JP5343495B2 - Penetration state discrimination device and electronic timepiece - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a penetrating state discriminating device that discriminates whether or not a moving member having a transmission hole is in a penetrating state, and an electronic timepiece that detects a hand position by the penetrating state discriminating device.

  In recent electronic timepieces, a mechanism has been developed in which a mechanism for detecting a hand position, that is, a gear position interlocking with a pointer is provided inside and has a function of checking whether the hand position is shifted at every predetermined time. In addition, when a shift of the hand position, that is, the gear position interlocking with the pointer is confirmed, the actual needle position is detected while the gear interlocking with the pointer is rotated at high speed, and the needle position recognized inside the timepiece is detected. A device having an automatic needle position correcting function for correcting a deviation from the actual needle position has been developed.

As a mechanism for detecting the needle position, for example, a structure in which a transmission hole such as a through hole is provided in a gear interlocked with a pointer and the transmission hole is detected by a photo interrupter (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-162336 A

  In recent years, power consumption has been reduced in various electronic devices. Further, in devices that are driven by a small battery such as a wristwatch, it is required to reduce the power consumption as much as possible.

  By the way, in a device incorporating a photo interrupter, a relatively large amount of power is consumed in the light emitting portion, and the power consumption increases as the driving current of the light emitting portion increases.

  However, in a conventional electronic device having a built-in photo interrupter (for example, a conventional electronic timepiece having a hand position detecting function or a hand position correcting function), optimization for each device is performed to reduce the drive current of the light-emitting portion of the photo interrupter. It was not processed. In conventional devices, there are some characteristic variations in the light emitting elements and light receiving elements constituting the photointerrupter, and the components of these drive circuits, so even if these characteristic variations overlap, the worst condition is reached. Normally, the drive current of the light emitting unit is set to a large value with a margin so that the state detection of the moving member can be performed normally.

  An object of the present invention is to reduce power consumption in a penetrating state discriminating apparatus that discriminates whether or not a moving member is in a penetrating state by receiving light emitted from a light emitting unit by a light receiving unit through a transmission hole of the moving member. Is to plan.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1
In the penetrating state discriminating apparatus for discriminating the penetrating state of the moving member by receiving the light emitted from the light emitting unit by the light receiving unit through the transmission hole of the moving member,
Driving means for driving the light emitting unit;
A driving amount adjusting unit that optimizes the driving amount of the driving unit by driving the light emitting unit while changing the amount of light by the driving unit ;
The drive amount adjusting means includes
Based on a second threshold value obtained by adding an allowable value of variation in light quantity to a predetermined first threshold value in order to determine whether or not the moving member is in a penetrating state, The driving amount is optimized so that the amount of light received by the light receiving unit is greater and the driving amount of the driving unit is minimized .

The invention according to claim 2
In the penetrating state discriminating apparatus that discriminates the penetrating state of the moving member by receiving the light emitted from the light emitting unit by the light receiving unit through the transmission hole of the moving member,
Drive means capable of variably driving the light emitting unit;
In the state where the light emitted from the light emitting unit is received by the light receiving unit through the transmission hole of the moving member, the driving unit drives the light emitting unit while changing the amount of light to optimize the driving amount of the driving unit. Driving amount adjusting means
Driving amount setting means for setting information relating to the adjustment result of the driving amount adjusting means ,
The driving unit is configured to be driven with a driving amount set by the driving amount setting unit during an operation of determining whether or not the moving member is in a penetrating state,
The drive amount adjusting means includes
Based on a second threshold value obtained by adding an allowable value of variation in light quantity to a predetermined first threshold value in order to determine whether or not the moving member is in a penetrating state, The driving amount is optimized so that the amount of light received by the light receiving unit is greater and the driving amount of the driving unit is minimized .

The invention described in claim 7
The penetrating state determination device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 ,
The electronic timepiece is characterized in that the position of the pointer is detected by determining whether or not the moving member moving in conjunction with the pointer is in a penetrating state by the penetrating state determining device.

  According to the present invention, even when the elements constituting the light emitting part and the light receiving part and the constituent elements of these drive circuits have characteristic variations from device to device, the drive amount adjusting means optimizes the drive amount of the light emitting part. Can be planned. This makes it possible to reliably detect the state of the moving member even if there is a variation in element characteristics from device to device, and to eliminate excessive driving operation of the light emitting unit and reduce power consumption.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a front view showing a timepiece module according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA, and FIG. 3 is a rear view of a gear that rotates a hand as seen from the back cover side.

  The timepiece module 1 of this embodiment is a main body of an electronic analog wristwatch that rotates hands by electronic control, for example. On the front side of the timepiece module 1, a dial plate 5 and a solar panel 9 are provided below the windshield glass. The dial plate 5 and the solar panel 9 cover the front side and the surroundings are surrounded by the casing TK. Shaded. In the center of the dial plate 5 and the solar panel 9, there are provided through holes 5a and 9a that allow the second hand shaft 20a, the minute hand shaft 25a, and the hour hand shaft 27a to pass from the internal mechanism to the front side, and the shafts 20a, 25a, and 27a protrude. The second hand 2, the minute hand 3, and the hour hand 4 are respectively fixed to the above-mentioned portions. As the shafts 20a, 25a, and 27a rotate, the second hand 2, the minute hand 3, and the hour hand 4 rotate on the dial 5, and the time is displayed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the hour hand shaft 27a to which the hour hand 4 is fixed and the minute hand shaft 25a to which the minute hand 3 is fixed are hollow tubular shafts, and the minute hand shaft 25a is passed through the hour hand shaft 27a. The second hand shaft 20a is passed through the shaft 25a so that the second hand shaft 20a, the minute hand shaft 25a, and the hour hand shaft 27a are rotatable about the same rotation axis.

