JPH0260316A - Electronic timer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the setting mistake and the setting error of the time limit setting and to improve a reliability by providing a switch for setting a time range, a time range setting means and a time range displaying means and setting a time range to a desired value. CONSTITUTION:After an action mode change-over switch 5 is operated, an action mode is set, and when keys 7A and 7B for setting a time range are operated, the CPU in an IC12 is operated, a time range is changed and displayed at a time range displaying part 8. At this time, when the time range is set to for example 1.2 seconds, it is set to the smallest time range, namely, 2 second in over 1.2 seconds, it is displayed at a displaying part 8, a dial for setting the time limit is set to 1.2 seconds and the set value is displayed at a set time limit displaying part 9. Thus, an effective figure 1 digit is continuously changed, the time range can be set to the desired value, and therefore, the setting mistake and the setting error of the time limit setting can be reduced and the reliability can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of the Invention) The present invention relates to an electronic timer in which time limits can be set using a dial, and the time limits can be set with multiple time specifications.

(Summary of the Invention) The present invention is an electronic timer in which the time limit is set using a dial, and is configured so that the time range can be continuously changed by the user's operation. This reduces damage and also reduces errors in time setting.

(Prior art and its problems) Electronic timers (hereinafter referred to as "timers") allow you to set the time limit until setup by turning a dial, and to set the time limit by operating a time unit changeover switch. Microwave to 0. 5 seconds, 1 second, 5 seconds・
. . 5 hours, ] 0 hours, 100 hours, etc.

However, with conventional timers, the time range that can be set as described above is fixed and varies greatly, for example, from 1 second to 5 seconds.
It was only possible to continuously change the time range like seconds, 4 seconds, 8 seconds, 9 seconds, 10 seconds, etc.

Therefore, for example, in the case of a system that will be damaged if it is operated for more than 2 seconds, setting the time range to 2 seconds will prevent the time limit setting from being accidentally set beyond 2 seconds and destroying the system. However, as mentioned above, conventional timers could not do this, so there was a problem in that the time limit was accidentally set beyond the operating time limit of the system, resulting in system destruction.

Furthermore, as is well known, the error of a timer is smaller when the time limit setting is close to the maximum value in the time range, but with conventional timers, for example, when setting a time limit of 1.1 seconds, the time range is set to 5 seconds. Therefore, there was a problem that the difference between the set time limit and the time range became large, and the error of the timer became large.

(Objective of the Invention) An object of the present invention is to provide a highly reliable timer by reducing setting errors and setting errors in time limit setting by configuring the time range to be set to a desired value. This is the purpose.

(Structure and Effects of the Invention) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an electronic timer in which a time limit until time-up is set by a dial, and a time range setting switch, and by operating this switch, the time range can be changed continuously. The present invention is characterized by comprising: a time range setting means for changing the time range; and a time range display means for displaying the time range set by the time range setting means.

(Explanation of Examples) Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a timer showing one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes the main body of the timer, and a dial 3 for setting a time limit is provided in the center of the front panel, and a scale 4 is engraved around the dial 3. The scale 4 is a percentage scale that indicates the position of the hand of the dial 3 as a percentage when the time range is 100%, and in the example shown in FIG. 1, the dial 3 is at the 60% position.

For example, there is a light emitting diode (LE) on the left side of the front panel.
A time-up display lamp 2 consisting of D) is provided, and a set time display section 9 consisting of a liquid crystal (LCD) or LED is provided at the upper right.

The set time limit display section 9 is for displaying the time limit set by the dial 3 not as a percentage but as a specific time. In FIG. 1, 1.2 s (seconds) is displayed as the specific time of the set time limit.

Keys 7A and 7B for setting the time range are provided at the lower right of the front panel. Key 7A is for increasing the time range, and key 7B is for decreasing the time range. The time range set by these keys 7A or 7B is displayed on a time range display section 8 formed of an LCD or LED provided on the left side thereof. In Figure 1, the set time range is 2.
S (seconds) is displayed. That is, the time limit is set to 60% for this time range of 2 seconds, and its specific value is displayed on the set time limit display section 9 as 1.2 seconds.

An operating mode selector switch 5 is provided at the lower left corner of the front panel, and this switch 5 changes the timer output relay contact from A contact (make contact) to B contact (break contact), as will be described later. This is to switch from B contact to A contact. The operation mode set by this switch 5 is displayed on the -1- operation mode display section 6 as, for example, rAJ.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the electrical configuration of the timer shown in FIG. 1.

