JP4970816B2 - Analog electronic clock with time measurement function - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an analog electronic timepiece with a time measurement function for displaying a measurement time with a pointer.

  Conventionally, a multi-function electronic timepiece that switches between a normal clock display and other function displays (chronograph, timer, alarm, calendar, etc.) in order to realize a multi-function by means of a limited pointer display means of an analog electronic timepiece. Is known without mentioning the literature.

  Among them, in an electronic timepiece having a chronograph (stopwatch) function, a display that switches between time seconds and 1/10 second of a chronograph by using a single pointer is also known in Patent Document 1 or the like. .

  In recent years, the so-called “retrograde” type display that displays not only the chronograph but also the time, date, day of the week, etc. has been popular by pointing the fan-shaped display area with the pointer. As described above, Patent Documents 2 and 3 disclose that the time seconds and 1/10 seconds of the chronograph are switched and displayed, and the 1/10 second display mode of the chronograph is a fan shape.

Patent Document 2 states that “after the chronograph timing is finished, the time second hand is fast-forwarded and 1/10 second of the chronograph is stopped on the chronograph 1/10 second display scale having a fan-shaped display area for a certain period of time, The technology that displays the chronograph 1/10 second is disclosed in Patent Document 3 as “the chronograph 1/10 second hand that also functions as the time second hand is moved to the reference position of the fan-shaped chronograph 1/10 second display area by mode switching”. During chronograph timing, the chronograph 1/10 second hand, which also serves as the time second hand, is incremented by 1 division every 1/10 seconds from 0/10 seconds to 9/10 seconds according to the value of the chronograph 1/10 second counter. By driving in reverse and driving at 9/10 seconds to 10/10 seconds, i.e., 0/10 seconds, by rotating 9 scales, 1/10 seconds is displayed in real time in the fan-shaped display area. " The technology is disclosed Are
Japanese Patent No. 2990991 (Figs. 1 and 5) JP 59-195184 (FIG. 1) Japanese Patent No. 2542939 (Figs. 2 and 3)

  The technique of Patent Document 2 is advantageous in reducing power consumption by displaying the time during chronograph time measurement in units of seconds or more, and performing 1/10 second time display of the chronograph only for a certain time after the chronograph time measurement ends. Thus, there is an advantage that the second of the current time can be known even during the operation of the chronograph, but since the 1/10 second display of the chronograph is not real time, there is a disadvantage that the impression given to the user by the fan-shaped display is weak. .

  In the technique of Patent Document 3, the 1/10 second display of the chronograph is completely synchronized with the actual time measurement. That is, since it is real-time, it is a good technique in that it gives a strong impression to the user. However, in the technique of Patent Document 3, when the chronograph 1/10 seconds is changed from 9/10 seconds to 10/10 seconds, that is, 0/10 seconds, a pointer indicating the chronograph 1/10 seconds is set to 1/10 seconds. In the meantime, it is necessary to reverse at 9 scales, that is, at a speed of 90 Hz, and it is difficult to realize it by a general normal timepiece electromagnetic conversion means whose reverse speed is about 32 Hz.

  For this reason, by utilizing the fact that the electromagnetic conversion means for a clock can normally be driven at a higher speed in the forward rotation (clockwise) than in the reverse rotation (counterclockwise), the fan-shaped chronograph 1/10 second display High speed drive of 9 scales by turning the area counterclockwise instead of clockwise, or rotating the forward / reverse direction of the electromagnetic conversion means and the actual direction of rotation of the pointer by mechanical means such as gears. There are various restrictions on implementation.

Furthermore, in recent years, analog electronic watches with a chronograph function having a time resolution higher than 1/10 second have appeared. For this reason, while switching and displaying the time seconds and the time measurement of less than 1 second of the chronograph, even in the fan-shaped form of the time display of less than 1 second of the chronograph,
High resolution exceeding 1/10 second display is required.

  However, when the time of less than 1 second of the chronograph is increased to 1/20 second based on the technology of Patent Document 3, electromagnetic conversion is performed between 19/20 seconds and 20/20 seconds, that is, 0/20 seconds. It is necessary to drive the means for 19 scales, and an extremely high driving speed of 380 Hz is required. This is a speed almost impossible with a general timepiece electromagnetic conversion means.

