the electric signal with a 32 Hz signal from a timer circuit described later. A decoding circuit 8 that converts the code signal into a control circuit 2 and supplies it to the control circuit 2. A timer circuit 10 that counts the reception time and stops automatic reception if the decoding circuit 8 cannot read a series of time information within a predetermined time. And a time counter 12 that counts the time and outputs the time when automatic reception is performed.
[0016]
In addition, as the pointer drive and correction unit, the hour / minute correction button 14 for manual correction of time and the reception button 16 for forced reception, the motor drive circuit 18, and the wheel train for the second hand provided in the movement 20 are driven. There are provided a second hand motor 22 for driving, an hour / minute hand motor 24 for driving a wheel train for hour and minute hands, and a photo sensor 26 for detecting the position of the pointer from the state of the train wheel.
[0017]
The illumination unit includes an illumination drive circuit 28, and an illumination device 30 including a plurality of LEDs that are sequentially and intermittently driven by pulse signals from the illumination drive circuit 28, and transistors for driving the LEDs. In the dark state, the illumination device 30 illuminates a time display unit by a pointer or a digital display unit whose display contents are switched so that the time can be read.
[0018]
In addition, a light / dark sensor 36 for light / dark detection composed of CdS 32 and its driving transistor 34 and the like, and a reception state display device 38 composed of LED and its driving transistor and the like are provided. This reception status display device 38 blinks once every two seconds when radio waves are normally received by a signal from the control circuit 2, and when radio waves cannot be received or there is a button correction. It is turned off.
[0019]
Next, the functional configuration of the main part of the radio-controlled timepiece with illumination function having the above circuit configuration will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 40 is a reference signal generating means, which comprises an oscillator 42 connected to the control circuit 2 and a function of the control circuit 2, etc., and divides the signal from the oscillator 42 to supply a pulse signal having a predetermined frequency as a reference signal. And a pulse generating means 44.
[0020]
A receiving means 46 includes one function of the receiving circuit 6, the decoding circuit 8 and the control circuit 2. The reception means 46 functions to receive a radio signal and read time information.
[0021]
Reference numeral 48 denotes a lighting control unit, which has one function of the control circuit 2 and turns on or off the lighting device 30 based on the detection result of the light / dark sensor 36. Further, in this embodiment, the illumination device 30 is turned off even during the receiving operation to prevent noise.
[0022]
Reference numeral 50 denotes reception control means, which includes one function of the timer circuit 10, the time counter 12, and the control circuit 2. The reception control means 50 includes first reception control means 52 and second reception control means 54 that operate according to the detection result of the light / dark sensor 36. The first reception control means 52 is a reception means at a plurality of preset times (12, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 o'clock in the present embodiment) when the light / dark sensor 36 detects a bright state. 46 makes automatic reception. Further, the second reception control means 54 causes the reception means 46 to perform an automatic reception operation at a preset time (2, 3 and 4 o'clock) when the light / dark sensor 36 detects a dark state and controls lighting. The lighting device 30 is turned off by the means 48, and the automatic reception at the time set after the completion of the reception is not performed, and the reception in the dark state is terminated.
[0023]
56 is a second hand driving means for driving the second hand, and 58 is an hour / minute hand driving means for driving the hour hand and the minute hand, respectively. The motor drive circuit 18, the second hand motor 22, the hour / minute hand motor 24, the train wheel described in detail later, and One function of the control circuit 2 is included. The second hand drive means 56 outputs a first drive pulse for driving the second hand, a drive pulse control means 60 for controlling the supply of a correction pulse at the time of stopping or correction, and a first pulse from the drive pulse control means 60. It has a second hand drive mechanism 62 that operates by a drive pulse to drive the second hand. The hour / minute hand drive means 58 includes a drive pulse control means 64 for controlling the output of the second drive pulse for driving the hour hand and the minute hand and the supply of the correction pulse at the time of correction, and the drive pulse control means 64 It has an hour / minute hand drive mechanism 66 that operates by the second drive pulse to drive the hour hand and minute hand.
