JP2002040171A - Clock device having time correction function, and method for correcting time of clock - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a clock device, having a time correction mechanism for automatically and accurately performing time correction by an on-the-hour time signal, at the same time, arbitrary time difference adjustment including time fluctuation in daylight saving, and the time adjustment of a leap second, or the like. SOLUTION: The clock device is provided with a clock (105), a reception means (102 and 103) for receiving a signal from the outside by cables or by radio, and a means for correcting the time of the clock based on a received signal. The clock device is also provided with a switching means (104) for dividing a signal received from a receiver into an on-the-hour time signal and other signals, a demodulation means (107) for generating a time correction signal by decoding the other signals. The correction means corrects the on-the- hour time of the clock (105), based on the on-the-hour time signal, and corrects the time of the clock (105) based on the time correction signal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a timepiece having a time adjustment mechanism based on an external signal and a time adjustment method for the timepiece. The present invention particularly relates to a clock device with a time correction function suitable for equipment clocks installed on ships, buildings, and the like, and a time correction method for the clock.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 shows the configuration of a conventional time signal correction clock 600. The time signal correction clock 600 has an antenna 601 and receives a radio wave containing an hourly time signal such as a radio broadcast. The radio wave received by the antenna 601 is transmitted to the receiver 6
In 02, the signal is demodulated into an audio signal. The demodulated audio signal is detected by the detector 603 as a time signal (for example, 880H
z signal) and transmits a time signal to the clock 604. The clock 604 to which the hourly time signal has been transmitted transmits the timepiece 604 by a correction mechanism (not shown) when the delay or advance of the timepiece 604 at that moment is within a certain range of time with respect to the hourly time of the hourly signal. The hour signal is corrected to the correct hour and the hand movement of the time display unit 605 is corrected to the correct hour. Usually, the hour correction operation based on the received time signal is performed once or twice a day at a predetermined time. Thereby, the delay or advance of the time of the clock 604 and the time display unit 605 is corrected (for example, as a conventional example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
326556).

[0003]

However, in this conventional time signal correction clock, it is not possible to perform the necessary time adjustment in units of time due to the implementation of daylight saving time. In such a case, in the conventional time signal correction clock, there is no other choice but to manually adjust the clock one by one. For this reason, there is a conventional technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-325175 in order to cope with a time variation accompanying the implementation of daylight saving time. This is provided with a window for detecting the time signal even at the exact time before and after the time, so that the time signal can be moved even if the time signal moves in units of time due to daylight saving time. However, this conventional technique can cope with a fixed time fluctuation such as daylight saving time, but cannot cope with an application such as a world clock which displays a world city time having an arbitrary time difference. Further, in the case where the time is adjusted in units of seconds such as leap seconds, in a conventional time signal correction clock, a correction signal comes in from the detector after the clock has passed the hour, so the clock is The wrong time will be displayed temporarily. Therefore, the present invention is not only a time adjustment based on the hourly time signal, but also a time adjustment mechanism that can cope with any time difference adjustment including time fluctuation due to daylight saving time, and can automatically and accurately adjust time such as leap seconds. It is an object to provide a device and a time correction method.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a timepiece, a receiving means for receiving a signal from the outside via a wired or wireless communication, and a receiving means for receiving a signal from the receiving means. Correction means for correcting the time on the clock;
A clock device with a time adjustment function, comprising: a switching unit that divides a signal received by a reception unit into an hourly time signal and other signals; and a time adjustment signal generated by reading the contents of other signals. Decoding means, and the correction means,
There is provided a clock device with a time correction function, which corrects the hour of the clock based on a time signal of the hour and corrects the time of the clock based on a time correction signal. The switching means may divide the time signal into an hourly signal and another signal based on the time at which the signal is received. The decoding means may generate the time correction signal by reading the contents of other signals according to a program stored in advance. The time adjustment signal may be a signal instructing adjustment in a predetermined time unit. Further, the time adjustment signal may be a signal including a notice of time adjustment and causing the clock to perform a preparation operation for time adjustment. Further, there is further provided an identification number storage means for storing the contents for identifying the clock, and the decoding means reads the contents of other signals in accordance with the contents stored in the identification number storage means to generate a time correction signal. Thus, the time of the clock may be individually controllable. The identification number storage means may further store the time at which the time of the clock is corrected, and the time correction timing may be selected for each clock. Further, the present invention is a method of receiving a signal from the outside via a wire or wirelessly and correcting the time of a clock based on the signal, wherein the received signal is divided into an hourly time signal and another signal. Read the contents of other signals, generate a time correction signal, correct the time of the clock based on the time signal of the hour, and correct the time of the clock based on the time correction signal. A time correction method for a clock having steps is provided. The separating step may be divided into an hourly time signal and another signal based on the time of receiving the signal. The time adjustment signal may be a signal instructing adjustment in a predetermined time unit. According to the above configuration of the present invention, in addition to correcting the hour at the hour of the clock based on the hourly signal of the hour, the time of the clock can be variously adjusted by other signals. For example, by reading the contents of other signals, you can modify the fixed time unit for daylight saving time or any time unit, or stop the clock until it synchronizes with standard time for leap second adjustment. it can.

