JP4326937B2 - Self-correcting clock - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic correction timepiece that receives broadcast radio waves such as radio broadcasts including time signal information around every hour and corrects the time based on the time signal information.

For example, a standard time radio signal transmitted at a frequency of 60 kHz from a standard radio wave transmission station installed in Saga Prefecture, or a standard time radio signal transmitted at a frequency of 40 kHz from a standard radio wave transmission station installed in Fukushima Prefecture, A radio-controlled timepiece that corrects the time based on a standard time radio signal is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-267775 A

  However, the movement of the analog radio-controlled timepiece that displays the time using the hands has a function to detect the position of the hands, and after adjusting the hands to the initial position, the time is adjusted, but the time until the standard time radio signal is received. However, since the received data is repeatedly checked to improve reliability, it takes a considerable time to correct the time as a result, and it is difficult to say that the user can be satisfied sufficiently.

  Further, the standard radio wave transmission station described above is generally located at a location away from the city center and transmits a standard time radio wave signal with a relatively low transmission output of about 50 kW. In a radio-controlled timepiece installed in an urban area away from the city, the reception time of the standard time radio signal is weak, so that the time may not be adjusted appropriately depending on the location.

  For example, when a standard time radio signal is received in Tokyo, a standard time radio signal is received from a transmitting station provided in Fukushima Prefecture, which is 200 km or more away. On the other hand, when receiving a standard time radio signal in Osaka, for example, from a standard time radio signal from a transmitter station located in Fukushima Prefecture, which is 600 km or more away, or from a transmitter station installed in Saga prefecture, which is 500 km or more away. Standard time radio signal is received, the reception strength is weak, and time adjustment may not be performed properly depending on the location.

For example, in the long wave bands such as frequencies of 40 kHz and 60 kHz used as standard radio waves, there is no EMI (electromagenetic interferrence) regulation for electronic devices such as electronic devices and home appliances. There are cases where measures against long-wave noise are not taken.
When a radio-controlled watch receives a long-wave standard radio signal in this environment, it also receives noise from these electronic devices at the same time, and cannot correct the time without properly decoding the standard time information. There is a case.
In particular, a lot of noise is superimposed on the alternating current (AC) power line, and the noise is received in the vicinity of the AC power line and the transmission line, and the standard time radio signal is properly received. May not be possible.

It is also defined as “the ability of a device or system to function satisfactorily in its electromagnetic environment without unacceptably disturbing anything in its environment”, for example, electromagnetic compatibility or compatibility with the electromagnetic environment. In the FCC Federal Communication Committee standard, which is also called EMC (electro-magnetic compatibility) standard, there is no standard for power line conduction wave voltage below 450 kHz, and CISPR (International Radio Interference Special Committee) ) There is no standard for frequencies below 150 kHz.
For this reason, since countermeasures for long-wave electromagnetic waves are not generally taken, the reception environment for standard time radio signals is poor in the vicinity of these devices.

  In addition, for example, an in-vehicle radio wave correction watch may not be able to properly receive a standard radio wave signal due to the influence of noise generated from a car electronic device, such as ignition noise.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to perform automatic time correction reliably in a relatively short period of time and irrespective of the reception environment of a standard time radio signal that is easily affected by noise or the like. It is to provide an automatic correction clock that can.

To achieve the above object, an automatic correction timepiece according to the present invention includes an internal timepiece, an internal power supply for driving at least the internal timepiece, and an antenna unit capable of receiving broadcast radio waves including time information at least at a predetermined time. Receiving the power from the internal power supply or the external power supply, and extracting the time signal information based on the broadcast radio wave received by the antenna unit; and supplying power from the internal power supply when the external power supply is disconnected. A power switching unit that enables power supply from the external power supply instead of power supply from the internal power supply when the external power supply is connected, and time display means capable of displaying the time by receiving power supply from the external power supply If, on the extracted time signal information above the external power source is unconnected the broadcast radio wave receiving means at predetermined time intervals by receiving power from the internal power supply by the power supply switching unit at the time of The internal clock to correct the time information clocked by Zui, the when the external power source is connected the power supply is switched to the power supply of the external power supply from the internal power source, the broadcast reception timing based on the information of the internal clock Control means for correcting time information measured by the internal clock based on time signal information received by the radio wave receiving means and displaying the time information on the time display means.

  Preferably, the time display means can display the time with a pointer.

  Preferably, the broadcast radio wave includes, as time signal information, a time signal of a preset frequency synchronized at least every hour on the hour, and the broadcast radio wave reception means is configured to transmit the time signal of the frequency based on the broadcast wave. The control means corrects time information measured by the internal clock based on the correct time signal extracted by the filter means.

  Preferably, the control means corrects an error in time information measured by the internal clock based on the correct time signal extracted by the filter means, and performs time setting of the time display means based on the error information. .

  Preferably, the antenna unit further includes a standard radio wave receiving unit capable of receiving a standard time radio wave signal and generating a standard time signal based on the standard time radio wave signal received by the antenna unit, and the control unit Corrects the time information measured by the internal clock based on the standard time signal generated by the standard radio wave receiving means at the initial stage.

  Preferably, the antenna unit includes a ferrite bar antenna capable of receiving the standard time radio signal and the broadcast radio wave, and the standard radio wave receiving means is based on the standard time radio signal received by the ferrite bar antenna. A time signal is generated, and the broadcast wave receiving means extracts time signal information based on the broadcast wave received by the ferrite bar antenna.

  According to the present invention, automatic time adjustment can be reliably performed in a relatively short time and irrespective of the reception environment of a standard time radio signal that is easily affected by noise or the like.

  Embodiments of an automatic correction timepiece according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

  The automatic correction clock according to the present embodiment, for example, receives radio waves such as radio broadcasts including time signal information around every hour, and corrects the time information that the internal clock measures based on the received time signal information of the broadcast radio waves. When the power supply is switched from the internal power supply to the external power supply, the time information measured by the internal clock is displayed as an analog time.

Specifically, the timekeeping information of the internal clock is updated by receiving a broadcast radio wave such as a radio while measuring the time based on the initial time information by the internal clock.
An internal battery (internal power supply) dedicated to driving the internal clock is built in, and the time is displayed only when power is supplied from an external power supply.
The analog movement combined at this time receives the standard radio wave (also called the standard time radio signal) including the standard time signal, and detects the position of the pointer used in the radio correction watch that corrects the time based on the standard time radio signal. It is a movement with a function. Therefore, the automatic correction timepiece according to the present embodiment also has a time correction function based on the standard time radio signal in accordance with the time correction function based on the broadcast radio wave.
In addition, the initial position is aligned in the production process, for example, and the external battery (external power source) is removed and shipped in synchronization with the time signal information of the broadcast radio wave.
When the user sets an external battery, the origin of the pointer position is searched and automatically set to the pointer position based on the information of the internal clock. When a broadcast time signal is received in this state, the error generated in the internal clock is corrected, and the hands are aligned based on the error information.

In the present embodiment, for example, AM radio broadcast waves including time signal information are used as broadcast waves. There are several advantages of adopting time signal information included in AM radio broadcasting.
1. There are multiple transmitter stations nationwide.
2. The transmission output of the AM radio broadcast radio wave is larger than the transmission output of the standard radio wave transmission station.

For example, an AM radio broadcasting station performs AM radio broadcasting from a suburb of an urban area with a relatively large transmission output.
For example, AM radio broadcasting stations are installed in the suburbs of cities such as Sapporo, Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka as shown in Table 1. Radio broadcasting stations are established within 50 km from urban areas such as Sapporo, Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka.
For example, AM radio broadcast radio waves are output from Tokyo-NHK first broadcast, frequency 594 kHz, transmission output 300 kW from Sakaimachi, Minamisaitama-gun, Saitama Prefecture. AM radio broadcast radio waves are being output from Tanjo, Miharacho, Minamikawachi-gun, Osaka Prefecture, at the first NHK NHK broadcast, a frequency of 666 kHz, and a transmission output of 100 kW.

3. Standards relating to noise in the frequency band in which radio broadcasting is conducted are defined.
Many electronic devices such as home appliances are designed to satisfy this standard, and therefore the noise intensity output from these electronic devices is small. For this reason, the reception environment of AM radio broadcasting is good.

