Analog electronic timepiece

The analog electronic timepiece includes rotatable plural hands, a current position acquisition unit, a processor and a counting unit. The current position acquisition unit acquires a current position and stores local time settings therein. The local time settings include time zones and daylight saving time implementation information in each area. The processor rotates the plural hands, reads and acquires a local time setting corresponding to the acquired current position from the current position acquisition unit, and selects and sets a time zone. The counting unit counts the local time, based on a later action which the processor performs either the acquired local time setting or the set time zone. The processor controls at least one of the plural hands to display a local time determination result as to whether the counted local time is based on the acquired local time setting in correspondence to the current position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-050149, filed on Mar. 13, 2015, and the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an analog electronic timepiece capable of displaying times in various areas of the world.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the related art, an electronic timepiece capable of displaying local times in various areas of the world has been known. According to the electronic timepiece, when any one time zone is designated by a user input operation and the like, local time in the time zone is calculated and displayed based on time difference information from coordinate universal time (UTC), and the like. Also, an electronic timepiece having a world time clock function of simultaneously or switchingly displaying local time in a desired area of the world in addition to the display of the usual time (local time) has been known.

According to an analog electronic timepiece configured to display date and time with hands, a peripheral edge portion of a dial plate at which marks and scales are arranged, a bezel or the like is provided with local time marks such as cities of the world indicating respective time zones, areas and time differences from coordinate universal time (UTC) in an annular shape. A user is enabled to designate a desired time zone by indicating any one of the local time marks with one hand, and local time is calculated and displayed in the designated time zone.

In the meantime, an electronic timepiece (a radiowave timepiece) has been recently known which is configured to receive radiowaves (a navigation message) from positioning satellites, to perform positioning, to determine a time zone to which the obtained position belongs, and to calculate and display local time in the time zone. The radiowaves from the positioning satellites can be received in various areas of the world in which the radiowaves can be received such as open outdoors. Thus, an appropriately setting can be made even though a user does not recognize a time zone at a current position.

However, in some areas of the world, for the summer season, the daylight saving time (Daylight Saving Time (DST)) during which time is made to deviate from the standard time of local time in a time zone is implemented. Therefore, in order to correctly display the local time, it is necessary to count and display date and time by additionally deviating a shift time during the daylight saving time implementation from the standard time over a daylight saving time implementation time period. Regarding this, JP-A-2011-048777 discloses a technology of associating and storing information about daylight saving time implementation time periods with respective areas of the world, determining start date and time and end date and time of the daylight saving time by using date and time information acquired from GPS satellites and correcting date and time during the daylight saving time implementation.

However, whether the daylight saving time is to be implemented and an implementation time period of the daylight saving time are determined within a range narrower than a setting range of the time zones, in many cases, and a plurality of areas in which different daylight saving time implementation rules are determined even in the same time zone is sometimes mixed. Therefore, in the analog electronic timepiece, when a local time setting by designation of a preset time zone and a local time setting based on any positional information such as positioning data are used in combination, even though a time zone is designated, it may not possible to automatically select an appropriate daylight saving time implementation rule and to apply the daylight saving time. As a result, the user may not recognize whether the daylight saving time corresponding to the current position has been applied to the calculated local time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an analog electronic timepiece with which a user can easily know whether local time to which the appropriate daylight saving time corresponding to a current position has been applied is obtained.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an analog electronic timepiece. The analog electronic timepiece includes plural hands, a current position acquisition unit, a processor and a counting unit. The plural hands are rotatable. The current position acquisition unit acquires a current position and stores local time settings in the current position acquisition unit. The local time settings include time zones and daylight saving time implementation information in each area. The processor rotates the plural hands, reads and acquires a local time setting corresponding to the acquired current position from the current position acquisition unit, and selects and sets a time zone. The counting unit counts local time. The counting unit counts the local time, based on a later action which the processor performs either the acquired local time setting or the set time zone. The processor controls at least one of the plural hands to display a local time determination result as to whether the counted local time is based on the acquired local time setting in correspondence to the current position.

According to the present invention, the user can easily know whether the local time to which the appropriate daylight saving time corresponding to the current position has been applied is obtained in the analog electronic timepiece.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, an illustrative embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1is a front view of an analog electronic timepiece1, which is an illustrative embodiment of the electronic timepiece of the present invention.

The analog electronic timepiece1includes a casing2configured to accommodate therein respective configurations, a dial plate3of which one surface (exposed surface) is externally exposed in the casing2, a transparent member (windproof glass) (not shown) configured to cover the exposed surface of the dial plate3, three time hands61,62,63configured to rotate about a substantial center (rotational shaft) of the dial plate3over a substantially entire surface of the dial plate3between the dial plate3and the windproof glass and to indicate marks and scales provided in the vicinity of an outer edge of the dial plate3, a small window4provided at a two thirty position of the dial plate3, a 24-hour hand64configured to rotate in the small window4, a area5defined at a nine thirty position of the dial plate3, a function hand66configured to rotate in the area5, a small window6provided at a 6 o'clock position of the dial plate3, a small minute hand67and a small hour hand68configured to rotate in the small window6, a date wheel65provided on an opposite side to the exposed surface of the dial plate3in parallel with the dial plate3and configured to expose one mark thereof from an opening7provided at a four thirty position of the dial plate3in correspondence to a rotating operation, a stem C1and push-button switches B1to B4provided on a side surface of the casing2with respect to the exposed surface of the dial plate3, and the like.

