JPS63262584A - Optical fiber timepiece - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform beautiful time display, by introducing light into a predetermined optical fiber corresponding to a time and emitting the same from the end surface of the optical fiber to perform time display. CONSTITUTION:A large number of optical fibers are arranged to a display plate 10 displaying a time. These optical fibers 12 are radially arranged to the display plate 10 from the central part thereof to the peripheral edge part thereof in the directions of time graduations respectively divided into 60 equal parts in the peripheral direction of the display plate 10 so as to expose the end surfaces of the optical fibers to the surface of the display plate 10. Light is introduced into the predetermined optical fiber 12 corresponding to a time and emitted from the end surface thereof to display the time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an optical fiber watch that displays the time using optical fibers.

(Background Art) Conventional clocks include analog clocks that display the time by rotating an hour hand on a clock face with scales, and digital clocks that display the time numerically. Among these watches, those with analog display formats have a variety of display designs, but they basically share the same display method in that they display the time by rotating the hour hand. It is something to do.

The present invention is a time display method for conventional analog watches.
The purpose of this invention is to provide a timepiece that can express time in a new way that is not available in conventional timepieces.

(Means for solving problems) The present invention has the following configuration to achieve the above object.

That is, an optical fiber is buried with one end exposed in a display board, a light source is disposed on the other end of the optical fiber, and the light from the light source is transmitted to a predetermined optical fiber according to the time. The optical fiber is embedded in a radial pattern with one end exposed in the display board, and a light source is disposed at the other end of the optical fiber. a light shielding plate that is interposed between the light source section and the other end of the optical fiber and allows the light emitted from the light source section to enter the optical fiber representing a predetermined hour hand; and the light shielding plate is connected to the predetermined optical fiber according to the time. It is characterized by comprising a control unit that operates to introduce light, and further comprising a display board provided with a time scale, and a display board with one end side exposed on the display board to display the time as a single dot. The present invention includes optical fibers buried in a row, a light source section disposed on the other end side of the optical fibers, and a control section that introduces light from the light source section to a predetermined optical fiber according to the time. Features.

(effect) Next, the operation of the present invention will be explained.

The light emitted from the light source section is introduced into the optical fiber from the other end side of a predetermined optical fiber by the control section according to the time. The light introduced from the other end of the optical fiber is transmitted through the optical fiber and radiated to the outside from the end face of the optical fiber embedded in the display board, thereby displaying a predetermined time.

(Embodiments) Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a first embodiment of an optical fiber watch. Reference numeral 10 denotes a display board for displaying the time, which is made of a plate-shaped member with a predetermined thickness. This display board 10 has a diameter of 0.5 mm.
A large number of optical fibers 12 having the same diameter are arranged. This optical fiber 12 has its end face connected to a display plate 10 as shown in the figure.
They are arranged radially from the center of the display board 10 to the peripheral edge of the display board 10 in the direction of each time scale divided into 60 equal parts in the circumferential direction so as to be exposed on the surface of the display board 10.

That is, the end faces of the optical fibers 12 are arranged in a row of dots with predetermined intervals in the direction of each scale.

The display board 10 may be provided with numbers 1 to 12 or scale lines for time display, but in some cases only optical fibers 12 may be provided radially.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the light source section of this embodiment.

As described above, the optical fiber 12 is fixed at a predetermined position on the display panel 10 so as to pass through the display panel 10 .

14 is a mounting plate for fixing the other end surface of the optical fiber 12 in a predetermined position. Optical fibers 12 corresponding to specific time scales are individually grouped together on the mounting plate 14 and supported on the mounting plate 14 so that the other end surface of the optical fiber 12 passes through the mounting plate 14.

