Abstract:
A chronograph timepiece has a movable crown, a start button operable to start and stop measurement of a time period in a chronograph mode using at least one chronograph hand, and a reset button operable to reset the chronograph hand to a zero position. A control circuit controls operation of the start button and the reset button in a plurality of reset modes to return the chronograph hand to the zero position in accordance with whether the reset button has already been operated when the crown is operable from one position to another position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a chronograph timepiece having a chronograph function. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   There has conventionally been used a chronograph timepiece having a time hand for indicating current time and a chronograph hand for indicating a measured time interval (for example, a chronograph 1/10 second hand for indicating by a 1/10 second unit, a chronograph second hand for indicating by 1 second unit, a chronograph minute hand for indicating by 1 minute unit, and a chronograph second/minute cooperation hand for cooperatively moving the second hand and the minute hand). The chronograph timepiece is provided with a reset function for resetting a chronograph hand to return to a zero position after finishing measurement or the like. 
   For example, according to a chronograph timepiece described in JP-A-2002-82183, a reset mode for resetting a chronograph hand can be brought about by pulling a crown. In the reset mode, a chronograph hand for resetting is selected by operating a start button and the selected chronograph hand is reset to return to a zero position by operating a reset button. 
   Further, according to a chronograph timepiece described in JP-A-2002-207089, although operation of a crown is not needed, a reset mode for resetting a chronograph hand can be brought about by simultaneously operating to depress a start button and a reset button. According to the reset mode, there is constructed a constitution in which a chronograph hand for resetting is selected by operating a start button and the selected chronograph hand is reset to return to a zero position by operating a reset button. 
   However, in either of JP-A-2002-82183 and JP-A-2002-207089, mentioned above, a consideration is not given to a rotational direction (regular or reverse rotation) in returning the chronograph hand to the zero position and even when the chronograph hand is disposed at any position, the chronograph hand is rotated in one direction to return to the zero position. 
   Therefore, there poses a problem that a time period of returning the chronograph hand to the zero position is extremely prolonged depending on a position of stopping the chronograph hand and a direction of rotating the chronograph hand to the zero position in resetting the chronograph hand. 
   Further, according to the chronograph timepiece described in JP-A-2002-82183, there is the problem that in order to indicate the selected chronograph hand, the selected chronograph hand is made to carry out a special movement, thereby complicating the construction of the circuit. 
   Further, according to the chronograph timepiece described in JP-A-2002-207089, there is a concern of bringing about erroneous operation in counting operation or the like in shifting to the chronograph hand reset mode. 
   It is an object of the invention to enable the return to a chronograph hand swiftly to a zero position even when the chronograph hand is disposed at any position in a chronograph hand reset mode. 
   Further, it is another object of the invention to prevent erroneous operation from being brought about in a counting operation or the like in shifting to a chronograph hand reset mode. 
   Further, it is another object of the invention to enable the selection of a chronograph hand to reset using a chronograph timepiece having a simple construction. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to the invention, there is provided a chronograph timepiece including a crown, a start button for starting and stopping to measure a time period, a reset button for returning a chronograph hand to a zero position, and controlling means for shifting a function of resetting the start button and the reset button in resetting the chronograph hand to a plurality of reset modes having different functions for resetting the start button and the reset button in accordance with whether the reset button has already been operated when the crown is operated. The controlling means shifts the function for resetting the start button and the reset button in resetting the chronograph hand to the plurality of reset modes having the different functions for resetting the start button and the reset button in accordance with whether the reset button has already been operated when the crown is operated. 
   Here, it may be constituted that the controlling means corresponds the chronograph hand and a rotational direction in resetting the chronograph hand to the start button and the reset button in the reset modes. 
   Further, it may be constituted that the chronograph timepiece includes a chronograph 1/10 second hand and a chronograph second/minute cooperation hand and the controlling means sets a function of resetting to regularly rotate the chronograph 1/10 second hand to the start button and sets a function of resetting to regularly rotate the chronograph second/minute cooperation hand to the reset button in a case in which the reset button has not been operated yet when the crown is operated. 
   Further, it may be constituted that the chronograph timepiece includes a chronograph second/minute cooperation hand and the controlling means sets a function of resetting to reversely rotate the chronograph second/minute cooperation hand to the start button and sets a function of resetting to regularly rotate the chronograph second/minute cooperation hand to the reset button in a case in which the reset button has already been operated when the crown is operated. 
