JPH08179063A - Luminescent clock - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a luminescent clock attaining a proper visual effect. CONSTITUTION: An EL element 1 shows the luminescent color corresponding to the frequency of the drive AC voltage generated by a driving circuit 2. The driving circuit 2 is constituted of an astable multivibrator 3 generating the oscillation output corresponding to a connected resistance value and a transformer L fed with electrical power from a transistor to driven by the oscillation output. The frequency of the driving AC voltage generated by the secondary coil 12 of the transformer L coincides with the frequency of the oscillation output of the astable multivibrator 3. The resistance value is periodically switched by a resistance changing circuit 4 to change the oscillation frequency, and the luminescent color is also switched. The dazzling and bothering impression caused when the brightness of the EL element 1 is excessively switched is not given to a user. The switching cycle is accelerated by a selecting circuit 7 as the present time counted by a time control circuit 8 approaches the alarm time, and a sufficient visual effect is obtained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a light emitting timepiece.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a light-emitting timepiece using an EL element as a dial or hands has a type that emits light only when a button is pressed.
There are a type that automatically emits light when the surroundings are darkened by CdS and a type that emits light after an alarm is set.

[0003]

However, in all of the conventional EL devices, the EL elements used in them have the same luminescent color, which is sufficient for use as the illumination of the dial. , With or without alarm set,
When a visual effect is required, such as when an alarm time is indicated or when a demonstration operation is performed, it is not enough to make the light always emit, and the light is blinked. In other words, in the conventional art, there was no choice but to diversify the blinking pattern in order to obtain the visual effect. On the contrary, blinking the EL element causes an excessive visual effect, which causes flickering of eyes and annoyance.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a light-emitting timepiece capable of obtaining an appropriate visual effect.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems E provided as a light source
Light emission including an L element, a drive circuit that generates an AC voltage for driving the EL element, and a control circuit that changes the frequency of the AC voltage according to specific conditions to change the emission color of the EL element The above object is achieved by constructing a timepiece.

Here, it is preferable that the control circuit switches the emission color of the EL element in a short cycle as it approaches a timing at which a specific time or a specific time is measured.

[0007]

Next, a light emitting timepiece according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the light emitting timepiece of this example, a dial is provided with an EL element, and the emission color of the EL element is switched by changing the frequency of an AC voltage for driving the EL element. First, the configuration of this example will be described with reference to the electric circuit diagram of FIG. In the figure, 1 is a well-known EL element, which is mounted on a timepiece dial as shown in FIG. This E
As will be described later, the L element 1 changes its emission color from green to blue as the frequency of the driving AC voltage increases.

Reference numeral 2 is a drive circuit, which generates an AC voltage for driving the EL element 1. This drive circuit 2 includes a secondary coil l
2 includes a transformer L in which 2 is connected in parallel to the EL element 1, a transistor t0 that controls the current to the primary coil 11 of the transformer L, and an astable multivibrator 3 that pulse-drives the transistor t0.
By turning 0 on and off, the transformer L is excited to obtain a driving AC voltage. The frequency of the driving AC voltage is equal to the frequency of the driving pulse of the transistor t0, that is, determined by the oscillation frequency of the astable multivibrator 3. Here, the astable multivibrator 3 comprises a timer circuit 31, and the timer circuit 31 is, for example,
According to the SE555 type IC manufactured by Signetics, the terminal tr shown in the figure is a trigger terminal, the terminal th is a threshold terminal, the terminal di is a discharge terminal, and the terminal v.
c corresponds to the Vcc terminal. Such a timer circuit 31
Short-circuits the terminals tr and th, and the terminals di and v
The resistors R0 and R1 are connected between the terminals c and between the terminals di and th, respectively.
, And a capacitor C0 is connected to the terminal tr to operate as an astable multivibrator. The oscillation frequency f is the resistance value of the resistors R0 and R1 and the capacitor C0.
Let the capacitance values of R0, R1, and C0 be f = K
/ ((R0 + 2R1) C0). K is a constant unique to the timer circuit 31. That is, the oscillation frequency can be easily changed by adjusting the resistance value of the resistor connected between the terminals di and th.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a resistance changing circuit, which connects another resistance in parallel with the resistance R1 of the astable multivibrator 3 so as to change the resistance value of the resistance connected between the terminal di and the terminal th. It changes the oscillation frequency. Here, a series circuit in which a transistor t1 and a resistor R2 are connected in series is connected in parallel with the resistor R1 of the astable multivibrator 3, and the transistor t1 is driven by the output of the T-flip-flop 41. Further, the T-flip-flop 41 inverts the output at the rising edge of the clock applied to the terminal T, whereby the terminal di and the terminal th
The resistance value between them is changed, and the frequency of the driving AC voltage is also changed.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a frequency dividing circuit, 6 denotes a clock source, and the three-stage frequency dividing circuit 5 uses a clock (here, 1 Hz) generated by the clock source 6 at terminals Q1, Q2, Q.
The frequency is divided by 3 into 1/2, 1/4, and 1/8 and output. The outputs of these frequency dividing circuits 5 are selected by a selecting circuit described later and output to the T-flip-flop 41 as a clock.