The electric circuit of the timer according to the present invention is mainly composed of the IC 12. This IC12 is a well-known RAM (not shown).
, a ROM, a CPU, an A/D conversion circuit, a clock circuit, a display circuit for displaying the time limit on the setting time display section 9, and a time range on the time range display section 8, etc. The circuit includes the L of the setting time display section 9.
A CD or LED, an LED spanning the LCD of the time range display section 8, and a time-up display lamp 2 are connected. A variable resistor 11- whose resistance value changes by rotating the dial 3 is connected to the A/D conversion circuit constituting the IC 12. Also key 7
Each of A, 7B, and operation mode selector switch 5 is I.
It is connected to the input circuits C1 and C2, and is also connected to a power supply circuit]3, which is configured to supply the necessary power. A coil IOA of a relay 10 is connected to the output circuits of IC1 and IC2, and output terminals TI and T2 of a timer are connected to a switch IOB that is turned on and off by this.

The program for setting the time range is IC1-2
This program is stored in the ROM of , and while operating key 7A to increase the time range,
The time range changes continuously to one significant digit without skipping, for example, 1 second, 2 seconds, 13 seconds...8 seconds, 9 seconds, 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds... It is set up like this. Similarly, when the unit of time is ``minutes'' or ``hours,'' the numbers are written so that the one significant digit changes continuously. In the case of 1 second or less, 0.1 second,
The program is set up so that one significant digit after the decimal point changes continuously, such as 0°2 seconds, 0.3 seconds...0.8 seconds, and 9 seconds. When you stop operating the key 7A, the time range also stops changing.

On the other hand, while operating key 7B, the time range decreases, for example, 10 seconds, 9 seconds, 8 seconds...3 seconds, etc.
It is set up so that one significant digit changes continuously without skipping a second, such as 2 seconds and 1 second. key 7B
If you stop operating, the time range will also stop decreasing. 1 second”
Not only time ranges in units of , but also ``minutes'' and ``hours''.
Even in the time range in units of , the unit is set so that one significant digit changes continuously.

Next, the operation of the timer will be explained.

First, the operation mode changeover switch 5 is operated to set the operation mode. Next, the keys 7A and 7B are operated to set the time range. Key 7A.

When 7B is operated, the CPU in IC12 operates and RO
The time range is changed according to the program in M, and the time range is displayed on the time range display section 8 by driving the display circuit.

Here, the time range is the setting of the time limit after this, for example, 12
When setting it to 2 seconds, set it to the minimum time range of 1.2 seconds or more, that is, 2 seconds, and rotate the dial 3 to 60% to set it to 1.2 seconds. The set value is displayed on the set time display section 9.

That is, when the dial 3 is rotated, the resistance value of the variable resistor 11 changes, and the A/D conversion circuit outputs a digital signal corresponding to the resistance value to the CPU. Then, the CPU calculates a specific time limit from the digital signal and the set time range, and displays it on the set time limit display section 9.

At the same time, the CPU observes the passage of time by counting clocks, and when the time has expired, it lights up the time-up indicator lamp 2 and flows current through the coil IOA of the relay 10 to switch IOA.
Connect OB. As a result, the external devices connected to the terminals T, T2 start operating.

As is clear from the following explanation, the timer according to the present invention can set the time range to a desired value by continuously changing one significant digit, so if it is operated for more than 2 seconds, it will be damaged. For systems where the time range is
By setting the time limit to seconds, it is possible to prevent the time limit from being set to exceed two seconds by mistake, thereby preventing damage to the system. Further, for example, when setting the time limit to 1.2 seconds, by setting the time range to 2 seconds, the difference between the set time limit and the time range can be made very small, thereby reducing errors in setting the time limit.

From these points, it is possible to obtain a timer that is highly reliable and easy to use.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a timer according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
This figure is a block diagram of the electric circuit in the timer shown in FIG. 1. 3...Dial for time limit setting] 0 4...Scale 7A of dial 3. 7B... Time range setting key 8... Time range display section 10... Relay 12... IC

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An electronic timer in which a time limit until time-up is set by a dial, comprising: a time range setting switch; a time range setting means for continuously changing the time range by operating the switch; An electronic timer comprising: time range display means for displaying the time range set by the time range setting means;