CN104423271A

CN104423271A - Electronic timepiece and satellite signal receiving method of electronic timepiece

Info

Publication number: CN104423271A
Application number: CN201410437428.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 秋山利一
Original assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
Current assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
Priority date: 2013-09-06
Filing date: 2014-08-29
Publication date: 2015-03-18
Anticipated expiration: 2034-08-29
Also published as: CN104423271B

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic timepiece and a satellite signal receiving method of the electronic timepiece. A receiving control portion of the electronic timepiece comprises a satellite capture control portion, a receiving state judging portion, a receiving stop control portion and a storage control portion. The satellite capture control portion is a control portion that controls a GPS receiving circuit during receiving treatment, sets a threshold value of a received signal level and searches and captures position information satellites. The satellite capture control portion sets the position information satellites with satellite numbers stored in a satellite number storage portion as priority search satellites and searches the satellites in priority to other position information satellites. The receiving state judging portion judges whether the number of the position information satellites captured by the satellite capture control portion exceeds a specified number when the search for the priority search satellites with the threshold value of the received signal level set as the specified value is over. The receiving stop control portion enables the GPS receiving circuit to stop receiving satellite signals when it is determined that the number of the position information satellites is less than the specified number. The storage control portion storages the satellite numbers of the position information satellites captured during receiving treatment in the satellite number storage portion.

Description

The satellite signal reception method of electronic watch and electronic watch

Technical field

The present invention relates to the satellite-signal receiving and send from positional information satellites such as such as gps satellites, obtain the electronic watch in current date and moment etc. and the satellite signal reception method of electronic watch.

Background technology

Propose the satellite-signal that receives and send from positional information satellites such as GPS (Global Positioning System: GPS) satellites to carry out the electronic watch (for example, referring to patent documentation 1) of moment correction.

In the electronic watch of patent documentation 1, be conceived to positional information satellite is positioned at roughly the same position every day in the same time situation in phase, by the reception history of positional information satellite and store in the lump the time of reception, when carrying out moment correction, with reference to receiving history, select the positional information satellite corresponding with this moment, carry out reception process.Therefore, only search for the positional information satellite selected, therefore, it is possible to shorten search time, reduce power consumption.

Patent documentation 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication 10-10251 publication

On the other hand, in the electronic watch of patent documentation 1, need the reception history generating each moment (8 minutes, interval), therefore, the quantity of information stored increases, and the scale of memory circuitry increases.In addition, due to will from huge reception history chosen position information satellite, therefore, receive process and become complicated.

Due to these factors, power consumption may be made to increase, fully can not reduce overall power consumption.

Summary of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide and can reduce the electronic watch of power consumption and the satellite signal reception method of electronic watch.

Electronic watch of the present invention has: acceptance division, and it carries out such reception process: catching position information satellite, receives the satellite-signal sent from the positional information satellite captured; Satellite number storage part, the satellite number of its stored position information satellite; And reception control part, it controls described acceptance division, the feature of this electronic watch is, described reception control part has: satellite capture control part, it is the described acceptance division of control, the threshold value of setting received signal level is carried out searching position information satellite and makes the control part that described acceptance division catches, the positional information satellite of satellite number that stores in described satellite number storage part as first search satellite, compared with other positional information satellite, is preferentially searched for by this satellite capture control part; Accepting state detection unit, its described satellite capture control part the threshold value of received signal level is set as setting after opportunity of terminating of the search of described first search satellite, whether the quantity of the positional information satellite captured described in judging as more than specified quantity; Receive stop control unit, it is when being judged to be less than described specified quantity by described accepting state detection unit, controls described acceptance division to stop the reception of satellite-signal; And memory control unit, the satellite number of the positional information satellite captured by described acceptance division is stored in described satellite number storage part by it.

In reception process, such as, comprise: the automatic reception process of receiving satellite signal when meeting automatic reception condition.In addition, in automatic reception process, such as, comprise: timing automatic receives process and light automatic reception process.

Receive in process in timing automatic, periodically carry out reception process every day.