  The second hand shaft 20a, the minute hand shaft 25a, and the hour hand shaft 27a are three gears arranged to overlap each other on the back side of the dial plate 5, that is, the second hand wheel 20 and the minute hand wheel 25 as moving members (a plurality of members). The hour hand wheel 27 is fixed to the rotational center position. The second hand wheel 20, the minute hand wheel 25 and the hour hand wheel 27 can be rotated around the same rotation shaft. In FIG. 3, the minute hand wheel 25 and the hour hand wheel 27 are arranged in a state where they overlap at a position concentric with the second hand wheel 20.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the driving system of the timepiece module 1 includes a first driving system 11 that rotationally drives the second hand 2 and a second driving system 12 that rotationally drives the hour hand 4 and the minute hand 3 in conjunction with each other. Separately, these two drive systems 11 and 12 can be driven independently. The first drive system 11 includes a first stepping motor 17, a fifth wheel 18 and a second hand wheel 20, and the movement of the rotor 17c of the first stepping motor 17 is a rotor kana 17d, a fifth wheel 18, a fifth wheel kana. 18a, transmitted to the second hand wheel 20 and configured to rotate the second hand wheel 20 and the second hand 2.

  The second drive system 12 includes a second stepping motor 22, an intermediate wheel 23 as a moving member (one of a plurality of members), a third wheel 24, a minute hand wheel 25, a minute wheel not shown, an hour hand wheel 27, and the like. The movement of the rotor 22c of the second stepping motor 22 is transmitted to the rotor kana 22d, the third wheel 24, the third wheel kana 24a, the intermediate wheel 23, the intermediate wheel kana 23a, the minute hand wheel 25, and the minute hand wheel 25. The minute wheel 25 and the minute hand 3, the hour hand wheel 27, and the hour hand 4 rotate in conjunction with the minute wheel 25b of the minute wheel, the minute wheel 26a (see FIG. 2) of the minute wheel, and the hour hand wheel 27. It is like that.

  In FIG. 2, 6 is an upper housing, 7 is a lower housing, 10 is a circuit board, 14 to 16 are bearing plates for holding the shafts of the respective gears, 17a is a coil block of the first stepping motor 17, and 17b is a first housing. A stator of the stepping motor 17, 22 a is a coil block of the second stepping motor 22, and 22 b is a stator of the second stepping motor 22.

  In addition, the internal mechanism of the timepiece module 1 is provided with a detection unit 13 that detects the overlapping state of transmission holes provided in a plurality of gears (hour hand wheel 27, minute hand wheel 25, second hand wheel 20, intermediate wheel 23). ing. The detection unit 13 includes a light emitting unit 31 that emits light by electrical driving and a light receiving unit 32 that receives the light and outputs a detection signal. Although details will be described later, the light emitting unit 31 has, for example, a light emitting diode, and the light receiving unit 32 has, for example, a phototransistor. In this embodiment, the light emitting unit 31 and the light receiving unit 32 are arranged on the dial plate 5 side and the back cover side so as to face each other with the plurality of gears interposed therebetween. When the transmission holes formed in the plurality of gears overlap at the detection position P, the light from the light emitting unit 31 passes through the transmission hole and reaches the light receiving unit 32 to be detected. If the transmission hole formed in the gear does not overlap at the detection position P, the light from the light emitting unit 31 is blocked by the gear and does not reach the light receiving unit 32 so that it is detected.

  4 to 6 are front views showing transmission holes formed in the second hand wheel 20, the minute hand wheel 25, the intermediate wheel 23, and the hour hand wheel 27.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the second hand wheel 20 is formed with a circular first transmission hole 21a at a position overlapping with the second hand 2, for example, and the second second long along the circumferential direction on the same radius as the transmission hole 21a. A long hole 21b and a third long hole 21c are formed. Between the first transmission hole 21a and the second long hole 21b is a first light shielding part 21d, and between the first transmission hole 21a and the third long hole 21c is a second light shielding part 21e. The part 21d and the second light-shielding part 21e are set to different lengths. Further, the third light shielding portion 21f between the second long hole 21b and the third long hole 21c is set at a position 180 degrees from the position of the first transmission hole 21a.

  As shown in FIG. 5, for example, one circular second transmission hole 28 is formed in the minute hand wheel 25 at a position overlapping the minute hand 3. The second transmission hole 28 is formed on the same radius as the first transmission hole 21 a of the second hand wheel 20. The intermediate wheel 23 is formed with one circular fourth transmission hole 30. The fourth transmission hole 30 is formed at the radial position of the intermediate wheel 23 that overlaps with the radial position of the second transmission hole 28 of the minute hand wheel 25.

  In the hour hand wheel 27, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, eleven third transmission holes 29 are provided at positions overlapping with the hour hand 4 and at positions divided every 30 degrees on the same radius. Yes. Each of the third transmission holes 29 is a circular hole. A portion that comes to the 0 o'clock position when the hour hand 4 points to 11 o'clock is not provided with a circular hole, and is a fourth light shielding portion 29a. These third transmission holes 29 are also formed at the same radial position as the first transmission hole 21 a of the second hand wheel 20 and the second transmission hole 28 of the minute hand wheel 25.

