JPH04188093A - Digital time indicator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent occurrence of error in inputting time in audio components and the like by switching automatically the indication available both of 12 hours and 24 hours indications to 24 hours indication in time input mode. CONSTITUTION:On an audio component and the like, a time indication means 1 to realize a timer function, input mode setting means 2 and an indication switching means 3 are provided. The time indication means 1 is available both of 12 hours digital indication in before noon and after noon and 24 hours digital indication. The input mode setting means 2 is set in the time setting mode to indicate desired time on the time indication means 1. The indication switching means 3 detects switching to input mode is effected and then indicates automatically the time indication in the time indication means 1 in 24 hours. By this, 24 hours indication is automatically set during time inputting regardless of the previous time indication and thus input error is prevented.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] Digital time display devices in various devices that have a timer function display the time in a 12-hour or 24-hour format. 12-hour display is desirable from the standpoint of custom. However, when inputting time such as timer time, it is preferable to use 24-hour display to prevent errors in inputting morning and afternoon, calculation of elapsed time, etc.
Particularly when entering the time using a numeric keypad that is also used for other purposes, a 24-hour display that does not require the AM and PM input keys is desirable, so the display is automatically switched to the 24-hour display when inputting the time.

[Industrial application field]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a digital time display device, and more particularly to a display when inputting time on a time display device in a device having a timer function.

[Conventional technology]

A time display device in a device having a timer function, such as an AV device having an automatic recording function, may display 12 hours each in the morning and afternoon, or may display 24 hours in a day. The 12-hour display is the most commonly used time display in daily life, and is the most familiar display based on habit. Therefore, the 12-hour display is desirable for normal clock time display. However, there is a problem in that calculating the elapsed time over the morning and afternoon is complicated. On the other hand, the 24-hour display is often used in fields that require consistent time display and calculation of elapsed time, such as train timetables.

In normal conditions, the time display device of a device with a timer function displays the clock time as is.
When inputting the timer time to operate the timer function, the timer's time is input using the time display that displays the time on the clock. The time display in this case is either a 12-hour display or a 24-hour display. Typical methods for inputting the time are an up-down key system that changes the numbers on the display, and a ten-key system that inputs numbers, and the same method is used to adjust the time on a clock. For digital watches, 12
Some devices allow the user to select between time display and 24-hour display, but changing the display requires a second operation.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

For time display devices for equipment that frequently uses timer functions, such as AV equipment, it is important to improve the operability for inputting timer time, and the function to display clock time must also be easy to understand. t is required.

However, in conventional time display devices, when displaying a 12-hour display suitable for clock time display, the timer time input is directly performed in a 12-hour display.

This has led to problems such as errors in inputting morning and afternoon, and calculation errors in setting elapsed time between morning and afternoon. Therefore, it is preferable to enter the time on a 24-hour display, and some models use a 24-hour display, but in that case, the normal clock time is also displayed in 24-hour format.
Currently, this is not desirable as a clock display because it is performed every 4 hours.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to realize a time display device that can optimally display both a clock display and a timer display when inputting time.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to solve the above problems, the time display device of the present invention has the following features:
Automatically switches to 24-hour display when inputting time. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the basic configuration of a digital time display device of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a time display means, which has a digital 12-hour display divided into morning and afternoon, and a digital 24-hour display.
Time display is possible. Reference numeral 2 denotes an input mode setting means, which sets a time setting mode for displaying a desired time on the time display means 1. Reference numeral 3 denotes a display switching means, which detects that the mode has been switched to the input mode and automatically changes the time display of the time display means 1 to a 24-hour display. As a result, the digital time display device of the present invention automatically changes to the 24-hour display when the time is input, regardless of the time display up to that point.

[For production]

It has already been mentioned that 12-hour display is desirable when displaying normal clock time, and 24-hour display is desirable when inputting timer time. In the time display device of the present invention, when inputting the timer time, etc., the input mode setting means 2 is set to the time input mode so that the time display device can detect that subsequent input is a time input. ing. When the time input mode is entered, the display switching means 3 detects that the time input mode is entered, and automatically changes the time display of the time display means 1 to a 24-hour display. Since the time display means 1 displays the input time in a 24-hour format, it is possible to input the timer time and the like while viewing this display.

〔Example〕

For devices that frequently use timer functions, operability for inputting timer times is important. The method of inputting the displayed timer time using up/down keys requires time to change to the desired timer time, and there are problems with the operability of making the timer match the desired value. In comparison, the numeric keypad input method, which allows desired values to be entered directly by operating buttons corresponding to the numbers 0 to 9, is more expensive but has superior operability. An embodiment of an audio device having a numeric keypad input method will be described.

