Abstract:
An electronic timepiece has a display driver circuit for driving a display panel having plural display portions for displaying information corresponding to plural functions executed by the timepiece. The display driver circuit turns off one or more display portions corresponding to active functions when a timekeeping function requiring continuous visual recognition is being executed by the timepiece so that a display corresponding to the function requiring continuous visual recognition may be viewed without distraction by a display corresponding to other functions. The function requiring continuous visual recognition may be a stopwatch function, a timer function or other elapsed time function, and the other functions having an ON/OFF state set by one or more input switches.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an electronic timepiece having a plurality of functions for displaying displays showing states of setting these functions on a display portion. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Generally, according to an electronic timepiece having a plurality of functions of an alarm function, a timer function, a stopwatch (chronograph) function and the like, not only time is displayed on a display portion but also marks indicating states of setting these functions, that is, states of ON/OFF are simultaneously displayed. FIG. 9 shows a display in a state in which a chronograph mode is selected in a conventional electronic timepiece. In FIG. 9, a chronograph  51  and current time  52  are displayed on a display portion  50 . Further, a summer time mark  53  indicating an ON state of setting summer time, an alarm mark  54  indicating an ON state of an alarm function, a confirming sound mark  55  indicating an ON state of a confirming sound or a time informing sound function in operating an operation button (not illustrated) of an electronic timepiece and a lamp mark  56  indicating an ON state of lamps for illuminating the display portion, are turned on. In this case, there are functions other than the functions represented by the turned-on marks and these functions indicate an OFF state, that is, a state in which marks representing these functions are turned off. 
     FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a displaying processing of the alarm mark  54  in the conventional electronic timepiece. The displaying processing is one of periodical display updating processings which are carried out in respect of all of displays on the display portion  50 . In reference to FIG. 10, it is firstly determined whether the alarm function is set to ON (step S 201 ). When the alarm function is set to ON at step S 201 , the alarm mark  54  is turned on (step S 202 ) and the processing in the flowchart is finished. When the alarm function is not set to ON at step S 201 , the alarm mark  54  is turned off (step S 203 ) and the processing in the flowchart is finished. 
     In respect of marks with regard to other functions of the confirming sound mark  55 , the lamp mark  56  and so on, processings similar to that in the flowchart of FIG. 10 are repeatedly carried out. By the displays of these marks, it can be easily determined what function is currently made ON in the electronic timepiece. 
     Further, according to the conventional electronic timepiece, for example, the alarm function is a function dependent on current time and accordingly, it is not appropriate to operate the function during a time period in which a time correcting mode for correcting time is selected and an operation of correcting time is being carried out and in this case, even when the alarm function is set to ON, the ON state is forcibly changed into the OFF state and simultaneously, the alarm mark is turned off. 
     According to the conventional electronic timepiece explained above, in the case in which a number of functions are provided and the functions are set to the ON state, a number of marks or the like displayed on the display portion becomes also large. In the case in which when the electronic timepiece is used by setting a large number of the provided functions to the ON state, a function needing continuous visual recognition of the display portion, for example, the chronograph function or the like is realized, function marks are turned on other than that of the chronograph display portion to which attention is to be paid and the visual recognition performance is not necessarily regarded as excellent. 
     Particularly, in the case of an electronic timepiece of a portable type such as a wrist watch or the like, a display region of the display portion is limited and the above-described problem of the visual recognition performance becomes significant. For example, when the chronograph display and the current time display are simultaneously displayed at positions different from each other, it is difficult to instantaneously discriminate them from each other since shapes of these displays are similar to each other. Further, monochromatic liquid crystals are frequently used as the display portion and in recognizing visually the display of the chronograph or the like which is repeatedly updated continuously and at high speed, function marks turned on at a surrounding of the chronograph display portion are not necessarily be needed. 
     The present invention has been carried out in view of inconvenience provided in the conventional technology and it is an object of the invention to provide an electronic timepiece for promoting visual recognition performance when a function needing visual recognition of a display portion continuously such as the chronograph function or the like is realized. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to resolve the above-described problem and achieve the object, according to a first constitution of the invention, there is provided an electronic timepiece characterized in that in an electronic timepiece having a plurality of functions when a function for carrying out an operation needing continuous visual recognition is being executed, a display in respect of other than the function is turned off. 