Further, the AM radio broadcast radio wave is 525 kHz to 1605 kHz in the medium wave broadcast band, and the standard radio wave is several tens of kHz. Each radio wave can be received using the same ferrite bar antenna, and the antenna can be shared. Also, since the modulation system is the same for AM modulation, part of the AM radio broadcast and the standard time radio signal demodulation unit can be shared.
Hereinafter, an automatic correction timepiece according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an automatic correction timepiece according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a specific configuration example of a radio wave receiving system in the automatic correction timepiece of FIG. 3 is a plan view including the automatic correction wheel train portion of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the automatic correction timepiece of FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a radio wave correction watch 1 according to the present embodiment includes a radio wave reception system 11, a time correction switch 12, an oscillation circuit 13, a control circuit 14, a drive circuit 15, a light emitting element 16, a buffer circuit 17, Drive circuit 18, power supply switching unit 19, internal battery 20, external battery setting unit 21, display 30, watch body 100, second hand motor 121, hour / minute hand motor 131, light detection sensor unit 140, manual correction system 150, pnp type Transistors Q1 and Q2 and resistance elements R1 to R4 are included.
The control circuit 14 corresponds to control means according to the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, the display unit DSPL displays the drive circuit 15, the light emitting element 16, the buffer circuit 17, the drive circuit 18, the display 30, the second hand motor 121, the hour / minute hand motor 131, The photodetection sensor unit 140, the manual correction system 150, transistors Q1 and Q2, and resistance elements R1 to R4 are configured. In addition to the analog display unit, a digital time display device such as an LCD may be provided.

The radio wave reception system 11 receives, for example, a standard radio wave (also referred to as a standard time radio signal) including standard time information (also referred to as a time code) transmitted from a standard radio wave transmission station (not shown), performs predetermined processing, and performs a signal S1130. To the control circuit 14.
The radio wave reception system 11 receives a radio broadcast radio wave including time signal information transmitted from, for example, an AM radio broadcast station, performs predetermined processing on the radio broadcast radio wave, and outputs the radio broadcast radio wave to the control circuit 14 as a signal S1160.

Specifically, the radio wave reception system 11 includes a ferrite bar antenna 1110, a standard radio wave frequency switching unit 1120, a standard radio wave reception circuit 1130, a radio broadcast frequency switching unit 1140, an AM radio reception circuit 1150, as shown in FIG. A filter 1160 is included.
Ferrite bar antenna 1110 receives standard time radio signals and AM radio broadcast radio waves. As described above, the standard time radio signal and the AM radio broadcast radio wave have a long wavelength and can be received by the ferrite bar antenna 1110.

Ferrite bar antenna 1110 includes ferrite bar 1111, coil L 1111, and coil L 1112.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, a coil L1111 and a coil L1112 are provided at both ends of the ferrite bar 1111.

The standard radio wave frequency switching unit 1120 switches the standard radio wave reception frequency based on, for example, a standard radio wave reception frequency output from the control circuit 14, for example, a control signal CTL1123 for switching between 40 kHz and 60 kHz in this embodiment.
Specifically, for example, the standard radio frequency switching unit 1120 includes a capacitor 1121, a capacitor 1122, and a switch 1123.
The capacitor 1122 and the switch 1123 connected in series are connected in parallel to the capacitor 1121 and the coil portion L1111 wound around the ferrite bar antenna 1110.
Further, one end of the capacitor 1121, one end of the coil portion L1111 and the terminal Tb of the switch 1123 are connected to the ground potential (reference potential) GND. One end of a capacitor 1122 is connected to the terminal Ta of the switch 1123.
The other end of the capacitor 1121, the other end of the coil portion L1111 and the other end of the capacitor 1122 are connected in common, and are connected to the input end of the long wave receiving circuit 1130.

The switch 1123 sets the terminal Ta and the terminal Tb to a conductive or non-conductive state based on the control signal CTL1123.
Specifically, for example, when a 60 kHz standard time radio signal is received, the control signal CTL 1123 for setting the terminal Ta and the terminal Tb to the non-conductive state is output from the control circuit 14. Accordingly, the switch 1123 sets the terminal Ta and the terminal Tb in a non-conducting state, thereby forming a resonance circuit by the coil portion L1111 and the capacitor 1121 excluding the capacitor 1122, and setting the resonance frequency to 60 kHz.

  On the other hand, when receiving a 40 kHz standard time radio signal, the control circuit 14 outputs a control signal CTL 1123 for setting the terminal Ta and the terminal Tb to the conductive state. As a result, the switch 1123 sets the terminal Ta and the terminal Tb in a conductive state, thereby forming a resonance circuit in which the capacitor 1121, the capacitor 1122, and the coil unit 1111 are connected in parallel. For example, the resonance frequency is 40 kHz lower than 60 kHz. Set to.

The long wave receiving circuit 1130 decodes the standard time radio signal S1120 input via the ferrite bar antenna 1110 and the standard radio frequency switching unit 1120, for example, and outputs the standard time signal to the control circuit 14 as a signal S1130.
Specifically, the long wave receiving circuit 1130 includes, for example, an RF amplifier, a detection circuit, and a waveform shaping circuit (not shown), performs amplification processing, detection processing, waveform shaping processing, and the like, and uses a standard time signal as a processing result as a signal S1130. Output. The control circuit 14 corrects the time based on the standard time signal.

  For example, the long wave reception circuit 1130 controls the reception on state or the reception off state of the standard time radio signal based on the control signal CTL 1130 output from the control circuit 14.

Japanese standard radio waves are operated by the Communications Research Laboratory (CRL), a standard radio transmitter that transmits standard radio waves with a frequency of 40 kHz, and standard radio wave transmitters that transmit standard radio waves with a frequency of 60 kHz. A place is provided.
The standard radio wave received by the radio wave receiving system 11 is sent in a form as shown in FIG.

  Specifically, the time code is composed of three types of signal patterns of 1, 0, and P, and is distinguished by a 100% amplitude period width in one signal pattern of 1 second (sec). 800 ms and 200 ms. The modulation method is amplitude modulation with a maximum value of 100% and a minimum value of 10%.

  When the reception state is good, the radio wave reception system 11 outputs a signal S1130, which is a pulse signal corresponding to the standard radio wave signal, to the control circuit 14, as shown in FIG.

  This signal S1130 is composed of, for example, a high level corresponding to the first level and a low level corresponding to the second level. The control circuit 14 performs reception state evaluation processing based on the high level, the low level, the falling edge ed1 from the high level to the low level, and the rising edge ed2 from the low level to the high level. When the edges ed1 and ed2 are not distinguished, they are simply referred to as edges ed.

Next, transmission data of the long wave standard radio wave will be described.
FIG. 6 shows an example of the time code of the standard time radio signal. 6A shows a format other than 15 and 45 minutes per hour, and FIG. 6B shows a format of 15 minutes and 45 minutes per hour. The transmission information is the accumulated date from minutes, hours, and January 1st.
The time data is transmitted at 1 bit / sec. One frame is one frame, and information on the accumulated date from the above-mentioned minute / hour / January 1 is provided as a BCD code in this frame. In addition to the 0 · 1, the transmitted data includes a marker called P code. This P code has several locations in one frame, and the minute (0 seconds), 9 seconds, 19 seconds, 29 seconds, Appears at 39, 49, 59 seconds. This P code appears continuously only once at 59 seconds and 0 seconds in one frame, and the position where this P code appears continuously becomes the minute position. In other words, since time data such as minute / hour data is determined in the frame with reference to this minute position, time data cannot be extracted unless this minute position is detected.

The radio broadcast frequency switching unit 1140 controls to switch, for example, the reception frequency of the radio broadcast radio wave output from the control circuit 14, for example, 594 kHz for the Tokyo NHK first broadcast JOKA and 666 kHz for the Osaka NHK first broadcast JOBK in this embodiment. Based on the signal CTL 1143, the radio broadcast radio wave reception frequency is switched.
Specifically, the radio broadcast frequency switching unit 1140 includes, for example, a capacitor 1141, a capacitor 1142, and a switch 1143.
The capacitor 1142 and the switch 1143 connected in series are connected in parallel to the capacitor 1141 and the coil portion L1112 wound around the ferrite bar antenna 1110.
One end of the capacitor 1141, one end of the coil portion L1112, and one end of the capacitor 1142 are connected to the reference potential GND. The other end of the capacitor 1142 is connected to the terminal Tc.
The other end of the capacitor 1141, the other end of the coil portion L1112 and the terminal Td are connected in common, and are connected to the input end of the AM radio receiving circuit 1150.

