JPH09257965A - Switch device and watch with switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent generation of unnecessary operation instruction other than the case that a user requires. SOLUTION: With an auto mode on/off switch SW 2 being set ON, when a switch input of an inclination switch SW 4 is made in a specified time after a switch input of an acceleration switch SW 3 is made, a ligh-up circuit lights up an EL pannel and automatically puts off the light. With an automode ON/ OFF switch 2 being set OFF, on the other hand, there occurs no possibility of lighting up the EL pannel even if a user tens to see the time of this watch. Accordingly unnecessary lighting-up of EL light is prevented except the case that the user requires it, thereby restraining unnecessary consumption of power, resulting in extension of the service life of a battery.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a switch device which does not perform switch input other than an operation intended by a user, and a wristwatch including the switch device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, there has been known a wristwatch in which a dial or a liquid crystal time display section is illuminated by using a light emitting element such as a lamp or electroluminescence (EL) so that the time can be known even in a dark place. There is. Known wristwatches of this type are ones that turn on a lamp when a user operates a specific switch, and ones that turn on the lamp for a certain period of time when the switch is operated. Further, in recent years, there has been devised a mode in which a posture detection switch is provided, and one behavior of a gesture when a user looks at a watch is detected by the posture detection switch to turn on a lamp.

[0003]

However, in the method of operating the switch to turn on / off the lamp, the user must operate the switch each time he wants to illuminate the dial or the like. However, the operation was especially troublesome when the hand was blocked with luggage and the like.

On the other hand, when the attitude detection switch is used, that is, for example, whether or not the user has turned up the 12 o'clock direction of the dial to see the dial of the watch is detected by the orientation detection switch or the like and the lamp is turned on. With this, it is not necessary to operate the switch to turn on the lamp, but even if it is not necessary to turn on the lamp, if the above posture is adopted, the lamp will be turned on uniquely, resulting in unnecessary power consumption. There is a problem that battery life is shortened.
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a switch device and a wristwatch using the switch device that does not give an operation instruction unnecessarily except when the user intends.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, in the switch device according to the present invention as defined in claim 1, a first switch means for performing a switch input by applying an impact, and a predetermined switch means are provided. The second switch means is switched when the posture is reached, and the switch input of the second switch means is performed within a predetermined time after the switch input of the first switch means is performed. It is characterized in that it is provided with a circuit means that operates in the event of a failure.

Further, in the switch device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the first switch means for performing a switch input by giving an impact and the switch input for a predetermined posture. Second switch means, circuit means that operates when the switch input of the second switch means is made within a predetermined time after the switch input of the first switch means, and this circuit And a third switch means operated to prohibit the operation of the means.

Further, in a wristwatch equipped with the switch device according to the invention of claim 3, a wristwatch case having a display portion for displaying the time and a switch input are made by impacting the wristwatch case. After the switch input of the first switch means, the switch input of the first switch means, and the switch input of the second case when the wristwatch case is in the downward 6 o'clock position. And a lighting device that illuminates the display unit when the switch input of the second switch means is performed within a predetermined time.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wristwatch provided with the switch device according to the present invention. The wristwatch case has a display portion for displaying the time, and a switch input is made by impacting the wristwatch case. 1 switch means, a second switch means for inputting a switch when the wristwatch case is in a posture in which the 6 o'clock direction is downward, and a switch input for the first switch means after the switch input is made. An illumination device that illuminates the display unit when a switch input of the second switch device is made within a predetermined time, and a third switch device that invalidates the illumination operation of the illumination device. Is characterized by.

In the switch device of the present invention, the circuit means is operated when the body is brought into the predetermined posture within a predetermined time after the impact is given, or the third switch for prohibiting the operation of the circuit means is operated. Since the circuit means is operated only when the user takes a predetermined posture within a predetermined time after a shock is given in a state where there is no impact, it is not necessary to give an operation instruction unless the user intends. Further, in the wristwatch provided with the switch device of the present invention, the third embodiment for illuminating the display unit for displaying the time or for invalidating the illumination operation when the user takes a predetermined posture within a predetermined time after giving a shock. Since the display unit is illuminated only when the switch is in the predetermined posture within a predetermined time after the impact is given in the state where the switch is not operated, the illumination operation is not performed unintentionally except when the user intends.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The switch device according to the present invention is used for on / off control of an illuminating device and a liquid crystal display unit built in a wristwatch, and for controlling start / stop of measurement of a stopwatch, a timer, or an electronic pedometer. Can be applied to. Hereinafter, a wristwatch provided with a switch device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described as an example with reference to the drawings.

