Patent Publication Number: US-6700836-B1

Title: Electronic timepiece with indicator hands

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a U.S. national stage application of copending International Application Ser. No. PCT/JP00/02248, filed Apr. 6, 2000, claiming a priority date of Jan. 24, 2000, and published in a non-English language. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELDS 
     The present invention relates to an electronic timepiece with indicator hands integrally formed with figures or the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventionally, there have been utilized electronic timepieces with indicator hands integrally formed with figures such as characters. 
     In conventional electronic timepieces with indicator hands, a hand having the function of an indicator hand is structured by a needle-like second hand or a disk-shaped second hand, wherein the second hand serves also as the indicator hand. Also, in a conventional electronic timepiece having an indicator hand to be operated only by manual operation of the user, the indicator hand serves also as a time hand indicative of time or interacts with a time indicating hand. 
     Consequently, in any of the above electronic timepieces, there was nothing more than one indicator hand serving also for time indication. With one indicator hand, it was impossible to provide a figure such as a character or other fanciful image with a variety of movements and a variety of indications. 
     Meanwhile, although there has existed electronic timepieces having an indicator hand moving at all times, they have done nothing more than providing a figure or the like on a disk-shaped second hand or needle-like second hand and could not have made a variety of indications, such as providing a variety of movements. 
     Meanwhile, where the indicator hand serves also as a time hand or interacts with the time hand, the figure or the like to be integrally formed on the indicator hand is restricted in size making it difficult to use an indicator hand capable of a variety of indications. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic timepiece with indicator hands capable of a variety of indications. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention adopts a technical structure as described below in order to achieve the above object. 
     That is, the present invention is an electronic timepiece with indicator hands, characterized by comprising: a time hand indicative of time, first and second indicator hands separately provided from the time hand, and drive means for reciprocally rotating the first and second hands in opposite directions to each other within a predetermined range. The drive means reciprocally rotates the first and second indicator hands in directions opposite to each other within a predetermined range. This enables a variety of indications by the indicator hands integrally formed with a figure such as a character. 
     Here, the drive means may reciprocally rotate the first and second hands at a same speed. 
     Also, the drive means may have a motor rotating forward and reverse alternately and train wheel for conveying rotation of the motor to the first and second indicator hands. 
     Furthermore, the train wheel may have a first train wheel to convey rotation in a direction reverse to said motor to the first indicator hand and a second train wheel to convey rotation in a direction same as the motor to the second indicator hand. 
     Still furthermore, the time hand and the indicator hands may be arranged on a same shaft. 
     Also, the drive means may have a gear and a pinion which constitute 2 stages up and down, may contain a diameter of the pinion is smaller than the gear and the number of tooth of the pinion are the same as that of the gear. 
     Also, the drive means may have the first hour wheel to rotatively drive the indicator hand, a wheel for reverse rotation and the second hour wheel to rotatively drive the indicator hand. The wheels may transfer a rotation of the motor to the hour wheels by the gears and transfer to the hour wheels through the wheel for reverse rotation by the pinions. 
     Also, the drive means may have an operation switch, sound output means, rotation means to reciprocally rotate the first and second indicator hands in directions opposite to each other, control means, and storage means storing first drive signal data to control the rotation means such that the first and second indicator hands perform first reciprocal rotational movement in directions opposite to each other, sound data and second drive signal data to control the rotation means such that the first and second indicator hands perform second reciprocal rotational movement in directions opposite to each other, wherein the control means controls the rotation means to cause the first and second indicator hands to perform first reciprocal rotational movement in directions opposite to each other due to the first drive signal data when the operation switch has not been operated, and outputs the music data to the sound output means and controls the rotation means to cause the first and second indicator hands to perform second reciprocal rotational movement in directions opposite to each other due to the second drive signal data when operation of the operation switch has been operated. 
     The rotation means under control of the control means drives, by the first drive signal data, the first and second indicator hand to perform first reciprocal movement in directions opposite to each other when the operation switch has not been operated. Also, when operation of the operation switch is operated, music data is outputted to the sound output means, and by the second drive signal data the first and second indicator hands are driven to perform second reciprocal rotational movement different from the first reciprocal rotational movement in directions opposite to each other, e.g., random reciprocal rotational movement. 