That is, the minimum time unit time is T (1/20 second in the embodiment in the present specification), and the number of driving section scales required to display the minimum time unit time is indicated by S (this In the embodiment in the specification, the scale (step) number 19) when moving from 19/20 seconds to 0/20 seconds, the required maximum driving frequency of the pointer driving means derived therefrom is F, When the maximum driveable frequency is K (32 Hz in the embodiment in this specification),

S / T = F> K (1)

If there is even one timing section that satisfies the above, it is clearly impossible to realize a display form in which the chronograph timekeeping time always coincides with the scale value indicated by the pointer.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and in an analog electronic timepiece having a high-precision chronograph function such as 1/20 second and a pointer display of a fan-shaped display area, An object of the present invention is to provide an analog electronic timepiece having a chronograph function that gives a strong impression to a user by driving a graph timing indicator in a form close to real time with a simple circuit configuration.

The gist of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is that, in an analog electronic timepiece with a chronograph function having a pointer in which one or more sections satisfying the expression (1) are present, the pointer being timed is always present.

S / T = F ≦ K (2)

It has the control means which drives so that it may satisfy.

  The control means synchronizes the value based on the actual time and the value indicated by the pointer at one or more reference positions in the pointer having one or more sections satisfying the expression (1). And

  In the pointer having one or more sections satisfying the expression (1), the control means synchronizes the value based on the actual time and the value indicated by the pointer when the time is stopped.

  The control means controls the pointer drive control during the time measurement with the time measurement means for performing the actual time measurement without relying on the counting means such as a counter in the pointer having one or more sections satisfying the expression (1). Features.

  In the pointer where one or more sections satisfying the expression (1) exist, the control means performs an actual time measurement by starting the time measurement from a state in which the value based on the actual time measurement is synchronized with the value indicated by the pointer when the time measurement is stopped. When shifting to a state where the value based on and the value indicated by the pointer are not synchronized, the pointer is placed at one or more of the reference positions that synchronize the value based on the actual time and the value indicated by the pointer during the time measurement. The pointer driving is started when the value based on the actual time measurement is synchronized with the value indicated by the pointer.

  When the pointer has a display function in a plurality of functions and the pointer indicates a location other than the timing start reference position for a purpose other than the timing function, the value and the pointer based on the actual timing are measured during the timing. The pointer is moved to one or more reference positions where the indicated value is synchronized, and the driving of the pointer is started when the value based on the actual time measurement is synchronized with the value indicated by the pointer.

  High time resolution because chronograph timing display of less than 1 second on a fan-shaped display area can be realized without special pointer drive, special electromagnetic conversion means, and complicated control circuit while having high time resolution. A low-priced electronic timepiece with a chronograph function that has a resolution and a chronograph display pointer of 1 second or less with a fan-shaped display range and gives a strong impression to the user by driving in near real time can be realized.

  The electronic timepiece with a chronograph function of the present invention uses a pointer as a display means for the chronograph function and takes a fan-shaped display form. Further, this pointer takes a circular display form as a display function of the clock function by mode switching.

  FIG. 1 shows the appearance of an electronic timepiece with a chronograph function to which the present embodiment is applied. A pointer display 2 is provided on the front surface of the watch case 1, and an hour hand 4 and a minute hand 5 (hereinafter, a combination of the two is referred to as an hour / minute hand) on a dial 3 in the pointer display 2. A chronograph second hand 6, a small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7, a chronograph minute hand 8, and a chronograph hour hand 9.

  Around the small second hand and chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 on the dial 3, the time second scale 10 obtained by dividing one revolution into 60 as shown in FIG. 4, and 21 seconds from the 40 second position of the time second scale 10 A fan-shaped chronograph 1/20 second scale 11 is displayed, which is divided into 19 counterclockwise positions up to the position of.

  Although not all scales are shown in FIG. 4, the relationship between the time second scale 10 and the chronograph 1/20 second scale 11 is as shown in the table on the right side of FIG.

  Similarly, although not shown in the figure because it is not the main part of the present embodiment, the chronograph second / time portion obtained by dividing one turn into 60 is provided around the hour and minute hands on the dial plate 3 and the chronograph second hand 6. A scale 12 and a time scale 13 obtained by dividing one turn into 12 are displayed.

  Further, around the chronograph minute hand 8 on the dial, a chronograph minute scale 14 divided into 60 rounds is displayed, and around the chronograph hour hand 9, a chronograph hour scale 15 divided into 12 rounds is displayed. Has been.