     According to the constitution, when the function for carrying out the operation needing the continuous visual recognition is being executed, the display in respect of other than the function is turned off and accordingly, the visual recognition performance can be promoted with regard to the display in respect of the operation of the function. 
     Further, according to a second constitution of the invention, there is provided an electronic timepiece characterized in that in an electronic timepiece having a plurality of functions when a function for carrying out an operation needing continuous visual recognition is being executed, a display at a surrounding of a display at least in respect of the function among displays in respect of other than the function is turned off. 
     According to the constitution, when the function for carrying out the operation needing the continuous visual recognition is being executed, the display at the surrounding of the display at least in respect of the function in the displays with regard to other than the function is turned off and accordingly, the visual recognition performance can be promoted with regard to the display in respect of the operation of the function. 
     Further, according to a third constitution of the invention, there is provided an electronic timepiece characterized in that in an electronic timepiece having a plurality of functions when one function for carrying out an operation needing continuous visual recognition is being executed, displays in respect of other than the one function are turned off and when a notification is needed in an operation of other function, a display in respect of the notification is turned on. 
     According to the constitution, when the one function for carrying out the operation needing the continuous visual recognition is being executed, the displays in respect of other than the function are turned off and when the notification is needed in the operation of the other function, the display in respect of the notification is turned on and accordingly, the visual recognition performance can be promoted with regard to the display in respect of the operation of the function and further, the operation of the other function can be achieved. 
     Further, according to a fourth constitution of the invention, there is provided an electronic timepiece characterized in that in an electronic timepiece having a plurality of functions when one function for carrying out an operation needing continuous visual recognition is being executed, a display at a surrounding of a display in respect of at least the one function among displays in respect of other than the one function is turned off and when a notification is needed in an operation of other function, a display in respect of the notification is turned on. 
     According to the constitution, when the one function for carrying out the operation needing the continuous visual recognition is being executed, the display at the surrounding of the display at least in respect of the function is turned off among the displays in respect of other than the function and when the notification is needed in the operation of the other function, the display in respect of the notification is turned on and accordingly, the visual recognition performance can be promoted with regard to the display in respect of the operation of the function and the operation of the other function can be achieved. 
     Further, according to a fifth constitution of the invention, there is provided the electronic timepiece according to any one of the first through the fourth constitutions, characterized in that the one function is a time interval measuring function. 
     According to the constitution, particularly in the case in which the time measuring function is being executed, the displays in respect of other than the time measuring function are turned off and accordingly, the visual recognition performance can be promoted with regard to the display in respect of the operation of the time measuring function. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A preferred for of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline constitution of an electronic timepiece according to an embodiment; 
     FIG. 2 is a view showing a case portion of the electronic timepiece according to the embodiment; 
     FIG. 3 is a view for explaining operation of the electronic timepiece according to the embodiment; 
     FIG. 4 is a view for explaining operation of the electronic timepiece according to the embodiment; 
     FIG. 5 is a view for explaining operation of the electronic timepiece according to the embodiment; 
     FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the electronic timepiece according to the embodiment; 
     FIG. 7 is a view for explaining operation of an electronic timepiece according to other embodiment; 
     FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the operation of the electronic timepiece according to the other embodiment; 
     FIG. 9 is a view for explaining operation of a conventional electronic timepiece, and 
     FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the conventional electronic timepiece. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A detailed explanation will be given of embodiments of an electronic timepiece according to the invention in reference to the drawings as follows. Further, the invention is not limited by the embodiments. 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline constitution of an electronic timepiece according to the invention. In FIG. 1, an electronic timepiece according to the invention is constituted by displaying means  15  for enabling time display or displays necessary for realizing other functions, a display driver circuit  18  for driving the displaying means  15 , ROM  17  stored with programs for realizing a time display or other functions, a switch input portion  14  for realizing selection of functions or various inputting processings by a user, a central processing unit (CPU)  13  for realizing the functions based on the programs stored in ROM  17  and transmitting display signals to the display driver circuit  18  for displaying these functions on the displaying means  15 , an oscillating circuit  11  for forming a clock for accurately driving CPU  13  and a clock necessary for measuring time and a dividing circuit  12  for supplying CPU  13  with a clock having a desired frequency by dividing the clock provided from the oscillating circuit  11 . 
