Seiko Epson Corporation

Hidenori Nakamura

Kunio Koike

Eisaku Shimizu

Shinji Nakamiya

Masakazu Isomura

Osamu Shinkawa

Takashi Kawaguchi

Osamu Takahashi

Yusuke Takahashi

Masaru Kubota

Shigeyuki Fujimori

Keiichiro Oguchi

A wearable device includes an electrophoretic panel and a processing circuit that performs a display process of the electrophoretic panel. The processing circuit performs a second display process different from a first display process performed in a first state when an activity state of a user is determined to transition from the first state to a second state different from the first state.

Wearable device and control method

A wrist apparatus as a portable electronic apparatus calculates an evaluation value based on data outputted from acceleration sensors, each of which serves as an inertia sensor, and assuming that when the evaluation value becomes greater than a first threshold, it is determined that a first state has been achieved, and when the evaluation value becomes smaller than a second threshold, it is determined that a second state has been achieved, performs a predetermined display when a result of the determination shows that the first state has transitioned to the second state.

Portable electronic apparatus, display method, display system, program, and storage medium

An activity state information detecting device includes: a pulse wave measuring section that measures pulse wave information of a user; a body motion measuring section that measures body motion information of the user; and a processing section that performs a calculation process of activity state information of the user, in which the processing section performs a mode switching process between a first mode for performing the calculation process of the activity state information based on the body motion information and a second mode for performing the calculation process of the activity state information based on the pulse wave information.

Activity state information detecting device and method for controlling activity state information detecting device

An electronic apparatus wherein an abnormal control routine of the control unit can be prevented, or an abnormal control routine that has been started by the control unit can be rapidly halted is provided. An electronic apparatus having a control unit, peripheral circuits whose operations are controlled by the control unit, and a rechargeable battery for feeding operation power to the control unit and the peripheral circuits, wherein an initialization signal RTis continuously output to the control unit during a period of time (during time tto t) that the voltage fed to the control unit is equal to or less than the voltage Vfor assured operation of the control unit, and is equal to or greater than the start voltage VX for starting the operation of the control unit.

Electronic apparatus and control method thereof

A power supply apparatusand a storage devicethat stores power supplied by the power supply apparatusinterpose a power supply control circuit. The circuit has a charging current detectorto detect charging current IC flowing from the power supply apparatusto the storage device; a blocking unitto interrupt the backflow current IR that flows from the storage device to the power supply apparatus on the basis of an inputted blocking control signal SH; and a backflow monitoring unitto monitor by sampling for the presence of the charging current IC until the charging current IC is detected, constantly to monitor for the presence of the charging current IC after the charging current IC has been detected, and to output a blocking control signal SH for cutting off the backflow current IR when the charging current IC is not flowing.

Power supply control circuit, electronic apparatus, semiconductor device, control method for power supply control circuit, and control method for electronic apparatus

A motion detection meanshas a power generation detection circuitfor detecting the output voltage of a generating means, and a decision unitfor determining if the radio-controlled timepieceis moving based on the output voltage from the power generation detection circuitIf when a standard time signal is to be received by means of a receiverthe not_moving detection signal indicating that the radio-controlled timepieceis not moving is output from the motion detection means, the reception operation is executed and the time displayed on the time display meansis adjusted. By receiving the standard time signal when the radio-controlled timepieceis not moving, accurate time information can be received and the reliability of standard time signal reception can be improved because the reception success rate is also improved.

Radio-controlled timepiece and electronic device, control method for a radio-controlled timepiece, and reception control program for a radio-controlled timepiece

An electronically controlled timepiece includes an analog circuit () driven by a power source (), a logic circuit () driven by a constant voltage regulator circuit () forming part of the analog circuit, an oscillator circuit () driven by the constant voltage regulator, a power source switch () for cutting off the supply of power to the analog circuit other than the constant voltage regulator circuit from the power source during a time correction operation, and a clock cutoff gate () for cutting off a clock input from the oscillator circuit to the logic circuit. During the time correction operation, power consumption is reduced because only the oscillator circuit and the constant voltage regulator circuit are operative. The oscillator circuit is not suspended, and an error in time display is eliminated.

Electronically controlled timepiece, and power supply control method and time correction method therefore

An electronically controlled mechanical timepiece, which is an electronic apparatus, includes a generator driven by a mainspring to generate electrical energy, and a rotation controlling unit driven by the electrical energy to control the rotation rate of the generator. The rotation controlling unit includes a brake controlling unit that compares a rotation detection signal indicative of the rotation rate of the generator with a reference signal to control braking on the generator, and a generator halting unit that applies a brake and halts the generator if the braking amount applied to the generator in a predetermined time is smaller than, or equal to, a first predetermined braking value. Because the generator is halted if a predetermined amount of cumulative brake applications are applied within the predetermined time, the generator is not halted in response to temporary disturbances while it is assuredly halted when the rotation becomes slow.