     Incidentally, the electronic timepiece may be an electronic wristwatch. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front view showing an external appearance of one concrete, example of an electronic timepiece with indicator hands according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a rear view of a drive mechanism used in the one concrete example of the electronic timepiece with indicator hands according to the invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a magnified rear view of the drive mechanism used in the one concrete example of the electronic timepiece with indicator hands according to the invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a B—B sectional view in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary magnified sectional view of FIG.  4 . 
     FIGS. 6A and 6B are a front and a side views of a wheel which uses one concrete example of an electronic timepiece with indicator hands according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a drive circuit in the one concrete example of the electronic timepiece with indicator hands according to the invention. 
     FIGS. 8A and 8B are timing charts for explaining the operation of the drive circuit shown in FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 is a front view showing an external appearance of another concrete example of an electronic timepiece with indicator hands according to the invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a front view showing an external appearance of another concrete example of an electronic timepiece with indicator hands according to the invention. 
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Hereunder, concrete examples of electronic timepieces with indicator hands according to the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings. 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of showing an external appearance of a concrete example of an electronic timepiece with indicator hands according to the invention, and, in particular, showing an example of an electronic wristwatch embodying the present invention. In FIG. 1, an electronic wristwatch  100  has time hands comprising a minute hand  101  and hour hand  102  to indicate time, and is provided with a first indicator hand  103  integrally formed with a crescent-shaped FIG. 105, a second indicator hand  104  integrally formed with a star-shaped FIG.  106  and an operation switch  108 . The indicator hands  103 ,  104  are arranged between the minute hand  101  and hour hand  102  and the dial  107  having time indicating indicia provided thereon. 
     As described later, two systems of train wheels are used having one motor as a drive source different from a motor for driving the time hands  101 ,  102  and conveying oppositely reverse rotation to the indicator hands  103 ,  104  at a reduction ratios corresponding to a second hand, thereby rotatively driving the indicator hands  103 ,  104  in pair in a manner reciprocally moving them in opposite directions to each other at a same rate and within a predetermined range of angle A. 
     FIG. 2 is a backside view showing a drive mechanism of the electronic wristwatch  100  with indicator hands shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a magnified backside view showing the drive mechanism of the electronic wristwatch  100  with indicator hands shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a B—B sectional view in FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a fragmentary magnified sectional view of FIG. 4, and FIGS. 6 are a front and a side views of a wheel which uses the present embodiment, wherein the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. 
     In FIG. 2 to FIG. 6, between a main plate  201  and a support plate  202  are accommodated means for rotating time hands comprising the minute hand  101  and the hour hand  102 , a drive mechanism for rotatively driving the pair of indicator hands  103 ,  104  and an electronic circuit. Specifically, the structure is provided as follows. 
     A first stepping motor  200 , structured by a coil  203 , a stator  204  and a rotor magnet  205 , is a well-known stepping motor (e.g., see Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 127365/1979), which performs forward rotation and reverse rotation to reciprocally rotate the indicator hands  103 ,  104  in opposite directions to each other within a predetermined range (within an angular range A of FIG.  1 ). The stator  204  and the coil  203  are fixed on the main plate  201  through screws  207 ,  208 . 
     A gear  206  of the rotor magnet  205  is in mesh with a gear  301  of a wheel  209 . A pinion  302  of the wheel  209  is in mesh with a gear  303  of a wheel  210 . Also, the gear  303  of the wheel  210  is in mesh with a gear  306  of an hour wheel  212  to rotatively drive the indicator hand  103 . 
     Meanwhile, a pinion  304  of the wheel  210  is in mesh with a gear  305  of a wheel  211  for reverse rotation. Also, the gear  305  of the wheel  211  is in mesh with a gear  307  of the hour wheel  213  for rotatively driving the indicator hand  104 . 
