JP3185092B2 - Alarm clock - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an alarm clock.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, there is an alarm clock which illuminates a dial using an EL element. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, an alarm for controlling the generation of an alarm sound in accordance with the ON / OFF state of a clock circuit 41 that performs timekeeping and hands driving (not shown), a silence switch 42, a reference switch 43, and a pause switch 44. There is a control circuit 45, an alarm sounding body 46 such as a speaker driven by the alarm control circuit, an EL element 47, and a light emission control circuit 48 for controlling light emission. In such a case, when the alarm switch is turned on and the alarm is set, the light emission control circuit 48 causes the EL element 47 to emit light. Thereafter, when the reference switch 43 is turned on at a preset time, the alarm control circuit 45 generates an alarm sound signal and causes the alarm sounding body 46 to generate an alarm sound. Here, the alarm sound is stopped for a certain period of time by operating the pause switch 44, and at this time, the light emission control circuit 48 changes the luminance of the EL element 47. Further, when the alarm switch 42 is turned off to completely stop the generation of the alarm sound, the light emission control circuit 48 stops the light emission of the EL element.

[0003] Separately, a ringing switch 42 is provided.
Even if is turned off, if the pause switch 44 is operated, the EL element emits light.

[0004]

However, in the device shown in FIG. 4, the EL element 47 always emits light in the same light emission pattern after the alarm is set, so that the EL element 47 emits light during the alarm set even during the pause. The light emission pattern is the same except for the luminance. For this reason, it is difficult to determine whether the alarm is being set or paused. Especially when using an alarm clock as an alarm clock, if you look at the dial with unclear consciousness such as falling asleep,
It is difficult to determine whether or not the alarm sound is paused from the change in the light emission luminance.

[0005]

According to the present invention, the alarm sound is temporarily stopped by causing the EL element to emit light in a desired light emission pattern indicating that the alarm sound is temporarily stopped while the alarm sound is temporarily stopped. Make it clear that you are inside.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An alarm clock according to the present invention comprises a light emitting element, an alarm means for generating an alarm sound at an alarm time, a silence switch for selecting whether or not the alarm sound is generated, and a predetermined time for the alarm sound. A pause switch for temporarily stopping, a control means for controlling generation of an alarm sound in accordance with a state of a silence switch and a pause switch, and a pause of the alarm sound in response to an alarm control operation of the control means. ; and a light emission control means allowed to emit the light emitting device in a desired emission pattern indicating the stopped alarm sound temporary in, the emission control
The means may be the above-mentioned pause during the generation of the alarm sound.
Makes the above light emitting elements emit light with different light emitting patterns
Things.

[0007] Further , the alarm clock of the present invention has a light emitting element.
Alarm means for generating an alarm sound at the alarm time
And a silence switch to select whether or not the alarm sounds.
Switch and alarm sound to pause for a predetermined time
Pause switch, silence switch and pause
Controls the generation of alarm sound according to the status of the stop switch
Control means for responding to the alarm control operation of the control means.
Alarm sound is paused while alarm sound is paused
The above light emitting element with a desired light emitting pattern
Light emission control means for causing light emission;
The stage changes the light emission pattern each time the alarm sound pauses
Is what you do.

It is also preferable that the light emission control means changes the light emission pattern stepwise according to the number of times the alarm sound is temporarily stopped or the time elapsed from the alarm time.

[0009]

Next, an alarm clock according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

First, the configuration of this embodiment will be described with reference to the explanatory diagram of FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an EL element as a light emitting element, which is provided on a timepiece dial (not shown). Note that an LED or the like may be used as the light emitting element in addition to using the EL element.

Reference numeral 2 denotes an alarm sounding body as sounding means, which comprises a speaker or the like.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a sound stop switch, which selects whether to generate or not generate an alarm sound (set or reset an alarm) by being turned on and off.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a temporary stop switch for temporarily stopping an alarm sound for a predetermined time. Although not shown, the temporary stop switch 4 is, for example, a one-push switch, and is turned on during pushing.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a reference switch which is turned on when an alarm time comes. This is common in analog alarm clocks, and although not specifically illustrated and described in detail, the hour hand and minute hand coincide with the alarm time position indicated by the alarm time setting hands set by manual operation. Then, it is turned on for a predetermined time.