[0005]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a timepiece 10 with a time correction function according to one embodiment of the present invention.
0 shows a block diagram. The clock device 100 with the time correction function according to this embodiment includes an antenna 101 and a receiver 10.
2, a detector 103, a switch 104, and a clock 105
, A time display unit 106, and a decoder 107. In particular, the point that the switch 104 and the decoder 107 are provided is significantly different from the conventional timepiece 600. Switch 104
Supplies a signal from the detector 103 to the clock 105 according to the time of the clock 105, for example, for 30 seconds before and after the hour of the predetermined time of the clock 105, 1 minute to 30 seconds before
03 is supplied to the decoder 107.

FIG. 2 shows the relationship between an external time signal 201, other additional signals 202 for time correction, and the switching operation of the switch 104 based on the time of the clock 105. The switch 104 supplies the signal of the detector 103 to the clock 105 during a period of 30 seconds before and 30 seconds before the hour 200 of the predetermined time of the clock 105. The switch 104 supplies the signal of the detector 103 to the decoder 107 during a period from one minute to 30 seconds before the hour 200 at a predetermined time of the clock 105.

During a period of 30 seconds before and after the hour 200 at the predetermined time of the clock 105, the signal from the detector 103 is directly supplied to the clock 105 by the switch 104.
In the case of 00, the hour can be corrected by the time signal. That is, the antenna 101 receives the radio wave containing the time signal 201 at the correct time of the predetermined time of the radio broadcast, and the receiver 102 demodulates it into an audio signal. From the demodulated audio signal, the detector 103 outputs an hourly time signal 201 (for example,
A specific frequency signal for transmitting an 880 Hz signal) is detected and transmitted to the clock 105 via the switch 104. The clock 105 to which the hourly time signal 201 has been transmitted corrects its own time delay or advance by a correction mechanism (not shown).
In addition, the delay or advance of the hand movement of the time display unit 106 is corrected, and the time of the clock 100 is adjusted to the correct time of the time signal 201.
Normally, the hour correction operation based on the time signal 201 is performed once or twice a day at a predetermined time. Or
The correction of the hour on the hour based on the time signal 201 may be performed every hour.

[0008] 30 minutes from one minute before the hour 200 of the clock 105
Until the second, the switch 104 connects the detector 103 to the decoder 107. For this reason, if the additional signal 202 for other time correction is transmitted via radio waves in this time zone, the additional signal 202 is transmitted to the antenna 101 of the device 100.
, And supplied to a decoder 107 via a receiver 102 and a detector 103. The decoder 107 reads the content of the supplied additional signal 202 using a program or a circuit stored in advance.

