JP4355365B2 - Clock lighting equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an illuminating device that illuminates a time display portion of a timepiece by being attached to a battery-type timepiece as a component or externally attached.

In a watch using a battery as a power source, in order to read the time in the dark, a method of suppressing power consumption by illuminating the time display unit only temporarily by pressing a lighting button is generally used.
However, it is very troublesome to perform such an operation in the dark.
Therefore, as a method of performing illumination while reducing battery consumption, the present applicant discloses in Japanese Patent No. 3650442 a technique for illuminating a clock face by intermittently emitting a light emitter.
However, in this technology, the magnetic sensor is operated by a magnet that is attached to the watch's hands and circulated in order to intermittently light the illuminator. Therefore, it can be applied only to an analog watch having hands. It was not applicable.
Moreover, it was not attached to the timepiece which is not equipped with the illuminating device externally.

Japanese Patent No. 3650442

  In view of the above technical problems, the present invention is not limited to an analog timepiece but can be provided in a digital timepiece, or can be retrofitted to an existing timepiece. An object is to provide a lighting device.

The illumination device for a timepiece according to claim 1 is an illumination device that is externally attached to a digital timepiece, and the illumination device includes a magnet drive unit, a magnetic detection unit, a light amount detection unit, a connection switch unit, and a light emitter drive. The magnet drive unit includes a movement, a drive shaft driven by the movement, and a magnet near the tip of the needle portion that moves around by driving the drive shaft, and the magnetic detection unit magnetically moves around the magnet. A darkness detection function that outputs a magnetism detection signal when the magnet reaches the magnetic sensor position with the sensor disposed, and the light amount detection unit has a light sensor that detects the clock ambient light and outputs a darkness detection signal when the clock periphery is dark The connection switch unit includes a connection switch for energizing and connecting to the light emitter drive unit when both the magnetic detection signal and the darkness detection signal are output, and the light emitter drive unit includes a capacitor and a light emitter. When the connection switch is turned on, the light emitter is turned on while charging the capacitor with the energization current from the connection switch, and when the connection switch is turned off, the capacitor charge current is discharged and the light emitter is turned on until the capacitor charge current is exhausted. It is characterized by making it.

A magnet drive part attaches the needle part provided with the magnet at the tip to the drive shaft driven by the movement , and moves the magnet around.
Here, the provision of a magnet at the tip may mean that the magnet is attached separately to the needle, or that the needle itself is formed of a magnet.
The magnetic detection unit outputs a magnetic detection signal only when the magnet reaches the position of the magnetic sensor by disposing the magnetic sensor so that the magnet is operated in a range in which the magnet moves around.
When this magnetic sensor uses a reed switch, there is no leakage current when the magnetic sensor is not operated.
The light quantity detection unit is arranged so that the light sensor can detect the ambient light of the watch. For example, the output value of the light sensor is determined by a Schmitt trigger circuit or the like, shaped and output as a darkness detection signal.
When the determination circuit for the output value of the photosensor is formed using a CMOS-IC, the power consumption is reduced. Further, when the photosensor and the determination circuit are supplied with power through a reed switch, the light amount when the reed switch is turned off. Power consumption at the detection unit is eliminated. The output of the optical sensor may be output as a darkness detection signal directly from the light amount detection unit without passing through the Schmitt trigger circuit.
The connection switch unit, for example, amplifies the magnetic detection signal of the reed switch with an amplification circuit that is driven by the darkness detection signal, and energizes this relay current to the relay coil, thereby driving and closing the relay contact to emit light. Power is supplied to the body drive unit.
The light emitter driving unit distributes the feeding current from the connection switch to the capacitor and the light emitter lighting circuit, and lights the light emitter while charging the capacitor.
The light emitter lighting circuit receives, for example, a power supply current from a connection switch as a light emitter drive signal, amplifies it, and energizes the light emitter to light up.
When an LED lamp is used as the light emitter, power consumption is reduced.
When the magnetic detection signal or the darkness detection signal is turned off, the charging current to the capacitor is discharged to become a light emitter driving signal, and the light emitter lighting circuit is driven to light the light emitter until the capacitor charging current is exhausted.

  When attaching an illuminating device to a pointer-type timepiece so that the drive shaft of the magnetic drive unit is also used as the drive shaft of the pointer-type timepiece, the needle part on the back side of the watch opposite to the timepiece pointer of the drive-shaft that is also used Is attached, and a magnet is provided at the tip of the needle portion, and a magnetic sensor is disposed in the rotational movement range of the magnet on the back side of the watch.