  Due to the configuration of the first to fourth transmission holes 21a, 28, 29, and 30 as described above, a predetermined amount (for example, 0:00, 1:00,. 10:00) so that the second transmission hole 28 of the minute hand wheel 25, the third transmission hole 29 of the hour hand wheel 27, and the fourth transmission hole 30 of the intermediate wheel 23 overlap at the detection position P. It has become. In addition, when the remaining 1 hour is reached (for example, 11:00), the fourth light shielding portion 29a of the hour hand wheel 27 comes to the detection position P, and the transmission hole is closed. ing.

  With the configuration of the gears (20, 23, 25, 27) and the transmission holes as described above, the minute hand 3 and the hour hand 4 are set to 12 in a state where the long holes 21b, 21c of the second hand wheel 20 are arranged at the detection position P. By detecting the opening / closing state of the transmission holes by the detection unit 13 while counting the amount of rotation while rotating for the time, the second to fourth transmission holes 28, 29, and 30 overlap each time the rotation is performed. As a result, the position of the minute hand 3 can be detected. At the same time, the overlap of the second to fourth transmission holes 28, 29, 30 is not detected for one hour, so that the position of the hour hand 4 can be detected.

  Further, the second to fourth transmission holes 28 to 30 are overlapped with the detection position P, the second hand 2 is rotated for 60 seconds, and the opening / closing state of the transmission hole is determined by the detection unit 13 while counting the rotation amount. Thus, detection patterns of the first transmission hole 21a, the first light shielding part 21d, the second long hole 21b, the third light shielding part 21f, the third long hole 21c, and the second light shielding part 21e of the second hand wheel 20 are obtained. Thus, the position of the second hand 2 can be detected.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the timepiece module.

  The timepiece module 1 has the following circuit configuration. That is, the timepiece movement 8 including the first stepping motor 17 and the second stepping motor 22 and driving the hands 2 to 4 of the analog display unit, the gears (second hand wheel 20, minute hand wheel 25, intermediate wheel 23, hour hand wheel). 27) The above-described detection unit 13 for detecting the overlapping state of the transmission holes, the AD converter 34 for digitizing and receiving the detection signal of the light receiving unit 32, and a CPU (central processing unit) are incorporated to perform overall control of the device. A microcomputer 35, a nonvolatile memory 36 in which control programs and control data are stored, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 37 that provides a working memory space for the CPU, and an oscillation circuit 38 that forms a clock for measuring time Frequency divider 39, power supply 40 that generates and supplies power for each part from the battery voltage, and receives and receives standard radio waves including time codes. Writing antenna 41 and the detection circuit 42, the illumination unit 43 and the illumination drive circuit 44 to illuminate the clock display unit, a speaker 45 and a buzzer circuit 46 performs alarm output, such as the operation unit 47 composed of a plurality of operation buttons are provided. Among the above-described configurations, the penetration state detecting device is configured by the microcomputer 35, the detection unit 13, and the memories 36 and 37.

  The microcomputer 35 is provided with a time counter that measures the date and time, and the time counter is counted up by a clock from the frequency dividing circuit 39 to measure the current date and time. When the standard radio wave is received by the detection circuit 42, the CPU corrects the value of the time counter to a value represented by the time code, so that the internal time is synchronized with the current time. In addition to the time counter, the microcomputer 35 is provided with a hand position counter for counting the positions of the second hand 2, the minute hand 3 and the hour hand 4, and the first stepping motor 17 and the second stepping motor 22 of the timepiece movement 8 are provided. Each time the actuator is operated, the value of the needle position counter is counted up so that the three needle positions and the values are synchronized. Further, the timepiece movement 8 is controlled so that the values of the time counter and the hand position counter are synchronized, so that the current time is represented by the hands 2 to 4 of the analog display unit.

  In the storage area 36a of the nonvolatile memory 36, LED current setting data representing an optimized setting value of the driving current of the light emitting diode D1 is stored by an LED current setting process described later.

  In the timepiece module 1, the rotors 17 c and 22 c of the stepping motors 17 and 22 rotate when the timepiece module 1 is exposed to a strong magnetic field or a strong impact is applied, even though a drive pulse is output. Otherwise, the rotor 17c, 22c may rotate more than the output of the drive pulse, and the actual needle position and the value of the needle position counter may deviate. Therefore, the CPU of the microcomputer 35 detects the overlapping state of the transmission holes of the gears (second hand wheel 20, intermediate wheel 23, minute hand wheel 25, hour hand wheel 27) at every predetermined time by the detection unit 13, and the needle position counter Check if the value is wrong. When it is determined that the value of the hand position counter is incorrect, the first to fourth transmission holes 21a are continuously detected by the detection unit 13 while rotating the second hand 2, the minute hand 3, and the hour hand 4 at high speed. , 28 to 30 are detected, the actual needle position is detected, and correction processing is performed so that the value of the needle position counter becomes equal.

  FIG. 8 is a circuit configuration diagram showing in detail the detection unit 13 of FIG. 7 and its peripheral portion.

  The light emitting unit 31 of the detecting unit 13 includes a light emitting diode D1 that receives a driving current and outputs light, a constant current circuit 311 that outputs a driving current to the light emitting diode D1, a detection resistor R1 for detecting current, and the like. The When the current start signal IS output from the microcomputer 35 becomes an effective value, a drive current is output from the constant current circuit 311 and the light emitting diode D1 emits light. The constant current circuit 311 constitutes drive means for driving the light emitting unit.

  The constant current circuit 311 is configured to output a multi-bit current value signal IM from the microcomputer 35, and the output current can be changed in multiple gradations based on the current value signal IM. The configuration for changing the magnitude of the output current is not particularly limited. For example, in a circuit that performs current control by generating a reference voltage, a plurality of resistors that generate the reference voltage are switched using transistor switches. This can be realized by the configuration.

