JPH10132970A - Display device and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the operability and visual confirmability and reduce the power consumption of the whole device by providing a memory means for storing auto-return time, and a timer means for measuring the non-operating time after mode/state transfer. SOLUTION: An auto-return time setting means 13 sets the auto-return time on the basis of mode/state from an input control means 12. An auto-return time memory means 14 stores the auto-return time set by the setting means 13, a timer means 15 measures the non-operating period after mode/state transfer. A comparing means 16 compares the auto-return time stored in the memory means 14 with the time counted by the timer means 15 and outputs a specified signal when the latter is the former or more. A display content control means 17 judges whether mode/state is changed or not on the basis of the operation content from the input control means 12 and the comparison result of the comparing means 16. A display control means 18 drives a display means 19 on the basis of the determination of the control means 17.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a display device such as a liquid crystal panel and an electronic device such as a wristwatch having the display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, digital wristwatches having various modes such as a time display mode, a time correction mode, an alarm mode and a stopwatch mode have been developed and marketed. Such a digital wristwatch usually includes a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, and a user operates buttons and the like provided on the wristwatch main body while referring to numbers, characters, and the like displayed on the display device. To switch the mode and set the time.

[0003] Usually, wristwatches are required to be portable, so that the size of the wristwatch body is limited. Therefore, considering operability, it is difficult to provide a large number of buttons, and it is necessary to assign different functions to the same button for each of the various modes described above or even in the same mode. Further, as the number of functions increases, the hierarchy of functions becomes deeper, and the operation of returning to the initial state of the upper layer after using the functions of the lower layer becomes complicated. And as mentioned above,
Since various functions are assigned to one button, the user may not be able to reach a desired state.

[0004] For these reasons, digital wristwatches of recent years usually operate in a predetermined state such as an alarm mode.
When a period during which no operation is performed (no operation period) is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, an automatic return function is provided for automatically shifting to an initial state (for example, a time display mode).

[0005] In a wristwatch, in addition to an analog timepiece that displays by hands and a digital timepiece that displays liquid crystal, in recent years, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-32755, the surface of an analog timepiece has been disclosed. Combination watches with liquid crystal display elements have been developed.
According to such a combination type timepiece, information such as a digital time display can be visually recognized over the analog time display, and more information can be presented.

[0006]

As described above, in the conventional auto return function, the reference time (auto return time) of the auto return is fixed. Therefore, if the auto return function is applied to a mode where the user's operation is expected, such as the stopwatch mode, the auto return time needs to be sufficiently long. In such a mode in which the user only visually recognizes information, the auto return is not performed for an unnecessarily long time.

Further, it is expected that the optimum value of the auto return time differs depending on the user, and it is extremely difficult to find an auto return time that satisfies all users. Of course, it is possible to manually perform a mode transition corresponding to an auto return by operating a button or the like, but as described above, the more complicated the wristwatch, the more complicated such an operation becomes. . That is, the conventional auto return function has a problem that sufficient operability cannot be realized.

In the above-mentioned combination wristwatch, no matter what the mode of the digital timepiece is, any number or letter is displayed on the hour hand, minute hand, second hand, etc. of the analog timepiece. There is a problem that the visibility of the image is reduced. That is, there is a problem that it is difficult to read desired information (hour hand, minute hand, second hand) because there is too much information on the dial.

By the way, especially in a wristwatch, since the ease of maintenance is emphasized, it is necessary to extend the battery life as much as possible. In addition, since the size of a wristwatch has a limit on the capacity of a battery that can be built in, a large increase in battery capacity cannot be expected, and further reduction in power consumption is desired. Lower the drive voltage,
Various attempts have been made to reduce power consumption, such as reducing the duty ratio of a drive pulse of a liquid crystal panel.

In recent years, in a combination wristwatch, a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) has been used as a display device of a digital timepiece.
) Panels are being developed. PDLC
The panel has an advantage that a polarizing plate and the like are not required as compared with a panel using a so-called TN (Twisted Nematic) liquid crystal element, but since its driving voltage is high and power consumption is large,
In a small electronic device such as a wristwatch, further power saving is required.

