JPH10197666A - El clock with earthquake alarm function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an EL clock with earthquake alarm function capable of lighting around in case of an earthquake with least malfunction. SOLUTION: A judgment means 3 compares the signal level of the output of a vibration detecting means 2 with a first reference level when the alarm is set, and when the alarm is not set, it compares with the second reference level higher than the first reference level to judge whether or not an earthquake occurred. A drive means 4 makes the EL element 1 emit light according to the judgement. By this, surrounding can be lightened in case of an earthquake. In the case the alarm is set when the frequency of carrying the clock is usually though low, earthquake judging sensitivity is raised. On the contrary in the case the alarm is not set when the earthquake judging sensitivity is reduced so that malfunction due to carrying is reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an EL watch having an earthquake alarm function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, a time display unit, for example, a dial, etc.
Timepieces provided with an L element are commercially available. In such a device, the EL element is turned on in response to an output of an illuminance detection circuit using CdS (cadmium sulfur), or turned on in response to an operation of an alarm set switch. In some cases, the EL element blinks on the hour or at the time of an alarm.

[0003]

As described above, in the conventional timepiece, the EL element is used for illumination of the time display section in the dark, confirmation of the setting operation of the alarm, performance at the time of the alarm or at the time of the alarm, etc. Although it was possible to illuminate the dial in the cage, the EL element was made to emit light in response to the earthquake,
Nothing is used as lighting. Further, if the EL element is simply made to emit light in response to the detection of an earthquake, a clock having a relatively high frequency of carrying may cause a malfunction due to vibration during carrying.

[0004]

According to the present invention, the signal level of the output of the vibration detecting means is compared with the first reference level when an alarm is set, and the second reference level is higher than the first reference level when the alarm is not set. Then, it is determined whether or not an earthquake has occurred, and in response to this, the EL element is caused to emit light to perform an earthquake notification. As a result, the earthquake determination sensitivity is usually increased when an alarm is set that the frequency of carrying the clock is considered to be low, and the earthquake determination sensitivity is reduced when the alarm is not set, which is considered to be frequently carried.
This allows it to be used as lighting during an earthquake,
In addition, the present invention provides an EL watch with an earthquake notification function that can reduce malfunctions.

[0005]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An EL element for illuminating a time display unit;
An alarm set switch, vibration detecting means for generating a signal having a level corresponding to the intensity of the earthquake shaking, and a signal level output from the vibration detecting means when the alarm signal is set by the set switch. Compare,
When the alarm is not set by the set switch, the first
Determining means for generating a determination signal indicating that an earthquake has occurred when the signal level exceeds the first or second reference level by comparing the signal level with a second reference level higher than the reference level; And a driving means for causing the EL element to emit light in response to the judgment output of the above.

[0006]

Next, an EL with an earthquake notification function according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The watch will be described.

First, the configuration of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1A. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an EL element, which is provided on a timepiece dial D shown in FIG. 1B. Numeral 2 denotes a vibration detecting means, which outputs a signal of a level corresponding to the intensity of the shaking of the earthquake. Although this is not shown and described in detail, for example, a piezoelectric element in which a member capable of vibrating due to an earthquake quake and a pressure-sensitive part are coupled to each other and configured to generate a signal of a level corresponding to the vibration intensity is used. It is. 3 is a judgment means,
With the changeover switch S and the changeover switch S, the terminal RE1 of the first reference level is set when the alarm is set.
When the alarm is not set, the terminal RE2 of the second reference level
And a comparison circuit CP that compares the level of the terminal RE with the signal level of the vibration detecting means 2 and generates a signal when the signal level of the vibration detecting means 2 exceeds the level of the terminal RE. Consists of The changeover switch S is switched in conjunction with an alarm set switch AS. Terminals RE1 and RE2 are connected to R
1, and pulled up to the power supply terminal VDD via R2. The resistance value of the resistor R1 is set higher than the resistance value of the resistor R2, and the second reference level is set higher than the first reference level. Thereby, the signal level of the output of the vibration detecting means 2 is compared with the first signal level when the alarm is set, and is compared with the second reference level higher than the first reference level when the alarm is not set. When the signal level exceeds the first or second reference level, a determination signal (signal from the comparison circuit CP) indicating that an earthquake has occurred is generated. Reference numeral 4 denotes a driving unit which receives the judgment output of the judgment unit 3 and causes the EL element to emit light. Note that E
The light emission of the L element 1 may be appropriately illuminated when a judgment output is received, or a manual switch may be provided to illuminate while the L element 1 is pressed. Reference numeral 5 denotes a clock circuit, which performs a normal clock function, and controls, for example, an operation of an alarm sound generating means (not shown), a clock move, and the like.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

