JPH10197668A - Clock with illumination - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve appearance of a clock with illumination in shops and give no uncomfortableness due to too bright looking in normal use to a user without requiring greatly a cost-up. SOLUTION: When a snooze switch 4 is pushed down, a counter 6 is cleared and starts counting, an EL element 10 is turned on at the brightness set in advance to illuminate a time indication part 1. The counter 6 continues counting while the snooze switch 6 is pushed down and according to the countup signal input, a control circuit 5 sets the luminance of the EL element 10. In concrete, while the snooze switch 4 is pushed down, the luminance of the EL element 10 is gradually raised at every 3 seconds. If a count-up signal is output when the luminance of the EL element 10 is highest, the luminance of the EL element 10 is reset to the highest point.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an illuminated timepiece.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a timepiece in which a time display section of the timepiece can be illuminated by an EL (electroluminescence) element.

[0003]

Of the above, the EL brightness is set to a brightness suitable for actual use at home, that is, a brightness that is not so bright that the time display section can be recognized in the dark. The set items do not feel so bright even when lit at the store, and therefore have low appeal to customers.

[0004] Conversely, if the brightness of the EL is set to a high brightness in order to enhance the appeal at the store, it will be too bright when actually used, and will be too dazzling in the darkness to the user. There was a problem of giving discomfort.

For this reason, some switches are provided with a brightness adjusting switch. However, in this case, a new switch member or the like is added, which increases the cost.

[0006]

According to the present invention, the brightness of the illumination means is controlled in accordance with the operation of the operation means for lighting the illumination means for illuminating the time display unit, so that no significant cost increase is required. In addition, appeal can be improved, and the user can be prevented from feeling uncomfortable due to excessive dazzling.

[0007]

The invention according to claim 1 of the present application provides a time display unit for displaying the current time, a lighting unit for illuminating the time display unit, and an operation unit for lighting the illumination unit. Control means for controlling the luminance of the lighting means.

[0008] In the invention according to claim 2 of the present application, the control means increases the luminance of the lighting means by a continuous operation of the operating means for a predetermined time or more.

In the invention according to claim 3 of the present application, the control means increases the brightness of the illumination means by the number of times the operation means is operated within a predetermined time.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described below based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a time display unit for displaying the current time. 2 is an alarm set switch, 3 is an alarm switch, and 4 is an automatic reset type snooze switch. Reference numeral 5 denotes a control circuit that constitutes control means, and includes a CPU, an RO,
M, RAM, etc., and controls various operations. 6 is 3
When counting up, the second counter outputs a count-up signal and clears the count value. Reference numeral 7 denotes a sound generating circuit that outputs a sound signal for alarm notification, and performs alarm notification by a speaker 8. 9 is a light emitting circuit,
A luminance setting circuit (not shown) for the EL element 10 is provided, and the EL element 10 emits light at a desired luminance in response to the operation of the snooze switch 4. In this example, it is assumed that the luminance of the EL element 10 can be set in three levels. The EL element 10 constitutes an illumination unit and illuminates the time display unit 1.

Next, the operation will be described. It is assumed that the current state is the initial state. In this initial state, the EL element 1
It is assumed that the brightness of 0 is set to the darkest brightness.

When the snooze switch 4 is pressed, the counter 6 starts counting after clearing the count value, and the EL element 10 is turned on with the darkest brightness to illuminate the time display section 1.

The counter 6 continues counting while the snooze switch 6 is pressed, and the control circuit 5 sets the luminance of the EL element 10 according to the input of the count-up signal. Specifically, while the snooze switch 4 is pressed, the brightness of the EL element 10 is increased stepwise every three seconds. When the count-up signal is output when the luminance of the EL element 10 is the brightest,
The brightness of the EL element 10 is again set to the darkest brightness. Hereinafter, the above operation is repeated while the snooze switch 4 is pressed.

When the snooze switch 4 is released, the EL element 10 stops lighting and the counter 6 also stops operating.

The set brightness of the EL element 10 is as follows:
It is held until the count-up signal is input to the control circuit 5 again.

As described above, the turning on / off of the EL element 10 and the brightness adjustment are performed by operating the snooze switch 4, so that an appropriate brightness adjustment according to the use scene can be made without adding a new brightness adjustment switch member or the like. Can be. Therefore, it is possible to provide an illuminated clock that can be adjusted to have a high brightness when it is displayed at a store and a desired low brightness when used as an alarm clock without significantly increasing the cost.

In the above description, when the snooze switch 4 is depressed, the brightness is changed at intervals of 3 seconds. However, the time interval can be changed as appropriate.

However, it is not preferable to shorten the time from when the snooze switch 4 starts to be pressed until the luminance is changed too much. The reason for this is that if the time is too short, the brightness changes even when the time is simply checked, which makes it difficult for the user to handle. Therefore, in practice, it is desirable that the time from when the snooze switch 4 starts being pressed until the luminance is changed be at least 2 seconds or more. Further, the time required for the subsequent luminance change may be shorter than the time from when the snooze switch 4 starts being pressed to when the luminance first changes.

In the above description, the brightness can be set in three stages, but this can be changed as appropriate.

Further, in the above description, the brightness is changed according to the operation time of the snooze switch. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the brightness may be changed according to the number of times the snooze switch is operated within a desired time. Good. In this case, for example, when the operation is performed twice or more within 5 seconds, the luminance may be changed stepwise by the number obtained by subtracting 1 from the number of operations. The reason why the luminance is changed stepwise by the number obtained by subtracting 1 from the number of operations is to prevent the luminance from being changed immediately by the first operation. That is, it is to prevent the luminance from changing when simply checking the time.

Further, in the above description, an illuminated timepiece with a snooze function is used, but an illuminated timepiece without a snooze function may be used. In this case, a general lighting on / off switch may be used as the operating means instead of the snooze switch. That is, the counter 6 may count when the lighting on / off switch is operated.

[0023]

According to the present invention, appropriate brightness adjustment can be performed according to the use scene without adding a new brightness adjustment switch member or the like. Therefore, it is possible to provide an illuminated clock that can be set to have a high luminance when it is displayed in a store and to have a low luminance when used as an alarm clock without significantly increasing the cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Time display part 4 Operation means 5 Control means 10 Lighting means

Claims (3)

[Claims] A time display unit for displaying a current time; a lighting unit for illuminating the time display unit; and a control unit for controlling the brightness of the lighting unit in accordance with an operation of an operation unit for lighting the lighting unit. An illuminated watch characterized by comprising: 2. An illuminated timepiece according to claim 1, wherein said control means increases the brightness of said illuminating means by continuously operating said operating means for a predetermined time or more. 3. An illuminated timepiece according to claim 1, wherein said control means increases the brightness of said illuminating means according to the number of operations of said operating means within a predetermined time.