In light automatic reception process, 1 time on the usual 1st, can be judged as carrying out reception process when outdoor daylight is irradiated in electronic watch.Herein, to a certain extent, the moment that user goes out because travelling frequently and attend a school by taking daily trips is fixed often.Therefore, the daylight on the same day irradiate at first in electronic watch moment in most cases every day be the identical moment.Therefore, when light automatic reception process, also general every day synchronization carry out reception process.

In addition, about 12 hours of positional information satellite was around the earth 1 week, and therefore, every day is positioned at roughly the same position at synchronization.

Therefore, when automatic reception process, often carry out reception process at synchronization every day, so the possibility that also can capture the positional information satellite captured last time in upper once reception process is higher.

According to the present invention, the satellite number of the positional information satellite captured by acceptance division when receiving process is stored in satellite number storage part by memory control unit, therefore, in satellite number storage part, store the satellite number of the positional information satellite captured by acceptance division when last time receives process.And then when receiving process, satellite capture control part access satellite number storage part, using the positional information satellite of satellite number that stores in satellite number storage part as first search satellite, compared with other positional information satellite, preferentially explores.

Thus, when reception is treated to automatic reception process, when identical with last time when, compared with other positional information satellite, the positional information satellite that first search captures when last time receives process, therefore, with search for the situation of about 30 the positional information satellites (gps satellite) being present in earth overhead successively according to satellite number compared with, positional information satellite can be captured rapidly.

In addition, when manually receiving process, if with received last time close moment in moment of processing or with received the time difference moment of 12 hours processed last time, then likely also can capture upper once reception in process the positional information satellite captured last time.Therefore, with when manually receiving and processing always carry out successively compared with the situation of searching for, average pull-in time can being shortened according to satellite number.

Like this, due to positional information satellite can be captured rapidly, therefore, it is possible to successfully receive the information of obtaining rapidly, power consumption can be reduced.

But, when user carry out from action different at ordinary times, when carrying out light automatic reception process with the time different at ordinary times or manually receives process, be sometimes in the time period being difficult to catch the positional information satellite captured when reception processes in last time.In this case, in the searching period of first search satellite, successfully can not receive the information of obtaining, therefore, be carried out the search of other positional information satellite by satellite capture control part.

Herein, the time spent by search of positional information satellite is different according to the value of above-mentioned threshold value.Above-mentioned threshold value is lower, then search time is longer.That is, when above-mentioned threshold value is higher, the positional information satellite only having received signal level higher becomes captured object, can frequency resolution during search be set higher, therefore, the time shorten spent by search of whole positional information satellite, lower power consumption.On the other hand, when threshold value is lower, the positional information satellite that received signal level is lower also becomes captured object, frequency resolution during search is needed to set lower, therefore, the time spent by search of whole positional information satellite is elongated, and power consumption increases.

In the present invention, the threshold value of received signal level is set as that setting is to carry out the search of above-mentioned first search satellite by accepting state detection unit, on the opportunity that this search terminates, judges that whether the quantity of the positional information satellite captured is as more than specified quantity.And then, receive stop control unit when the quantity of the positional information satellite being judged to capture is less than afore mentioned rules quantity, stop the reception of satellite-signal.

Thus, according to the present invention, by afore mentioned rules value being set as the positional information satellite that received signal level is lower also can capture but the value making search time elongated, be the quantity (such as 3) as the positional information satellite can expecting the benchmark receiving the information of obtaining using afore mentioned rules quantity set, following effect can be obtained.Namely, when carrying out the search expending time in long, on the opportunity that the search of first search satellite terminates, when not capturing the positional information satellite can expecting the quantity receiving the information of obtaining, do not carry out the search of other positional information satellite making search time elongated and stop receiving process, therefore, it is possible to reduce power consumption.

On the other hand, above-mentioned threshold value being set as in the search of the value higher than afore mentioned rules value, after having searched for first search satellite, not carrying out the judgement of the quantity of the positional information satellite captured, and having searched for other positional information satellite.

Namely, according to the present invention, above-mentioned threshold value is set as the value higher than afore mentioned rules value, in search that search time is shorter, after having searched for first search satellite, search for other positional information satellite, on the other hand, above-mentioned threshold value is set as afore mentioned rules value, in search that search time is longer, on the opportunity that the search of first search satellite terminates, if do not capture the positional information satellite can expecting the quantity receiving the information of obtaining, then do not carry out the search of other positional information satellite and stop receiving process.Thereby, it is possible to efficiently searching positional information satellite, power consumption can be reduced.

