JPS63104519A - Electronic sandglass - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily handle an electronic timer with digital display just like a sandglass by providing a display panel provided in a case, operational switches on upper and lower faces and a time count circuit which frequency-divides an oscillation signal from a crystal oscillator circuit and counts time. CONSTITUTION:The titled sandglass consists of the operational switches 3 and 4 arranged on the top and bottom of an armour case 1, the display panel 2 which is arranged on one side of the armour case 1, displays at least one set of 0-9 and has numerical segments, a control circuit 8 which senses one input from the switches 3 and 4, counts a given length of time, and subtracts numbers, the time count circuit 6, and an electronic circuit which switches upward or downward the light of the numerical segments on the display panel 2 due to the actions of the switches 3 and 4. Thus a user can handle the titled sandglass like a popular sandglass, and moreover it can display the remaining time, which an existing sandglass cannot do.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an electronic timer that notifies the passage of a certain period of time.

[Summary of the invention]

In recent years, with the spread of digital clocks, timers that count down and measure a set time have been commercialized as electronic timers that have a digital display using a liquid crystal panel and also emit a time-up sound through a speaker. However, although this electronic timer is convenient, it has tended to be avoided by general users because operations such as setting the time and starting the timer are cumbersome. On the other hand, it is also true that the second timer is a timer that has been popular for a long time, is the easiest to use, and is still widely used.

The present invention focused on this point and invented an electronic hourglass that is an electronic timer with a digital display but can be easily used like an hourglass.

[Conventional technology]

A typical example of a conventional electronic timer is shown in FIG. This timer consists of the LCD display panel 2 and the ON9 numeric key 12a.
~ Equipped with 12j1 start e stop key 13,
First, the user sets a desired time using the numerical keys J2a to 12J, and starts the timer using the start-stop key 13. Then, the timer started subtracting and a certain amount of time elapsed, and when the display reached 0, a time-up sound was emitted from the speaker.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, conventional timers have multiple keys and require different keys to be pressed in order for time setting and start, so they are not simple and can be used by anyone without an instruction manual.

The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned drawback that anyone can easily use it without an instruction manual.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention is characterized by digitizing the sand uji meter, which has been handled by general users with ease as common sense, as a means for realizing a strainer that can be easily used by anyone without the above-mentioned instruction manual.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external view of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is (a) to
(b) is a drawing showing the activated state.

This electronic hourglass has a display panel 2 provided in a case 1.
"lower switch 3, lower switch 4, speaker 5 and circuit (
(not shown), etc.

As shown in FIG. 2(a), when the main body is placed upside down, the lower switch 4 is exposed to the surface of the desk 14, and the switch is activated by being pushed by the weight of the electronic hourglass main body. Then display panel 2
The fixed set time of the electronic hourglass (here, 5 minutes) is displayed, the minute mark 2a starts blinking, and the timer starts subtracting (FIG. 2(b)). As the time continues to pass, the remaining time is displayed each time. When the set time expires, the display panel 2 displays 0 minutes and the speaker 5 emits a time-up sound (FIG. 2(C)).

Similarly, the next time you use it, turn the main unit upside down from its current state and press the top switch, and the set time of 5 minutes will be displayed on the display panel 2 in the same way as above. At this time, the minute mark 2b will start blinking. and the timer starts subtracting (second
Figure (d)). Similarly to the above, when the time is up, the display panel 2 shows 0 minutes and the speaker 5 emits the time up sound.

FIG. 3 is a drawing showing the display panel section of the present invention, which is composed of a 7-digit number segment 2C and a minute mark 2aq2b. This numerical segment) 2c is arranged on a symmetrical cane so that it looks the same even if it is turned upside down. Further, the minute marks 2a and 2b are similarly constructed.

FIG. 4 shows a circuit block ff constituting an embodiment of the present invention.
It is l+. In FIG. 4, 7 is a crystal oscillation circuit, 6 is a counter circuit that divides the frequency of the oscillation signal from the crystal oscillation circuit 7 and counts time, and 9 is a switch that controls and detects the input of switch 3.4. A control circuit 8 is a control circuit that controls the counting circuit 6 with a signal from the switch control circuit 9 and issues commands to the display drive circuit 10 and the speaker drive circuit 11. Further, 5 is a speaker, 11 is a drive circuit that drives the speaker 5,
2 is a display; 10 is a display drive circuit for driving the display 2; Further, power supplies and the like will be omitted from this description.

At this point, place the main body of the electronic hourglass on a desk, etc. (and press the lower switch 4).
(It is also possible to configure the OFF switch llBr in the circuit so that it is ON). switch control circuit 9 issues a signal to control circuit 8;
Then, the clock counting circuit 6 operates and the display drive circuit 1 appears on the display 2.
A display signal is output from 0 and the set time is displayed. The control circuit 8 rewrites the display 2 to indicate the subtracted time and continues the countdown. And when it reaches 0 minutes, speaker drive circuit 1
1, and the speaker 5 emits sound. and display 2
goes out. Also, if the main unit is placed upside down, the lower switch 4
turns on, and the same goes on.

[Effects of the Invention] The present invention is as described above, and can be used like a normal hourglass, yet can accurately display the remaining time in the middle, which is not possible with an hourglass, and can also emit a time-up sound. . Compared to conventional electronic timers, the present invention has fewer components and is therefore more cost-effective and generally more economical.

In addition, since the remaining time can be displayed even if the display is turned upside down with a single display, the number of display terminals can be reduced and the load on the circuit can be reduced.

In this way, by realizing what can be said to be the ideal electronic hourglass according to the present invention, I believe that general users will become accustomed to increasingly electronic timekeeping instruments.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is an external view of an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 (a) to (d) is a diagram showing the operating state of the present invention. Figure 3 is a diagram showing the display of the electronic hourglass of the present invention. Figure 4 is a diagram showing the display of the electronic hourglass of the present invention. FIG. 5, which is a circuit block diagram of the present invention, shows a conventional electronic timer with a representative display. ...
Speaker, 6... Counting circuit, 701. Crystal optical oscillator circuit, 8... Control circuit, 9... Switch control circuit, 1
0...Display drive circuit, 11...Speaker drive circuit,
12... Numerical keys, 13... Start/stop key, 14... Desk or above Applicant Seiko Epson Co., Ltd. Agent Tsutomu Mogami, Physician, and 1 other person Figure 2 2b'Th 1st Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] At least one set of operating switches disposed on the upper surface and the opposite lower surface of the outer case, and at least one set of numbers 0 to 9 arranged on one side of the outer case and displayed in a symmetrical shape with respect to the vertical direction of the outer case. a display panel having numerical segments configured and arranged in such a manner; a control circuit and a counting circuit for sensing an input of one of the actuating switches to time a predetermined time and subtract counting; An electronic hourglass comprising an electronic circuit including a control circuit that switches the lighting of the numerical segments on the display panel upward or downward according to the operation of an operating switch.