First, an alarm setting will be described.
By operating the set switch AS to perform the alarm setting, the terminal RE is connected to the terminal RE1 by the changeover switch S interlocked with the set switch AS. Thereby, the comparison circuit CP compares the first reference level with the signal level of the vibration detecting means 2. Here, when an earthquake occurs, a signal of a level corresponding to the intensity of the shake is output from the vibration detecting means 2. Here, when the signal level of the vibration detecting means 2 exceeds the first reference level, an output (judgment output) is generated from the comparison circuit CP. In response to this determination output, the driving means 4 causes the EL element 1 to emit light.

Next, the case when the alarm is not set will be described.
When the alarm is not set by operating the set switch AS, the changeover switch S is connected to the terminal R in conjunction with this.
The connection between E and terminal RE1 is switched to the connection between terminal RE and terminal RE2. As a result, the comparison circuit CP compares the second reference level with the signal level of the vibration detecting means 2. Also in this case, the signal level of the vibration detecting
Is exceeded, the output from the comparison circuit CP is generated, and in response to this, the driving means 4 causes the EL element 1 to emit light.

As described above, since the EL element 1 emits light when an earthquake occurs, it can be used as illumination enough to illuminate the hand.

Since the alarm setting is usually performed at bedtime, it is considered that the frequency of carrying the clock is low when the alarm is set, and the frequency of carrying the clock is high when the alarm is not set. In addition, it is common to darken the surroundings when going to bed, which requires lighting. So, while normal lighting is needed,
The second reference level is set higher than the first reference level used at the time of the alarm setting, which is assumed to be infrequently carried, and the earthquake determination sensitivity is increased when the alarm is set, and the earthquake determination sensitivity is set when the alarm is not set. I have lowered it. Thus, it is possible to respond to an earthquake with high sensitivity when lighting is required, and to reduce the malfunction of the EL element 1 being turned on when the alarm is not set, because the earthquake is determined by the vibration during carrying and the EL element 1 is turned on.

In the above embodiment, an alarm sound may be generated together with the emission of the EL element 1 in response to the judgment output. Further, the EL element 1 may be caused to emit light also at the time of an alarm, and when emitting light in response to the determination output, the EL element 1 may emit light at a luminance higher than the luminance at the time of the alarm.

[0014]

According to the EL watch with an earthquake alarm function of the present invention, when an alarm is set, an earthquake can be determined with high sensitivity to cause the EL element to emit light, and it can be used as illumination for illuminating a hand, and can be used as an alarm. When set, malfunctions can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an EL watch with an earthquake notification function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 EL element AS set switch 2 Vibration detection means 3 Judgment means 4 Driving means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An EL element for illuminating a time display unit, an alarm set switch, vibration detection means for generating a signal having a level corresponding to the intensity of earthquake shaking, and a signal level output by the vibration detection means. Is compared with a first signal level when the alarm is set by the set switch, and is compared with a second reference level higher than the first reference level when the alarm is not set by the set switch. A determination means for generating a determination signal indicating that an earthquake has occurred when the reference level exceeds a reference level of 2, and a driving means for receiving the determination output of the determination means and causing the EL element to emit light. EL watch with an alarm function.