JPH0822755A - Switch device and electronic equipment having switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize a switch device by which electric power consumption is reduced by stably actuating a lighting system built in an electronic equipment such as a wristwatch as well as to provide this switch device. CONSTITUTION:A CPU 15 practices illumination control processing, and outputs a control signal to light a lighting system 21 to a driver 20 according to a condition of whether a count value N of the number of detecting times counted in a counting register 14d is not less than or not more than a reference value NO in the detecting time during which an ON detecting signal inputted from a posture detecting switch 19 is set in a timer register 14c in a RAM 14, and lights the lighting system 21.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a switch device suitable for on / off operation of a lighting device incorporated in a wristwatch or the like and an electronic apparatus equipped with the switch device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, many wristwatches have been widely used that display a digital number such as time and date by using a liquid crystal display panel on a dial. In a wristwatch that uses a liquid crystal display panel like this, the dial can be seen by outside light during the day, but the dial cannot be seen at night or when there is no lighting, so it is recommended to illuminate the dial. Some have built-in lighting. This lighting device is adapted to be turned on by operating a lighting switch.

[0003]

However, since the illumination switch provided in such a conventional wristwatch is often operated at night in a dark place, the operation is troublesome and erroneous. There was a point.

That is, in particular, a sports wristwatch equipped with a stopwatch function and the like is provided with a large number of operation switches, so that the time display may be erroneously operated by mistakenly operating the other switch for the illumination switch. There was a problem that the situation occurred and the operability was poor.
There is also a problem in that the lighting device is inadvertently turned on, power consumption is increased, and the life of the battery incorporated in the wristwatch is shortened.

An object of the present invention is to provide a switch device that stably operates an illumination device built in an electronic device such as a wrist watch and reduces power consumption, and an electronic device equipped with the switch device.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
Attitude detecting means for detecting the attitude and outputting the detection pulse signal, time measuring means for measuring a preset time, and counting means for counting the number of the detection pulse signals during the preset time, The switch device includes an output unit that outputs a switch signal when the count value of the counting unit is equal to or more than a certain value.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display device for displaying various information, an illuminating device for illuminating a display surface of the display device, and a switch device for turning on / off the illuminating device.
An electronic device housing a case, wherein the switch device detects an inclination of the case, an attitude detection unit that outputs a detection pulse signal, a time measurement unit that measures a preset time, Counting means for counting the number of the detection pulse signals during a preset time, and control means for outputting a switch signal to the lighting device to turn on the light when the count value by the counting means is a certain value or more, It is characterized by having.

Further, in this case, as described in claim 3, it is effective that the control means turns off the lighting device at a predetermined time after turning on the lighting device. The lighting device may be configured by electroluminescence, as described in 1.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the switch device, the detection pulse signal which is detected by the posture detecting means and outputs the posture is counted by the counting means during the time preset by the time measuring means. The output means outputs a switch signal when the count value is equal to or more than a certain value, so that a stable switch operation can be performed without being inadvertently turned on / off.

According to the second aspect of the invention, a display device for displaying various information, an illuminating device for illuminating the display surface of the display device, and a switch device for turning on / off the illuminating device are provided in a case. In the stored electronic device, the switch device counts the detection pulse signal output by detecting the inclination of the case by the attitude detection means by the counting means during the time preset by the time measuring means,
By outputting a switch signal to the lighting device and lighting it when the count value is equal to or more than a certain value by the control means, a stable lighting operation can be performed without inadvertently turning on / off the lighting device. it can.

As a result, it is possible to reduce the inadvertent lighting of the lighting and save the power consumption of the electronic device.

Further, in this case, as described in claim 3, the control means turns on the lighting device and then turns off the lighting device at a constant time. Further, as described in claim 4, By configuring the lighting device by electroluminescence, the power consumption of the electronic device can be further reduced.

[0013]

EXAMPLES Examples will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11 are views showing an embodiment of a digital electronic wrist watch to which the invention is applied. First, the configuration will be described. FIG. 1 shows a digital electronic wristwatch 1 (hereinafter,
1 is a plan view of an outer appearance of a wristwatch 1. The wristwatch 1 includes a case 2, a liquid crystal display unit 3 for displaying the time and date in the case 2, and a posture detection switch for detecting the tilt of the wristwatch 1 and performing a switch operation. 4 is housed and is roughly configured.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the wristwatch 1 shown in FIG. In this figure, the wristwatch 1 is an oscillator 1
1, frequency dividing circuit 12, ROM 13, RAM 14, CPU1
5, display driver 16, LCD 17, key input unit 18,
Posture detection switch 19, driver 20, and lighting device 21
It consists of.