For example, the additional signal 202 for time correction is a fixed time unit for daylight saving time, for example, 1
Assuming that the signal is a signal for adjusting the time fluctuation (advance or delay) of the time, the decoder 107 reads the content of the additional signal by a program or a circuit stored in advance and causes the clock 105 to adjust the time. Movement signal 10 for
9. Send instructions to advance or delay one hour, for example. The clock 105 is a hand movement signal 10 from the decoder 107.
According to No. 9, the own time is corrected by a correction mechanism (not shown), and further, the hand movement of the time display unit 106 is advanced or delayed by one hour. The decoder 107 is capable of modifying the program or circuit stored in advance or changing the content of the additional signal 202 to add to the time variation in the fixed time unit for the daylight saving time described above. Time correction of an arbitrary time width according to the content of the signal 202 can be automatically executed on the clock 105 and the time display unit 106 by external remote control.

In order to receive the time signal 201 and the additional signal 202, power is consumed to supply power to the receiver 102, the detector 103, and the like of the apparatus 100 to make the apparatus in a receiving state. The reception period of the device 100 and the switching time of the switch 104 are determined by the time signal 201 in addition to the power consumption of the device 100 during reception.
And the timing of receiving the additional signal 202 and the cumulative advance / delay time expected in the time adjustment interval of the clock 105.

For example, assuming that the hourly time signal is received and corrected at a predetermined time once a day, the maximum value of the cumulative advance or delay time expected within the time correction interval (one day) of the clock device 100 is assumed. Is 30 seconds, the hourly signal 20
The reception of 1 only needs to be performed once a day for 1 minute from 59:30 before the hour before the predetermined time of the clock 105 to 00:30. During other periods, the receiver 1 of the device 100
02 and the detector 103 can be used for receiving the additional radio signal 202 for other time correction. In FIG. 2, radio wave reception is started 30 seconds earlier at 59:00, and during this time, the radio wave of the additional signal 202 is received. In this way, the receiver 102 and the detector 103 of the device 100
It is only necessary to supply power to the receiving circuit once a day for one and a half minutes. It should be noted that the reception time of the radio signals 201 and 202 for time correction can be selected and set in addition to the above. Further, the switch 104 may send a signal to the clock 105 or the decoder 107 based on the signal content from the detector 103. For example, an hourly time signal (for example, 88
(0 Hz signal) 201, a time signal is sent directly to the clock 105 for correction of the hour based on the time signal, and if it is an additional signal 202, it is sent to the decoder 107, and its contents are decoded and read. Hand movement signal 10 specified by additional signal
9 is generated. As described above, when the switch 104 switches the destination of the signal according to the content of the received signal, it is not necessary to switch the destination of the received signal depending on the time.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a clock device 300 with a time adjustment function according to another embodiment of the present invention. The clock device 300 with the time correction function according to this embodiment includes an antenna 301 and a receiver 302 as in the embodiment shown in FIG.
, Detector 303, switch 304, clock 305,
It has a time display unit 306 and a decoder 307. The difference between the embodiment of FIG. 3 and the embodiment of FIG. 1 is that the program stored in advance in the decoder 307 reads the contents of the additional signal 202 (FIG. 2), and if it is a correction notice signal, a stop signal 31
It additionally has a function of supplying 0 to the clock 305. The decoder 307 is adapted to cope with leap second adjustment performed irregularly.