As described above, various attempts have been made to reduce power consumption in wristwatches.
It is hard to say that the power saving has been made enough to adopt the C panel. Even without employing a PDLC panel, a reduction in power consumption is provided for realizing a new function from the viewpoint of multifunctional wristwatches. It has become a challenge.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a display device and an electronic device capable of improving operability and visibility and reducing power consumption of the entire device. The purpose is.

[0013]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display device for selectively displaying a plurality of screens having a logical hierarchical structure. Auto return time storage means for storing an auto return time for each screen other than the set top layer screen,
Timer means for measuring the continuous display time of the screen being displayed, comparison means for outputting a specific signal when the measurement result of the clock means is equal to or longer than the auto return time of the screen being displayed, and When a specific signal is output, display content control means is provided for setting the display screen to a screen in another layer of the screen being displayed. The display device according to claim 2, wherein the display device selectively displays a plurality of screens having a logical hierarchical structure, wherein an auto return time storage unit that stores an auto return time,
A timer that measures the continuous display time of the screen being displayed, a comparator that outputs a specific signal when the measurement result of the timer is equal to or longer than the auto return time, and the specific signal is output from the comparator. If it is output, it is determined whether or not the screen being displayed is the set top layer screen, and if not, the other layer of the screen displaying the display screen is not the set top layer screen. And a display content control unit that does not perform display when the screen is the set top layer screen.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the display device according to the second aspect, the auto return time storing means stores an auto return time for each screen, and the comparing means displays a measurement result of the time measuring means. A specific signal is output when the time is equal to or longer than the auto return time of the middle screen, and when the specific signal is output from the comparing means, the screen being displayed is set. It is determined whether or not the screen is the uppermost screen.If the screen is not the uppermost screen set, the display screen is set as the upper screen of the screen being displayed. Is characterized in that no display is performed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display device according to any one of the first to third aspects, further comprising an auto return time setting means for setting the auto return time.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus including the display device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Prior to a specific description, basic matters in an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In this embodiment, in order to improve operability, an auto return time can be set for each screen. Further, in order to improve the visibility, a mode in which nothing is displayed on the display panel of the digital timepiece is provided, and this mode is a final mode reached by an auto return. Further, in order to reduce power consumption, an auto return function is applied to various modes, and finally, an auto return is performed to a mode in which nothing is displayed on the display panel.

Hereinafter, a wristwatch to which a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.

A: Configuration of Embodiment FIGS. 5A and 5B are flowcharts showing a partial operation of a wristwatch to which a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and shows an operation related to an auto return function. Is shown. The display device according to the present embodiment is incorporated in a so-called combination type wristwatch having a function as an analog clock and a function as a digital clock as shown in FIG. 6, and operates as a display unit of the digital clock. .

In the wristwatch shown in FIG. 6, reference numeral 1 denotes a wristwatch main body provided with a disk-shaped dial, and the upper side in the figure is at 12:00. 2 is a crown protruding in the direction of 3 o'clock of the wristwatch body 1, and A, C and D are 8's of the wristwatch body 1.
Operation buttons protruding in the hour, two o'clock and four o'clock directions,
Reference numerals 3 to 5 denote a minute hand, an hour hand, and a second hand, one end of which is attached to the center of the wristwatch main body 1. Reference numeral 6 denotes a member provided near the outer circumference of the dial surface of the wristwatch main body 1 so as to divide the outer circumference into 12 parts. The minute hand 3, hour hand 4, and second hand 5 are elements of a movement of an analog timepiece, and are driven by a known drive mechanism (not shown) inside the wristwatch main body 1.

Further, the wristwatch main body 1 is provided with a transparent display panel on the near side in the figure. This display panel
For example, a PDLC panel, which is almost transparent when nothing is displayed, allows the user to see the dial, minute hand 3, hour hand 4, second hand 5 and the like behind the display panel. Also, even when numbers and characters are displayed on the display panel, the user is almost transparent except for the actual drive segment (the segment to which the voltage is applied). Can be specified, and the time can be read from them. The display on the display panel is controlled by a display control circuit 26 (described later) inside the wristwatch main body 1.

Here, a functional configuration of a main part of the wristwatch will be described with reference to FIG. In this figure, reference numeral 11 denotes input means for inputting a user's instruction, and includes various switches that are linked to the operations of buttons A, C, D and crown 2. Reference numeral 12 denotes an input control unit which detects ON / OFF of various switches of the input unit 11 and performs operation contents (buttons A, C, D and crown 2) at predetermined time intervals.
Is operated, and the number of operations).

