KR200317114Y1 - digital clock formed with electro-luminescence segments as a numeric time display - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a digital clock having a time display unit using an electroluminescent body. The present invention coats an opaque film on one side of the transparent substrate except for the current time display, and displays at least an hour and a minute in two digits on the remaining portion of the substrate that is not coated with the opaque film. A numerical time display part made up of electroluminescent elements each number consisting of 7-segments is arranged, a reference clock signal is counted by the light emission control part to calculate a current time, and a segment corresponding to the calculated current time is calculated. The current time is displayed by numbers by emitting light, and the components are combined by a clock frame to configure a clock assembly.

Description

Digital clock formed with electro-luminescence segments as a numeric time display}

The present invention relates to a digital clock, and more particularly, to a digital clock comprising a time display using an electroluminescent body.

Electroluminescence (EL) is a light emitter using a phenomenon in which high energy electrons are generated by accelerating electrons in a phosphor when an AC voltage is applied to a light emitting layer made of phosphor powder. EL devices are widely used in backlights and billboards of small LCDs.

On the other hand, a time display part is required to construct a digital clock, and this time display part is generally composed of 7-segments. Each segment of the 7-segment must be driven independently to emit light. Conventionally, in constructing this 7-segment, a small digital clock has used LCD, and a wall clock or desktop digital clock has generally been constructed using LED elements.

However, when the 7-segment is configured by using the LED, wiring is complicated because a plurality of LEDs are required to form one segment, and there is a problem in that the number of work processes is high and the manufacturing cost is high. In the case of using an EL element as an LCD backlight, there is an advantage of long life and stability of operation, but its application range is limited to a small digital clock, and in particular, the light efficiency is lowered.

When the EL element is applied to a digital clock, it is mainly provided only as a backlight of the LCD, and it is not utilized as a material constituting the 7-segment itself like an LED. The reason for this is not clear, but the general perception of the EL element is presumed not to realize that the EL element has a strong preconception that the EL element is a backlight element, and furthermore, the EL element can be utilized as a 7-segment construct.

The EL element has the advantage of being able to emit light of a luxurious and elegant atmosphere compared to the light of the LED because the light is obtained from the light emission of the phosphor. In view of this, various advantages can be obtained by using the EL element as a direct structure of the seven-segment rather than as a backlight element.

The object of the present invention is to provide a digital clock which can reduce the cost by simplifying the wiring and simplifying the assembly work while using the EL element to form the numerical visual display. do.

1 is an assembled perspective view of a digital clock comprising a numerical time display using an electroluminescent body according to the present invention,

2 is an exploded perspective view of a digital clock including a numeric time display using an electroluminescent body according to the present invention;

3 is a view showing in detail the clock driving control portion in the digital clock of the present invention,

4A and 4B are perspective views respectively showing another embodiment of the present invention from the front and the rear;

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 4A.

** Explanation of symbols for main parts of drawings **

10: clock frame 20: substrate

22: opaque film 24: transparent part

30: numeric time display portion 40: back plate

50: light emission controller 51: clock signal generator

52: main controller 53: power supply

54: inverter 55: display control unit

60: electroluminescent element 62a: AM lighting

62b: PM lighting part 64,66: numeric light emitting part

68: division light emitting unit 80: numeric module

82: resin 90: front part

92 electroluminescent device 94 opaque film

100: printed circuit board 102: connector pin

110: unit frame

According to the present invention for achieving the above object a transparent substrate; An opaque film coated on one side of the substrate except for a portion displaying a current time; The opaque film is attached to the remaining portion of the uncoated substrate to display a current time, and is configured to display at least two hours each with at least an hour and a minute, each number consisting of seven segments. Each segment is made of an electroluminescent element (EL); A light emission control unit for calculating a current time by counting a reference clock signal and providing a power supply and a control signal for emitting a segment corresponding to the calculated current time; And a clock frame configured to accommodate each of the components and to form a clock assembly in which the current time is displayed through the numeric time display unit.