In the timepiece illuminating device according to the present invention, the magnetic sensor provided in the moving range of the magnet is periodically operated by the magnet provided to move around by the driving of the drive shaft, and the light is activated when the magnetic sensor is operated. When the sensor detects darkness, it automatically turns on the light emitter and simultaneously charges the capacitor.
After the magnetic sensor is turned off, the charging current charged in the capacitor is discharged and the light emitter is turned on until the charging current of the capacitor disappears. The time can be read while reducing power consumption.
Since this illumination is performed by detecting day and night, there is no forgetting to turn it off.
This lighting device can be attached to either an analog watch or a digital watch as a separate part.
Using LED lamps and reed switches that excel in power-saving, for example, when using an IC for shaping the output value of an optical sensor, if the IC and the optical sensor are fed via the reed switch, the light emitter is turned on. Since the power consumption at the time can be further reduced and the leakage current at the time of non-lighting can be further reduced, the power consumption is further reduced.
Thereby, it can be used continuously for a long time without battery replacement.
Further, the power saving performance can be further improved by driving the hands of the illuminating device in which the pointer shaft of the pointer type timepiece is provided on the back side of the timepiece.

FIG. 2 (a) is an explanatory view of the appearance of the illumination device for a timepiece according to the present invention.
A timepiece illumination device (hereinafter referred to as illumination device) 10 is attached to a main body 11 on a shaft 15 driven by a movement 16, a needle portion 13 attached to the shaft 15, and a tip portion of the needle portion 13. A magnet drive unit composed of a small magnet 14 is provided.
The needle portion 13 is attached with a magnet 14 so as not to hinder driving, and rotates as a second hand with a period of 1 minute along the decorative plate portion 12 by driving the movement 16.
The needle portion may be rotated as a minute hand having a period of 60 minutes.
The movement 16 is driven by supplying power from a battery (not shown) provided in the lighting device 10 or a battery of a watch to be attached.
Reed switches 25 and 26 are arranged in the orbital movement range of the magnet 14 in the decorative plate portion 12 so as to be periodically actuated by the magnet 14 that orbits and moves as the needle portion 13 rotates.
The reed switches 25 and 26 are provided with an appropriate interval between the magnet 14 and the magnet 14.
The illumination device 10 includes an LED lamp 30a and CdS photoconductive cells 23 and 24 connected to each other outside the main body 11 by lead wires 28a, 28b, and 28c.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment in which a lighting device 10 is attached to a digital table clock 1.
The illuminating device 10 is attached to the timepiece 1 with the main body portion 11 so that the decorative plate portion 12 and the hand portion 13 can be seen from the outside, and the LED lamp 30a is illuminated so that the panel surface is illuminated from the vicinity of the edge of the liquid crystal panel type time display portion 2. The CdS photoconductive cells 23 and 24 are attached to the housing 3 so that the detection surface is exposed.
The lighting device 10 detects the dark state with the CdS photoconductive cells 23, 24 if the surroundings of the clock is dark when the needle portion 13 is rotated and the reed switches 25, 26 are operated by the magnet 14. The LED lamp 30a is turned on to illuminate the time display unit.
Although FIG. 1 shows an example in which a liquid crystal type digital watch is attached, the time may be expressed by a dial on which a number is drawn, and the dial may be applied to a digital watch that switches according to the time by driving a motor. .

