SPECIFICATIONAlarm timepieceThis invention relates to an alarm timepiece informing of alarm times and, more particularly, to alarm timepiece which inform of alarm times by animation display together with the generation of melody as the alarm sound.
Recently, alarm timepieces which generate melody as the alarm sound for an alarm time or let an alarm time be visually known by turning on or causing blinking of an alarm display have been extensively used.
As the alarm time display means for visually informing of the alarm time, those simulating a bell or a symbol of sound generated are used. However, such display means are often provided at corners of display sections of the timepiece and have inferior visual effects. The display method employed is based upon the on-off operation or blinking of the alarm display means. Therefore, it is difficult to distinguish the alarm time display members or elements from other display elements, and the effect of causing the recognition of the alarm time is inferior. In addition, wrong recognition or overlooking of the display is often liable.
The invention has been intended in order to overcome the above drawbacks, and its object is to provide an alarm timepiece, which permits an alarm time to be visually recognized by an animation display while at the same time generating a melody for the alarm time.
To attain this objective, the alarm timepiece according to the invention comprises oscillating means for generating a reference clock signal, time counting means connected to the oscillating means for counting the reference clock signal, means for storing alarm time data, coincidence circuit means connected to the time counting means and alarm time memory means for generating an output when the count value provided from the time counting means coincides with the alarm time data stored in the alarm time data storage means, melody generating means connected to the coincidence circuit for generating melody in accordance with the coincidence output, decoding means connected to the melody generating means for decoding tone code signals generated from the melody generating means, and display means including a time display section connected to the time counting means and also to the alarm time data storage means for effecting the display of time and an animation display section connected through the decoding means to the melody generating means for effecting animation display.
With this construction of the alarm timepiece according to the invention, upon reaching of the alarm time an animation display is caused simultaneously with the generation of melody, thus permitting the recognition of the alarm time by both senses of hearing and vision. Particularly, since the animation display can be effected according to note codes, volume codes or duration codes, it provides visual interest and amusement. Thus, it has a very high visual effect and can never be mistaken with other displays or overlooked.
This invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:Figures la and lb show the circuit construction of an embodiment of the alarm timepiece according to the invention;Figure 2 is a view showing an example of the state of display of ari animation display section shown in Fig. 1; andFigures 3, 4 and 5 are views showing changes of the state of display of Fig. 2.
Now, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
An oscillating circuit 1 generates a reference clock signal 01 which is supplied to a frequency divider 2 for frequency division to generate a 1 pulse/second signal. This signal is supplied to a second counter 3. The second counter 3 counts the 1 pulse/second signal to generate a 1 pulse/minute signal. This onepulse-per-minute signal is supplied to an hour/minute counter 4. The hour-minute counter 4 counts the 1 pulse/minute signal to obtain hour/minute information. This hour/ minute information is supplied through a display switching control circuit 5 to a decoder 6 for decoding therein. The output of the decoder 6 is supplied to a time display section 7a of an optical display unit 7 for digital display.
The optical display unit 7 has a construction, for instance, including display sections A and B. The display section A includes an AL display section 7b and a sound symbol display section 7c as well as the afore-mentioned time display section 7a. The time display section 7a displays the hour/minute information and includes a PM display section 7d for the display of the post medium notification with respect to the displayed time. The AL display section 7b has the purpose of indicating that the time displayed in the time display section 7a is the alarm time. The sound symbol display section 7c has the purpose of indicating that the alarm function is in force, that is, indicating that an alarm sound will be generated at an alarm time. The display section B constitutes an animation display section 7e for animation display of a naturally moving animal or the like.