The switch 1143 sets the terminal Tc and the terminal Td to a conductive state or a non-conductive state based on the control signal CTL 1143.
Specifically, when receiving radio broadcast radio waves of the Osaka NHK first broadcast JOBK, the control signal CTL 1143 for setting the terminals Tc and Td to the non-conducting state is output from the control circuit 14. Accordingly, the switch 1143 sets the capacitor 1122 and the coil portion L1112 in a non-conductive state, thereby forming a resonance circuit by the coil portion L1112 and the capacitor 1141, for example, and setting the resonance frequency to 666 kHz.

  On the other hand, for example, when receiving a radio broadcast wave of the Tokyo NHK first broadcast JOAK, the control circuit 14 outputs a control signal CTL 1143 for setting the terminals Tc and Td to the conductive state. Accordingly, the switch 1143 sets the terminal Tc and the terminal Td in a conductive state, thereby forming a resonance circuit in which the capacitor 1141, the capacitor 1142, and the coil portion L1112 are connected in parallel, and the resonance frequency is set to 594 kHz lower than 666 kHz. Set.

The AM radio reception circuit 1150 demodulates radio broadcast radio waves input via, for example, the ferrite bar antenna 1110 and the radio broadcast frequency switching unit 1140, extracts time signal information included in the AM radio broadcast radio waves, and filters the signal 1160 as a signal S1150. Output to.
Further, the AM radio reception circuit 1150 receives, for example, a reception on state of a reception operation such as radio wave demodulation based on a control signal CTL 1150 for controlling the reception on state or reception off state of the radio broadcast output from the control circuit 14. It also controls the reception off state.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing a specific example of the AM radio receiving circuit shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the AM radio reception circuit 1150 includes an amplifier 1151, a crystal filter unit 1152, and a detection circuit 1153.
The amplifier 1151 amplifies the signal S1140 output from the ferrite bar antenna 1110 and the radio broadcast frequency switching unit 1140, for example, and outputs the amplified signal S1151 to the crystal filter unit 1152.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a specific example of time signal information included in a general AM radio broadcast radio wave around every hour.
For example, AM radio broadcast radio waves transmitted from a radio broadcast station include time signal information as shown in FIG. 8 near the hour (00:00).
Specifically, for example, a pulse signal p having a frequency of 440 Hz is AM-modulated at 57 seconds, 58 seconds, and 59 seconds, and a preset frequency, for example, an 880 Hz time signal (attenuation) is set every hour (00:00). Signal) d is AM modulated. For example, the rising times T57, T58, T59, and T00 of the pulse signal p and the attenuation signal d are synchronized in seconds.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a frequency spectrum of an AM radio broadcast radio wave including time signal information around every hour on the hour shown in FIG.
When the AM radio broadcast radio wave including time signal information includes the pulse signal p and the attenuation signal d shown in FIG. 8, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, the frequency (f0 + f1) and the frequency (f0) are centered on the carrier wave f0. -F1) has a linear frequency spectrum.

The filter unit 1152 extracts a noon signal having a predetermined frequency based on the broadcast radio wave. In this embodiment, an example in which a crystal filter is used as the filter unit 1152 is shown.
Specifically, the crystal filter unit 1152 includes a first crystal filter 11521 and a second crystal filter 11522 as shown in FIG.
For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the crystal filter unit 1152 outputs a signal S1152 having only a frequency (f0 + f1) or frequency (f0−f1) component based on the signal S1151 output from the amplifier 1151.

  Specifically, in the case of detecting 880 Hz as the lower frequency of the NHK first broadcast time signal in Tokyo and Osaka, the crystal filter unit 116 has 593.120 kHz as the first crystal filter 11521, and the second crystal filter unit 11522. A filter that passes only 665.120 kHz is provided.

  The detection circuit 1153 AM detects a signal having a frequency of 440 Hz or a frequency of 880 Hz based on the signal S1152 output from the crystal filter unit 1152, and outputs a signal S1153. The AM detection of the detection circuit 1153 is performed by a commonly used detection method, for example, square detection, envelope detection, heterodyne detection, or the like.

  The filter unit 1160 extracts only the time signal information based on the signal S1150 output from the detection circuit 1153, and outputs it to the control circuit 14 as the signal S1160.

  The time adjustment switch 12 is operated, for example, when correcting the time, and outputs a signal S12 to the control circuit 14 in accordance with the operation. When the signal S12 is input from the time adjustment switch 12, the control circuit 14 corrects the time.

  The oscillation circuit 13 includes a crystal oscillator CRY and capacitors C2 and C3, and supplies a basic clock having a predetermined frequency to the control circuit 14.

The control circuit 14 has an internal clock 1401 and a memory 1402.
The internal clock 1401 includes, for example, a year information counter, a month information counter, a day information counter, a day information counter, a time counter that measures time information, a minute counter that measures minute information, a second counter that measures second information, and the like.

  The memory 1402 is used as a work area for the control circuit 14, for example. For example, the memory 1402 is configured by a RAM (Random access memory) or the like.

The control circuit 14 receives the standard time radio signal and measures the time information measured by the internal clock 1401 when initial time information is obtained by setting an external battery in the external battery setting unit 21 at the initial time, for example, before shipment. The year information, the month information, the day information, the day information, the hour information, the minute information, and the second information are corrected, and the display time is corrected as described later based on the time information measured by the internal clock 1401.
In this case, for example, the control circuit 14 outputs a control signal CTL 1123 for switching the reception frequency of the standard time radio signal, and causes the standard radio frequency switching unit 1120 to switch the reception frequency to 40 kHz or 60 kHz, so that the reception state is better. Receive a standard time radio signal.

Further, the control circuit 14 performs a time correction operation at a preset time (set time) based on standard time information (also referred to as time information) timed by the internal clock 1401. At this time, the control circuit 14 causes the AM radio reception circuit 1150 to receive the broadcast radio wave at the set time, and corrects the time based on the extracted time signal information.
When the external circuit is removed from the external potential setting unit 21 from the external battery setting unit 21 at the time of shipment after obtaining accurate initial time information, the control circuit 14 stops the hand movement control, and the power source switching unit 19 Receiving power of 20, the internal clock 1401 is timed and radio broadcast radio time signal information is received at a predetermined time interval, and the time is adjusted based on the extracted time signal information to ensure the accuracy of the internal time. To do.
When the user sets (resets) the external battery, the hand position search is performed and the hand position is automatically set based on the information of the internal clock. When a radio broadcast radio time signal is received in this state, the error generated in the internal clock is corrected, and the hands are aligned based on the error information.
When the radio broadcast radio wave cannot be received, the control circuit 14 maintains the accuracy of the internal time at the accuracy of the built-in crystal resonator (an error of about ± 20 seconds / month).

The control circuit 14 performs reception timing control when receiving the AM radio broadcast radio wave.
More specifically, the control circuit 14 receives AM radio broadcast waves from a predetermined time including every hour, for example, several tens of seconds before every hour, based on time information measured by the internal clock 1401, for example, as reception timing control. The control signal CTL 1150 to be output is output to the AM radio receiving circuit 1150.
Usually, since the quartz clock has an accuracy of about 20 seconds per month, the time signal information can be reliably received by starting reception of radio broadcast waves as described above.

  Further, the control circuit 14 outputs a control signal CTL 1143 so as to receive the AM radio broadcast wave having the better reception state, and sets the reception frequency of the AM radio broadcast wave.

  Based on the signal S1160, the control circuit 14 detects a rising edge with a frequency of 880 Hz, for example, and sets the rising time to every hour on the hour (00:00). At this time, the internal clock 1401 measures year information, month information, day information, hour information, minute information, and second information as time information based on the standard time radio signal, and the control circuit 14 determines the second based on the time signal information. Correct the information.

  In the present embodiment, the standard time radio signal is received only in the initial state where the external battery is set in the external battery setting unit 21 for the first time, and after the initial time information is set in the internal clock 1401, The radio broadcast radio wave is received, and the time of the internal clock 1401 is corrected and the pointer position adjustment (hand alignment) based on the time information of the internal clock 1401 is performed.

  However, for example, the control circuit 14 outputs the control signal CTL 1150 to the AM radio reception circuit 1150 as described above, and a predetermined time including every hour based on the time information timed by the internal clock 1401, for example, every hour Receive AM radio broadcast radio waves several tens of seconds in advance, and once every few days or months, standard time radio signals are sent at a time when standard time radio signals are relatively easy to receive, such as 2:40 am It may be configured to receive and correct the time of the internal clock 1401.