According to the present invention for achieving the above object a transparent substrate; Is arranged on the back of the substrate to display at least hours and minutes by the number using a number plate module, each number module is a 7-segment form consisting of an electroluminescence (EL) element on the outer surface of the unit frame of a predetermined shape The printed circuit board, in which the numbers are arranged and the remaining area is coated with an opaque film, and which has a driving circuit for driving the 7-segment to display the current time based on the power and control signals provided, is embedded in the unit frame. Numeric time display unit made of a resin-filled form while exposing a plurality of connector pins to the outside in a state; A main controller for counting a reference clock signal to calculate a current time and providing a control signal to the driving circuit to generate a segment corresponding to the calculated current time; A clock signal generator for generating the reference clock signal; A power supply unit supplying power required for each component unit; And a clock frame configured to accommodate each of the components and to configure a clock assembly in which the current time is displayed through the numeric time display.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail with respect to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

1 is an assembled perspective view of a digital clock constituting a digital time display using an electroluminescent body according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a digital clock constituting a digital time display using an electroluminescent body according to the present invention.

In the digital clock 1 according to the present invention, a transparent substrate 20 is mounted in front of a rectangular clock frame 10 as shown in the figure, followed by a numerical time display part 30 and a back plate 40 in turn. Mounted and combined. The present invention also includes a light emission control unit 50 for displaying the time by supplying power to the numeric time display unit 30. The light emission controller 50 may be built in or external to the clock frame 10.

The substrate 20 is made of a transparent material such as glass or transparent acrylic. In this transparent element, a part where the elements for displaying numbers or other visual projections are projected is transparent, and the other part is coated with an opaque film 22. It is. The opaque film 22 makes the overall feel of the watch clean and pure by making the components of the watch located inside the watch, in particular, the components of the numeric visual display part 30 not visible from the outside. The opaque film 22 is preferably a reflecting film, and the reflecting film not only gives a refreshing look like a mirror when the watch is viewed from the front, but also the brilliance of the electroluminescent device 60 of the numerical display unit 30 indicating time. Because the light is emitted in the mirror, it is not only a clock that tells the time, but also creates a clean, sophisticated and mysterious atmosphere. On the other hand, the transparent part 24 of the substrate 20 is a number (24a, 24b) indicating the hours and minutes and the separator (24c) for separating the hours and minutes and AM (AM) and PM (PM) for displaying It consists of the morning and afternoon indicators 24d. In addition, the second display may be added by adding numerals representing seconds and a separator for separating between minutes and seconds. In the present exemplary embodiment, the AM afternoon indicators 24d are circularly disposed to turn on the morning and the afternoon below. Alternatively, the transparent portions may be formed by the letters AM or PM to be expressed in a direct meaning.

Electroluminescent elements 60 are arranged in the numeric time display unit 30. The electroluminescent device 60 is formed in a configuration corresponding to the transparent portion 24 provided on the substrate 20, and the AM lighting portion 62a and the PM lighting portion (at the portion corresponding to the morning and afternoon indicators 24d) 62b), the numeric light emitting units 64 and 66 composed of 7-segments are located at the portions corresponding to the numbers 24a and 24b representing the hours and minutes, and the divided light emitting units 68 between them. Exists. Here, the numeric light emitting portions 64 and 66 are constituted by electroluminescent elements composed of a pair of 7-segments each representing hours and minutes. Since the electroluminescent device 60 emits various kinds of light according to the type of phosphor used, the electroluminescent device 60 can express time in various colors depending on the place of use or the shape of the clock, and moreover, if the electroluminescent devices are mixed, It is also possible to manufacture watches that show a colorful decorative brilliance.

As described above, connection pins (not shown) are protruded from the back of the numeric visual display unit 30 including the light emitting devices 60, and the connectors are connected to the back plate 40 to exchange signals with the connection pins. (42) are provided. By selectively supplying power to each side of the electroluminescent elements 60 through the connectors 42 to emit light, the time is displayed to control the electroluminescent elements 60 to display the time. A detailed configuration for is illustrated in FIG. 3.

