JPS588480B2 - multifunction watch - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to an improvement in the display method of a multi-function watch.

In a digital electronic clock that uses a crystal oscillator as a time standard and is composed of a C-MOS circuit and an electro-optical display device, it is easy to construct a functional circuit using C-MOS.
Since the display device can also be used to display functions, it has the potential to be used as a so-called functional watch, and many proposals regarding this have been made and commercialization is progressing.

However, in multifunctional watches that have multiple additional functions in addition to the main functions of time and calendar, problems arise with the operation method of the operating members that control each function and the display method for each function. function-related displays such as a selected function display when each function is in a controllable position, and an operating function display that simultaneously displays additional functions that are in operation when the display device is in the main function display state; Clarification of the above was considered a condition for users to fully utilize each of the above functions.

An object of the present invention is to provide a multifunction watch with simple and clear function-related displays.

The gist of the present invention for achieving the above object is to provide an electronic timepiece having a digital display device for displaying time and multiple functions that also serve as the digital display device.
The digital display device is provided with a plurality of function display marks corresponding to each function, and when the digital display device is in a time display state, all the function display marks corresponding to the functions set in the operating state are displayed. In a function selection state in which each function can be set or controlled, only the function display mark corresponding to the function in the selected state is displayed.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In this embodiment, the main functions are time and calendar, and two alarms (ALM 1) are provided as additional functions.
, ALM 2) Timer (TIMER), time signal (T-B
A multi-function watch with four functions (ELL) will be explained.

FIG. 1 is an external view of a multifunctional watch according to the present invention, and 1
2 is an electronic clock, 2 is a case, and 3 is a digital display device consisting of a liquid crystal display device. The digital display device 3 includes a first display section 4, a second display section 5, a third display section 6, each having a numerical display pattern. It is composed of a colon 7, a day display section 8, an AM-PM display section 9, a function display section 10, and a set mark 11.
The function display sections 10 each display characters printed on the reflective surface of the liquid crystal display device, that is, in the day display section 8,
On the AM-PM display section 9, AM,
PM, and the function display section 10 indicates the first alarm (
ALMI), indicates the second alarm function (ALM2), indicates the timer (TIMER), indicates the time signal (T-BEL)
L) is a display method in which the rectangular patterns of each display character overlap as necessary.

Furthermore, 12, 13, 14, and 15 are all electronic clocks 1
12 is a setting button st for mainly setting numerical values on each display section, and t3 is an operation button for controlling the functions of the S
Digit selection button S2 for selecting the digit to be set for the I button
, 14 are function selection buttons S2 for selecting each function.

FIG. 2 is a state diagram showing display states at each function selection position of the digital display device 3 controlled by each of the operation buttons.

To explain the following according to the selection order of the functions, A is the time display position, the first display part 4 shows hour information, the second display part 5 shows minute information, and the third display part 6 shows second information. are displayed at 10 o'clock, 34 minutes, and 56 seconds, respectively, and AM-
The PM display section 9 displays PM, the weekday display section 8 displays Tuesday, and the function display section 10 and set mark 11 display ALM1, TIMER, T. BE
This indicates that LL is in operation.

B is the calendar display position; the first display section 4 shows the month information, the second display section 5 shows the day information, and the third display section 6 shows the last two digits of the year information for June 27, 1976. At the same time, the AM-PM display section 9 is not needed, so it is not displayed, and the function display section 10 and set mark 1 are displayed.
The function related display consisting of 1 is at the time display position A.
is maintained in the same way.

Switching between the position A and the position B is performed by operating the S button.

C, D, E, and F are respectively a first alarm selection position, a second alarm selection position, a timer selection position, and a time signal selection position, which are sequentially selected from the time display position A by operating the S3 button.

In the alarm selection position, the first display section 4
hour information is displayed on the second display section 5, minute information is displayed on the third display section 6, second information is displayed on the third display section 6, and the day of the week display section 8 is not displayed because it is not necessary.

In addition, the function display section 10 displays ALMI in the C position.
, in the D position, only the function display mark corresponding to the selected function, such as ALM2, is displayed.

Further, the set mark 11 is displayed and lit only when the selected function is in the set state by an operation described later.

At timer selection position E, the first display section 4 displays hour information, the second display section 5 displays minute information, and the third display section 6 displays:
The second information is displayed, and the AM. The PM display section 9 and the day of the week display section 8 are not required and are in a non-display state, and the function display section 10 has a display mark TIMER indicating the timer function.
only is displayed.