  The light receiving unit 32 includes a phototransistor Tr1 that receives light and passes a current corresponding to the intensity thereof, a resistor R2 that converts this current into a voltage signal, a constant voltage circuit 321 that supplies a constant voltage VCC to the phototransistor Tr1, and the like. Composed. When the voltage start signal VS output from the microcomputer 35 to the constant voltage circuit 321 becomes an effective value, the constant voltage circuit 321 outputs a voltage to drive the phototransistor Tr1.

  The AD converter 34 is of a successive approximation type, and includes an analog comparator 341 and a multi-bit (for example, 4 bits) DA converter 342. Although not shown, a successive approximation register that stores the output of the comparator 341 during AD conversion, a logic circuit that performs output control of the DA converter 342, and the like are provided inside the microcomputer 35. The DA converter 342 divides the constant voltage VCC by a plurality of gradations (for example, 4-bit gradation), and outputs a voltage corresponding to the output data DO of the logic circuit to the inverting input terminal of the comparator 341 as a comparison reference voltage. The comparator 341 compares the comparison reference voltage with the input voltage and outputs an output DI representing the comparison result to the successive approximation register. By repeating such comparison a plurality of times, a plurality of gradation AD conversion values are written in the successive approximation register.

  In this AD converter 34, in addition to the above normal AD conversion processing, the operation mode of the logic circuit and the successive approximation register is switched under the control of the CPU of the microcomputer 35. By outputting DO, the CPU can control the comparison reference voltage (voltage of the inverting input terminal) of the comparator 341. Further, the CPU can read the output result DI of the comparator 341 at that time in the state of 1-bit data. That is, by such a control operation, the AD converter 34 can execute a single comparison process (comparation process) between the output voltage of the light receiving unit 32 and the comparison reference voltage (threshold voltage) controlled by the CPU. Yes.

  Next, the control operation in the timepiece module 1 of this embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of main control processing executed by the CPU of the electronic timepiece.

  In the timepiece module 1 of this embodiment, the main control process of FIG. When the main control process is started, first, as one of the initialization processes, an LED current setting process for optimizing a drive current for driving the light emitting diode D1 is performed (step S0).

  After the initialization process is completed, the loop process of steps S1 to S5 is repeatedly executed thereafter. That is, a SW process (step S1) for inputting a switch signal of the operation unit 47 and performing various processes in response to the input, a timing process for appropriately updating the time counter (step S3), whether the hand position is not correct or not Detection, that is, gear position detection processing (step S4) for detecting the gear position interlocked with the pointer, other function processing (step S5) such as radio wave reception processing and various error processing, and loop processing are repeatedly executed. It has become.

  Also, during this loop process, if there is a switch input for the initialization operation in the SW process in step S1, the process branches to Yes in the determination process in step S2, and the LED current is one of the initialization processes. Setting processing (step S2a) is executed. Here, the initialization operation is, for example, a special operation pattern using the operation unit 47, and is operated by a setter during setting processing before factory shipment. Note that it may be operable by the user.

  In the main control process of FIG. 9, the LED current setting process (step S0) is always executed when the power is turned on, but the LED current setting process when the power is turned on is omitted, and the initialization operation is performed. The LED current setting process (step S2a) may be executed only when it is performed. In this case, when the power is turned on, the LED current setting data stored in the nonvolatile memory 36 may be used to perform gear position detection and needle position automatic correction processing.

  FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of the LED current setting process executed in steps S0 and S2a of FIG.

  In the LED current setting process, for example, while the gears 20, 23, 25, 27 are moved to move the hands 2 to 4, the gears 20, 23, 25, 27 are rotated until the following penetrating state is reached, and the penetrating state is reached. This is a process for changing the drive current of the light emitting diode D1 and optimizing it. The through state of the gears 20, 23, 25, 27 means that the transmission holes 21a, 28, 29, 30 (or the transmission holes 28-30 and the long holes 21b, 21c) of the gears 20, 23, 25, 27 are detected positions P. It is a state of overlapping. This state is also referred to as a holed state.

  When the process proceeds to the LED current setting process, first, the value of the needle position counter of the microcomputer 35 is stored in order to return the positions of the hands 2 to 4 to the original positions at the end of the setting process (step S21).

  Next, in step S22, when the state of the gears 20, 23, 25, and 27 is detected and the hole is detected by this state detection, the drive current of the light emitting diode D1 is changed and the optimization process is performed. The LED current adjustment process is executed. The LED current adjustment process will be described in detail later. Then, the process proceeds to subsequent step S23.

  In step S23, it is confirmed whether or not the result of the LED current adjustment processing is determined to have a hole. If it is determined that there is a hole, the LED current should be optimized. The process proceeds to S25, the process of moving the gears and performing the process of returning the hands 2 to 4 to the original needle position stored in step S21, and then the LED current setting process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no hole in the determination process in step S23, the process proceeds to step S24, and the gears 20, 23, 25, 27 are moved and controlled, and the predetermined pointer (2-4) is moved one step again. The process returns to step S22.

  In addition, the hand movement process of step S24 is performed so that, for example, one of the first stepping motor 17 and the second stepping motor 22 is appropriately selected and step-driven. For example, while the loop processing of steps S22 to S24 is repeated, first, the second stepping motor 22 is continuously stepped while the second hand wheel 20 is stopped to rotate the minute hand wheel 25 and the hour hand wheel 27, If it is not determined that there is a hole after rotating for 2 hours, it is determined that the second hand wheel 20 is blocking the transmission hole, and the second hand wheel 20 is rotated by a predetermined angle. Then, in this state, while the second hand wheel 20 is stopped, the second stepping motor 22 is continuously stepped to rotate the minute hand wheel 25 and the hour hand wheel 27. Then, in the loop processing of steps S22 to S24, the gears 20, 23, 25, and 27 can be rotated to the holed state in a relatively short time by the above-described hand movement processing. In addition, the hand movement process in step S24 is to drive the gears 20, 23, 25, 27 with one or two of the minimum hand movement steps of the hands 2 to 4 as one step.

  FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of the LED current adjustment process executed in step S22 of FIG.

  When the process proceeds to the LED current adjustment process, first, an extraneous light measurement process is performed in steps S31 to S33. That is, first, the current start signal IS of the light emitting unit 31 is set to an invalid value to turn off the light emitting diode D1, and further, the phototransistor Tr1 is driven with the voltage start signal VS of the light receiving unit 32 set to an effective value (step S31). Subsequently, the AD converter 34 is caused to perform an AD conversion operation (step S32), an AD conversion value is read from the AD converter 34, and this AD conversion value is set to a variable N representing the intensity of external light (step S33).

  If a value is set for the variable N, it is next confirmed whether the value of the variable N representing the intensity of the extraneous light is within a normal range (for example, a value smaller than “4”) (step S34). If it is within the normal range, the process proceeds to the next process, but if it is a large value exceeding the normal value, the process proceeds to error process.

  As a result, when the process proceeds to the next process, it is determined in steps S36 to S41 whether or not the gears 20, 23, 25, 27 are in a holed state. That is, first, the maximum value “7” is set to the drive current setting variable I of the light emitting diode D1 (step S35), and the value of the variable I is set to the current value data IM sent to the constant current circuit 311 (step S36). Then, the driving of the constant current circuit 311 is started by setting the current start signal IS to an effective value (step S37). As a result, the maximum current is output from the constant current circuit 311 to drive the light emitting diode D1.

  Subsequently, the base threshold value (for example, “8”) as the first threshold value for identifying whether or not the gears 20, 23, 25, 27 are in the penetrating state is set to the external light The intensity value (value of variable N) and the allowable value α of the variation in light quantity are added to obtain a second threshold value (“8 + N + α”) for comparison by the comparator 341 (step S38).

  Here, the tolerance value α of the light quantity variation that can occur in the light reception amount of the light receiving unit 32 when the hole presence / absence detection process is performed a plurality of times under the same conditions is set as the tolerance value α of the light quantity variation. In the conventional apparatus, the variation in the amount of light that can occur in the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 32 is caused by the characteristic variation of each device of the optical element or the circuit element, or caused by the mechanical accuracy of the gears 20, 23, 25, 27. Various variation factors such as those caused by positional variations due to backlash of the gears 20, 23, 25, and 27 were added. Therefore, in the conventional apparatus, it is necessary to largely estimate the allowable value of the light amount variation so that the detection of the presence / absence of the hole can be normally performed even when the above-described variation factors overlap and become the worst state. However, in the apparatus according to this embodiment, the variation in light quantity that can occur in the received light amount is caused by optimizing the light emission amount of the light emitting diode D1 by the LED current setting process due to the characteristic variation and dimensional variation that occurs in each device. It can be excluded from the factors. On the other hand, for example, variations that occur in each of a plurality of detection processes in the same device, such as positional variations based on backlash of the gears 20, 23, 25, and 27, remain as a cause of variations in the amount of light that may occur in the received light amount. . Therefore, the permissible value α of the light quantity variation is added to the determination threshold value. In order to reduce the power consumption for driving the light emitting diode D1, the allowable value α is preferably set to a smaller value.

  Once the threshold value for determination is obtained as described above, this threshold value is then set in the DA converter 342 (step S39). As a result, the light reception signal from the light receiving unit 32 is input to one input terminal of the comparator 341, and a comparison reference voltage proportional to the threshold value for discrimination (“8 + N + α”) is input to the other input terminal. . The comparator 341 outputs a high level or low level output DI indicating these comparison results to the microcomputer 35.

  When the output DI is input from the comparator 341, the CPU of the microcomputer 35 reads this output DI (step S40) and determines whether it is at the high level (step S41). Here, since the current value data IM of the constant current circuit 311 is the maximum value “7”, it can be determined that there is no hole if the output DI is low level, and if the output DI is high level. It can be determined that there is a hole.

  Therefore, when the current setting variable I is the maximum value “7”, if the output DI is determined to be low level in the determination process of step S41, the process proceeds to step S42 to check whether the variable I is the maximum value. If it is the maximum value, the process proceeds to step S43 and it is determined that there is no hole. The determination result of the absence of holes is temporarily stored in the RAM 37 or the like of the microcomputer 35 so that it can be confirmed in subsequent steps. Then, the power sources of the light emitting unit 31 and the light receiving unit 32 are turned off (step S44), and one LED current adjustment process is completed.

  That is, in the above-described LED current setting process (FIG. 10), during the period in which the gears 20, 23, 25, 27 are rotated and moved step by step until the hole is present by the loop process of steps S22 to S24, In the LED current adjustment process (FIG. 11), the process steps are shifted in the flow of steps S31 to S41 and S42 to S44, and in step S43, it is determined that there is no hole.

  On the other hand, when the gears 20, 23, 25, and 27 are in a holed state and the current setting variable I is the maximum value “7”, when the comparator output DI is determined to be high in step S41. By repeating the loop processing of steps S45 and S36 to S41, processing for searching for the optimum current set value is performed. A drive amount adjusting means for optimizing the drive amount of the drive means by driving the light emitting portion while changing the light amount by the drive means by the CPU executing the loop processing of steps S36 to S41, S45 (in FIG. 11, drive amount adjustment). Process).

