JP2003107178A - Alarm clock with radio wave correction function - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To maintain the accuracy of an alarm clock, perform an alarm operation without fear of malfunction of radio wave reception, and achieve power saving. A receiving circuit capable of receiving a standard time radio wave,
An alarm set switch for setting the on / off of an alarm, a time display unit having an internal electronic clock that moves at a constant speed and displaying the time of the internal electronic clock, and a control circuit for controlling these are provided. . The control circuit determines that the time of the internal electronic clock is the reception time of the standard time radio wave (S1).
At this time, it is determined whether the alarm set switch is in an on state or an off state (S2). If the alarm set switch is in the on state, the receiving circuit does not receive the standard time radio wave and does not adjust the time of the internal electronic clock. In the off state, the receiving circuit receives the standard time radio wave to control the internal electronic timepiece to correct the time.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an alarm timepiece having a radio wave correction function that can automatically set an accurate time by receiving a standard time radio wave.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a prior art, as a first example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-159558 discloses that the alarm time is not notified on the day and the alarm time data is earlier than the corrected time data. In this case, a time data receiving device that sounds an alarm sound different from the normal one is disclosed. This avoids that the alarm time of the day is not notified due to the time data correction operation.

A second example is Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-19.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 9792 discloses a timepiece device that suspends measurement without performing time adjustment unless the correction range of time is within an allowable error range. In this example, every time the positioning device measures according to the user's operation, the difference between the correction time based on the received time data and the current time is calculated to determine whether it is within the accuracy range (allowable error range). is doing.

A third example is Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-23.
Japanese Patent No. 5093 discloses a radio-controlled timepiece configured to receive both all data for updating all the time held by the timepiece and partial data reception such as second correction for setting the second display to 0 on the minute. ing.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the first example described above,
Although it is possible to prevent the alarm sound from going off due to the time correction, it is not possible to prevent the alarm sounding at an unexpected time when the wrong data is received. In the second example, the measurement is started by the operation of the user. However, the automatic time adjustment is almost always performed in the alarm clock, and when the time is adjusted every time, the predetermined time for reception / correction is set. It is necessary and consumes a lot of power. Further, in the above-mentioned third example, since the reception frequency is changed between the whole data reception and the partial data reception, a period counter for counting the reception interval is required.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the accuracy as a radio-controlled timepiece is maintained, and when used as an alarm timepiece, the alarm operation is performed while maintaining the accuracy as an internal electronic timepiece without fear of malfunction of radiowave reception, and at the same time, saving. Achieve power.

[0007]

An alarm clock with a radio wave correction function according to the present invention, a receiving circuit capable of receiving a standard time radio wave, an alarm set switch for setting an alarm on / off, and a step at a constant speed. A time display unit that has an internal electronic timepiece and displays the time of the internal electronic timepiece, and a control circuit that controls these are provided, and the control circuit is
It is possible to control so as to correct the time of the internal electronic timepiece by receiving the standard time radio wave, and when the time of the internal electronic timepiece becomes the reception time of the standard time radio wave, the state of the alarm set switch According to the above, it is possible to control the reception operation of the standard time radio wave by the reception circuit and the time adjustment operation of the internal electronic timepiece so as to be changed.

The control circuit receives the standard time radio wave by the receiving circuit when the alarm set switch is in the ON state when the time of the internal electronic timepiece reaches the reception time of the standard time radio wave. Alternatively, the internal electronic timepiece may be controlled not to perform the time adjustment.

In the control circuit, when the time of the internal electronic timepiece becomes the reception time of the standard time radio wave, and the alarm set switch is turned on after the reception circuit receives the standard time radio wave. Alternatively, the received time may be compared with the time of the internal electronic timepiece, and if the difference is equal to or more than a predetermined value, the time of the internal electronic timepiece may not be adjusted.

Further, the control circuit, when the time of the internal electronic timepiece becomes the time of reception of the standard time radio wave,
When the alarm set switch is in the ON state, the receiving circuit may detect and receive only the 0 second of the standard time radio wave, and may control so as to correct the time of only the second of the internal electronic timepiece. .

In the control circuit, the time of the internal electronic timepiece becomes the reception time of the standard time radio wave, and after the standard time radio wave is received by the receiving circuit, the alarm set switch is in the ON state. Is compared with the time received by the internal electronic timepiece, and the internal electronic timepiece is controlled to correct the time only when the difference is less than or equal to a predetermined value including the time due to the change in summer time. May be.