Reference numeral 13 denotes an automatic return time setting means. If the operation content output from the input control means 12 causes a change in the mode / state (screen), an automatic return time setting means is provided based on the changed mode / state. In a state where the return time is set and the auto return time is set, the auto return time is set according to the operation content. 14
Is an auto return time storing means for storing the auto return time set by the auto return time setting means 13, and 15 is a time measuring means for measuring a non-operation period after the mode / state transition.

A comparison means 16 compares the auto return time stored in the auto return time storage means 14 with the time (no operation period) measured by the timer means 15, and the latter is greater than the former. It outputs a specific signal in some cases. Reference numeral 17 denotes a display content control means, based on the operation content output from the input control means 12 and the comparison result of the comparison means 16 (whether or not a specific signal is output), whether or not there is a change in mode / state. Is determined, and if there is a change, the display content is set according to the mode / state after the change, and if there is no change, the display content is left as it is. Reference numeral 18 denotes a display control unit such as an LCD driver, and 19 denotes a display unit such as an LCD. The display control unit 18 drives the display unit 19 to display the display content determined by the display content control unit 17.

Next, FIG. 8 shows an electrical configuration of a main part of a wristwatch that realizes the above-described functional configuration. In FIG. 8, 2
4 is an oscillation circuit for outputting a reference pulse for timing, 21
Is a core CPU (Central Processing Unit) that controls each unit, and operates in synchronization with a reference pulse output from the oscillation circuit 24. 22 is a core CPU 21 (hereinafter simply referred to as “CPU
21)) (ROM).
ad Only Memory), 23 is a RAM (Random Access Memory) that is read and written by the CPU 21, T is a timer (time measuring means) that measures time based on a reference pulse output from the oscillation circuit 24, based on an instruction from the CPU 21. The timer 21 starts a timer operation, and interrupts the CPU 21 when the time instructed by the CPU 21 elapses. These circuit elements 21 to 24 and timer T correspond to the above-described functional elements 13 to
17 is realized.

The CPU 21 has buttons A, C,
An input control circuit 25 (corresponding to the input control means 12) for inputting operation contents of the D and crown 2;
A display control circuit 26 for displaying a digital clock in response to an instruction from the CPU and a motor control circuit 27 for stepping an analog clock in response to an instruction from the CPU 21 are connected. 25 has buttons A,
A push switch 32 corresponding to C and D and a crown switch 33 corresponding to crown 2 are connected.

The display control circuit 26 is provided with an LCD driver 28 (display control means 18 together with the display control circuit 26).
A display panel 29 is connected to the motor control circuit 27 via a motor driver 30, ie, a driving mechanism including a minute hand 3, an hour hand 4, and a second hand 5.

The above-described circuit elements 21 to 28, the timer T, and the motor driver 30 are realized as a one-chip microcomputer.

Next, functions provided by the wristwatch having the above-described configuration will be described.

The digital timepiece of this wristwatch has a calendar mode for displaying a date and a day of the week, a one-time alarm mode for sounding only once at a set time, a daily alarm display mode for selecting and confirming a plurality of daily alarm channels, Daily alarm correction mode for correcting the time of a specific alarm, stopwatch mode for performing various measurements, recall mode for redisplaying past measurement results, and time correction mode for correcting the current year, month, day, time, etc. In addition, there is an all-off mode in which the display on the display panel is turned off. The all-light-off mode may be realized by outputting a drive waveform for all-light-off. However, if the display control circuit 26 is turned off, power consumption can be further reduced.

The all-light-off mode corresponds to a so-called initial state. If no operation is performed in each mode, the mode of the digital timepiece shifts to the all-light-off mode. The timing of the automatic return from each mode except the all-light-off mode to the all-light-off mode is transmitted from the CPU 21 to the timer T when the mode is changed. Here, FIG.
With reference to (A) and FIG. 5 (B), the flow of the process related to the auto return will be described.