In the apparatus 300, if the additional signal 202 (FIG. 2) is a correction notice signal for notifying the leap second adjustment to be performed irregularly, the decoder 307 interprets this by a pre-stored program and reads the clock. A stop signal 310 is supplied to 305 and temporarily stopped by a correction mechanism (not shown), and the hand movement of the time display unit 306 is also temporarily stopped. Leap second adjustments are made during this pause to accurately synchronize the clock 305 with standard time before the clock 305
Operation and the hand movement of the time display 306 are restarted. In the past, in the leap second adjustment which is performed irregularly, the leap second adjustment is performed after the clock has finished moving the hands first, and as a result, a phenomenon that the clock is out of order for a certain period has occurred.
According to this embodiment of the present invention, when the leap second adjustment is performed, the stop signal 310 for the leap second adjustment is sent in advance from the decoder 307, and 1 is set immediately before the leap second adjustment is performed.
The hand movement of the clock 305 and the time display unit 306 is stopped by the second, and the hand movement is restarted from the moment when the leap second is adjusted. As a result, the apparatus 300 can be accurately synchronized with the standard time even if there is a leap second adjustment. Therefore, this apparatus 300 can be used where schedule management in units of seconds is required. In the case of digital time display, the display may be switched to the normal display after displaying 60 seconds instead of stopping the hand movement. It should be noted that this device 300 is similar to the device 100 of FIG.
In the case where the contents of the instruction 2 indicate the correction of an arbitrary time width, the hand movement signal 309 is generated and the time of the arbitrary time width can be corrected in response to the instruction.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a timepiece 400 with a time adjusting function according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
The clock device 400 with the time adjustment function according to this embodiment
As in the device 100 shown in FIG. 1, an antenna 401, a receiver 402, a detector 403, a switch 404, a clock 4
05, a time display unit 406, and a decoder 407. The difference between the device 400 of FIG. 4 and the device 100 of FIG.
The device 400 further comprises an identification number storage means 408, which is connected to the decoder 407. By using the identification number storage means 408, it becomes possible to selectively process the additional signal 202 from outside for each device 400. That is, a number that can identify each device 400 is stored in the identification number storage unit 408, and a different additional signal 202 associated with the identification number is supplied from the outside to each device 400, and each device corresponds to its own device. To selectively generate the different hand operation signals 409 by selectively receiving the additional signals
The time of the zero clock 405 can be adjusted. As a result, for example, a time difference from UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) different for each device 400 can be displayed. According to this embodiment, a plurality of devices 400 are arranged, and each device 400
It is possible to easily realize a clock device called a world clock that displays the time of major cities in the world for each time display unit 406.

An additional signal 202 which differs from device to device from outside
Instead of supplying the same additional signal 202 from outside, the decoder 407 outputs a hand movement signal 409 for correcting a different time width for each device 400, and the clock 4
The time of 05 and the hand movement of the time display unit 406 may be selectively corrected. For this, the decoder 407
In accordance with the identification number of the device 400 stored in the identification number storage means 408, generates a hand movement signal 409 of a different time width for the same content of the additional signal 202. , Just program it.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a clock device 500 with a time adjusting function according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
The clock device 500 with the time correction function according to this embodiment
An antenna 501, a receiver 502, a detector 503,
A switch 504, a clock 505, a time display unit 506,
And a decoder 507. The device 500 of FIG.
The difference of the device 400 is that in the device 500, instead of the identification number storage means 408, an identification number storage and correction time storage means 508 is connected to a decoder 507. This identification number storage and correction time storage means 5
08 stores the modification time of the device in addition to the identification number of each device 500. Using the identification number storage and modification time storage means 508, it is possible to select the device 500 from outside and to select the modification time timing. That is, the decoder 507 can generate the hand movement signal 509 based on the additional signal 202 at the selected correction time timing according to the use of the device 500 and the performance of the clock 505 thereof. For example, the predetermined time at which the correction of the hour is executed is set to once or 24 times a day, and a time signal of the hour is received at the predetermined time selected once or 24 times for each device 500 to correct the time. May be performed. As described above, since the correction time timing is also stored in the storage unit of the identification number of the device, it is possible to select each clock device by an external signal and to select the correction time timing, Correct time signal correction can be realized for each clock device.

In each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the apparatus for receiving a signal from the outside by wireless has been described. However, the apparatus for receiving a signal from the outside by a wired signal or an infrared signal is not limited to a wireless signal. You may. For example, instead of an antenna, connect multiple clock devices to the signal line,
A time signal and other time correction signals may be transmitted to a plurality of timepiece devices using this signal line.