Further, for example, the control circuit 14 generates a standard time signal generated by the long wave reception circuit 1130 based on the standard time radio signal according to the reception state of the standard time radio signal, or the time signal information extracted by the AM radio reception circuit 1150. It is also possible to configure so as to correct the time based on the above.
In this case, for example, when the reception state of the standard time radio signal is not good at the set time, the control circuit 14 includes the AM radio including the time signal information in the AM radio reception circuit 1150 based on the time information timed by the internal clock 1401. The time signal information is extracted by receiving the broadcast radio wave, and the time information of the internal clock 1401, specifically the second information, is corrected based on the time signal information.

  If the control circuit 14 determines that the reception state of the standard time radio signal is good, the internal clock 1401 counts the time based on the standard time radio signal received by the long wave reception circuit 1130 via the ferrite bar antenna 1110. The time information to be corrected is corrected, and based on the time information timed by the internal clock 1401, the second hand drive system 120 and the hour / minute hand drive system 130 are driven to correct the display time by the hands.

Hereinafter, the function of the control circuit 14 will be described in more detail. For example, the control circuit 14 performs an origin detection process of the pointer wheel when the initial state, the external battery is set, and the time adjustment switch 12 is operated, and a drive signal corresponding to the time information timed by the internal clock 1401 CTL1 and CTL2 are output and the time is displayed by the hands.
The control circuit 14 performs the phase detection process of the hour / minute hand wheel and the second hand wheel, the origin search process of the second hand, the origin search process of the hour / minute hand, and detects the position of each hand wheel after a predetermined time. Set a guideline.

For example, the phase adjustment processing is performed by setting the hour / minute hands to a position where the light output from the light emitting element 142 passes through the light transmitting portion provided in the hour / minute hand wheel and the light transmitting portion provided in the second hand wheel. Drive the car and the second hand wheel.
In the second hand origin search process, the light output from the light emitting element 142 is received by the light receiving element 144 by the light shielding portion and the light transmitting portion provided in the second hand wheel, and the origin is searched based on the light on / off pattern. The
As will be described later, the hour / minute hand origin search process is a light on / off pattern in which the light output from the light emitting element 142 is received by the light receiving element 144 by the light shielding portion and the light transmitting portion provided in the hour / minute hand wheel. The position is searched based on.

  When an external battery is not set in the external battery setting unit 21, the power supply switching unit 19 supplies power from the internal battery 20 as an internal power source to the control circuit 14 and the like excluding the analog display unit DSPL. When an external battery serving as an external power source for the setting unit 21 is set, power from the external battery is supplied to each unit including the analog display unit DSPL instead of supplying power from the internal battery 20.

Next, specific configurations of the movement of the automatic correction timepiece and the hand position detection system will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 10 to 19.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the watch body 100 is connected to each other to form a contour in a lower case 111, an upper case 112, and a space formed by the lower case 111 and the upper case 112. An intermediate plate 113 is provided in a state of being connected to the lower case 111.

  The watch body 100 includes a lower case 111 as a second case and an upper case 112 as a first case that are connected to face each other to form an outline, and a space formed by the lower case 111 and the upper case 112. A middle plate 113 arranged in a state of being connected to the lower case 111 at a substantially central portion, and a first drive system with respect to predetermined positions of the lower case 111, the middle plate 113, and the upper case 112 in the space. A (second hand drive system) 120, a second drive system (hour / minute hand drive system) 130, a light detection sensor 140, a manual correction system 150, and the like are fixed or pivotally supported.

  The second hand drive system 120 and the hour / minute hand drive system 130 correspond to time display means according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first drive system 120 includes a substantially U-shaped stator 121a, a drive coil 121b wound around one leg piece of the stator 121a, and the other magnetic pole of the stator 121a. First stepping motor 121 configured by a freely arranged rotor 121c and a first fifth transmission gear (first detection gear) in which a large-diameter gear 122a meshes with a pinion 121d of the rotor 121c. A wheel 122 and a second hand wheel 123 as a second detection gear (first pointer wheel) meshed with the small gear 122b of the first fifth wheel 122 are configured.
Here, in the second hand stepping motor 121, the stator 121a is mounted and fixed on the intermediate plate 113, and the rotor 121c is pivotally supported by the intermediate plate 113 and the upper case 112. The output control signal CTL1 of the control circuit 14 is provided. The rotation direction, rotation angle, and rotation speed are controlled based on the above.

  The first fifth wheel 122 has 60 teeth on the large gear 122a and 15 teeth on the small gear 122b, and is rotatably supported by the intermediate plate 113 and the upper case 112. The large-diameter gear 122a meshes with the rotor 121c (pinion 121d) of the second hand stepping motor 121 to reduce the rotational speed of the rotor 121c to a predetermined speed. As shown in FIG. 10, the first fifth wheel & pinion 122 has three circular transparent holes arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction (center angle α1 is 120 °) in an area overlapping the second hand wheel 123. A hole 122c is formed. The through-hole 122c not only allows the detection light of the light detection sensor 140 to pass, but at least one of them is used as a positioning hole (determining hole) when assembling the first fifth wheel & pinion 122. is there.

  In the second hand wheel 123, the large-diameter gear 123a has 60 teeth, one end of the shaft portion is pivotally supported by the upper case 112, and the second hand passes through the middle plate 113 to the lower case 111 side. A shaft 123b is press-fitted, and this second hand shaft 123b is inserted inside a minute hand pipe 134p described later, and a second hand is attached to the tip thereof. As shown in FIG. 13, the second hand wheel 123 has eleven circular shapes arranged at equal intervals (center angle α2 is 30 °) in the circumferential direction in the region overlapping the first fifth wheel & pinion 122 by rotation. A through-hole 123c formed and a positioning light-shielding portion 123d having a different pitch at only one place (the central angle between the through-hole 123c and the through-hole 123c is 60 °) are formed. The second hand is configured to indicate the hour when the through hole 122c of the first fifth wheel & pinion 122 first faces the through hole 123c after facing the positioning light-shielding portion 123d.

The through-hole 123c not only allows the detection light of the light detection sensor 140 to pass through, but at least one of them is used as a positioning hole (determining hole) when the second hand wheel 123 is assembled.
Further, inside these through-holes 123c, arc-shaped biasing springs 123e that are long in the circumferential direction and project in the direction of the rotation axis are defined by the cutout holes 123f. The arcuate urging spring 123e urges the second hand wheel 123 in the rotation axis direction.

  Here, the positioning light-shielding portion 123d is formed at a position away from the notch hole 123f in the circumferential direction, that is, at a region where the two notch holes 123f are separated from each other. Accordingly, a sufficient distance between the cutout hole 123f and the positioning light-shielding portion 123d can be secured, so that the detection light does not circulate into the cutout hole 123f in the region of the positioning light-shielding portion 123d, and the positioning light-shielding portion 123d reliably Detection light can be blocked. That is, since the positioning light-shielding portion 123d is formed at a position away from the region where the notch hole 123f is prone to erroneous detection due to detection light wraparound, the positioning light-shielding portion 123d is moved to the rotational angle position of the second hand wheel 122. By using this for positioning, reliable positioning can be performed.

  In the second hand wheel 123, as shown in FIG. 13, instead of providing a plurality (11) of through holes 123c, as shown in FIG. 14, a through hole 123c at a position facing the positioning light-shielding portion 123d in the radial direction. Other through-holes 123c may be formed integrally with the cut-out holes 123g, respectively. According to this, it is possible to further ensure the passage of the detection light in the portion where the detection light is allowed to pass, and to reduce the waste of the material forming the second hand wheel 123.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 11, the second drive system 130 includes a substantially U-shaped stator 131a, a drive coil 131b wound around one leg piece of the stator 131a, and the stator 131a. The second fifth wheel & pinion 132 as an intermediate gear having a large-diameter gear 132a meshed with a pinion 131d of the rotor 131c and an hour / minute hand stepping motor 131 constituted by a rotor 131c rotatably arranged between the other magnetic poles of And a third transmission wheel 133 as a second transmission gear (third detection gear) in which the large-diameter gear 133a meshes with the small-diameter gear 132b of the second fifth wheel 132, and the small-diameter gear 133b of the third wheel 133. A minute hand wheel 134 as a fourth detection gear (second pointer wheel) meshed with the large diameter gear 134a and a small diameter gear 134b of the minute hand wheel 134 are provided with a large diameter gear 135a. A minute wheel 135 of the day as an intermediate gear engaged, is constituted by the hour wheel 136 of the fifth detection gear in mesh with the small diameter gear 135b of the minute wheel 135 of the day (second hand wheel).
Here, in the hour / minute hand stepping motor 131, the stator 131 a is mounted and fixed on the intermediate plate 113, and the rotor 131 c is pivotally supported by the intermediate plate 113 and the upper case 112. The rotation direction, rotation angle, and rotation speed are controlled based on the above.