In addition, according to the present invention, the satellite number of the positional information satellite captured by acceptance division when receiving process in last time is stored in satellite number storage part, therefore, such as, compared with the situation of the reception history in each moment of storage, the quantity of information of storage can be reduced, reduce the scale of memory circuitry.

In addition, searching position information satellite is carried out, therefore, such as according to the satellite number stored in satellite number storage part, with the reception history in each moment of retrieval, selects best satellite number and compared with the situation of searching position information satellite, can simplify to receive and process.

Thereby, it is possible to reduce power consumption further.

In electronic watch of the present invention, preferably, after described satellite capture control part searches positional information satellite described threshold value is set as the 1st threshold value, described threshold value is set as the 2nd threshold value as the value described setting lower than described 1st threshold value carrys out searching position information satellite, described threshold value is set as in the search of described 2nd threshold value at described satellite capture control part, the opportunity that described accepting state detection unit terminates in the search of described first search satellite, whether the quantity of the positional information satellite captured described in judging is as more than described specified quantity.

In the present invention, described threshold value is set as the 1st threshold value by satellite capture control part, searching position information satellite, then, described threshold value is set as the 2nd threshold value as the value described setting lower than the 1st threshold value, searching position information satellite.

According to the present invention, if there is the higher positional information satellite of received signal level, then the possibility that can capture this positional information satellite in the initial search described threshold value being set as the 1st threshold value is higher.

Herein, when above-mentioned threshold value is higher, the search time of positional information satellite can be shortened.Therefore, according to the present invention, such as, and above-mentioned threshold value is fixed as the 2nd threshold value to carry out compared with the situation of searching for, the positional information satellite that received signal level is higher can be captured rapidly.

Can before the search of whole positional information satellite terminates, from the positional information satellite captured successively the time of reception information.In addition, the successful receiving rate of the time information of the positional information satellite that received signal level is higher is higher.Therefore, it is possible to capture the higher positional information satellite of received signal level rapidly, successfully time information can be received more quickly.

On the other hand, about the positional information satellite that received signal level is lower, can capture in the search above-mentioned threshold value being set as the 2nd threshold value.

In electronic watch of the present invention, preferably, the received signal level in the positional information satellite captured by described acceptance division is that the satellite number of the positional information satellite of more than specified level is stored in described satellite number storage part by described memory control unit.

According to the present invention, satellite capture control part search received signal level is the positional information satellite of more than afore mentioned rules level, therefore, by the benchmark being set as being judged to be that the successful receiving rate of the information that obtains is higher by afore mentioned rules level, the positional information satellite that the successful receiving rate of the information of obtaining is higher can be captured efficiently.

Thereby, it is possible to successfully receive the information of obtaining more quickly, power consumption can be reduced further.

In electronic watch of the present invention, preferably, the satellite number of the positional information satellite of the some the positional information satellite number strong from received signal level in the positional information satellite captured by described acceptance division is stored in described satellite number storage part by described memory control unit.

According to the present invention, the positional information satellite that satellite capture control part first search received signal level is strong, therefore, it is possible to the positional information satellite that the successful receiving rate capturing the information of obtaining efficiently is higher.

In electronic watch of the present invention, preferably, on the opportunity that the reception of the satellite-signal of described acceptance division terminates, the satellite number of the positional information satellite captured by described acceptance division is stored in described satellite number storage part by described memory control unit.

During after being caught by satellite capture control part, before the reception process of satellite-signal terminates, the positional information satellite that can not capture again such as can think that be positioned at can the outer rim of range of receiving temporarily, and the successful receiving rate of time information is lower.According to the present invention, such positional information satellite can be got rid of from object search, therefore, it is possible to the positional information satellite that the successful receiving rate capturing the information of obtaining efficiently is higher.

In electronic watch of the present invention, preferably, the satellite number of the positional information satellite captured by described acceptance division in the described certain hour received when processing is stored in described satellite number storage part by described memory control unit.