  Further, operation buttons PB1 and PB2 for operating the chronograph function are provided on the side surface of the watch case 1.

  FIG. 2 shows a circuit configuration of an electronic timepiece with a chronograph function to which this embodiment is applied. The circuit is roughly divided into an oscillation / frequency dividing circuit section 16 for generating a reference time signal used for the clock function and the chronograph function of the present embodiment, and a clock circuit section 17 for operating the clock function of the present embodiment. Chronograph circuit unit 18 for measuring the time of the chronograph function of the example, switching between when using the clock function of this embodiment and when using the chronograph function, and for determining the timed state of the chronograph function Mode switching circuit 19, hour / minute hand driving circuit 20 for driving the hour / minute hand to display the hour / minute of the current time, chronograph second hand for driving the chronograph second hand 6 to display the second in the chronograph function Small second hand and chronograph for driving the drive circuit unit 21 and the small second hand and chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 to display the current time second or 1/20 second in the chronograph function It is composed of / 20 second hand driving circuit 22.

  The hour hand 4 and the minute hand 5 are mechanically coupled to each other by a gear (not shown). Each time the hour hand 4 and the minute hand 5 (hour / minute hand) are driven 60 times, the minute hand 5 is one scale of the chronograph second / time minute scale 12. Rotate minutes. Further, every time the minute hand 5 makes one turn, the hour hand 6 corresponds to one scale of the time scale 13.

  Further, the chronograph second hand 6, the chronograph minute hand 8, and the chronograph hour hand 9 are mechanically coupled to each other by a gear (not shown), and the chronograph minute hand 8 is rotated every time the chronograph second hand 6 makes one rotation. The scale 14 is rotated by one scale. The chronograph hour hand 9 is rotated by one scale of the chronograph hour scale 15 every time the chronograph minute hand 8 is rotated once.

  Each pointer is driven by dedicated electromagnetic conversion means (motor, not shown). Hereinafter, the pointer drive control refers to output of a drive signal to the electromagnetic conversion means.

  In the oscillating / dividing circuit unit 16, the oscillating circuit 23 is a circuit that generates a signal having a constant frequency. The frequency dividing circuit 24 is a circuit that divides the signal generated by the oscillation circuit 23 to generate signals of 60 Hz and 1 Hz.

  In the clock circuit unit 17, the second counter 25 is a circuit that counts the 1 Hz signal obtained from the frequency dividing circuit 24 and sets the count value to 0 every time 60 seconds are counted, thereby obtaining the second of the current time.

  The hour / minute hand driving circuit unit 20 is a circuit that receives the 1 Hz signal from the frequency dividing circuit 24 and drives the hour / minute hand. In this embodiment, the hour / minute hands are always driven once per second regardless of the operating state of the chronograph. Since the hour / minute hand drive system such as the hour / minute hand drive circuit unit 20 is not a main part of the present embodiment, further explanation is omitted.

  In the chronograph circuit section 18, the chronograph 1/60 second counter 26 generates a 20 Hz carry signal every time the 60 Hz signal obtained from the frequency divider circuit is counted three times. The counter circuit 27 that obtains 1/60 second of the chronograph in combination with the value obtained from the later stage counter, which will be described later, and the carry signal of the front stage counter 27 are counted, and the count value is calculated every time 20/20 seconds are counted. It is constituted by a post-stage counter circuit 28 that generates a carry signal of 1 Hz as 0 and obtains 1/20 second of the chronograph.

  In the chronograph second hand drive circuit unit 21, a chronograph second hand control circuit 32 receives 1 Hz carry signal from the chronograph circuit unit 18 and a signal from the mode switching circuit 19 and performs drive / stop control of the chronograph second hand 6. It is. The chronograph second hand position counter 33 is a circuit that counts the pointer drive signal from the chronograph second hand control circuit 32 and obtains the position of the chronograph second hand 6 by setting the count value to 0 every time 60 times are counted.

  In the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand drive circuit unit 22, the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand control circuit 34 receives a signal from a flag (described later in detail) in the mode switching circuit 19 and a current time from the second counter 25. The second count value STS is a circuit that receives the chronograph 1/60 second count value from the chronograph 1/60 second counter 26 and performs drive / stop control of the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7. The small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand position counter 35 counts the pointer drive signal SCK from the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand control circuit 34, and sets the count value to 0 every time 60 times are counted. This is a circuit for obtaining the position of the second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7.