  That is, the current setting variable I is subtracted by one step (step S45), the value of the variable I subtracted by one step is set in the current value data IM (step S36), and the constant current circuit 311 is driven (step S37). As a result, the constant current circuit 311 outputs a current that is one step lower, and the light emitting diode D1 is driven.

  In the same manner as described above, the threshold value for discrimination (“8 + N + α”) is set in the comparator 341 in steps S38 and S39, and the received light amount of the light receiving unit 32 is compared. In steps S40 and S41, it is determined whether or not the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 32 exceeds the threshold value even when the drive amount of the light emitting diode D1 is further lowered by determining the comparator output DI. Check.

  As a result, if the comparator output DI is still in the high level state (the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 32 exceeds the threshold value), the loop processing of steps S45 and S36 to S41 is repeated, so that step S41 is performed. Thus, the current value is lowered step by step until the comparator output DI is at a low level (the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 32 is below the threshold value).

  If it is determined in this loop processing (steps S45, S36 to S41) that the comparator output DI is at a low level, the current setting variable I at that time is not the maximum value “7” that is the initial value. Since it is known that the level is low after having been determined to be high level (with holes) once in the previous determination process (step S41), it can be confirmed that the hole is still present. Accordingly, the process proceeds to steps S42 and S46. First, the value of the current setting variable I (ie, “I + 1”) when the comparator output DI becomes low level is set to the optimum LED current value. As the LED current setting data to be represented, a drive amount setting process is performed for storing in the storage area 36a of the nonvolatile memory 36 (step S46). The CPU that executes the process of step S46 and the storage area 36a constitute a driving amount setting unit that sets information related to the adjustment result of the driving amount adjusting unit.

  Then, it is determined that there is a hole (step S47), the power source of the detection unit 13 is turned off (step S44), and this LED current adjustment process is terminated. In step S47, it can be determined that there is a hole because the current setting variable I is not the initial maximum value “7”. Therefore, once in the previous determination process (step S41), the level is high (has a hole). This is because it is known that the hole is still present. The determination result of the presence of holes is temporarily stored in the RAM 37 or the like of the microcomputer 35 so that it can be confirmed in subsequent steps. Thereby, when returning to the LED current setting process (FIG. 10), it is confirmed that there is a hole in the determination process of the subsequent step S23, and the LED current setting process is also terminated after exiting the loop process. .

  FIG. 12 is a time chart illustrating an example of an operation when the LED current adjustment process is performed by shifting to the LED current adjustment process in the presence of a hole.

  When there is a hole, that is, when the transmission holes 21a, 28, 29, and 30 of the gears 20, 23, 25, and 27 are overlapped at the detection position P, the above LED current adjustment processing (FIG. 11) is performed. When the transition is made, an operation as shown in FIG. First, in the start period T0 of the LED current adjustment process, without operating the light emitting unit 31 (the LED current remains zero), only the light receiving unit 32 is operated, and in this state, the AD converter 34 is AD converted. Measure the intensity of extraneous light. This is the operation of steps S31 to S33 in FIG.

  Next, in the subsequent period T1, the comparator 341 compares the threshold voltage Vth (voltage corresponding to the threshold “8 + N + α”) with the light reception signal Vcp0 while the light emitting unit 31 is driven at the maximum current Imax. To do. This is the operation of steps S35 to S40 in FIG.

  Here, since the detection target has a hole, the light reception signal Vcp0 becomes higher than the threshold voltage Vth, and the output of the comparator 341 becomes a high level. Accordingly, in the subsequent periods T2, T3, and T4, the drive current of the light emitting unit 31 is lowered step by step (LED currents I-1 to I-3), and the comparator 341 compares the received light signal with the threshold voltage Vth. Is done. This is the loop processing operation of steps S45 and S36 to S41 in FIG. As the LED currents I-1 to I-3 are decreased step by step, the amount of light reaching the light receiving unit 32 is also decreased step by step, and the light reception signals Vcp1 to Vcp3 are also decreased step by step.

  Then, as shown in the period T4, when the light reception signal Vcp3 falls below the threshold voltage Vth and the comparator output becomes a low level, after the period T4, the LED current of the previous stage at this time (in the example of FIG. 12, LED The current I-2) is set to an optimum current value, and a current setting variable I (= “5”) representing this is stored as LED current setting data. This is the operation of steps S41, S42, and S46 in FIG.

  Next, the hole presence / absence detection process using the optimized LED current setting data will be described. FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of the hole presence / absence detection process.

  This hole presence / absence detection process is a process that may be executed in the gear position detection process of step S4 of the main control process of FIG. That is, in the gear position detection process (step S4), first, the time of the time counter is the time when the transmission holes 21a, 28, 29, 30 of the gears 20, 23, 25, 27 overlap at the detection position P (for example, 0 (10:00:00, .., 10:00:00), and it is not the time when the transmission holes 21a, 28, 29, 30 overlap at the detection position P. The gear position detection process (step S4: FIG. 9) is terminated without detecting the presence or absence of holes.

  On the other hand, if the transmission holes 21a, 28, 29, and 30 overlap at the detection position P, the hole presence / absence detection process of FIG. 13 is executed. Then, if it is determined that there is a hole at this time by the hole presence / absence detection process, it is determined that the gears 20, 23, 25, 27 interlocked with the hands 2 to 4 are in the normal position, and the gear position detection process (step) S4: FIG. 9) is normally terminated. On the contrary, if it is determined that there is no hole at this time by the hole presence / absence detection process, it is determined that the gears 20, 23, 25, 27 interlocked with the hands 2-4 are not in the normal position, and these gears 20, 23 are detected. , 25, and 27, the gear position detection process (step S4: FIG. 9) is terminated.