     The wheel  210  is constituted by 2 stages in up and down directions by the gear  303  and the pinion  304 , as shown in the front view and the side view in FIGS.  6 ( a ) and  6 ( b ). The pinion  304  has a smaller diameter than the gear  303 . The number of teeth of the pinion  304  and the gear  303  are the same. The wheel  210  thus constitutes 2-stage structure by the gear  303  and the pinion  304  whose diameters are different, whose number of teeth are the same and whose module of teeth are different. Therefore the pinion  304  has a diameter without meshing interference of the wheel  209  and the hour wheel  213  is able to enlarge the diameter as possible. Here, the wheels  209 ,  210  and the hour wheel  212  constitute a first wheel train to convey, to the first indicator hand  103 , reverse rotation with respect to the rotational direction of the motor  200  (i.e., rotation direction of the rotor magnet  205 ). The wheels  209 ,  210 ,  211  and the hour wheel  213  constitute a second wheel train to convey, to the second indicator hand  104 , rotation in the same direction as the rotational direction of the motor  200 . 
     The gear ratio of the first wheel from the pinion  302  of the wheel  209  to the gear  306  of the hour wheel  212  is the same as the gear ratio of the second train wheel from the pinion  302  of the wheel  209  to the gear  307  of the hour wheel  213 . The indicator hand  103  and the indicator hand  104  are thus rotatively driven at the same speed but opposite in direction to each other. This rotatively drives the crescent-shaped figure 105 integrally formed on the indicator hand  103  and the star-shaped figure 106 integrally formed on the indicator hand  104  at the same speed but opposite in direction to each other. 
     Also, on the support plate  202  is arranged a piezoelectric element  401  in a disk form as sound output means. 
     Incidentally, the stepping motor  200 , the wheels  209 ,  210 ,  211 , the hour wheel  212  and hour wheel  213  constitute rotation means to rotate the first and second indicator hands  103 ,  104  oppositely within the predetermined range. 
     On the other hand, the wristwatch  100  is provided with a structure to rotatively drive the minute hand  101  and the hour hand  102 . That is, provided are a second stepping motor  222  structured by a coil  219 , a stator  220  and a rotor magnet  221  as well as a third train wheel structured by a wheel  214  to rotatively drive the wheels  223 ,  224  for conveying rotation of the rotor magnet  221  and the minute wheel  101 , and an hour wheel  215  to rotatively drive the hour hand  102 . 
     The hour wheels  212 ,  213 ,  215  are concentrically arranged on a shaft  216  integrally formed with the wheel  214 . Due to this, the minute hand  101 , the hour hand  102  and the indicator hands  103 ,  104  are arranged on the same shaft. Consequently, because of the lack of need for an exclusive space for mounting the indicator hand  103 ,  104 , size reduction is feasible and a united feeling with the design on the dial  107  is possible to provide. 
     Meanwhile, an electronic circuit is incorporated which comprises an integrated circuit  217  incorporating a quartz oscillator  218  constituting an oscillator circuit and a drive circuit. 
     FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a drive circuit  600  used in one concrete example of the electronic timepiece with indicator hands according to the invention, wherein the same parts as FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In FIG. 7, the drive circuit  600  has an oscillator circuit  601  configured by quartz oscillator  218 , etc., a system-clock generator circuit  602  to generate a system clock from an output signal of the oscillator circuit  601 , a non-volatile read only memory (ROM)  603  as storage means, a central processor unit (CPU)  604  as control means to operate on a program stored in the ROM  603  in response to a system clock from the system-clock generator circuit  602  and perform various operation processes, drive control, etc., a driver circuit  605  to supply drive signals to the stepping motors  200 ,  222 , a stepping motor  200  to rotatively drive the indicator hands  103 ,  104 , a stepping motor  222  to rotatively drive the minute hand  101  and hour hand  102 , an operation switch  108 , a piezoelectric element  401  and a driver circuit  606  to drive the piezoelectric element. 
     The ROM  603  stores a program to operate the CPU  604 , first, second and third storage area in the ROM  603  store first and second drive signal data to drive the first and second indicator hands  103 ,  104  and music data. 
     Here, the music data stored in the third storage area is data to output music from the piezoelectric element  401 . 