   Further, it may be constituted that the chronograph timepiece includes a chronograph 1/10 second hand and a chronograph second hand and the controlling means sets a function of resetting to regularly rotate the chronograph 1/10 second hand to the start button and sets a function of resetting to regularly rotate the chronograph second hand to the reset button in a case in which the reset button has not been operated yet when the crown is operated. 
   Further, it may be constituted that the chronograph timepiece includes a chronograph minute hand and the controlling means sets a function of resetting to regularly rotate the chronograph minute hand to the start button and sets a function of resetting to reversely rotate the chronograph minute hand to the reset button in a case in which the reset button has already been operated when the crown is operated. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A preferred form of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a chronograph timepiece according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of an outlook of the chronograph timepiece according to the first embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of an outlook of the chronograph timepiece according to the first embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing operation of the chronograph timepiece according to the first embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a chronograph timepiece according to a second embodiment of the invention; and 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing operation of the chronograph timepiece according to the second embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a chronograph timepiece according to a first embodiment of the invention showing an example of an analog/chronograph electronic timepiece having a time hand for indicating current time, a chronograph 1/10 second hand for indicating a measured time period by a 1/10 second unit and a chronograph second/minute cooperation hand for rotating a second hand and a minute hand cooperatively for indicating the measured time period. 
   In  FIG. 1 , a chronograph timepiece includes an oscillating circuit  101  for generating a reference signal, a dividing circuit  102  for generating a counting reference signal for counting time by dividing the reference signal, a first input circuit  103  for outputting a time measurement start signal or a time measurement stop signal in accordance with operation of a first button (start button  202  of  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 ), a second input circuit  104  for outputting a signal in accordance with operation of a second button (reset button  203  of  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 ), a third input circuit  105  for outputting a signal in accordance with operation of a crown constituting operation means (crown  204  of  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 ), a control circuit  106  as control or controlling means comprised of a central processing unit (CPU) for carrying out a counting operation of the reference signal, a processing, or control of a total of the chronograph timepiece, a time indicating hand  109  for indicating current time, a first motor  108  for driving to rotate the time indicating hand  109 , a first motor drive circuit  107  for driving the motor  108  in response to a signal from the control circuit  106 , a first chronograph indicating hand (chronograph 1/10 second hand)  112  for indicating a measured time period by a 1/10 second unit, a second motor  111  for driving to rotate the first chronograph indicating hand  112 , a second motor driver circuit  110  for driving the motor  111  in response to a signal from the control circuit  106 , a second chronograph indicating hand (chronograph second/minute cooperation hand)  115  for cooperatively rotating a second hand and a minute hand for indicating the measured time period by second and minute, a third motor  114  for driving to rotate the second chronograph indicating hand  115 , and a third motor driver circuit  113  for driving the motor  114  in response to a signal from the control circuit  106 . 
     FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  are outline front views of the chronograph timepiece shown in  FIG. 1  and portions which are the same as those of  FIG. 1  are identified with the same reference numerals. Further,  FIG. 2  is a view showing a time measuring state and  FIG. 3  is a view showing a zero position returning operation state. 
   In  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the chronograph timepiece is provided with the chronograph 1/10 second hand  112 , the chronograph second/minute cooperation hand  115 , a date indicating portion  201 , the start button  202  for carrying out operation of starting to measure a time period and operation of stopping to measure the time period in the chronograph mode, the reset button  203  for carrying out resetting operation for returning the chronograph indicating hand to the zero position in a state of stopping to measure the time period in the chronograph mode, and the crown  204 . Further, the reset button  203  is an operation button operated in shifting to the chronograph hand reset mode and is an operation button which is not provided with other function in shifting to the chronograph hand reset mode. 
     FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing operation of the control circuit  106  according to the first embodiment of the invention. 
   A detailed explanation will be given of the operation of the first embodiment of the invention with reference to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 4 . 
   As an initial state, assume that the start button  202 , the reset button  203  and the crown  204  are brought into an unoperated state. 
   First, explaining operation of indicating current time, the dividing circuit  102  divides a clock signal outputted from the oscillating circuit  101  and outputs a counting reference signal for constituting the reference signal for counting time. 
   The control circuit  106  generates time data indicating time by counting the counting reference signal. The time data indicating the current time is supplied to the motor driver circuit  107 , the motor driver circuit  107  drives to rotate the motor  108  in response to the time data and the motor  108  drives to rotate the time indicating hand (for example, hour hand, minute hand, second hand)  109 . Thereby, the current time is indicated by the time indicating hand  109 . 