Reference numerals 16, 17, and 18 denote light shielding plates that are provided on a concentric axis opposite to the mounting plate 14, and are provided on the end face of the optical fiber 12. 20 is the light shielding plate 16.17.
18 is supported by shafts 19a, 19b, and 19c and rotates. The driving unit 20 intermittently rotates the light shielding plates 16, 17, and 18 by a predetermined angle at predetermined time intervals. The rotation angle at which the drive unit 20 rotates the light shielding plates 16, 17, and 18 in one step is all 6 degrees, and the light shielding plates 16 are rotated every 12 minutes.
The light shielding plate 17 is configured to rotate by 6 degrees every minute, and the light shielding plate 18 is configured to rotate by 6 degrees every second.

22 is a light source such as a halogen lamp arranged on the rear side of the light shielding plate 18.

FIG. 3 shows an optical fiber 12 disposed on the display panel 10.
The array is shown enlarged. In this figure, adjacent optical fibers 12 are shown. In the figure, 248.24b is an optical fiber for displaying seconds, and 248.24b is an optical fiber for displaying seconds.
6 (indicated by a white circle) is an optical fiber for minute display, and 28 (black circle) is an optical fiber for hour display. As shown in the figure, second display optical fibers 24a, 24. b is disposed at the leading edge on the peripheral edge side, and then the minute display optical fiber 26 is disposed to the center of the display board 10, and from the middle part of the minute display optical fiber 26 to the center of the display board A display optical fiber 28 is provided. The minute display optical fiber 26 and the hour display optical fiber 28 are connected to the display board 1.
Alternately placed on 0.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the mounting plate 14. This mounting plate 1
4 is an optical fiber for seconds display/<-24a, as shown in the figure.
24b, a minute display optical fiber 26, and an hour display optical fiber 28 are attached concentrically. Reference numeral 30 denotes an optical fiber attachment part for second display to which the second optical fibers 24a and 24b are attached, numeral 31 denotes an optical fiber attachment part for minute display, and numeral 32 denotes an optical fiber attachment part for hour display.

The second display optical fiber attachment part 3o is located on the outermost periphery of the mounting plate 14, the minute display optical fiber attachment part 31 is located inside the second display optical fiber attachment part 30, and the hour display optical fiber attachment part 32 is located on the innermost part of the minute display optical fiber attachment part 30. It is located further inside of 26.

Reference numeral 34 denotes attachment positions where the optical fibers 12 are attached corresponding to each time, and adjacent attachment positions 34 are evenly arranged so as to maintain an angular interval of 6 degrees. The optical fibers 12 are fixed at the mounting position 34 in groups of optical fibers that display seconds, minutes, and hours, for each optical fiber corresponding to each time. Since the optical fiber 12 has a small diameter of about 0.5 mm, when it is fixed at the mounting position 34, it can be fixed in series from the center of the mounting plate 14 in the radial direction.In reality, each mounting position 34 is It is narrow.

FIG. 5(a), (+)), and (C) show the light shielding plate 16.1.
7.18 is a front view. Said light shielding plate 16.17.18
is formed from a transparent plate such as an acrylic plate. 4O is a slit transparently provided in the light shielding plate 16, 17, 18. A colored film that transmits light is attached to the slit 40, and each of the light shielding plates 16, 17, and 18 has a colored film of a different color.For example, the slit 40 of the light shielding plate 16 has a red film, A green film is attached to the plate 17, and a yellow film is attached to the light shielding plate 18.

In FIG. 5(a), reference numeral 42 denotes a transparent portion provided circumferentially with a predetermined width corresponding to the positions of the second display optical fiber attachment portion 30 and the minute display optical fiber attachment portion 31 of the mounting plate 14. The other surfaces of the light shielding plate 16 except for the light transmitting portion 42 and the slit 40 are shielded from light by a shielding material such as aluminum foil. Further, the slit 40 is transparently provided to correspond to the hour display optical fiber attachment portion 32 of the attachment plate 14 and to have the same size as the attachment position 34 of the optical fiber 12.