     Also, the first drive signal data stored in first storage area is drive signal data to cause the first and second indicator hands  103 ,  104  to perform first reciprocal rotational movement in opposite directions to each other, e.g. to monotonously rotate in opposite directions to each other. 
     Also, the second drive signal data stored in second storage area is drive signal data to cause the first and second indicator hands  103 ,  104  to perform second reciprocal rotational movement in opposite directions to each other, e.g. to reciprocally move randomly to music in opposite directions to each other. 
     FIG. 8 shows an example of the first drive signal stored in the ROM  603 . Where driving the stepping motor  200  forward and reverse, the CPU  604  reads a drive pulse out of the ROM  603  and drives the stepping motor  200  forward and reverse through the driver circuit  605  (e.g. see the Laid-open publication described before). 
     Hereunder, the operation of the present concrete example will be explained in detail using FIG. 1 to FIG.  8 . 
     At first, explanation will made on a case that in FIG. 8 the operation switch  108  has not been operated. 
     The CPU  604  detects that the operation switch  108  has not been operated and outputs first drive signal data stored the first storage area in the ROM  603  to the motor  200  through the driver circuit  605 . This causes the motor  200  to perform forward rotation and reverse rotation. 
     That is, where rotating the stepping motor  200  forward, as shown in FIG.  8 ( a ) a pulse of a time width P 1  is first applied to the terminal OUT  1  thereby causing forward rotation and, thereafter a pulse of a time width P 1  is applied to the terminal OUT  2  thereby causing forward rotation. This operation is alternately repeated on a one-period basis (e.g. 10 times of forward rotational movements) thereby repeating forward rotations of the stepping motor  200 . 
     Meanwhile, where rotating the stepping motor  200  reverse, as shown in FIG.  8 ( b ) a demagnetization pulse of a time width PE is first supplied to the terminal OUT  1 , and after lapse of a time PS a pulse of a time width P 1  is supplied to once provide forward rotation. Thereafter, a reverse-rotation pulse of a time width P 2  is supplied to the terminal OUT  2 , and thereafter a reverse-rotation pulse of a time width P 3  is supplied to the terminal OUT  1 . This causes the stepping motor  200  to rotate reverse. The above operation is made by alternately exchanging signals applied to the terminal OUT  1  and terminal OUT  2  thereby making operation of one period (e.g. 10 times of reverse rotational movements). 
     Thereafter, the forward rotational movement and reverse rotational movement are alternately performed on a one-period basis to cause the stepping motor  200  to rotate forward and reverse over a predetermined amount of time. This operation is repeatedly performed. 
     This rotatively drives the rotor magnet  205  of the stepping motor  200  alternately in the forward direction and the reverse direction over a predetermined amount a time. 
     When the stepping motor  200  rotates by a predetermined number of times in the forward direction (in the arrowed direction in FIG.  3 ), the wheel  209 , the wheel  210  and the hour wheel  212  each rotate in the arrowed direction. By this, the indicator hand  103  rotates over an angular range A in the arrowed direction (clockwise). Simultaneously, the wheel  211  meshing with the wheel  210  rotates in the arrowed direction to cause the hour wheel  213  to rotate in the arrowed direction, rotating the indicator hand  104  in the arrowed direction (counterclockwise) over the angular range A. 
     Next, when the stepping motor  200  rotates by a predetermined number of times in the reverse direction (in the arrowed direction in FIG.  3 ), the wheel  209 , the wheel  210  and the hour wheel  212  rotate in the direction opposite to the arrow. By this, the indicator hand  103  rotates over the angular range A in the direction opposite to the arrow (counterclockwise). Simultaneously, the wheel  211  meshing with the wheel  210  rotates in the direction opposite to the arrow to cause the hour wheel  213  to rotate in the direction opposite to the arrow, rotating the indicator hand  104  in the direction opposite to the arrow (counterclockwise) over the angular range A. 