With such a configuration, the accuracy as a radio-controlled timepiece can be maintained, and when used as an alarm clock, there is no fear of malfunction of radio-wave reception, and the accuracy as an internal electronic clock is maintained and a correct alarm is maintained. You can take action. Moreover, since the operating time of the receiving circuit can be shortened, power saving can be achieved.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Regarding one embodiment of the present invention,
It will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1, an alarm clock with a radio wave correction function according to the present invention uses a standard time radio wave transmitted from a transmission station (not shown) as a reception antenna (not shown) at a predetermined reception time. The signal is received by the receiving circuit 2 via. The control circuit 1 controls the operations of the receiving circuit 2, the alarm device 3, and the time display unit 4. The alarm set switch 5 is externally attached to the alarm output terminal of the IC, which is the control circuit 1, to set ON / OFF of the alarm.

The control circuit 1 is provided with an internal electronic timepiece (not shown), and the internal electronic timepiece is constantly stepping on the basis of a signal from an oscillation circuit such as a crystal. This crystal oscillator circuit generally realizes a monthly difference of about ± 20 seconds, and even if the time is corrected once a week, the correction amount is about several seconds. The correction of the time by the standard time radio wave is normally performed every 24 hours, and the internal electronic clock discriminates between am and pm, for example, at 2:00 am. If the reception of the standard time radio wave cannot be properly performed at 2:00 am, the reception is performed at 4:00 am, 2:00 pm, or 4:00 pm.

The receiving circuit 2 receives the standard time radio wave and converts it into an electric signal, and the sounding device 3 informs the alarm time with a sound such as a bell sound, an electronic sound or a melody. The time display unit 4 displays the internal electronic clock. The time display unit 4 may be a digital display using liquid crystal or an analog display for moving hands. The alarm time is set by an alarm time setting means (not shown). When the alarm set switch 5 is in the ON state, when the set alarm time matches the time of the internal electronic timepiece, the alarm device 3 emits a sound.

An example of the operation of the alarm timepiece with the radio wave correcting function of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. It is determined whether or not the time of the internal electronic timepiece has reached a predetermined automatic reception time (S1), and when the time is reached, it is determined whether the alarm set switch 5 is in the on state or the off state (S1).
2) If it is in the off state, that is, if the alarm is not set, the receiving circuit 2 is activated, the standard time radio wave is received, and the time of the internal electronic timepiece is corrected based on the received time data (S3). . If the alarm set switch 5 is in the ON state, that is, the alarm is set, the receiving circuit 2 is made inoperative and automatic reception of the standard time radio wave is not started, and the internal electronic timepiece continues to advance.

With this operation, if the alarm time of the next morning is set and the alarm set switch 5 is turned on, the time is not automatically adjusted. Therefore, the internal time at the time when the alarm time is set is set. Since the alarm sound is generated according to the time accuracy of the electronic timepiece, it can be used with confidence.

Another operation example will be described with reference to FIG.
First, it is determined whether or not the time of the internal electronic timepiece has reached a predetermined automatic reception time (S11). When the time is reached, the receiving circuit 2 is activated and the standard time radio wave is received (S12). ), It is determined whether the alarm set switch 5 is in the on state or the off state (S13).
The time of the internal electronic timepiece is corrected based on the received time data (S14). On the other hand, if it is in the on state, the received time data is compared with the time of the internal electronic timepiece, and it is determined whether the difference is less than or equal to a predetermined value (S15). The predetermined value is a value in a range in which there is no problem even when the time is practically deviated, and is, for example, 1 minute or 5 minutes. Then, when the difference between the received time data and the time of the internal electronic timepiece is less than or equal to the predetermined value, the time of the internal electronic timepiece is corrected based on the received time data (S14). On the other hand, when the difference is equal to or larger than the predetermined value, the internal electronic timepiece continues to step without correcting the time of the internal electronic timepiece.

With this operation, when the standard time radio wave is received and the difference between the time of the internal electronic timepiece and the received time data is less than the predetermined value when the alarm set switch 5 is in the ON state, Since the time of the internal electronic timepiece is corrected, even if the standard time radio wave is erroneously received, the alarm is generated within a range that causes no practical problem because the correction is less than the predetermined value. Also, it is not a false reception
If the difference is equal to or less than the predetermined value, the time of the internal electronic timepiece is corrected correctly, so that the alarm sound can be generated at the correct time. If the difference is equal to or more than the predetermined value, the time of the internal electronic timepiece is not adjusted, so that the alarm sound is generated according to the accuracy of the time of the internal electronic timepiece when the alarm time is set.