Normally, the CPU 21 makes transitions between the states according to user's instructions (operations of the buttons A, C, D and the crown 2) and operation programs. At this time, C
The PU 21 stores information (for example, a state number) indicating the current state by using the RAM 23 or the like. Specific contents such as an instruction to the display control circuit 26 and an instruction through the input control circuit 25 in each state are arbitrary, and a known technique is sufficient. Only the auto return function will be described.

The CPU 21 performs a state transition or a button A,
When at least one of C and D is operated, FIG.
The timer processing as shown in is performed. Specifically, first, an instruction to clear the count value (described later) is issued to the timer T (step SA1). If the timer T is not counting, that is, if the auto return is not permitted, such an instruction is unnecessary, but here, in order to simplify the processing, the count value is set regardless of the operation of the timer T. I try to clear.

Next, it is determined whether or not a state transition has occurred (step SA2).
Then, a record corresponding to the state after the transition is searched for in the auto return time table stored in advance in step SA3 (step SA3). However, it is assumed that an auto return time table as shown in the following Table 1 is stored in the ROM 22 in advance. In the auto return time table, records with status numbers "0" and "1" correspond to the calendar mode, one-time alarm mode, and "2", "3",. However, a state not set here is a state in which the automatic return is not performed.

[0036]

[Table 1]

The reason why the auto return time is set for each state, not for each mode, is that the presence or absence of an auto return and the auto return time (auto return characteristic) may differ depending on the state even in the same mode. This is because the calendar mode and the one-time alarm mode are modes in which there is only one state, and as a result, it seems that the auto return time is set for each mode. Of course, even in the mode in which a plurality of states exist, if all the lights included in the mode have the same auto return characteristic, a table in which the auto return time is set for each mode is stored in the ROM 22. You may make it memorize | store.

As a result of the above-mentioned search, if the record corresponding to the state after the transition does not exist in the auto return time table, that is, if the state after the transition is a state in which the auto return is not permitted, the timer processing is terminated. The process returns to normal processing (step SA4). On the other hand, if a record corresponding to the state after the transition exists in the auto return time table, the CPU 21 reads out the auto return time in the record and supplies it to the timer T (steps SA4 and SA5).

When it is determined in step SA2 that the state is not the state transition, that is, when the buttons A, C, and D are operated but the state does not transition (for example, the buttons A, C, and D are changed due to time change). Is operated, the timer setting process ends and the process returns to the normal process. That is, only the count value of the timer T is cleared.

On the other hand, when the timer T receives an instruction to clear the count value from the CPU 21, the timer T clears the count value to, for example, "0".
Fig. 5 when auto return time is supplied from
The processing as shown in FIG. In FIG. 5B,
The timer T sets the auto return time supplied from the CPU 21 as a target value (step SB1). Thereafter, the timer T adds a predetermined value to the count value each time a reference pulse is input from the oscillation circuit 24 at predetermined time intervals,
When the count value is equal to or more than the target value, the CPU 21
, And terminates the process (steps SB2 to SB5).

Upon receiving a predetermined interrupt request from the timer T, the CPU 21 performs an automatic transition to a state immediately before the current state (one layer above), that is, an automatic return.
Needless to say, the above-described timer processing is performed again with this state transition. The ROM 22 stores information indicating a hierarchical relationship between the states.
Refers to the information and specifies the state immediately before the current state. In this embodiment, the “previous state” means a state one layer above the current state in the present embodiment. Embodiments that imply an upper or lower layer state, or other states that are neither an upper layer nor a lower layer, are also feasible. That is, if the present embodiment is modified, it is possible to realize various modes in which a transition to a state of another layer other than the current state is performed by the auto return.

B: Normal Operation of the Embodiment Next, the operation of the wristwatch having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. 1 to 4 are diagrams showing each state and a state transition process of a wristwatch to which the display device according to the present embodiment is applied. In this figure, A, C,
D represents the buttons A, C, and D themselves and the buttons that trigger the transition represented by the arrows. FIG. 1 shows the display states of the all-off mode, the calendar mode, and the one-time alarm mode. As shown in FIG. 1, in the all-light-off mode, the display control circuit 26 does not output a drive signal for the display panel, and the display on the display panel is off. In the all-off mode, buttons A, C,
When at least one of D is operated, the watch transitions to the calendar mode. Thus, “M” representing the day of the week
O, TU, WE, TH, FR, S
"A", "SU", "12.6" or the like indicating the date are displayed on the display panel.