   Next, time measuring operation will be explained. When the start button  202  is operated to depress in a state in which the current time is counted and indicated, the time measurement start signal for instructing to start time measurement is outputted from the input circuit  103  to the control circuit  106 . The control circuit  106  counts the counting reference signal in response to the time measurement start signal and measures an accumulated time period from starting to operate the start button  202 . Time data indicating 1/10 second during the accumulated time period is supplied to the motor driver circuit  110 , the motor driver circuit  110  drives to rotate the motor  111  in response to the time data indicating 1/10 second and the motor  111  drives to rotate the chronograph 1/10 second hand  112 . Thereby, a time period by the 1/10 second unit is indicated by the chronograph 1/10 second hand  112 . 
   At the same time, time data indicating second and minute during the accumulated time period is supplied to the motor driver circuit  113 , the motor driver circuit  113  drives to rotate the motor  114  in response to the time data indicating second and minute and the motor  114  drives to rotate the chronograph second/minute cooperation hand  115 . Thereby, a time period by the second/minute unit is indicated by the chronograph second/minute cooperation hand  115 . 
   When a stopping operation to measure the time period is carried out by depressing the start button  202  in the time measuring state, the time measurement stop signal is outputted from the input circuit  103  to the control circuit  106  and the control circuit  106  finishes the time measuring operation. Thereby, as shown by  FIG. 2 , the chronograph 1/10 second hand  112  and the chronograph second/minute cooperation hand  115  are stopped in a state of indicating the measured time period. 
   Next, an explanation will be given of a resetting operation for returning the chronograph indicating hands  112  and  115  to zero positions. 
   In order to shift to a resetting operation in a state in which the chronograph 1/10 second hand  112  and the chronograph second/minute cooperation hand  115  are stopped as shown by  FIG. 2 , the shifting operation can be carried out by operating to pull the crown  204  in a state in which the reset button  203  is operated to depress. The resetting operation will be explained in details as follows. 
   First, the control circuit  106  determines whether the crown  204  is operated to pull (step S 401 ), when it is determined that the crown  204  is not operated to pull, the chronograph timepiece is set to a normal mode for carrying out operation of counting and displaying time to carry out time counting and indicating operation. 
   When it is determined that the crown  204  is operated to pull at step S 401 , the control circuit  106  determines whether the reset button  203  has already been operated to press (step S 402 ). 
   When it is determined that the reset button  203  has not been operated to depress yet at step S 402 , the control circuit  106  sets the chronograph timepiece to a chronograph hand reset mode  1  (step S 403 ) and thereafter determines whether the start button  202  is operated to depress (step S 404 ). 
   When it is determined that the start button  202  is operated to depress at step S 404 , the control circuit  106  drives to rotate the 1/10 second hand  112  regularly by  1  step (step S 407 ). 
   When it is determined that the start button  202  is not operated to depress at step S 404 , the control circuit  106  determines whether the reset button  203  is operated to depress (step S 405 ) and drives to rotate the second/minute cooperation hand  115  by 1 step when it is determined that the reset button  203  is operated to depress (step S 408 ). When it is determined that the reset button  203  is not operated to depress at step S 405 , the control circuit  106  finishes the processing. 
   Meanwhile, when it is determined that the reset button  203  has already been operated to depress at step S 402 , the control circuit  106  sets the reset mode to the chronograph hand reset mode  2  (step S 409 ) and thereafter determines whether the start button  202  is operated to depress (step S 410 ). 
   When it is determined that the start button  202  is operated to depress at step S 410 , the control circuit  106  drives to rotate the second/minute cooperation hand  115  reversely by 1 step (step S 412 ). 
   When it is determined that the start button  202  is not operated to depress at step S 410 , the control circuit  106  determines whether the reset button  203  is operated to depress (step S 411 ) and drives to rotate the second/minute cooperation hand  115  regularly by 1 step when it is determined that the reset button  203  is operated to depress (step S 413 ). When it is determined that the reset button  203  is not operated to depress at step S 411 , the control circuit  106  finishes the processing. 
   By repeating the above-described processing, the 1/10 second hand  112  and the second/minute cooperation hand  115  are returned to zero positions. 
   As described above, the chronograph timepiece according to the first embodiment of the invention is characterized in the chronograph timepiece including the crown  204 , the start button  202  for starting and stopping to measure the time period and the reset button  203  for returning the chronograph hand to the zero position, and the control circuit  106  for shifting the resetting function of the start button  202  and the reset button  203  in resetting the plurality of chronograph hands  112  and  115  to the plurality of reset modes (chronograph hand reset mode  1 ,  2 ) having different resetting functions of the start button  202  and the reset button  203  in accordance with whether the reset button  203  has already been operated when the crown  204  is operated. 