The operation of the circuit portion of the embodiment of the lighting device will be described with reference to the circuit diagram shown in FIG.
When the surroundings of the watch are dark, when the magnet of the hand unit activates one of the reed switches 25 and 26 of the magnetic detection unit 20a, the current passing through the reed switch is partly the CdS light of the light amount detection unit 20b. The conductive cell 23 is energized through the resistors R1 and R2.
At this time, the CdS photoconductive cell 23 has a high resistance because it detects darkness, whereby the voltage applied to the semi-fixed resistor R8 becomes high, and this output value is passed through the resistor R3 to the Schmitt trigger circuit 27. Is input as a voltage higher than the threshold voltage.
The Schmitt trigger circuit 27 is formed by a CMOS-IC (logic circuit IC) 27a having a plurality of inverters shown in FIG. 3B and a resistor R4. The output level (sensitivity) of the CdS photoconductive cell 23 at this time Is adjusted by the variable resistor R8 according to the brightness of the place where the watch is installed.
Since the CMOS-IC 27a is fed as Vcc via the activated reed switch and is also fed to the CdS photoconductive cell 23 via the activated reed switch, the leakage current in the light amount detection unit 20b when the reed switch is off. To save power.
The Schmitt trigger circuit 27 shapes the output value of the CdS photoconductive cell 23, and in this case, outputs it as a Hi-level magnetic detection signal, and inputs it to the base of the emitter-grounded transistor Tr 1 that is an amplification circuit for the magnetic detection signal.
The output of the CdS photoconductive cell 23 passes through a Schmitt trigger circuit 27 having a hysteresis characteristic, so that the transistor Tr1 of the connection switch unit 20c can be stabilized even when the clock periphery is in a boundary state between a bright state and a dark state. To turn on and off.
The transistor Tr1 is turned on to energize the exciting coil 22a of the relay 22 and close the relay contact 22b.
When the relay contact 22b is closed, the current from the battery 21 is supplied to the electric field capacitor 33 of the light emitter drive unit 20d and the light emitter lighting circuit 30b.
The light emitter lighting circuit 30b includes a constant current circuit 31 formed by a junction field effect transistor 32 and a semi-fixed resistor R9, and an amplifier circuit formed by a transistor Tr2.
When the relay contact 22b is closed, the energization current charges the capacitor 33 and is input to the base of the transistor Tr2 that is grounded as the light emitter drive signal via the constant current circuit 31.
Although the base terminal of the transistor Tr2 is grounded via the resistor R10 and the CdS photoconductive cell 24, the transistor Tr2 is turned on because the surroundings are dark and the photoconductive cell has a high resistance.
When the transistor Tr2 is turned on, the amplified current turns on the LED lamp 30a connected to the collector terminal.

When the operation of the reed switch is completed, the energization to the light amount detection unit 20b and the collector of the transistor Tr1 is stopped, thereby exciting the coil 22a of the relay 22 of the connection switch unit 20c and opening the contact 22b to emit light from the relay 22 Power supply to the body drive unit 20d is stopped.
Then, the capacitor 33 discharges the charged charging current (charge) toward the light emitter lighting circuit 30b as a light emitter driving signal, and the transistor Tr2 is turned on by this discharge current until the charge current of the capacitor 33 disappears. 30a is turned on.
In this way, when the reed switch is turned off, the light emitter lighting circuit is driven by the discharge current of the capacitor, so that power can be saved by stopping the power supply from the power source to the circuit excluding the light emitter.
The constant current circuit 31 makes the discharge current of the capacitor constant, and the amplified current of the transistor Tr2 becomes constant, so that the light emission state of the LED lamp 30a becomes constant.
The lighting time of the LED lamp 30a is adjusted by changing the capacitance of the capacitor 33 and the resistance value of the semi-fixed resistor R9.
The LED lamp 30a can be lit continuously in the dark by increasing the capacity of the capacitor 33 so that the LED lamp 30a can be lit until the next reed switch operation.
In the case where the surroundings of the watch become bright when the LED lamp is lit, the CdS photoconductive cell 24 becomes a low resistance and energizes the discharge current of the capacitor 32 that has passed through the constant current circuit 31 to generate the light emitter drive signal. The transistor Tr2 is turned off by turning it off.
As a result, the lighting of the LED lamp 30a is terminated and the power consumption is suppressed.
The light emitter drive signal stop unit, which comprises the resistor R10 and the CdS photoconductive cell 24 as a photosensor and turns off the light emitter drive signal when detecting that the clock is bright, compares the lighting time of the LED lamp 30a. It should be provided when it is made longer, and is not necessarily provided.
In addition, the photoconductive cell 24 of the light emitter drive signal stop unit may also be used as the CdS photoconductive cell 23 of the light amount detection unit as shown in FIG. 9, and in this case, malfunction of Tr1 and Tr2 is prevented. In order to achieve this, diodes D2 and D3 for preventing wraparound are provided.
When a tantalum capacitor is used as the charging / discharging capacitor 33, the leakage current is reduced and the power saving performance can be improved.

When the surroundings of the watch are bright, if the magnet of the hand portion activates one of the reed switches 25 and 26, the current passing through the reed switch passes through the CdS photoconductive cell 23, but the CdS photoconductive cell 23 Since the brightness is detected and the resistance is low, the voltage applied to the semi-fixed resistance R8 is reduced, and this output value is input to the Schmitt trigger circuit 27 as a voltage lower than the threshold voltage.
At this time, since the output of the Schmitt trigger circuit 27 becomes the Lo level, the transistor TR1 remains off and the relay 22 is not driven. Therefore, no power is supplied to the capacitor 33 and the constant current circuit 31, and the LED lamp 30a is not lit. .
For example, a photocoupler may be used for the components of this circuit for the relay 22 portion, and other components and circuit configurations may be used as long as the operation is the same.

