JP4141867B2 - Radio correction clock and control method of radio correction clock - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a radio-controlled timepiece and a method for controlling a radio-controlled timepiece.
[0002]
[Background]
As an automatic correction clock that automatically corrects the display time, a radio correction clock that receives Japanese standard time information as a standard time radio wave and automatically corrects the display time based on the time code is known.
[0003]
In an analog radio-controlled timepiece that drives the hands, if there is a mistake in the feed of the hands due to the effects of vibration, external magnetic field, etc., the internal hand position counter and the actual hand position will be distorted, and the time code will be received. However, this may not be displayed correctly. Therefore, it is necessary to detect the position of the pointer in order to confirm whether or not the position of the pointer matches the value of the needle position counter.
[0004]
As a pointer position detecting means in this type of radio-controlled timepiece, one using an optical sensor including a light emitting element and a light receiving element is known (for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). In these pointer position detection means, members that move in conjunction with the rotation of the pointer are arranged between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the position sensor, and the detection light passes through these members at specific positions. Holes are provided. When the detection light passes through this hole and the light receiving element receives light, it can be detected that the pointer is at a specific position.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-35489 A
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2002-71846 A
[Patent Document 3]
JP 2002-357678 A
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since light emitting elements and light receiving elements are easily affected by fluctuations in power supply, temperature, etc., the light quantity of the light emitting element of the position sensor using light is always marginal so that it can be detected under any conditions. A higher setting with the was required. For this reason, there is a problem that the power consumption of the watch is increased and the battery life is shortened.
[0007]
In view of such problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a radio-controlled timepiece and a method for controlling the radio-controlled timepiece that can reduce power consumption in the hand position detection operation.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In the radio-controlled timepiece of the present invention, a reference signal generating means for generating a reference signal, a time measuring means for measuring the current time based on the reference signal, and a current time display means for displaying the measured current time with a pointer. A pointer driving means for driving a pointer for displaying the current time, a receiving means for receiving a standard radio wave including time information, and a current time for correcting the current time of the time measuring means based on the time information received by the receiving means. A radio-controlled timepiece having a time correction means, a position having a light emitting element capable of switching a plurality of light levels for detecting that the pointer is at a predetermined position and a light receiving element for receiving light emitted from the light emitting element A sensor, a control unit that controls driving of the position sensor, and a light amount control unit that controls a light amount level of the light emitting element. It if the pointer has a predetermined number of times detected that is in the position defined by said light quantity control means for lowering the light level of the light emitting element at the time of detection operation next, by the position sensor, the pointer is in a predetermined positionInspectIf the light cannot be emitted, the light amount control means raises the light amount level of the light emitting element, and the position sensor is driven again.
[0009]
In the present invention, since the light amount control means capable of controlling the light amount level of the light emitting element is provided, the light amount level can be adjusted according to the use environment. Therefore, power consumption in the detection operation can be reduced, and the accuracy of the pointer position detection can be increased. For example, if the minute information of the hand position counter is a value indicating 00 minutes, and if the position of the minute hand can be detected when the minute position is detected, the detection can succeed even if the light quantity level is lowered and the detection operation is performed next time. It is possible to reduce the light level. As a result, power consumption in the detection operation can be reduced. Further, when the detection cannot be performed, the detection operation is performed by increasing the light amount level in consideration of the possibility that the light amount level is insufficient depending on the environment of the place. As a result, it is possible to determine whether the light amount level is insufficient and cannot be detected, or whether the position of the pointer is shifted and cannot be detected, and the accuracy of the pointer position detection can be improved.
[0010]
  Also,In the radio correction watch of the present inventionIsThe control means uses the position sensor to check that the pointer is at a specified position.Predetermined number of timesIf detected, the light quantity level of the light emitting element is lowered by the light quantity control means during the next detection operation.ing.
  For this reason,In the present invention, the needle position is detected at a certain light amount level in the needle position detection operation.Predetermined number of timesIf detected, the light amount level of the light emitting element is lowered at the next detection of the needle position. That is, in the needle position detection operation, the power consumption can be further reduced by lowering the output of the light emitting element. In the present invention, the conditions for lowering the light amount level are not limited in any way, and may be lowered by detecting the needle position once, or may be lowered if it can be detected a plurality of times. Further, the plurality of times may be detected continuously, or may be decreased when a predetermined number of times is counted even if not continuously.