     Thereafter, the above operation is repeated. Due to this, the crescent-shaped figure 105 integral with the indicator hand  103  and the star-shaped figure 106 integral with the indicator hand  104  reciprocally move in opposite directions to each other over the same angular range A. Incidentally, the rotation range of the indicator hand  103 ,  104 , i.e. the angular range A in FIG. 1, is determined by an amount (number) of forward and reverse rotations of the stepping motor  200 . By variously setting the rotation amount of the stepping motor  200 , the rotation range of the indicator hand  103 ,  104  can be variously set. Accordingly, the crescent-shaped figure  105  and the star-shaped figure 106 can be reciprocally rotated in various ranges. 
     Next, explanation will be made on a case that the operation switch  108  has been operated. 
     It is assumed that in the second storage area of the ROM  603  are stored, for example, five forward rotation pulse, four reverse rotation pulse, six forward rotation pulse, two reverse rotation pulse, . . . as the second drive signal and drive signal data for causing random movement of the indicator hands  103 ,  104 . Incidentally, the drive signal data is previously selected such that the indicator hands  103 ,  104  move to the music data. 
     When the operation switch  108  is operated, the CPU  604  detect that and outputs the music data stored in the ROM  603  to the piezoelectric element  401  through the driver circuit  606 . Due to this, music sounds from the piezoelectric element  401 . 
     Simultaneously, the CPU  604  outputs the second drive signal data stored in the ROM  603  to the stepping motor  200  through the driver circuit  605 . The stepping motor  200  reciprocally rotates in a random fashion according to the second drive signal data. 
     Due to this, the indicator hands  103 ,  104  randomly reciprocally rotate alternately in opposite directions thus moved to the music. 
     FIG. 9 is a front view showing an external appearance of another concrete example of an electronic timepiece with indicator hands according to the invention, wherein the same parts as in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. 
     In FIG. 9, an electronic wristwatch with indicator hands  100  has time hands comprising a minute hand  101  and an hour hand  102 , and is provided with a first indicator hand  103  integrally formed with an arrow-shaped figure 801 and a second indicator hand  104  integrally formed with a heart-shaped figure  802 . The indicator hands  103 ,  104  are arranged between the minute hand  101  and hour hand  102  and the dial  107 . The indicator hands  103 ,  104  in pair are rotatively driven to reciprocally move at a same speed in directions opposite to each other within a same predetermined angular range C. 
     FIG. 10 is a front view showing an external appearance of another concrete example of an electronic timepiece with indicator hands according to the invention, wherein the same parts as in FIG.  1  and FIG. 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals. 
     In FIG. 10, an electronic wristwatch with indicator hands  100  has time hands comprising a minute hand  101  and an hour hand  102 , and is provided with a first indicator hand  103  integrally formed with an arrow-shaped figure 801 and a second indicator hand  104  integrally formed with a heart-shaped figure  802 . The indicator hands  103 ,  104  are arranged between the minute hand  101  and hour hand  102  and the dial  107 . The indicator hands  103 ,  104  in pair are rotatively driven to reciprocally move at a same speed in directions opposite to each other within a same predetermined angular range D. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, FIG.  9  and FIG. 10, various forms of representation can be provided by changing the figures attached on the indicator hands  103 ,  104  to various figures such as characters, or the attaching angle of the indicator hands  103 ,  104  or the rotation angular range of the indicator hands  103 ,  104 . 
     As described above, the electronic wristwatch with indicator hands  100  according the concrete examples of the invention is provided, particularly, with a first indicator hand  103  and second indicator hand  104  separately provided from time hands (minute hand  101 , hour hands  102 ), and drive means (drive circuit  600  and the rotation means) to reciprocally rotate the first and second indicator hand  103 ,  104  in opposite directions to each other within a predetermined range. 
     Therefore, an electronic wristwatch  100  with indicator hands can be provided which is provided with indicator hands  103 ,  104  capable of a variety of representations. 
     Also, it is possible to represent movement to be made within a certain predetermined range, e.g., representation not to be made only by rotation in a single one direction, for example, forming character&#39;s both hands or both legs on the two indicator hands  103 ,  104 . 