The dial plate3is provided with scales and marks (hour characters) indicative of an hour, a minute and a second in a circular ring shape, and is also provided at an outer more edge than the scales and the marks with local time marks indicative of abbreviations of city names corresponding to time zones of the world and coordinate universal time (UTC). In the meantime, the local time mark may be provided on a bezel, not the dial plate3.

The time hands61to63are a second hand61, a minute hand62and an hour hand63, respectively, and are usually configured to indicate a second, a minute and an hour of time when displaying time. The 24-hour hand64is configured to display 24 hours including ante meridiem and post meridiem in the small window4. Also, in the analog electronic timepiece1of the illustrative embodiment, the second hand61and the minute hand62are used for display and setting of various functions.

The date wheel65has marks, which are indicative of dates and are equidistantly provided in number order at a peripheral edge portion thereof. One of the marks is exposed from the opening7, thereby indicating a date.

The function hand66is configured to indicate a day of week by indicating any one of seven marks provided between a 9 o'clock position and a 1 o'clock position in the area5, and to indicate a function mode under execution by indicating any one of marks provided between a 6 o'clock position and a seven thirty position in the area5. The function modes that can operate in the analog electronic timepiece1include, but are not particularly limited to, a stopwatch mode, a timer mode and an alarm mode. Also, when the function hand indicates one of marks provided between a 3 o'clock position and a 5 o'clock position, a display relating to a display setting of the daylight saving time is performed with respect to the time display mode. Also, an airplane mode of prohibiting communication radio waves from being transmitted and received can be set in parallel with the various function modes. When the function hand66indicates an airplane mark close to the 9 o'clock position, the airplane mode is displayed. Also, a mark ‘P’ provided in the vicinity of a 1 o'clock position and a mark ‘N’ provided in the vicinity of a 2 o'clock position indicate whether the local time being counted is determined based on the information about a current position. Further, a latitude is displayed by an angle (i.e., a position indicated by the function hand66) between a direction indicated by the function hand66and a 9 o'clock direction (a horizontal direction when a 12 o'clock direction faces upward).

The small minute hand67and the small hour hand68are configured to display local time at a set position (world time clock position) relating to the world time clock function in the small window6, respectively. That is, the analog electronic timepiece1of the illustrative embodiment can display the local times of two areas at the same time by the time hands61to63and the small minute hand67and the small hour hand68. In the meantime, a small 24-hour hand configured to rotate in conjunction with the small minute hand67and the small hour hand68may be additionally provided to display ante meridiem and post meridiem even in the world time clock.

In the below, when collectively describing some or all of the time hands61to63, the 24-hour hand64, the date wheel65, the function hand66, the small minute hand67and the small hour hand68, the description ‘hands61to68’ (the plurality of hands) is made, for example.

The stem C1and the push-button switches B1to B4are respectively configured to receive an input operation from a user. The stem C1can be pulled out in two steps from the casing2. At a one or two-step pullout state, when the stem is rotated by a predetermined angle, an operation signal is output, which is then used for various settings. When each of the push-button switches B1to B4is pushed, a type of the function mode is changed or an operation command allotted to each of the function modes is received.

FIG. 2is a block diagram depicting a functional configuration of the analog electronic timepiece1.

The analog electronic timepiece1includes a CPU41(Central Processing Unit) (an hand operation control unit411, a local time setting acquisition unit412, a time zone setting unit413, a setting replacement unit414), a ROM42(Read Only Memory), a RAM43(Random Access Memory) (the local time setting storage unit), an oscillator circuit44, a frequency division circuit45, a timer circuit46(the timer unit), an operation unit47(the operation receiving unit), a satellite radio wave receiving and processing unit48(the current position acquisition unit), an antenna49thereof, a driving circuit51, a power supply unit52, the time hands61to63, the 24-hour hand64, the date wheel65, the function hand66, the small minute hand67, the small hour hand68, wheel train mechanisms71to75, stepping motors81to85, and the like. The CPU41includes an hand operation control unit411, a local time setting acquisition unit412, a time zone setting unit413, and a setting replacement unit414. The hand operation control unit411, the local time setting acquisition unit412, the time zone setting unit413, the setting replacement unit414may be a single CPU or may perform respective operations by CPUs separately provided.

The CPU41is configured to execute a variety of calculation processing and to collectively control the entire operations of the analog electronic timepiece1. The CPU41is configured to control an hand operation relating to the display of date and time. The CPU41is configured to convert date and time, which is to be counted by the timer circuit46, into appropriate local time based on a local time setting having time zone and daylight saving time implementation information, and to display the converted local time in a usual time display mode by the time hands61to63, the 24-hour hand64and the date wheel65.

Also, the CPU41is configured to operate the satellite radio wave receiving and processing unit48to acquire date and time and positional information. The CPU41is configured to correct the date and time that is to be counted by the timer circuit46, based on the obtained data of date and time.

The ROM42is configured to store therein a program42afor control, which is to be executed by the CPU41, and setting data. The program42aincludes a program relating to operation control of various function modes, for example. Also, the setting data includes city time difference information42b.

In the city time difference information42b, IDs of geographical positions relating to the local time marks provided at the outer edge of the dial plate3, positions (for example, the number of steps by the second hand61in a 12 o'clock direction) and time differences from the UTC time in the cities (hereinafter, the time difference indicates a time difference from the UTC time) are associated and stored as the time zone setting information. For example, regarding a city mark ‘TYO’ provided in the vicinity of a four twenty position and indicating Tokyo, an ID ‘011’, a 22-second position and the time difference of +9 hours are associated and stored.

