Electronic timepiece

Abstract: The invention provides an electronic timepiece comprising stopwatch counting means (13), set value memory means (14) for storing an arbitrary set value, timer counting means (15) arranged to be operable in synchronism with the stopwatch counting means and to count for a period determined by the arbitrary set value, input means (17) for inputting control signals including a lap time processing signal, processing means (6, 16) for counting the time following the given period until input of the lap time processing signal when the given period elapses before input of the lap time processing signal and for calculating the length of the given period remaining when the lap time processing signal is input before the given period elapses, and display means (10) for displaying time data.

Description: The present invention relates to an electronic timepiece with stopwatch and timer functions. In conventional electronic wrist watches, stopwatch and timer functions have in the past both been provided but only as mutually independent modes of operation. For example, a well known, so called "pitch meter" lets a user know, by means of sound generation or the like, when a predetermined interval designated by the user has elapsed. Also, a runner in a marathon race having an electronic wrist watch with a built-in stopwatch function may, for example, attempt to distribute his pace and to challenge the record by counting the LAP time for every 5 km. However, it is a burden for the runner to have to watch the wrist watch all the time to measure his own pace. It is also a burden for the runner to have to calculate in his mind whilst running the time which he can assume and the lap time. The present invention provides means for setting a timer and operating stopwatch counting means in synchronism. In US-A-4,831,605 there is disclosed an electronic stop watch which measures elapsed time and stores each measured elapsed time together with measurement date data. The measurement date data is also read out and displayed when the stored elapsed time is read out and displayed, so as to represent when the readout and displayed elapsed time was measured. In JP-A-61-20882 there is disclosed a timer for use in sports which displays remaining time and elapsed time throughout use. In US-A-4,166,360 there is disclosed a chronograph having a plurality of short time counters and an addition circuit for adding the contents of a reference counter to the short time counters. According to the present invention there is provided an electronic timepiece comprising in combination stopwatch counting means, set value memory means for storing an arbitrary set value, input means for inputting control signals including a lap time processing signal, processing means for counting the time following the given period until input of the lap time processing signal when the given period elapses before input of the lap time processing signal and for calculating the length of the given period remaining when the lap time processing signal is input before the given period elapses, and display means for displaying time data, characterised by timer counting means arranged to be operable in synchronism with the stopwatch counting means and to count for a period determined by the arbitrary set value, the processing means comprising wait time counting means for counting the time from time up to a lap time processing when the signal from the input means is the lap time processing signal of the stopwatch counting means and the time of the timer counter means is up before said lap time processing. Since the present invention provides stopwatch counting means and timer counting means operable in inter-locking arrangement, a runner in a marathon and the like can easily establish a delay or advance relative to a given time set by him for completing a lap. An electronic timepiece according to the invention as described below using LSI comprises a RAM for storing a counted time of the stopwatch counter and a subtraction timer of the timer counter, a ROM for storing a program for a processing sequence for the stopwatch function and the like and a CPU for logical calculation processing. The invention is described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of electronic timepiece according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a timing chart illustrating the operation of the present invention; Figure 3 is a block diagram showing further details of the electronic timepiece according to the present invention; and Figure 4 to 6 are flow charts illustrating the processing sequence of the present invention. Referring initially to Figure 1, an oscillating signal from an oscillation circuit 1 having a quartz oscillator as an oscillation source is supplied to a frequency division circuit 2 and a system clock generator 3. The system clock generator 3 generates a clock signal for controlling the operation timing of the circuitry. Signals transmitted by a switch 34 and a switch 35 are supplied respectively to switch input means 17, which outputs switch input A and switch input B accordingly. The switch inputs A and B from the switch input means 17 and the output signal from the frequency division circuit 2 are supplied to an interrupt controller 7. The interrupt controller 7 outputs a start signal to logical calculation processing means (CPU) 6. A RAM 4 counts and stores time information relating e.g. to stopwatch and timer functions etc. A ROM 5 stores an instruction program for the processing sequence for the stopwatch and timer functions etc. The logical calculation processing means 6 calculates the time information for the stopwatch, timer etc. and outputs a corresponding time signal to a display controlling means or display decoder 9 so as to display time information on optical display means 10. Initiating controlling means 32 enables the logical calculation means 6 in response to switching of a switch 33. The principle of operation of the timepiece will first of all be explained with reference to the timing chart of Figure 2. When the stopwatch function is activated, the timer function, provided by a subtraction timer, is simultaneously initiated too. The subtraction timer counts down from a set value and accordingly stops counting when a given time is up. On receiving a LAP input for the stopwatch function, the subtraction timer again starts its subtraction from a set value. Alternatively, when the LAP input is received before the given time is up, the subtraction timer sets the remaining time and then once again starts subtraction from the set value. In this way, the delay following the given time being up, or the interval before the given time is up, at the point when the LAP input is received can readily be established. Next, the operation of the electronic timepiece will be explained in greater detail with reference to the circuitry shown in Figure 3 and the flow charts shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6. An explanation will first be given for a case where the switch 34 is closed to provide the switch input A in the state where the stopwatch function is reset or stopped. When the switch input A arises, a processing step 101 following HALT judges whether it is a key input and, if the result is "Yes", the processing branches to step 102. The switch input means 17 is then read through a bus line 12 and judged by the logical calculation processing means 6. The processing advances to step 104 because step 102 evaluates whether input A has been activated and, since the stopwatch function is in the RE-SET state, thence to processing step 107, where a 1/10 sec timing interrupt is enabled (released) so as to subsequently bring the stopwatch function into a RUN state. The same routine is followed when the stopwatch function is in a STOP state. When the stopwatch function is in a STOP state, the processing branches from the processing step 104 to the processing step 106, where the stopwatch function is stopped (STOP) by the use of the 1/10 sec timing interrupt as a mask. Next, a description will be given for a case where the switch 35 is closed to provide the switch input B so that the stopwatch function is in the RUN state. Consequently, the current operation is concerned with LAP processing. The processing branches from the processing step 102 to step 105 and, since the switch input B is present, it advances to step 108. If the switch input B is not present, the processing advances by path 109 to HALT. Since the stopwatch function is in the RUN state, the processing proceeds from step 108 to step 110 where the data of a 1/100 sec counter 19 is written into stopwatch counting means 13 through the bus line 12. Then "0" is written to the 1/100 sec counter 19 in processing step 112 for re-setting the counter. In processing step 113, a time up flag 20 is read through the bus line 12 and the logical calculation means 6 judges whether this is "0" (No) or "1" (Yes). If it is "0", the processing branches to step 115 and, if it is "1", to step 114. If the data of the time up flag is "0", it means that the given time is not yet reached and, if it is "1", it means that the given time has already elapsed. If the data is "1", the contents of a WAIT time counting means 16 are output. Then, in the processing step 114, data from a timer set value memory means 14 is written into a timer subtraction means 15 through the bus line 12 and in the following processing steps 120 and 117, "0" is written into the WAIT time counting means 16 and the time up flag 20. If the data of the time up flag is "0" in the processing step 113 described above, the processing branches to the processing step 116, where the contents of the timer subtraction counting means 15 is output and the processing then moves to the write processing step 114. The processing steps 114 and 117 are then followed as described above. When the stopwatch function is not in the RUN state but switch B has been activated, the processing branches from the processing step 108 described above to processing step 111 (Figure 5). If the state is STOP in the processing step 111, RESET processing does not occur and advances to processing step 201 and, if it is RESET, the processing advances to HALT. In the processing step 201, "0" is written into the stopwatch counting means 13 and, in processing step 202, the data of the timer set value memory means 14 is written into the timer subtraction counting means 15 through the bus line 12. In processing step 203, "0" is written into the time up flag 20, then the 1/100 sec counter 19 is re-set in processing step 204 and 1/10 sec timing interrupt is set for the mask in processing step 205. Next, the processing for counting in the RUN state of the stopwatch function will be explained. When the stopwatch function is in the RUN state, the 1/10 sec timing interrupt is enabled and the interrupt request is permitted. Therefore, when the process leaves HALT, it advances from the processing step 101 to step 103 (Figure 6) as this time it is not judged a key input. In the processing step 103, a judgement is made as to whether or not the interrupt request in the form of 1/10 sec timing interrupt is present, and, if "Yes", the processing proceeds to processing step 300 and, if "No", to HALT by path 301. In the processing step 300, 1 is added to the count value of the stopwatch counting means 13 and then, in processing step 302, the data of the time up flag 20 is read through the bus line 12 and judged. When the data of the time up flag 20 is "0" i.e the time is not up, the processing proceeds to processing step 303 and, when it is "1", the processing branches to processing step 304. Since the processing step 304 occurs after the given time is up, 1 is added to the data of the WAIT time counting means 16. In the processing step 303, 1 is subtracted from the count value of the timer subtraction counting means 15 and then, in processing step 305, a judgement is made by the logical calculation processing means 6 through the bus line 12 as to whether or not the count value of the timer subtraction counting means 15 has reached "0". When the timer subtraction counting means 15 reaches "0", the given time is up and the processing proceeds to processing step 306. Otherwise, the processing branches to HALT by path 307. In the processing step 306, report data is written into time up report means 19 as time up report processing. In the next processing step 308, "1" is written into the time up flag 20. Display processing occurs in processing steps 118, 206 and 309, in which the data of the respective means are sent to the display decoder 9 through the bus line 12 and the data converted into the form of numeric values is sent to and displayed by the optical display means 10. After the display processing steps 118, 206 and 309 are complete, the processing returns to HALT. As described above, in accordance with the present invention, the timer subtraction counting means is operated in inter-locking arrangement with the stopwatch function according to the switch input. Delay and advance from the timer given time as set by the user can be displayed so that the user can obtain essential information during a marathon race or the like with only a small number of operations. In the described embodiment, a single timer set value memory means is employed but a plurality of these memory means can also be used. If, further, the count values of the stopwatch counting means and the wait time counting means are stored, they can be effective for the user to make a data analysis after the end of the race.