[0024]
The second hand drive mechanism 62 and the hour / minute hand drive mechanism 66 are configured as follows in the same manner as that disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-162335. As shown in FIG. 3, the second hand drive mechanism 62 includes a first stepping motor 68 as a first drive source, a first fifth wheel & pinion 70 having a large-diameter gear 70a meshed with the rotor pinion 68a, The second hand wheel 72 is engaged with the small-diameter gear 70 b of the first fifth wheel & pinion 70. As shown in FIG. 3, the hour / minute hand drive mechanism 66 includes a second stepping motor 74 as a second drive source and a second fifth wheel 76 having a large-diameter gear 76a meshed with the rotor pinion 74a. A third wheel 78 having a large diameter gear 78a meshed with the small diameter gear 76b of the second fifth wheel 76, a minute hand wheel 80 having a large diameter gear 80a meshed with the small diameter gear 78b of the third wheel 78, The minute wheel 80 b of the minute hand wheel 80 includes a minute wheel 82 a meshed with the large diameter gear 82 a and an hour hand wheel 84 meshed with the small diameter gear 82 b of the minute wheel 82 b.
[0025]
The photo sensor 26 outputs a detection signal having a pattern indicating a pointer position from the operation of the gears in the second hand drive mechanism 62 and the hour / minute hand drive mechanism 66 having the above-described configuration. As shown in FIG. 3, the photosensor 26 includes a light emitting element 26a attached to the upper case 3 and the like, and a light receiving element 26b attached to the lower case 1 and the like so as to face the light emitting element 26a. doing. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the photosensor 26 is disposed at a position where the first fifth wheel 70, the second hand wheel 72, the third wheel 78, the minute hand wheel 80, and the hour hand wheel 84 are simultaneously overlapped. . When the through hole 70c of the first fifth wheel & pinion 70, the through hole 78c of the third wheel & pinion 78, the through hole 72c of the second hand wheel 72, the through hole 80c of the minute hand wheel 80, and the through hole 84c of the hour hand wheel 84 overlap. In addition, the detection light emitted from the light emitting element 26a is received by the light receiving element 26b, and the detection light is blocked by the movement of the through-hole due to the rotation of each gear. Output.
[0026]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 86 denotes a correction control means, which comprises the function of the control circuit 2. The correction control means 86 determines whether or not the detection signal from the photosensor 26 described above matches a pattern when indicating a preset time, and the time obtained by the reception means 46 by receiving the radio wave. The current time based on the information is compared with the time when the pointer reaches the set time, and the difference is calculated. Based on the calculated difference, the drive pulse control means 60 and 64 are instructed to output a drive pulse for correction. To do.
[0027]
Reference numeral 90 denotes a time measuring means for measuring time and the like, and includes one function of the time counter 12 and the control circuit 2. The time measuring means 90 is constantly updated to the correct time based on the received time information.
[0028]
Reference numeral 92 denotes a display unit such as a digital display unit provided in addition to the time display unit using hands. This display unit 92 displays calendar information such as time, date, day of the week, etc. sent from the time measuring means 90.
[0029]
Reference numeral 94 denotes display switching means for switching the display contents of the display unit 92, and is configured with one function of the control circuit 2. The display switching unit 94 switches the display content of the display unit 92 when the lighting control unit 48 turns on or off the lighting device 30.
[0030]
Next, the operation of the radio-controlled timepiece with illumination function having the above-described functional configuration will be described based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS. First, when the power is turned on by battery replacement or the like (step ST1), the microcomputer performs an initial setting (step ST2), and the reception means 46 performs a forced receiving operation by turning on the power (step ST3).