When the C button is operated in the calendar mode, the mode transits to the one-time alarm mode, and information for setting an alarm that sounds only once (one-time alarm) is displayed on the display panel. At the time of transition to the one-time alarm mode, the current time is displayed as the alarm time on the display panel.
The time moves forward and backward at predetermined time intervals (for example, one minute intervals) in accordance with the operation of. If the user operates the button A after setting the desired time, the mode returns to the calendar mode.

In calendar mode, button D
Is operated, the mode transits to the daily alarm display mode. The daily alarm display mode and the daily alarm correction mode are modes for performing a state transition as shown in FIG. 2, and in the daily alarm display mode,
First, the alarm time set for the first channel (CH1) is displayed together with its on / off state and channel number. Thereafter, each time the button A is operated, the display target is set to the next channel. In addition, the display object next to the last channel (CH3) is the time signal ON / OFF.
When the button C is operated in this state, the time signal is turned on / off. When the button A is operated, the mode returns to the calendar mode.

When the button C is operated while the alarm time and the like of each channel are displayed, the mode transits to the daily alarm correction mode. In the daily alarm correction mode, first, an on / off state of the alarm of the channel is set, and the displayed “ON” or “OFF” blinks. Thereafter, every time the button C is operated, the mode is changed to setting of hour (including morning and afternoon), setting of minute, setting of 12 hour / 24 hour notation, and finally returning to the daily alarm display mode. When the button D is operated in each setting state of the daily alarm correction mode,
The content of the setting object changes sequentially.

Although illustration is omitted to avoid complicating the drawing, the second and subsequent channels (CH2,
Even if the button C is operated while the alarm time of CH3) is displayed, the same state transition as described above is performed.

In calendar mode, button A
Is operated, the mode transits to the stopwatch mode.
The stopwatch mode and the recall mode are modes in which a state transition as shown in FIG. 3 is performed, and in the present embodiment, measurement for a maximum of 12 hours is possible.

In the stopwatch mode, first, the state before the start is set. Here, by operating the button D, the lap / split can be switched. When the button C is operated in the state before the start, the measurement is being performed, and the measurement result is updated and displayed in units of 1/100 second. When the button D is operated during the measurement, the lap time or the split time is calculated without interrupting the measurement, and is stored in the RAM 23 together with the lap number or the split number.

When the button C is operated during the measurement, the measurement is stopped, and the state is changed to the measurement stop state.
In the measurement stop state, when the button C is operated, the measurement is restarted from the current measurement value and the state is changed to the state being measured, and when the button D is operated, the state is changed to a state before the start and the measured value is reset. Is done. In each state of the stopwatch mode, when the button A is operated, the state transits to the recall mode. In the recall mode, the selection of lap / split in the stopwatch mode is maintained, and first, the final measured value is displayed according to the selection. By operating the button D, the above selection can be switched.

In the recall mode, when the button C is operated in a state where the lap is selected, the lap number corresponding to the operation of the button C and the lap time stored corresponding to the lap number are displayed. Further, when the button C is operated in a state where the split is selected, the split number corresponding to the operation of the button C and the stored split time corresponding to the split number are displayed.

In any state of the recall mode, when the button A is operated, the mode transits to the calendar mode.

In the all-off mode, crown 2
Is brought out, the mode transits to the time correction mode. This transition process and the process in the time adjustment mode are described in, for example, FIG.
It becomes the flow as shown in.

In the time adjustment mode, each time the button C is operated, the object to be adjusted is cyclically changed in the order of time, year, month, and day. By operating the button D while the desired correction target is blinking, the contents of the correction target can be sequentially changed. Regardless of the correction target, pushing back crown 2 causes a transition to the all-lights-out mode. In this transition process, immediately after pushing back crown 2, the time, month, day, and day of the week are displayed for a predetermined time to urge the user to confirm, and thereafter, the mode is shifted to the all-off mode.

C: Auto Return Operation of Embodiment Next, an auto return operation combined with the normal operation described above will be described.

