JPH11218588A - Timer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the setting of initiation time and termination time of the timer function of a timer device. SOLUTION: A clock circuit 26 counting the present time, a switch circuit 13 controlling supplying of function voltage to a load 14 and a memory 23 are provided. When a number indicating the order in the case of dividing 24 hours in a specific size of time is input, the time indicated by the number is converted into the initiation time and the termination time of corresponding absolute time in a day and stored in a memory 23. When the time counted by the clock circuit 26 comes to the initiation time and the termination time, the switch circuit 13 is controlled to control the supply to the load 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a timer device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a recording / reproducing apparatus having a timer function, when the timer function is used, it is necessary to set a start time and an end time of the timer operation. Therefore, the operation for actually setting the timer operation is, for example, an operation and a procedure as shown in FIG. That is: 1. Select the "hour" digit of the start time as the setting target. 2. Set the hour digits for the start time. 3. Select the "minute" digit of the start time as the setting target. 4. Set the "minute" digit of the start time. 5. For the end time, perform the same operation as in steps 1-4.

[0003]

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned operation is troublesome.

[0005] The present invention is to solve such a problem.

[0006]

Therefore, according to the present invention, there is provided a clock circuit for measuring the current time, a switch circuit for controlling supply of an operating voltage to a load, and a memory. When a number indicating the order in which the time is divided by the time of the size is input, the time indicated by this number is changed to 1
When the time counted by the clock circuit is the start time and the end time, the switch circuit is controlled when the time is converted into the start time and the end time of the corresponding absolute time of the day. Thus, a timer device for controlling power supply to the load is provided. Therefore, the start time and the end time of the timer operation are set by one-step key input.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A CD has a maximum length of about 74.
You can record for minutes, for example, as shown in FIG.
The above absolute time and the track number have a one-to-one correspondence. In the case of FIG. 3A, since the track number “3” corresponds to the absolute time “8 minutes 42 seconds to 14 minutes 03 seconds”, the reproduction is performed by specifying the track number “3”. Even if the playback is performed, the result will be the same even if the playback is performed by specifying the absolute time “8 minutes 42 seconds to 14 minutes 03 seconds”.

The present invention pays attention to such a point and introduces a concept as shown in FIG. 3B, for example. That is, in the case of FIG. 3B, 7:00 am of the absolute time is set as the “reference time”, and one hour is set as the “unit time”.
The 24-hour period is divided into hourly hours from 7:00 am. And
A “time number” is assigned to each divided one hour.
In the case of FIG. 3B, the time number “1” is from 7:00 to 8:00, the time number is “2” from 8:00 to 9:00, and the time number “24” is from 6:00 to 7:00 on the same day. Become.

When the timer time is set, if the set time is, for example, 9:00 to 10:00, the time number of this time is "3", so this time number "3" is input.
If the set time is, for example, 12:00 to 14:00, the time numbers at this time are "6" and "7", so the time numbers "6" and "7" are input. Then, inside the timer, the input time number “3” or “6”,
"7" is converted to an absolute time of 9 o'clock to 10 o'clock or 12 o'clock to 14 o'clock, and a timer process is performed.

Note that the reference time and the size of the unit time can be changed or set by the user as necessary.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

In FIG. 1, a commercial AC voltage is supplied from an AC plug 11 to a power supply circuit 12 and is converted into a DC voltage having a predetermined magnitude. The DC voltage is supplied through a power supply control switch circuit 13 to a load, for example, a recording medium. The operating voltage is supplied to the main circuit 14 of the reproducing apparatus.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a microcomputer for controlling the system, which comprises a CPU 21 for executing a program and a ROM 2 on which the program is written.
2, a RAM 23 for a work area, an input port 24 and an output port 2 for input / output of data and control signals, etc.
And 5. In this case, the ROM 22 is provided with, for example, an initial setting routine 100 and a timer time setting routine 200 shown in FIG. The details of these routines 100 and 200 will be described later.

Further, the microcomputer 20 includes:
A clock circuit 26 for measuring the current time, a key interface circuit 27, and a display controller 28 are provided. Various operation keys 31 are connected to the key interface circuit 27, and an LCD 32, for example, is connected to the display controller 28 as a display element.

Data indicating the operation state and the like is supplied from the main body circuit 14 to the microcomputer 20.
4 are supplied with various control signals. The switch circuit 13 is controlled by the microcomputer 20.

In such a configuration, when one of the keys 31 of the timer 31 is operated, the processing of the CPU 21 starts from step 101 of the routine 100, and then waits for a key input at step 102. Then, when a key input for selecting the digit of the "hour" of the reference time as a setting target is performed, the process proceeds to step 103, and in this step 103, the key input is waited again. Key.