[0031]
Here, the correction control means 86 or the like determines whether or not the hour / minute correction button 14 (FIG. 2) has been operated (step ST4), and if it has not been operated, the reception control means 50 measures the reception time and within a certain time. If it is within the time, the correction control means 86 detects the position of the pointer from the signal from the photosensor 26 (step ST7), and based on the time information by the forcibly received radio signal. Then, the hour / minute hand driving means 58 is corrected to fast forward (step ST8). On the other hand, when the hour / minute correction button 14 is operated or when reception is not completed within a predetermined time, only the pointer position is detected by the correction control means 86 (step ST6), and the user operates the hour / minute correction button 14. As a result, the hour / minute hand driving means 58 is operated to perform correction by manual operation. Thereafter, the reception state is set depending on whether or not reception is possible, and the reception state display device 38 (FIG. 2) is turned on or off (step ST9).
[0032]
After the time adjustment in the initial state as described above is performed, the normal clock operation starts. That is, the time is measured by the time measuring means 90 and the time counter 12 is added every minute by determining whether it is the first second (steps ST10 and ST11), and the second hand drive means 56 sets the second hand every second. The hour / minute hand driving means 58 starts a normal hand movement operation for driving the hour / minute hands every 10 seconds (step ST12).
[0033]
Thereafter, it is determined whether the hour / minute correction button 14 has been operated at regular time intervals (for example, every second) (step ST13). If not, the detection state of the light / dark sensor 36 is determined (step ST14). .
[0034]
Here, when it is detected that the light / dark sensor 36 is in a bright state (on state), if the lighting device 30 is turned on, the lighting control means 48 turns off the light (step ST16), and the display switching means 94 is turned on. The display on the display unit 92 is switched from time display to calendar display (step ST17). Then, the first reception control means 52 determines any of the preset times 12, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8 o'clock (step ST18), and if it is not any time, the process returns to step ST10. A normal operation is performed, and if it is any set time, the receiving means 46 performs automatic reception (step ST19). Here, it is determined whether the hour / minute correction button 14 has been operated (step ST20), and if it has not been operated, it is determined whether the reception time is within the set time (step ST21). If reception is performed within the set time, the correction control means 86 corrects the time (step ST22). As described above, the time adjustment by the correction control means 86 is performed by outputting pulses from the drive pulse control means 60 and 64 according to the difference between the time indicated by the hands and the received time. When the hour / minute correcting button 14 is operated, a button correcting operation for correcting the time according to the operation is performed (step ST23). Then, the reception state is set, and it is displayed whether or not it has been received (step ST24). Thereafter, the normal clock operation is performed again.
[0035]
In step ST14, when it is detected that the light / dark sensor 36 is in a dark state (off state), if the illumination device 30 is turned off, it is turned on (step ST25), and the display on the display unit 92 is displayed. Switching from calendar display to time display (step ST26). Then, it is determined whether it is 2 o'clock time set in advance by the second reception control means 54 (step ST27). If it is 2 o'clock, the illumination device 30 is turned off in order not to generate noise that interferes with reception. The light is turned off (step ST28). Thereafter, like the reception / correction operation in the bright state described above, the reception means 46 performs automatic reception, and the correction control means 86 corrects the time while judging the operation of the hour / minute correction button 14 and the reception time. A state is set (steps ST19 to ST24). Then, the normal timepiece operation is performed again from step ST10. If the light / dark sensor 36 detects a dark state, it is determined in step ST14, and the illumination device 30 is turned on again in step ST25. It will be.
[0036]
Further, when the time correction by the first automatic reception in the dark state as described above is normally performed, the second reception control unit 54 performs 2 o'clock at the time (3, 4 o'clock) after that time (2 o'clock). Is determined (step ST27), and it is then determined whether the previous reception was possible (step ST29). Here, when the reception is normally performed at 2 o'clock as described above, the normal clock operation is resumed without turning off the illumination or performing automatic reception and time adjustment.