According to the present invention, the quantity of the satellite number stored in satellite number storage part increases, and the quantity of the positional information satellite of satellite capture control part search also increases.

Thus, the quantity of the positional information satellite that satellite capture control part captures also increases, thus can improve the successful receiving rate of the information of obtaining.

In electronic watch of the present invention, preferably, described satellite capture control part, except searching for the positional information satellite of the satellite number stored in described satellite number storage part, also searches for accurate zenith satellite.

Accurate zenith satellite is the positional information satellite by Japanese overhead, and the successful receiving rate obtaining information in Japan is higher.

According to the present invention, this accurate zenith satellite can be captured, therefore, it is possible to obtain the successful receiving rate of information in Japan's raising.

In electronic watch of the present invention, preferably, described electronic watch has nonvolatile memory, and the satellite number of described accurate zenith satellite is stored in described nonvolatile memory.

According to the present invention, even if do not provide power supply, the satellite number of accurate zenith satellite also can be stored.Therefore, even if when the broken battery of electronic watch, also can satellite number be preserved.

In addition, according to the present invention, such as different from the situation of ROM (Read Only Memory: ROM (read-only memory)), can rewrite data, therefore, when new launch accurate zenith satellite, newly can store the satellite number of satellite on this accurate zenith.

Electronic watch of the present invention has: acceptance division, and its catching position information satellite, receives the satellite-signal sent from the positional information satellite captured; Satellite number storage part, the satellite number of its stored position information satellite; And reception control part, it controls described acceptance division, the feature of this electronic watch is, described reception control part has: satellite capture control part, it is that the threshold value of setting received signal level is carried out searching position information satellite and carries out the control part that catches, the positional information satellite of satellite number that stores in described satellite number storage part as first search satellite, compared with other positional information satellite, is preferentially searched for by this satellite capture control part; Accepting state detection unit, its described satellite capture control part the threshold value of received signal level is set as setting after opportunity of terminating of the search of described first search satellite, whether the quantity of the positional information satellite captured described in judging as more than specified quantity; Temporally accepting state detection unit, its judge with predetermined time interval described in the quantity of positional information satellite that captures whether as more than specified quantity; Receive stop control unit, it, when being judged to be that the quantity of positional information satellite is less than specified quantity by any one in described accepting state detection unit and described temporally accepting state detection unit, controls described acceptance division to stop the reception of satellite-signal; And memory control unit, the satellite number of the positional information satellite captured by described acceptance division is stored in described satellite number storage part by it.

In the present invention, the effect identical with above-mentioned electronic watch can be obtained.

In addition, according to the present invention, temporally accepting state detection unit judges that with predetermined time interval whether the quantity (catching satellite number) of the positional information satellite captured by satellite capture control part is as more than specified quantity.And then, when by temporally accepting state detection unit is judged to be that catching satellite number is less than specified quantity, receives stop control unit and control acceptance division, stop the reception of satellite-signal.

Suppose, when only performing the judgement of accepting state detection unit, following situation can be occurred.Namely, on the opportunity that the search of first search satellite terminates, when be judged to by accepting state detection unit to catch satellite number be more than specified quantity carry out the search of other positional information satellite, even if the positional information satellite captured becomes can not capture, thus make seizure satellite number be less than specified quantity, if can not receive the information of obtaining, then continuous reception process, until the search of other positional information satellite terminates.That is, can not expect to continue for a long time under the state receiving the information of obtaining to carry out reception process, may unnecessarily power consumption.

In the present invention, by suitably setting the time interval of afore mentioned rules, when being judged to be that catching satellite number is more than specified quantity thus carries out the search of other positional information satellite by accepting state detection unit the opportunity that the search of first search satellite terminates, before the search of other positional information satellite terminates, temporally accepting state detection unit can be passed through judge whether to catch satellite number as more than specified quantity, when catching satellite number and being less than specified quantity, can stop receiving process.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent from, not expecting to continue for a long time under the state receiving the information of obtaining to carry out reception process, power consumption to be reduced further.