  Further, in the present invention, when the needle position cannot be detected even though the pointer is originally detected, the light amount level is low and the light from the light emitting element does not reach the light receiving element. It is done. Therefore, by increasing the light level and then performing the detection operation again, it can be determined whether the light level was insufficient and could not be detected, or whether the pointer was misaligned and could not be detected, The accuracy of the needle position detection operation can be increased.
[0011]
  In the radio-controlled timepiece of the present invention, the control means uses the position sensor to indicate that the pointer is at a specified position.Predetermined number of timesIn the case where detection is possible continuously, it is preferable that the light amount control means lowers the light amount level of the light emitting element by the light amount control means in the next detection operation.
  In the present invention, the light amount level of the light emitting element is decreased when the light emitting element has succeeded in detecting the needle position continuously for a specified number of times at the same light amount level. That is, it is difficult to determine whether the detection can be stably performed at the light amount level of the light-emitting element after one successful detection. For example, if the light intensity level is immediately lowered by one success and fails at the time of detecting the next needle position, as a result, the light intensity level is increased once again and the detection operation is performed. Repeating this many times will not reduce battery consumption. If the needle position is successfully detected a plurality of times, it can be confirmed that the detection is stably performed at the light amount level. By reducing the light amount level only after stable detection, the same detection operation mistake can be prevented from being repeated over and over, and further power consumption can be reduced.
[0012]
  The present inventionIn the above, it is preferable that the control means sets the light amount level of the light emitting element to the maximum at the time of the first hand position detecting operation after the radio-controlled timepiece is powered on.
[0013]
In the radio-controlled timepiece of the invention, the control means drives the light emitting element when the light emitting element having a plurality of light quantity levels cannot detect the position of the pointer even when the maximum light quantity level is used. In this state, it is preferable that the pointer is rotated rapidly until the pointer is detected by the position sensor or until the pointer makes a full turn.
The light emitting element is preferably driven not by continuous driving but by pulse driving in which the position of the pointer is determined after driving the pointer.
In the present invention, if the position of the pointer cannot be detected even when the light quantity level of the light emitting element is maximum, the pointer is moved quickly until it can be detected. This is because the reason why the needle position cannot be detected is not because the light quantity level of the light emitting element is insufficient, but it can be determined that the position of the pointer itself is shifted. If the needle position can be detected by quickly turning the pointer, the fast turning of the pointer is finished at that time. Thereby, the position shift of the pointer can be corrected. If the needle position cannot be detected even after the needle has made a full turn, the fast turning of the hand is ended at the time of making a full turn. Accordingly, it can be predicted that the reason why the hand position cannot be detected is not the position of the pointer being shifted, but the power supply to the position sensor is insufficient, or the position sensor is physically broken.
[0014]
  In the control method of the radio-controlled timepiece according to the present invention, the reference signal generating means for generating the reference signal, the time measuring means for measuring the current time based on the reference signal, and the current time for displaying the current time measured by the pointer A display means; a pointer driving means for driving a pointer for displaying the current time; a receiving means for receiving a standard radio wave including time information; and a current time of the time measuring means based on the time information received by the receiving means. A method of controlling a radio-controlled timepiece having a current time correcting means for correcting, wherein a light emitting element capable of switching a plurality of light intensity levels for detecting that the pointer is at a specified position and light emitted by the light emitting element are received. When the position sensor detects that the pointer is at a specified position for a predetermined number of times, the light quantity level of the light emitting element during the next detection operation is detected. Lower the Le, by the position sensor, that the pointer is in a predetermined positionInspectIf the light cannot be emitted, the light quantity level of the light emitting element is increased and the position sensor is driven again.
[0015]
In the present invention, the light amount level of the light emitting element can be changed according to the detection result in the position detection operation of the pointer in the position sensor. For example, when the position of the pointer can be detected, the light amount level of the light emitting element is decreased, and when the position of the pointer cannot be detected, the light amount level of the light emitting element is increased. Can do. As a result, the same effects as those of the above-described radio-controlled timepiece can be enjoyed.
[0016]
[Embodiments of the Invention]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a radio-controlled timepiece 1 according to the present invention.
[0017]
The radio-controlled timepiece 1 includes a reception unit 2 as a reception unit, a reference signal generation unit 3 as a reference signal generation unit, a time display unit 4 as a current time display unit, a control unit 5, and a hand position detection unit. 6.