Reference numeral 6 denotes an alarm control circuit as control means, which controls generation of an alarm sound in accordance with the states of the silence switch 3, the temporary stop switch 4, and the reference switch 5. The alarm control circuit 6 connects the first terminal C1 to the power supply terminal VDD via a series circuit R1 in which the silence prevention switch 3 and the reference switch 5 are connected in series. When both are turned on, the first terminal C1 receives an "H" level signal. Further, the alarm control circuit 6 connects the second terminal C2 to the power supply terminal VDD via the pause switch 4, and when the pause switch 4 is on, the second terminal C2 is connected to the second terminal C2.
Receives an "H" level signal at its terminal C2.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a light emission control circuit as light emission control means, which drives the EL element 1 and controls the light emission thereof. Here, the light emission control circuit 7 connects the first terminal C3 and the second terminal C4 to the first terminal C1 and the second terminal C2 of the alarm control circuit 6, respectively. The light emission of the EL element 1 is controlled in response to the control operation.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a clock circuit, which measures the current time and outputs a driving pulse to a motor incorporated in a clock body (not shown) to move the hour hand, minute hand and second hand.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

First, for example, when sleeping at night, the alarm stop switch 3 is turned on to set an alarm. here,
Since the reference switch 5 is off instead of the alarm time, the first terminal C1 of the alarm control circuit 6 is at "L" level, and the alarm control circuit 6 does not perform an alarm operation. Similarly, the first terminal C3 of the light emission control circuit 7 is also at "L",
The light emission control circuit 7 also does not cause the EL element 1 to emit light.

Thereafter, when the alarm time comes, the reference switch 5 is turned on, and the first terminals C1 and C3 become "H". Thereby, the alarm control circuit 6 outputs an alarm sound signal to the alarm sounding body 2 to generate an alarm sound.
At the same time, the light emission control circuit 7 causes the EL element 1 to emit light in a light emission pattern when an alarm sound is generated. The light emission pattern here is always in a lighting state.

Here, when the temporary stop switch 4 is pushed, the switch is turned on during that time, and the second terminals C2 and C4 become "H". Upon receiving this, the alarm control circuit 6 suspends the output of the alarm sound signal for a fixed time, for example, 5 minutes, and the alarm sound is temporarily stopped. Also, the second terminal C
In response to the “H” level of the signal 4, the light emission control circuit 7 causes the EL element 1 to emit light in a light emission pattern indicating that the alarm sound is stopped. For example, it blinks in the pattern shown in FIG. In the figure, the “H” level indicates lighting, and the “L” level indicates turning off. The emission luminance here is lower than that at the time of the alarm.

Here, after a lapse of a predetermined time, the alarm control circuit 6 outputs an alarm sound signal again to generate an alarm sound. Further, the light emission control circuit 7 causes the EL element 1 to emit light in a light emission pattern when an alarm sound is generated.

When the temporary stop switch 4 is pushed again, the second terminals C2 and C4 become "H",
The alarm sound pauses. Again, when the second terminal C4 becomes “H” level, the light emission control circuit 7 further changes the light emission pattern. Here, for example, in order to indicate the second pause of the alarm sound, the EL element 1 is caused to emit light in a pattern as shown in FIG.

When the above-described operation of temporarily stopping the alarm sound in response to the generation of the alarm sound is repeated, the light emission control circuit 7 sets the EL according to the number of times of the pause every time the alarm sound is temporarily stopped.
The blinking period of the element is shortened.

When the alarm sound is temporarily stopped for a predetermined number of times, the alarm sound control circuit 6 does not accept the operation for the temporary stop, and turns off the sound stop switch 3 or about 20 minutes from the alarm time. The alarm sound continues to be generated until the reference switch is turned off after a predetermined time has elapsed. During this time, the light emission control circuit 7 also does not accept the pause operation, and continues the light emission of the EL element with the light emission pattern at the time of the alarm sound.

As described above, in this example, during the suspension of the alarm sound, the EL element 1 is caused to emit light in a desired light emission pattern indicating that the alarm sound is being suspended. It is easy to see that there is. Further, since the light emission patterns are made different between when the alarm sound is generated and when the sound is paused, effective light emission can be performed according to each use. For example, when an alarm sound is generated, the light can be emitted with higher luminance to increase the alarm effect, and at the time of a temporary stop, light emission with reduced luminance can be performed to reduce power consumption.

Further, since the light emission pattern is changed at each stop, it is possible to know the approximate number of pauses. In particular, since the blinking period of the light emission pattern is shortened in accordance with the number of times of suspension, it can be more easily grasped.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

First, the configuration of this embodiment will be described with reference to the configuration diagram of FIG. In the same figure, components denoted by the same reference numerals as those shown in FIG. 1 indicate the same components as those in FIG. Reference numeral 9 denotes a light emission control circuit. A first terminal C5 of the light emission control circuit 9 is connected to a connection point between the sound stop switch 3 and the reference switch 5, and a second terminal C6 is connected to a pause switch. .

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

First, for example, when sleeping at night, the alarm stop switch 3 is turned on to set an alarm. As a result, the first terminal C5 of the light emission control circuit 9 becomes “H”,
The EL element 1 is turned on. Here, it is assumed that the light emission pattern of the EL element 1 is always in a lighting state.