In addition, in the time signal selection position F, only the mark (T-BELL) indicating the time signal function is displayed on the function display section 10, and all other settings are displayed except for the set mark 11 which is selectively displayed by an operation described later. It becomes a non-display state.

Next, the correction or setting operation associated with the operation of each button for each of the above positions will be explained.

FIG. 3 is a state diagram showing the aging correction state in the time display position A. When the digit selection button S2 is held down for a certain period of time in position A, the timer T shifts to the time correction position A1. Day of the week display section 8, function display section 1
0 and the set mark 11 become non-displayed, indicating that the time is being adjusted, and at the same time, the hour information on the first display section 4 is displayed.

In this state, when the Si button is operated, the hour information on the first display section 4 is corrected according to the number of operations.

After correcting the above time information to the desired value, by operating the S2 button once, the minute correction position A2 is selected as a digit, and the minute information on the second display section 5 is displayed. In this state, the S1 button is pressed. When operated, the minute information on the second display section 5 is corrected according to the number of operations.

The next operation of the S2 button selects the second correction position A3 and the second information on the third display section 6 is displayed, and when the S1 button is operated in this state, the second information is reset to zero.

Then, the next operation of the S2 button returns to the time display position A, and the series of time adjustment operations is completed.The calendar adjustment operation at the calendar display position B can also be performed in the same manner.

Next, with reference to FIG. 4, a method for setting functions and operating times in the alarm function position will be explained.

The first alarm selection position C has two states: an alarm function reset state C' and an alarm function set state C". When the SL button is operated in the reset state C', the set state C" is selected. set mark 1
1 is displayed and the first alarm function is set.

When the S1 button is operated in the set state C'', the state returns to the reset state C', the set mark 11 becomes non-displayed, and the first alarm function is reset.

That is, by operating S1 in the alarm selection position C, it is possible to select between setting and resetting the alarm function, and the function mark corresponding to the alarm function in the set state is displayed on the function display section 10 in the time display position A.
will be displayed.

Next, when the S2 button is operated in the first alarm selection position C, the hour set position C1 is selected and the first
The display unit 4 enters the display state.

By operating S1 in this state, hour information of the alarm time is set on the first display section 4 according to the number of operations.

Next, when you operate the S2 button, the minute set position C2
is selected, and the second display section 5 enters the display state.

Minute information can then be set using the S1 button.

Similarly, by selecting the second setting position C3 and setting the second information, the operator returns to the C position by operating the S2 button, and the first alarm function setting operation is completed.

Each setting operation at the second alarm selection position D can be performed in a similar manner.

Furthermore, in the timer selection position E, setting of each timer one-hour information on the first display section 4, second display section 5, and third display section 6 can be done by pressing the S2 button in the same manner as in the setting method of the alarm time. This can be done using the and S1 buttons, and the timer can be started and stopped alternately by operating the S1 button in the E position.

The timer circuit, which will be described later, is started by pressing the S1 button and while it continues its timekeeping operation, a function mark (TIM) is displayed on the function display section 10 at the time display position A.
ER) is displayed.

Next, when operating S1 in time signal selection position F,
Set and reset of the time signal function are selected alternately, and in the set state, the set mark 11 is displayed, and the function mark (T-BELL) is displayed on the function display section 10 at the time display position A. .

The setting operations for each of the above functions will be explained again with reference to FIG.

First, operate the S3 button from time display position A to call up the first alarm selection position C.
Set the alarm function to 0 minutes, then call the second alarm selection position D in S3, call the timer selection position E in the next S3 without setting this second alarm function, and then call the timer selection position E in the next S3. After setting the timer for one hour, operate the S1 button to start the timer, call the time signal selection position F in the next S3, set the time signal function, and then return to the time display position A in S3.

As a result, the function display section 10 at position A displays the function set by the series of function setting operations, that is, A.
Function marks corresponding to the three functions LM1, TIMER, and T-BELL are displayed.

Then, at 2:50 AM, the first alarm function activates and generates an alarm sound, and when 3 hours have elapsed from the set time, the timer function generates an alarm sound, and furthermore, every hour on the hour, a time signal is generated. A warning sound is generated by the function.

