EP0320295A2 - Montre électronique analogique - Google Patents

Montre électronique analogique Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0320295A2
EP0320295A2 EP88311700A EP88311700A EP0320295A2 EP 0320295 A2 EP0320295 A2 EP 0320295A2 EP 88311700 A EP88311700 A EP 88311700A EP 88311700 A EP88311700 A EP 88311700A EP 0320295 A2 EP0320295 A2 EP 0320295A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
time
motor
acoustic
driving
electronic timepiece
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP88311700A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0320295A3 (fr
Inventor
Yuichi Inoue
Hiroshi Odagiri
Tomozumi Saruwatari
Eriko Takakuwa
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Seiko Instruments Inc
Original Assignee
Seiko Instruments Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP24300088A external-priority patent/JPH01244390A/ja
Application filed by Seiko Instruments Inc filed Critical Seiko Instruments Inc
Publication of EP0320295A2 publication Critical patent/EP0320295A2/fr
Publication of EP0320295A3 publication Critical patent/EP0320295A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C3/00—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means
    • G04C3/14—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means incorporating a stepping motor

Definitions

  • This invention relates to analog electronic time­pieces.
  • Digital watches having a liquid crystal panel for expressing a melody in visual form are known.
  • a digital watch gives less feeling of stereognosis and poor expression.
  • an analog clock it is difficult to enhance the design as well as to provide a variety of designs, because its function is confined to that of time indication.
  • the present invention seeks to provide an analog electronic timepiece capable of adding visual attrac­tiveness to the pleasure of the melody of an alarm.
  • the present invention also seeks to provide an analog electronic timepiece in which the hands thereof are swung so as to match with the melody of an alarm.
  • the present invention seeks to provide an analog electronic timepiece in which it is unnecessary to change programs for controlling a stepping motor if the mode is changed to vary musical selection.
  • an analog electronic timepiece comprising: time keeping means for producing time of day information; motor driving means responsive to said time keeping means for generating motor driving wave­ forms; motor means responsive to said motor driving means; time indicating means responsive to said motor means indicating time of day and having hands for analog indication; and acoustic means responsive to said time keeping means for emitting a sound at a predeter­mined time and including speaker means characterised by control means for controlling said motor driving means so that said time indicating means is driven in a different way when time of day is indicated in synchronism with sound emitted by the acoustic means, and recovering means responsive to said time keeping means for controlling said motor driving means so that said time indicating means indicates time of day after termination of the sound emitted by the acoustic means.
  • control means has means for generating a motor prohibition command signal to said motor driving means to prohibit the driving of said motor when said acoustic means emits sound.
  • control means may have means for generating a speaker prohibition command signal to said acoustic means to prohibit the driving of said speaker means when said motor driving means drives said time indicating means.
  • said control means has an input port to input signals synchronising with acoustic signals supplied to the acoustic means to determine if said acoustic means emits sound.
  • said acoustic means may have melody composing means for driving the speaker means by generating acoustic signals which express melodies and tones of a previously programmed composition.
  • an analog electronic time­piece having a motor and a plurality of hands for analog indication characterised by comprising: melody circuit means for playing music by generating acoustic signals associated with melodies and tones of a previously programmed composition having an output circuit for outputting electrical signals exhibiting timings of acoustic outputs; and time keeping means for producing time of day information, having an arithmetic means, a read only memory for storing a time keeping program and a melody indication program, a random access memory for storing hands position data, a motor driving circuit for driving said motor, an input circuit for inputting said electrical signals and an output circuit for driving the motor with irregularity on the basis of said melody indication program in synchronism with timing signals of said acoustic outputs.
  • Said melody circuit means may include an integration circuit for integrating said acoustic signals.
  • said melody circuit means may include storage means for storing a period for which sound is emitted.
  • Said timing means includes interrupt circuit means for changing the control to the melody indication program.
  • FIG. 1 there is illustrated a first embodiment of an analog electronic timepiece according to the present invention.
  • One output of the frequency divider 2 is provided to a motor driving pulse generator 3, and another output is imparted to a speaker driving waveform generator 10.
  • a controller 9 Upon input of a signal from an input circuit 8, a controller 9 begins to operate.
  • An output signal from the controller 9 is inputted to the speaker driving waveform generator 10, a speaker driving waveform is sent to a speaker driver 12, and the speaker driver drives a speaker 13.
  • Another signal from the controller 9 is inputted to the driving pulse generator 3, where a precise time of day signal and a melody/ rhythm signal are selected.