Thereafter, when the alarm time comes, the reference switch 5 is turned on, and the first terminal C1 becomes "H".
Thereby, the alarm control circuit 6 outputs an alarm sound signal to the alarm sounding body 2 to generate an alarm sound. Here, the light emission control circuit 9 keeps the EL element 9 constantly turned on.

Here, when the temporary stop switch 4 is pushed, the switch is turned on during that time, and the second terminals C2 and C6 become "H". Upon receiving this, the alarm control circuit 6 suspends the output of the alarm sound signal for a certain period of time, and the alarm sound is temporarily stopped. Further, in response to the second terminal C6 being at the “H” level, the light emission control circuit 9 causes the EL element 1 to emit light in a light emission pattern indicating that the alarm sound is stopped. For example, it blinks in the pattern shown in FIG.

Here, after a lapse of a predetermined time, for example, three minutes, the alarm control circuit 6 outputs an alarm sound signal again, and an alarm sound is generated. Further, the light emission control circuit 7 causes the EL element 1 to emit light according to the light emission pattern when the alarm sound is generated.

Next, when the pause switch 4 is turned on, the alarm sound stops. Further, the light emission control circuit 9 activates a timing circuit (not shown) to activate the first pause switch 4.
The operation is performed so as to measure the elapsed time from turning on of the device and change the light emission pattern at regular intervals. For example, if six minutes have elapsed since the first stop switch 4 was turned on, the light emission pattern is switched to the pattern shown in B of FIG. That is, if six minutes have elapsed since the first pause when the pause switch 4 was turned on, the EL element 1 emits light in the pattern shown in FIG. 2B.

Next, when the alarm switch 3 is turned off to completely stop the generation of the alarm sound, the first terminal C5 of the light emission control circuit 9 becomes "L", and the light emission control circuit 9 turns off the EL.
The light emission of the element 1 is stopped.

In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, it is easy to see that the alarm sound is being paused, and the alarm sound is stepped according to the elapsed time from when the pause switch was first turned on. Since the light emission pattern changes in time, it is easy to grasp the elapsed time from the initial suspension of the alarm sound.

In each of the above embodiments, the light emission control circuits 7, 9
Although the state of the sound stop switch 3, the temporary stop switch 4, the reference switch 5, and the like are directly input, and the light emission control in response to the alarm control operation is performed from these states, the present invention is not limited to this. From the alarm control circuit,
The light emission control circuit may be configured to perform light emission control in response to a signal indicating each state such as an alarm sound, a temporary stop, and a complete stop. In particular, instead of an analog alarm clock as in this example, a digital alarm clock that digitally displays the time using a liquid crystal display device does not have a reference switch or the like.

[0039]

According to the present invention, while the alarm sound is paused, the EL element is caused to emit light in a desired light emission pattern indicating that the alarm sound is paused. be easy to understand that
In this case, by changing the light emission pattern when the alarm sound is generated and when the light is temporarily stopped, efficient light emission control can be performed according to each purpose.

By changing the light emission pattern each time the alarm sound is paused, it becomes easier to understand how much the alarm sound has been paused. In particular, the effect is enhanced by changing the light emission pattern stepwise according to the number of times the alarm sound is temporarily stopped or the time elapsed from the alarm time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a configuration of an alarm clock according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a waveform chart for explaining the operation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of an alarm clock according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a configuration of a conventional alarm clock.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 EL element (light emitting element) 2 Alarm sounding body (alarm means) 3 Beep switch 4 Pause switch 6 Alarm control circuit (control means) 7 Light emission control circuit (light emission control means)

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A light emitting element, an alarm means for generating an alarm sound at an alarm time, a silence switch for selecting generation or non-generation of an alarm sound, and a pause switch for temporarily stopping the alarm sound for a predetermined time. And control means for controlling the generation of an alarm sound in accordance with the state of a silence switch and a pause switch; and, in response to an alarm control operation of the control means, while the alarm sound is being paused, the alarm sound is being paused. there were and a light emission control means allowed to emit the light emitting device in a desired emission pattern indicating that said light emission control means, said during occurrence of alarm
The above light emitting element with a light emission pattern different from that during pause
An alarm clock , which emits light . 2. A light emitting element and an alarm at an alarm time.
Alarm means for generating a sound, generation and non-generation of an alarm sound
Silence switch to select raw and alarm sound at specified time
Pause switch to pause only while
Depending on the state of the stop switch and the pause switch,
Control means for controlling the generation of the alarm sound;
While the alarm sound is paused in response to the alarm control action
A desired flashing light that indicates that the alarm sound is paused
Light emission control means for causing the light emitting element to emit light at a turn;
Wherein the light emission control means emits light every time the alarm sound is paused.
An alert characterized by changing the pattern
Clock. 3. The light emission control means includes means for temporarily stopping an alarm sound.
Flashes according to the number of stops or the time elapsed since the alarm time
Claims characterized by changing the pattern stepwise
2. The alarm clock according to 2.