A selection circuit 7 selects a clock applied to the terminal T of the T-flip-flop. The selection circuit 7 includes AND gates an0 to an7, an alarm time counting circuit tim, a first comparison circuit co1 to a third comparison circuit co3, an inverter i1, and a NAND gate na1.
.About.na3 and an OR gate or1. Each of the AND gates an0 to an4 has at its one input terminal a timing pulse from a timing pulse generating circuit, a clock from a clock source 6, a clock from a terminal Q1 of the frequency dividing circuit 5, and a clock from a terminal Q2. , Receiving the clock from terminal Q3. Also, these AND
The outputs of the gates an0 to an4 are output to the terminal T of the T-flip-flop 41 via the OR gate or1. These AND gates an0 to an4 supply the timing pulse or clock applied to one of the input terminals to the T-flip-flop 41 by setting the other input terminal to "H".

The other terminals of the AND gates an0 to an4 are controlled by the alarm time counting circuit tim and the first comparison circuit co1 to the third comparison circuit co3. The alarm time counting circuit tim receives an alarm time from a clock control circuit, which will be described later, stores the alarm time, measures the time difference between this alarm time and the current time sequentially sent from the clock control circuit, and determines the time difference as the first time difference. It outputs to the comparison circuit co1 to the third comparison circuit co3. Each of the first comparison circuit co1 to the third comparison circuit co3 compares a predetermined value set therein with a time difference, and switches the output from “L” to “H” when the time difference becomes smaller than the predetermined value. For example, here, the first comparison circuit co1 to the third comparison circuit co3 switch outputs when the time difference becomes smaller than 60 minutes, 30 minutes, and 5 minutes, respectively. That is, these sequentially switch the output from "L" to "H" as the alarm time approaches. The outputs of the first comparison circuit co1 to the third comparison circuit co3 are as follows.
The other input terminal of an4 is selectively set to "H".

The output of the first comparison circuit co1 is applied to the other terminal of the AND gate an4 via the inverter i1 and one output terminal of the AND gate an5 whose output terminal is connected to the other input terminal of the AND gate an3. It is applied to the input terminal and is also applied to one input terminal of the NAND gate na1 whose output terminal is connected to the other input terminal of the AND gate an5. As a result, the first comparison circuit c
When the output of o1 is "L", the other input terminal of the AND gate an4 becomes "H", and when the output switches to "H", the AND gate an4 replaces the AND gate an4.
The other input terminal of 3 becomes "H". The output of the second comparison circuit co2 is applied to the other input terminal of the NAND gate na1, and the output terminal is connected to the AND gate a.
It is applied to one input terminal of an AND gate an6 connected to the other input terminal of n2, and is applied to one input terminal of a NAND gate na2 whose output terminal is connected to the other input terminal of the AND gate an6. As a result, when the output of the second comparison circuit co2 switches to "H", NA
When the output of the ND gate na1 becomes "L", A
The other input terminal of the ND gate an3 becomes "L", and the other input terminal of the AND gate an2 becomes "H" instead. The output of the third comparison circuit co3 is N
It is applied to the other input terminal of the AND gate na2 and is applied to one input terminal of an AND gate an7 whose output terminal is connected to the other input terminal of the AND gate an1, and the output terminal is the other of the AND gate an7. Is applied to one input terminal of the NAND gate na3 connected to the input terminal of. As a result, when the output of the third comparison circuit co3 is switched to "H", the output of the NAND gate na2 becomes "L", and the other input terminal of the AND gate an2 becomes "L". The other input terminal of the gate an1 becomes "H". Also, AN
The D gate an0 is controlled by the timepiece control circuit as described later.