  • These signals are trans­ferred to a motor driver 4 which drives a motor 5, for example a stepping motor.
  • a hand 7 serves to express the time of day and melody/rhythm and is driven by the motor 5 through a gear train
  • Figure 2 is a diagram for explaining movement of the hand 7. Only one hand is shown in Figure 2 for convenience of explanation, but it will be appreciated that in practice it is likely that there will be a plurality of hands.
  • a speaker driving pulse K1 as illustrated in Figure 3 is first produced.
  • a sound "ttu” is emitted during a period defined by pulses J1 and J2 of a 1-second signal J.
  • motor forward rotation pulses L1, L2, L3 are outputted by the driving pulse generator 3, and the hand 7 is thereby moved to a position corresponding to a 3-second graduation depicted in Figure 2 (A).
  • a speaker driving pulse K2 is outputted, and a sound "ta” is emitted, thus completing a 1-second movement.
  • a speaker driving pulse K3 is outputted, and the sound "ta” is emitted.
  • a motor reverse rotation pulse M1 is outputted from the driving pulse generator 3, and the hand 7, as shown in Figure 2 (B), reverts to a position corresponding to a 2-second graduation.
  • the hand 7 rotates forwards and backwards in accordance with the melody at timings shown by Figures 2 (C) to 2 (I) and in the timing chart of Figure 3.
  • a motor driver 14 serves to drive the motor 5 by out­putting a motor driving signal Mout on receiving a motor driving/prohibition command signal INm from a control commander 15.
  • An acoustic signal generator 20 drives a speaker 13 at a frequency specified by the control commander 15 upon receiving a frequency specifying signal INf and a speaker driving/prohibition commanding signal INo from the control commander 15.
  • the motor driver 14 is responsive to a time keeping circuit i.e. an oscillator and an frequency divider, which is not shown in Figure 4, and drives the hand through a motor and a gear train (also not shown).
  • the control commander 15 is actuated in coincidence with an external signal or an alarm signal, and generates music and also drives the motor on the basis of the pre-set contents or data. More specifically, in accordance with the pre-­set data, a counter actuator 36 incorporated into the control commander 15 actuates the counter 15, and the counter in turn initiates the counting process. In conformity with the content of the counter 15, a motor driving commander 30 outputs a signal written before­hand to a P-ROM (not shown), as to whether the motor is to be driven or driving is to be prohibited.
  • a frequency commander 31 and a speaker driving commander 32 serve to specify the frequency or given an instruction as to whether the speaker is to be driven or the driving is to be prohibited on the basis of the content previously written in the P-ROM in accordance with the content of the counter 35.
  • the frequency is specified at the timing indicated by an arrow b with respect to a note a .
  • the sound is emitted for a time approximately one half of the period of the note of the musical composition by causing the signal INo to assume high level.
  • the sound is stopped by causing the signal INo to assume low level.
  • a sound is emitted during an interval c with respect to the note a , whereas during an interval d the sound ceases.
  • a signal INm is set at high level, thereby stopping the sound. Meanwhile, the motor is driven.
  • the motor is brought into a three step driving state during an interval e with respect to, for example, the note a .
  • the musical content and data on the degree to which the motor is driven for the note are previously set in the P-ROM of the motor driving commander 30.
  • a numerical value 7 of the counter is inputted to the P-ROM of the motor driving commander 30 with respect to the note a .
  • a content indicating the three step driving is outputted from the P-ROM.
  • the frequency commander 31 specifies the frequency of the note a
  • the speaker driving commander 32 causes the signal INo to assume high level for sound emission when the values of the counter are 5 and 6.
  • FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a third embodiment of an analog electronic timepiece according to the present invention.
  • a motor driver 14 drives the motor 5 by outputting a motor driving signal Mout on receiving a motor driving/prohibition commanding signal INm from a control commander 15.
  • a melody composer 21 plays music by driving the speaker 13 by outputting musical composition data pre-set in a P-ROM from an output terminal SPout on receiving a melody driving/ prohibition commanding signal INo from the control commander 15, and at the same time informs the control commander 15 of timing at which the sound is outputted by outputting a note detection signal SPo to the control commander 15.
  • the control commander 15 in turn starts functioning on coincidence with an external signal or an alarm signal, and issues a melody driving command to the melody composer 21.
  • the motor driving commander 30 Pursuant to the content of the counter 35, the motor driving commander 30 outputs a content written beforehand to a P-ROM, viz. the content as to whether the motor is to be driven or the driving is to be prohibited. At this time, the motor driving commander 30 inputs the note detection signal SPo so as not to exert influence on fluctuations in power supply voltage due to the acoustic output signals as discussed above, and so concurrent driving of the motor and the speaker should be prevented.
  • a melody driving commander 33 forming part of the control commander 15 actuates the counter 35 and the melody composer 21 in response to the coincidence of an external signal or an alarm signal.