     Also, where figures of both hands are formed on the indicator hands  103 ,  104 , it is possible to represent such motions as reciprocally moving pit-a-pat the both hands within a predetermined range of movement or widely waving the hand of the character by variously setting the attachment angle of the indicator hands  103 ,  104  or displaying to clap the hands. 
     Furthermore, because the indicator hands  103 ,  104  are being reciprocally moved at all times, where for example exhibited at a point of sale, differentiation is possible to achieve from other timepieces. Furthermore, by arranging the indicator hands  103 ,  104  between the hour hand and the dial  107 , it is possible to provide a united feel with the design on the dial  107 . 
     Also, the wheel  210  constitutes 2-stage structure by the gear  303  and the pinion  304  whose diameters are different, whose the number of teeth are the same and whose module of teeth are different. Therefore it is able to make the thickness of the hour wheels  212 ,  213  thin and to prevent motion deviation of the hour wheel  213 . 
     That is to say, if the working between the wheel  210  and the hour wheel  212  is the same tooth profile as the working between the wheel  210  and the wheel  211 , it thickens thickness of electric wrist timepieces, because the hour wheel  213  needs to remove the wheel  210  up and down in a sectional way. Also, if the wheel  210  constitutes 2 stages which a gear having tooth profile X which is in mesh the hour wheel  212  and a pinion having tooth profile Y which is in mesh the wheel  211 , the diameter of the pinion  304  of the wheel  210  needs to be small to prevent meshing interference between the pinion  304  of the wheel  210  and the wheel  209 . If it makes the diameter of the pinion  304  of the wheel  210  smaller, it makes motion deviation of the hour wheel  213  larger, because the diameter of the hour wheel  203  is small in the case of equalising a reduction ratio to drive the first indicator hand  103  and the second indicator hand  104 . According to the embodiment of the present invention, these problems are solved. 
     Here, the wheels  209 ,  210  and the hour wheel  212  constitute a first wheel train to convey, to the first indicator hand  103 , reverse rotation to the rotational direction of the motor  200  (i.e., rotation direction of the rotor magnet  205 ). The wheels  209 ,  210 ,  211  and the hour wheel  213  constitute a second wheel train to convey, to the second indicator hand  104 , rotation in the same direction as the rotational direction of the motor  200 . 
     Also, the drive means has an operation switch  108 , sound output means (piezoelectric element  401 ), rotation means to reciprocally rotate the first and second indicator hands  103 ,  104  in opposite directions to each other, control means (CPU  604 ), and storage means (ROM  603 ) storing first drive signal data to control the rotation means such that the first and second indicator hands  103 ,  104  performs first reciprocal rotation movement in directions opposite to each other and second drive signal data to control the rotation means such that the first and second indicator hands  103 ,  104  performs second reciprocal rotation movement in directions opposite to each other. The control means structurally makes control such that, when the operation switch has not been operated, the rotation means causes the first and second indicator hands  103 ,  104  to perform first reciprocal rotation movement in directions opposite to each other by the first drive signal data and such that, when the operation switch  108  has been operated, the music data is outputted to the sound output means (piezoelectric element  401 ) and the rotation means causes the first and second indicator hands  103 ,  104  to perform second reciprocal rotation movement in directions opposite to each other by the second drive signal data. 
     Accordingly, the indicator hands  103 ,  104  can be driven to music thus enabling various representations. 
     Incidentally, in the above concrete examples, although the motor used the stepping motor  200  for timepieces structured by the coil  203 , the stator  204  and the rotor magnet  205 , a motor with another structure may be used. 
     Also, in the above concrete examples, although the indicator hands  103 ,  104  were made to rotate at a same speed, they may be rotated at different speeds from each other by changing the reduction ratio of the wheel train. 
     Furthermore, in the above concrete examples, the indicator hands  103 ,  104  were made same in rotation range, it may be made different. 
     Furthermore, in the above concrete examples, the time hands were structured by the minute hand  101  and the hour hand  102 , a second hand may be added thereto. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     As above, the electronic timepiece according to the present invention is applicable to various electronic timepieces ranging from electronic wrist watches to wall electronic timepieces and desk electronic timepieces.