Reference numeral 8 is a well-known timepiece control circuit, which has a timekeeping circuit and the like to measure the current time, and controls the driving and stopping of the EL element 1 in response to the operation of an operation switch (not shown). When the alarm time is set by operating the operation switch, the alarm time is set to the alarm time counting circuit ti.
output to m. At the alarm time, a flag "H" indicating the alarm time is generated at the terminal f, and an alarm sound generating circuit (not shown) is triggered to generate an alarm sound. Also, the light emission pattern of the EL element 1 is switched to that at the time of the alarm by this flag. That is, this flag is set to the other terminal of the NAND gate na3 and the AND gate.
It is applied to the other terminal of the gate an0. At the same time, this flag triggers the timing pulse generation circuit 9 that generates a timing pulse for controlling light emission at the time of alarm. This allows AND gate an
The other input terminal of 1 becomes "L", and instead of this, AN
The other input terminal of the D gate an0 becomes "H", and the timing pulse from the timing pulse generation circuit 9 becomes AN.
The voltage is applied to the terminal T of the T-flip-flop via the D gate an0 and the OR gate or1.

As described above, the resistance changing circuit 4, the frequency dividing circuit 5, the clock source 6, the selection circuit 7 and the timepiece control circuit 8 constitute a control circuit.

Next, the operation of this example will be described.

Here, the alarm time is set in advance and the EL element 1 is driven. First, the time difference between the current time and the alarm time is 6
The case of 0 minutes or more will be described. In the selection circuit 7, the alarm time counting circuit tim outputs the time difference between the current time and the alarm time, and the first comparison circuit co1 to the third comparison circuit co3 that receive this output set the output to "L". As a result, the clock from the terminal Q3 of the frequency dividing circuit 5, that is, 1/8 Hz, via the AND gate an4.
Is the T-flip-flop 4 of the resistance changing circuit 4.
1 is applied to the terminal T. T-flip flop 4
1 inverts the output at each rising edge of each pulse of this clock to turn on / off the transistor t1. When the transistor t1 is off, the resistor R1 is connected between the terminal di and the terminal th of the timer circuit 31 forming the astable multivibrator 3, and when the transistor t1 is on, the resistor R2 is added to the resistor R1. Are connected in parallel. The oscillation frequency of the astable multivibrator 31 is the terminal d as described above.
It is determined by the resistance value between i and the terminal th, and here it is alternately changed at each rising edge of each pulse. This makes EL
The frequency of the driving AC voltage of the element 1 is also changed. Here, the frequency of the driving AC voltage and the emission color of the EL element 1 (X
The relationship with (Y chromaticity / Y value) is as shown in the graph of FIG. In the figure, the Y value indicates the degree of green,
The emission color changes from green to blue as the frequency of the driving AC voltage increases. Here, in order to emphasize the change in the emission color, the frequency of the driving AC voltage is alternately switched to 2000 Hz and 200 Hz each time the transistor t1 is turned on and off. Here, resistors R0, R1, R
2 and capacitor C0 are astable multivibrator 3
The oscillation frequency of 1 is 20 while the transistor t1 is off.
It is set to an appropriate value in accordance with the above equation giving the oscillation frequency f so that it becomes 2000 Hz between 0 Hz and ON.

As a result, the emission color of the EL element 1 is alternately switched between green and blue each time the pulse rises. EL here
The emission color of the element switches every 8 seconds. As described above, in this example, the emission color of the EL element 1 is alternately switched between green and blue, so that the visual effect becomes excessive as in the conventional one in which the EL element is blinked to obtain a visual effect. ,
You can get a proper visual effect without the eyes flickering and becoming annoying.

