Rotation detecting apparatus

• US 4,914,831 A
• Filed: 02/24/1989
• Issued: 04/10/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Kato, Kazuo, Kanezashi, Takanobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dowling, William C.
• Application Number:
  US07/315,526
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 33/772, 33/773, 33/780, 33/775, 33/774, 33/776, 33/777, 33/778, 33/779, 33/781, 33/782
• US Class Current: 33/780
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/12 Measuring wheels

Abstract

A first wheel mechanism and rotation detecting means for detecting rotation of the first wheel mechanism are provided within a casing. A second wheel mechanism for measurement is movable provided at the casing. The second wheel mechanism is located in a non-detecting mode at such a place as not to protrude outside the casing. When moved by a moving member, however, the second wheel mechanism partially protrudes from the casing and the rotation of the second wheel mechanism can be transmitted to the first wheel mechanism, whereby the rotation of the second wheel mechanism can be detected by the rotation detecting means.

Claims

1. A rotation detecting apparatus comprising:

a casing;

a first wheel mechanism disposed inside said casing;

rotation detecting means for detecting rotation of said first wheel mechanism;

a second wheel mechanism for measurement disposed at said casing such that a periphery of said second wheel mechanism does not protrude from an outer surface of said casing; and

a moving member for moving said second wheel mechanism to such a location that rotation thereof is transmitted to said first wheel mechanism and part of said second wheel mechanism is exposed from said outer surface of said casing.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second wheel mechanisms have a gear wheel.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said casing has a through hole formed therein and a third wheel mechanism for transmitting rotation of said second wheel mechanism to said first wheel mechanism is disposed within said through hole.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said moving member is rotatably attached to said casing.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rotation detecting means comprises:

a detection element for detecting rotation of said first wheel mechanism;

drive start means for starting driving of said detection element; and

drive stop means for stopping driving of said detection element upon elapse of a predetermined time after said driving of said detection element has been started by said drive start means.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first wheel mechanism has a detecting wheel having a notch formed therein, and said rotation detecting means has a light emitting element disposed at one side surface of said detecting wheel and a light receiving element disposed on an opposite side surface thereof in association with said light emitting element, whereby rotation of said first wheel mechanism is detected by detecting that light emitting from said light emitting element onto said light receiving element is shielded by said detecting wheel.

7. A rotation detecting apparatus comprising:

a watch casing having a timing display section provided at a front thereof;

a first wheel mechanism disposed inside said watch casing;

rotation detecting means for detecting rotation of said first wheel mechanism;

a second wheel mechanism for measurement disposed at said watch casing such that a periphery of said second wheel mechanism does not protrude from an outer surface of said watch casing; and

a moving member for moving said second wheel mechanism to such a location that rotation thereof is transmitted to said first wheel mechanism and part of said second wheel mechanism is exposed from said outer surface of said watch casing.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first and second wheel mechanisms have a gear wheel.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said watch casing has a through hole formed therein and a third wheel mechanism for transmitting rotation of said second wheel mechanism to said first wheel mechanism is disposed within said through hole.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said moving member is rotatably attached to said watch casing.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said moving member is a rotational bezel rotatably mounted around said time display section of said watch casing.

12. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said rotation detecting means comprises:

a detection element for detecting rotation of said first wheel mechanism;

drive start means for starting driving of said detection element; and

drive stop means for stopping driving of said detection element upon elapse of a predetermined time after said driving of said detection element has been started by said drive start means.

13. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said second wheel mechanism has a detecting wheel having a notch formed therein, and said rotation detecting means has a light emitting element disposed at one side surface of said detecting wheel and a light receiving element disposed on an opposite side surface thereof in association with said light emitting element, whereby rotation of said first wheel mechanism is detected by detecting that light emitting from said light emitting element onto said light receiving element is shielded by said detecting wheel.

14. A rotation detecting apparatus comprising:

a casing;

a first wheel mechanism disposed inside said casing;

rotation detecting means for detecting rotation of said first wheel mechanism and outputting a signal for each predetermined rotational angle;

a second wheel mechanism for measurement disposed at said casing such that a periphery of said second wheel mechanism does not protrude from an outer surface of said casing;

a moving member for moving said second wheel mechanism to such a location that rotation thereof is transmitted to said first wheel mechanism and part of said second wheel mechanism is exposed from said outer surface of said casing;

distance data computing means for acquiring data of an amount of rotation of said second wheel mechanism from said signal from said rotation detecting means and providing distance data corresponding to said data of said amount of rotation; and

display means for display said distance data acquired by said distance data computing means.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said first and second wheel mechanisms have a gear wheel.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said casing has a through hole formed therein and a third wheel mechanism for transmitting rotation of said second wheel mechanism to said first wheel mechanism is disposed within said through hole.

17. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said moving member is rotatably attached to said casing.

18. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said casing is a watch casing and said moving member is a rotational member rotatably attached to said watch casing.

19. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said rotation detecting means comprises:

a detection element for detecting rotation of said first wheel mechanism;

drive start means for starting driving of said detection element; and

drive stop means for stopping driving of said detection element upon elapse of a predetermined time after said driving of said detection element has been started by said drive start means.

20. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said second wheel mechanism has a detecting wheel having a notch formed therein, and said rotation detecting means has a light emitting element disposed at one side surface of said detecting wheel and a light receiving element disposed on an opposite side surface thereof in association with said light emitting element, whereby rotation of said first wheel mechanism is detected by detecting that light emitting from said light emitting element onto said light receiving element is shielded by said detecting wheel.

21. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising time counting means for acquiring present time data to be displayed on said display means.

22. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said distance data computing means has memory means for storing scale reduction data representing an externally specified reduced scale and acquires said distance data from said scale reduction data and said data of said amount of rotation of said second wheel mechanism.