Further, in the light shielding plate 17 shown in FIG. 5(b), a light transmitting portion 42 is provided in a portion corresponding to the second display optical fiber attachment portion 31 and the hour display optical fiber attachment portion 32, and the It is provided at a position corresponding to the minute display optical fiber attachment part 31.

Further, in the light-shielding plate 18 shown in FIG. 5(C), a light-transmitting part 42 is provided in a portion corresponding to the optical fiber attachment part 31 for minute display and the optical fiber attachment part 32 for hour display, and the slit 40 is provided with an optical fiber attachment part for second display. It is provided at a position corresponding to the section 30.

Next, the operation of the above-described embodiment will be explained. The light shielding plates 16, 17, and 18 are constantly irradiated with light by a light source 22, and rotated by a predetermined angle by a driving unit 20. The light irradiated from the light source 22 toward the light shielding plate 16.17.18 passes through the light-transmitting portion 42 provided on the light shielding plate 16.17.18 and enters the end face of the optical fiber 12. The light incident on the optical fiber 12 is transmitted through the optical fiber 12 and radiated to the outside from the end face of the optical fiber 12 embedded in the display panel 10.

Since the light shielding plates 16, 17, and 18 are shielded from light except for the slits 40 and the transparent portions 42, only the light that has passed through the slits 40 is transmitted to the mounting plate 14.

The mounting plate 14 has optical fibers 12 disposed at predetermined intervals, and slits 40 are provided corresponding to the disposed positions. The light transmitted through the color film attached to the slit 40 enters the optical fiber 12.

Due to the stiffness, the radially arranged optical fibers 12 sequentially emit light in the rotational direction of the hour hand in the display section 10 over time. In this embodiment, the second unit optical fibers 24a and 24b emit yellow light and move every second,
Every minute, the minute display optical fiber 26 emits green light and moves to the adjacent optical fiber 12, and every 12 minutes, the hour display optical fiber 28 emits red light and moves to the adjacent optical fiber 12. The minute display optical fibers 26 are arranged in a row of dots extending from the center to the periphery of the display panel 1o, and the hour display optical fibers 28 are arranged in a short needle shape.
In this case, the long and short hands are represented by lines of light, and the time can be displayed.

The unit of seconds is determined by moving the minute hand around the outer circumference every second.

In the above-mentioned time display using an optical fiber, the light from a high-brightness light source such as a halogen lamp can be effectively guided through the optical fiber, and it can be emitted in a beautiful color at the end of the optical fiber. A display section can be configured. In addition, since the time is displayed by emitting light, you can easily know the time even in dark places such as at night.

In addition, a large number of optical fibers 12 are arranged on the display board 10, but each optical fiber 12 is very thin (0.5 m
m diameter), so it does not damage the surface of the display board 10.
Even if figures and photographs are provided on the surface of the display board 10, there is an advantage that they can be used as they are.

In this embodiment, the light shielding plates 16, 17, and 18 are rotationally driven on concentric axes, but as shown in FIG.
may be provided on the back side of the light shielding plate 18, that is, on the light source 22 side.

[Second example] Next, a second example will be described.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the light shielding plates 16, 17, and 18 are used to express seconds, minutes, and hours.
are each rotated by separate drive units. The method of arranging the display panel 10 and the optical fibers 12 is the same as in the first embodiment. In the figure, 14a is a mounting plate to which only the hour display optical fiber 28 is attached. In addition, 16 is a light shielding plate, and optical fiber 2 for hour display.
A slit of a predetermined size to which a colored film is pasted is transparently provided corresponding to the attachment position 8. This light shielding plate 16 transmits light only through the slits, and the plate surface portion excluding the slits blocks light.

Reference numeral 14b designates a mounting plate for the minute display optical fiber 26 formed in the same manner as the hour display optical fiber mounting plate 14a, and a second display optical fiber mounting plate is also disposed in the same manner.