FIG. 4 shows a circuit in which the number of parts is reduced as compared with the circuit shown in FIG. 3, and the size and cost are reduced.
In the circuit shown in FIG. 4, the reed switches 25 and 26 used in the circuit of FIG.
In addition, the discharge circuit composed of R10 and the CdS photoconductive cell 24 for discharging the capacitor when the surroundings of the watch becomes bright is not provided, and the photoconductive cell is only the CdS photoconductive cell 23 of the light amount detection unit.
The circuit for discharging the capacitor may also be used as the CdS photoconductive cell 23 of the light amount detection unit as shown in FIG.
The light quantity detection unit directly inputs the output of the CdS photoconductive cell 23 to the Tr1 without shaping the Schmitt trigger circuit.
FIG. 2B shows an embodiment of the illumination device 10a using the circuit shown in FIG.
The needle 13a of the illumination device 10a has a magnet 14a integrated at the tip.
In the circuit shown in FIG. 4, for example, when R6 is 100Ω, R7 is 60Ω, semi-fixed resistance, R9 is 1MΩ, R11 is 1kΩ, the capacitor 33 is 470 μF, and the power supply 21 is 3V, the reed switch 25 is turned on once in the dark. In this case, the light emitter 30a is lit for about 14 to 15 minutes.
When the power source is composed of two AA batteries, it can be used without replacing the batteries for one year.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which an illuminating device is attached to an analog (pointer type) wall clock.
FIG. 2 (c), FIG. 2 (d), FIG. 2 (e), and FIG. 2 (f) show another embodiment of the lighting device.
FIG. 2C shows a case where the two needle portions 13 are provided in two directions at an angle of 180 degrees from the shaft 15.
By providing the plurality of needle portions 13 in this manner, the lighting interval of the LED lamp 30a can be adjusted to be short without changing the structure of the movement 16.
2 (d) and 2 (e) show a case where a thin gap along the reed switch is opened on the reed switch and covered with a thin plate-shaped soft iron plate 12a. FIG. 2 (e) shows the needle part. The case where two 13 are provided is shown.
By shielding the magnetic lines of force transmitted to the reed switches 25 and 26 by the soft iron plate 12a except for the slit-shaped portion on the reed switch, for example, when the needle portion is used as a minute hand, the time for the magnet 14 to operate the reed switch is negligible. Thus, it is possible to save power by shortening the time during which the reed switch is energized.
FIG. 2 (f) shows an illuminating device in the case where the movement of driving the shaft 15 is not provided and the shaft 15 is used as the driving shaft of the pointer on the timepiece side.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the timepiece as viewed from the side of the dial. The shaft 15a of the hand portion 13 of the illuminating device 10e without a movement is connected to the drive shaft 7 of the pointer (second hand) 6a of the timepiece 4a. The case where it is combined with is shown.
The shaft 15a of the hand portion 13 is connected by a common shaft 8 that extends the second hand shaft 7 of the timepiece 4a toward the timepiece back surface 9 side.
The illuminating device 10e is attached to the back surface 9 of the watch, and the LED lamp 30a and the CdS photoconductive cell 23 are attached to the dial 5a of the watch.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the external appearance of a lighting device 10f that is attached to the watch later.
The illuminating device 10f is integrally provided with the LED lamp 30a and the photoconductive cell 23 in the main body 11a, and a battery (not shown) for supplying power to the circuit unit is replaceably provided in the main body 11a.
FIG. 8 shows a state in which the illumination device 10f is attached to the digital timepiece 1a.
The illuminating device 10f is attached to the front side surface of the timepiece housing 3 so that the LED lamp 30a illuminates the time display unit 2 of the timepiece 1a with an adhesive member such as a seal.

