JP4554975B2 - Radio correction clock - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a radio-controlled timepiece that corrects time information to an accurate time based on time information included in a standard radio wave.

Conventional radio-controlled timepieces automatically receive standard radio waves including time information on a regular basis, and when reception is good, the hands are immediately corrected to the correct position according to the time code of the radio signal. Yes. In addition, there is a radio-controlled timepiece having a function of discriminating light and darkness around the timepiece with an optical sensor and stopping the second hand in a dark state so that the ticking sound by hand movement does not disturb sleep (Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-139582 A

  The radio-controlled timepiece disclosed in Patent Document 1 immediately performs the correction operation of the pointer when the automatic reception of the standard radio wave is successful even when the timepiece is dark. For this reason, for example, noise may occur during sleep and disturb sleep. In particular, when a significant correction is required, the hour / minute hand is moved faster than usual (hand movement with time), which causes a problem that the generated noise is large. A radio-controlled watch equipped with an alarm (alarm) function corrects the pointer and corrects noise even when the user is asleep, if automatic reception of the standard radio wave is successful before the alarm time when the alarm sound is emitted. There is a problem that occurs.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and to provide a radio-controlled timepiece that does not hinder a user's sleep or quiet environment.

The radio-controlled timepiece according to the present invention is
Timekeeping means,
According to the time of the time measuring means, a pointer display unit for displaying the time with the pointer,
A receiver for receiving a standard radio wave including time information;
When the receiving unit receives a standard radio wave, the pointer display unit is moved at a speed higher than the moving speed associated with the timekeeping so as to indicate the time specified by the time information included in the received standard radio wave. Correction means for correcting the display time;
With
The correction means includes sensor means for determining brightness. The sensor means determines brightness around the radio-controlled timepiece, and corrects the display time based on the reception time information when darker than a reference level. Not performed,
It is characterized by that.

For example, a time register for storing the time information updated according to the time of the time measuring means, and an internal register for setting a correction required flag indicating that a pointer correction is necessary, the correction means includes the receiving unit When the standard radio wave is received, the data stored in the time register is corrected at the time specified by the time information included in the received standard radio wave, and the brightness around the radio wave correction clock is adjusted by the sensor means. When it is darker than the reference level and the receiving unit receives a standard radio wave, the correction required flag is set in an internal register, and when the state changes from a darker state to a brighter state than the reference level, It is determined whether or not the correction required flag is set in an internal register, and when it is determined that the correction required flag is set, the time register is set. It may be configured to correct the display time based on the data of the stored data.

For example, the correction means, when there is no difference between the time at which the stored data of time and the time register in which the reception time information is identified to specify, perform correction of the display time based on the previous SL reception time information You may comprise so that it may not exist.

  For example, when the predetermined correction start condition is satisfied, the correction means moves the pointer display unit at a speed higher than the needle movement speed associated with timekeeping based on the stored value of the time register and corrects the display time. To do.

For example, an alarm unit that can be turned on / off and that generates an alarm when a predetermined time is reached in the on state may be further provided. In this case, for example, the correcting means, said alarm means when in the ON state, does not perform the correction of the display time based on the previous SL reception time information.

  The radio-controlled timepiece according to the present invention is based on the received time information when it meets a predetermined reference condition that it is desirable to keep quiet, for example, the living space is dark or an alarm is set. Do not make corrections. Therefore, the user's sleep and quiet environment are not disturbed.

The radio-controlled timepiece according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to FIG.
The radio-controlled timepiece 1 includes a control circuit 11, a receiving unit 12, an oscillation circuit 13, an internal time register 14, an optical sensor 15, a light / darkness detection circuit 16, a pointer display unit 17, and a pointer driving unit 18. Is composed of.