The oscillator 11 oscillates a basic clock signal for generating a clock signal for setting the operation timing in each part of the wristwatch 1 and outputs it to the frequency dividing circuit 12.

The frequency dividing circuit 12 divides the basic clock signal input from the oscillator 11 to generate a clock signal having a predetermined number of clocks and supplies it to the CPU 15. ROM (Re
The ad only memory) 13 stores a clock processing program, a display processing program, and a lighting control program executed by the CPU 15. RAM (Random Access Memory) 1
Reference numeral 4 denotes a display register 14a for storing display data and a time register 14 for storing time data as shown in FIG.
b, a timer register 14c for setting the detection time of the detection signal of the attitude detection switch 19, and the attitude detection switch 1
The count register 14d stores the count value N by counting the number of detections by the detection signal of 9.

CPU (Central Processing Unit) 15
Controls each part in the wristwatch 1 according to various control programs in the ROM 13. Specifically, the clock processing and the display processing are executed at the timing of the clock signal input from the frequency dividing circuit 12, and the time data and the date data are sent to the display driver 16 by using the display register 14a and the clock register 14b in the RAM 5. Output and display on LCD 17,
Further, various other processes are executed in response to various instruction signals input from the key input unit 18.

Further, the CPU 15 has a function as a time measuring means, a counting means, an output means and a control means, executes an illumination control process which will be described later, and the ON detection signal inputted from the attitude detection switch 19 is sent to the RAM 14. Within the detection time set in the timer register 14c in the
Depending on whether or not the count value N of the number of detections counted in 4d is equal to or greater than the reference value N0, a control signal for turning on the lighting device 21 is output to the driver 20 to turn on the lighting device 21.

The display driver 16 is provided with the CPU 15 according to the display data processed and input by the clock processing and the display processing of the CPU 15 and the key operation from the key input unit 18.
According to the display data processed and input by the LCD 17
To display the time and the instruction operation content.

The key input section 18 is composed of a time setting key, a date setting key, etc., and outputs to the CPU 15 an instruction signal for each key operation. Attitude detection switch 19
An attitude detection switch 4 having a function as attitude detection means and housed in a case 2 of a wristwatch 1 as shown in FIG.
The configuration of the attitude detection switch 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

The attitude detecting switch 4 is positioned so that the right end in FIG. 4 is located at 6 o'clock in the wristwatch 1 and the left end in FIG. 4 is located at 12 o'clock in the wristwatch 1, respectively. The upper part is above the wristwatch 1, and is parallel to the upper face, for example, the upper face of the case 2, and the lower part is below the wristwatch 1.
Further, it is housed in the wristwatch 1 in parallel with the lower surface, for example, the lower surface of the case 2.

The attitude detection switch 4 has a first fixed contact 42 and a second fixed contact 43 which are housed in a hole 41a formed in a housing 41 so as to face each other. Specifically, a first fixed contact 42 is provided at the end of the wristwatch 1 in the hole 41a at the 12 o'clock side, and a second fixed contact 43 is provided at the end of the 6 o'clock direction.

The first fixed contact 42 has an extending end portion 42a extending in the 6 o'clock direction, and the second fixed contact 43.
Is the extending end 42a of the first fixed contact 42 in the 12 o'clock direction.
It has an extending end portion 43a extending in a state of facing. Further, the extending end portion 42a of the first fixed contact 42 has a tilted end portion 42b at the tip thereof that is inclined toward the extending end portion 43a of the second fixed contact 43.

The housing 41 has a structure shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5 which is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow A, an inclination of the bottom surface of the first fixed contact 42 on the side of the extending end portion 42a that is inclined in the direction of the extending end portion 42a provided on the bottom surface. Surface 41b
Are formed.

Two conductive sphere members 44a and 44b are movably accommodated in the hole 41a, and the diameters of the conductive sphere members 44a and 44b are the extended end portion 42a and the extended end portion. 43a, which is smaller than the distance to 43a, and tilting end 42b
Is formed to be larger than the distance between the front end portion and the extended end portion 43a.