  That is, the hole presence / absence detection process (FIG. 13) is a process for determining whether or not the transmission holes 21a, 28, 29, and 30 are overlapped at the detection position P. By this determination process, It is possible to confirm whether or not the pointers 2 to 4 that rotate in conjunction with the gears 20, 23, 25, and 27 are deviated from the position indicated by the value of the needle position counter of the microcomputer 35.

  When the process proceeds to the hole presence / absence detection process, first, an operating voltage is supplied to the AD converter 34, and a voltage start signal VS is output to the constant voltage circuit 321 to supply a driving voltage to the phototransistor Tr (step S51). Subsequently, the AD converter 34 is subjected to an AD conversion operation (step S52). When the AD conversion operation is completed, an AD conversion value is read and set to a variable N representing the intensity of external light (step S53).

  Next, it is confirmed whether the value of the variable N is an appropriate value (for example, smaller than “4”). If the value is an appropriate value, the process proceeds to the next process, but becomes an excessive value such as “4” or more. If so, it is determined that the extraneous light is too strong and the process proceeds to error processing.

  When the value of the variable N is appropriate and the process proceeds to the next process, first, the LED current setting data stored in the storage area 36a of the nonvolatile memory 36 is read and set to the current value data IM output to the constant current circuit 311. (Step S55). This LED current setting data is set as a current setting value optimized in the LED current setting process performed earlier. The LED current setting data is not read from the nonvolatile memory 36 every time, but is written in a work area such as the RAM 37 of the microcomputer 35 at a predetermined timing, and thereafter, the LED current written in the RAM 37 or the like is written. Setting data may be used.

  After setting the current value data IM, the CPU of the microcomputer 35 outputs the current start signal IS to the constant current circuit 311 (step S56). As a result, the drive current optimized for the constant current circuit 311 is output, and the light emitting diode D1 emits light.

  Subsequently, as the threshold value of the comparator 341, a value obtained by adding the value of the variable N indicating the intensity of the extraneous light to the predetermined threshold value “8” is set (step S57), and this value is set as the DA converter. It is set to 342 (step S58). As a result, the light reception signal of the light receiving unit 32 is input to one input terminal of the comparator 341, and the voltage based on the threshold is input to the other input terminal, and these are compared.

  Subsequently, the comparator output DI representing the comparison result is read (step S59), and it is determined whether the output DI is high level or low level (step S60). If the level is high, it is determined that there is a hole (step S61). If the level is low, it is determined that there is no hole (step S62). Thereafter, when the presence / absence of a hole is determined, the power of the detection unit 13 is turned off, and the hole presence / absence detection process is terminated.

  As described above, according to the penetration state discriminating device (detector 13, microcomputer 35, gears 20, 23, 25, 27) of this embodiment and the timepiece module 1 incorporating the same, the hand position is detected. For this reason, the driving current of the light emitting diode D1 is optimized to the lowest current level within a range in which it is possible to discriminate between the holed state and the holeless state, so that excessive driving of the light emitting diode D1 is suppressed. Further, it is possible to reduce power consumption in the gear position detection process and the gear position automatic correction process.

  In addition, since the current level is optimized for each device, the light emitting diode D1, the phototransistor Tr1, and the components of the drive circuits 311 and 312 have different characteristics for each device. By optimizing the driving current of the diode D1, it is possible to eliminate the influence due to the characteristic variation of each component of each device.

  Further, in order to search for the optimum driving current of the light emitting diode D1, the variable N representing the intensity of the extraneous light is set to a predetermined base threshold value “8” for determining whether or not there is a hole. The value and an allowable value α for variation in light quantity are added to obtain a reference threshold value (“8 + N + α”), and the light emitting diode D1 is actually driven while varying the light quantity, The driving current of the light emitting diode D1 that can distinguish between the state with a hole and the state without a hole by comparing with the voltage of the threshold value (“8 + N + α”), and the one that has the lowest current level Since it is set as the LED current, the driving current of the light emitting diode D1 can be reliably discriminated between the state with a hole and the state without a hole, and can be set to an optimum value that minimizes the current value. .

  In the LED current setting process, if the situation where the intrusion of the external light is almost zero is ensured, the value of the variable N indicating the intensity of the external light is set as the reference threshold value. You may make it omit the process to add. Even in this case, the driving current of the light emitting diode D1 can be set to an optimum value.

  Further, according to the LED current setting process (FIG. 10) and the LED current adjustment process (FIG. 11) executed therein, the light emitting diode D1 is driven with the maximum current (steps S35 to S37), When the light reception signal does not exceed the threshold voltage (step S41), it is determined that there is no hole (step S43), and the gears 20, 23, 25, 27 are rotated by one step (step S24). Such a process is repeated before shifting to the LED current optimizing process, so that the state of the gears 20, 23, 25, and 27 can be displaced to the holed state. Then, when the gears 20, 23, 25, 27 are in a holed state, the LED current is decreased step by step (step S45), and the received light amount is compared with the threshold value (step S40). , S41), when the received light signal falls below the threshold value, the preceding LED current is set as the optimum drive current (step S46), so the processing time and consumption of the LED current setting process (FIG. 10) are reduced. Electric power is also reduced.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the optimized drive current of the light emitting diode D1 is stored in the nonvolatile memory 36 as the LED current setting data is shown. However, after performing the drive current optimization process, for example, the trimming resistor It is also possible to adopt a setting method in which setting is performed using a method such that only an optimized drive current is output.