  The receiving unit 12 includes an antenna 121 that receives a standard radio wave, a radio wave receiving circuit 122 that receives the standard radio wave via the antenna 121, demodulates time information from the received standard radio wave, and outputs the time information to the control circuit 11. Yes. Under the control of the control circuit 11, the receiving unit 12 performs a standard radio wave receiving operation at a predetermined time about 1 to 3 times a day. As a standard radio wave including time information to be received, a long wave standard radio wave (JJY) is generally used. The time code of the long wave standard radio wave includes hour digits, minute digits, the total number of days since January 1, year, day of the week, leap second, data error detection parity information, stoppage warning information, etc. Yes.

The oscillation circuit 13 includes an oscillation element such as a crystal resonator and a frequency dividing circuit, and outputs a pulse signal (clock pulse) having a predetermined frequency to the control circuit 11.
The internal time register 14 stores data indicating the display time of the pointer display unit 17 under the control of the control circuit 11.

The optical sensor 15 includes a CdS (cadmium sulfide) sensor or the like, and outputs a detection signal having a signal level corresponding to the intensity level of incident light.
The light / dark detection circuit 16 compares the signal level of the output signal of the optical sensor 15 with a reference level (threshold) to output a signal indicating whether the surroundings of the radio-controlled timepiece 1 are bright or dark to the control circuit 11. .

The pointer display unit 17 includes a dial and hour, minute and second hands, and displays the time.
The pointer drive unit 18 includes a motor drive circuit that drives a motor by supplying a pulse signal or the like to a motor (sweep motor, stepping motor, etc.) connected to the pointer via a gear train. The hour, minute and second hands are driven downward (hand movement).

  The control circuit 11 includes a processor (CPU: Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). For example, every time a clock signal is supplied from the oscillation circuit 13, the control circuit 11 stores the internal time register 14. The stored time data is updated and a drive control signal is output to the pointer drive unit 18 to control the hand movement.

  Further, when the time stored in the internal time register 14 reaches a predetermined time, the control circuit 11 controls the receiving unit 12 to receive the standard radio wave, and based on the received and demodulated time information, 14 stored data is updated to accurate data, and the pointer driving unit 18 is controlled so that the time indicated by the pointer is correct based on the time information. However, while the signal indicating that the surroundings of the radio-controlled timepiece 1 is dark is output from the light / dark detection circuit 16, the time of the internal time register 14 is corrected, but the pointer is not corrected. After that, when the light / darkness detection circuit 16 outputs a signal indicating that the surroundings become bright, the pointer driving unit 18 is controlled to correct the display time of the pointer.

The basic operation of the radio-controlled timepiece 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
After the power is turned on, the control circuit 11 determines whether or not a predetermined reception time has been reached in a normal routine operation (step S11). If it is determined that the reception time has been reached (step S11; Yes), the receiving unit 12 is instructed to receive standard radio waves. In response to the instruction, the receiving unit 12 receives the standard radio wave and outputs a demodulated signal (step S12). The control circuit 11 sequentially receives the demodulated signal from the receiving circuit 122, and further determines whether or not the reception state is good (step S13). For example, if invalid data occurs during the reception of data for one cycle that requires about 60 seconds for reception, the control circuit 11 determines that reception has failed without forming time data (step S13; No). ), The process returns to step S11. If normal time data can be formed, it is determined that reception is successful (step S13; Yes).

  The control circuit 11 compares the time data formed based on the demodulated signal of the receiving circuit 122 with the time data stored in the internal time register 14 (step S14), and whether there is a difference between the two time data. Is determined (step S15). If there is no difference between the two time data, it is not necessary to correct the position of the pointer (step S15; No), and the process returns to step S11. If there is a difference between the received time data and the time data stored in the internal time register 14 (step S15; Yes), it is determined that an operation for correcting the display time is necessary, and the light / dark detection circuit 16 Then, a bright / dark signal is taken in (step S16), and the signal level is determined (step S17).