  • the melody composer 21 drives the speaker 13 on the basis of the musical composition data previously written to the P-ROM and at the same time outputs the note detection signal SPo indicating whether the sound is to be outputted or not to the motor driving commander 30 and the counter 35.
  • the counter 35 inputs the note detection signal SPo and increases the value of the counter.
  • the content of the counter is outputted to the motor driving commander 30.
  • the motor driving commander 30 inputs the counter value to the address of the P-ROM.
  • the motor driving conditions are recorded in the P-ROM, and the motor driving/prohibition command is issued to the motor driver 14 in conformity with the recorded content.
  • the signal INo assumes high level, and the melody composer 21 initiates operation.
  • the output to the terminal SPout is a frequency suited to the note of the composition for a time that is approximately one half the period corresponding to the note. For instance, the frequency is outputted during an interval b with respect to the note a . Subse­quently, the output to the terminal SPout is stopped for a time that is nearly one half as short as the note, while the note detection signal SPo is set at low level. Then, the output to the terminal SPout is terminated during an interval c with respect to the note a .
  • the note detection signal SPo assumes low level.
  • the motor is driven.
  • the three step driving is effected on the motor during an interval d for the note a .
  • Previously set in the P-ROM of the motor driving commander 30 are the musical content and also data on the degree to which the motor is driven with respect to the note.
  • a counter value of 6 is inputted to the P-ROM from which data related to the three step driving is outputted.
  • FIG 8 is a block diagram of a fourth embodiment of an analog electronic timepiece according to the present invention.
  • a time keeping circuit 16 may be constructed as a micro­computer consisting of CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a stepping motor drive means, a data input circuit and a data output circuit.
  • the time keeping circuit 16 functions time by controlling the motor 5 which may be a stepping motor.
  • the melody composer 21 drives the speaker 13 which may be a piezo-electric speaker, pursuant to previously programmed musical information, thus playing the music.
  • the melody composer 21 initiates the musical performance upon receiving a performance starting signal a transmitted from the time keeping circuit 16.
  • Outputted from the output terminal SPout of the melody composer 21 is the musical information which is fed to a signal line b to an input port IN of the clock circuit 16 via an integration circuit 17 simultaneously with being fed to the speaker 13.
  • the musical information outputted from the melody composer 21 is defined as signals of frequencies ranging from approximately 200 Hz to 4 KHz depending on the tones to be generated.
  • the frequency signals are, as illustrated in Figure 9, converted through the integration circuit 17 into a pulse signal which is then supplied to the time keeping circuit 16.
  • the programming is so effected in the time keeping circuit 16 as to control the operation of the motor in response to the pulse signal supplied to the input port IN when performing the music. For instance, the direction in which the hand rotates may be changed for every pulse, or alternatively the number of steps of the hand may be varied.
  • the hand movement synchronises exactly with the music.
  • the hand movement synchronises with the music to some extent even when changing the music selection.
  • the phrase "to some extent" is used herein in the sense that the hand does not necessarily move one step for a single sound as the case may be, depending upon the musical information.
  • FIG 10. differs from Figure 8 in that the musical information of the signal at the output terminal SPout of the melody composer 21 is connected by an R-S latch 18 to the input port IN of the clock circuit 16.
  • the musical information is converted to a pulse signal by way of the integration circuit 17, and hence a charge/discharge current flows therein, with the result that there is some loss of power.
  • it is hard to effect the detection immediately after the termination of the sound output. In other words, after the actual acoustic output has been terminated, the hand is driven with a time delay until discharge of a capacitor of the integration circuit 17 takes place.
  • the clock circuit 16 gives an instruction on a signal line a to begin the musical performance to the melody composer 21 through a first output terminal 01 of the clock circuit 16.
  • the clock circuit 16 sets the R-S latch at a given cycle through a second output terminal 02.
  • the melody composer 21 receives the instruction to start the performance via an input terminal MS, and begins to output an acoustic signal to the terminal SPout.
  • Figure 11 illustrates processes ranging from the output of one note of the composition to the end.
  • the R-S latch 18 Upon output of the acoustic signal from the terminal SPout, the R-S latch 18 is re­set while a signal to the input port IN of the clock circuit 16 is low level.
  • the clock circuit 16 receives a signal at the input port IN just before setting the R-S latch, and judges the content on the basis of the program.
  • the signal at the input port IN temporarily assumes high level in association with the signal from the output terminal 02.
  • the signal at the input port IN is judged on the basis of the program and is kept at low level while the melody composer 21 is emitting one note.
  • the clock circuit 16 recognises the fact that the signal at the input port IN has changed from low level to high level. Immediately after this change, the motor is driven.