In electronic watch of the present invention, preferably, described electronic watch has input part, and described reception process comprises: the automatic reception process of receiving satellite signal when meeting automatic reception condition; And the manual reception process of receiving satellite signal is carried out according to the operation of described input part, described reception control part is according to the described type receiving process, by in described accepting state detection unit and described temporally accepting state detection unit or by described accepting state detection unit and described temporally accepting state detection unit both sides, judge that whether the quantity of positional information satellite is as more than specified quantity.

According to the present invention, such as, when receive be treated to automatic reception process, by accepting state detection unit and temporally accepting state detection unit both sides judge, when receive be treated to manually receive process, judge by means of only temporally accepting state detection unit.

As mentioned above, when automatic reception process, judged whether to catch satellite number as more than specified quantity by accepting state detection unit, when being less than specified quantity, stop receiving process, thus, can efficiently searching positional information satellite, can power consumption be reduced.In addition, by carrying out the judgement of temporally accepting state detection unit, power consumption can be reduced further.

On the other hand, when manually receiving process, sometimes the time period being difficult to catch the positional information satellite captured when last time receives process is in, in this case, before the search of first search satellite terminates, the possibility that can capture the positional information satellite of more than specified quantity is lower.Therefore, suppose the judgement having carried out accepting state detection unit opportunity terminated in the search of first search satellite, be judged to be that catching satellite number is less than specified quantity, can not receives the information of obtaining and stop the possibility receiving process higher.Therefore, the probability of acceptance obtaining information reduces.

In the present invention, when manually receiving process, the judgement of accepting state detection unit is not carried out on the opportunity that the search of first search satellite terminates, therefore, after having searched for first search satellite, at least before becoming judgement opportunity of temporally accepting state detection unit, other positional information satellite can be searched for.Therefore, it is possible to raising obtains the probability of acceptance of information.

Like this, according to the present invention, according to the type receiving process, suitably selectivity carries out the judgement of accepting state detection unit and temporally accepting state detection unit, the mean value of the power consumption received spent by process can be reduced, and the probability of acceptance of the information of obtaining can be improved.

About the satellite signal reception method that the present invention is electronic watch, this electronic watch has: acceptance division, and it carries out such reception process: catching position information satellite, receives the satellite-signal sent from the positional information satellite captured; Satellite number storage part, the satellite number of its stored position information satellite; And reception control part, it controls described acceptance division, the feature of this satellite signal reception method is, comprise the following steps: satellite capture step, this step is that the threshold value of setting received signal level is carried out searching position information satellite and carries out the step that catches, in this satellite capture step, using the positional information satellite of satellite number that stores in described satellite number storage part as first search satellite, compared with other positional information satellite, preferentially search for; Accepting state determination step, in described satellite capture step the threshold value of received signal level is set as setting after opportunity of terminating of the search of described first search satellite, judge that whether the quantity of the positional information satellite captured by described satellite capture step is as more than specified quantity; Receiving and stop step, when being judged to be less than described specified quantity by described accepting state determination step, stopping the reception of satellite-signal; And storage rate-determining steps, the satellite number of the positional information satellite captured by described acceptance division is stored in described satellite number storage part.

In the present invention, also power consumption can be reduced in the same manner as above-mentioned electronic watch.

Accompanying drawing explanation

Fig. 1 is the vertical view that electronic watch of the present invention is shown.

Fig. 2 is the block diagram of the circuit structure that described electronic watch is shown.

Fig. 3 is the figure be described the structure of navigation message.

Fig. 4 is the process flow diagram of the reception process that the 1st embodiment is shown.

Fig. 5 is the process flow diagram of the reception process that the 1st embodiment is shown.

Fig. 6 is the figure of an example of the system of selection of the satellite number that storage is shown.

Fig. 7 is the process flow diagram of the reception process that the 2nd embodiment is shown.

Fig. 8 is the process flow diagram of the reception process that the 2nd embodiment is shown.

Fig. 9 is the process flow diagram of the satellite number stores processor that the 2nd embodiment is shown.

Figure 10 is the figure of another example of the system of selection of the satellite number that storage is shown.

Figure 11 is the figure of the guide look that satellite number is shown.

Figure 12 is the block diagram of the circuit structure of the electronic watch that the 3rd embodiment is shown.