  The second fifth wheel & pinion 132 is formed such that the number of teeth of the large diameter gear 132a is 60 and the number of teeth of the small diameter gear 132b is 15, and is pivotally supported by the intermediate plate 113 and the upper case 112, and the large diameter gear 132a. Meshes with the rotor 131c (pinion 131d) of the hour / minute hand stepping motor 131 to reduce the rotational speed of the rotor 131c to a predetermined speed. As the second fifth wheel & pinion 132, the above-mentioned first fifth wheel & pinion 122 may be used, that is, the one provided with the through hole 122c may be used. Thereby, parts can be shared and the cost of the product can be reduced.

  In the third wheel 133, the large-diameter gear 133a has 60 teeth and the small-diameter gear 133b has ten teeth. One end of the shaft portion is pivotally supported by the upper case 112, and the other end side is the middle plate 113. It is rotatably arranged in a penetrating state, and the rotation of the second fifth wheel & pinion 132 is decelerated and transmitted to the minute hand wheel 134. Further, as shown in FIG. 15, the third wheel & pinion 133 is arranged at equal intervals (center angle α3 is 36 °) in the circumferential direction in a region overlapping the second hand wheel 123 and the first fifth wheel & pinion 122 by rotation. Ten circular through holes 133c are formed. The through-hole 133c not only allows the detection light of the light detection sensor 140 to pass through, but at least one of them is used as a positioning hole (determining hole) when the third wheel 133 is assembled.

  In the minute hand wheel 134, the large-diameter gear 134a has 60 teeth and the small-diameter gear 134b has 14 teeth, and the minute hand pipe 134p, in which the small-diameter gear 134b is integrally formed, is formed at the side surface. It is formed so as to have a substantially T-shape when viewed. One end portion of the minute hand pipe 134p is pivotally supported by the intermediate plate 113, and the other end side shaft portion is rotatably inserted into an hour hand pipe 136p of an hour hand wheel 136 described later. Further, the minute hand pipe 134p penetrates the lower case 111 and protrudes toward the dial face of the timepiece, and a minute hand is attached to the tip thereof.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 16, the minute hand wheel 134 has three arc-shaped through holes that are long in the circumferential direction in a region overlapping with the second hand wheel 123, the first fifth wheel 122, and the third wheel 133 by rotation. 134c, 134d, and 134e are formed. The arc-shaped through-hole 134c and the arc-shaped through-hole 134d are formed with a center angle α5 separated by 30 °, and the arc-shaped through-hole 134d and the arc-shaped through-hole 134e are formed with a center angle α6 separated by 30 °. Further, the arc-shaped through hole 134e and the arc-shaped through hole 134c are formed at a central angle α7 and separated by 60 °. That is, the light-shielding portion A having the widest width is formed between the arc-shaped through hole 134e and the arc-shaped through hole 134c, and between the arc-shaped through hole 134c and the arc-shaped through hole 134d and between the arc-shaped through hole 134d and A light shielding part B narrower than the light shielding part A is formed between the arcuate through hole 134e.

  The arc-shaped through-hole 134c is formed by a circular portion 134c1 on one end side, a wide arc portion 134c2 extending from the other end side, and a narrow arc portion 134c3 connecting the two. The circular portion 134c1 defined by the narrow circular arc portion 134c3 is used not only for passing the detection light but also as a positioning hole (determining hole) when the minute hand wheel 134 is assembled.

  The hour hand wheel 136 has a large gear 136a having 40 teeth, and a cylindrical hour hand pipe 136p is integrally attached to the center of the hour hand wheel 136a. The minute hand pipe 134p is disposed inside the hour hand pipe 136p. It is inserted. The hour hand pipe 136p is inserted into a bearing hole 111a formed in the lower case 111 and pivotally supported. The tip of the hour hand pipe 136p penetrates the lower case 111 to the dial face of the watch. It protrudes and has an hour hand attached to its tip.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 17, the hour hand wheel 136 includes three pieces that are long in the circumferential direction in a region overlapping with the second hand wheel 123, the first fifth wheel 122, the third wheel 133, and the minute hand wheel 134 by rotation. Arc-shaped through holes 136c, 136d, and 136e are formed. The arc-shaped through-hole 136c and the arc-shaped through-hole 136d are formed with a central angle α8 of 45 ° apart, and the arc-shaped through-hole 136d and the arc-shaped through-hole 136e are formed with a central angle α9 of 60 ° apart. Further, the arc-shaped through hole 136e and the arc-shaped through hole 136c are formed at a central angle α10 and separated by 30 °, and the arc-shaped through holes 136c, 136d, and 136e have a length of the central angle β1 + β2, β3 and β4 are set to be 75 °, 60 °, and 90 °, respectively. That is, the narrowest light-shielding portion C is formed between the arc-shaped through-hole 136e and the arc-shaped through-hole 136c, and the light-shielding portion C is located between the arc-shaped through-hole 136c and the arc-shaped through-hole 136d. A wide light-shielding portion D is formed, and a light-shielding portion E wider than the light-shielding portion D is formed between the arc-shaped through hole 136d and the arc-shaped through-hole 136e.

  In addition, the arc-shaped through hole 136c connects the circular portion 136c1 located at a center angle β1 of 7.5 ° from one end side and the wide arc portion 136c2 extending from the other end side, and connects the both. It is formed by a narrow arc portion 136c3 located on both sides. The circular portion 136c1 defined by the narrow arc portion 136c3 is used not only for passing detection light but also as a positioning hole (determining hole) when the hour hand wheel 136 is assembled.

  The minute wheel 135 has 42 teeth for the large-diameter gear 135a and 10 teeth for the small-diameter gear 135b, and is pivotally supported with respect to the protrusion 111b formed on the lower case 111. The large-diameter gear 135a meshes with the small-diameter gear 134b formed on the minute hand pipe 134p, and the small-diameter gear 135b meshes with the hour hand wheel 136 (136a) to decelerate the rotation of the minute hand wheel 134 and to set the hour hand It is transmitted to the car 136.

As shown in FIG. 4, the light detection sensor 140 includes a light emitting element 142 made of a light emitting diode attached to a circuit board 141 fixed to the wall surface of the upper case 112, and a lower case so as to face the light emitting element 142. And a light receiving element 144 made of a phototransistor attached to a circuit board 143 fixed to the wall surface of 111.
The anode of the light emitting element 142 is connected to the other end of the resistance element R4 in the drive circuit 18 having one end connected to the collector of the pnp transistor Q2, and the cathode is grounded and connected to the emitter of the light receiving element 144. Yes.
The collector of the light receiving element 144 is connected to the control circuit 14. The connection line with the control circuit 14 is an output line to the control circuit 14 for the detection signal DT1.
The emitter of the transistor Q2 of the drive circuit 18 is connected to the supply line of the power supply voltage Vcc, and the base is connected to the output line of the drive signal DR2 via the resistance element R3. That is, the light emitting element 142 is connected to the drive circuit 18 so as to emit light when the low level drive signal DR2 is output from the control circuit 14.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the first fifth wheel 122, second hand wheel 123, third wheel 133, minute hand wheel 134, and hour hand wheel 136 are all disposed at the same time in plan view. And the through-hole 122c of the 1st fifth wheel 122, the through-hole 133c of the third wheel 133, the through-hole 123c of the second hand wheel 123, the through-hole 134c (134d, 134e) of the minute hand wheel 134, and the through-hole of the hour hand wheel 136 When 136c (136d, 136e) overlaps, the detection light emitted from the light emitting element 142 is received by the light receiving element 144, and it is output that the second hand, the minute hand, and the hour hand indicate the position such as the hour. It has become.

Further, the light emitting element 142 is disposed in a mounting recess 112c as a first layout portion formed so as to open to the outside of the upper case 112, and a circular through hole having a predetermined diameter is formed on the bottom surface of the mounting recess 112c. A hole 112d is formed. The circular through-hole 112d has a property that the detection light emitted from the light emitting element 142 spreads in a divergent shape, and therefore, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection by blocking only the light that has converged by blocking the light of the spread. It is to make.
Similarly, the light receiving element 144 is disposed in an attachment recess 111c as a second arrangement portion formed so as to open to the outside of the lower case 111, and a circular shape having a predetermined diameter is formed on the bottom surface of the attachment recess 111c. A through hole 111d is opened. The circular through-hole 111d emits from the light-emitting element 142 and allows only light that has passed through the through-hole to pass as much as possible to prevent erroneous detection.