     Further, the electronic timepiece according to the invention is installed with RAM  16  for storing states of setting respective functions with regard to a plurality of functions and CPU  13  displays displays in accordance with the respective functions on the displaying means  15  by referring to the set states stored in RAM  16 . Further, RAM  16  includes a mode RAM  16 A for storing information of currently selected functions carrying major operation, that is, selected modes and a state setting RAM  16 B for storing states of setting respective functions. 
     As kinds of modes stored in the mode RAM  16 A, there are pointed out a time correcting mode, a chronograph mode, a timer mode and the like. That is, the modes signify functions which need to continuously update displays on the displaying means  15  with instruction from a user via the switch input portion  14  as a trigger. 
     FIG. 2 shows a case portion of the electronic timepiece according to the invention. In FIG. 2, input buttons  23  through  27  correspond to the switch input portion  14 , mentioned above and may be arranged on side faces of the case portion  21  as in the input buttons  23  through  26  or may be arranged at a front face as in the input button  27 . These input buttons are classified respectively into, for example, a mode select button for selecting modes, a start button and a stop button for further constituting triggers of start and finish of operation of a function in a selected mode, a shift button functioning only by a combination thereof with other button and so on. Further, a display necessary for realizing a function is displayed on a display portion  22 . 
     FIG. 3 shows a display in a state of selecting the chronograph mode in the electronic timepiece according to the invention. In FIG. 3, the chronograph  31  and current time  32  are displayed on a display portion  30 . Further, a summer time mark  33  indicating an ON state of setting summer time, an alarm mark  34  indicating an ON state of an alarm function, a confirming sound mark  35  indicating an ON state of a confirming sound or a time informing sound function in operating the input buttons  23  through  27  shown by FIG. 2 and a lamp mark  36  indicating an ON state of lamps for illuminating the display portion, are turned on. In this case, there are functions other than the functions represented by the turned-on marks and these functions indicate an OFF state, that is, states in which marks representing these functions are turned off. 
     FIG. 3 particularly shows a state of resetting the chronograph mode and the chronograph function is not executed. The chronograph function is executed only when any of the input buttons  23  through  27  is operated. That is, time measurement is started. FIG. 4 shows a display state of the display portion  30  in executing the chronograph function. 
     At this occasion, during a time period in which the chronograph  31  continuously carries out time display in accordance with elapse of time, the summer time mark  33 , the alarm mark  34 , the confirming sound mark  35  and the lamp mark  36  which have been turned on in FIG. 3, that is, in the state of resetting the chronograph mode, are turned off. 
     Thereby, the visual recognition performance of the chronograph  31  is promoted and even when a user looks away from the display portion  30  and again looks at the display portion  30 , the user can pay attention to the chronograph  31  instantaneously. Although in FIG. 4, the current time  32  is displayed, it may be turned off. 
     Further, by operating any of the input buttons  23  through  27 , the function of the chronograph is stopped and by operating the input button for bringing the chronograph mode into the reset state, the display on the display portion  30  shown by FIG. 3 is again recovered. That is, by finishing the time measurement and resetting the chronograph  31 , the marks indicating the functions set in the ON state are again turned on. 
     Particularly, the operation of turning off the function marks in executing the chronograph function does not signify that the functions set in the ON state are not changed into the OFF state. Therefore, in the case in which in executing the chronograph function, for example, the current time reaches the alarm set time in the alarm function in the ON state, the alarm mark  34  is turned on and the alarm sound is emitted by which the user can be notified thereof. Further, the alarm mark  34  may not only be turned off but may be winked. 
     FIG. 5 shows a display state of the display portion  30  when the alarm set time and the current time coincide with each other in executing the chronograph function and the alarm function stays in the ON state. 
     Processings of turning on and turning off the function marks explained above are carried out based on the programs stored in ROM  17 . FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the display processing of the alarm mark  34  in the electronic timepiece according to the invention. The display processing is one of periodical display updating processings which are carried out in respect of all of displays on the display portion  30 . In FIG. 6, firstly, whether the alarm function is set to ON Is determined by referring to the state setting RAM  16 B (step S 101 ). When the alarm function is not set to ON in step S 101 , the alarm mark  34  is turned off (step S 105 ) and the processing in the flowchart is finished. 