A. Configuration of Embodiments (1) Appearance FIG. 1 is an appearance view showing an appearance of a wristwatch provided with a switch device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the wristwatch shown in this figure, 1 is a glass plate on which an EL (electroluminescence) panel is formed, and the internal dial is illuminated by turning on the EL panel. The EL panel is
For example, it is a kind of capacitor in which a thin film of ZnS-based phosphor is sandwiched between transparent electrodes, and emits light by applying an AC voltage thereto. Reference numeral 2 denotes a button arranged on the side of the wristwatch case, which is provided with a switch mechanism (described later) that takes three positions of "pull-out position", "neutral position" and "push-in position". Reference numeral 3 is a crown that is operated when adjusting the time.

(2) Configuration of Switch Mechanism Next, the switch mechanism of the button 2 will be described. First, an outline of the switch mechanism will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, the button 2 provides a switch input to a lighting circuit (described later) for lighting and driving the EL panel in accordance with each of the "pull-out position", the "neutral position", and the "push-in position". That is, the button 2 enables or disables the temporary lighting switch SW1 for forcibly lighting the EL panel, and the auto mode for automatically lighting or extinguishing the EL panel according to the switch outputs of the acceleration switch SW3 and the tilt switch SW4 described later. Auto mode ON / OF
It constitutes an F switch SW2.

Specifically, the coil spring 21 shown in FIG. 2 and the contact spring 15c which comes into contact with the coil spring 21 in response to the pushing operation of the button 2 form a temporary lighting switch SW1 for forcibly lighting the EL panel. . On the other hand, the coil spring 20 and the hook 1 that comes into contact with the coil spring 20 in response to the pull-out operation of the button 2
The contact spring 11b of No. 1 forms an auto mode ON / OFF switch SW2 that enables or prohibits the auto mode.

That is, when the button 2 is in the "neutral position", as shown in FIG. 3, the pin 13b arranged on the back surface side of the mandrel 13 is located substantially in the center of the groove 11a of the dog chestnut 11. , The contact spring 11b of the valve 11 is separated from the coil spring 20.
The N / OFF switch SW2 is set to the off state to prohibit the auto mode. Further, in this case, since the tip end of the button 2 of the contact spring 15c of the back presser 15 does not stroke, the contact spring 15c is separated from the coil spring 21, and the temporary lighting switch SW1 is set to the off state.

On the other hand, when the button 2 is pulled out from the "neutral position" to the "pull-out position", as shown in FIG. 4, as the button 2 is pulled out, the mandrel 13 is rotated by the shaft 14 (pin 14a).
(The lower part of) rotates in the clockwise direction. In this way, when the mandrel 13 rotates clockwise, the pin 13b on the back surface thereof slides downward in the groove 11a of the latch 11. Then, the hook 11 rotates in the clockwise direction around an axis (not shown), and the contact spring 11b of the hook 11 contacts the coil spring 20. As a result, the auto mode ON / OFF switch SW2 is set to the ON state, and the auto mode described later becomes effective. Further, when the button 2 is in the "pull-out position", the position of the contact spring 15c of the back presser 15 does not change from that in the above-mentioned "neutral position", and therefore the contact spring 15c remains separated from the coil spring 21. The temporary lighting switch SW1 maintains the off state.

On the other hand, when the button 2 is pushed from the "neutral position" to the "push-in position", as shown in FIG. 5, the mandrel 13 moves around the shaft 14 as the button 2 is pushed. Rotate counterclockwise. When the mandrel 13 rotates counterclockwise, the pin 13b on the back surface of the mandrel 13 slides above the groove 11a of the latch 11. Then, Kannuki 11 does not rotate, and the above-mentioned "neutral position"
Since the same state is maintained, the contact spring 11b does not contact the coil spring 20 and maintains a separated state. As a result, the auto mode ON / OFF switch SW2 is set to the off state, and the auto mode is prohibited. Further, when the button 2 is pushed to the “push-in position”, the tip of the button 2 makes a stroke and pushes the contact spring 15c of the back presser 15 to bring it into contact with the coil spring 21. As a result, the temporary lighting switch SW1 is set to the ON state.

As described above, the button 2 has a temporary lighting switch SW1 for forcibly lighting the EL panel, and an auto mode for automatically lighting or extinguishing the EL panel according to switch outputs of the acceleration switch SW3 and the tilt switch SW4, which will be described later. Auto mode ON / O to enable or disable
The FF switch SW2 (third switch means) is configured, and both switches SW1 and SW2 are provided in the normal "neutral position".
Is set to the off state, and when it is set to the “drawing position” by the user's drawing operation, the auto mode ON / OFF switch SW2 is set to on to enable the auto mode,
On the other hand, when the "push-in position" is set, the temporary lighting switch SW1 is turned on to forcibly light the EL panel.

