EP0455183B2 - Autonomous radio-controlled clock - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an autonomous radio clock according to the preamble of the claim 1.

Such a radio clock is known from DE-C1-34 39 638. As below regarding the radio clock function is explained in more detail, it is switched on sporadically Receiver equipped for complete encoded absolute time information, which then set a time register that is clocked internally, and with Means for comparing that on an electromechanical analog display presented time with the current content of the time register and if necessary to correct the time displayed differently.

In contrast, the undated date is not a generic watch Summary of Japanese Disclosure No. 60-25480 (A / 1985), the obviously handled a wrist watch, but it is not a radio controlled watch. That watch is equipped with an actuating shaft crown, which is in three different pull positions and thus obviously in the conventional way for manual change the current time display can be operated. Without further technical details revealing, it follows only from this brief description that the Watch such a manual intervention part of a display on one any time display changes while an additional one is available electromechanical hand time display works in a correction mode, however, nothing can be inferred about the function of that publication. It may be as a result, as described in U.S. Patent 4,258,431 manual change of part of the digital time display in the electro-optical Display the hands of an electromechanical display in an angular position to have it turned, that of the changed but not necessarily correct one Time specification corresponds. The handling problems associated with this in practice do not occur with a radio clock, because the absolute received due to The given time display is checked again and again sporadically and, if necessary, automatically corrected to the legal time received, without manual intervention by the user disrupting the correction or could even falsify.

A digitally displaying radio clock is known from EP-A-0 372 432. She is with a manually operated zone switch equipped for hour input into a memory, the content of which, for the time display, the current Hourly information is added or subtracted from this, which is received from time to time Radio telegram is decoded and then continued until the next radio reception. The hour indication of the time shown on the digital display deviates by the manually specified number from time zones to that which can be decoded for the transmitter time zone from the received time telegram is what corresponds to a time display in a certain other selectable geographic time zone.

The radio clock known from EP-A-0 308 881, also digitally displaying, has the special feature in a display area reserved for this, indicate how often since the most recent reception of a usable The recipient's time telegram was temporarily switched on in vain. With very unfavorable (there highly shielded or severely disturbed) reception conditions can be multiple automatically or manually Tried reception attempts have been unsuccessful, so that the current time display has been for a long time (without checking and, if necessary, correction based on a currently received time telegram) based on internal timing. Under normal usage conditions of the radio clock leads however each receiver activation to receive a usable time telegram, so that the control display indicates the value zero because the most recent receiver activation was not in vain.

In the digitally displaying radio clock according to DE-A-30 15 312, the current reception quality is determined from the Comparison of an ideal rectangular pulse with the coding pulses of the time frame just received determined and shown as a quality figure.

The decodability of the received time telegram does not only depend on the one currently encountered Reception field strength, but also from other disturbances during the reception time phase. However, if only the field strength is of interest, it can be done according to DE-A-2 802 040 by means of a row of light-emitting diodes next to the digital display for the information decoded from the time telegram.

In the case of a radio clock which, on the other hand, has a mechanical time display (in particular according to US Pat. No. 4,650,344) is equipped with pointers), a pointer can be provided when the Switch clock first in time with the received coding frequency of the time telegram until an absolute Time information as a reference for checking and correcting the time display pointer position from the received time telegram could be decoded. An uneasy run of such an indicator pointer is an unmistakable indication that no undisturbed reception of the time information encoded in the second grid it is possible that an automatic correction of the current time display is not expected.

The present invention has for its object a known as such radio clock with electromechanical To interpret the time display in such a way that it is problem-free for the user Switching to other time zones is possible.

While the display of an electro-optical display directly into that of another selected The time display assigned to the time zone can be skipped is the electromechanical time display from transmission technology Reasons cannot be changed as quickly as you want, which is why you need manual time zone switching cannot follow without delay. The resulting irritation of the beholder becomes more present Invention according to claim 1 overcome in that with manual time zone change that The hour assigned to the selected time zone is shown temporarily as the new current hour on the display while the electromechanical time display is still running into this new time

Fig. 1

im vereinfachten einpoligen Blockschaltbild eine schaltungstechnische Realisierung der wesentlichen funktionalen Zusammenhänge in der erfindungsgemäßen Funkuhr und ihren Weiterbildungen sowie

Fig. 2

stark vergrößert und nicht ganz maßstabsgerecht eine Ausbildung der Funkuhr nach Fig. 1 als Funkuhr-Armbanduhr.