[0018]
The receiving unit 2 includes an antenna 21 that receives a standard radio wave including time information, a receiving circuit 22 that processes (amplifies, demodulates, etc.) the time information received by the antenna 21, and time information from a signal processed by the receiving circuit 22. And a receiving power supply circuit 24 for supplying power to the receiving circuit 22.
[0019]
The antenna 21 is configured by a ferrite antenna or the like in which a coil is wound around a ferrite rod.
The receiving circuit 22 includes an amplifying circuit, a bandpass filter, and a demodulating circuit (not shown), shapes the received radio wave, demodulates it, and outputs it to the decoding circuit 23 as a rectangular pulse representing a time code. The decode circuit 23 converts this pulse signal and outputs it to the control unit 5 as time information (time code) composed of digital data.
[0020]
Here, as a standard radio wave including time information, a Japanese long wave standard radio wave (JJY) or the like can be used. In the time code format of the long wave standard radio wave, one signal is transmitted every second, and one record (one frame) is formed in one minute (60 seconds). That is, one frame is 60-bit data. The data items include the minute of the current time, the hour, the day of the current year since January 1, the year (the last two digits of the year), the day of the week, and the leap second. Although there is no second item, this is because the time information is time data of 0 seconds per minute. The value of each item is configured by a combination of numerical values assigned every second, and ON / OFF of this combination is determined from the type of signal.
[0021]
The reference signal generation unit 3 includes an oscillation circuit 31 including a crystal resonator and the like, and a frequency division circuit 32 that divides a pulse from the oscillation circuit 31 to generate a reference clock (1 Hz, etc.). ing. The generated reference clock is output to the control unit 5.
[0022]
The time display unit 4 drives the hands 43 based on the signal output from the control unit 5 and displays the time. As shown in FIG. 2, the time display unit 4 includes a motor drive circuit 41, a motor drive coil 42, and a pointer 43. In the present invention, the motor driving circuit 41 and the motor driving coil 42 constitute a pointer driving means.
Although not specifically shown, the motor drive circuit 41 includes a drive pulse generation circuit that generates a drive pulse using a signal from the control unit 5, and a motor driver that applies the drive pulse to the motor drive coil 42. It is configured with. The motor drive circuit 41 is configured to output a motor drive pulse to a motor drive coil 42 that drives the pointer 43 and to step the pointer 43. A signal synchronized with the motor drive pulse is output to the hand position counter 53 of the control unit 5, and the control circuit 54 recognizes the display time of the pointer 43.
[0023]
The control unit 5 controls the operation of the entire radio-controlled timepiece 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 5 includes a time counter 51 as a time measuring means for measuring the current time, a time counter control circuit 52 as a current time correcting means, a hand position counter 53, and a control as a control means. The circuit 54 is provided.
The time counter 51 is connected to the reference signal generator 3 and counts the reference signal (reference clock) generated by the reference signal generator 3 to measure the current time.
[0024]
The time counter control circuit 52 determines whether or not the time information decoded by the decoding circuit 23 is accurate. If the time counter control circuit 52 determines that the time information is correct, the time counter control circuit 52 corrects the current time of the time counter 51 based on the time information. Whether or not the received time information is accurate is, for example, in the case of a long wave standard radio wave, the time information transmitted at intervals of 1 minute is received by a plurality of frames (usually 2 to 3 frames). Judgment is made based on whether or not the time information has a predetermined time difference. For example, when each time information is continuously received, it is determined whether or not each time information is time information at 1 minute intervals.
[0025]
The hand position counter 53 receives a signal synchronized with the drive pulse output from the motor drive circuit 41, and counts up each time the pointer 43 moves with the drive pulse. For this reason, the counter value of the needle position counter 53 also changes according to the hand movement of the pointer 43, and the counter value of the needle position counter 53 corresponds to the position of the pointer 43.
[0026]
The control circuit 54 controls operations of the reception unit 2, the time display unit 4, and the hand position detection unit 6.
As control of the time display unit 4, the control circuit 54 normally always compares the counter value of the time counter 51 with the counter value of the hand position counter 53, and the motor drive circuit 41 so that these counter values match. To update the time displayed on the hands 43.
In addition, as a control of the reception operation of the reception unit 2, the control circuit 54 sends an operation signal to the reception unit 2 at a predetermined cycle to perform the reception operation.