  When attaching the first fifth wheel 122, the third wheel 133, the second hand wheel 123, the minute hand wheel 134, and the hour hand wheel 136, a predetermined positioning pin is used as the circular through hole 111d of the lower case 111, and the positioning. The assembly is sequentially performed so as to penetrate the through hole and the circular through hole 112d of the upper case 112. After the upper case 112 and the lower case 111 are joined and integrated, the positioning pin is pulled out, the light emitting element 142 is attached to the attachment recess 112c where the through hole 112d is located, and the attachment recess where the through hole 111d is located The light receiving element 144 is attached to 112c.

  As a result, the through holes 112d and 111d are completely closed, and external light can be prevented from entering the internal space defined by the upper case 112 and the lower case 111. Therefore, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection due to the intrusion of external light, and since both the positioning hole at the time of assembly and the light detection through-hole are combined, compared to the case where these holes are provided separately. Centralization and downsizing of the device can be performed.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the manual correction system 150 includes a minute wheel 135 that meshes with the small-diameter gear 134 b of the minute hand wheel 134 and the large-diameter gear 136 a of the hour hand wheel 136, and the minute wheel 135 of this day. And a manual correction shaft 151 having a gear 151a meshing with the large-diameter gear 135a. The manual correction shaft 151 is positioned outside the upper case 112 and penetrates a head 151b that can be directly touched by a user and an opening 112e that extends from the head 151b and is formed in the upper case 112. It consists of a columnar portion 151c that is pivotally supported with respect to a protrusion 111e formed on the lower case 111, and a gear 151a is formed in a lower region of the columnar portion 151c.

  The manual correction shaft 151 is configured to rotate in the same phase as the minute hand wheel 134, and when the minute hand wheel 134 is driven by the above-described second drive system 130, the minute hand wheel 134 via the minute wheel 135. When the second drive system 130 is not operated, the pointer position can be manually corrected by rotating the head 151b with a finger.

  As described above, since the second hand shaft 123b of the second hand wheel 123 is inserted into the minute hand pipe 134p of the minute hand wheel 134 and the minute hand pipe 134p of the minute hand wheel 134 is inserted into the hour hand pipe 136p of the hour hand wheel 136, the second hand wheel 123. The minute hand wheel 134 and the hour hand wheel 136 have the same rotation center axis, and when the time is displayed, the second hand rotates once every 60 seconds, the minute hand rotates once every 60 minutes, and the hour hand moves. Driven to rotate once every 12 hours.

  As shown in FIG. 18, a groove as a first index for positioning that extends in a radial direction at a distal end portion of the minute hand pipe 134p of the minute hand wheel 134 and a distal end portion of the hour hand pipe 136p of the hour hand wheel 136 as shown in FIG. 134 g and a groove 136 g as a second index are formed. These grooves 134g and 136g are set to indicate a predetermined time, for example, 12:00 when they are aligned.

  By providing such a positioning index, even if the minute hand wheel 134 and the hour hand wheel 136 are surrounded by the lower case 111 and the upper case 112 and covered, the grooves 134g and 136g can be preliminarily aligned. Since it can be seen that it indicates the approximate time that has been set, the minute hand and hour hand can be easily attached based on that state, eliminating the need for other alignment and position confirmation processes. Manufacturing time and inspection time can be shortened. Note that the positioning index is not limited to the above groove, but may be a mark such as a potch.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the operation of the pointer position detection process of the radio-controlled timepiece shown in FIG.
As described above, the control circuit 14 drives the pointer drive system based on the detection processing of the reference position detecting means by driving the pointer drive system, for example, in the initial state, when the external battery is set, and when the time adjustment switch 12 is operated. After detecting the reference position of the car, the time of the internal clock 1401 is corrected based on the radio broadcast radio wave or the standard time radio wave signal received by the ferrite bar antenna 1110 of the radio wave reception system 11, and based on the time of the internal clock 1401 To set the pointer position of the pointer wheel.
The pointer position detection process will be described with reference to FIG.

  An hour / minute pulse signal output pattern is set from the control circuit 14 (ST101), and the drive signal DR2 is output to the drive circuit 18 at a low level. Accordingly, the transistor Q2 is turned on, and detection light is emitted from the light emitting element 142, that is, the light emitting diode.

  Subsequently, the control signal CTL1 is output from the control circuit 14, the second-hand stepping motor 121 is pulse-driven (ST102), the light receiving element 144, that is, the phototransistor is turned on, and the detection signal DT1 is changed from the high level (power supply voltage Vcc level). It is determined whether or not it has been switched to a low level (ST103).

Here, when the detection signal DT1 from the phototransistor is held at a high level, the detection signal DT1 from the phototransistor is at a high level (power supply every time the number of pulses is added to perform step driving. It is determined whether or not the voltage Vcc level has been switched to a low level (ST104 to ST106).
If the output of the detection signal DT1 from the phototransistor does not switch from the high level (power supply voltage Vcc level) to the low level even when the number of pulses reaches 9, the hour / minute hand stepping motor 131 performs one step (pulse). Then, the second hand stepping motor 121 is step-driven again (ST102), and the second hand wheel 123 is rotationally driven.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step ST103 that the detection signal DT1 from the phototransistor has been switched from the high level to the low level, the second hand wheel 123 is fast-forwarded (ST108) and compared with the output pattern stored in advance in the control circuit 14. Is performed (ST109).
As a result of the comparison, if the obtained output pattern does not match the stored output pattern, the process returns to step ST108, and the second hand wheel 123 is fast-forwarded again.

  On the other hand, when the obtained output pattern matches the stored output pattern, at that time (if the level of the detection signal DT1 is not switched to the low level by the phototransistor even at the fifth step, the phototransistor of the next At the time when the output is switched to the low level), the output of the control signal CTL1 is stopped and the circuit driving of the second hand wheel 123 is stopped. Then, the second hand wheel 123 stops at the zero return position (ST110). At this time, the second hand is corrected to a position at a predetermined time, for example, the hour (0 second), and the second hand origin searching process is completed.

  Subsequently, the control signal CTL2 is output from the control circuit 14, only the hour / minute hand stepping motor 131 is pulse-driven at a predetermined output frequency, and the minute hand wheel 134 is fast-forwarded (ST111).

Then, the output pattern from the phototransistor is compared with the output pattern stored in advance in the control circuit 14 (ST112).
As a result of the comparison, if the obtained output pattern does not match the stored output pattern, the process returns to step ST111, and the minute hand wheel 134 is fast-forwarded again.

  On the other hand, if the obtained output pattern matches the stored output pattern as a result of the comparison in step ST112, the output of the control signal CTL2 is stopped at that time, and the hour / minute hand stepping motor 131 is stopped. Then, the driving of the minute hand wheel 134 and the hour hand wheel 136 is stopped (ST113).

  Here, the position detection processing of the hour / minute hand wheel by comparing the output pattern with the output pattern stored in advance is performed by matching with any of the three types of patterns.

FIG. 20 is a view for explaining an output pattern of detection light of the automatic correction timepiece shown in FIG.
That is, as shown in FIG. 20A, the output pattern of the phototransistor by the minute hand wheel 134 has two narrow B portions and one wide A portion alternately as the off width where the light shielding portion acts. As shown in FIG. 20 (b), the output pattern of the phototransistor by the hour hand wheel 136 has three different widths of D, E, and C where the light-shielding portion acts. Is a pattern that appears alternately at a predetermined interval. As shown in FIG. 20C, the output pattern obtained by combining the two is a pattern in which the D part, the B part, and the A part are combined, and the E part, Three types of patterns, which are a combination of the B part and the A part and a pattern of the C part, the B part, and the A part, appear at predetermined intervals.
In the pattern shown in FIG. 20, the portion of the pattern that is turned on is actually a portion that is turned off by the light shielding portion of the third wheel & pinion 133, and is a tooth-missing pattern.

  Further, for example, the reference positions of the minute hand wheel 134 and the hour hand wheel 136 are set at positions of 0:00, 4:00, and 8:00 as shown in FIG.