Further developments of this invention result from the further claims and additional advantages from the following description of a preferred implementation example for the solution according to the invention, which is sketched in a highly abstract manner and limited to the essentials. It shows:

Fig. 1

in the simplified single-pole block diagram, a circuit-related implementation of the essential functional relationships in the radio-controlled clock according to the invention and their further developments as well

Fig. 2

greatly enlarged and not quite to scale an embodiment of the radio clock according to FIG. 1 as a radio clock wristwatch.

The circuit clock and sketched radio clock 11 is equipped with a miniaturized antenna 12, which feeds a receiver 14 via an antenna line 13. This is common to at least one operated in the long-wave frequency band, tuned transmitter that quasi-continuously encodes transmits absolute time information. This is demodulated in the receiver 14 and into a decoder 15 digitized time information implemented in a display control circuit 16 for a multi-digit digital display 17 is passed. Since in addition an analog display 18 for the presentation of the current hour and Minute is provided, this information need not be additionally presented in the digital display 17 become; this can then be limited to a two-digit day, month and second display D, M, S, of which the first two groups of digits are used to simplify the interpretation followed by an ordinal point 19 (Fig. 2).

As shown in more detail in the above-mentioned US Pat. No. 4,650,344, is an electromechanical display 18 equipped with a coding or incremental detector 20 to the current mechanical Display position (i.e. the current time display) in a comparator 21 with the (absolute) to be displayed Compare time information. In the event of a false indication, a switch 22 is actuated by the latter in order to the electromechanical converter 23 (for example a clock stepper motor) with an increased frequency f2 from an autonomous one internal timing circuit 24 to drive until the mechanical display 18 again with the predefined time information matches. Then the comparator 21 switches the changeover switch 22 back, and henceforth the converter 23 is clocked further with a time-keeping frequency f1.

To signal the viewer that the clock 11 is currently trying to record encoded time information, that her receiver 14 is switched on, a reception indicator 25 is provided, which is preferably is realized as a flashing representation between or next to the digits of the optronic display 17. If according to the preferred implementation example shown, a weekday display 26 with jump labels 27, the weekday abbreviations (in FIG. 2 the English-language abbreviations M, T, T, W, F, S, S for the weekdays Monday ... Sunday) is assigned, then it can be provided that the decoder 15 by means of a flag control circuit 28 brightness control of the respectively valid mark 27 to modulate through a chopper 29 by periodic interruption if and as long as the receiver 14 is controlled for reception.

Particularly in the case of a small radio clock 11 carried along, that is to say not operated in a stationary manner, as in the design a travel alarm clock or even a wristwatch is of particular interest to the user, whether or not under the current operating conditions, the available reception field strength also for the operation of the Receiver 14 would suffice if this is to be switched on. For this, the antenna 12 is in front of or after the amplifying receiver 14, a level meter 30 is connected, which is the sequence of all daily marks 27 can be controlled via an intensity control circuit 31 in the manner of a bar graph display. Appear with corresponding display switchover (e.g. by means of a pushbutton switch 34 or with a defined length Actuation of a switch 41) provided per se for other functions then the more consecutive Marks 27 side by side (illustrated by the intersecting diagonals in FIG. 2), each the level of the received field strength is currently higher. It is advisable to modulate this display again, periodically darkened by a chopper 29 when and as long as the receiver 14 is switched on is. Switching between the special display with bar graph field strength display in the optoelectronic Display 17 (according to FIG. 2) on the one hand and on the other hand the normal date, second and weekday display (dotted below in FIG. 2) is preferably carried out via an operating mode switch 32 with a control level 33, which among other things can be set by manually operated pushbutton switches 34. At the same time its reset input 35 is activated, which activates an internal timer which switches 32 Control stage 33 (after a circuit-specific waiting period from the last SET activation) in the regular optronic date and second presentation on the display 17.

A part of the optronic display 17 can be used to signal if necessary, that the operating voltage of the power source 36 has dropped critically, for example a buffered one Solar cell exposed to radiation or a battery change should be made soon to avoid imminent stoppage of the clock 11. A detector 37 is provided for this, for example works as a voltmeter. When the display position detector 20 with light emitting diodes in light barriers works, as described in more detail in US Pat. No. 4,645,357 for a pointer movement, it is more reliable, by means of the detector 37 to query their voltage-dependent functional threshold and via the display control circuit 16 on the display 17 (preferably in the upper half of the monthly display M) To let warning information 38 appear, such as the representation of a battery symbol (as in FIG. 2 above considered).