When the time information is received from the receiving unit 2 and the counter value of the time counter 51 is corrected by the time counter control circuit 52, the control circuit 54 determines the counter value of the time counter 51 and the counter value of the hand position counter 53. Compare When an error occurs in these counter values, a signal is appropriately output to the motor drive circuit 41 to correct the time displayed on the hands 43.
As an operation control of the needle position detection unit 6, the control circuit 54 instructs the needle position detection unit 6 to start the needle position detection operation and switch the light amount level based on the needle position information received from the needle position counter 53. Control signal CS to be sent. Furthermore, the detection result output SO is received from the needle position detection unit 6.
[0027]
The needle position detection unit 6 detects the position of the pointer 43. As shown in FIG. 3, the needle position detection unit 6 includes a position sensor 7 that detects the position of the pointer 43 and a light amount control unit 8 as a light amount control unit.
[0028]
The position sensor 7 includes a light emitting element 71 and a light receiving element 72, and detects the position of the pointer 43 when the light receiving element 72 receives light from the light emitting element 71. Although not shown in the drawing, members that move in conjunction with the rotation of the pointer 43 are arranged between the light emitting element 71 and the light receiving element 72, and detection light is transmitted to these members at specific positions. A hole is provided for passing through. When the detection light passes through this hole and the light receiving element receives light, it can be detected that the pointer 43 is in a predetermined position. The predetermined position usually refers to the case where the hour hand is 0 hour, the minute hand is 0 minute, and the second hand is 0 second.
[0029]
The light quantity control unit 8 controls the light quantity level of the light emitting element 71 during the needle position detection operation. The light amount control unit 8 includes a switch 81, a switch 82, a switch 83, and resistors 84, 85, 86 connected to the switches 81-83. The relationship of the resistance values of the resistors 84 to 86 is R4 <R5 <R6. Based on the input signal CS from the control circuit 54, the light quantity control unit 8 turns on and off the switches 81 to 83 to control the light quantity level of the light emitting element 71. At this time, the light amount level of the light emitting element 71 is increased by turning on a switch connected to a resistor having a lower resistance value. That is, the light quantity control unit 8 can adjust the light quantity level of the light emitting element 71 in three stages. Further, the control circuit 54 is in a state where all of the switches 81 to 83 are OFF and the light emitting element 71 is not driven, and one of the switches 81 to 83 is ON and the light emitting element 71 is driven. The light quantity control unit 8 is controlled in a total of four states.
When any of these switches 81 to 83 is turned on, the position sensor 7 detects the position of the pointer 43. The result (SO) of the position detection operation is output to the control circuit 54.
[0030]
The operation of the hand position detection and light intensity control of the radio-controlled timepiece 1 having such a configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 and 5 by taking the minute hand as an example. The operation in this flowchart can also be applied when detecting the hour hand or the second hand.
In this hand position detection operation, the flag is set to 0 for the first detection operation after the radio-controlled timepiece 1 is turned on. The flag is incremented when the needle position detection operation is successful, and the flag value in the result of the previous detection operation is carried over at the next needle position detection (hereinafter, the flag is abbreviated as F). In the first detection of the needle position, the light amount level of the light emitting element 71 is set to start at the top level of three stages. However, the light amount level in the initial operation may be from the bottom of the three stages or an intermediate level.
[0031]
In the hand position detection process, it is first determined whether or not the minute hand information of the hand position counter 53 is 00 minutes (step 1, hereinafter, step is abbreviated as S). Here, when the minute hand information of the hand position counter 53 is not 00 minutes, the hand position detecting operation is not performed and the process is finished (S9).
On the other hand, if the minute hand information of the hand position counter 53 is 00 minutes, the power source of the light emitting element 71 is turned on and the hand position detecting operation is started (S2).
[0032]
Next, it is determined whether or not the needle position detection is successful (S3). If it is determined as “Y” in S3, that is, if the hand position can be detected, the light emitting element 71 is turned off (S4).
[0033]
Since this is the first detection operation at present, F = 0 (S5). Therefore, in S5, it is determined to be “N”, and 1 is added to F because the needle position detection operation is successful (S16). This completes the first needle position detection operation (S9).
[0034]
Next, when 60 minutes have elapsed and the minute hand information of the hand position counter 53 becomes 00 minutes again, the same hand position detection operation is performed again. Here, if the needle position is continuously detected and the needle position is detected after 60 minutes in a state where F = 2, it is determined as “Y” in S5, and the light amount of the light emitting element 71 at the present time The level is determined (S6).