The RAM43is configured to provide the CPU41with a memory space for work and to store therein temporary data. Also, in the RAM43, an acquisition hysteresis of the date and time information and positional information, local time setting information43c, which is data of local time settings corresponding to a home position relating to a usual date and time display and a world time clock position relating to a world time clock display, data indicating hand positions, and the like are stored. Also, in the RAM43, city user correction data43aand map user correction data43b, which are correction data of the time zone and daylight saving time implementation information set by the user, are stored.

When correction information of the time zone and the daylight saving time implementation information in each city is set, the correction information is stored in the city user correction data43a. For example, when the daylight saving time is implemented in Tokyo, if the daylight saving time implementation information is set by the user, as described later, an ID indicating Tokyo and the like and the corresponding setting are associated and stored. The storing number of the setting may be the latest one, and the setting may be stored for all cities for which the setting is made. When a plurality of settings is made for the same city (ID), only the latest setting is stored. Also, the correction information may include an effective period of the correction information.

In the map user correction data43b, when the correction information of the time zone and daylight saving time implementation information at the acquired current position (the latitude and the longitude) is set, an ID of the current position or a area (a predetermined area) including the current position and the set correction information are associated and stored. When the data indicating the current position is stored, the latitude and the longitude of the acquired current position may be used or coordinates of each geographical block stored in a time difference map48bmay be used. Also in this case, the number of settings is appropriately set in correspondence to the storage capacity and the like, and when a plurality of settings is made in the same area, only the latest setting is stored. This correction information may also include an effective period of the correction information.

The city user correction data43aand the map user correction data43bconfigure the update information.

In the local time setting information43c, the local time setting information such as the time zone and the daylight saving time implementation rule at the home position and the world time clock position is stored. The local time setting information43cwill be described in detail later.

The oscillator circuit44is configured to generate and output a predetermined frequency signal. The oscillator circuit44has a quartz oscillator, as a vibrator, for example.

The frequency division circuit45is configured to divide the frequency signal output from the oscillator circuit44into signals of frequencies that are to be used by the CPU41and the timer circuit46, and to output the same. The frequency to be output may be set to be changeable by a control signal from the CPU41.

The timer circuit46is configured to count current date and time by counting and adding the frequency division signal input from the frequency division circuit45to an initial value indicating predetermined date and time. The date and time that is to be counted by the timer circuit46has an error (rate) corresponding to a degree of precision of the oscillator circuit44, for example, about 0.5 second per one day. The date and time that is to be counted by the timer circuit46can be corrected by a control signal from the CPU41. The date and time that is to be counted by the timer circuit46may be individual count values that can be converted into reference date and time such as UTC date and time, or may be UTC date and time itself. Alternatively, whenever a home position is set, the date and time may be corrected to local time (first local time) at the home position and counted. The timer circuit46may have a counter as a hardware configuration or may be configured to store a value counted in a software manner in the RAM and the like. Also, the software counting may be controlled by the CPU41or may be separately controlled.

Also, the timer circuit46may be configured to count local time at a world time clock position separately from the local time at the home position, and local time (second local time) at the world time clock position may be always converted from the date and time, which is to be counted by the timer circuit46, and then output.

The operation unit47is configured to receive an input operation from the user. The operation unit47includes the push-button switches B1to B4and the stem C1. When the push-button switches B1to B4are respectively pushed or when the stem C1is pulled out, pushed back or rotated, an electric signal corresponding to a type of the operation is output to the CPU41. The stem C1can be pulled out in two steps and receive an input of a content corresponding to the pullout state. In the analog electronic timepiece1of the illustrative embodiment, based on the user input operation, a home city setting and a city setting of the world time clock can be switched or replaced and a DST setting (which will be described later) relating to the daylight saving time applying to the local time can be made.

The satellite radio wave receiving and processing unit48is configured to receive radio waves from positioning satellites including positioning satellites (GPS satellites) relating to at least a GPS (Global Positioning System) by using the antenna49, and to demodulate spectrum-spread transmission radio waves from the positioning satellites, thereby decoding and deciphering signals (navigation message data). In the satellite radio wave receiving and processing unit48, a variety of calculation processing is additionally performed for contents of the deciphered navigation message data, as required, and at least a part of data of the acquired date and time and current position is output to the CPU41in a preset format, in correspondence to a request from the CPU41.

The satellite radio wave receiving and processing unit48has a reception unit48a(the satellite radiowave receiving unit), a control unit48b(a microcomputer, a positioning unit) and a storage unit. The reception unit48ahas a reception circuit for amplifying, synchronizing and demodulating the radio waves from the positioning satellites. The control unit48bis configured to control operations relating to reception, decipher, calculation and output. The calculation processing of the control unit48bincludes acquisition processing of date and time data and positioning calculation. The positioning calculation by the control unit48bis not limited to a configuration where the positioning calculation is to be executed in a software manner, and may include at least a part of processing by a dedicated hardware circuit.

For the storage unit of the satellite radio wave receiving and processing unit48, a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory and an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory) is used, so that the stored contents are kept, irrespective of the power feeding state to the satellite radio wave receiving and processing unit48. In the storage unit, a time difference map48c, time difference information48dand daylight saving time information48efor acquiring the local time setting information are stored in addition to a variety of operation control programs, predicted orbit information of the respective positioning satellites, which are to be acquired from the positioning satellites, and the setting data such as a leap second correction value. In the meantime, the local time setting information may be stored in the RAM43of the analog electronic timepiece1, and the control unit48amay be configured to receive the information from the CPU41, as required, or the CPU41may be configured to execute the necessary processing. Also, the operation control programs may be stored in a dedicated ROM, read out upon startup and loaded to the RAM of the control unit48a.