In this embodiment, the light shielding plates 16 and 17 display hours, minutes, and seconds.
．． 18 is intermittently rotated at predetermined time intervals by drive units 20a, 20b, etc., so that hours, minutes, and
Light can be sequentially incident on the optical fiber 12 that displays seconds, and as in the first embodiment, the time can be displayed using the light emitting point of the optical fiber 12.

In this embodiment, a light shielding plate 1 that displays hours, minutes, and seconds is used.
6.17.18 and the mounting plates 14a, 14b, etc. can be formed in the same shape, and since it is only necessary to arrange an optical fiber to display seconds, minutes, or hours on one light-shielding plate, the size of the transmitting plate can be adjusted. It has the advantage that it can be made smaller. In addition,
Of course, it is also possible to provide the drive section 20 on the mounting plate side.

Further, FIG. 8 shows an example of a light shielding plate used when changing the color of light emitted from the optical fiber 12 into two colors. In the figure, 40a and 40b are slits that are transparently provided in the light shielding plate 16. These slits 40a, 40b are transparently provided at a minute interval within the interval between adjacent optical fibers.

Color films of different colors are attached to 40a and 40b, and when the light shielding plate 16 is rotated, the light shielding plate 16
The configuration is such that the other slit moves to the optical fiber attachment position 34 every time the slit rotates exactly once. For example, the light shielding plate 1 that introduces light into the hour display optical fiber 28
6 with the above configuration, the color of the light emitted from the optical fiber 12 disposed on the display board 10 can be changed in the morning and afternoon.

[Third Embodiment] FIG. 9 shows an embodiment in which a rotational driving force is applied to the circumferential surfaces of the light shielding plates 16, 17, and 18 to rotate the light shielding plates. The method of arranging the display section 10, optical fiber 12, etc. is the same as in the embodiment described above.

In the figure, gears with a predetermined pitch are formed on the circumferential side of the light shielding plates 16, 17, and 18, and drive gears 50a, 50b, and 50c, which rotate in conjunction with the drive unit 20, mesh with the gears on the circumferential side. The drive gears 50a, 50b, and 50c are each configured to rotate the light shielding plates 16, 17, and 18 intermittently by a predetermined angle in conjunction with time. That is, the light shielding plate 18 is activated every second, and the light shielding plate 17 is activated every minute.
The light shielding plates 16 rotate by 6 degrees every 12 minutes.

Note that when the light shielding plate 18 rotates once, the light shielding plate 17 is rotated by the rotational driving force of the light shielding plate 18, and the light shielding plate 17
It is also possible to configure the light shielding plate 16 to be rotated by the rotational driving force of the light shielding plate 16 .

In this embodiment, the driving unit 20 is a light shielding plate 16, 17, 18
Since the optical fiber 12 is located on the outer periphery of the mounting plate 14, it is easy to attach the optical fiber 12 to the mounting plate 14, and the size of the mounting plate 14 can be made small.In addition, the size of the light shielding plates 16, 17, and 18 can also be made small, which improves the irradiation efficiency of the light source 22. It has the advantage of being able to improve

[Fourth example] Next, a fourth example will be described.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing the fourth embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 14 denotes a mounting plate for the optical fiber 12, and the optical fibers that display predetermined seconds, minutes, and hours are passed through the mounting plate 14 together with the optical fibers 12, and the end face of the optical fiber 12 is disposed so as to be exposed from the mounting plate 14. 60 is a support plate fixed facing the mounting plate 14.

Reference numeral 62 denotes a light emitting diode embedded in the support plate 60, and its light emitting portion is disposed so as to face the end face of each optical fiber that displays seconds, minutes, and hours.

Since the light emitting diodes 62 are provided one each for displaying seconds, minutes, and hours, 60 each for displaying seconds, minutes, and hours is provided.
It is embedded in the individual support plate 60. 64 is a control unit that causes the light emitting diodes 62 to emit light sequentially in conjunction with time.