  Further, when searching for the optimum driving current, the gears 20, 23, 25, 27 are rotated to the through state (the state with holes). For example, the gears 20, 23, 25, 27 are turned on. By searching for and setting the optimum drive current before installation, the process of rotating the gear to the through state can be omitted.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment showed the example which applied the penetration state discrimination | determination apparatus of this invention to the structure which discriminate | determines the overlap state of the transmission holes 21a, 28, 29, 30 of the some gearwheels 20,23,25,27. The present invention can also be applied to a configuration in which it is determined whether or not the transmission hole of one moving member has reached the detection position. In the above embodiment, an example in which the penetrating state discriminating device is used for detecting the hand position of the timepiece module 1, that is, the gear position interlocking with the pointer has been shown. It can be similarly applied to the apparatus. In addition, the detailed structure and method shown in the above embodiment can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is a front view which shows the timepiece module of embodiment of this invention. It is arrow AA sectional view taken on the line of the timepiece module of FIG. It is the rear view which looked at the structure of the gearwheel which rotates a needle | hook from the back cover side. It is a front view showing the hole formed in the second hand wheel. It is a front view showing the hole formed in the minute hand wheel and the intermediate wheel. It is a front view showing the hole formed in the hour hand wheel. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of a timepiece module. It is the circuit block diagram which showed in detail the detection part which functions as a penetration state discrimination device, and its peripheral part. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the main control process performed by CPU of a microcomputer. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the LED electric current setting process performed in step S0, S2a of a main control process. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the LED current adjustment process performed by step S22 of LED current setting process. It is the time chart which showed an example of operation | movement of the detection part when performing the optimization setting of LED current. It is the flowchart which showed the operation | movement procedure of the hole presence detection process performed in the middle of the gear position detection process of a main control process.

Explanation of symbols

1 Clock module (electronic clock)
2 second hand 3 minute hand 4 hour hand 13 detector 20 second hand wheel (moving member)
21a First transmission hole 25 Minute hand wheel (moving member)
28 Second transmission hole 27 Hour hand wheel (moving member)
29 3rd transmission hole 31 Light emission part 32 Light reception part 34 AD converter 35 Microcomputer 36 Non-volatile memory 36a LED current setting data storage area 311 Constant current circuit 321 Constant voltage circuit D1 Light emitting diode Tr1 Phototransistor 341 Comparator 342 DA converter

Claims (7)

In the penetrating state discriminating apparatus for discriminating the penetrating state of the moving member by receiving the light emitted from the light emitting unit by the light receiving unit through the transmission hole of the moving member,
Driving means for driving the light emitting unit;
A driving amount adjusting unit that optimizes the driving amount of the driving unit by driving the light emitting unit while changing the amount of light by the driving unit ;
The drive amount adjusting means includes
Based on a second threshold value obtained by adding an allowable value of variation in light quantity to a predetermined first threshold value in order to determine whether or not the moving member is in a penetrating state, A penetrating state discriminating apparatus , wherein the driving amount is optimized so that the amount of light received by the light receiving unit is greater and the driving amount of the driving means is minimized . In the penetrating state discriminating apparatus that discriminates the penetrating state of the moving member by receiving the light emitted from the light emitting unit by the light receiving unit through the transmission hole of the moving member,
Drive means capable of variably driving the light emitting unit;
In the state where the light emitted from the light emitting unit is received by the light receiving unit through the transmission hole of the moving member, the driving unit drives the light emitting unit while changing the amount of light to optimize the driving amount of the driving unit. Driving amount adjusting means
Driving amount setting means for setting information relating to the adjustment result of the driving amount adjusting means ,
The driving unit is configured to be driven with a driving amount set by the driving amount setting unit during an operation of determining whether or not the moving member is in a penetrating state,
The drive amount adjusting means includes
Based on a second threshold value obtained by adding an allowable value of variation in light quantity to a predetermined first threshold value in order to determine whether or not the moving member is in a penetrating state, A penetrating state discriminating apparatus , wherein the driving amount is optimized so that the amount of light received by the light receiving unit is greater and the driving amount of the driving means is minimized . The drive amount adjusting means includes
The amount of light received by the light receiving unit when the light emitting unit is in a non-light emitting state is measured as the amount of extraneous light, and the first threshold value includes an allowable value of the variation in the amount of light, and further, a light amount of the extraneous light. The penetration state determination device according to claim 1, wherein the second threshold value is added. The drive amount adjusting means includes
In a state where the light emitted from the light emitting unit is received by the light receiving unit through the transmission hole of the moving member, the driving amount of the light emitting unit is changed stepwise from a large value to a small value, and the process of this change 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the amount of light received by the light receiving means falls below the second threshold value, the drive amount of the preceding stage when the amount falls below the second threshold value is used as an adjustment result. The penetration state discriminating device described. The drive amount adjusting means includes
While moving the moving member, the driving amount of the driving unit is set to an initial value, and it is determined whether or not the light receiving amount of the light receiving unit exceeds the second threshold value, and the light receiving amount is the second value. The penetration according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein when the threshold value is exceeded, the moving member is in the penetration state, and the process proceeds to the drive amount optimization process. State determination device. The moving member is composed of a plurality of members each having a transmission hole,
The penetration state determination according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the penetration state of the moving member is a state in which transmission holes of the plurality of members overlap each other between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit. apparatus. The penetrating state determination device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 ,
An electronic timepiece that detects the position of a pointer by determining whether or not the moving member that moves in conjunction with the pointer is in a penetrating state by the penetrating state determining device.

Images