Manual switches S1 to S3 are provided such that they can be externally operated. The switch S1 is a time setting switch used when presetting a time instant. The switch S2 is a display switch for switching the normal time display and alarm time display in the time display section 7a. The switch S3 is an on-off switch for controlling the effective and ineffec tive states of the alarm function. The signals that are generated when the switches S1 to S3 are operated, are supplied to corresponding one-shot circuits 8 to 10. The one-shot pulse signal generated from the one-shot circuit 8 is supplied to a time setting circuit 11 which has a well-known construction.The one-shot pulse signal generated from the oneshot circuit 9 is supplied to a trigger input T of a binary flip-flop (T-F/F) 1 2 to invert the output state thereof. The one-shot pulse signal generated from the one-shot circuit 10 is supplied to the trigger input T of a T-F/F 1 3 to invert the output state thereof. The Q and Q output signals from the T-F/F 1 2 are sup piied to the time setting circuit 11. When the switch S1 is operated in a state with the Q output signal being supplied from the T-F/F 1 2 to the time setting circuit 11, the time setting circuit 11 provides a time setting output to the hour/minute counter 4.When the switch S1 is operated in a state with the Q output signal being supplied from the T-F/F 13, the time setting circuit 11 provides an alarm time setting output to an alarm time memory 14. The alarm time information set in the alarm time memory 14 is supplied to the display switching control circuit 5. The Q and Q output signals from the T-F/F 1 2 are also supplied to the display switching control circuit 5. The display switching control circuit 5 passes the time information of the hour/minute counter 4 in the presence of the 0 output signal of the T-F/F 1 2 and passes the time information of the alarm setting memory 14 in the presence of the 0 output signal of the T-F/F 12.The Q output signal of the TF/F 1 2 is also supplied as a display drive signal to the AL display section 7b. The Q output signal of the T-F/F 1 3 is supplied as a display drive signal to the sound symbol display section 7.
The time information in the hour/minute counter 4 and that in the alarm time memory 14 are also supplied to a coincidence circuit 1 5. When the coincidence circuit 15 detects the coincidence of both the time information inputs, it generates a one-shot pulse coincidence signal f, which is coupled through anAND gate 16, to which the Q output signal of the T-F/F 1 3 is supplied, to an initial address generator 1 7 in a melody generating circuitM.
The construction of the melody generating circuit M will now be described. The initial address generator 1 7 supplies initial information through an OR gate to an address section 1 9 according to the coincidence signal input f. The address section 1 9 generates address information for successively specifying addresses of a tone code memory section 20 according to the input information. The address information provided from the address section 1 9 is supplied through an AND gate 1 9a to the tone code memory section 20. The tone code memory section 20 consists of aROM (read only memory) in which various codes are stored.In response to the address designation from the address section 19, the section 20 provides a duration code A, a volume code B, a note code C and next address information D designating the next address, these data being provided as parallel outputs. When the generation of melody sounds is ended, the tone code memory section 20 provides an end signal a, which is supplied to the preset R of the R-S flip-flop (RS-F/F) 21 to reset this flip-flop. The end signal a is also supplied to the reset R of the address section 1 8 to clear the content thereof. The RS-F/F 21 is set when the output signal of the AND gate 16 is supplied to its set S. A duration code A is supplied to a musical tone duration control circuit 22. The circuit 22 has a construction like that of a timer, for instance.When a predetermined time interval corresponding to the duration code A is elapsed, it provides an output which is coupled through an AND gate 23, to which the Q output signal of the RS-F/F 21 is supplied as a gate control signal, to an AND gate 24 as a gate control signal. The volume code B is supplied to a volume control circuit 25, while the node code C is supplied through a decoder 26 to a musical scale frequency selector 27. The next address information is successively supplied through theAND gate 24 and OR gate 18 to the address section 1 9. The reference clock signal f1 that is provided from the oscillating circuit 1 is supplied to the musical scale frequency generator 29.The musical scale frequency generator 29 frequency divides the reference clock signal f 1 to generate signals at frequencies corresponding to the individual scale notes, these signals being supplied to a musical scale frequency selector 27. The selector 27 selectively couples the signals corresponding to the decoded notes decoded by the decoder 26 among the signals provided from the generator 29 to a volume control circuit 25. The volume control circuit 25 effects volume control according to the volume code B. The output signal from the circuit 25 is supplied to an alarm unit 30 for generation of predetermined tones.