Figure 13 is the process flow diagram of the reception process that the 3rd embodiment is shown.

Figure 14 is the process flow diagram of the reception process that the 3rd embodiment is shown.

Figure 15 is the process flow diagram of the temporally satellite number determination processing that the 3rd embodiment is shown.

Figure 16 is the block diagram of the circuit structure of the electronic watch that the 4th embodiment is shown.

Figure 17 is the process flow diagram of the reception process that the 4th embodiment is shown.

Figure 18 is the process flow diagram of the reception process that the 4th embodiment is shown.

Label declaration

1,1C, 1D electronic watch; 12 pointers; 14 table hats; 15,16 buttons; 20GPS antenna; 30GPS receiving circuit; 40,40C, 40D control circuit; 41 generating units; 42,42C, 42D receive control part; 43 display control units; 44 memory control unit; 50 storage parts; 51 satellite number storage parts; 60 clock portion; 70 Blast Furnace Top Gas Recovery Turbine Unit (TRT); 80 secondary cells; 100GPS satellite; 121 second hands; 122 minute hands; 123 hour hands; 421 satellite capture control parts; 422 accepting state detection units; 423 receive stop control unit; 424 temporally accepting state detection units; 425 receive detection unit.

Embodiment

Below, with reference to accompanying drawing etc., concrete embodiment of the present invention is described in detail.

[the 1st embodiment]

[structure of electronic watch]

As shown in Figure 1, electronic watch 1 is from the track of regulation empty multiple gps satellites 100 (the positional information satellite of the present invention) receiving satellite signal rotated on earth.Now, electronic watch 1 is configured to: when obtaining time information, from at least 1 gps satellite 100 receiving satellite signal, when obtaining location calculating information (orbit informations etc. of ephemeris (ephemeris) etc.), from gps satellite 100 receiving satellite signal of at least 3 (being preferably 4).Multiple gps satellite 100 is there is in the overhead of the earth.Current, about 30 gps satellites 100 are in rotation.

Electronic watch 1 is the wrist-watch of the wrist being worn on user, has dial plate 11 and pointer 12, to constantly carrying out timing and showing.

The major part of dial plate 11 is held meable nonmetallic materials (such as plastics or glass) by the microwave of light and 1.5GHz wave band and is formed.

Pointer 12 is arranged on the face side of dial plate 11, has second hand 121, minute hand 122 and hour hands 123.

Electronic watch 1 have table hat 14 and button 15,16 as input part.Electronic watch 1 perform with show hat 14, process corresponding to the manual operation of button 15,16.Such as, when showing hat 14 by operation, according to its operation, perform the manual correction process revising the display moment.

When (such as, the time of more than 3 seconds) pressing the button 15 for a long time, perform the reception process (manually receiving process) being used for receiving satellite signal.

When pressing the button 16, perform the process switching receiving mode (during survey pattern, location pattern).When being set as location pattern in the result of the receiving mode hand-off process corresponding with the operation of button 16, second hand 121 moves to the position (5 seconds positions) of " Fix ", when being set as surveying when pattern, second hand 121 moves to the position (10 seconds positions) of " Time ".Therefore, user can easily confirm set receiving mode.

In addition, the short time (such as, being less than 3 seconds) press the button 15 time, carry out showing the result Graphics Processing of result that last time receives process.That is, under receiving successful situation under location pattern, second hand 121 moves to the position of " Fix " (5 seconds positions), and under receiving successful situation when surveying under pattern, second hand 121 moves to the position of " Time " (10 seconds positions).In addition, when taking defeat, second hand 121 moves to the position (20 seconds positions) of " N ".

In addition, in the reception, the instruction based on these second hands 121 is also carried out.Under location pattern, in the reception, second hand 121 moves to the position (5 seconds positions) of " Fix ", and when surveying under pattern, in the reception, second hand 121 moves to the position (10 seconds positions) of " Time ".In addition, when not capturing gps satellite 100, second hand 121 moves to the position (20 seconds positions) of " N ".

Electronic watch 1 not only carries out the manual reception process based on button 15, also carries out automatic reception process.Automatic reception process comprises timing automatic and receives process and light automatic reception process.