Here, when it is determined as “N”, that is, when the light amount level of the light emitting element 71 is not the lowest level, the light amount level is lowered by one step (S7). Specifically, the reduction of the light amount level means that a signal for turning on the switch connected to the resistor having a higher resistance value is transmitted from the control circuit 54 in the next needle position detecting operation. .
Once the operation of lowering the light amount level is performed, the value of F so far is set to 0 (S8). After this, if the needle position is successfully detected three times in succession, the light amount level of the light emitting element 71 is further lowered, and eventually the light amount level of the light emitting element 71 becomes the lowest level. If the detection is successful three times at the lowest level, it is determined as “Y” in S6, so that the light amount level is not lowered and the needle position detection operation is terminated (S9).
[0035]
When it is determined as “N” in S3, that is, when the hand position cannot be detected, the value of F at that time is first returned to 0 (S10). This is because the value of F is a numerical value indicating how many times the detection operation has succeeded continuously. Next, the light quantity level of the light emitting element 71 is determined (S11). When it is determined as “N” in S11, that is, when the light amount level is not the highest, the light amount level is increased by one step (S12). Then, the needle position detection operation is performed again (S13). Next, the result of the needle position detection operation is determined (S14). If “Y” is determined here, that is, if the hand position detection is successful, the power of the light emitting element 71 is turned off (S15), 1 is added to F (S16), and the detection operation ends ( S9).
[0036]
On the other hand, if it is determined as “N” in S14, that is, if the hand position cannot be detected, the process returns to S11. Here, if it is determined as “Y” in S11, that is, if the hand position cannot be detected even though the light amount level is the highest, the process proceeds to the initial position detection. Note that the detection operation in S13 is not performed 60 minutes later but continuously for 1 minute in which the value of the minute hand of the hand position counter 53 is 00 minutes.
[0037]
The initial position detection is an operation to correct the displacement because the position of the minute hand could not be detected due to the displacement of the actual needle position and the needle position by the needle position counter. The operation is as shown in the flowchart of FIG.
In the initial position detection process, first, the light quantity level of the light emitting element 71 is maximized (S17). Next, the needle position detection operation is started (S18). From here, the light emitting element 71 performs the detection operation while continuing to emit light.
[0038]
Next, the minute hand is fast-forwarded (S19). This is because the actual position of the minute hand is different from the position indicated by the hand position counter 53, and it is not known where it is, so that the position where the hand position can be detected by turning the minute hand is searched.
Next, the success or failure of the detection operation is determined (S20). If it is determined as “Y”, that is, if the hand position is detected, the minute hand information of the hand position counter 53 is reset to 00 minutes (S21). This is because the position where the hand position can be detected is the time when the minute hand points to 0 minute. Therefore, by correcting the deviation, the value of the actual minute hand and the hand position counter 53 are matched.
[0039]
Next, the value of F is set to 2 (S22). This is because the reason why the needle position could not be detected was not a shortage of the light amount level but a deviation of the needle position, so that if the needle position can be detected without any problems next time, the light emission level will drop by one step. .
Next, the minute hand which has been turned by fast-forwarding is stopped (S23). Since the needle position has been detected, the rapid traverse of the needle is stopped at that point.
Next, the power source of the light emitting element 71 is turned off (S24), and then the detection ends (S26).
[0040]
If it is determined as “N” in S20, that is, if the hand position cannot be detected, whether or not the minute hand has made a full turn is determined by counting the number of fast-forwarding pulses of the minute hand or the like (S25). Here, when it is determined as “N”, that is, when the minute hand has not made one round, the hand position detecting operation is continued.
On the other hand, if “Y” is determined in S25, that is, if the hand position cannot be detected even if the minute hand makes a full turn, the fast-forward operation of the minute hand is terminated (S23), and the light emitting element is turned off ( S24), the detection operation is terminated (S26).
[0041]
Here, when the minute hand has not been detected even after one round, the power sufficient to cause the light emitting element 71 to emit light is not supplied, that is, the battery is dead or the position sensor 7 itself has failed. It is possible that
Therefore, when the battery is consumed or the position sensor 7 is broken, the second hand is moved every 3 seconds at a stroke for 3 seconds, and the battery is consumed or an internal failure is transmitted to the user.