Basically, auto-return is allowed in most situations. Exceptions are the all-off mode consisting of the top layer state, the time correction mode consisting of a state requiring a physical action of "returning the crown 2" to the state transition, and the stop that allows 12 hours of measurement. There are a measurement state in the watch mode and a measurement stop state in which measurement restart is allowed.

In this embodiment, the auto return time set in each state excluding the above exception is 10 in the calendar mode and the one-time alarm mode.
Seconds, 10 minutes in the stopwatch mode, and 1 minute in the recall mode. These auto return times are appropriately set according to the display load in each state and the use of each state. From the viewpoint of reducing power consumption, when the number of actual drive segments is large, that is, when the display load is large, it is desirable to reduce the auto return time.For example, as in the state before the start of the stopwatch mode, The auto return time in a state where a relatively long no-operation period is expected should be a sufficiently long time so as not to impair operability.

Under such circumstances, the operation is shifted from the calendar mode to the one-time alarm mode, and the operation when the operation is interrupted here is exemplified.

The CPU 21 performs the processing shown in FIG. 5A when transitioning from the calendar mode to the one-time alarm mode. As a result, a target value representing 10 seconds is set in the timer T, and thereafter, as the time elapses, the count value of the timer T sequentially increases until some operation is performed.

Since the operation is interrupted here, the timer T
Count value becomes equal to or more than the target value after 10 seconds.
Requests interrupt to 1. Upon receiving the interrupt request, the CPU 21 performs an automatic return to the state one level above the current state, that is, the calendar mode, and performs the processing shown in FIG. 5A again. As a result, the timer T performs the same processing as described above, and when the no-operation period after the transition to the calendar mode becomes 10 seconds or longer, the CPU T
An interrupt request is made again to 21. Thereby, the transition to the all-lights-out mode is performed.

Since the all-light-off mode consists only of the state of the uppermost layer, no automatic return is performed thereafter.

D: Summary As described above, according to the present embodiment, the auto return time can be set independently for each state, so that the degree of freedom is increased and the operability is improved.

Further, in this embodiment, since the present invention is applied to a combination wristwatch, it is possible to automatically return to the all-off mode in which the display on the display panel is turned off without impairing the function as a clock. In the all-off mode, an elegant display using only the analog clock is provided, so that the digital time information does not overlap with the analog minute hand 3, hour hand 4, and second hand 5, and the user can easily read the time. There is.

Further, since the display on the display panel is turned off when the vehicle finally reaches by the automatic return, the visibility of the analog timepiece can be improved without impairing the operability, and the display can be performed. The power consumption of the device can be reduced.

When the present invention is applied to a digital wristwatch which is not a combination type, the automatic return may be performed up to the all-off mode. In this case, in the all-off mode, it is impossible to read the time,
This is suitable for the case where the number of times of referring to the time is small, or the case where only the picture or pattern on the back of the display panel can be seen in the all-off mode to enhance the completeness as an accessory.

Further, a table of the auto return time for each state may be stored in the RAM 23, and a mode for setting the auto return time may be provided so that the user can arbitrarily set the auto return time. On this occasion,
A button for shifting to the auto return time setting mode may be newly provided in the wristwatch main body 1. Of course, RAM
Instead of 23, any volatile or non-volatile memory can be used.

Further, the display panel is not limited to a PDLC panel, but may be a panel using a TN liquid crystal element, an LED, or the like.
Of course, the display panel may be embedded in the dial, and the minute hand 3, the hour hand 4 and the second hand 5 may be rotated in front of the display panel.
Alternatively, a plurality of display panels may be overlapped, a logical hierarchical relationship may be set between the panels, and an auto return may be performed over a plurality of display panels. For example, a display panel of high power consumption and a display panel of low power consumption are overlapped, and when the non-operation period reaches a predetermined time during display of the display panel of high power consumption, an automatic return to the display panel of low power consumption is performed. By switching from the display on the display panel with high power consumption to the display on the display panel with low power consumption, power saving can be achieved.

Further, if an auto return time is set for a state in which the auto return is not performed, and the time is set to a sufficiently long time (a time that does not actually elapse), it is unified with other states. CPU
There is an advantage that the process of No. 21 can be simplified.