That is, when the inside moment of timing reaches the time of reception of setting, electronic watch 1 carries out timing automatic and receives process.

Time of reception of setting such as the morning 2 time, the morning 3 time, the morning 7 time or the morning 8 time etc. moment of presetting.When why being set as the morning 2 or 3 time, be under non-wearing state, be positioned over table by the window etc. still because electronic watch 1 probably takes off from user, and, the use of electronic product etc. is less, can alleviate the impact of noise, therefore, the possibility that electric wave reception environment is good is higher.In addition, when why being set as the morning 7 and 8 time, be that the user of carrying electronic clock and watch 1 is positioned at outdoor, easily receives satellite-signal because it is in commuting time section.But, be not limited to these moment, the automatic reception moment can be set by user.

In addition, when the generating voltage of solar panel described later or generation current be more than setting value, can be judged as irradiating in solar panel in outdoor daylight, electronic watch 1 carries out light automatic reception process.In addition, also can be restricted to 11 inferior for the number of times of light automatic reception process.

[circuit structure of electronic watch]

Fig. 2 is the block diagram of the circuit structure that electronic watch 1 is shown.As shown in the drawing, electronic watch 1 has gps antenna 20, GPS receiving circuit 30, control circuit 40, storage part 50, clock portion 60, Blast Furnace Top Gas Recovery Turbine Unit (TRT) 70 and secondary cell 80.

Blast Furnace Top Gas Recovery Turbine Unit (TRT) 70 is configured to have solar panel and charging control circuit.And the electric power that Blast Furnace Top Gas Recovery Turbine Unit (TRT) 70 sends is charged secondary cell 80.Each equipment of electronic watch 1 is by the driven by power provided from secondary cell 80.

[acceptance division]

Gps antenna 20 is the antennas of the microwave receiving 1.5GHz wave band, is configured in the rear side of dial plate 11.On the direction vertical with dial plate 11, the part of the dial plate 11 overlapped with gps antenna 20 is held meable material (such as, conductance and the low nonmetallic materials of magnetic permeability) by the microwave of 1.5GHz wave band and is formed.

In addition, between gps antenna 20 and dial plate 11, there is not the solar panel with electrode.Therefore, gps antenna 20 can receive the satellite-signal through dial plate 11.

Although the diagram of eliminating, GPS receiving circuit 30 is configured to mainly comprise RF (Radio Frequency: radio frequency) portion and gps signal handling part.RF portion and gps signal handling part carry out the process obtaining the satellite information such as orbit information and GPS moment comprised navigation message from the satellite-signal of 1.5GHz wave band.

RF portion has the usual parts in the GPS of low-converter high-frequency signal being converted to intermediate frequency band signal and the A/D converter simulating signal of its intermediate frequency band being converted to digital signal etc.

Although the diagram of eliminating, but gps signal handling part is configured to comprise DSP (Digital Signal Processor: digital signal processor), CPU (Central Processing Unit: central processing unit), SRAM (Static RandomAccess Memory: static RAM), RTC (real-time clock) etc., from the digital signal exported by RF portion (signal of intermediate frequency band), demodulate navigation message, carry out the process obtaining the satellite information such as orbit information and GPS moment comprised in navigation message.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, form by gps antenna 20 and GPS receiving circuit 30 acceptance division receiving the satellite-signal sent from gps satellite 100.

In addition, the GPS receiving circuit 30 of present embodiment has the receiving circuit of 12 passages, can catch simultaneously, receive 12 satellite-signals.

[control circuit]

Control circuit 40 is made up of the CPU for controlling electronic watch 1, has generating unit 41, receives control part 42, display control unit 43 and memory control unit 44.

Generating unit 41 obtains time information and location calculating information from the satellite-signal received by gps antenna 20 and GPS receiving circuit 30, information is obtained according to these, generate the information generated such as time information and current on-site positional information, be stored in storage part 50.

In addition, generating unit 41 counts the reference signal generated by not shown quartz vibrator, oscillatory circuit, upgrades the inside time data stored in storage part 50.Inner time data to revise the time information received according to UTC deviation and then carries out the revised local moment according to time difference information.Therefore, generating unit 41, when receiving satellite-signal, is revised the time information received according to UTC deviation and time difference information and is upgraded inner time data.In addition, generating unit 41, when not receiving satellite-signal, upgrades inner time data according to said reference signal.

