JPS6138425B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

The present invention relates to a city selection method for an electronic clock in which the time of representative cities around the world is arbitrarily displayed digitally. Conventionally, there are two types of world clocks: [1] It is a fairly large table clock with an opaque world map board based on the Mercator projection.
There are holes at the locations of major cities, and there is a lamp at the back of each hole. In the foreground is a light-emitting display that digitally displays hours, minutes, and seconds, and a large number of key switches corresponding to major cities. When one of the city switches is pressed, the lamp for that city lights up and at the same time the time for that city is displayed. It has a logic circuit for that purpose inside. [2] An electronic wristwatch has a liquid crystal time display in the center, and a parting plate surrounding it has a
Names of representative cities selected for each time zone are listed in order of time difference.
About 20 copies have been printed. There are display electrodes with small marks corresponding to the names of cities around the periphery of the liquid crystal display, and only the mark corresponding to the selected city is displayed. There is a button switch that allows you to select whether the city is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise, and each time you press either button, the indicator (mark) shifts to the next city, and the displayed time changes accordingly. However, these conventional examples have the following drawbacks. Conventional example [1] has to be equipped with a large number of key switches corresponding to the number of major cities, which increases costs and has problems with operability.Moreover, it requires space to arrange a large number of key switches, so it is not suitable for wristwatches, etc. It was considered a difficult task to reduce the size of the machine. Further, although the conventional example [2] has a small number of switches, it is troublesome to search for one city among many printed city names, and it takes time to select a city. The purpose of the present invention was to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, and it is to provide a city selection method for a digital world clock that allows cities to be easily selected using fewer switches in a shorter time and with easy-to-understand operations. . Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a digital world watch showing a first embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is a watch case, 2 is a display section consisting of a time display section 2a and a world city display section 2b, and a date display section. part 2c and hour display part 2
d, a minute display section 2f, a colon display section 2e that is arranged between the hour display section 2d and the minute display section 2f and blinks at a 1 second cycle, a second display section 2g, and a day of the week display section 2h. The part 2a is composed of a world map outline 2i printed in thin lines on a lower polarizing plate or a reflector (not shown) located at the bottom of the display part 2, and an area that overlaps the world map outline 2i in plan view. Continent identification display section 2j is made into a block with a display electrode pattern formed by the sun, which is classified separately (in this embodiment, it is classified into five continents including neighboring island countries).
and a plurality of city position prints 2 printed on the lower polarizing plate or reflective plate scattered within each continent identification display section 2j.
Only the selected city positions that overlap with k' in plan and have a larger display area than the city position printed matter 2k' are displayed.
A city location identification display section 2k formed from a display electrode pattern that blinks at a 0.5-second cycle or a 1-second cycle, and a city code corresponding to the city location blinking on the city location identification display section 2k are displayed. From the city code display section 2l to the world city display section 2b
is configured, and in the display state shown in Figure 1, South America, Rio de Janeiro, Monday the 17th,
It means what is displayed at 23:08:38. Furthermore,
The following push button switches 3 to 6 are arranged around the outer periphery of the watch case 1. That is, 3 is a correction digit selection switch that sequentially selects each time correction digit for day, day, hour, minute, and second each time it is pressed, and 4 is a switch that selects one of the continent identification display sections 2j classified into five blocks. 1
Continent selection switch 5 selects one after another each time it is pressed, and 5 performs a time adjustment digit operation of the selected time adjustment digit that takes the time adjustment state based on the operation of the correction digit selection switch 3, or operates the continent selection switch 4. 6 is a switch that selects one city from a plurality of cities located in one selected continent, which takes a city selection state based on This is a city display changeover switch, and a continent selection switch 4.
By pressing the switch 5 and the city display selector switch 6 at the same time with 1 city RO selected by the switch 5, that 1 city RO and 1 continent are set in the city memory circuit 21 and the continent memory circuit 17, which will be described later. Then, by finally selecting another city A with the continent selection switch 4 and switch 5, two cities A and B are arbitrarily selected, and by pressing the city display changeover switch 6, city A and city B are selected. The time display is switched and displayed alternately. Figure 2 shows a block diagram of the digital world watch of the present invention, where 7 is an oscillation circuit with a crystal oscillator with a natural frequency of 32,768 Hz, and 8 is a circuit that converts the 32,768 Hz signal from the oscillator circuit 7 to a 1 Hz signal. 9 is a counter, the configuration of which is a second counter 9a, a minute counter 9b,
9c hour counter, 9d day counter, 9e
It consists of a day counter, and switching circuits 9f to 9i. Reference numeral 10 denotes a time correction digit selection circuit which receives the signal _P1 of the correction digit selection switch 3 as an input, and each time the correction digit selection switch 3 is pressed once, each output signal N, A, B, C, D and E take their logical contents as shown in Table 1.