(3) Structure of Tilt Switch SW4 Next, the structure of the tilt switch SW4 arranged on the movement of the wristwatch will be described. Tilt switch SW4
Has a structure in which when the wristwatch is in a predetermined posture, specifically, it is turned on at an inclination angle when the time of the wristwatch worn on the wrist is viewed. The plan view shown in FIG. , A side view shown in FIG. 7, a sectional AA view shown in FIG. 8, and an assembly perspective view shown in FIG. 9. Tilt switch SW
Reference numeral 4 denotes an inner frame body 30, outer frame bodies 32 and 33 attached to the inner frame body 30 so as to be opposed to the inner frame body 30, metal balls 40 placed in the inner frame body 30, and outer frame bodies 32 and 33.
Electrode pins 34, 3 penetrating through and projecting into the inner frame body 30
5

The inner frame body 30 is a member integrally formed of a synthetic resin material, has a notch 31 having a trapezoidal side view in the center of a rectangular parallelepiped plate body, and has four corners on both sides of the plate body. The fitting columns 30a to 30d and 30e to 30g are formed on the. On the other hand, the outer frame bodies 32 and 33 are members integrally formed of a synthetic resin material like the inner frame body 30. The outer frame bodies 32 and 33 are plate members of the same size as the inner frame body 30, and the fitting columns 30a to 30d, Insertion holes 32a to 32d and 33a to 33d, into which 30e to 30g are respectively fitted, are formed, and on the surface side facing the inner frame body 30, as shown in FIG. A recess having a shape matching the other side is formed.

Further, through holes 32e and 33e, into which the electrode pins 34 and 35 are inserted, are provided at predetermined positions of the concave portions of the outer frame bodies 32 and 33, respectively. Electrode pins 34, 35
Is a metal member composed of a leading portion forming a large diameter truncated cone and a small diameter cylindrical portion. With such a structure, the metal sphere 40 enclosed by the inner frame body 30 and the outer frame bodies 32 and 33 can be rolled and moved only along the hypotenuse of the trapezoidal notch 31.

Therefore, when the attitude of the wristwatch is horizontal, the metal ball 40 stays at the end of the hypotenuse of the notch 31 as shown in FIG. 7, but as shown in FIG. When the posture angle θ that raises the 12 o'clock direction is reached, the metal ball 40 rolls up on the hypotenuse of the notch 31 and comes into contact with the leading portions of the electrode pins 34 and 35 to bring the electrode pins 34 and 35 into conduction and serve as a switch input. In the case of this embodiment,
When the posture angle θ is in the range of 15 ° to 90 °, it is turned on.

(4) Structure of Acceleration Switch SW3 The acceleration switch SW3 has a structure which is turned on when a shock (or acceleration) applied to the wristwatch is detected. For example, depending on whether or not two elongated piezoelectric elements are attached to each other and one end side thereof is fixed to the movement side, and the voltage generated when the whole is deformed by an impact or acceleration is equal to or more than a predetermined voltage. Enable switch input. Further, it is also possible to adopt a mode in which switch input is performed using an acceleration sensor whose electrostatic capacity changes in response to impact (or acceleration).

In this embodiment, the acceleration switch SW3
Is arranged so as to detect a shock (or acceleration) applied to the wristwatch in the 12 o'clock direction, as shown in FIG. This is because when the wristwatch is worn on the wrist, the gravitational acceleration is applied downward at 12 o'clock, so the action of seeing the time from this state gives a slight impact (or acceleration) to accelerate the acceleration. Switch S
This is because W3 can be turned on.

(5) Structure of Lighting Circuit Next, with reference to FIG. 12, the structure of a lighting circuit for driving the EL panel to light will be described. In this figure, Tr,
PT and C1 are a transistor, a blocking transformer and a capacitor that form a blocking oscillator. EL is the EL panel described above, and this blocking oscillator emits light by being driven by a pulse signal that self-oscillates. R1 and R2 are voltage dividing resistors, and FETs are field effect transistors that are connected in series to these voltage dividing resistors R1 and R2 and that act as switching elements. R3
And R4 is a load resistance, and C2 is an electrolytic capacitor for charge storage.