As illustrated by the dynamic input in the middle of OR gate 39, the receiver 14 always switched on when the clock 11 is put into operation, for example by equipping it with a (fresh) power source 36. In addition, a switch-on takes place when a query circuit is activated 40, which is preset to certain times, such as reaching every hour on the hour current time However, if it is the configuration as a wristwatch radio watch 11, it is more appropriate only a few times during the night, as switch-on times for the receiver 14, in the interrogation circuit 40 to specify. Because if the wrist radio watch 11 is worn during the day, cause the movements of field strength fluctuations in the receiving antenna 12 which are amplitude modulated Overlay the coding of the received time information and thus falsify the coding, i.e. the decoding can prevent current time information, although the reception field strength is actually sufficient would. Such irritation of the wearer, and the unnecessary energy consumption due to a function Vainly switched on receiver 14 are avoided if the switch-on times in the be laid deep night, in which the wristwatch 11 is stored or in any case the arm of the wearer rests.

Finally, the receiver 14 can also be switched on manually via a so-called “transmitter call button”. 41 take place, which preferably is sunk to avoid erroneous actuation (as can be seen from FIG. 2) is arranged in the housing 60 of the clock 11.

Each time the receiver 14 is switched on, an isolating switch 42 is connected between the decoder 15 and one Register 43 opened, which is set to this when decoding a plausible current time information and is then clocked from the time-keeping circuit 24 for the continuous time determination. However, it can be expedient, while switching on the receiver 14 in the optoelectronic display 17 on a Part of the display, for example in the two-digit date range, now contains the second information determined by decoder 15 instead of the usual (date) display with ordinal point 19 to show the synchronization process to be able to observe while receiving the time information, as in FIG. 1 by a Observation switch 44 is taken into account in the supply of the display control circuit 16.

The switching on of the receiver 14 is interrupted again by a switching stage 45 when the decoder 15 was able to decode current correct time information and therefore also switches 42, 44 into the resets normal display function; or if over a certain period of reception (specified in switching stage 45) such plausible current time information cannot be obtained from decoder 15 could. The plausibility criterion is a defined time difference between a currently decoded one received time information and a past or from the advanced time register 43 obtained reference time information.

The constellations of a receiver switching on and off again without decoding a valid one Time information is recorded in an inhibit logic gate 46 and summed up by a counter 47, whose current counter reading on the display 17 switched to transmitter display by appropriate Actuation of the display control circuit 16 'is shown numerically; about as the number of attempts to receive 48 with at least one of the digits, which in normal display 17 display as a day D serve (as taken into account in Fig. 2 top left). The number of attempts to receive 48 is therefore always displayed to "zero" if (in the reception area of the time information transmitter) every activation of the receiver 14 - be it manually or automatically - it leads to the decoding of current time information.

Every time the receiver 14 switches off without it being possible in the decoder connected downstream of it was to obtain confirmed, i.e. currently absolute, time information, the time in register 43 is kept internally advanced old time information is again given to the display 17 via the display control circuit 16. This ensures that a correct (even if not confirmed by radio) time display continues also takes place if, for example, due to interference or due to a switched-off transmitter the reception and decoding of radio time information is currently not possible

However, if the transmitter call button 41 over a predetermined longer, detected by a timer 49 Remains pressed for a period of time, then when the receiver 14 is switched on a complete one takes place Circuit and program reset including resetting all registers, including the progress time register 43. This also resets all displays and the clock operation begins again with counting and displaying the continuous seconds decoded from the radio information. It is expressed by the OR operations 50 in FIG. 1 that this means the same start-up state is triggered, as in the case of the replacement of the power source 36.

A transmitter for the transmission of coded absolute time information relates this to a specific geographical Time zone, regularly to the time zone in which it is operated. It can be assumed, that in the mutually adjacent edges of the adjacent time zones, those transmitters are also sufficient Field strength for the operation of the receiver 14 can be recorded via the antenna 12. However, this is certainly no longer the case if the radio clock 11 goes beyond that of the transmitter to which the receiver is located 14 is coordinated, is operated on both sides of adjacent time zones. The continuous time display works here 18 including the additional indications on the display 17 therefore only from the internal time keeping advanced register 43.

To the time display different from the transmitter information around the display units according to the Changing the number of time zone changes, i.e. adapting it to the local time in the stay time zone, is a manually operated zone switch 51 is provided, with which the display control circuit 16 operates Register 43 by full hours (without influencing the current minute and second presentations; but taking into account any calendar changes of the day) can be probed back and forth, for example by actuating pushbutton switches 52+, 52- which are arranged recessed in the watch case 60. To increase the This addition or subtraction of complete hours is clear in the block diagram of FIG. 1 the adjustment register 53 connected downstream of the time register 43.