[Table] Therefore, depending on the number of push operations, the switching circuit 9
Either f-9i or AND gate 13 is selected to be in a modifiable state, that is, an operating mode in which signal _P3 by operation of switch 5 can be input to any one of counters 9a-9e via AND gate 12. Incidentally, the inverter 11 inputting the signal N is
Since the configuration is such that it is connected to one input of the AND gate 12, the time adjustment operation of the counter 9 by the switch 5 is prohibited when the signal N has a logic content of "1" (time adjustment state). To explain a typical example of time adjustment, for example, when correcting the time of the second counter 9a, the signal A of the time correction digit selection circuit 10 takes the logic content "1" by operating the correction digit selection switch 3. and signal N
takes the logic content “0”, so AND gate 12
and 13, the signal _P3 from the switch 5 is supplied to the second zero terminal r of the seconds counter 9a. As a result, when the time content of seconds is between 0 seconds and 29 seconds, either a rounding down reset operation is performed, or when it is between 30 seconds and 59 seconds, an incrementing reset operation is performed in which 1 signal is input to the minute counter 9b. . Furthermore, when the time of the minute counter 9b is to be corrected, the signal B of the time correction digit selection circuit 10 is set to the logic content "1" by operating the correction digit selection switch 3. In this state, the signal N has the logic content "0". To take
A signal _P3 generated each time the switch 5 is pressed is inputted to the minute counter 9b via the AND gate 12 and the switching circuit 9f to adjust the minute time. 14
is a continent selection circuit, and when N = "1" and P ₁ = "0", the signal P ₂ generated every time the continent selection switch 4 is pressed is sent to the continent selection circuit 14 by the action of the inverter 15 and the AND gate 16. is input. For example, when the signal F="1" initially, the logic content of each output signal FJ of the continent selection circuit 14 changes as shown in Table 2.

[Table] Therefore, it is possible to select a continent by setting each continent block in advance in accordance with each output signal F to J of the continent selection circuit 14 based on the pressing operation of the continent selection switch 4. One thing is understood. At this time, for example, when an operation is performed to set the output signal J to "1", the continent identification display section 2j is displayed as shown in Fig. 1, and the user can clearly see which continent is currently selected. can be identified. In this embodiment, the continent blocks are classified into five, but in other embodiments, for example, the Eurasian continent may be further subdivided into the Asian continent and the European continent, or the continents may be further subdivided to include other continents. It is also possible to do so. Further, the continent selection circuit 14 includes a T-type flip-flop 14a, as shown in FIG.
14c, NOR gates 14d to 14k, and OR gate 14l. Reference numeral 17 denotes a continent storage circuit composed of five data type flip-flops (not shown) for storing each of the output signals F to J of the continent selection circuit 14;
~J are input to each data input terminal of the continent storage circuit 17, and the timing at which they are stored is performed at the timing when the signal _φ1 input to the write terminal CL changes from "1" to "0". In other words, the timing at which the signal _φ1 changes from "1" to "0" is the state in which N="1" and switches 5 and 6 are pushed out at the same time (P ₃ = "1", P ₄ = "1"). )
This is the timing at which the pressing operation of one or both of the switches 5 and 6 is released. 18
19 is an AND gate for detecting the aforementioned timing and outputting the signal _φ1 , and 19 is a city selection circuit having a circuit configuration similar to that of the continent selection circuit 14.
When N = “1” and P ₁ = “0”, AND gate 2
0, a signal _P3 generated each time the switch 5 is pressed is input to the city selection circuit 19. As a result, each of the output signals K to P of the city selection circuit 19 is different from each other, for example, when the signal J is "1" (the South American continent is selected) and when the signal K=
If we describe the case where "1" is received, the logical contents will change as shown in Table 3.