[0042]
According to such an embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.
(1) Since the control circuit 54 and the light quantity control unit 8 are provided, the light quantity level of the light emitting element 71 can be lowered if the needle position detection is successful, and the light quantity level can be raised if the needle position detection is unsuccessful. Reduction and accuracy of the needle position detection operation can be increased.
[0043]
(2) When the light amount level of the light emitting element 71 is lowered, the control circuit 54 does not easily lower the light emission level, and after confirming that the three-point needle position can be detected continuously, the light amount level Therefore, the possibility of having to increase immediately after decreasing the light level is reduced. As a result, the power consumption can be further reduced.
[0044]
(3) The control circuit 54 raises the light amount level of the light emitting element 71 by one step when the detection is not possible as a result of the needle position detection, and immediately performs the re-detection operation. The power consumption can be further reduced, and the accuracy of the hand position detection operation can be improved.
[0045]
(4) If the needle position cannot be detected even when the light intensity level of the light emitting element 71 is set to the maximum level, the initial position detection process of rotating the pointer 43 is performed while continuing the detection operation. It is possible to detect reliably, and the deviation between the value of the needle position counter 53 and the pointer 43 can be automatically corrected.
[0046]
(5) In the initial position detection process, if the position cannot be detected even if the pointer 43 is rotated once in a fast forward direction, a shortage of power supply to the light emitting element 71 due to battery exhaustion or a physical failure of the position sensor 7 is predicted. be able to. Therefore, by displaying a notice of abnormality such as moving the second hand every 3 seconds at a time, it is possible to prompt the user to replace or repair the battery.
[0047]
(6) In the initial position detection process, when the detection can be performed by correcting the deviation of the pointer 43, the light quantity of the light emitting element 71 is not insufficient. If it can be detected in step 1, the power consumption can be reduced by immediately reducing the light amount level.
[0048]
[Modification of Embodiment]
Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various improvements and design changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is.
[0049]
In the said embodiment, although the light quantity level in the light quantity control part 8 is illustrated in three steps, it is not restricted to this, The step of a light quantity level may be two steps or four steps or more. In the above-described embodiment, the position sensor 7 uses the light emitting element 71 and the light receiving element 72 separately, but a position sensor in which the light receiving and emitting elements are integrated may be used.
[0050]
In the embodiment, the light amount level of the light emitting element 71 is reduced if the needle position can be detected three times in succession in the operation flow. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the condition for reducing the light emission level is not more than twice. But you can do it four or more times. Furthermore, the detection may not be continuous.
[0051]
Further, in the embodiment, when the position of the pointer 43 is shifted, the light amount level of the light emitting element 71 is not insufficient. Therefore, in the next detection operation, the detection operation is not performed at the maximum light amount level. Alternatively, the light amount level may be lowered.
[0052]
Further, in the above embodiment, a method of notifying the user of the battery exhaustion and the failure of the position sensor 7 by moving the second hand every 3 seconds at a stroke for 3 seconds is used. It may be a hand movement. In this case, since the time is not corrected even though it is a radio wave correction clock, the user can recognize the occurrence of an abnormality.
Further, the configuration of the light quantity control unit 8 is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and any configuration may be used as long as the power supplied to the light emitting element 71 can be adjusted, for example, by controlling the output of the power source.
In FIG. 3, the light receiving element 72 and the resistors R1 and R2 are always supplied with power from the power source Voc. However, a switch such as a switch 81 is provided between the power source Voc and the light receiving element 72 and the resistors R1 and R2, and the needle position is set. You may comprise so that it may turn ON only at the time of a detection.
[0053]
The control circuit 54 includes a hardware (such as various logic elements) and a computer (microcomputer) having a CPU (central processing unit), a memory (storage device), etc. A configuration may be adopted in which a predetermined program or data (data stored in each storage unit) is incorporated in this computer to realize each means.
For example, a CPU and a memory are arranged in the radio-controlled timepiece 1 so as to function as a computer, and a predetermined control program and data are recorded in the memory such as communication means such as the Internet, CD-ROM, memory card or the like. Each means may be realized by installing via a medium and operating a CPU or the like with the installed program.