According to the above configuration, the temporary lighting switch SW
When 1 is turned on, the field effect transistor FET is turned on, a power supply voltage proportional to the voltage dividing resistors R1 and R2 is applied to the base B of the transistor Tr, and forward biased. Then, the transistor Tr is turned on, a current flows in the primary side of the blocking transformer PT, and a voltage is induced in the secondary side.

The voltage induced on the secondary side is the transistor T
It is fed back to the base B of r, and the transistor Tr
Is once turned off, but when this transistor Tr is turned off, no voltage is induced on the secondary side of the blocking transformer PT, and the base B of the transistor Tr is forward biased again and turned on. That is, the switch S
While W1 is turned on, blocking oscillation is repeated in which the transistor Tr repeatedly turns on and off, and this oscillation drives the EL panel to emit light by the pulse signal output from the secondary side of the blocking transformer PT.

On the other hand, the above-mentioned auto mode ON / OFF
When the switch SW2 is turned on, that is, when the auto mode is enabled, when the acceleration switch SW3 is turned on, electric charge is accumulated in the electrolytic capacitor C2. The electric charge of the electrolytic capacitor C2 is gradually discharged by the resistor R4, whereby the potential of the electrolytic capacitor C2 gradually decreases.

Here, when the tilt switch SW4 is turned on within a predetermined time period in which the potential of the electrolytic capacitor C2 is kept at a certain level or more, that is, the threshold voltage for turning on the field effect transistor FET or more, the field effect transistor FET is turned on. When the EL panel is turned on, the EL panel is driven by the blocking oscillation described above to emit light.

Then, when the tilt switch SW4 is kept in the ON state, the electric charge of the electrolytic capacitor C2 is changed to the resistance R3.
When it is discharged by the combined resistance of R4 and the potential becomes equal to or lower than the threshold voltage of the field effect transistor FET, the FET is turned off, and as a result, the blocking oscillation is stopped and the EL panel is automatically turned off.

B. Operation of the Example Next, the illumination operation of the wristwatch including the above-described switch mechanism and lighting circuit will be described. Here, button 2
The operation will be described for each operation position in each case. (1) Neutral position Normally, the button 2 is located in the "neutral position". In this state, as shown in FIG. 3, the auto mode ON / OFF switch SW2 is in the off state, and while the auto mode is prohibited, the temporary lighting switch SW1 is in the off state. Therefore, in this state, the user is gesturing to watch the time on the wristwatch worn on the wrist by the acceleration switch SW.
Even if 3 and the tilt switch SW4 are turned on, the EL panel is not turned on.

(2) Push-in position Next, it is assumed that the user pushes the button 2 in the "neutral position" to the "push-in position". Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the auto mode ON / OFF switch SW2 is turned off to prohibit the auto mode, while the temporary lighting switch SW1 is turned on. When the switch SW1 is turned on, in the lighting circuit, as described above, the field effect transistor FET is turned on, blocking oscillation is started, and the EL panel is turned on. Then, if the pushing operation is released, the button 2 is in the "neutral position".
Then, the switch SW1 is turned off and the EL panel is turned off.

(3) Pull-out position Next, when the user pulls out the button 2 in the "neutral position" to the "pull-out position", as shown in FIG. 4, the temporary lighting switch SW1 is turned off and the automatic lighting switch SW1 is turned off. The mode ON / OFF switch SW2 is turned on to enable the auto mode. When the auto mode is enabled, the EL panel does not light up unless the wristwatch is given an operation / posture in which the tilt switch SW4 is turned on within a predetermined time after the acceleration switch SW3 is turned on.

That is, when the user makes a gesture to watch the time of the wristwatch worn on the wrist, the tilt switch SW4 is held in a predetermined posture (tilt) within a predetermined time after the shock (or acceleration) is applied to the acceleration switch SW3. ). As a result, in the lighting circuit, as described above, the tilt switch SW4 is turned on within a predetermined time period during which the potential of the electrolytic capacitor C2 that is charged when the acceleration switch SW3 is turned on is equal to or higher than the threshold voltage of the field effect transistor FET. Therefore, the EL panel lights up automatically. Then, when the potential of the electrolytic capacitor C2 becomes equal to or lower than the threshold voltage of the field effect transistor FET after a lapse of a certain time after the start of lighting, the blocking oscillation is stopped and the EL panel is automatically turned off.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the auto mode ON / OFF switch SW2 (third switch means) is set to ON to enable the auto mode, the acceleration switch SW3 (first switch) is activated. When the tilt switch SW4 (second switch means) is switched on within a predetermined time after the switch input is performed, the lighting circuit lights up the EL panel, and automatically after a predetermined time elapses. Turns off. Also, auto mode ON / OFF
If the switch SW2 is set to OFF, the auto mode is prohibited, so that there is no possibility that the EL panel will be turned on even if the user makes a gesture to watch the time on the wristwatch. As a result, the EL panel is not turned on unintentionally except when the user intends, and it becomes possible to suppress unnecessary power consumption and prolong the battery life.