  The mode switching circuit unit 19 is a circuit that receives a signal from an input circuit (not shown) attached to the PB1 and PB2 and determines the operating state of the electronic timepiece of this embodiment.

  In the mode switching circuit 19, the time second flag 29 determines whether the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 functions as a small second hand or a chronograph 1/20 second hand. The chrono operation flag 30 determines whether to allow or stop the time measuring operation in the chronograph function. The reset flag 31 determines whether or not the chronograph function is in a timed state.

  FIG. 3 shows a mode transition diagram of an electronic timepiece with a chronograph function to which this embodiment is applied. The mode is broadly divided into a clock function 36 and a chronograph function 37, and the chronograph function has three states of a clock operation state 38, a clock stop state 39, and a clock end state 40. Each flag includes a logic signal holding circuit that determines the state of the flag by 1 (high voltage) or 0 (low voltage) and inputs from the switches S1 and S2 corresponding to the operation buttons PB1 and PB2. A judgment circuit for judging whether the clock operation state obtained from each flag is to be held or to change the signal is incorporated, and the mode is identified by a combination of these output signals.

Next, the operation of the timepiece function in the electronic timepiece with the chronograph function to which this embodiment is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that (1) to (8) in FIG. 3 correspond to (1) to (8) in the following description.
(1) When the chronograph function is not used As shown in FIG. 3, when the clock function 36 is in operation, the time / second flag 29 is set to 1 indicating the time mode. At this time, the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand control circuit 34 receives the 1 Hz signal from the frequency dividing circuit 24 and generates a drive signal for the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7.

At this time, the positions of the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand position counter 35 and the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 coincide with the value of the second counter 25. The chronograph second hand 6 is stopped at the reference position indicating 0 second, and the chronograph second hand position counter 33 has a count value of zero. The chronograph 1/60 second counter 26 also has a count value of zero.
(2) Start of chronograph (from clock function)
Next, a description will be given of the operation at the time of starting the time counting from the time when the chronograph function 37 is operating in the electronic timepiece with the chronograph function to which the present embodiment is applied.

When PB1 is operated during the timepiece function operation, the chronograph operation flag 30 is changed from 0 to 1 in response to the signal from the corresponding switch S1, and the chronograph timing operation is permitted. From the time when the chronograph timing operation is permitted, the chronograph 1/60 second counter 26 receives the 60 Hz signal from the frequency dividing circuit 24 and starts the chronograph timing.

  At the same time, the time / second flag 29 of the mode switching circuit unit 19 is switched to 0 indicating the chronograph mode, and the reset flag 31 is switched to 0 indicating the timing state. At this time, the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand control circuit 34 sets the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 to the chronograph reference position indicating the 0/20 second of the sector chronograph 1/20 second scale 11. A drive signal for driving up to is output.

  Specifically, the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand control circuit 34 determines the position and time of the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 obtained by the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand position counter 35. The chronograph reference position, which is 40 seconds of the second scale 10, that is, 0/20 seconds of the chronograph 1/20 second scale 11, is compared with the second reference position, which is the 0 second position of the time second scale 10, as a reference. If the position of the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 is earlier than the chronograph reference position, the rotation is forward (clockwise), and the position of the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 is greater than the chronograph reference position. If it is later, it is driven in reverse (counterclockwise). When the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 coincides with the chronograph reference position, the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 stops at that position.

  When 1 second has elapsed from the start of the chronograph timing operation, a 1 Hz carry signal is output from the chronograph 1/60 second counter 26. The chronograph second hand control circuit 32 receives this signal and outputs a pointer drive signal to the chronograph second hand 6. From this point, the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand control circuit 34 starts a demonstration operation.

However, if the position of the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 coincides with the chronograph reference position as a result of the comparison of the pointer position at the start, the demonstration operation to be described later is immediately performed without waiting for one second. Migrate to
(3) Demonstration Operation During Chronograph Operation Next, a demonstration operation during the timekeeping operation of the chronograph function in the electronic timepiece with the chronograph function to which the present embodiment is applied will be described.

