Horology: time measuring systems or devices – Plural timepiece system or system device – With wireless synchronization
Patent
1997-11-03
1999-04-27
Miska, Vit
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
Plural timepiece system or system device
With wireless synchronization
G04C 1102
Patent
active
058986430
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a watch which has a radio-signal correction function.
BACKGROUND ART
With advances in quartz watch technology, there has been great improvement in the timekeeping accuracy of watches. However, in striving to attain accurate timekeeping, it is necessary to impart external correction to a quartz watch at some interval.
A type of watch having a radio-signal correction function, a receiving function being added to the watch so as to use a radio or TV time broadcast as a means for correcting the time, has already been adopted for use as facilities watches and in VCRs. In addition, there are longwave standards signals which include time/calendar information in the form of a modulated time code, these being widely used in Europe.
By using this radio signal having a time code, it is not necessary, as it is with a radio-signal correction function watch which uses the information from a radio or TV broadcast, to set the time beforehand, so that even if the time on the watch is incorrect, after radio signal correction is completed, the correct time is accurately captured by the watch.
Thus, a watch having a receiving function which receives a radio signal having a time code not only keeps time accurately, but also does not require the setting of time, making it extremely easy to use.
As watches having a radio-signal correction function gained market acceptance, there has been a desire to have watches with such functions as a local time function, an alarm function, and a chronograph function, which previous multifunction watches had. Because of this desire, the applicant developed a watch with a radio-signal correction function such as set forth in the Japanese Patent Application No. 7-11650.
A previous watch with a radio-signal correction function is described below, with reference being made to relevant drawings.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a watch 200 with a radio-signal correction function having a local time function. In this block diagram, the reference numeral 1 denotes an oscillator circuit, which is an oscillation means, 2 is a frequency division circuit which divides the oscillation signal S1 that is output from the oscillator circuit 1, this frequency division circuit thereby generating the frequency-divided signal S2 which is required for the timekeeping of hour/minutes and seconds, and the frequency-divided signal S3 which is required for drive of the minute hand every minute and drive of the second hand every second.
The frequency division circuit 2 has a reset function, and when the reset signal S28 is high, it goes into the reset condition, the minute dividing operation being thereby stopped. The reference numeral 31 denotes a hour/minute drive pulse generating circuit which generates an hour/minute drive pulse S4 from the frequency-divided signal S3 and which, when a non-coincidence signal S5 from an hour/minute position determining circuit is at the high level, continuously outputs the hour/minute drive pulse S4. 32 is an hour/minute counter which performs timekeeping of hours and minutes by counting the frequency-divided signal S2, which can count up by one minute at the rising edge of an hour/minute correction signal S21 from a correction contents selecting means 11 to be described later, and which also corrects the time data in accordance with a time data signal S32 from a time code generating circuit 143.
The hour/minute counter 32 outputs an hour/minute count data signal S6 as time data, and when the time data reaches a priorly established time, this hour/minute counter 32 outputs a scheduled receiving operation signal S23 in high level.
After a certain amount of time has elapsed, or when the time data signal S23 is input, the receiving operation signal S23 is made low level. The reference numeral 33 denotes a time-difference counter, which generates time-difference data using as a reference the time data from the counting data signal S6 of the hour/minute counter 32 and outputs a local time counting data signal S7.
The time-difference
REFERENCES:
patent: 4860268 (1989-08-01), Allgaier et al.
patent: 5036500 (1991-07-01), Ganter
patent: 5537101 (1996-07-01), Nakajima et al.
Takada Akinari
Yasuoka Tadashi
Citizen Watch Co. Ltd.
Miska Vit
LandOfFree
Watch with radio-signal correction function does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Watch with radio-signal correction function, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Watch with radio-signal correction function will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-689920