  • the frequency of the sound outputted by the melody composer 21 ranges from approximately 200 Hz to 4 KHz, and hence the frequency at which the clock circuit 16 sets the R-S latch through the output terminal 02 is approximately 400 Hz. Because the stepping motor is driven after about 1/400 sec. has elapsed after the acoustic signal is completely outputted, it will appear to human sensation that the sound emission and the motor driving take place almost concurrently.
  • the motor is driven. Therefore, the time ranging from the step when the output of the clock circuit 16 controls the R-S flip-flop circuit to the step of inputting the result is set longer than one half of the cycle of the acoustic. signal of the lowest tone among the acoustic signals outputted by the melody composer.
  • FIG 12 is a block diagram of a sixth embodiment of an analog electronic timepiece according to the present invention, wherein the time keeping circuit 16 has an interrupt function responsive to the signal at the input port IN.
  • the interrupt function given to an ordinary type of micro-computer is such that an interrupt request signal is set at the first or last transition of the signal at the input port IN, thereby changing a flow of programs (not changed in some cases). It is feasible to read a level of the interrupt request signal on the basis of the programs and also re-set the interrupt request signal.
  • the circuit incorporating the interrupt function is commonly built in the micro-­controller, and substitutes for the R-S latch 18 used in the analog electronic timepiece of Figure 10.
  • Figure 13 illustrates the steps from the beginning of output of one note of a musical composition to the end.
  • the interrupt request signal is set.
  • a level of the interrupt request signal is thereafter read on the basis of the programs written to the micro-controller of the clock circuit, and sound emission starts.
  • the interrupt request signal is re-­set.
  • the level reading of the interrupt request signal ensues from the re-setting of the signal, after a given time has passed. Again, the interrupt request signal is re-set.
  • the acoustic signals cease to be outputted from the terminal SPout.
  • a signal of low level is read by a step of reading the level of the interrupt request signal, and the program proceeds to recognition of complete outputting the sound. Immediately after this step, the motor is driven.
  • the frequency of the sound outputted by the melody composer 21 ranges from approximately 200 Hz to 4 KHz.
  • the stepping motor is therefore driven after approxi­mately 1/400 sec. has elapsed since the acoustic signals were completely outputted. Thus it seems to human sensation that the sound emission is almost concurrent with the driving of the motor.
  • an interrupt request re-set signal is usable for the output signal as the case may be.
  • the time ranging from the outputting of the interrupt request signal to the inputting of the interrupt request signal is set longer than one half of the cycle of the acoustic signal having the lowest tone among the acoustic signals outputted by the melody composer.
  • a seventh embodiment of an analog electronic timepiece according to the present invention is shown in Figure 14.
  • a commercially available melody IC is utilised for generating musical information chiefly for reasons of cost.
  • Some melody ICs include a LED driver for lighting up an LED in synchronism with the music.
  • a melody IC 22 including an LED driver.
  • the integration circuit 17 and the R-S latch 18 are interposed between the melody composer 21 and the clock circuit 16 in order to convert the frequency signals defined as the musical information into one pulse.
  • the melody IC 22 incorporates the LED driver.
  • the present invention can be attained simply by connecting an LED driving output Lout directly to the input port IN of the clock circuit 16.
  • FIG. 15 is a block diagram of the clock circuit 16. Referring to Figure 15, the operation of the clock circuit 16 will be explained.
  • An address of a read only memory (ROM) 63 is determined by an output signal of a timing generating circuit 61 driven by an oscillator 60, and programming data is transferred via a data bus 67 to a CPU 62.
  • the CPU 62 de-codes the thus transferred programming data.
  • the stepping motor is driven by processing the data loaded in a RAM 64 and transmits a driving command to a stepping motor driver 65.
  • the CPU 62 executes the processes in the operation procedures programmed in the ROM 63.
  • present time hand position data 640 of the RAM 64 coincides in content with hand position data 641.
  • the clock is set in a mode of moving the hand in synchronism with the melody, there is produced a difference in content between the present time hand position data 640 and the hand position data 641.
  • the CPU 62 de-codes the programming data 631 of a melody indication procedure in the ROM 63, and a driving command is issued to the stepping motor driver 65 on the basis of such data.
  • the hand position data 641 of the RAM 64 is also re-written pursuant to the driving command of the stepping motor.
  • a timer signal generated during such a process performs a timer-function by re-writing the present time hand position data 640.
  • the hand has irregularly moved in synchronism with the melody, it is possible invariably to return the hand to indicate the present time by controlling the stepping motor driver 65 so that the content of the present time hand position data 640 coincides with that of the hand position data 641.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
EP19880311700 1987-12-11 1988-12-09 Montre électronique analogique Withdrawn EP0320295A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP314673/87 1987-12-11
JP31467387 1987-12-11
JP333496/87 1987-12-28
JP33349687 1987-12-28
JP243000/88 1988-09-28
JP24300088A JPH01244390A (ja) 1987-12-11 1988-09-28 アナログ電子時計