  The small second hand and chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 in the present embodiment requires 1/60 second time for normal rotation of the hand by one graduation due to restrictions on the performance of the electromagnetic conversion means. Further, it takes 2/60 seconds to reverse the needle by one scale.

  Therefore, the chronograph 1/20 second value obtained from the chronograph 1/20 second scale 11 indicated by the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 and the subsequent counter 28 of the actual chronograph 1/60 second counter 26, Is not possible because it is not possible to secure a normal rotation time of 38/60 seconds for 19 scales when shifting from the 19/20 second scale to 20/20 seconds, that is, 0/20 second scale. is there.

  For this reason, during chronograph timing, the chronograph 1/20 second value obtained from the subsequent counter 28 of the chronograph 1/60 second counter 26 does not necessarily correspond to the 1/20 second scale from the 19/20 second scale. A demonstration operation is performed in which the reciprocating operation up to the scale is performed only once.

When the demonstration operation is started, the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand control circuit 34 performs the demonstration operation based on the chronograph 1/60 second value obtained from the chronograph 1/60 second counter 26. The relationship between the pointer drive timing and the pointer position is shown in FIG. When the value of the chronograph 1/60 seconds is 2/60 seconds or more and less than 40/60 seconds, the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 is reversed, and the value of the chronograph 1/60 seconds is 41/60 seconds or more When it is less than 60/60 seconds, that is, less than 0/60 seconds, a drive signal for driving the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 in the normal rotation is output.

  From the driving time of the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7, as shown in FIG. 5, the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 that is being demonstrated reverses 19 scales from the chronograph reference position and then 19 scales. The operation of rotating forward and returning to the chronograph reference position again is performed over 1 second.

By this demonstration operation, the fan display can be performed in real time. The pointer position does not match the time measurement except for 0/20 seconds, but since the hand is moving at high speed, it is impossible for the user to read the elapsed time of the moment, and there is no practical problem.
(4) Stop of Chronograph Next, the operation at the time stop of the chronograph function in the electronic timepiece with the chronograph function to which the present embodiment is applied will be described.

  When the PB1 is operated during the chronograph timing, the chronograph operation flag 30 outputs a signal for stopping the chronograph timing operation in response to a signal from the corresponding switch S1. The scale value indicated by the chronograph second hand 6 at this time is the elapsed time in seconds from the start of chronograph timing. The chronograph 1/20 second value obtained from the subsequent counter 28 of the chronograph 1/60 second counter 26 is the elapsed time in units of 1/20 second from the start of chronograph timing.

  When the chronograph timing operation is stopped by the switch operation, the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand control circuit 34 immediately stops the demonstration operation of the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7. Since the small second hand and chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 in this embodiment performs a demonstration operation during the time measurement, the scale value indicated by the small second hand and chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 is obtained from the counter 28 of the chronograph 1/60 second counter 26 during the time measurement. The obtained chronograph 1/20 second value does not match except when the elapsed time in 1/20 second unit from the start of chronograph timing is 0/20 second.

  Therefore, the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand control circuit 34 has a small second hand / chronograph 1/20 corresponding to the chronograph 1/20 second value obtained from the subsequent counter 28 of the chronograph 1/60 second counter 26. The second hand position is compared with the position of the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 obtained by the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand position counter 35, and the chronograph 1/20 second in the forward direction (clockwise). When the position of the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 is ahead of the hand position corresponding to the value, the rotation is forward, and the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second than the hand position corresponding to the chronograph 1/20 second value. When the position of the 20-second hand 7 is later, it is reversed, and the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 is changed to the chronograph 1/20 second value obtained from the subsequent counter 28 of the chronograph 1 / 60-second counter 26. It outputs a drive signal for driving to respond position. As a result of the comparison, if the position of the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 coincides with the chronograph 1/20 second value, the position is stopped as it is.

  When the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 coincides with the position corresponding to the chronograph 1/20 second value, the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 stops at that position.

With the above operation, the chronograph second hand 6 and the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 both indicate positions corresponding to the elapsed time from the start of chronograph timing.
(5) Chronograph start (restart)
Next, the operation when the time measurement of the chronograph function is resumed in the electronic timepiece with the chronograph function to which the present embodiment is applied will be described.