  When the light / dark detection circuit 16 determines that the signal level of the output signal of the optical sensor 15 is equal to or higher than the threshold value, that is, the optical sensor 15 receives a sufficient amount of light (the surroundings are bright), the light / dark detection circuit 16 has a high (H) level. When a signal is output and the signal level of the output signal of the optical sensor 15 is less than the threshold value, that is, it is determined that the optical sensor 15 does not receive much light (the surroundings are dark), a low (L) level signal is output. Output.

  When the light / dark signal is at a high level, that is, when the surroundings of the radio-controlled timepiece 1 are brighter than the threshold value (step S17; Yes), the control circuit 11 stores the time data stored in the internal time register 14. Further, the pointer drive unit 18 is driven to determine the current position of the pointer, and each pointer in the pointer display unit 17 displays the correct time (the time indicated by the received time data). Correction is made (step S18). Thereby, the pointer display unit 17 displays an accurate time, and then returns to normal processing.

  On the other hand, if the light / dark signal is at a low level in step S17, that is, if the periphery of the radio-controlled timepiece 1 is darker than the threshold value (step S17; No), the display time of the pointer display unit 17 is corrected at this time. First, the data stored in the internal time register 14 is corrected, and a correction required flag indicating that the pointer correction is required is set in the internal register (step S19). Thereafter, the process returns to normal processing.

  When the periphery of the radio-controlled timepiece 1 changes from a dark state to a bright state, the light / dark detection signal output from the light / dark detection circuit 16 changes from a low level to a high level. This brightness / darkness detection signal is processed as an interrupt signal to the control circuit 11, and the control circuit 11 starts the interrupt process shown in FIG.

In this interrupt process, the control circuit 11 determines whether the correction required flag is on or off (step S111).
If the correction required flag is on (step S111; Yes), based on the data stored in the internal time register 14, the position of the pointer on the pointer display unit 17 is corrected to match the internal time (step S112). End the interrupt process.
If the correction necessity flag is off (step S111; No), the current interruption process is terminated.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the correction required flag is on during the interrupt process (step S121; Yes), the reception unit 12 receives the standard radio wave (step S122), and the time information included in the received standard radio wave The display time may be corrected based on the data stored in the internal time register 14 and the pointer of the pointer display unit 17 (step S123).

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a radio-controlled timepiece according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the same reference numerals are used in FIG. 5 for constituent blocks having the same functions as those shown in FIG.

  The radio wave correction clock 2 shown in FIG. 5 is an alarm clock having an alarm function. This alarm clock is excluded from the brightness detection unit composed of the light sensor 15 and the light / dark detection circuit 16, and includes an alarm set switch (hereinafter referred to as an alarm switch) 21 and an alarm time register 22 for storing alarm time data. And the point which is provided with the alarm output circuit 23 and the alarm output part 24 differs in the structure from the radio-controlled timepiece 1 shown in FIG.

  When the radio wave correction timepiece 2 reaches the alarm time stored in the alarm time register 22 of the control circuit 11 by turning on the alarm switch 21, a command signal is output from the control circuit 11 to the alarm output circuit 23. An alarm sound is emitted from the alarm output unit 24 such as a speaker.

  As with the radio correction clock 1, the radio correction clock 2 periodically receives time data at the receiving unit 12 and updates the time data in the internal time register 14 to accurate data based on the received time data. At the same time, the pointer driving unit 18 is controlled to move the pointer of the pointer display unit 17 at a high speed, and the display time is corrected. However, while the alarm switch 21 is on, it is assumed that the user is sleeping and the display time is not corrected. When the alarm time is reached, an alarm sound is emitted and the alarm switch 21 is turned off. Based on the time data stored in the internal time register 14, the display time of the pointer display unit 17 is corrected.