The time difference map48cis map data in which a parameter relating to a time zone belonging to each of geographical blocks, which are obtained by dividing a world map into appropriate geographical blocks (geographical positions), and a parameter relating to the daylight saving time are stored. Although the map of the time difference map48cis not particularly limited, a map in which latitude lines and longitude lines are denoted as linear lines and are drawn to orthogonally intersect is preferably used, and the respective geographical blocks are preferably arranged in a two-dimensional matrix shape at predetermined latitude and longitude intervals. Also, the geographical blocks are configured to have different longitude widths in high and low latitude areas so that actual sizes do not vary greatly between the geographical blocks.

The time difference information48dis table data in which the parameter relating to the time zone, which is used in the time difference map48c, and a time difference in the time zone are associated with each other. In the table data, the parameter is uniquely associated with the time difference in such a way that the time difference corresponding to a parameter ‘0’ is ‘+0 hour’ and the time difference corresponding to a parameter ‘1’ is ‘+1 hour’, for example.

Also, the daylight saving time information48eis table data in which the parameter relating to the daylight saving time, which is used in the time difference map48b, and content of the daylight saving time implementation information (whether the daylight saving time is to be implemented, the implementation time period and the shift time upon the implementation) are associated with each other. For example, the parameter ‘0’ is associated with ‘no implementation of the daylight saving time’, and the parameter ‘1’ is associated with a case where the daylight saving time is to be implemented from UTC 1:00 A.M on last Sunday in March to UTC 1:00 A.M. on last Sunday in October.

In this way, the parameter relating to the time zone and the parameter relating to the daylight saving time are defined for the same range as one area (predetermined area). Alternatively, even when the contents of the daylight saving time implementation information are the same, the parameter may be separately set for a different time zone and the parameter relating to the daylight saving time may be defined for the same range as one area. Also, the area may be determined by the contents of the daylight saving time implementation information and an administrative unit smaller than the time zone, for example.

The respective configurations of the satellite radio wave receiving and processing unit48are formed on a chip, as one integrated module, which is connected to the CPU41. The on and off operations of the satellite radio wave receiving and processing unit48are controlled by the CPU41, independently of the operations of the respective units of the analog electronic timepiece1. According to the analog electronic timepiece1, when it is not necessary to operate the satellite radio wave receiving and processing unit48, the power feeding to the satellite radio wave receiving and processing unit48is stopped to save the power.

The power supply unit52is configured to feed power for operations of the respective units with a predetermined voltage. The power supply unit52has a battery. As the battery, a solar panel and a secondary battery are provided, for example. Alternatively, an exchangeable button-type dry cell may be used as the battery. Also, when a plurality of different voltages is output from the power supply unit52, they can be converted and output into a predetermined voltage by using a switching power supply, for example.

The stepping motor81is configured to rotate the second hand61through the wheel train mechanism71, which is an arrangement of toothed wheels. When the stepping motor81is driven one time, the second hand61is rotated by one step of 6 (six) degrees. The second hand61makes one round on the dial plate3by 60-times operations of the stepping motor81.

The stepping motor82is configured to rotate the minute hand62through the wheel train mechanism72. When the stepping motor82is driven one time, the minute hand62is rotated by one step of 1 (one) degree. The minute hand62makes one round on the dial plate3by 360-times operations of the stepping motor82

The stepping motor83is configured to rotate the hour hand63and the 24-hour hand64through the wheel train mechanism73. The wheel train mechanism73is configured to rotate the hour hand63and the 24-hour hand64in conjunction with each other. When the stepping motor83is driven one time, the hour hand63is rotated by one step of 1 (one) degree and the 24-hour hand64is rotated by a ½ degree. Therefore, when the hour hand63and the 24-hour hand64are rotated one time per 10 seconds, the hour hand63is rotated on the dial plate3by 30 degrees and the 24-hour hand64is rotated in the small window4by 15 degrees in one hour. That is, the hour hand63makes one round on the dial plate3for 12 hours and the 24-hour hand64makes one round in the small window4for 24 hours.

The stepping motor84is configured to rotate the function hand66and the date wheel65in conjunction with each other through the wheel train mechanism74. When the stepping motor84is driven one time, the function hand66is rotated by one step of 1 (one) degree. The date wheel65is configured to rotate by 360/31 degrees by rotation of 150 steps, for example, so that the date mark to be exposed from the opening7is changed by one day. When the date wheel65is rotated by degrees corresponding to 31 days, the date mark indicating the first date is again exposed from the opening7.

The stepping motor85is configured to rotate the small minute hand67and the small hour hand68through the wheel train mechanism75. When the stepping motor85is driven one time, the small minute hand67is rotated by one step of 1 (one) degree and the small hour hand68is rotated by a 1/12 degree. Therefore, when the stepping motor85is driven 360 times, the small minute hand67makes one round in the small window6and the small hour hand68is rotated in the small window6by 30 degrees.

Although the time hands61to63, the 24-hour hand64, the date wheel65, the function hand66, the small minute hand67and the small hour hand68are not particularly limited, they are configured to be rotatable by 90 pps (pulse per second) in a forward rotation direction (clockwise direction) and to be rotatable by 32 pps in a reverse rotation direction.