FIG. 11 shows an electric circuit of the control section 64.

In the figure, 70 is a 50Hz or 60Hz line input.

71 is a frequency dividing circuit that serves both 1150 and 1/60,
The frequency is divided into a signal with a period of 1 second according to the frequency of the line input, and the signal is output to the frequency dividing circuit 72. This frequency dividing circuit 72 is 1/10
It has a frequency dividing circuit of 1/6 and divides a signal with a period of 1 second into a signal with a period of 1 minute, and outputs a binary signal to conversion circuits 76 and 77 at the same time. The converting circuits 76 and 77 are circuits for converting binary signals into decimal signals. Binary signals from 1 second to 10 seconds are output from the frequency dividing circuit 72 to the converting circuit 76. to the conversion circuit 77 for 1 second, 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, 40 seconds.
Signals of seconds and 50 seconds are output. For example, for the signal at the 45th second of the number, a binary value of 5 is output to the conversion circuit 76, and a binary value of 4 is output to the conversion circuit 77.

82 and 83 are driving circuits for the light emitting diodes 62, each driving 10 light emitting diodes. Actually, 60 light emitting diodes 62 are arranged to display seconds, and the light emitting diode drive circuit has six light emitting diodes (Bl) to drive the light emitting diodes in seconds.
, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6) are arranged in parallel. The conversion circuit 7 is connected to these drive circuits B1 to B6.
Since the decimal signals from 6 and 77 are input, by combining these signals, one of the 60 light emitting diodes can be made to emit light. . For example, for the 45th second signal, the signal 5 from the conversion circuit 76 is input to the drive circuits B1 to B6, but the signal 4 output from the conversion circuit 77 is input to the drive circuit B4, and the signal 5 from the conversion circuit 76 is input to the drive circuit B4. Current flows only through the diode, causing it to emit light.

Reference numeral 73 indicates a signal inputted from the frequency dividing circuit 72 and divided into periods of 1 minute, from 1 minute to 10 minutes, 1 minute range, 10 minutes range, 20 minutes range, 30 minutes range, 40 minutes range, and 50 minutes range. The binary output of the subunit is output to decimal conversion circuits 78 and 79, respectively. 84 and 85 are drive circuits that drive light emitting diodes that display minutes, and the conversion circuits 78 and 79
As in B1 to B6 described above, a predetermined light emitting diode is caused to emit light.

Reference numeral 74 denotes a 1/12 frequency divider circuit, into which the signal frequency-divided to 1 minute by the frequency divider circuit 72 is input, and a binary signal is output to decimal conversion circuits 80 and 81. Conversion circuits 80 and 81 convert 12 minutes into decimal numbers, and send the converted signals to drive circuits 86 and 8 of light emitting diode 62.
Output to 7th grade.

The conversion circuits 80 and 81 sequentially cause the light emitting diodes 62 to emit light every 12 minutes.

According to the circuit configuration described above, each light emitting diode can be caused to emit light sequentially in units of seconds, minutes, and 122 units, so that the optical fibers for seconds, minutes, and hours are respectively emitted. By attaching a diode, the above-mentioned light shielding plate 16.1
The time can be displayed in the same way as the display method using 7.18.

In this embodiment, since the light emitting diodes are time-controlled electrically, the device can be configured simply. Note that when using a light emitting diode, it is necessary to use a light emitting diode having a brightness above a certain level in order to obtain the brightness of the light emitted from the optical fiber in the display section.

In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, a large number of optical fibers are disposed on the display board 10, and the time is displayed by emitting light from the end face of the optical fibers, which is expressed in the shape of an hour hand. , it is also possible to represent the time using a single optical fiber. In this case, numbers indicating the time are provided on the display board 10, and optical fibers are arranged in an arc shape so that the optical fibers are sequentially illuminated. As a method for introducing light from a light source into an optical fiber in synchronization with time, any of the methods described in the first to fourth embodiments can be used. This method of displaying the time using a single optical fiber requires only a small number of optical fibers, which simplifies the configuration of the device.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the display board 10 can be provided in a detachable manner. In this case, the display board 10 can be provided by providing a transparent hole in advance corresponding to the part of the display board where the optical fiber is to be buried. The board can be attached and detached.