  When the PB1 is operated while the chronograph is stopped, the chronograph operation flag 30 permits the chronograph timing operation in response to a signal from the corresponding switch S1. From the time when the chronograph timing operation is permitted, the chronograph 1/60 second counter 26 receives the 60 Hz signal from the frequency dividing circuit 24 and starts the chronograph timing. At this time, the chronograph 1/60 second counter is left with the elapsed time at the time of the previous time measurement, and the chronograph performs time measurement as a continuation of this elapsed time.

  Since the small second hand and chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 in this embodiment performs a demonstration operation during the time measurement, the scale value indicated by the small second hand and chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 is obtained from the counter 28 of the chronograph 1/60 second counter 26 during the time measurement. The obtained chronograph 1/20 second value does not match except when the elapsed time in 1/20 second unit from the start of chronograph timing is 0/20 second.

  Therefore, the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 is the chronograph 1/20 second value obtained from the subsequent counter 28 of the chronograph 1/60 second counter 26, that is, 1/20 second unit from the start of the chronograph timing. If the transition to the demonstration operation is performed as it is from the state indicating the elapsed time, the position of the demonstration operation is out of the range of the chronograph 1/20 second scale 11.

  Therefore, the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand control circuit 34 determines the position of the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 obtained by the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand position counter 35 and the chronograph reference. The position is compared with the second reference position as a reference, and if the position of the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 is before the chronograph reference position, the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 is chronographed forward. A drive signal for driving to the reference position is output.

  After the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 coincides with the chronograph reference position, when a 1 Hz carry signal is output from the chronograph 1/60 second counter 26 by the chronograph timing, the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 The second hand control circuit 34 starts the demonstration operation again.

However, if the position of the small second hand and chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 while the chronograph is stopped coincides with the chronograph reference position, that is, 0/20 seconds, the small second hand and chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 immediately shifts to the demonstration operation.
(6) Reset of chronograph Next, the operation at the time resetting of the chronograph function in the electronic timepiece with the chronograph function to which the present embodiment is applied will be described.

  When the PB2 is operated during chronograph timing or during chronograph stop, the chronograph operation flag 30 stops the chronograph timing operation in response to a signal from the corresponding switch S2. At the same time, the reset flag 31 ends the chronograph mode.

  At the time when the time measurement is ended by the reset flag 31, the chronograph 1/60 second counter 26 resets the count value to 0, which is the initial value, to prepare for the start of the next time measurement.

  The chronograph second hand control circuit 32 drives the chronograph second hand 6 to the reference position which is the 0 second position. Similarly, the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand control circuit 34 also moves the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 to the chronograph reference position indicating 0/20 second of the fan-shaped chronograph 1/20 second scale 11. To drive.

  At the same time, a lever (not shown) mechanically interlocked with the PB 2 and a heart cam (not shown) mechanically coupled to the chronograph minute hand 8 and the chronograph hour hand 9, respectively, The chronograph hour hand is mechanically driven to a position indicating 0 minutes and 0 hours, respectively.

As a result, all the hands related to the chronograph function are moved to the reference position, and 0 hour 0 minute 0 second and 0/20 second are displayed.
(7) Chronograph start (from reset)
Next, the operation of the chronograph function 37 in the electronic timepiece having the chronograph function to which the present embodiment is applied at the time of starting the time measurement from the time measurement end state will be described.

  When the PB1 is operated in the time measurement end state, the mode switching circuit unit 19 accepts a signal from the switch S1 corresponding to the operation and permits the chronograph time measurement, and the chronograph time measurement starts.

  At the time measurement start from the time measurement end state, the position of the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 always matches the chronograph reference position. For this reason, the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand control circuit 34 starts the demonstration operation immediately after the start of timing.

Since the subsequent operation is the same as that described in (3), description thereof is omitted.
(8) Switching between the chronograph function and the clock function Next, the operation at the time of switching the chronograph function and the clock function in the electronic timepiece with the chronograph function to which this embodiment is applied will be described.

  The small second hand and chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 in this embodiment can be switched to the clock function by operating the switch PB2 again during the chronograph reset.

  When the PB2 is operated during the chronograph reset, the time / second flag 29 is set to the time mode in response to a signal from the corresponding switch S2.

  At this time, the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand control circuit 34 obtains the current position of the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 obtained from the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand position counter 35 and the second counter 25. Compare with the current time second position obtained from. If the comparison results in different positions, the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 is driven to a position corresponding to the second counter 25.