  The operation of the radio-controlled timepiece 2 shown in FIG. 5 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The basic operation of the radio-controlled timepiece 2 shown in FIG. 6 is basically the same as that of the radio-controlled timepiece 1 of FIG. 1, and the operations of steps S21 to S25 shown in FIG. 6 are the same as the operations of steps S11 to S15 of FIG. It is.
That is, after the power is turned on, the control circuit 11 of the radio-controlled timepiece 2 determines whether or not a predetermined reception time has been reached in a normal routine operation (step S21). S21; Yes), the reception unit 12 is instructed to receive standard radio waves. In response to the instruction, the receiving unit 12 receives the standard radio wave and outputs a demodulated signal (step S22). The control circuit 11 sequentially receives the demodulated signal from the radio wave receiving circuit 122, determines whether or not the standard radio wave has been successfully received (step S23), and if reception has failed (step S23; No), The time data is not formed, and the process returns to step S21.

  When the reception is successful (step S23; Yes), the control circuit 11 compares the time data formed based on the demodulated signal from the reception circuit 122 with the time data stored in the internal time register 14 ( Step S24), it is determined whether there is a difference between the time data (step S25). If there is no difference between the two time data (step S25; No), it is not necessary to modify the data stored in the internal time register 14, and the routine returns to normal processing.

  On the other hand, if there is a difference between the received time data and the time data stored in the internal time register 14 (step S25; Yes), the alarm switch 21 is scanned (step S26), and the alarm is on. It is determined whether it is off (step S27).

  If it is determined that the alarm switch 21 is off (step S27; Yes), it is determined that the user is not sleeping and the stored data of the internal time register 14 and the display time of the pointer display unit 17 are corrected (step). S28).

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the alarm switch 21 is on (step S27; No), since the user is considered to be sleeping, the operation of correcting the display time of the pointer display unit 17 is not performed, and the internal time register 14 is corrected, a correction required flag is set (step S29), and the process returns to normal processing.

  On the other hand, when the alarm switch 21 is turned off, this off signal is supplied to the control circuit 11 as an interrupt signal. The control circuit 11 cancels the alarm and executes the interrupt processing shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. The display time of the unit 17 is corrected by driving the pointer at high speed.

  As described above, in the radio-controlled timepiece 2 according to the present embodiment, it is considered that the user is sleeping while the alarm switch 21 is on. It does not emit. Then, the correction operation is performed after the alarm switch 21 is turned off.

(Third embodiment)
As conditions for correcting the pointer display unit 17 at high speed, the condition that the clock periphery shown in the first embodiment is “bright” and the condition that “the alarm is off” shown in the second embodiment is used. Can also be combined.
Hereinafter, the radio-controlled timepiece 3 that operates under such conditions will be described.
The radio wave correction clock 3 shown in FIG. 7 is an alarm clock obtained by adding the alarm function shown in the configuration blocks 21 to 24 in FIG. 3 to the radio wave correction clock shown in FIG. The same symbol is attached.

As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8, the operation of the radio-controlled timepiece 3 is the same as the operation from steps S21 to S27 in FIG.
If it is determined in step S37 that the alarm switch 21 is on (step S37; No), it is determined that the user is sleeping and the display time of the pointer display unit 17 is not corrected, and the internal time register 14 is not operated. The stored data is corrected, a correction required flag is set (step S38), and the process returns to the normal processing.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the alarm switch 21 is off (step S37; Yes), it is determined that the user is not sleeping, it is determined that the display time correction operation is necessary, and a light / dark signal is output from the light / dark detection circuit 16. Ingestion (step S39), the signal level is determined (step S40).

  When the control circuit 11 determines that the light / dark signal is at the high level (step S40; Yes), the control circuit 11 drives the pointer driving unit 18 so that each pointer in the pointer display unit 17 is at the correct time (the time indicated by the received time data). ) Is displayed (step S41). Thereby, the pointer display unit 17 displays an accurate time, and then returns to normal processing.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S40 that the light / dark signal is at the low level (step S40; No), a correction required flag indicating that the pointer correction is required is set in the internal time register 14 (step S38). Thereafter, the process returns to normal processing.