The driving circuit51is configured to output a driving pulse of a predetermined voltage to the stepping motors81to85, in response to a control signal from the CPU41, thereby rotating the stepping motors81to85one time by a predetermined angle (for example, 180 degrees). The driving circuit51can vary a length (pulse width) of the driving pulse, depending on a state of the analog electronic timepiece1, for example. Also, when a control signal for driving the plurality of hands at the same time is input, the output timings of the driving pulse may be made to be different so as to reduce the load.

In the below, the local time setting in the analog electronic timepiece1of the illustrative embodiment is described.

FIG. 3depicts an example of a setting content of the local time setting information43c.

The local time setting information43cincludes, for each of the home position and the world time clock position, information about a city (area) name, a time zone, a daylight saving time implementation time period, a DST setting, daylight saving time shift time, a standard radio wave that can be received at each of the home position and the world time clock position, a latitude and whether or not to apply the update information to the time zone and the daylight saving time implementation rule.

Here, as the local time setting relating to the home position, as shown inFIG. 3A, for example, the information about the island of Guam, which is a position acquired from a navigation message received from the positioning satellites, the information indicating that the time zone is UTC+10, the daylight saving time is not to be implemented and the like, are read out and stored from the time difference information48dand the daylight saving time information48e. In the meantime, the local time setting relating to the world time clock position is usually determined based on the setting of the time zone made by the user. Here, a area in which the time zone is UTC+1 is stored as the world time clock position. Also, for the home position and the world time clock position, ‘AUTO’ is set as the DST setting. The DST setting is to switch whether the implementation of the daylight saving time is to be automatically reflected in correspondence to the daylight saving time information48e(AUTO) or is to be manually set to be on (DST) or off (STD) by the user. That is, here, the daylight saving time is to be implemented in accordance with the setting of the daylight saving time information48ecorresponding to a set position for any of the home position and the world time clock position.

Meanwhile, in the local time setting information43c, an initial setting (preset data) is stored until the user first sets a time zone or a positioning is first performed to acquire a current position. For example, a country of dispatch (a country of sale), for example, Japan (UTC+9) is set for the time zone of the home position, and UTC time is set for the world time clock position.

In the case of the local time setting based on the time zone setting, the positional information is not kept, as compared to the local time setting based on the current position information, so that the city name, the daylight saving time implementation rule, the receivable standard radio wave and the latitude information are non-setting. In the meantime, regarding the daylight saving time implementation rule, the receivable standard radio wave and the like, the setting corresponding to the city that is to be used for the time zone setting may be made. In this case, in the local time setting information43c, the setting relating to each city and the daylight saving time implementation rule and receivable standard radio wave corresponding to the city is read out from the city time difference information42band is included therein, the latitude is non-setting and the positional information is ‘No.’ These settings may be kept in the city time difference information42band applied to the local time setting information43cfor a time zone, which is not explicitly indicated as the city name on the dial plate3ofFIG. 1such as Lord Howe Island of UTC+10.5, and the setting relating to the city name, the daylight saving time implementation rule and the receivable standard radio wave may not be made only for such time zone.

At this situation, when the user moves to the world time clock position and the home position and the world time clock position are replaced with each other by the user operation, the local time setting relating to the home position and the local time setting relating to the world time clock position are replaced with each other in the analog electronic timepiece1, as they are, as shown inFIG. 3B. At this situation, the date and time that is to be displayed as the world time clock by the small minute hand67, and the small hour hand68is not Sidney corresponding to UTC+10 inFIG. 1but is the local time based on the actually acquired position, and the home position is the setting (UTC+1) corresponding to the information of the manually selected time zone.

Further, when the positioning is performed with the settings being replaced with each other, a current position (Vienna) is specified based on the acquired latitude and longitude information, as shown inFIG. 3C, and the daylight saving time implementation information (the daylight saving time is implemented) and the receivable standard radio wave are set at the current position. Also, the latitude information is thus kept, so that the positional information ‘Yes’ is set. That is, at this situation, both the local time setting at the home position and the local time setting at the world time clock position are made based on the actually acquired positional information.

Meanwhile, here, when the local time setting at the current position is acquired, the old setting is overwritten and updated by the new setting. However, a predetermined number of local time settings may be stored and a previous setting may be called.

Therefore, both the home position and the world time clock position can be changed depending on whether they are based on the time zone information or the actually acquired positional information. At a state where the analog electronic timepiece1proceeds to a time zone change state of the home position or the world time clock position through the operation of the stem C1, the function hand66indicates the mark ‘P’ or ‘N’, so that it is explicitly indicated whether the home position and the world time clock position are changed based on the acquired positional information.

FIG. 4is a flowchart depicting a control sequence of time zone setting change processing, which is to be executed in the analog electronic timepiece1of the illustrative embodiment by the CPU41.

The time zone setting change processing starts when a shift operation to a time zone selection setting state to pull out the stem C1in one step or two steps is detected at a usual date and time display state. The CPU41determines whether the mode is a home position setting mode (step S101). Specifically, the CPU41determines whether the stem C1is pulled out in two steps. When it is determined that the mode is the home position setting mode (“YES” in step S101), the CPU41outputs a control signal to the driving circuit51and enables the second hand61(at least a part of the plurality of hands61to68) to indicate a city of the time zone corresponding to the current home position, thereby displaying the time zone (step S102).

The CPU41determines whether the home position information is set in the local time setting information43c(step S103). When it is determined (a local time determination result) that the home position information is set (“YES” in step S103), the CPU41outputs a control signal to the driving circuit51and enables the function hand66(at least a part of the plurality of hands61to68; the hand different from the hand to display the time zone) to indicate the mark ‘P’ (step S104). Then, the processing of the CPU41proceeds to step S121. When it is determined that the home position information is not set (“NO” in step S103), the CPU41CPU41outputs a control signal to the driving circuit51and enables the function hand66to indicate the mark ‘N’ (step S105). Then, the processing of the CPU41proceeds to step S121.