In order to install a predetermined program or the like in the radio-controlled timepiece 1, a memory card, a CD-ROM or the like may be directly inserted into the radio-controlled timepiece 1, or an external device for reading these storage media may be used. May be connected to the radio wave correction watch 1. Further, a LAN cable, a telephone line or the like may be connected to the radio-controlled timepiece 1 to supply and install a program or the like by communication, or since the antenna 21 is provided, the program is supplied and installed wirelessly. Also good.
[0054]
If a control program or the like provided by such a recording medium or communication means such as the Internet is incorporated in the radio-controlled timepiece 1, it is possible to change the operation in the hand position detection process and the initial position detection process only by changing the program. It is also possible to select and install a control program desired by the user at the time of shipment from the factory. In this case, various types of radio-controlled timepieces 1 having different hand position detection processing operations can be manufactured only by changing the program, so that parts can be shared and manufacturing costs for developing variations can be greatly reduced.
The radio-controlled timepiece 1 of the present invention can be applied to various types of timepieces such as portable timepieces such as wristwatches and pocket watches, and set-type timepieces such as wall clocks and table clocks.
[0055]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the radio-controlled timepiece and the radio-controlled timepiece control method of the present invention, it is possible to reduce power consumption or increase the accuracy in detecting the position of the pointer.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a radio-controlled timepiece according to the present invention.
2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit, a time display unit, and a hand position detection unit in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a needle position detection unit in FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a hand position detection operation of the radio-controlled timepiece according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an operation for correcting the hand position of the radio-controlled timepiece according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Radio wave correction clock, 2 ... Receiving part as receiving means, 3 ... Reference signal generating part as reference signal generating means, 4 ... Time display part as time display means, 6 ... Hand position detection as hand position detecting means 8, a light quantity control unit as a light quantity control means, 52... A time counter control circuit as a current time correction means, 54... A control circuit as a control means.

Claims (5)

Reference signal generating means for generating a reference signal, time measuring means for measuring the current time based on the reference signal, current time display means for displaying the measured current time with a pointer, and a pointer for displaying the current time A radio wave comprising: a pointer driving means for driving; a receiving means for receiving a standard radio wave including time information; and a current time correcting means for correcting the current time of the time measuring means based on the time information received by the receiving means A modified watch,
A position sensor having a light emitting element capable of switching a plurality of light quantity levels for detecting that the pointer is at a predetermined position, and a light receiving element for receiving light emitted from the light emitting element;
Control means for controlling the driving of the position sensor;
A light amount control means for controlling the light amount level of the light emitting element,
The control means includes
When the position sensor detects that the pointer is at a predetermined position a predetermined number of times, the light amount control means lowers the light amount level of the light emitting element at the next detection operation,
By the position sensor, if the pointer is failed to be detect that it is in the position of provision, by the light quantity control means increases the light level of the light emitting element, again, and characterized in that driving the position sensor A radio correction watch. The radio-controlled timepiece according to claim 1,
The control means, when the position sensor detects that the pointer is at a predetermined position continuously for a predetermined number of times, via the light quantity control means, the light quantity level of the light emitting element at the next detection operation A radio-controlled watch characterized by lowering. In the radio-controlled timepiece according to claim 1 or 2,
The control means sets the light amount level of the light emitting element to the maximum at the time of the first hand position detection operation after power-on of the radio correction clock. The radio-controlled timepiece according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
When the light emitting element having a plurality of light quantity levels cannot detect that the pointer is in a predetermined position even at the maximum light quantity level, the control means is in a state in which the light emitting element is driven. The radio-controlled timepiece is rotated rapidly until the pointer is detected by the position sensor or until the pointer makes a full turn. Reference signal generating means for generating a reference signal, time measuring means for measuring the current time based on the reference signal, current time display means for displaying the measured current time with a pointer, and a pointer for displaying the current time A radio wave comprising: a pointer driving means for driving; a receiving means for receiving a standard radio wave including time information; and a current time correcting means for correcting the current time of the time measuring means based on the time information received by the receiving means A control method for a modified clock,
A position sensor having a light emitting element capable of switching a plurality of light amount levels for detecting that the pointer is at a predetermined position and a light receiving element for receiving light emitted from the light emitting element;
When the position sensor detects that the pointer is at a predetermined position a predetermined number of times, the light amount level of the light emitting element during the next detection operation is lowered,
By the position sensor, if the pointer is failed to be detect that it is in a prescribed position raises the light intensity level of the light emitting element, again, the control of the radio-controlled timepiece characterized by driving said position sensor Method.

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