The Example which attached the illuminating device of the time display part of the timepiece which concerns on this invention to the digital table clock is shown. The illuminating device of the time display part of the timepiece which concerns on this invention is shown. (A) shows a circuit diagram, and (B) shows a logic circuit IC. The circuit diagram of another Example of an illuminating device is shown. The Example which attached the illuminating device to the analog type | mold wall clock is shown. An embodiment in which the illuminating device is attached to an analog timepiece and the hands are driven by a pointer shaft of the timepiece will be described. The Example of the illuminating device provided with the light-emitting body and the optical sensor integrally is shown. An embodiment in the case where the lighting device is externally attached to a digital table clock will be described. The circuit diagram at the time of combining the CdS photoconductive cell of the circuit which stops the drive signal of a light-emitting body with the CdS photoconductive cell of a light quantity detection part is shown. FIG. 5 shows another circuit diagram in the case where the CdS photoconductive cell of the circuit for stopping the driving signal of the light emitter is also used as the CdS photoconductive cell of the light amount detection unit.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1a Digital table clock 2 Liquid crystal panel type time display unit 3 Housing 4, 4a Analog clock (pointer type clock)
5 Time display portion 5a of an analog timepiece Clock face 6a Clock second hand 6b Clock minute hand 6c Clock hour hand 7 Clock second hand shaft 8 Common shaft 9 Clock back surface 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f Illuminating device 11, 11a Main body part 12 Dressing plate part 12a Thin plate-like soft iron plate 13, 13a Needle part 14, 14a Magnet 15, 15a Shaft 16 Movement 20a Magnetic detection part 20b Light quantity detection part 20c Connection switch part 20d Light emitter driving part 21 Battery 22 Relay 22a Relay exciting coil 22b Relay contact 23, 24 CdS photoconductive cell (photosensor)
25, 26 Reed switch (magnetic sensor)
27 Schmitt trigger circuit 27a CMOS-IC (logic circuit IC)
28a, 28b, 28c Lead wire 30a LED lamp (light emitter)
30b Light-emitting element lighting circuit 31 Constant current circuit 32 Field effect transistor 33 Charging / discharging field capacitors D1, D2, D3 Diodes R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 Resistors
R8, R9, R10, R11 Semi-fixed resistors Tr1, Tr2 Transistors

Claims (3)

A lighting device attached externally to a digital watch,
The illumination device includes a magnet drive unit, a magnetic detection unit, a light amount detection unit, a connection switch unit, and a light emitter drive unit,
The magnet drive unit includes a movement, a drive shaft driven by the movement, and a magnet in the vicinity of the tip of the needle portion that moves around by driving the drive shaft.
The magnetic detection unit is arranged in a magnetic sensor around the magnet and outputs a magnetic detection signal when the magnet reaches the magnetic sensor position.
The light intensity detector has a light sensor that detects the ambient light and has a darkness detection function that outputs a darkness detection signal when the clock is dark.
The connection switch unit includes a connection switch for energizing and connecting to the light emitter driving unit when both the magnetic detection signal and the darkness detection signal are output,
The illuminant drive unit includes a capacitor and an illuminant,
When the connection switch is turned on, the light emitter is turned on while charging the capacitor with the energization current from the connection switch,
An illumination device for a timepiece characterized in that, when the connection switch is turned off, the charging current of the capacitor is discharged, and the luminous body is lit until the charging current of the capacitor disappears. A lighting device attached to a pointer type watch,
A magnet drive unit, a magnetic detection unit, a light amount detection unit, a connection switch unit, and a light emitter drive unit,
The magnet drive unit is also used as a drive shaft of a watch hand, and a magnet is provided near the tip of the hand portion by attaching a needle part on the opposite side of the drive shaft to the watch hand ,
The magnetic detection unit is arranged in a magnetic sensor around the magnet and outputs a magnetic detection signal when the magnet reaches the magnetic sensor position.
The light intensity detector has a light sensor that detects the ambient light and has a darkness detection function that outputs a darkness detection signal when the clock is dark.
The connection switch unit includes a connection switch that energizes and connects to the light emitter driving unit when both the magnetic detection signal and the darkness detection signal are output.
The illuminant drive unit includes a capacitor and an illuminant,
When the connection switch is turned on, the light emitter is turned on while charging the capacitor with the energization current from the connection switch,
An illumination device for a timepiece characterized in that, when the connection switch is turned off, the charging current of the capacitor is discharged and the luminous body is lit until the charging current of the capacitor disappears. The magnetic detector uses a reed switch as a magnetic sensor,
The light emitter drive unit uses an LED lamp as a light emitter,
The light quantity detector comprises a Schmitt trigger circuit that uses a CMOS-IC to determine the output value of the optical sensor and output a darkness detection signal,
The timepiece illumination device according to claim 1, wherein power is supplied to the light amount detection unit via a reed switch.

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