Electronic apparatus, electronically controlled mechanical timepiece, methods of controlling them, program for controlling electronic apparatus, and storage medium

To provide an electronic unit which can prevent brake control from stopping a generator. An electronically controlled mechanical timepiece, which is an electronic unit, includes a generator driven by a coil spring to generate electric power, and a rotation control unit driven by electric energy of the generator to control the rotation period of the generator . The rotation control unit is provided with a brake control unit for comparing a reference signal fs with a rotation-detection signal FG corresponding to the rotation period of the generator to apply brake control to the generator , and a generator-stop preventing unit for setting the amount of brake to be applied to the generator to a first brake setting value to prevent the generator from being stopped, when the rotation period of the generator is equal to or longer than a first setting period which is longer than a reference period. When the rotation period of the generator becomes long, the generator is controlled by the first brake setting value. The first brake setting value is a small amount of braking, such as zero, and can prevent the generator from being stopped.

Braking without stopping generator for timepiece and other electronic units

An electronically controlled mechanical timepiece, which is an electronic device, is equipped with a generator for converting the mechanical energy transmitted from a mainspring through the intermediary of a wheel train into electrical energy, and a rotation control unit for controlling the rotation cycle of the generator The rotation control unit is equipped with a count-up/down counter that compares a reference signal with a rotation detection signal of the generator thereby to adjust a braking time for the generator and a brake control signal generating circuit that corrects the time set at the count-up/down counter on the basis of the rotation cycle of the generator If the rotation cycle of the generator significantly deviates from a reference signal cycle, then the braking time is adjusted on the basis of the rotation cycle. Therefore, optimum brake control can be conducted, a secure and sufficient brake amount can be provided, and the responsiveness in speed control can be enhanced.

Electronic device, electronically controlled mechanical timepiece, and control method therefor

An electronically controlled timepiece includes an analog circuit ( ) driven by a power source ( ), a logic circuit ( ) driven by a constant voltage regulator circuit ( ) forming part of the analog circuit, an oscillator circuit ( ) driven by the constant voltage regulator, a power source switch ( ) for cutting off the supply of power to the analog circuit other than the constant voltage regulator circuit from the power source during a time correction operation, and a clock cutoff gate ( ) for cutting off a clock input from the oscillator circuit to the logic circuit. During the time correction operation, power consumption is reduced because only the oscillator circuit and the constant voltage regulator circuit are operative. The oscillator circuit is not suspended, and an error in time display is eliminated.

Electronically controlled timepiece, and power supply control method and time correction method therefor

An electronic device in which a braking torque can be increased while reduction in power generation is suppressed, and in which a rotor is prevented from stopping or rotating at an excessive speed. Such an electronic device includes a generator which is driven by an mechanical energy source and a rotation controller which controls the rotational period of the generator. The rotation controller includes two switches which connect both terminals of the generator in the form of a closed loop, a chopping signal generator which generates a chopping signal that is applied to the switches, and a brake control circuit which performs chopper control of the generator by selectively switching between three brake control modes including a high-power brake control mode in which the effective braking force generated by applying the chopping signal is relatively large a low-power brake control mode in which the effective braking force is relatively small, and a mid-power brake control mode in which the effective braking force is between that of the high- and low-power brake control modes.

Electronic device, electronically-controlled mechanical timepiece, and electronic device controlling method

With respect to a generator ( ), a storage device ( ) for storing electrical energy output from the generator and a bypass circuit ( ) are connected in parallel with each other. A bypass circuit switch ( ) of this bypass circuit ( ) is controlled on and off according to the voltage of the storage device ( ). This makes it possible to reduce the input current into the storage device so as to implement a reduction in the voltage of the storage device, thereby preventing overcharging. Moreover, since a generated waveform corresponding to the rotation period of the generator can be obtained, the rotation period of the generator can be controlled highly precisely and reliably based on this generated waveform, thereby implementing the indication of the correct time.

Electronically controlled mechanical watch and method of preventing overcharge

An electronic device capable of increasing the braking torque applied to an electric power generator without causing a significant reduction in electric power generated by the electric power generator. The electronic device, which may be embodied in an electronically controlled mechanical clock, includes an electric power generator for converting mechanical energy transmitted from a spring via a wheel train to electrical energy, and a rotation controller for controlling the rotation period of the electric power generator. The rotation controller includes switches capable of connecting two terminals of the electric power generator in a closed-loop state, a chopping signal generator for generating two or more types of chopping signals which are different in duty ratio or frequency for use in a strong braking operation, and chopping signal selector that selects one of the chopping signals, wherein, in the strong braking operation, the selected chopping signal is applied to the switches so as to control the electric power generator in a chopping fashion. The strong braking operation is performed in one of two modes such that a higher priority is given to generation of electric power or the braking torque depending on the mode, thereby achieving an increase in the braking torque of the electric power generator without causing a significant reduction in the voltage generated by the electric power generator.

Growing community of inventors

Shimosuwa-machi, Japan

Hidenori Nakamura