     When the alarm function is set to ON in step S 101 , whether a currently selected mode is the chronograph mode or the timer mode is determined by referring to the mode RAM  16 A (step S 102 ). When the currently selected mode is the chronograph mode or the timer mode in step S 102 , it is determined further whether the mode is being carried out (in this case, measuring time) (step S 103 ). 
     In step S 103 , in a case in which the selected mode is being executed, it is further determined whether the case is a case in which the current time reaches alarm set time in the alarm function, that is, the alarm time coincides with the current time (step S 104 ). When the alarm time does not coincide with the current time at step S 104 , the alarm mark  34  is turned off (step S 105 ) and the processing in the flowchart is finished. 
     When the currently selected mode is not the chronograph mode or the timer mode at step S 102 , when the selected mode is not being executed in step S 103  and when the alarm time coincides with the current time at step S 104 , the alarm mark  34  is turned on (step S 106 ) and the processing in the flowchart is finished. Further, processings similar to that In the flowchart shown by FIG. 6 are repeatedly carried out in respect of marks with regard to other functions such as the confirming sound mark  35 , the lamp mark  36  and so on. 
     Therefore in executing the function needing the continuous visual recognition such as the chronograph mode, the timer mode or the like, the visual recognition performance is promoted by erasing marks indicating other functions set in the ON state and when notification of alarm or the like is needed in the other functions set in the ON state, the mark indicating the notification (normally, a function mark serves also as the mark) can be turned on and the notification of coincidence of the alarm time with the current time or the like to the user is achieved. 
     Although according to the embodiment explained above, as shown by FIG. 3, time, function marks and so on are displayed in the single display portion  30 , as other embodiment, as in a display portion  40  shown by FIG. 7, a display region  41  and a display region  42  which are different from each other may be provided and displays different from each other may be carried out. In this case, the display region  41  can display current time and the display region  42  can display chronograph or timer  43 , a battery remaining capacity display  44 , a chronograph mode mark  45 , a timer mode mark  46  and letters or marks indicating other function setting states. 
     According to the display portion  40  shown by FIG. 8, when the timer mode is currently selected and the timer mode is executed, display on the display region  41  is turned off and display of other than the timer  43  is turned off on the display region  42 . Further, when a notification is needed in other functions set in the ON state, a mark indicating the notification (normally, a function mark serves also as the mark) is turned on. Further, in the case of the embodiment, the display on the display region  41  may be turned on and a portion in the display of other than the timer  43  may be turned off on the display region  42 . 
     According to the first constitution of the invention, when the function for carrying out the operation needing the continuous visual recognition is being executed, a display in respect of other than the function is turned off and accordingly, the visual recognition performance can be promoted with regard to the display in respect of the operation of the function. 
     Further, according to the second constitution of the invention, when the function for carrying out the operation needing the continuous visual recognition is being executed, the display at the surrounding of the display at least in respect of the function in the displays in respect of other than the function is turned off and accordingly, the visual recognition performance can be promoted with regard to the display in respect of the operation of the function. 
     Further, according to the third constitution of the invention, when the one function for carrying out the operation needing the continuous visual recognition is being executed, the displays in respect of other than the function are turned off and when the notification is needed in the operation of the other function, the display in respect of the notification is turned on and accordingly, the visual recognition performance can be promoted with regard to the display in respect of the operation of the function and the operation of the other function can be achieved. 
     Further, according to the fourth constitution of the invention, when the one function for carrying out the operation needing the continuous visual recognition is being executed, the display at the surrounding of the display with regard to at least the function in the displays in respect of other than the function is turned off and when the notification is needed in the operation of the other function, the display in respect of the notification is turned on and accordingly, the visual recognition performance can be promoted with regard to display in respect of the operation of the function and the operation of the other function can be achieved. 
     Further, according to the fifth constitution of the invention, particularly when the time measuring function is being executed, the displays in respect of other than the time measuring function are turned off and accordingly, the visual recognition performance can be promoted with regard to the display in respect of the operation of the time measuring function.