Next, the operation will be described. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the wristwatch 1 of this embodiment is used by being worn on a person's arm, and as shown in FIG. In a normal use state in which the posture detection switch 4 is repeatedly shaken, the posture detection switch 4 is tilted to the lowest direction at 3 o'clock.

In this state, the posture detection switch 4
Is the conductive sphere members 44a, 44b, as shown in FIG.
Is held on the extending end 42a of the first fixed contact 42 located in the 3 o'clock direction by its own weight, and the first fixed contact 4
2 and the second fixed contact 43 are separated from each other.

At this time, since the tilted end portion 42b is formed at the tip of the extending end portion 42a of the first fixed contact 42, the conductive ball members 44a and 44b have the tilted end portion 42a.
b prevents the first fixed contact 42 and the second fixed contact 43 from being inadvertently brought into conduction by the conductive ball members 44a and 44b by restricting the movement toward the second fixed contact 43. It

Therefore, when the wristwatch 1 is used in a normal use state, the attitude detection switch 4 stably maintains the off state. When the wristwatch 1 is worn on the arm and the arm is repeatedly shaken in the 6 o'clock direction and the 12 o'clock direction and tilted in the direction in which the 6 o'clock direction is the lowest, as shown in FIG. 4, the conductive sphere members 44a and 44b move in the 6 o'clock direction by their own weight, as shown in an enlarged view of FIG.

A conductive sphere member 44 on the side of the second fixed contact 43.
a is associated with the movement in the direction of the second fixed contact 43,
Of the fixed contact 42 of the second fixed contact 43 is guided in the direction of the extended end 43a of the second fixed contact 43 and abuts the extended end 43a of the second fixed contact 43, so that the first fixed contact Four
The tilted end 42b, which is the second extended end 42a, and the extended end 42a of the second fixed contact 43 are connected.

Further, the conductive sphere member 44b on the side of the first fixed contact 42 moves toward the second fixed contact 43 due to its own weight, so that the conductive sphere member 44a is moved to the first fixed contact 4a.
2 and the extended end 4 of the second fixed contact 43.
The first fixed contact 42 and the second fixed contact 43 are stably connected to each other by pressing them against 3a.

When the 12 o'clock direction in FIG. 7 is tilted to the lowest position, the posture detection switch 4
As shown in an enlarged view of FIG. 9, the conductive sphere members 44a and 44b move in the 12 o'clock direction by their own weight.

A conductive sphere member 44 on the side of the second fixed contact 43.
a is the first with the movement in the direction of the first fixed contact 42.
The fixed contact 42 is moved from the tilted end 42b to the extended end 42a, and the first fixed contact 42 and the second fixed contact 43 are again separated from each other.

Therefore, when the wristwatch 1 is repeatedly tilted in the 6 o'clock direction and the 12 o'clock direction, the attitude detection switch 4 is
When the ON / OFF operation is repeated and an ON signal is repeatedly output to the CPU 15 during the ON operation, the CPU 1
Lighting control processing is executed by 5 and a control signal is output to the driver 20, the lighting device 21 is turned on by the driver 20, and the LCD 17 is illuminated by the lighting device 21.

Next, the illumination control processing executed by the CPU 15 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when the wristwatch 1 mounted on the arm is repeatedly vibrated in the 6 o'clock direction and the 12 o'clock direction, and the ON signal is input from the posture detection switch 19 (step S1). , It is checked whether the timer based on the detection time set in the timer register 14c in the RAM 14 is operating (step S2). When the timer is not operating, the timer is started (step S3) and the counting register 14d in the RAM 14 is started.
Is counted up (+1) (step S4), and when the timer is operating, the count register 14d is immediately counted up (step S4). In this embodiment, the reference value N0 is "5" and the detection time is set to 3 seconds, and in step S3, the timer for 3 seconds is started.

Next, the count value N counted up in step S14 is compared with the reference value N0 to determine whether or not the reference value N0 or more (step S5). When it is determined that the count value N is equal to or greater than the reference value N0, a process of outputting a control signal to the driver 20 to turn on the lighting device 21 for a certain period of time is executed (step S6), and then the count register 14
The count value of d is cleared (step S8), the timer is reset (step S9), and this processing ends.