Next, when the alarm time approaches and the time difference between the current time and the alarm time becomes smaller than 60 minutes, the first comparison circuit co1 becomes "H". This makes AND
The gate an4 is closed, and instead the AND gate an3
Then, the clock from the terminal Q2 of the frequency dividing circuit 5, that is, the clock of 1/4 Hz is applied to the terminal T of the T-flip-flop 41 in place of the clock of the terminal Q3. EL
Element 1 switches the emission color every 4 seconds. If the time difference between the current time and the alarm time is less than 30 minutes,
The second comparison circuit co2 becomes "H". This allows AN
D gate an3 is closed, and AND gate an instead
2, the clock from the terminal Q1 of the frequency dividing circuit 5, that is, the clock of 1/2 Hz is applied to the terminal T of the T-flip-flop 41 in place of the clock of the terminal Q2. E
The L element 1 switches the emission color every 2 seconds. If the time difference between the current time and the alarm time is less than 5 minutes,
The third comparison circuit co2 becomes "H". This allows AN
D gate an2 is closed, and AND gate an instead
1 open, clock from clock source 6, ie 1Hz
Is applied to the terminal T of the T-flip-flop 41 instead of the clock of the terminal Q1. EL element 1 is 1
The emission color is switched every second. At the alarm time, the clock control circuit 8 sets the flag "H" at the terminal f.
As a result, the timing pulse generation circuit 9 generates a timing pulse. Further, the other input terminal of the NAND gate na3 becomes "H", so that the AND gate an1 is closed. AND gate an instead of this
0 is opened, and the timing pulse via this is applied to the terminal T of the T-flip-flop 41 instead of the clock of 1 Hz. As a result, the EL element 1 switches the emission color at each rising edge of the timing pulse. Here, for the timing pulse, data relating to the generation timing and pulse width of each pulse is not shown in FIG.
It is stored in an OM or the like and is generated by reading it out, and the emission color of the EL element 1 is switched according to a preset desired emission color switching pattern.

When the operation switch is operated to stop the alarm sound, the timepiece control circuit 8 resets the above-mentioned circuits to stop the above operation and returns to the initial operation state.

Thus, as the alarm time approaches, the switching cycle of the emission color of the EL element 1 becomes faster. For this reason, the visual effect is enhanced, and the user can understand how the alarm time is getting closer. Also, EL
Since the switching cycle of the emission color of the element 1 is set to be faster stepwise,
The user can become accustomed to switching the luminescent color, and it is possible to provide an appropriate visual effect without the annoyance such as flickering of the eyes due to the luminescent pattern of the EL element 1 at the time of alarm.

As described above, in this example, by switching the emission color of the EL element 1 from green to blue, an appropriate visual effect is obtained, and the switching cycle of the emission color is gradually shortened, so that the user Sufficient visual effects can be obtained by accustoming the visual sense and making a more effective light emission pattern.

In the above embodiment, the time difference between the alarm time and the current time is calculated by the alarm time counting circuit tim, and the light emission color switching cycle of the EL element 1 is changed according to this time difference. The present invention is not limited to this, and, for example, instead of the alarm time counting circuit tim, depending on the count value of the timer means that counts a specific time, as the timing of completing the timing of the specific time is approached, EL The emission color of the element 1 may be switched in a short cycle. Further, the emission color switching cycle may be constant. For example, the emission color may be switched at a constant cycle after setting the alarm time. It is also possible to switch the emission color depending on the time of day such as morning and afternoon.

[0025]

According to the present invention, the light emitting pattern is obtained by switching the light emitting color instead of obtaining the light emitting pattern by blinking the EL element as in the prior art. For this reason, unlike the conventional one, a moderate visual effect can be obtained without causing the user to feel annoying by flickering eyes due to excessive switching of light and darkness of a portion provided with an EL element such as a dial. . In addition, as the light emission color of the EL element 1 is switched in a short cycle as it approaches the timing of expiration of a specific time or a specific time, a more effective light emission pattern is obtained while accustoming the user's vision. As a result, a sufficient visual effect can be obtained at a specific time or at a timing when the measurement of a specific time is completed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an electric circuit diagram showing a configuration of a light emitting timepiece according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a light emitting timepiece according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a graph for explaining the operation of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 EL element 2 Drive circuit 4 Resistance change circuit (control circuit) 5 Frequency divider circuit (control circuit) 6 Clock source (control circuit) 7 Selection circuit (control circuit) 8 Clock control circuit (control circuit) 9 Timing pulse generation circuit ( Control circuit)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An EL element provided as a light source, a drive circuit for generating an AC voltage for driving the EL element, and the emission color of the EL element by changing the frequency of the AC voltage according to specific conditions. And a control circuit for changing the light emitting timepiece. 2. The control circuit switches the emission color of the EL element in a short cycle as it approaches a timing at which a specific time or a specific time is measured. Luminous clock.