JPS5937475B2 - electronic clock - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an electronic timepiece that adjusts the displayed time using a radio time signal or the like.

An object of the present invention is to improve the reliability of the operation of an electronic clock that adjusts the time using a radio time signal or the like.

Advances in electronic circuit technology have led to the replacement of many mechanical watches with crystal watches.

In addition, crystal-type clocks with a mechanism for adjusting the time using radio time signals are even in use.

However, even with such excellent mechanisms, there are very few watches that actually perform their functions.

The present invention fulfills that function perfectly.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a conventional electronic clock whose time is adjusted by a radio time signal or the like.

In the figure, an electronic clock is composed of a clock circuit 1 and a time display 2.

The time signal from the clock circuit is led to the time display and 3
This can also lead to the time setting circuit.

In the time setting circuit, a preset time, e.g.
Three minutes before the hour, a signal is output and power is supplied to the receiving demodulator 5 and the time signal discriminator 6.

When power is supplied, the radio waves supplied from the antenna to the input terminal 4 are amplified and detected by the reception demodulator.

The detected signal is used by the time signal discriminator to identify the time signal signal from the general broadcast.

When the time signal is received, the correction mechanism 7 is operated and acts on the time setting circuit to turn off the power to the reception demodulator and the time signal discriminator.

Further, if the time signal is not received, the power supply is turned off after a certain time elapses, for example, after 7:03.

In digital watches, the time adjustment mechanism acts on the electronic circuit, setting the circuit to, for example, 7:00, and in analog watches, it acts on the time display, and uses a heart cam etc. connected to the gear mechanism to set the circuit to 7:00. Set on the hour.

This clock operates normally under good usage conditions, and is extremely accurate with no totalization errors.

However, such normal operation is rather rare, and there are many problems depending on the usage conditions.

For example, if the preset time is 6 o'clock and the owner of this watch is in a specific place where it is difficult to receive broadcasts at this time (reinforced concrete apartment building, underground mall, etc.), the clock error will be accumulated. Eventually, the range becomes uncorrectable,
For example, if it goes haywire for more than 3 minutes, automatic correction will no longer be possible.

The present invention eliminates the drawbacks of conventional watches of this type.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of an electronic timepiece according to the present invention.

As in the conventional example, a normal electronic timepiece is constituted by a clock circuit 8 and a time display 9 in the figure.

The time signal from the clock circuit is led to the time display and also [1
It can also lead to the time setting circuit of 0.

The time setting circuit operates the receiving demodulator 12 and the time signal discriminator 13 at a preset time.

Then, when the time signal is input to the signal input terminal 11, a correction signal is output from the time signal discriminator to operate the time correction mechanism 14.

Although the above is almost the same as the conventional example, the present invention differs greatly in the following points.

That is, in the present invention, 15 counting circuits and 16 time setting circuits are provided, and the two signals input to the selection counting circuit, namely, the signal from the time signal discriminator and the signal from the time setting circuit, are compared. , the number of circuits that did not receive a time signal etc. near the set time is counted.

When this count reaches a predetermined number, the present invention operates the time setting change circuit to change the set time of the time setting circuit to another set time.

Therefore, the electronic timepiece of the present invention is less affected by individual differences in the lifestyle rhythm of the timepiece owner, and the probability of correction is extremely high.

Furthermore, in the past, it was nearly impossible for non-experts to change the set time if it did not match the activity rhythm of the watch owner, but with the electronic watch of the present invention, this can be done automatically. Therefore, there is no need for even an explanation of the correction mechanism to experts in watch theory.

It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the case where a time signal or a time signal is obtained by receiving radio waves such as broadcasting, but also extends to the case where a time signal sound etc. emitted from a speaker of a receiver or the like is received.

Also, in Figure 2, the input to the time setting circuit is obtained from the clock circuit, but in the case of a hand display clock, it would be more reasonable to obtain it from a position switch installed under the dial of the time display. Needless to say, changes can be made to the correction mechanism, such as having it act on the time indicator.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a conventional electronic clock whose time is adjusted by radio time signals, etc. FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of the present invention. 8... Clock circuit, 9... Time display,
10... Time setting circuit, 13... Time signal identifier, 14... Correction mechanism, 15...
Counting circuit, 16...Time setting change circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A clock circuit, a time indicator that displays a time signal from the clock circuit, a reception demodulator that receives and demodulates external radio waves, a time signal identifier that identifies a time signal from the output of the reception demodulator, and a signal of the clock circuit. In an electronic watch that has a time setting device that supplies power to the receiving demodulator and the time signal discriminator at a preset time and a correction mechanism that adjusts the time based on the output of the time signal discriminator, the time signal is A counting circuit for counting the number of times the signal has not been received; and a time setting change circuit for changing the time setting value of the time setting device when the output of the counting circuit reaches a predetermined value; An electronic timepiece characterized in that a signal from the time setting circuit and a signal from the time setting circuit are inputted.