When the operation is performed based on FIG. 3 described above, inconvenience may occur at the time of daylight saving time shift which is currently being performed in various places. That is, summer time is about 4
It is a system that advances the time by one hour from the month to October. For example, in the UK, it is advanced by 1 hour at 1:00 AM on the last Sunday in March and delayed by 1 hour at 1:00 AM on the last Sunday in October. Also, in the United States, the first Sunday in April, at 2:00 AM
For example, it is delayed by 1 hour at 2:00 AM on the last Sunday in October. During this time, the time data of the standard time radio wave also changes, and an identification flag is set on the transmitted signal. Each of them consists of an identification bit of summer time and a notice bit indicating a change schedule. Two extension bits are prepared for standard time radio waves in Japan, and it seems that the method will be the same as in Europe and the United States.

In the case of the radio wave correction clock, it is corrected correctly at the first correction after the change from the normal time to the summer time and after the change from the summer time to the normal time. However, when the operation is performed based on the flow chart of FIG. 3 without considering the time advanced or delayed due to the daylight saving time on the transition day between the summer time and the normal time, the time of the internal electronic time and When the difference from the received time data is less than or equal to a predetermined value, it is erroneously determined to be larger than the predetermined value, and the time of the internal electronic clock of the radio wave correction clock is shifted by an earlier or later time. It will happen.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart used in such a case, and an operation example thereof will be described below. First, it is determined whether or not the time of the internal electronic timepiece has reached a predetermined automatic reception time (S31), and when the time is reached, the receiving circuit 2 is activated and the standard time radio wave is received (S32). ), It is determined whether the alarm set switch 5 is on or off (S33), and if it is off, the time of the internal electronic timepiece is corrected based on the received time data (S34). On the other hand, if it is on,
The received time data is compared with the time of the internal electronic clock, and it is determined whether the difference is less than or equal to a predetermined value, including the change time due to the shift of summer time which is usually ± 1 hour (S).
35). Specifically, when this predetermined value is set to 1 minute, the difference is ± 1 minute, or −59 to −61 minutes, or +5.
It is determined whether the time is from 9 to +61 minutes. And
If it is less than or equal to the predetermined value, the time of the internal electronic timepiece is corrected based on the received time data (S34). On the other hand, when the difference is equal to or larger than the predetermined value, the internal electronic timepiece continues to step without correcting the time of the internal electronic timepiece.

With this operation, when the standard time radio wave is received, the difference between the time of the internal electronic timepiece and the received time data when the alarm set switch 5 is on depends on the shift of the summer time. Since the time of the internal electronic timepiece is corrected when it is less than or equal to the predetermined value including the change time, the time of the internal electronic timepiece is corrected correctly without determining that it is an erroneous reception on the daylight saving time transition day. On the other hand, for other erroneous receptions, the time of the internal electronic timepiece is not corrected, so that the alarm sound is generated with the accuracy of the time of the internal electronic timepiece when the alarm time is set.

Still another operation example will be described with reference to FIG. As in the case of FIG. 2, it is determined whether the time of the internal electronic timepiece has reached a predetermined automatic reception time (S21),
When the time comes, the alarm set switch 5
Is turned on or off (S22), and if it is turned off, the receiving circuit 2 is put into the operating state, the standard time radio wave is received (S23), and the internal electronic timepiece is received based on the received time data. The time is corrected (S24). On the other hand, if it is in the ON state, the receiving circuit 2 is put into the operating state as before, and the reception of the standard time radio wave is started, but the reception is stopped when 0 second is detected (S25), and the second of the internal electronic timepiece is set. Only the time is corrected (S26). For example, if the seconds of the internal electronic timepiece are 30 seconds or less (it may be set to an appropriate second such as 20 seconds or less), the time is corrected to 0 seconds. is there.