The decoded information provided from the decoder 26 is supplied through an animation display section 7e to the animation display section 7e for the display driving. The animation display section 7e, as shown in Fig. 2, has a number of display elements arranged in the form of a ladybird. Corresponding output signals of the display decoder 31 are supplied as display drive signal to the individual display elements.
Now, the alarm time informing operation of the alarm timepiece having the above construction, will be described. When the on-off switch S3 is operated, the output state of the T-F/F 1 3 is inverted. As a result, the sound symbol display section 7c is driven. At this time, the Q side output signal of the T-F/F 1 3 goes to "1" '' to render the AND gate 1 6 into the enabled state.
When the count of the hour/minute counter 4 reaches the alarm time in this state, the coincidence circuit 1 5 generates a one-shot pulse coincidence signal f. As a result, the RSF/F 21 is set, whereupon the Q output signal thereof goes to "1" to render the AND gate 23 to the enabled state. At the same time, initial address information is provided from the initial address generator 1 7 and supplied to the address section 1 9. As a result, the initial address of the tone code memory section 20 is specified, and the duration code A, volume code B and node code C for the first musical tone constituting the melody are provided together with the next address information D. The volume code B is supplied to the volume control circuit 25.The node code C is decoded by the decoder 26, the output of which is supplied to the musical scale frequency selector 27. The musical scale frequency selector 27 generates a signal at a frequency corresponding to the decoded note decoded by the decoder 26. The volume control circuit 25 effects volume control according to the volume signal B. In this way, the first musical tone constituting the melody is generated from the alarm unit 30. This tone is continuously provided until a predetermined period specified by the duration code A supplied to the musical tone duration control circuit 22 is elapsed. When an output signal appears from the musical tone duration control circuit 22, it is coupled through the AND gate 23 to the AND gate 24.At this time, the next address information read into the buffer 28 is supplied through the AND gate 24 and the OR gate 1 8 to the address section 19.
Thus, the designated address of the tone code memory section 20 is changed by the new address designation by the address section 19. In this way, the codes A, B and C for the second musical tone are provided together with the next address information from the tone code memory section 20, and the second musical tone is provided from the alarm unit 30. Similar operations are executed until all the melody sounds are generated as intended. When the melody generation is ended, an end signal a is generated from the tone code memory section 20 to reset the RSF/F 21 and clear the content of the address section 19.
As soon as the melody generation is started, the decoder information corresponding to the notes produced from the decoder 26 is supplied to the display decoder 31.
Thus, the display elements constituting the animation display section 7e are selectively driven according to the note code C. For example, at the output timing of the note code C for the first musical tone a display as shown in Fig. 3 is obtained. At the output timing of the note code C for the second tone a display as shown in Fig. 4 is obtained. At the output timing of the note code C for the third tone a display as shown in Fig. 5 is obtained. In this way, the ladybird's pattern is changed according to the note code C to obtain an animation display such as if the ladybird were actually moving. The animation display is continued while the melody is being produced. When the generation of melody is ended, the display disappears, and the display is automatically switched over to the normal time display in the time display section 7a.
This may be attained such that the display section A is rendered inoperative while the display section B is rendered operative at the time of the appearance of the Q output of theRS-F/F.
It is to be appreciated that upon reaching of an alarm time the animation display is caused concurrently with the melody generation to permit the alarm time to be recognized by both the auditory and visual senses.
While in the above embodiment the animation display has been effected according to the note code, it may be effected according to the volume code or duration code as well.
Also, the annimation display described above is by no means limitative, and any animation display may be provided insofar as it is high in visual interest and amusement characters and has high visual effect. Further, the alarm time is not limited to any preset time but the hand of the alarm clock may be on any right hour, or an alarm may be made for any particular weekday or for any time instant in a particular weekday.