JPS6036983A - Optical interface in electronic timepiece - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an interface part having no mechanical parts such as a crown, button, etc. by applying the data signal outputted from a photodetector for a light signal to a control circuit via an input circuit which detects, judges and analyzes said signal. CONSTITUTION:When a need for operating a timepiece arises, the operator brings an external light signal source 3 into tight contact with the surface of the photodetecting part 2 of a timepiece 0 and operates the switches SW 1-4 of an external light signal source circuit 6. The light from a light emitting element LED1 is made incident to a photodiode Di1 facing a light emitting element LED1 and photovoltaic current i2 flows to the diode Di1. The input of an inverter INV5 goes to a low level and a high level signal is outputted to the inverter INV5. Namely, the high level signal is outputted to the corresponding inverters INV 5-8 by pushing the switches SW 1-4. The signal is taken into a switch circuit as an input signal by performing such operation within specific time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a yc interface section in an electronic timepiece.

Conventionally, in portable electronic watches, when performing operations such as adjusting the time, signals are sent to the electronic circuit inside the watch by turning or pressing the crown or button attached to the watch body. was communicating.

However, in portable watches, the aforementioned crowns, buttons, etc. have a negative impact on waterproofness, dustproofness, etc., so as a countermeasure, it is necessary to improve airtightness with expensive gaskets and complicated mechanisms.

■ Irregularities on the crown, buttons, etc. get in the way when carrying the device.

■ Restricted by the design of the watch itself.

■ It had drawbacks such as not being suitable for inputting complex signals.

The present invention provides an electronic timepiece that easily eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks and does not require mechanical parts such as a crown or buttons.

According to the present invention, in an electronic watch equipped with a control circuit, an input signal to the control circuit is given as a total beam signal, and a data signal outputted from a light receiving element of the beam signal is detected, judged, and analyzed through an input circuit. , adding to the control circuit 1&
:/FIV, the original ink 7 ace part of the electronic watch with the signature is obtained.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a light receiving portion used in the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a switch as a control circuit for an electronic timepiece.

In FIG. 1, 0 is a watch body consisting of a receiver)'t, a watch section 2, and a watch display section l. (Reception) Y: The section 2 consists of one or a plurality of mutually independent external light sensors.

Reference numeral 3 denotes an external )°C signal source consisting of the same number of mutually independent light emitting elements 4 as the light receiving section 2 .

When it is necessary to operate the watch, place the external optical signal source 3 (receiver of the gold watch 0) in close contact with the surface of the part 2, and connect the external optical signal source (3) shown in FIG. operate. Now, considering the case where switch 8W1'f is pressed, when switch 8W1 is turned on, it becomes low level by resistor 1, and a high level signal is input to the input of inverter INVI, and as a result, the output of inverter INVI becomes low level. Therefore, a forward current il flows through the light emitting element LED1, and the light emitting element LEDI emits a current t.

On the other hand, in the light receiving circuit 5 of FIG.
1 is incident, a photovoltaic current 12 flows through the photodiode Di1, the input of the I/N terminal INV5 becomes low level, and a NO/I level signal is outputted to the I/N terminal INV5. That is, by pressing the switches SW1-4, a no-repel signal is output to the corresponding inverters INv5-8. By performing this operation within a certain period of time, the signal is taken into the Swiss-Sochi circuit as an input signal.

In this way, when the present invention is applied to a switch for an electronic timepiece, it is possible to realize a timepiece without a crown or buttons without any loss in operability.

In the above example, a dedicated photodiode was used as the light receiving section, but it is also possible to use the solar cell conventionally used as a power source for electronic watches by switching it for a power source and a switch.

Further, by electrically turning on and off the switches 5W1-4f instead of operating them by hand, it is also possible to input more complex signals such as a clock control program.

Furthermore, without using any special external source, under continuous light,
It is also possible to generate a signal manually by interrupting the source of light entering the light receiving section using a light shielding object such as a finger.

Furthermore, the present invention is not only useful as a crown or button, but is also very effective as a data input terminal with a wide range of uses.

As explained above, the present invention provides an interface section without mechanical parts such as a crown or buttons in an electronic timepiece.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a light receiving portion used in the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of an example in which the present invention is applied to a switch of an electronic timepiece. 0...Watch body, l...Display section, 2.
... Light receiving section, 3 ... External source signal source, 4.
... Light emitting element, 5- ... Light receiving circuit, 6.
...external) °C signal source circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an electronic timepiece equipped with a control circuit, the input signal to the control circuit is provided as a light beam signal. A main interface section of an electronic timepiece, which is added to the control circuit.