This operation will be described in more detail. Since the standard time radio wave has 1 second as 1 bit and the time data is transmitted in 60 seconds, normally, in order to capture this time data, what should be done now? It is necessary to know whether it is the second second, and first it is necessary to detect 0 second at the start of reception. Therefore, if the reception of the standard time radio wave is terminated when 0 second is detected as described above, the operating time of the receiving circuit 2 is shortened and the current consumption is reduced. In addition, if the internal electronic clock is stepped using a normal crystal oscillator circuit, the monthly difference ±
Since it is about 20 seconds, even if it is received and modified about once a week, the amount of modification is about several seconds, so as described above, 30 seconds or less (20 seconds or less is acceptable). If the range error is corrected to 0 seconds, there is no practical problem and the alarm clock can be used with peace of mind.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. The electric circuit is constructed so that the receiving circuit 2 does not operate when the alarm set switch 5 is in the ON state as in the operation of FIG. Here is an example. That is, a switch 6 for turning on / off the receiving circuit 2 is provided, and the switch 6
And the alarm set switch 5 are interlocked with each other. It should be noted that the switch 6 and the switch 7 to be described later are push-type switches, but the switch type is not limited to this and may be a lever-type, slide-type, rotary-type, or any other type having the same function.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the alarm set switch 5 is off, the receiving circuit switch 6 is on, and when the time of the internal electronic timepiece reaches a predetermined automatic reception time, it is turned on. The receiving circuit 2 in the state operates to receive the standard time radio wave, and corrects the time of the internal electronic timepiece based on the received time data. On the contrary, when the alarm set switch 5 is in the on state, the receiving circuit switch 6 is in the off state, and the receiving circuit 2 in the off state operates even when the time of the internal electronic clock reaches a predetermined automatic reception time. Without
The time on the internal electronic clock is not corrected and continues to advance. With this configuration, the operation shown in FIG. 2 can be realized only by operating the switch without requiring complicated software.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing still another embodiment of the present invention, in which a switch 7 interlocking with an alarm set switch 5 is provided on a signal line from the electric circuit 2 to the control circuit 1.
Is provided so that the signal received by the receiving circuit 2 is not transmitted to the control circuit 1 when the alarm set switch 5 is turned on by an electric circuit. When the alarm set switch 5 is in the on state, the switch 7 is turned off, the time data received by the receiving circuit 2 is not supplied to the control circuit 1, the time of the internal electronic timepiece is not corrected, and the step continues as it is. On the contrary, when the alarm set switch 5 is in the off state as shown in FIG. 6,
When the switch 7 is turned on, the time data received by the receiving circuit 2 is supplied to the control circuit 1, and the time of the internal electronic timepiece reaches the predetermined automatic reception time. To fix. With this configuration, the operation shown in FIG. 2 can be realized only by operating the switch without requiring complicated software.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the time of the internal electronic timepiece reaches the reception time of the standard time radio wave, the reception circuit receives the standard time radio wave depending on the state of the alarm set switch. Since it can be controlled to change the time correction operation of the internal electronic timepiece, the accuracy as a radio-controlled timepiece can be maintained, and when used as an alarm clock, there is no fear of malfunctions in radio wave reception, and the internal electronic timepiece can be used as an internal electronic timepiece. The alarm operation can be performed with accuracy. At the same time, power saving can be achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating another operation of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart explaining still another operation of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart explaining still another operation of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 control circuit 2 Receiver circuit 4 Time display 5 Alarm set switch

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A receiving circuit capable of receiving standard time radio waves,
It is equipped with an alarm set switch that sets the alarm on / off, an internal electronic timepiece that advances at a constant speed, and a time display unit that displays the time of the internal electronic timepiece, and a control circuit that controls these. The control circuit is controllable to correct the time of the internal electronic timepiece by receiving the standard time radio wave, and when the time of the internal electronic timepiece becomes the reception time of the standard time radio wave, An alarm timepiece with a radio wave correction function, which can be controlled so as to change the reception operation of the standard time radio wave by the reception circuit and the time correction operation of the internal electronic timepiece according to the state of the alarm set switch. 2. The control circuit according to claim 1, wherein, when the time of the internal electronic timepiece reaches a reception time of the standard time radio wave, the alarm set switch is in an ON state. An alarm timepiece with a radio wave correction function, characterized in that the internal electronic timepiece is controlled so as not to receive the standard time radio wave and not to adjust the time of the internal electronic timepiece. 3. The alarm set switch according to claim 1, wherein, in the control circuit, the time of the internal electronic timepiece becomes a reception time of the standard time radio wave, and after the standard time radio wave is received by the receiving circuit. Is on, the received time is compared with the time of the internal electronic timepiece, and if the difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, control is performed not to adjust the time of the internal electronic timepiece. An alarm clock with a characteristic radio wave correction function. 4. The receiving circuit according to claim 1, wherein when the time of the internal electronic timepiece reaches the reception time of the standard time radio wave, the alarm set switch is in the ON state. Due to the standard time radio wave 0
An alarm clock with a radio wave correction function, which detects and receives only seconds, and controls so as to correct the time of only seconds of the internal electronic timepiece. 5. The alarm set switch according to claim 1, wherein, in the control circuit, the time of the internal electronic timepiece becomes a reception time of the standard time radio wave, and after the standard time radio wave is received by the receiving circuit. When is on, the received time is compared with the time of the internal electronic timepiece, and the time of the internal electronic timepiece is adjusted only when the difference is less than or equal to a predetermined value including the time due to the change of summer time. An alarm clock with a radio wave correction function that is controlled to be performed.