As mentioned above, since optical fibers have a small diameter, even if the optical fibers are buried in the display board, the graphics on the surface of the display board can be used as is, and various display boards made of various paintings, photographs, etc. can be prepared. This allows the display board to be replaced as appropriate.

The embodiments described above are all characterized in that the light source side and the display section side are connected by an optical fiber. The greatest feature of using optical fibers for expression is that it allows for extremely diverse expressions. In the above-mentioned 1st to 42nd embodiments, an optical fiber was used to represent the hour hand, but instead of the hour hand, a figure representing a specific time was drawn at a specific time. It is also possible to configure For example, a picture of getting up at 6 a.m. is drawn, and a picture of a bento box is drawn at 12 noon.

As described above, the use of optical fibers has the feature that it is possible to express time more freely, and as a result, it is possible to provide completely new time expressions that are not available with other expression methods.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, as described above, light is introduced from the other end of the optical fiber whose one end is fixed to the display board into a predetermined optical fiber according to the time, and from the end face of the optical fiber on the one end side. Since the time is displayed by emitting light, the optical fiber emits bright light, creating a beautiful time display that is not found in conventional watches. Furthermore, since an optical fiber is used for the display section, it is possible to select from a wide variety of shapes such as figures for displaying the time. In addition, since the time is expressed by light emission, it is possible to clearly tell the time even in dark places.

Further, by providing optical fibers in a radial manner, it is possible to express the time in the same way as a conventional hour hand, and at the same time, it is effective in that a painting, photograph, etc. can be used as the background of the display board.

The present invention has been variously explained above using preferred embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.
Of course, many modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the display board of the first embodiment of the optical fiber neon watch according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view showing the light source section, FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the arrangement of optical fibers, and FIG. The figure is a front view of the mounting plate, Figures 5(a) and 5(C) are front views showing the light shielding plate, Figure 6 is a side view showing another embodiment of the drive unit, and Figure 7 is the front view of the light shielding plate. FIG. 8 is a side view showing a second embodiment, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a light shielding plate. FIG. 9 is a side view showing the third embodiment, FIG. 10 is a side view showing the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the control section of the fourth embodiment. 10... Display board, 12... Optical fiber, 14...
...Mounting plate, 16.17.18...Shading plate, 20
...Drive unit, 22...Light source, 24a, 24b...
・Optical fiber for second display, 26... Optical fiber for minute display, 28... Optical fiber for hour display, 40.
...Slit, 42--Transparent part, 50a, 50b,
50C... Drive gear, 60... Support plate, 62
...Light emitting diode, 64...Control unit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An optical fiber buried with one end side exposed in a display board, a light source section disposed on the other end side of the optical fiber, and a light source section that emits light from the light source section at different times. 1. An optical fiber watch, comprising: a control unit for introducing the optical fiber into a predetermined optical fiber according to the invention. 2. An optical fiber buried radially with one end exposed in a display board, a light source disposed at the other end of the optical fiber, and an optical fiber interposed between the light source and the other end of the optical fiber. A light shielding plate that causes the light emitted from the light source to enter an optical fiber representing a predetermined hour hand, and a control unit that operates the light shielding plate to introduce light into the predetermined optical fiber according to the time. An optical fiber watch featuring 3. A display board provided with a time scale, an optical fiber buried in a dot array with one end exposed in the display board to display the time as a single dot, and an optical fiber disposed at the other end of the optical fiber. 1. An optical fiber watch, comprising: a light source section, and a control section that introduces light from the light source section into a predetermined optical fiber according to the time.