[0037]
On the other hand, if the reception at 2 o'clock in the dark state as described above cannot be received within a certain time and the time is over, the reception means 46 and the correction control means 86 have not completed the reception, so the time No correction is made (steps ST21 and ST24). In this case, when the next time (3 o'clock) set in the second reception control means 54 is reached, when the previous reception (2 o'clock) is judged (step ST29), the next time is reached because it has not been received. The second reception control means 54 determines whether it is (3 o'clock or 4 o'clock). If it is determined that the time is 3 o'clock, the lighting device 30 is turned off (step ST28), automatic reception by the receiving means 46 is started (step ST19), and the hour / minute correction button 14 is set in the same manner as the reception time at 2 o'clock described above. When the reception is completed, the time is corrected by the correction control means 86 (step ST22). Then, the reception state is set as to whether or not the signal has been received (step ST24), the normal timepiece operation is returned, and the illumination device 30 is turned on again (step ST25).
[0038]
When the previous reception cannot be performed as described above, the automatic reception again is performed only at the time set in the second reception control means 54 (only after 3 o'clock and 4 o'clock). Therefore, in the present embodiment, automatic reception in the dark state is performed at least once (2 o'clock) and at most 3 times (2, 3, 4 o'clock). For this reason, since the number of times the lighting device 30 is turned off at the time of automatic reception is the same as the number of automatic receptions, the number of automatic reception is extremely small, and the influence of turning off the light can be minimized.
[0039]
If the hour / minute correction button 14 is operated before the determination based on the detection result of the light / dark sensor 36 is performed by the reception control means 50 (step ST13), the lighting device 30 is turned off, turned on, the display unit 92 is switched, and the time is set. No decision is made, only the fact that it is not received is set (step ST24), and the normal clock operation is returned.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, since the illumination is turned off during reception, the generation of noise can be prevented and radio waves can be reliably received.
[0041]
In addition, the number of times of automatic reception in the dark state is reduced from the number of automatic receptions in the bright state, and if the previous reception is possible, automatic reception in the dark state after that is not performed. The number of receptions can be minimized. As a result, the number of times the illumination is turned off is reduced, the probability that the illumination is turned off and the time cannot be read is reduced, and the influence can be minimized by turning off the illumination.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a functional explanatory diagram showing a functional configuration of a main part of a radio-controlled timepiece with illumination function according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a circuit diagram showing a schematic circuit configuration of the radio wave correction timepiece with illumination function shown in FIG. 1; FIG.
3 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a pointer driving mechanism shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.
4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the radio wave correction timepiece with illumination function shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the radio wave correction timepiece with illumination function shown in FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
2 control circuit 6 reception circuit 8 decoding circuit 10 timer circuit 12 time counter 14 hour / minute correction button 18 motor drive circuit 22 second hand motor 24 hour / minute hand motor 26 photo sensor 28 illumination drive circuit 30 illumination device 36 light / dark sensor 38 reception status display Device 40 Reference signal generating means 46 Receiving means 48 Lighting control means 50 Reception control means 56 Second hand driving means 58 Hour / minute hand driving means 86 Correction control means 90 Timing means 92 Display unit 94 Display switching means

Claims (3)

In the radio-controlled watch that turns on the illumination when the light / dark sensor detects a dark state,
The number of receptions when the light / dark sensor detects a bright state and the number of receptions when a dark state is detected are set differently and darker than when the light / dark sensor detects a light state. A reception control means for setting the number of receptions to be reduced when the state is detected;
When the reception time is reached when the brightness sensor detects a dark state, a lighting control means for turning off the illumination,
A radio-controlled timepiece with illumination function, comprising: In the radio-controlled watch that turns on the illumination when the light / dark sensor detects a dark state,
A reception control means for setting a plurality of reception times and not performing a reception operation at a subsequent reception time when receiving the previous time while the light and dark sensor is detecting a dark state;
When the reception time is reached when the brightness sensor detects a dark state, a lighting control means for turning off the illumination,
A radio-controlled timepiece with illumination function, comprising: The radio wave correction timepiece with illumination function according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a display unit, wherein when the illumination is turned on, the display unit is illuminated, and display contents are switched between a bright state and a dark state.

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