In this embodiment, an example in which the switching device according to the present invention is used in the lighting circuit for driving the EL panel to light up is described, but the gist of the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, time, date, etc. Of course, it is also applicable to a display drive circuit for driving a liquid crystal display section for displaying, and in this case, like the above-described embodiment, if the user makes a gesture to see the time of the wristwatch worn on his wrist, The tilt switch S is turned on within a predetermined time after the acceleration switch SW3 is turned on.
When W4 is turned on, the liquid crystal display unit is driven to display the time and date, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, the driving is automatically turned off to turn off the display. Instead of this, it can also be used as a switch for starting / stopping time measurement of a stopwatch or a timer.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the temporary lighting switch SW1 and the auto mode ON / OFF switch SW4 are realized by a mechanical switch mechanism, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, the glass plate 1 of a wristwatch is transparently touched. A switch may be installed, or a pressure sensitive switch that is turned on / off according to a pressing force on the side surface of the case, or a touch switch that is turned on / off according to a change in capacitance may be used.

[0037]

According to the switch device of the present invention, the third switch operates the circuit means when it takes a predetermined posture within a predetermined time after the impact, or prohibits the operation of the circuit means. Since the circuit means is operated only when the user takes a predetermined posture within a predetermined time after giving a shock while not operating, except when the user intends
There is no need to give instructions for action. Further, according to the wristwatch provided with the switch device of the present invention, when the display unit that displays the time is illuminated or the illumination operation is disabled when the posture is changed to the predetermined posture within the predetermined time after the impact is applied, Since the display unit is illuminated only when the user is in a predetermined posture within a predetermined time after giving a shock while the switch of 3 is not operated, except when the user intends to do so.
The lighting will no longer work.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing the external appearance of an embodiment of a switch device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of a movement in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a structure of a switch mechanism when the button 2 in the embodiment is in a neutral position.

FIG. 4 is a view showing the structure of a switch mechanism when the button 2 is in the withdrawn position in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a view showing the structure of the switch mechanism when the button 2 is in the depressed position in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the structure of a tilt switch SW4 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing the structure of a tilt switch SW4 in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view A of the tilt switch SW4 in the same embodiment.
It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of -A.

FIG. 9 is an assembled perspective view showing a structure of a tilt switch SW4 in the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a sensitivity direction of a tilt switch SW4.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the sensitivity direction of the acceleration switch SW3 in the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a lighting circuit in the example.

[Explanation of symbols]

SW1 Temporary lighting switch SW2 Auto mode ON / OFF switch (third switch means) SW3 Acceleration switch (first switch means) SW4 Tilt switch (second switch means) C2 Electrolytic capacitors (circuit means) R1 to R4 resistors ( Circuit means) FET Field effect transistor (circuit means) EL Electroluminescence panel (lighting device) C1, PT, Tr Blocking oscillator (lighting device)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A first switch means for performing a switch input by applying an impact, a second switch means for performing a switch input when a predetermined posture is achieved, and the first switch. A switch device comprising: circuit means that operates when the switch input of the second switch means is made within a predetermined time after the switch input of the means is made. 2. A first switch means for performing a switch input by applying a shock, a second switch means for performing a switch input when a predetermined posture is achieved, and the first switch. Circuit means that operates when the switch input of the second switch means is made within a predetermined time after the switch input of the means, and a circuit means that is operated to prohibit the operation of the circuit means. And a switch means of 3. 3. A wristwatch case having a display section for displaying the time, a first switch means for inputting a switch when the wristwatch case is impacted, and a 6 o'clock direction of the wristwatch case is downward. And a second switch means for performing a switch input when the posture is changed to the following posture, and a switch input for the second switch means is performed within a predetermined time after the switch input for the first switch means is performed. A wristwatch including a switch device, the lighting device illuminating the display unit when being turned on. 4. A wristwatch case having a display portion for displaying the time, a first switch means for inputting a switch when the wristwatch case is impacted, and the wristwatch case has a 6 o'clock direction downward. And a second switch means for performing a switch input when the posture is changed to the following posture, and a switch input for the second switch means is performed within a predetermined time after the switch input for the first switch means is performed. A wristwatch provided with a switch device, comprising: a lighting device that illuminates the display section when being turned on; and a third switch means that invalidates the lighting operation of the lighting device.