  When a pattern consisting of a combination of D part, B part and A part is confirmed, for example, 4:00, for example, when a pattern consisting of a combination of E part, B part and A part is confirmed, for example, 8:00, If a pattern consisting of a combination of part C, part B and part A is confirmed, for example, it is set in advance as 12:00, for example, when one of these patterns is detected, an hour / minute hand stepping motor By stopping 131, the minute hand wheel 134 and hour hand wheel 136, that is, the minute hand and hour hand can be adjusted to a predetermined time.

Then, after the hour / minute hand stepping motor 131 is stopped, the drive signal DR2 by the control circuit 14 is switched to a high level.
Thereby, the transistor Q2 of the drive circuit 18 is turned off, the light emission of the light emitting diode is stopped (ST114), and the time adjustment operation is ended.

Further, a case where the shipping position TS is set such that the origin search process of the hour / minute hands wheel is shortened in the sword attachment mode, that is, 10:30 in this embodiment, will be described with reference to FIG.
For example, when the user sets an external battery, the control circuit 14 performs phase adjustment processing, second hand origin search processing, minute hand origin search processing, and time adjustment processing. When the shipping position TS is set to 10:30, as shown in FIG. 20, after the second hand wheel and the hour / minute hand wheel are driven from the shipping position TS to penetrate the detection light, the hour / minute hand is stopped and the second hand origin point is stopped. Perform a search. After that, by rotating the hour and minute hands wheel, by detecting the C part with the optical sensor part 140, it is detected that the position is approximately 12 o'clock, and by stopping when the B part and the A part are detected, The minute hand is set at a predetermined reference position 12:00.

  For example, this 10:30 position is a position for detecting a necessary and necessary on / off pattern to be referred to when the origin search process is performed when setting the hour / minute hand wheel to the reference position. By setting a shipping guideline at this position, the origin search time is the shortest.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart for explaining the overall operation of the radio-controlled timepiece shown in FIG. The overall operation of the automatic correction timepiece 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
For example, it is assumed that a standard time radio wave signal of 40 kHz or 60 kHz and two AM radio broadcast stations, for example, the Tokyo NHK first broadcast JOAK or the Osaka NHK first broadcast JOBK are set to be received.

In steps ST201 and ST202, the control circuit 14 outputs the control signal CTL1130 at the initial stage when the external battery is set in the external battery setting unit 21 before shipment, sets the long wave receiving circuit 1130 to the reception on state, and the standard time radio signal. To receive.
At this time, for example, the control signal CTL1123 for switching the reception frequency of the standard time radio signal is output, and the standard radio frequency switching unit 1120 is switched to the reception frequency of 40 kHz or 60 kHz. Receive.

  Specifically, first, the control circuit 14 outputs a control signal CTL 1123 for receiving a standard time radio signal having a frequency of 40 kHz to the standard radio signal switching unit 1212. When the control signal CTL 1123 is input, the standard radio signal switching unit 1213 connects the terminal Ta and the terminal Tb and sets the resonance frequency to 40 kHz. The long wave receiving circuit 1130 performs decoding based on the 40 kHz standard time radio signal received by the ferrite bar antenna 1110 and outputs the standard time information to the control circuit 14 as a signal S1130.

  For example, if the standard time information cannot be decoded normally, the control circuit 14 outputs a control signal CTL 1123 for receiving a standard time radio signal having a frequency of 60 kHz to the standard radio signal switching unit 1212. When the control signal CTL 1123 is input, the standard radio signal switching unit 1213 sets the terminal Ta and the terminal Tb to a non-conduction state and sets the resonance frequency to 60 kHz. The long wave reception circuit 1130 performs decoding based on the 60 kHz standard time radio signal received by the ferrite bar antenna 1110 and outputs the standard time information to the control circuit 14 as a signal S1130.

  The method of switching between the two frequencies is not limited to the above-described form. A standard time radio signal having two frequencies may be received in advance and set to a frequency having a better reception state.

  In step ST203, the control circuit 14 corrects the time information of the internal clock 1401 based on the signal S1130 as the initial time information output from the long wave receiving circuit 1130. At this time, year information, day information, hour information, minute information, and second information are set in the internal clock 1401 as standard time information.

In step ST204, the control circuit 14 drives the display unit DSPL, for example, the second hand pointer system 120 and the minute hand drive system 130 as described above based on the standard time information counted by the internal clock 1401, and the display time by the pointer, and the display. 30 display time is corrected.
In steps ST205 to ST207, when the external battery is removed from the external battery setting unit 21, power is supplied to the circuit by the internal battery 20, and the time of the internal clock 1401 is measured. At this time, the control circuit 14 stops the time display drive control of the display unit DSPL.

Next, in step ST208, the control circuit 14 sends a control signal CTL1150 for receiving the AM radio broadcast radio wave at a predetermined time interval, for example, every 12 hours based on the time information measured by the internal clock 1401. Output to.
In the present embodiment, the AM radio broadcast radio wave having two frequencies can be selected and received. Therefore, the control circuit 14 outputs the control signal CTL 1143 so as to receive the AM radio broadcast radio wave with the better reception state, and AM. Set the radio broadcast reception frequency.

  When the control signal CTL 1150 indicating the reception ON state is input, the AM radio reception circuit 1150 amplifies the AM radio broadcast wave received by the ferrite bar antenna 1110 by the amplifier 1151 and performs filtering by the crystal filter unit 1152. Then, detection is performed by the detection circuit 1153, and a signal S1150 is output. Based on signal S1150, filter section 1160 outputs only time signal information as signal S1160 to control circuit 14 (ST209).

  At this time, the frequency of the AM radio broadcast radio wave and the standard time radio wave signal have a difference of about 10 times, so even if they are commonly received by the ferrite bar antenna 1110, there is almost no interference.

  At this time, since the internal clock 1401 measures year information, month information, day information, hour information, and minute information as time information based on the standard time radio signal, the control circuit 14 determines the second information based on the time signal information. Is corrected (ST210). Of course, it is also possible to modify the hour information and the minute information based on the signal S1160.

  In steps ST211 to ST213, when the user sets (resets) the external battery, power is supplied by the external battery instead of the power supply by the internal battery 20, and the control circuit 14 sets the second hand pointer system 120 and the minute hand drive system 130. Drives, searches for the origin of the pointer position, and automatically sets the pointer position based on the information of the internal clock.

Thereafter, in step ST214, the control circuit 14 performs timing control for receiving the AM radio broadcast radio wave based on the time information timed by the internal clock 1401.
As a reception timing control, the control circuit 14 receives, for example, a control signal CTL1150 for receiving an AM radio broadcast radio wave from a predetermined time including every hour based on time information measured by the internal clock 1401, for example, several tens of seconds before every hour. Is output to the AM radio receiving circuit 1150.
Usually, the quartz clock has an accuracy of 10 seconds per month, so that the time signal information can be reliably received by starting reception of radio broadcast waves as described above.

  In the present embodiment, the AM radio broadcast radio wave having two frequencies can be selected and received. Therefore, the control circuit 14 outputs the control signal CTL 1143 so as to receive the AM radio broadcast radio wave with the better reception state, and AM. Set the radio broadcast reception frequency.

  When the control signal CTL 1150 indicating the reception ON state is input, the AM radio reception circuit 1150 amplifies the AM radio broadcast wave received by the ferrite bar antenna 1110 by the amplifier 1151 and performs filtering by the crystal filter unit 1152. Then, detection is performed by the detection circuit 1153, and a signal S115 is output. Based on signal S1150, filter section 1160 outputs only the time signal information as signal S1160 to control circuit 14 (ST215).

  At this time, the frequency of the AM radio broadcast radio wave and the standard time radio wave signal have a difference of about 10 times, so even if they are commonly received by the ferrite bar antenna 1110, there is almost no interference.

  Based on the signal S1160, the control circuit 14 detects a rising edge with a frequency of 880 Hz, for example, and sets the rising time to every hour on the hour (00:00). At this time, since the internal clock 1401 measures year information, month information, day information, hour information, and minute information as time information based on the standard time radio signal, the control circuit 14 determines the second information based on the time signal information. Is corrected (ST216).

  In step ST217, the control circuit 14 drives the second hand drive system 120 based on the time information counted by the internal clock 1401, and corrects the display time. The process returns to step ST213.