Claims: An electronic timepiece comprising in combination stopwatch counting means (13), set value memory means (14) for storing an arbitrary set value, input means (17) for inputting control signals including a lap time processing signal, processing means (6,16) for counting the time following the given period until input of the lap time processing signal when the given period elapses before input of the lap time processing signal and for calculating the length of the given period remaining when the lap time processing signal is input before the given period elapses, and display means (10) for displaying time data, characterised by timer counting means (15) arranged to be operable in synchronism with the stopwatch counting means and to count for a period determined by the arbitrary set value, the processing means (6,16) comprising wait time counting means (16) for counting the time from time up to a lap time processing when the signal from the input means (17) is the lap time processing signal of the stopwatch counting means and the time of the timer counter means (15) is up before said lap time processing. An electronic timepiece according to claim 1 characterised in that the processing means comprise means (6) for calculating said time remaining from the arbitrary set value and the count value of the stopwatch counting means. An electronic timepiece according to claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the timer counting means (15) comprise subtraction counting means arranged to count down from the arbitrary set value. An electronic timepiece according to any preceding claim characterised in that the timer counting means are arranged to be re-set in response to the lap time processing signal for repeating counting of the given period.

Inventors: NAKABAYASHI YASUSHI, NAKABAYASHI, YASUSHI
Applicants: SEIKO INSTR INC, SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: G04F10
IPC codes: G04F10, A63B69, G04F3, G07C1, G04G99