  In step S40, when the alarm switch 21 is in the off state and the correction required flag is on, if the surroundings of the radio wave correction watch 3 changes from the dark state to the bright state, the control circuit 11 performs the operation shown in FIG. The display time may be corrected by executing the interrupt process shown in FIG. 4 and driving the pointer of the pointer display unit 17 at high speed.

  As described above, in the radio-controlled timepiece 3 according to the present embodiment, the display time correction operation by the pointer display unit 17 is not performed while the alarm switch 21 is in the off state or the surroundings are dark. Then, when the surroundings are bright, the alarm switch 21 is turned off, or when the surroundings are brightened when the alarm switch 21 is in the off state, the correction operation is executed. Therefore, since the noise accompanying the correction operation of the pointer does not occur during sleep, sleep is not hindered.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation and application are possible.
For example, the radio-controlled timepiece to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to the alarm clock as shown in the above embodiment, and can be applied to various types of timepieces such as a wall clock, a table clock, and a wristwatch. .

  Further, the threshold value in the brightness / darkness detection process shown in the above embodiment is not limited to a specific value. For example, it is possible to arbitrarily set a threshold value as a reference for whether the surroundings are bright or dark depending on the place where the radio-controlled clock is used, the personal convenience of the user, and the like.

1 is a block diagram of a radio-controlled timepiece according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the electromagnetic wave correction watch shown in FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the interruption process which the radio wave correction timepiece shown in FIG. 1 performs. 6 is a flowchart for explaining another aspect of the interrupt process performed by the radio-controlled timepiece shown in FIG. 1. It is a block block diagram of the radio wave correction timepiece concerning other examples of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the radio-controlled timepiece shown in FIG. It is a block block diagram of the radio wave correction timepiece concerning other examples of the present invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the electromagnetic wave correction timepiece shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Control circuit 12 Receiving part 14 Internal time register 15 Optical sensor 16 Light / dark detection circuit 17 Pointer display part 18 Pointer drive part 21 Alarm set switch 22 Alarm time register 23 Alarm output circuit 24 Alarm output part

Claims (5)

Timekeeping means,
According to the time of the time measuring means, a pointer display unit for displaying the time with the pointer,
A receiver for receiving a standard radio wave including time information;
When the receiving unit receives a standard radio wave, the pointer display unit is moved at a speed higher than the moving speed associated with the timekeeping so as to indicate the time specified by the time information included in the received standard radio wave. Correction means for correcting the display time;
With
The correction means includes sensor means for determining brightness. The sensor means determines brightness around the radio-controlled timepiece, and corrects the display time based on the reception time information when darker than a reference level. Not performed,
A radio-controlled watch characterized by that. A time register for storing the time information updated according to the time of the time measuring means, and an internal register for setting a correction required flag indicating that a pointer correction is required ,
It said correction means, when the receiving section receives the standard radio, as well as modify the stored data of the time register at the time the time information included in the standard radio wave received is identified by the sensor means, Telecommunications The brightness around the correction clock is determined, and when the receiver receives a standard radio wave when it is darker than the reference level, the correction required flag is set in the internal register, and the light is darker than the reference level. When the state is changed, it is determined whether or not the correction required flag is set in the internal register, and when it is determined that the correction required flag is set, based on the data stored in the time register. Correct the display time,
The radio-controlled timepiece according to claim 1. It said correction means, if there is no difference between the time at which the stored data of time and the time register in which the received time information for specifying specifies does not perform the correction of the display time based on the previous SL reception time information,
The radio-controlled timepiece according to claim 2. The correction means, when a predetermined correction start condition is satisfied, based on the stored value of the time register, the pointer display unit is moved faster than the needle movement speed associated with timekeeping, and the display time is corrected.
The radio-controlled timepiece according to claim 2 or 3. An alarm means that can be turned on and off, and that generates an alarm when a predetermined time is reached in the on state;
It said correcting means, said alarm means when in the ON state, does not perform the correction of the display time based on the previous SL reception time information,
The radio-controlled timepiece according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein

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