【table】

[Table] Therefore, after one continent is selected by the continent selection switch 4, each city is selected in accordance with the output signals K to M, O, and P of the city selection circuit 19 based on the push operation of the switch 5 in advance. Once set, the selection operation of selecting one city from among the many cities given to one continent is performed by operating the switch 5. At this time, for example, the output signal K=
When the operation to set it to "1" is performed, as shown in Figure 1, only the Rio de Janeiro city location identification display section of the five city location identification display sections 2k in South America flashes at a 0.5 second cycle. , to identify and display that the city is in the selected state. In this embodiment, switches 4 and 5 are operated by selecting one continent block from a plurality of continent blocks and then selecting one city from a plurality of cities given within the selected continent block. The total number of operations is a maximum of 8, which is a relatively small number of operations.
You can choose one city out of 25. 21
are the respective output signals K to M and O of the city selection circuit 19,
This city memory circuit is composed of five data type flip-flops (not shown) for storing data P, and like the continent memory circuit 17, data is written and stored at the timing of signal _φ1 . 22 is an inverter that receives the signal P ₃ as an input; 23 is an AND gate that receives the output signal ₃ of the inverter 22, the signal N, and the signal P ₄ and outputs the signal φ ₂ ; 24 uses the signal φ ₁ as a reset input R; T-type flip-flop ( _hereinafter referred to as T-
(abbreviated as FF). 25 is the T-FF24
A switching circuit 26 switches and outputs the signals F to J and the signals F' to J' by the output of the T-FF24.
The output of signals K, L, M, O, P and K',
A switching circuit 27 switches between a 1Hz signal and a 2Hz signal using the output Q of the T-FF 24 and supplies a blinking signal to the urban blinking control circuit 28. A switching circuit 29 is a city designating circuit which receives the output signals from the switching circuits 25 and 26 and supplies signals to the city flashing control circuit 28, the time difference memory circuit 30, and the city code decoder 36. = “1”),
Rio de Janeiro (K="1"), when the output of T-FF24 is "0", from the city designation circuit 29
The signal group X generated on the 25 output lines has its logical content as shown in Table 4. City designation circuit 2 that generates such signal group X
Reference numeral 9 generates a signal group X corresponding to the selection of other continents/cities, and has a circuit configuration as shown in FIG. 31 is the time output from the time difference storage circuit 30;

[Table] This is a time calculation circuit that calculates the time in one designated city using the difference signal Y and the count output signal Z of the counter 9 as input.The output signal calculated by this time calculation circuit 31 is sent to the decoder 32 and the driver. The time is displayed on the time display section 2a via 33. On the other hand, the signal from the switching circuit 25 is
Since the continent identification display section 2j is driven for display via the continent identification display section 4, only one continent block selected from among the five continent blocks is displayed. The city position identification display section 2k also connects the city designation circuit 29 to the city flashing control circuit 28 and the driver 3.
The circuit configuration is such that the drive is controlled through T-5.
When the output Q of the FF 24 is set to "1", the signal _φ3 from the switching circuit 27 is output at 2 Hz, and one of the city location identification display sections 2k corresponding to the selected city flashes at a 0.5 second cycle. and conversely T-FF
When the output Q of 24 is set to “0”, the switching circuit 27
The signal φ ₃ from the
Takes a flashing display operation with a period of seconds. Incidentally, the urban flashing control circuit 28 is as shown in FIG.
The circuit consists of 25 AND gates. Furthermore, the city code display section 2l has a circuit configuration in which the display is driven from the city designation circuit 29 via a city code decoder 36 and a driver 37,
For example, as shown in FIG. 1, when the city of Rio de Janeiro is selected, a three-letter font pattern "RIO" is displayed. Reference numeral 38 denotes an initial set circuit which generates a one-pulse initial set signal S only when a battery is attached.The initial set signal PS causes the output signal state of each circuit to assume a logical initial state as shown in Table 5.