   Further, in the case of shifting to the chronograph hand reset mode, an operation button which does not carry out other function at the time point (reset button  203  according to the embodiment) is constituted to operate and therefore, erroneous operation is not brought about in counting operation or the like by operating the operation button. 
   Further, in the respective reset modes, the chronograph hand and the rotational direction in resetting of the chronograph hand are made to correspond to the operation button, that is, in the respective chronograph hand reset modes  1  and  2 , the functions in resetting of the respective operation buttons  202  and  203  are previously determined and therefore, resetting can be carried out by selecting corresponding ones of the chronograph hands  112  and  115  by the functions related to the respective operation buttons  202  and  203  and the constitution can be simplified. 
   Next, an explanation will be given of a chronograph timepiece according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a chronograph timepiece according to the second embodiment of the invention showing an example of an analog chronograph electronic timepiece having a time hand for indicating current time, a chronograph 1/10 second hand for indicating a measured time period by a 1/10 second unit, a chronograph second hand for indicating the measure time period by a 1 second unit and a chronograph minute hand for indicating the measured time period by a 1 minute unit and portions the same as those of  FIG. 1  are attached with the same notations. 
   Further, similar to the first chronograph timepiece, the chronograph timepiece according to the second embodiment is provided with a date indicating portion (corresponding to the date indicating portion  201  of  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 ), a start button for operating to start and operating to stop to measure a time period (corresponding to the start button  202  of  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 ), a reset button for carrying out resetting operation for returning a chronograph indicating hand to a zero position (corresponding to the reset button  203  of  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 ) and a crown (corresponding to the crown  204  of  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 ) and for convenience of explanation, an explanation will be given by attaching notations the same as those of  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  to the start button, the reset button and the crown. 
   In  FIG. 5 , the chronograph timepiece includes the oscillating circuit  101  for generating the reference signal, the dividing circuit  102  for generating the counting reference signal for counting time by dividing the reference signal, the first input circuit  103  for outputting the time measurement start signal or the time measurement stop signal in accordance with the operation of the start button  202 , the second input circuit  104  for outputting the signal in accordance with operation of the reset button  203 , the third input circuit  105  for outputting the signal in accordance with operation of the crown  204 , the control circuit  106  constituted by the central processing unit (CPU) for carrying out the counting operation of the counting reference signal, the processing, mentioned later, the control of the total of the chronograph timepiece, the time indicating hand  109  for indicating current time, the first motor  108  for driving to rotate the time indicating hand  109 , the first motor driver circuit  107  for driving the motor  108  in response to the signal from the control circuit  106 , the first chronograph indicating hand ( 1/10 second hand for chronograph)  112  for indicating the measured time period by the 1/10 second unit, the second motor  111  for driving to rotate the first chronograph indicating hand  112 , the second motor driver circuit  110  for driving the motor  111  in response to the signal from the control circuit  106 , a second chronograph indicating hand (chronograph second hand)  503  for indicating the measured time period by a 1 second unit, a third motor  502  for driving to rotate the second chronograph indicating hand  503 , a third motor driver circuit  501  for driving the motor  502  in response to a signal from the control circuit  106 , a third chronograph indicating hand (chronograph minute hand)  506  for indicating the measured time period by a 1 minute unit, a fourth motor  505  for driving to rotate the third chronograph indicating hand  506 , and a fourth motor driver circuit  504  for driving the motor  505  in response to a signal from the control circuit  106 . 
     FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing the operation of the control circuit  106  according to the second embodiment of the invention and portions for carrying out operations similar to those of  FIG. 4  are identified with the same reference numerals. 
   Operation of the second embodiment of the invention will be explained in detail with reference to  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 6  as follows. 
   Assume that as an initial state, the start button  202 , the reset button  203  and the crown  204  are brought into an unoperated state. Under the state, the operation is carried out similar to that in the first embodiment and current time is indicated by the time indicating hand  109 . 
   In the time measuring operation, when the start button  202  is operated to depress in a state of counting and indicating the current time, the time measurement start signal for indicating to start to measure the time period is outputted from the input circuit  103  to the control circuit  106 . The control circuit  106  counts the counting reference signal in response to the time measurement start signal to measure the accumulated time period form the time of starting to operate the start button  202 . 
   The time data indicating 1/10 second in the accumulated time period is supplied to the motor driver circuit  110 , the motor driver circuit  110  drives to rotate the motor  111  in response to the time data indicating 1/10 second and the motor  111  drives to rotate the chronograph 1/10 second hand  112 . Thereby, the time period of the 1/10 second unit is indicated by the chronograph 1/10 second hand  112 . 