When it is determined in the determination processing of step S101that the mode is not the home position setting mode (“NO” in step S101), the CPU41determines whether the mode is a position setting mode of the world time clock (step S111). When it is determined that the mode is the position setting mode of the world time clock, i.e., when it is determined that the stem C1is pulled out in one step (“YES” in step S111), the CPU41outputs a control signal to the driving circuit51, and enables the second hand61to indicate a city mark corresponding to a value determined as the time zone of the world time clock (step S112). When it is determined that the mode is not the position setting mode of the world time clock (“NO” in step S111), the CPU41executes the other corresponding processing.

When the processing of step S112is over, the CPU41determines whether the positional information relating to the world time clock display is set and kept in the local time setting information43c(step S113). When it is determined that the positional information is kept (“YES” in step S113), the processing of the CPU41proceeds to step S104, and when it is determined that the positional information is not kept (“NO” in step S113), the processing of the CPU41proceeds to step S105.

When the processing proceeds to step S121, the CPU41determines whether the rotation processing of the stem C1is performed (step S121). When it is determined that the rotation processing is performed (“YES” in step S121), the CPU41outputs a control signal to the driving circuit51and moves the second hand61to a mark position of a city corresponding to the rotation direction (step S122). Also, the CPU41changes the setting of the time zone in the local time setting information43c(step S123). At this time, the CPU41can correct the local time being counted and output a control signal to the driving circuit51to correct a display time to the local time corresponding to the changed time zone. Alternatively, the local time correction may be performed after it is determined in determination of step S126(which will be described later) that a return operation of the stem C1is detected. Also, the CPU41, outputs a control signal to the driving circuit51to enable the function hand66to indicate the mark ‘N’ (step S124). Then, the processing of the CPU41proceeds to step S125. When it is determined that the rotation processing is not performed (“NO” in step S121), the processing of the CPU41proceeds to step S125.

When the processing proceeds to step S125, the CPU41determines whether the push-button switch B4is pushed (step S125). When it is determined that the push-button switch B4is pushed (“YES” in step S125), the CPU41outputs a control signal to the driving circuit51, enables the function hand66to indicate any one of ‘AUTO’, ‘DST’ and ‘STD’ relating to the DST setting for a predetermined time period and then returns the function hand66to any one position of the indicated marks ‘P’ and ‘N’ (step S126). Then, the processing of the CPU41proceeds to step S126. When it is determined that the push-button switch B4is not pushed (“NO” in step S125), the processing of the CPU41proceeds to step S127.

When the processing proceeds to step S127, the CPU41determines whether an operation of returning the stem C1to the initial position (an operation of ending the selection setting state of the time zone) is detected (step S127). When it is determined that the return operation is not detected (“NO” in step S127), the processing of the CPU41returns to step S121. When it is determined that the return operation is detected (“YES” in step S127), the CPU41ends the time zone setting change processing.

FIG. 5is flowcharts depicting control sequences of local time position replacement processing (FIG. 5A) and home position acquisition processing (FIG. 5B), which are to be executed in the analog electronic timepiece1by the CPU41.

The local time position replacement processing starts when it is detected that the push-button switch B4is pushed for a predetermined time period in the usual date and time display state. When the local time position replacement processing starts, the CPU41replaces and updates the home position setting and the world time clock position setting stored in the local time setting information43c(step S151), as shown inFIG. 5A.

The CPU41corrects the respective local times based on the replaced settings (step S152). The CPU41outputs a control signal to the driving circuit51to move the hands61to65,67,68, thereby replacing time of the home position and time of the world time clock position. Alternatively, at this time, the CPU41may be configured to enable the second hand61to sequentially indicate the city marks corresponding to the time zones, to which the home position and the world time clock position belong, for a predetermined time period. After that, the CPU41ends the local time position replacement processing.

The home position acquisition processing starts based on a predetermined user input operation on the operation unit47or when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The predetermined condition may be a condition that a time zone setting of the home position is changed, a condition that an airplane mode is deactivated, and the like, for example.

When the home position acquisition processing starts, the CPU41activates the satellite radio wave receiving and processing unit48to receive radio waves from the positioning satellites and to perform the positioning, thereby acquiring the positioning data (step S201), as shown inFIG. 5. The positioning data to be acquire here includes the time zone information and daylight saving time implementation rule obtained based on the time difference map48c, the time difference information48dand the daylight saving time information48e, in addition to the information of the current position.

The CPU41determines whether the positioning is successful (step S202). When it is determined that the positioning is not successful (“NO” in step S202), the CPU41ends the home position acquisition processing. When it is determined that the positioning is successful (“YES” in step S202), the CPU41updates the local time setting information43cby using the acquired positioning data as the home position information (step S203).

The CPU41corrects the date and time that is corrected by the timer circuit46, based on the local time acquired together (step S204). When the local time of the home position and the local time of the world time clock position are counted in conjunction with each other, the local time of the world time clock position is also corrected. Also, the CPU41outputs a control signal to the driving circuit51to correct the display time. Then, the CPU41ends the home position acquisition processing.

FIG. 6depicts a display example upon the world time clock position setting in the analog electronic timepiece1. Also,FIG. 7depicts a display example upon the home position setting in the analog electronic timepiece1.