When a display device such as a PDLC, which consumes more power as the area of a portion to which a voltage is applied for display becomes larger, is employed, the power consumption can be reduced without providing the all-off mode. Can be reduced. For example, in a liquid crystal panel, if the driving frequency is the same, the power consumption increases as the number of segments to which the voltage is applied for displaying numbers and characters increases,
If the final mode of the auto return is a mode in which the number of segments to which the voltage is applied is smaller than that of the other modes, power consumption can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, the display device according to the present invention is applied to a wristwatch, but the present invention is not limited to such embodiments. For example, the present invention can be applied to various electronic devices such as a wall clock, a mobile phone, and a portable computer, and can be applied to a wristwatch different from the embodiment.

[0070]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the display period of each screen is equal to or longer than the auto return time, a screen of another layer of the screen is displayed. Since the auto-return time is independent for each screen, if the auto-return time is set to a suitable time for each screen, the auto-return is performed in an appropriate time, so that the operability is improved. Terms 1, 3, 5).

Further, since the screen is not displayed at last, it is possible to reduce the troublesomeness (the difficulty of visually recognizing other information) due to the display of a large amount of information, and to increase the cost. It is possible to prevent an increase in power consumption due to displaying the power consumption screen for an unnecessarily long time.

Further, since the user can arbitrarily set the auto return time, control with a high degree of freedom is possible, and operability and visibility can be more effectively improved, and power consumption can be reduced. (Claims 4 and 5).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing each state and a state transition process of a wristwatch to which a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied,
The display states of the all-off mode, the calendar mode, and the one-time alarm mode are shown.

FIG. 2 is a view having the same effect as FIG. 1 and shows a display state of a daily alarm display mode and a daily alarm correction mode.

FIG. 3 is a diagram having the same meaning as in FIG. 1 and shows a display state in a stopwatch mode and a recall mode.

FIG. 4 is a view having the same effect as FIG. 1 and shows a display state in a time correction mode.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a partial operation of a wristwatch to which the display device according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied;
(A) shows the operation of the CPU 21 and (B) shows the operation of the timer T.

FIG. 6 is an external view showing a configuration of the wristwatch.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a main part of the wristwatch.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a main part of the wristwatch.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ... crown, 11 ... input means, 12 ... input control means,
13 ... auto return time setting means, 14 ... auto return time storage means, 15 ... time measuring means, 16 ... comparison means,
17: display content control means, 18: display control means, 19:
Display means, 21: core CPU, 22: ROM, 23: R
AM, 24: oscillation circuit, 25: input control circuit, 26: display control means, 27: motor control circuit, 28: LCD driver, 29: display panel, 30: motor driver, 31
... display pointer, 32 ... push switch, 33 ... crown switch, A, C, D ... button, T ... timer.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A display device for selectively displaying a plurality of screens having a logical hierarchical structure, wherein an auto return time is stored for each screen other than the set top layer screen. A storage unit, a timer unit for measuring a continuous display time of the displayed screen, and a comparison unit that outputs a specific signal when a measurement result of the clock unit is equal to or longer than an auto return time of the displayed screen, A display device comprising: a display content control unit that, when the specific signal is output from the comparison unit, causes the display screen to be a screen of another layer of the screen being displayed. 2. A display device for selectively displaying a plurality of screens having a logical hierarchical structure, comprising: an auto return time storing means for storing an auto return time; and a continuous display time for a screen being displayed. A time measuring means for measuring, a comparing means for outputting a specific signal when the measurement result of the time measuring means is equal to or longer than the auto return time; and a display when the specific signal is outputted from the comparing means. It is determined whether or not the screen is the set top layer screen. If the screen is not the set top layer screen, the display screen is set as the other layer screen of the displayed screen, and the set top screen is set. A display device comprising: display content control means that does not perform display when the screen is an upper layer screen. 3. The auto-return time storage means stores an auto-return time for each screen, and the comparing means outputs a specific signal when the result of the time measurement means is equal to or longer than the auto-return time of the screen being displayed. The display content control means, when the specific signal is output from the comparison means, determines whether or not the screen being displayed is the set top layer screen, The display screen is set as an upper layer screen if the screen is not the set top layer screen, and no display is performed if the set top layer screen is not set. Display device. 4. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising an auto return time setting means for setting the auto return time. 5. An electronic apparatus comprising the display device according to claim 1.