[Table] Next, FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the display state of the digital world clock according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, blocks are classified according to the first alpha alphabet of the city code. For example, enter city codes in alphabetical order.
ACA (Acapulco), AMA (Amarillo), ANC
(Anchorage), ..., etc. leading alpha bet A
Block and BKK (Bangkok). The first Alphabet B block such as BOM (Bombay), BUE (Buenos Aires), etc., the first Alphabet C block such as CCU (Calcutta), CHI (Chicago), CLY (Caribbean), etc., and the first Alphabet D block in the following order. As shown in FIG. The liquid crystal display device 39 is provided with a plurality of city identification display portions 39a in which dot display patterns are arranged, respectively, corresponding to the plurality of character fonts 40a. Therefore, when a user wants to select a city, he or she first selects one of the first alpha bet blocks, and then selects one city from the plurality of cities included in the selected first alpha bet block. All you have to do is perform the following operations. In the figure, the first alpha B block is selected because the city identification display section 39a corresponding to the first alpha bet B block is displayed, and one of the city identification display sections 39a is selected and a blinking operation display is performed. As a result, one city (BOM), that is, Bombay city, is selected and displayed. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the display state of a digital world clock according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in which numeral 41 is a liquid crystal display device, 41a is an alpha-betting display section for displaying an alpha-betting block; In this case, the first alphanumeric character of the city code is A to E.
, a block with the first alphabets F to I, a block with the first alphabets J to M, a block with the first alphabets N to Q, a block with the first alphabets R to U, and a block with the first alphabets V to Z. The blocks are classified into six blocks, and one of the blocks is selected and displayed by a selection operation, for example, as shown in the figure. 4
Reference numeral 1b denotes a city identification display section in which one city code is displayed by selecting one city from a plurality of cities included in the Alphabet block selected in the Alphabet display section 41a. In this case, one city is selected by two types of selection operations: an alpha block selection operation and a city selection operation. FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the display state of a world clock according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and reference numeral 42 denotes a city identification display section 42 consisting of 24 display electrode patterns around the world clock.
43 is a parting board having a printing part 43a on which each city name is printed in correspondence with the position of the city identification display part 42a, as shown in Table 6, parting board 43 The arrangement of city names in the printing section 43a is classified into time difference blocks .about., with a time difference of 4 hours being one block, and four representative cities are classified within each time difference block.

[Table] Therefore, to select a city, for example, if you want to select the city of Chicago, first select the time difference block ~
Check the name of the time difference block printed on the partition board 43, select the time difference block by operating the time difference selection switch (not shown), and then select one of the four cities in the time difference block. The city (Chicago) may be selected by operating a city selection switch (not shown). Although the circuit configurations in the second to fourth embodiments are not particularly specified, each selection switch in the second to fourth embodiments is equivalently the same as switches 4 and 5 in the first embodiment. (only the classification method is different), and each circuit 14, 17, 19, 21, etc. of the first embodiment can be
By changing the number of bits (number of outputs) in design, a circuit practically similar to that shown in FIG. 2 can be used. As described above, the present invention provides a world clock that selects one city from a plurality of cities and displays the city time based on the selected city, and classifies the number of cities into a plurality of blocks. However, by having a first selection means for selecting one block from among the plurality of blocks, and a second selection means for selecting one city from the blocks selected by the first selection means, the number of blocks is the same as the number of cities. There is no need to provide a selection switch, and it can be applied to small watches such as wristwatches.
Instead of checking the troublesome search for a city, you can select blocks as a guide function classified according to predetermined rules,
Furthermore, since the selection operation can be performed based on a relatively simple confirmation process of searching for a small number of city names within one selected block, the fonts of many printed city names can be virtually changed without making the clock larger. The miniaturization of the world wristwatch was achieved by making it smaller. Furthermore,
It has excellent operability that allows you to easily and clearly select one city in a short time with a small number of selection operations, and on the other hand, it has remarkable practical effects such as being able to set more cities in advance. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a digital world watch showing a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a block diagram of the digital world watch shown in Figure 1. FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of the continent selection circuit shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of the city designation circuit shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of the urban flashing control circuit shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is a plan view of a display state of a digital world clock showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a plan view of a display state of a digital world clock showing a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a plan view of a display state of a digital world clock showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 2a... Time display section, 2b... World city display section, 2
j...Continent identification display section, 2k...City position identification display section, 2l...City code display section, 3-6...Switch, 14...Continent selection circuit, 17...Continent storage circuit,
19... City selection circuit, 21... City memory circuit, 2
5, 26...Switching circuit, 28...City flashing control circuit,
29... City designation circuit, 30... Time difference memory circuit, 31
...Time calculation circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a world clock that selects one city from a plurality of cities and displays the city time based on the selected city, the plurality of cities are classified into a plurality of blocks. , a first selection means for selecting one block from the plurality of blocks, and a second selection means for selecting one city from the blocks selected by the first selection means. city selection method. 2. A city selection method for a digital world clock, characterized in that the plurality of blocks recited in claim 1 are classified based on region. 3. A city selection method for a digital world clock, characterized in that the plurality of blocks recited in claim 1 are classified based on time zones. 4. A city selection method for a digital world clock, characterized in that the plurality of blocks recited in claim 1 are classified based on the city name or the first alphanumeric alphabet of the city code.