As described above, when the mode proceeds to the world time clock position change mode at a state where the time zone (UTC+1) is set as the world time clock position at the local time three nine (3:09) on sixth (seventeen nine (17:09) on fifth in UTC) in the island of Guam (UTC+10) (home position), the current time three nine (3:09) on sixth at the home city is indicated by the minute hand62, the hour hand63and the 24-hour hand64and the time eighteenth nine (18:09) at the time zone (UTC+1) by the small minute hand67and the small hour hand68, as shown inFIG. 6A. Also, the second hand61indicates a city mark ‘PAR’ (Paris), thereby indicating that the time zone of the world time clock position is (UTC+1). Also, the function hand66indicates the mark ‘N’, which indicates that the positional information of the world time clock position is not kept (i.e., only the time zone is set).

In the island of Guam, the daylight saving time is not implemented. Therefore, the displayed local time (3:09) on sixth is based on the standard time. Also, as described above, when the positional information of the world time clock position is not acquired, the daylight saving time of the standard time is displayed as the world time clock in the DST setting ‘AUTO.’

Here, after the world time clock position setting is once over and then the home position and the world time clock position are replaced, when the mode again proceeds to the world time clock position setting, the time eighteenth nine (18:09) on fifth at the time zone (UTC+1), which is the home position, is displayed by the minute hand62, the hour hand63and the 24-hour hand64, and the time three nine (3:09) at the island of Guam, which is the world time clock position, is displayed by the small minute hand67and the small hour hand69, as shown inFIG. 6B. Also, at this time, the second hand61indicates a city mark ‘SYD’ and the function hand66indicates the mark ‘P’, thereby indicating that the positional information (the island of Guam) of the world time clock position is acquired and the position belongs to the time zone (UTC+10).

When the mode proceeds to the home position change mode at this state, the function hand66indicates the city mark ‘PAR’ and the function hand66indicates the mark ‘N’, thereby indicating that the home position belongs to the time zone (UTC+1) and the positional information of the home position is not kept, as shown inFIG. 7A.

Thereafter, when the radio waves are received from the positioning satellites and the positioning is thus performed, the information of Vienna, which is the home position, is acquired and the function hand66indicates the mark ‘P’ at the home position change mode, thereby indicating that the information of the home position is kept, as shown inFIG. 7B. At this time, during the time period (from UTC one o'clock on final Sunday in March to UTC one o'clock on final Sunday in October) for which the daylight saving time is implemented in Vienna, the daylight saving time is applied as the local time of Vienna and nineteenth nine (19:09) on fifth is indicated by the hour hand63, the minute hand62and the 24-hour hand64as time ahead of the standard time by one hour.

As described above, the analog electronic timepiece1of the illustrative embodiment has the plurality of hands61to68configured to be rotatable, the time difference map48c, time difference information48dand daylight saving time information48econfigured to store therein the local time settings having the time zones and daylight saving time implementation information in various areas of the world, the reception unit48aand control unit48bof the satellite radio wave receiving and processing unit48configured to acquire the current position, the timer circuit46configured to count the local time, and the CPU41. The CPU41is configured to function as the hand operation control unit411configured to rotate the plurality of hands61to68, the local time setting acquisition unit412configured to read out and acquire the local time setting corresponding to the acquired current position from the time difference map48c, the time difference information48dand the daylight saving time information48e, and the time zone setting unit413configured to select and set the time zone.

The timer circuit46is configured to count the local time based on the more recently made one of the acquisition of the local time setting made by the CPU41configured to function as the local time setting acquisition unit412and the selection setting of the time zone made by the CPU41configured to function as the time zone setting unit413, and the CPU41configured to function as the hand operation control unit411is configured to enable the function hand66, which is at least a part of the plurality of hands61to68, to make a display based on the local time determination result as to whether the counted local time is based on the local time setting acquired in correspondence to the current position.

In this way, when the counting of the local time based on the local time setting corresponding to the actually measured current position and the counting of the local time based on the determined time zone setting are used in combination, the display is made so that the user can easily recognize which configuration of the analog electronic timepiece1counts the local time. Thereby, the user can easily recognize whether the local time, to which the appropriate daylight saving time corresponding to the current position has been applied, is obtained.

Also, the CPU41configured to function as the hand operation control unit411is configured to enable the second hand61, which is at least a part of the plurality of hands61to68, to display the time zone to which the local time, which is being counted by the timer circuit46, belongs. Therefore, the user can easily recognize to which time zone the counted date and time belongs and determine whether it is necessary to change the selection setting of the time zone and to correct the daylight saving time corresponding to the current position.

Also, the CPU41configured to function as the hand operation control unit411is configured to make a display based on the local time determination result and a display of the time zone at the same time by the different hands. Therefore, the user can efficiently acquire the information as to whether it is necessary to set the time zone and whether the daylight saving time is to be applied at the current area and can cope with the corresponding situations.

Also, the operation unit47configured to receive the user operation is provided, the timer circuit46is configured to count the local time at the home position and the local time at the world time clock position, respectively, and the CPU41configured to function as the hand operation control unit411is configured to enable the function hand66to display whether the date and time based on the local time setting at the current position has been counted in correspondence to the acquisition of the local time setting and/or the selection setting of the time zone made for each of the local time at the home position and the local time at the world time clock position.

Therefore, the user can easily check whether the current position information has been acquired with respect to each of the home position setting and the world time clock position setting, even though the user does not completely remember the same.

