JPS6136956Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to an improvement of an audio clock having a function of visually displaying and auditory notification of time information.

In recent years, liquid crystals and electrochromics have been used as display devices, but since these display means are not self-luminous, they cannot be read even if a display operation is performed in a condition where there is not enough light around the periphery. figure. For example, when used in an electronic watch, not only the time information is not clear to the user, but also the life of the display device is shortened and power is wasted, which is not desirable. However, even in this type of watch, the time information is often displayed in the absence of external light, making it inconvenient to use.

The present invention was devised in view of the drawbacks of the conventional apparatuses described above, and the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to examples.

In Fig. 1, TC is a clock counter, which is a reference signal generator as implemented in conventionally known electronic clocks.
A reference signal of, for example, 32768 HZ output from the CG is successively frequency-divided by a frequency dividing circuit DV to form a second signal, and the second signal is counted to form a time signal. The time signal from the clock counter TC is output to a display device DP made of liquid crystal, electrochromic, etc., and the corresponding display segment is brought into operation for visual display. The above display device DP has a light detection circuit FS.
is connected and the brightness of the outer periphery has decreased below the preset brightness, the level of the output signal of the photodetector circuit FS changes, and the above display is performed based on the change in the signal of the output of the photodetector circuit FS. The visual display of the device DP is erased. That is, the display on the display device DP is turned off while the surroundings become dark.

Figure 2 shows a specific electrical circuit of the photodetector circuit FS, which derives a high-level output from the output terminal OUT while light is incident on the phototransistor PT, and outputs the high-level photodetector circuit. Based on this, the display device DP displays time information. On the other hand, when the amount of light incident on the phototransistor PT decreases and becomes less than the set value, the phototransistor PT changes to a cutoff state, so the signal level of the output terminal OUT is switched to a low level. Once switched to the low level signal, the current circuitry in the heart of the watch still continues to operate, but the display DP erases its display.

The count signal of the clock counter TC mentioned above is also input to the input control circuit IC installed before the audio output circuit TVO.
has been introduced. A key switch K signal for instructing the operation of the voice output circuit TVO is input to the input control circuit IC, and with the voice command key signal being given, the counted contents of the clock counter TC are introduced into the input control circuit IC. Then, the introduced count contents are sequentially transferred one digit at a time to the next stage audio output circuit TVO. The audio output circuit TVO converts the numerical value into an audio signal according to the transferred count contents,
Drives speaker SP to generate sound. After the count contents for one digit are announced by voice via the voice output circuit TVO, the count contents of the next digit are transferred from the input control circuit IC to the voice output circuit TVO based on the end signal, and are converted in the same way and output as voice. The time information such as "XX hours XX minutes" is specifically notified.
That is, in a dark state where there is no peripheral light, unnecessary visual display is stopped, and when desired, the time is notified by voice by operating the voice command key.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which the display is erased when the brightness of the outer periphery is less than the set value, and the time is announced audibly at preset fixed time intervals, and the outer periphery is dark. However, it is related to a voice clock that can periodically and automatically tell the time.

The same parts as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals.

In Figure 3, a clock counter counts the frequency-divided reference signal to set a fixed time interval.
A memory circuit R is provided to store TC ₀ and a set time interval, and a match detection circuit J compares the counted contents of the clock counter TC ₀ and the setting information of the memory circuit R, and a match is detected when both pieces of information match. The signal is output, an operation control signal is given to the input control circuit IC, and the count contents of the clock counter _TC0 are cleared. In the input control circuit IC, as in the above embodiment, the count contents of the clock counter TC are the input control circuit.
Voice notification is provided via IC. The setting of a fixed time interval to the memory circuit R is given from the numeric key TK, which is converted into a predetermined signal via the numeric key input circuit _I0 and stored in the memory circuit. In this embodiment, as in the previous embodiment, the display on the display device DP is erased in response to a change in the level of the output signal of the photodetector circuit FS when the external brightness is below a set brightness. By operating the voice command key K, not only the voice notification function of the time at the time of the operation as described above is provided, but also the display device DP can be operated while the key K is being operated. That is, the AND gate G ₁ to which the output of the photodetector circuit FS and the inverted signal of the key K are input, the inverted output of the AND gate G ₁ and the coincidence detection circuit J
An AND gate _G2 to which the output signal of is input, and an OR gate OR to which the output of the AND gate _G2 and the voice command key K signal are input are provided.

According to this embodiment, the memory circuit R is stored in advance for 30 minutes.
By setting time interval information required for notification, such as one hour, it is possible to know the time in a dark state without external light.

As described above, according to the present invention, the audio clock is provided with a light detection circuit, and the output of the light detection circuit erases the display when the outside is dark, and the time information is notified by sound when desired. It is possible to obtain a device that reduces power consumption by eliminating the need for unnecessary display in dark conditions where visual reading is impossible. It is possible to obtain time information at a point in time, and the time can be effectively known regardless of external light or darkness.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a main electrical circuit diagram of the same embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. TC, TC ₀ : Clock counter, DP: Display device,
FS: Light detection circuit, K: Voice command key, IC: Input control circuit, TVO: Voice generation circuit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In an audio clock comprising a display device such as a liquid crystal other than a self-luminous type that visually displays time information, and a sound generator that notifies time information audibly based on a voice command, the brightness of the surroundings of the audio clock a light detection circuit that detects whether or not is higher than a certain level;
When the light detection circuit detects that the surrounding brightness is higher than a certain level, the display device is always displayed, and the detection circuit detects that the surrounding brightness is below the certain level. 1. A light-sensing audio clock comprising: a control circuit that stops the constant display of the display device when the above detection is detected.