In the present embodiment, the ON signal input from the attitude detection switch 19 is turned ON during the operation of the 3-second timer.
The lighting device 21 is controlled so as to be turned on more than once, and the relationship between the ON signal and the detection time is shown in FIG. In this figure, the illumination device 21 is lit for a certain period of time, for example, 3 seconds.

If it is determined in step S5 that the count value N is less than the reference value N0, it is checked whether or not the timer has timed out (step S7). If not, step S1 Then, the process of steps S1 to S6 is repeated. When the time is up, the count value of the counting register 14d is cleared (step S8), the timer is reset (step S9), and this processing is ended.

Therefore, only when the wristwatch 1 is repeatedly tilted in the 6 o'clock direction and the 12 o'clock direction and the ON signal of the attitude detection switch 4 is detected 5 times or more within 3 seconds, the illumination device 21 is kept for a certain period of time. For example, the lighting device can be turned on for 3 seconds, and a stable lighting operation of the lighting device 21 can be performed without inadvertently turning it on / off and without erroneously operating other switches.

As a result, it is possible to reduce the inadvertent lighting of lights, save the power consumption of the wristwatch 1, and extend the life of the battery incorporated therein.

In the above embodiment, the condition for turning on the lighting device 21 is that the ON detection signal is input from the posture detection switch 19 five times or more in three seconds.
This lighting condition may be changed arbitrarily.

Further, in the wristwatch 1, by using a light emitting element such as EL (electroluminescence) as the illuminating device 21, it is possible to perform illumination with good visibility while further saving the power.

[0043]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, stable switch operation can be performed without inadvertently turning on / off.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a stable lighting operation can be performed without inadvertently turning on / off the lighting device. As a result, it is possible to reduce the inadvertent lighting of the lighting and save the power consumption of the electronic device.

According to the third and fourth aspects of the invention, the power consumption of the electronic device can be further reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external plan view of a digital electronic wrist watch to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the digital electronic wristwatch shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration in RAM of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a front sectional view of the attitude detection switch of FIG.

5 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which the digital electronic wristwatch shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on a human arm and the arm is swung back and forth.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which the digital electronic wristwatch shown in FIG. 1 is worn on a human arm and the arm is lifted and repeatedly tilted downward at 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock.

8 is a front cross-sectional view showing an operating state of the switch device when it is swung in the 6 o'clock direction in FIG. 7 and tilted downward.

9 is a front cross-sectional view showing an operating state of the switch device when it is swung in the 12 o'clock direction in FIG. 7 and tilted downward.

10 is a flowchart of a lighting control process executed by the CPU of FIG.

11 is a diagram showing ON signal detection conditions of a posture detection switch processed in the illumination control process of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Digital Electronic Wrist Watch 2 Case 3 Liquid Crystal Display 4 Attitude Detection Switch 11 Oscillator 12 Frequency Divider 13 ROM 14 RAM 14a Display Register 14b Time Register 14c Timer Register 14d Counting Register 15 CPU 16 Display Driver 17 LCD 18 Key Input Unit 19 Attitude Detection switch 20 Driver 21 Lighting device 41 Housing 42 First fixed contact 42a Extended end 42b Tilt end 43 Second fixed contact 43a Extended end 44a Conductive ball member 44b Conductive ball member

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A posture detecting means for detecting a posture and outputting a detection pulse signal thereof, a time measuring means for measuring a preset time, and a count of the number of the detection pulse signals during the preset time. A switch device, comprising: a counting unit that outputs a switch signal when the count value of the counting unit is a certain value or more. 2. An electronic device in which a display device for displaying various information, a lighting device for illuminating a display surface of the display device, and a switch device for turning on / off the lighting device are housed in a case. The switch device detects an inclination of the case and outputs a detection pulse signal for the posture detection means, a time measurement means for measuring a preset time, and a detection pulse signal for the detection pulse signal during a preset time. An electronic device comprising: a counting unit that counts the number; and a control unit that outputs a switch signal to the lighting device to turn on the light when the count value of the counting unit is a certain value or more. 3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control means turns on the lighting device and then turns off the lighting device at a fixed time. 4. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the lighting device is configured by electroluminescence.