   At the same time, the time data indicating second in the accumulated time period is supplied to the motor driver circuit  501 , the motor driver circuit  501  drives to rotate the motor  502  in response to the time data indicating second and the motor  502  drives to rotate the chronograph secondhand  503 . Thereby, the time period of the second unit is indicated by the chronograph second hand  503 . 
   Further, time data indicating minute in the accumulated time period is supplied to the motor driver circuit  504 , the motor driver circuit  504  drives to rotate the motor  505  in response to the time data indicating minute and the motor  505  drives to rotate the chronograph minute hand  506 . Thereby, the time period by the minute unit is indicated by the chronograph minute hand  506 . 
   When operation of stopping to measure the time period by operating to depress the start button  202  in the state of measuring the time period, the time measurement stop signal is outputted from the input circuit  103  to the control circuit  106  and the control circuit  106  finishes the operation of measuring the time period. Thereby, the chronograph 1/10 second hand  112 , the chronograph second hand  503  and the chronograph minute hand  506  are stopped in the state of indicating the measured time period. 
   Next, an explanation will be given of a resetting operation for returning the chronograph indicating hands  112 ,  503  and  506  to zero positions. 
   In order to shift to the resetting operation in the state of stopping the chronograph 1/10 second hand  112 , the chronograph second hand  503  and the chronograph minute hand  506 , the shifting operation is carried out by operating to pull the crown  204  in the state of operating to depress the reset button  203 . The resetting operation will be explained in details in reference to  FIG. 6  as follows. 
   First, the control circuit  106  determines whether the crown  204  is operated to pull (step S 401 ) and when it is determined that the crown  204  is not operated to pull, the chronograph timepiece is set to the normal mode for carrying out operation of counting and indicating time to carry out the counting and indicating operation. 
   When it is determined that the crown  204  is operated to pull at step S 401 , the control circuit  106  determines whether the reset button  203  has already been operated to depress (step S 402 ). 
   When it is determined that the reset button  203  is not operated to depress at step S 402 , the control circuit  106  sets the reset mode to the chronograph hand reset mode  1  (step S 403 ) and thereafter determines whether the start button  202  is operated to depress (step S 404 ). 
   When it is determined that the start button  202  is operated to depress at step S 404 , the control circuit  106  drives to rotate the 1/10 second hand  112  regularly by 1 step (step S 407 ). 
   When it is determined that the start button  202  is not operated to depress at step S 404 , the control circuit  106  determines whether the reset button  203  is operated to depress (step S 405 ) and drives to rotate the second hand  503  regularly by 1 step when it is determined that the reset button  203  is operated to depress (step S 601 ). When it is determined that the reset button  203  is not operated to depress at step S 405 , the control circuit  106  finishes the processing. 
   Meanwhile, when it is determined that the reset button  203  has already been operated to depress at step S 402 , the control circuit  106  sets the reset mode to the chronograph hand reset mode  2  (step S 409 ) and thereafter determines whether the start button  202  is operated to depress (step S 410 ). 
   When it is determined that the start button  202  is operated to depress at step S 410 , the control circuit  106  drives to rotate the minute hand  506  regularly by 1 step (step S 602 ). 
   When it is determined that the start button  202  is not operated to depress at step S 410 , the control circuit  106  determines whether the reset button  203  is operated to depress (step S 411 ) and drives the minute hand  506  reversely by 1 step when it is determined that the reset button  203  is operated to depress (step S 603 ). When it is determined that the reset button  203  is not operated to depress at step S 411 , the control circuit  106  finishes the processing. 
   By repeating the above-described processing, the 1/10 second hand  112 , the second hand  503  and the minute hand  506  are returned to the zero positions. 
   As described above, according to the chronograph timepiece according to the second embodiment of the invention, similar to the first embodiment, there is achieved an effect in which the plurality of chronograph hands can swiftly be returned to the zero positions or the like even when the chronograph hands are stopped at any positions in the chronograph hand reset mode. 
   According to the chronograph timepiece of the invention, in the chronograph hand reset mode, even when the chronograph hand is stopped at any position, the chronograph hand can swiftly be returned to the zero position. 
   Further, in shifting to the chronograph hand reset mode, the reset button which does not carry out other function is constituted to use at the time point and therefore, erroneous operation is not brought about in counting operation or the like by using the reset button. 
   Further, the function of the operation button and the chronograph hand in resetting are made to correspond to each other and therefore, resetting can be carried out by selecting the chronograph hand by the simple constitution.