  After the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 coincides with the current time second, the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand control circuit 34 makes the small second hand / chronograph 1 every time the 1 Hz signal from the frequency dividing circuit 24 is received. / The 20-second hand 7 is driven by one scale.

  As a result, the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 always indicates a position synchronized with the current time second.

  Further, when the switch PB2 is operated during the operation of the timepiece function 36, the small second hand and chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 can be switched to a chronograph reset state in which the demonstration hand movement can be immediately performed when the chronograph is started.

  When the switch PB2 is operated during the operation of the clock function 36, the time / second flag 29 is set to 0 indicating the chronograph mode.

At this time, the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand control circuit 34 drives the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 to the chronograph reference position. After the driving is completed, the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 stops at the chronograph reference position as it is.
(Modification of this embodiment)
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but includes modifications and improvements as long as the object of the present invention can be achieved. For example, in the above embodiment, the small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 7 has both a circular display form and a fan-shaped display form, but mechanical coupling means such as a gear from the electromagnetic conversion means to the pointer. By using an electromagnetic conversion means that can change the rotation ratio or drive at higher speed, a fan with a larger angle, a semicircle, or a circle with only some fan-shaped parts missing, You may have various display forms.

  Further, even in the case of having both a circular display form and a fan-shaped display form, the display range of the chronograph 1/20 second in the above embodiment is from the 40 second position to the 21 second position of the time second scale 10. There is no need to be limited, and it may be set as appropriate for implementation.

  Furthermore, even in the circular embodiment, the present invention is considered to be effective when the performance restriction of the electromagnetic conversion means is large with respect to the required time resolution.

  In the above embodiment, the chronograph 1/20 second hand is also used as a small second hand. However, the time unit and function indicated by the pointer are not limited, and may be appropriately determined depending on the function of the clock, the arrangement of the pointer, and the like. You only have to set it.

  In the above embodiment, the scale pointed by each pointer is attached on the dial plate, but the place where the scale is attached is not limited to the dial plate, and it is appropriately set for implementation such as turning over, register ring, bezel, etc. do it.

  In the above embodiment, the maximum time resolution of the chronograph is 1/20 second. However, even if the resolution is low such as 1/10 second or 1/5 second, there is a restriction on the performance of the electromagnetic conversion means. If it is larger, the present invention is also considered to be effective. Further, even when the resolution is further increased, it is similarly effective, and the time resolution and the number of steps of the guideline to be driven may be appropriately set in the implementation.

  In the above embodiment, the 0/20 second position is used as the reference position for synchronizing the time measured value and the pointer position. However, this position may be another position such as 10/20 second, and may be set as appropriate in implementation.

  In the above-described embodiment, the demonstration operation during the chronograph operation is performed by driving the pointer for 38 scales per second, and in a general timepiece electromagnetic conversion means, more power is consumed in the reverse rotation than in the normal rotation. In view of the above, it is considered that the load applied to energy supply means such as a primary battery and a secondary battery generally used in a watch is large. For this reason, a counter (timer) means for measuring a fixed time is provided, and a device such as stopping the demonstration operation after a fixed time has been considered.

  In an electronic timepiece, the power consumption is extremely limited in order to achieve the required battery life. Therefore, these power consumption reduction means may be provided as appropriate in implementation.

In the above-described embodiment, the clock circuit unit 17, the chronograph circuit unit 18, the mode switching circuit unit 19, the hour / minute hand drive circuit unit 20, the chronograph second hand drive circuit unit 21, the small second hand / chronograph 1 / which are main mechanisms. The 20-second hand drive circuit unit 22 and the like are all configured as dedicated hardware composed of logic elements, but these are replaced with general-purpose processing devices such as a microprocessor, and the processing device realizes each control described above. The form which implement | achieves the said function by running a program (processing procedure) may be sufficient.

  In the above embodiment, due to mechanical limitations, the split (intermediate accumulated time) measurement function and the lap (section time) measurement function, which are the main additional functions of the chronograph function, are not provided. The present invention is also considered effective for an electronic timepiece with a chronograph function.

  In the above embodiment, only the chronograph function is used as the time measurement function, but the present invention is also considered to be effective in time measurement functions other than the chronograph function such as a timer function for performing subtraction. What is necessary is just to set suitably about the function to which this invention is applied in implementation.