3 is a view showing in detail the clock driving control portion of the digital clock of the present invention.

The light emission controller 50 for controlling the electroluminescent elements 60 of the numeric time display unit 30 is provided with a clock signal generator 51 for generating a reference clock signal necessary for time measurement as shown. The reference clock signal generated as described above is counted by the main controller 52 to calculate the current time, and generates a control signal for displaying the calculated time based on this. The present invention also includes a power supply unit 53 for supplying power required for each component. The DC power supplied from this power supply 53 is converted into an AC current required for driving the electroluminescent element 60 through the inverter 54 and output. The display controller 55 has an output terminal connected to each segment so that the alternating current output from the inverter 54 is supplied to the segment determined by the control signal generated from the main controller 52. The current time is displayed. As shown in the figure, the output terminals of the display control unit 55 are connected to the AM and PM lighting units 62a and 62b, respectively, to supply power alternatively to light up the morning or afternoon, and to display hours and minutes. Seven output terminals 64 are respectively connected to the number light emitting units 64 and 66 indicating a, thereby selectively lighting each element according to a control signal of the main controller 52 to make a desired number. In addition, the division light emitting unit 68 for dividing the hour and minute is connected to one output terminal is always turned on when the power is supplied when the clock is turned on.

4A and 4B are perspective views showing different embodiments of the present invention, respectively, seen from the front and back, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 4A.

Another embodiment of the present invention is to configure the electroluminescent element 7-segment by modularizing the number plate by one number so that it is possible to easily manufacture a digital clock by combining a number of such a number plate module. This numeric module can also be applied to fabricate numeric displays. 4a to 5 are only shown for the numeric keypad module, it will now be described in detail with respect to another embodiment of the present invention with reference to these figures.

The digital clock of the present invention is constructed by attaching a numerical time display unit to the back of a transparent substrate (not shown) and combining them with a clock frame (not shown) as described in the previous embodiment, wherein the present embodiment is a numerical time display unit. The number of hours and minutes of the one by one to create a separate number module module (80) to assemble as simple as possible to assemble the block to complete. In the present embodiment, the number plate module 80 is disposed on the back of the transparent substrate and mounted horizontally in the clock frame to configure the digital clock. In this configuration, since the substrate and the clock frame are the same as in the previous embodiment, illustration and description thereof are omitted, and the configuration of the control unit for controlling them is also the same, and only slight differences in the arrangement thereof will be described below. Let's do it.

Each numeric plate module 80 is the electroluminescent (EL) device 92 is arranged in the number of the seven-segment form on the front portion 90 as shown, and the remaining area is coated with an opaque film 94 do. The opaque film 94 is preferably a reflective film that reflects incident light so that the clock face looks like a mirror. In addition, the plurality of connector pins 102 in a state in which the printed circuit board 100 equipped with the driving circuit for driving the 7-segment is displayed in the unit frame 110 so that the present time is displayed by the supplied power and control signal. The signal is input by exposing to the outside. As can be seen in the figure, the connector pin 102 is provided with 10 each of the top and bottom each of the five, two of which are for power supply, the other is used for signal transmission. Examples of the driving circuit of the printed circuit board 100 mounted in the unit frame 110 include an inverter and a display control unit. The inverter converts the DC power provided through the connector pin 102 into an AC current suitable for the EL device 92, and the display control unit controls the AC current output from the inverter by connecting its output terminals to each segment. By supplying to the segment determined by the control signal generated in the negative number module 80 to display the current time in the numeric time display unit combined. The resin 82 is filled in the empty space inside the numeric keypad module 80.