While each alarm sound is being generated, the function mark corresponding to the alarm sound is modulated in display and flashes.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electronic timepiece shown in FIG. 1, where 20 is a crystal oscillation circuit, and 21 is a component that divides the oscillation output of the crystal oscillation circuit 20 into a timekeeping signal with a one-second period. The circulation circuit 22 is a timekeeping circuit, which is composed of a time counter 23 that creates hour, minute, and second information, and a calendar counter 24 that creates year, month, day, and day information.

25 is an additional function circuit, a first alarm memory 26,
It is composed of a second alarm memory 27, a timer counter 28, and an hour detection circuit 29.

30 is a switch function control circuit, and the switch SIZ is controlled by each of the operation buttons S, S2, S3.
Controls the functions of S2' and S3'.

31 is a delay timer T provided in the switch function control circuit 30; 32 is a display switching circuit for switching and displaying each piece of information on the digital display device 3 according to a command from the switch function control circuit 30; 33; is the time counter 23
34 is a buzzer that generates an alarm sound, 35 is a buzzer drive circuit for driving the buzzer 34, and 36 is an OR gate.

In the above configuration, the crystal oscillation circuit 20, the frequency dividing circuit 21, and the clock circuit 22 constitute a well-known digital clock system, and the switch function control circuit 30 is connected to the clock circuit 22.
, the setting position information from the additional function circuit 25 is input, and each of the switches S1', S2', and S is operated according to the conditions.
The operation signal 3' is transmitted to the clock circuit 22, the additional function direction path 25, and the display switching circuit 32, and various controls such as display switching, function selection, digit selection, correction, and setting are performed as described above.

The additional function circuit 25 stores the set time in the alarm memory 26 or 27 and the expiration date in the time counter 23 when each function is selected and the alarm function is set based on the command from the switch function control circuit 30. If they match, the match detection circuit 33 generates a match signal, the buzzer drive circuit 35 operates via the OR gate 36, and the buzzer 34 generates an alarm sound.

Further, when the timer function is set, an alarm sound is generated when the timer counter 2S finishes counting.

Furthermore, when the time signal function is set, the hour detection circuit 29 causes the buzzer 3 to sound every hour on the hour of the time counter 23.
A time signal sound is generated from 4.

The display switching circuit 32 inputs the main display information MD of the clock circuit 22 and the function display information FD of the additional function circuit 25, and based on the command from the switch function control circuit 30, displays the digital display device 3 as described above. Switch and display each information.

Also, as shown in Figure 3, at time display position A,
When the switch S2' is operated, the delay timer 31 is activated based on the set position information from the time counter 23, and after a certain period of time, the time counter 23 is moved to the time adjustment position A1 shown in FIG.

Furthermore, in the series of function setting operations shown in FIG. 2, each time the function selection button S3 is operated, the operation signal of the switch S3' drives the buzzer 34 via the OR gate 36, so the alarm sound is monitored. can be done.

As described above, according to the present invention, the function display mark is used as a selected function display, a setting function display, and an operation function display at each display position, so that it is easy to use despite the simple configuration. This makes it possible to clearly indicate the functional status to the customer, which has the effect of further enhancing the product appeal of the multifunctional watch.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is an external view of the electronic timepiece according to the present invention, Figures 2 and 3 are
4 is a state diagram showing the display state of the digital display device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the electronic timepiece shown in FIG. 1. 1...Electronic clock, 3...Digital display device, 10...Function display unit, 12...
Setting button, 13... Digit selection button, 14...
...Function selection button, 22...Timekeeping circuit,
25...Additional function circuit, 30...Switch function control circuit, 31...Delay timer, 3
4...Buzzer.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In an electronic watch that has a digital display device that displays time and a plurality of functions that also serve as the digital display device, the digital display device has a plurality of function displays corresponding to each function. mark, and when the digital display device is in the time display state, all function display marks corresponding to the functions set in the operating state are displayed, and each function is in a function selection state in which each function can be set or controlled. A multi-function watch characterized in that only function display marks corresponding to the selected function are displayed. 2. In electronic watches that have a digital display device that displays the time, multiple functions that also serve as the digital display device, and a buzzer device that generates an alarm sound when controlled by these functions, When the digital display device is in a time display state, all the function display marks corresponding to the functions set in the operating state are displayed, and the buzzer device generates an alarm sound. A multi-function watch characterized in that when an alarm is activated, a function display mark corresponding to the alarm sound is modulated.