  As described above, the internal clock 1401, the display unit DSPL that displays the time, the ferrite bar antenna 1110 that can receive the standard time radio signal and the broadcast radio wave including time signal information at a predetermined time, and a plurality of different standard radio waves A long wave (standard radio wave) that is received by the standard radio frequency switching unit 1120 that switches the reception frequency and the ferrite bar antenna 1110 and that generates a standard time signal based on the standard time radio wave signal that is input via the standard radio frequency switching unit 1120 A receiving circuit 1130, an AM radio receiving circuit 1150 that extracts time signal information based on the broadcast radio wave received by the ferrite bar antenna 1110, and an accurate initial time information are obtained, and then an external potential setting is set from the external battery setting unit 21 at the time of shipment. When the external battery is removed from the unit 21, the hand movement control is stopped, and the power source switching unit 19 Receiving power of 20, the internal clock 1401 is timed and radio broadcast radio time signal information is received at a predetermined time interval, and the time is adjusted based on the extracted time signal information to ensure the accuracy of the internal time. When the external battery is reset, the origin of the pointer position is searched and automatically set to the pointer position based on the information of the internal clock. When the AM radio broadcast time signal is received in this state, Since the error that has occurred is corrected, and the control circuit 14 that performs hand alignment based on this error information is provided, it does not matter whether the standard time radio signal reception environment that is susceptible to noise or the like in a relatively short time. Automatic time adjustment can be performed reliably.

That is, in this embodiment, the time information is public broadcasting such as radio and television, and a broadcasting station with a large transmission output is used, and the radio frequency band is strictly regulated by radio wave specifications. Therefore, a radio circuit having a relatively good reception environment such as noise can be applied, and a proven and inexpensive circuit component and circuit configuration can be realized.
In addition, it is possible to easily receive the in-vehicle automatic correction timepiece while traveling, which is considered difficult with the standard radio wave, and it is possible to expand the range of use of the automatic correction timepiece.

  In addition, since the standard time radio wave signal and the broadcast radio wave are received by the common ferrite bar antenna 1110, it is not necessary to newly provide an antenna in order to receive the AM radio broadcast radio wave, and the antenna portion can be downsized.

  In addition, the antenna unit includes a standard radio frequency switching unit 1120 that can set reception frequencies of a plurality of different standard radio waves, and the control circuit 14 receives the standard radio frequency switching unit 1120 based on the reception status of the standard time radio signal. Therefore, it is possible to receive a standard time radio signal having a good reception state.

  The broadcast radio wave includes, as time signal information, at least a hourly signal having a preset frequency that is synchronized every hour, and the AM radio receiving circuit 1150 extracts a time signal of the frequency based on the broadcast wave. 1152, and the control circuit 14 corrects the time information measured by the internal clock 1401 based on the time signal extracted by the crystal filter unit 1152. Therefore, even when there is noise in the broadcast radio wave, the control circuit 14 uses the time signal information. The time can be corrected.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and various suitable modifications can be made.

  Further, the set time for receiving the standard time radio signal and correcting the time and the set time for receiving the broadcast radio wave including the time signal information and correcting the time are not limited to the above-described forms.

  Further, the AM radio broadcasting station received by the AM radio receiving circuit is not limited to the above-described form.

1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an automatic correction timepiece according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating a specific configuration example of a radio wave reception system in the automatic correction timepiece of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a plan view including a train wheel portion of the automatic correction timepiece of FIG. 1. It is sectional drawing of the automatic correction timepiece of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the electromagnetic wave reception state in the control circuit which concerns on this invention. An example of a time code of a standard time radio signal is shown. (A) shows formats other than 15 and 45 minutes per hour, and (b) shows formats for 15 minutes and 45 minutes per hour. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a specific example of an AM radio reception circuit illustrated in FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows one specific example of the time signal information contained in the general AM radio broadcast electromagnetic wave at around the hour. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a frequency spectrum of an AM radio broadcast radio wave including time signal information around every hour shown in FIG. 8. It is a top view which shows the 1st drive system which drives the second hand which is a part of radio wave correction timepiece. It is a top view which shows the 2nd drive system which drives the minute hand and hour hand which are a part of radio wave correction timepieces. It is a top view which shows the 1st 5th wheel which makes a part of 1st drive system which drives a second hand. It is a top view which shows the second hand wheel which makes a part of 1st drive system which drives a second hand. It is a top view which shows the other example of the second hand wheel which makes a part of 1st drive system which drives a second hand. It is a top view which shows the 3rd wheel which forms a part of 2nd drive system which drives a minute hand and an hour hand. It is a top view which shows the minute hand wheel which makes a part of 2nd drive system which drives a minute hand and an hour hand. It is a top view which shows the hour hand wheel which makes a part of 2nd drive system which drives a minute hand and an hour hand. It is an end view which shows the front-end | tip part of a minute hand pipe and an hour hand pipe. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the pointer position detection process of the radio wave correction watch shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the output pattern of the detection light of the electromagnetic wave correction watch shown in FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the overall operation of the radio-controlled timepiece shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Radio wave correction clock, 11 ... Radio wave reception system, 12 ... Time correction switch, 13 ... Oscillation circuit, 14 ... Control circuit, 15 ... Drive circuit, 16 ... Light emitting element, 17 ... Buffer circuit, 18 ... Drive circuit, 20 ... Display unit 100 ... Clock body (mechanical mechanism: movement) 111 ... Lower case 112 ... Upper case 113 ... Middle plate 120 ... First drive system (second hand drive system) 121 ... Second hand motor (first (Drive source), 122 ... first fifth wheel (first transmission gear, first detection gear), 123 ... second hand wheel (second detection gear, first pointer wheel), 126 ... sixth wheel, 127 ... 7th wheel, 130 ... second drive system (hour / minute hand drive system), 131 ... hour / minute hand motor (second drive source), 132 ... second 5th wheel, 133 ... third wheel, 134 ... minute hand wheel ( Second hand wheel, 135 ... Sunlight wheel, 136 ... Hour hand wheel (second hand wheel) , 140 ... light detection sensor, 142 ... light emitting element, 143 ... circuit board, 144 ... light receiving element, 150 ... manual correction system, 151 ... manual correction axis, 1110 ... ferrite bar antenna, 1120 ... standard radio frequency switching unit, 1130 ... Long wave (standard radio wave) receiving circuit, 1140... Radio broadcast frequency switching unit, 1150... AM radio receiving circuit, 1151... Amplifier, 1152... Crystal filter unit, 1153. .

Claims (6)

An internal clock,
An internal power supply for driving at least the internal clock;
An antenna unit capable of receiving broadcast radio waves including time information at least at a predetermined time;
Broadcast radio wave receiving means for receiving power supply from the internal power source or external power source and extracting time signal information based on the broadcast radio wave received by the antenna unit;
When the external power supply is not connected, supply power from the internal power supply, and when the external power supply is connected,
A power supply switching unit that enables power supply from an external power supply instead of power supply from the internal power supply;
Time display means capable of displaying time by receiving power supply from the external power source;
When the external power source is not connected, the power switching unit receives power from the internal power source and corrects the time information that the internal clock measures based on the time signal information extracted by the broadcast radio wave receiving means at predetermined time intervals , When the external power supply is connected and the power supply is switched from the internal power supply to the external power supply, the internal clock is based on the time signal information received by the broadcast radio wave receiving means at the reception timing based on the information of the internal clock. And a control unit that corrects the time information counted by time and displays the time information on the time display unit. The automatic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the time display means is capable of displaying time by a hand. The broadcast radio wave includes a time signal of a preset frequency synchronized at least every hour as time signal information,
The broadcast radio wave receiving means includes a filter means for extracting a time signal of the frequency based on the broadcast radio wave,
The automatic correction timepiece according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control means corrects time information measured by the internal timepiece based on a time signal extracted by the filter means. 4. The control means corrects an error in time information measured by the internal clock based on a time signal extracted by the filter means, and adjusts the time display means based on the error information. Automatic correction clock. The antenna section can receive standard time radio signals,
A standard radio wave receiving means for generating a standard time signal based on the standard time radio signal received by the antenna unit;
The automatic correction timepiece according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control means corrects time information measured by the internal timepiece based on a standard time signal generated by the standard radio wave reception means at an initial stage. The antenna unit includes a ferrite bar antenna capable of receiving the standard time radio signal and the broadcast radio wave,
The standard radio wave receiving means generates a standard time signal based on the standard time radio wave signal received by the ferrite bar antenna,
The automatic correction timepiece according to claim 5, wherein the broadcast radio wave receiving means extracts time signal information based on the broadcast radio wave received by the ferrite bar antenna.

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