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0320295A2 true EP0320295A2 (fr) 1989-06-14
EP0320295A3 EP0320295A3 (fr) 1991-03-27

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ID=27333094

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19880311700 Withdrawn EP0320295A3 (fr) 1987-12-11 1988-12-09 Montre électronique analogique

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EP (1) EP0320295A3 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0366422A3 (fr) * 1988-10-25 1991-03-27 Seiko Instruments Inc. Pièce d'horlogerie électronique
DE4242358A1 (de) * 1992-12-15 1994-06-16 Zurell Arnold Fahrzeugscheinwerfer jeder Bauart, Form und Größe
EP0694823A3 (fr) * 1994-07-26 1999-01-20 Seiko Instruments Inc. Montre électronique analogique

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2857808C3 (de) * 1977-02-28 1984-11-08 Sharp K.K., Osaka Elektronisches Musikinstrument kombiniert mit einer elektronischen Uhr
JPS5963585A (ja) * 1982-10-01 1984-04-11 Citizen Watch Co Ltd 指針式メロデイ時計
JPS61165680A (ja) * 1986-01-24 1986-07-26 Seiko Epson Corp 電子時計

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0366422A3 (fr) * 1988-10-25 1991-03-27 Seiko Instruments Inc. Pièce d'horlogerie électronique
DE4242358A1 (de) * 1992-12-15 1994-06-16 Zurell Arnold Fahrzeugscheinwerfer jeder Bauart, Form und Größe
EP0694823A3 (fr) * 1994-07-26 1999-01-20 Seiko Instruments Inc. Montre électronique analogique

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0320295A3 (fr) 1991-03-27

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