1 is an external view of an analog electronic timepiece having a chronograph function according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a circuit configuration of an analog electronic timepiece having a chronograph function according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a function operation state transition diagram of an analog electronic timepiece with a chronograph function according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the figure which showed the relationship between the time second scale 10 of the analog electronic timepiece with a chronograph function which is one Example of this invention, and the chronograph 1/20 second scale 11. FIG. It is the figure which showed the drive form on the time axis about the demonstration operation | movement in the chronograph operation state of the analog electronic timepiece with the chronograph function which is one Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Clock case 2 Pointer display section 3 Dial 4 Hour hand 5 Minute hand 6 Chronograph second hand 7 Small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand 8 Chronograph minute hand 9 Chronograph hour hand 10 Time second scale 11 Chronograph 1/20 second scale 12 Chronograph Graph second and time minute scale 13 Time hour scale 14 Chronograph minute scale 15 Chronograph hour scale PB1 Chronograph clock start / stop operation switch PB2 Chronograph clock reset operation / chronograph function / time function selector switch 16 Oscillation / divider circuit Section 17 Clock circuit section 18 Chronograph circuit section 19 Mode switching circuit section 20 Hour and minute hand drive circuit section 21 Chronograph second hand drive circuit section 22 Small second hand / chronograph 1/20 second hand drive circuit section 23 Oscillation circuit 24 Dividing circuit 25 seconds Counter 26 Chronograph 1/60 second counter 2 Chronograph 1/60 second counter first stage counter 28 Chronograph 1/60 second counter second stage counter 29 Time second flag 30 Chronograph operation flag 31 Reset flag 32 Chronograph second hand control circuit 33 Chronograph second hand position counter 34 Small second hand and chronograph 1 / 20 second hand control circuit 35 Small second hand and chronograph 1/20 second hand position counter 36 Clock function 37 Chronograph function 38 Chronograph timed operation state 39 Chronograph timed stop state 40 Chronograph timed end state

Claims (6)

An analog electronic timepiece with a time measurement function that displays time measurement results with a pointer,
A scale for displaying the measurement result by the measurement result display pointer;
A time measurement reference signal source for generating a reference signal having a period equal to or shorter than the minimum measurement unit time indicated by the scale;
A time measuring counter that performs a time measuring operation for counting the reference signal and is capable of starting / stopping the time measuring operation;
Pointer driving means for driving the measurement result display pointer to display the measurement result on the scale at least when the time measurement counter is stopped ;
In an analog electronic timepiece with time measuring function,
The minimum measurement unit time is T,
In the measurement result display guideline, the number of drive steps necessary to display the minimum measurement unit time is S,
When the maximum driveable frequency of the pointer driving means is K,
S / T> K (1)
There exists a display section according to the scale established, and,
During the counting operation of the time measuring counter,
The measurement value of the time measurement counter and the scale indicated by the measurement result display guideline are:
The pointer driving means is continuously driven so that the driving frequency of the measurement result display pointer is equal to or lower than K in a form that matches at a specific value but does not match at other values. Analog electronic clock with time measurement function. The specific value whose scale matches the content of the time measuring counter is:
Carry occurs in the time measurement counter during the counting operation of the time measurement counter ,
Time measurement with analog electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the the measured value is a value when it is reset to 0. When shifting from the count stop state to the count operation state,
The measurement result display pointer is stopped after being driven to a scale corresponding to the time when the measurement value of the time measurement counter is reset to 0 (hereinafter, 0 scale) ,
3. The analog electronic timepiece with a time measuring function according to claim 2, wherein the hand movement at the time of the counting operation is performed from the time when the measured value of the time measuring counter is reset to 0 thereafter. The scale is arranged in a sector shape, and the section where the formula (1) is established is:
From the scale (hereinafter referred to as carry scale) before the time measurement counter generates a carry
The analog electronic timepiece with a time measuring function according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the time interval is a section in which the scale returns to zero . The measurement result display guideline is also used as a time display guideline ,
When moving from the 0 scale to the carry scale, move the hand in the opposite direction to the time display,
The analog electronic timepiece with a time measuring function according to claim 4, wherein when returning to the zero scale, the hands are moved in the same direction as the time display . The time counter measuring function is a chronograph function, or either or time measurement function with analog electronic timepiece according to claim 1, any one of the 5, characterized in that both a, the timer function.

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