[0018]

According to the clock device with the time correcting function and the time correcting method of the present invention described above, the time is corrected in units of time and accurate leap is obtained based on the conventional time signal correcting clock using the conventional time signal. It is possible to realize a time correction clock device that can remotely control the seconds. That is, since a conventional time signal correction clock is used as a basis, there is an effect that a clock device with a time correction function of the present invention can be easily configured by adding a function to an existing clock. Furthermore, in the timepiece device of the present invention, since the transmission and reception of signals basically use the conventional time signal transmission, the transmission equipment and the reception equipment basically use the conventional equipment and add new functions to it. Just do it. Unlike the time information transmission method of transmitting and receiving the time code, the timepiece device of the present invention requires only a short time to transmit a signal, which is advantageous in terms of power consumption. Further, in the timepiece device of the present invention, since the information amount of signal transmission is small, the possibility that the timepiece device malfunctions due to a communication error is low.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a timepiece device with a time correction function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing timings of a time signal and other additional signals for time correction according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a clock device with a time correction function according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a clock device with a time correction function according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a timepiece device with a time correction function according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a conventional time signal correction clock.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Clock device with time correction function 101 Antenna 102 Receiver 103 Detector 104 Switching device 105 Clock 106 Time display unit 107 Decoder

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2F002 AA00 AA05 AA07 AA12 AD06 AD07 BB04 BB05 BB07 EB06 ED01 ED02 FA16 FA19 GA01 GA02 GA07 GA08 2F083 AA00 BB05 CC02 DD02 DD16 DD20 JJ03 JJ10 JJ12 JJ13 JJ13 JJ14

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A timepiece, comprising: receiving means for receiving a signal from the outside via a wire or wirelessly; and correcting means for correcting the time of the watch based on the signal received by the receiving means. A clock device with a time correction function, comprising: a switching unit that divides the signal received by the reception unit into an hourly time signal and another signal; and generating a time correction signal by reading the content of the other signal. Decoding means, wherein the correction means corrects the hour of the clock based on the hourly signal signal and corrects the time of the clock based on the time correction signal. A clock device with a time adjustment function. 2. The timepiece device with a time correction function according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit divides the time signal into an hourly signal and another signal based on a time at which the signal is received. 3. The timepiece device with a time correction function according to claim 1, wherein the decoding means generates a time correction signal by reading the contents of the other signals according to a program stored in advance. 4. The timepiece device with a time adjustment function according to claim 1, wherein the time adjustment signal is a signal for instructing adjustment in a predetermined time unit. 5. The timepiece device with a time correction function according to claim 1, wherein the time correction signal includes a notice of time correction, and is a signal for causing the clock to perform a preparation operation for correction. 6. An identification number storage means for storing contents for identifying the timepiece, wherein the decoding means reads the contents of the other signals in accordance with the contents stored in the identification number storage means. The time of the clock can be individually controlled by generating the time correction signal.
A clock device with a time correction function according to any one of the above. 7. The clock device with a time correction function according to claim 6, wherein the identification number storage means further stores a time at which the time of the clock is corrected, and a time correction timing can be selected for each clock. 8. A method for receiving a signal from outside via a wire or wirelessly and correcting the time of a clock based on the signal, the method comprising converting the received signal into an hourly time signal and another signal. Dividing the contents of the other signals to generate a time correction signal, correcting the hour of the clock based on the hourly signal, and correcting the time of the clock based on the time correction signal. A method of correcting the time of a clock having each step. 9. The time correction method for a timepiece according to claim 8, wherein the dividing step divides the time signal into an hourly signal and another signal based on a time at which the signal is received. 10. The time adjustment method for a timepiece according to claim 8, wherein the time adjustment signal is a signal for instructing adjustment in a predetermined time unit.