Also, it is possible to replace the local time setting relating to the local time at the home position and the local time setting relating to the local time at the world time clock position, in correspondence to the predetermined input operation on the operation unit47. Therefore, it is possible to display the local time by easily reflecting the current position upon travel on company business to and from a specific destination. Also, at this time, since the local time setting relating to the current position acquired with respect to the home position is kept without being erased, it is possible to count the correct local time at the original home position even at the travel destination.

Also, the current position is acquired by the reception unit48a, with which the satellite radio wave receiving and processing unit48receives the radio waves from the positioning satellites, and the control unit48bconfigured to compute the current position based on the received radio waves from the positioning satellites. Therefore, since it is possible to securely acquire the correct current position in any area of the world in which the satellite radio waves can be received, such as open outdoors and a place near a window, it is possible to easily obtain the appropriate local time setting.

Also, when the current position computed by the control unit48bof the satellite radio wave receiving and processing unit48is acquired, the CPU41configured to function as the local time setting acquisition unit412updates the local time setting relating to the local time at the home position, in correspondence to the acquired current position. Therefore, the home position setting is provisionally made in correspondence to the user setting until the current position is acquired, and when the current position is acquired, the correct local time can be immediately displayed based on the correct acquisition information.

Also, the CPU41configured to function as the time zone setting unit413is configured to select and set the time zone in correspondence to the operation content received through the operation unit47, the operation unit47is configured to receive the shift operation to the selection setting state of the time zone relating to the local time at the home position and the ending operation of the selection setting state and the shift operation to the selection setting state of the time zone relating to the local time at the world time clock position and the ending operation of the selection setting state through the pullout and push-back operations of the stem C1, and the CPU41configured to function as the hand operation control unit411is configured to make a display based on the local time determination result relating to the local time at the home position at the selection setting state of the time zone relating to the local time at the home position, which state is made by the two-step pullout of the stem C1, and to make a display based on the local time determination result relating to the local time at the world time clock position at the selection setting state of the time zone relating to the local time at the world time clock position, which state is made by the one-step pullout of the stem C1.

That is, the operation relating to the display and the operation relating to the time zone setting are commonalized, so that the operation relating to the display can be simplified without unnecessarily increasing the same. Also, when there is a problem in the current setting, it is possible to correct the problem easily and immediately. Therefore, the user can quickly determine and perform the settings relating to the counting and display of the local time that is most appropriate at that state.

In the meantime, the present invention is not limited to the above illustrative embodiment and a variety of changes can be made.

For example, in the above illustrative embodiment, the mark ‘P’ or ‘N’ is indicated simply by whether or not the current position information. However, when there is the current position information, a latitude corresponding to the current position may be indicated by the function hand66.

FIG. 8depicts another display example upon the home position setting when the current position information is kept.

As shown, the function hand66indicates the latitude (13 degrees North Latitude), thereby indicating that the current position information is kept and the current position being kept is the island of Guam. By this display, when the user moves among a plurality of positions in the same time zone, for example, the user can know which positional information is being kept. Also, in this case, since only a mark indicating that there is no current position has only to be provided, there is no mark ‘P’ and only a mark ‘NP’ corresponding to the mark ‘N’ is provided.

Also, in the above illustrative embodiment, the analog electronic timepiece capable of displaying the time of the home position and the time of the world time clock at the same time has been exemplified. However, an analog electronic timepiece configured to selectively switch any one display may also be possible. Alternatively, an electronic timepiece configured to display only the time of the home position may also be possible. In addition, the number, arrangement, utilities and the like of the hands are arbitrarily determined.

Also, in the above illustrative embodiment, the time difference information48dand the daylight saving time information48eare kept in the satellite radio wave receiving and processing unit48, and the city time difference information42bis kept in the ROM42. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the corresponding information may be collectively kept in the ROM42. In this case, the CPU41may be configured to compute the local time corresponding to a city (time zone), which is set by acquiring UTC date and time from the satellite radio wave receiving and processing unit48, for example.

Also, in the above illustrative embodiment, the current position is acquired by the positioning based on the radio waves received from the positioning satellites through the satellite radio wave receiving and processing unit48. However, the other methods are also possible. For example, the user may manually input approximate values of the latitude and the longitude. In this case, it is possible to manually input not only the home position but also the world time clock position.

Also, in the above illustrative embodiment, whether or not the current position relating to the home position and the world time clock position is displayed at each of the home position setting mode and the world time clock position setting mode. However, whether or not the current position may be displayed in the other operation modes. Also, in this case, the corresponding display may not be necessarily made at the same time as the display indicative of the time zone.

Also, in the above illustrative embodiment, the home position and the world time clock position can be replaced with each other but may be independently set, respectively. In this case, when the setting based on the current position cannot be performed as the world time clock, only whether or not the acquisition of the current position relating to the home position may be displayed.

Also, in the above illustrative embodiment, in the time zone setting change processing, the setting of the time zone is changed immediately in correspondence to the rotation processing of the stem C1. However, even though the rotation processing of the stem C1is performed, the time zone may be changed only when the stem C1is pushed back and the change to the other time zone is determined. Alternatively, even when the change of the time zone is finally made just one time at timing of the push-back of the stem C1, if the user moves to a area without changing the time zone, in which the daylight saving time implementation rule is different, the user may want to cancel only the daylight saving time implementation rule. Therefore, for example, even though the user finally returns to the same time zone, when the stem operation is performed one or more times during the processing, the setting of the time zone may be updated and more preferentially used than the local time setting.

In addition, the configuration, structure, control content, control sequence, display aspect and the like of the analog electronic timepiece1can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Although the illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the illustrative embodiments and includes the scope defined in the claims and the equivalent scope thereto.