FIG. 2 is an example of an operation panel for an audio device in which timer settings are performed using a numeric keypad input method.

Actually, there are many other functions, and there are also operation buttons for those functions, but those that are not directly related to the present invention and explanation are omitted from display. It is common to use a t1 microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as microcomputer) to execute instructions input from the operation panel shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3 shows its configuration. Furthermore, FIG. 4 shows the operation of the microcomputer 31 regarding time display.

The operation regarding time display in this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

When this audio device is operating normally, or when the power is on but no sound output or other operations are being performed, the time display LED 22 displays the clock time using the built-in clock function for 12 hours. are doing. In the morning, the indicator 24 lights up, and in the afternoon, the indicator 25 lights up, indicating morning and afternoon, respectively. These operations are steps 101 and 10 in FIG.
Corresponds to 2.

Next, a case will be described in which a timer function is executed to start or stop the audio device at a predetermined time. To execute the timer function, it is first necessary to specify the target sound source, and the sound source is specified using the switches 11 to 14 next to each sound source display in FIG. The microcomputer 31 specifies the target sound source of the timer through the port 47 and detects that there is an instruction to input the timer (step 103). Unless this input is made, steps 101 to 103 are repeated. Next, in step 104, initialization such as stopping the clock display on the time display LED 22 and clearing all displays is performed. In step 105,
Memorizes the sound source targeted by the timer function. The timer has an on-timer function for operating the target device at a predetermined time and an off-timer function for stopping the operation at a predetermined time, and which function is to be performed is designated by the timer ON switch 19 and timer OFF switch 20. The microcomputer 31 is
This is read and stored in step 106. Next, use the numeric keypad 23 to input the time at which the timer is to operate. In step 107, this input is read, and the numbers input in step 108 are displayed on the LED 22 in order from the first t.

At this time, it is important that all numbers are entered and displayed in a 24-hour format. The time is set by entering a four-digit number. For example, if it is 6:30 pm, 1830 is input. In step 109, it is determined whether the input of four digits has been completed, and in step 110, it is determined whether the input four digit number matches a predetermined format. For example, since a number such as 5000 does not match the predetermined format, re-input is requested and the process returns to step 107.

If the input format matches, in step 111, the target sound source, types of on-timer and off-timer, and timer time that have already been stored are set in a predetermined timer routine. This timer routine is common and will not be described here.

If only the on-timer or off-timer is to be activated, it is sufficient to input the timer time once, so press the switches 11 to 14 again to complete the timer input. If you want to operate both the on timer and off timer, enter the timer time again. This is determined in step 112, and when the timer input is completed, the process returns to step 101, and the clock time is displayed again in 12-hour format on the time display LED 22.

When listening to music using normal switch operations,
The numeric keypad 23 is used to select radio broadcast channels and CD tracks. That is, numeric keypad 23
is used not only for time input but also for other operations. Since increasing the number of input keys and switches increases the cost, it is desirable that the input keys and switches can be shared as much as possible, and the numeric keypad with numbers 0 to 9 can be used for multiple purposes. In the time display device of the present invention, timer time input, etc. are all displayed in a 24-hour display, so input can be made using only the numeric keypad. However, if input is to be performed using a 12-hour display, AM and PM input keys are required in addition to the numeric keypad, which increases the number of keys and increases costs. Also from this point of view, the time display device of the present invention is advantageous.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a time display device in which normal clock time is displayed in an easy-to-read 12-hour display, and when inputting time, it is easy to input and displays a 24-hour display with fewer errors. In particular, in the case of a numeric keypad type input means that allows time input with good operability, there is no need to add a key switch, and costs can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the basic configuration of a digital time display device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an operation panel of an audio device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a microcomputer system for controlling input from the operation panel of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart regarding processing of time display and timer input in the microcomputer system of FIG. 3. . 1... Time display means, 2... Input mode setting means, 3... Display switching means, 22... LE for time display
D, 23...Ten+-131...Microcomputer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Time display means (1) capable of digital 12-hour display divided into morning and afternoon, and digital 24-hour display; a desired time is displayed on the time display means (1). input mode setting means (2) for setting the time input mode to a time input mode; and display switching means for detecting the switching to the time input mode and automatically changing the time display of the time display means (1) to a 24-hour display. (3), automatically 24 seconds when inputting the time.
A digital time display device that displays the time.