Then, the process proceeds to step 104, and in this step 104, a key input is waited.
A key input is performed to select the “minute” digit of the reference time as a setting target. Then, when this key input is performed, the process proceeds to step 105, and in this step 105, the key input is again waited. Therefore, here, "minute" of the reference time is input by key.

Subsequently, the process proceeds to step 106, and in this step 106, a key input is waited.
Key in the unit time in minutes. Then, the process proceeds to step 109, ends this routine 100, and ends the initial setting. Steps 103 and 10
The reference time and unit time input in 5 and 106 are
It is stored in the RAM 23. The above operation need not be performed again unless the reference time and the unit time need to be changed.

On the other hand, the timer time is set in the routine 20
0 is executed as follows. That is, when a key operation for setting the timer time is performed, the processing of the CPU 21 starts from step 201 of the routine 200 and then waits for a key input in step 202. Then, when a time number corresponding to the timer time is input by a key, the process proceeds to step 203, where the routine 200 ends, and the time setting ends.

The time number input in step 202 is converted into the actual start time and end time of the timer by the routine 100 using the reference time and the unit time stored in the RAM 23, and stored in the RAM 23. . For example, if the reference time and the unit time stored in the RAM 23 are 7:00 and 1 hour as shown in FIG. 3B, if the time number set by the routine 200 is “3”, The time number “3” is converted into 9 o'clock (start time of the timer) and 10 o'clock (end time), and the time of this conversion result is stored in the RAM 23.

The timer operation is executed in the same manner as a general timer device in accordance with the start time and the end time stored in the RAM 23. That is, when a key operation for executing the timer operation is performed, the microcomputer 20
As a result, the switch circuit 13 is turned off, and the power supply of the main body circuit 14 is turned off. Thereafter, the microcomputer 20 checks whether the current time measured by the clock circuit 26 has reached the start time of the timer operation stored in the RAM 23, for example, every minute. .

When the current time measured by the clock circuit 26 has not reached the start time of the timer operation stored in the RAM 23, the switch circuit 13 is kept off. When the current time measured by the timer 20 becomes the start time of the timer operation stored in the RAM 23, the microcomputer 20 turns on the switch circuit 13. Therefore, the DC voltage from the power supply circuit 12 is supplied to the main body circuit 14 as an operation voltage, and the main body circuit 14 enters an operation state set in advance, for example, a recording mode.

Subsequently, in the microcomputer 20, the current time measured by the clock circuit 26 is stored in the RAM.
For example, it is checked every minute whether or not the end time of the timer stored in the timer 23 has come.

When the current time measured by the clock circuit 26 has not reached the end time of the timer operation stored in the RAM 23, the switch circuit 13 is kept on. When the current time measured by the timer 20 is the end time of the timer operation stored in the RAM 23, the microcomputer 20 turns off the switch circuit 13 and turns off the power supply of the main body circuit 14.

As described above, in the above-described device, the timer operation is executed. In particular, according to the above-described device, one day is regarded as a group of unit time, and the ordinal number (order) of the unit time is determined. Since the start time and the end time of the timer are automatically set by the designation, the key input for setting the start time and the end time is only one step as shown in the routine 200. Thus, the trouble of setting the start time and the end time can be largely saved. In particular, this is more effective when a plurality of timer times are set, or when a broadcast at a fixed time interval is recorded such as a television program or a radio program.

In the above description, the timer device is incorporated in the recording / reproducing device. However, the present invention can be applied to a single timer device.

[0027]

According to the present invention, the start time and end time of the timer operation can be set in one step,
The trouble of the setting can be largely saved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for setting a timer.

[Explanation of symbols]

12 = power supply circuit, 13 = switch circuit, 14 = body circuit, 20 = microcomputer, 21 = CPU, 22
= ROM, 23 = RAM, 26 = clock circuit, 100 = initial setting routine, 200 = timer time setting routine

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A clock circuit for measuring a current time, a switch circuit for controlling supply of an operating voltage to a load, and a memory, wherein a time when 24 hours are divided by a predetermined amount of time is determined. When the number indicated is input, the time indicated by the number is converted into the start time and end time of the corresponding absolute time in one day and stored in the memory, and the time measured by the clock circuit is determined by the start time. A timer device that controls the switch circuit to control power supply to the load when the time and the end time have come. 2. The timer device according to claim 1, wherein the 24-hour start time and the time can be set from outside.