It is preferable that the power supply unit, the clock signal generator, and the main control unit are configured externally to integrally control a digital clock configured by combining a number plate module 80. Of course, the power supply unit supplies power required for each component, the clock signal generation unit generates a reference clock signal, the main control unit counts the reference clock signal to calculate the current time, and the segment corresponding to the calculated current time is emitted. It generates the necessary control signal to provide to the display control unit mounted in each numeric module 80. Therefore, if the power supply unit, the clock signal generator and the main control unit are manufactured as separate control modules, the number plate module 80 is combined to display hours and minutes, and the number plate module 80 is connected to one control module. You can simply assemble your digital watch.

As described above, the present invention uses an EL element that emits light from the phosphor, so the light is luxurious and elegant, which is suitable for constructing a high-quality interior clock. Furthermore, when a watch is manufactured by coating a reflective film around the EL element, the brightness of the EL element representing the time is emitted in the mirror, thus creating a neat, refined and mysterious atmosphere that goes beyond the function of a time telling time. Can be utilized as a luxury interior product.

In addition, since the EL element can obtain various kinds of light according to the type of phosphor used, it is possible to construct a watch which shows a more colorful decorative brilliance by using a mixture of several kinds of EL elements.

In addition, since the EL element is directly used as a time display element instead of a backlight, the light efficiency is good, so that it can be utilized not only as a watch but also as a night room light.

In addition, using a modular number plate is easy to assemble the number display is advantageous for mass production.

Although the above has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art will be able to variously modify and change the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention described in the claims below. It will be appreciated. Accordingly, all changes belonging to the equivalent meaning or scope of the claims are to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (7)

Transparent substrates; An opaque film coated on one side of the substrate except for a portion displaying a current time; The opaque film is attached to the remaining portion of the uncoated substrate to display a current time, and is configured to display at least two hours each with at least an hour and a minute, each number consisting of seven segments. Each segment is made of an electroluminescent element (EL); A light emission control unit for calculating a current time by counting a reference clock signal and providing a power supply and a control signal for emitting a segment corresponding to the calculated current time; And And a clock frame configured to accommodate each of the components and to form a clock assembly in which the current time is displayed through the numeric time display. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light emission controller comprises: at least a clock signal generator configured to generate the reference clock signal; A main control unit counting the reference clock signal to calculate a current time and generating a control signal for displaying the calculated time; An inverter unit which receives a DC power and converts the AC power into an AC current necessary for driving the EL device; A display control unit connected to an output terminal for each segment so that an output AC current of the inverter unit is supplied to a segment determined by the control signal so that the present time is displayed on the numeric time display unit; And a power supply unit for supplying power required for each of the components. The digital clock of claim 1, wherein the transparent substrate is a glass substrate. The digital clock of claim 1, wherein the opaque film is a reflective film that reflects incident light to make the substrate look like a mirror. Transparent substrates; Is arranged on the back of the substrate to display at least hours and minutes by the number using a number plate module, each number module is a 7-segment form consisting of an electroluminescence (EL) element on the outer surface of the unit frame of a predetermined shape The printed circuit board, in which the numbers are arranged and the remaining area is coated with an opaque film, and which has a driving circuit for driving the 7-segment to display the current time based on the power and control signals provided, is embedded in the unit frame. Numeric time display unit made of a resin-filled form while exposing a plurality of connector pins to the outside in a state; A main controller for counting a reference clock signal to calculate a current time and providing a control signal to the driving circuit to generate a segment corresponding to the calculated current time; A clock signal generator for generating the reference clock signal; A power supply unit supplying power required for each component unit; And And a clock frame configured to accommodate each of the components and to form a clock assembly in which the current time is displayed through the numeric time display. The driving circuit of claim 5, wherein the driving circuit comprises: an inverter unit receiving a direct current power source and converting the same into an alternating current required for driving the electroluminescent device; And a display control unit connected to each of the segments so that the output AC current of the inverter unit is supplied to the segment determined by the control signal so that the current time is displayed on the numeric time display unit. clock. The digital clock of claim 5, wherein the opaque film is a reflective film that reflects incident light to make the substrate look like a mirror.