In the time zone adjacent to the transmitter, the hourly information received is used for the display subtracted or added one hour. But as soon as this manual time zone adjustment more than one tent zone is, i.e. refers to regions in which a reliable reception of the transmitter is no longer expected can be switched on the receiver 14 to relieve the power source 36 via a gate circuit 54 blocked. Their control takes place from a comparator 55, the gate circuit 54 again switches through when the manually effected hour change returns below plus or minus two. That makes a comparison of the hourly information in front of and behind the adaptation register 53, for example.

In order to avoid any errors, the actuation of any of the time zone pushbuttons expediently brings about 52 - as mentioned above, the actuation of an additional switch switch, if any 34 - a change of the display on the optronic display 17 from the date and second display the current time (indicated by dots in Fig. 1 above) on an already mentioned auxiliary display. Tracking the electromechanical flaps or pointer display 18 For technical reasons, however, the increased setting frequency f2 cannot be set to any higher Speed take place; and if a mechanical rapid traverse is only possible in one direction, requires at a twelve hour display 18 e.g. the changes by minus two time zones ten full rounds a minute hand coupled to the hour hand. So while the time zone change specification can be done quickly via the key switch 52, it can be irritating that the wake of the electromechanical advanced pointer that in no way follows

Therefore, the time zone change is expediently not shown in the auxiliary display 17 (in hours) compared to the previous time, but with the two digits of the second display in this changeover state, a real (target) hour display H is carried out directly from the given one Hour in the notified new time zone. Based on the example mentioned above, after Pressing the minus button 52 twice - now not "-2" on the right in the switched display 17 displayed, but (based on the pointer position according to FIG. 2) the new time zone target hour "20" (clock, without taking into account the unaffected minutes and seconds). This is the target hour display for the mechanical display 18, in the latter is controlled via the comparator 21, updating the Minutes and seconds that are required for this setting process. The display 17 shows So on the right always an hour display that matches that of the received time information (and the electromechanical Display 18) matches if no manual time zone jumps have been entered.

The functions illustrated in the drawing in the manner of a block diagram can largely be be realized in a processor that is mainly used for receiver and display control from the demodulated and decoded absolute time information is provided.

The antenna 12 of the radio clock 11 is expediently designed as a magnetic antenna from a flat coil 56 connected to the antenna line 13 on a flexible core 57, as for example described in more detail in DE-GM 88 15 967. This antenna 12 can be drawn into a bracelet 58 and electrically and mechanically by means of a combined plug and fastening device 59 the housing 60 of the wristwatch radio watch 11 may be connected. Because this is preferred according to the illustrated Realization example (Fig. 2) as a hybrid watch, i.e. with a combination of electromechanical Display 18 and electro-optical display 17 is equipped, the latter is preferably - contrary to the usual Design of such hybrid watches - not below, but above the electromechanical pointer display 18 is thereby arranged on the lower edge in the housing 60, under the lower region of the Minuterie 61, enough space available for the design of the counterpart to the plug and fastening device 59 of the bracelet 58; so that this is somewhat stiffer by installing the antenna 12 thicker portion of the bracelet 58 desirably to lie on the inside of the support arm is coming. Opposite, next to the installation space for the display 17, this is not an antenna equipped partial bracelet hinged to the edge of the watch case 60 via a conventional hinge 62.

Claims (3)

1. An autonomous radio-controlled timepiece (11) with a receiver (14) which is sporadically switched on for coded absolute items of time information, with a time register (43), which can be set based on a received item of time information and can be stepped on by an autonomous internal time-keeping circuit (24), and with means for an actual comparison between its mechanical analogue time display (18) and the content of the time register (43) as well as, should it be necessary, for correction of the analogue time display (18) in accordance with the register content by increased frequency (f2) from the time-keeping circuit (24),
   characterized in that
   a zone switch (51) is provided for the manual setting of hours representing time-zone changes by changing the content of the time register (43) with resultant alteration of the analogue time display (18) to show the manually changed set hour, as well as a multi-place digital display (17) for displaying items of information other than hour and minute, which, temporarily and switching back automatically, is switched over by operation of the zone switch (51) to a secondary display showing the set hour as per operation of the zone switch (51), which represents the valid hour display (H) to which the analogue time display (18) is just changing.
2. Radio-controlled timepiece according to Claim 1,
   characterized in that,
   during time-keeping operation of the display, the received and decoded seconds of the actual time are displayed in one part of the display (17), however after operation of the zone switch (51), the set hour to which the mechanical time display (18) is just changing is temporarily displayed in this part of the display.
3. Radio-controlled timepiece according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   if the hour set via the zone switch (51) deviates by more than one time zone from the hour of the actually received item of time information, the receiver (14) for receiving items of time information remains switched off.

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