When above-mentioned manual reception process and automatic reception process time, receive control part 42 control GPS receiving circuit 30, carry out the reception process of satellite-signal.

Therefore, receive control part 42 to there is satellite capture control part 421, accepting state detection unit 422, receive stop control unit 423.

Satellite capture control part 421 control GPS receiving circuit 30, the threshold value of setting received signal level, searches for and catches gps satellite 100.In the present embodiment, above-mentioned threshold value is set to max-thresholds, intermediate threshold, minimum threshold.Herein, minimum threshold is setting of the present invention.And the gps satellite 100 of the satellite number of storage in the satellite number storage part 51 of storage part 50 described later as first search satellite, is preferentially searched for than other gps satellite 100 by satellite capture control part 421.

Be set as the opportunity that the search of the first search satellite of minimum threshold terminates, accepting state detection unit 422 in the threshold value of the received signal level by satellite capture control part 421 and judge that whether the quantity of the gps satellite 100 captured by satellite capture control part 421 is as more than specified quantity.Specified quantity is such as 3.

Receive stop control unit 423 control GPS receiving circuit 30, stop the reception of satellite-signal.As 1 situation stopping receiving, when being judged to be less than afore mentioned rules quantity by accepting state detection unit 422, receiving stop control unit 423 control GPS receiving circuit 30, stopping the reception of satellite-signal.

Therefore, satellite capture control part 421 is when carrying out the threshold value of received signal level to be set as the search of max-thresholds or intermediate threshold, search first search satellite, then other gps satellite 100 is searched for, on the other hand, when carrying out above-mentioned threshold value to be set as the search of minimum threshold, on the opportunity of the search of end first search satellite, when the quantity of the gps satellite 100 being judged to capture by accepting state detection unit 422 is more than specified quantity, search for other gps satellite 100, when being judged to be less than specified quantity, stopped receiving process by reception stop control unit 423, therefore, no longer carry out the search of other gps satellite 100.

Display control unit 43 controls the driving of clock portion 60, display current time.Clock portion 60 has pointer 12 and drives the motor etc. of this pointer 12.

In addition, when achieving location calculating information, display control unit 43 utilizes second hand 121 grade to indicate the time zone corresponding with the current location positional information as the location result generated according to this location calculating information.That is, in the periphery of dial plate 11, display eliminates the initialism of the city name in illustrated instruction time zone.And then when generating current on-site positional information when obtaining location calculating information, display control unit 43 utilizes second hand 121 to indicate the city name in the time zone comprising this positional information within a certain period of time.

Therefore, the display part of the information generated that display time information etc. is generated by generating unit 41 is made up of clock portion 60 and display control unit 43.

In addition, display control unit 43 drives pointer 12 in linkage with the renewal based on the inside time data of reference signal usually.And, when receiving satellite signal, time data inner according to the time information correction received, drive pointer 12 in linkage with this correction, show the correct moment.

The satellite number (PRN) of the gps satellite 100 captured by satellite capture control part 421 is stored in the satellite number storage part 51 that storage part 50 described later has by memory control unit 44.

Now, memory control unit 44 by the received signal level (SNR:Signalto Noise Ratio: signal to noise ratio (S/N ratio)) in the gps satellite 100 captured for the satellite number of the more than specified level gps satellite 100 of (more than such as " SNR35 ") is stored in satellite number storage part 51.In addition, received signal level also can be represented by " dBm " as the unit representing signal intensity.Such as, " SNR35 " is equivalent to about "-137.5dBm ".

[storage part]

The information that obtains obtained by GPS receiving circuit 30 and the information generated generated by generating unit 41 is also stored in storage part 50.Such as, in storage part 50, store time information (satellite time information), location calculating information (orbit information etc.), the positional information of location result, UTC deviation, time difference information and inner time data.

About UTC deviation, obtain the information of " the current leap second " comprised in the subframe 14 of gps satellite signal, page 18 and store.

Time difference information is time difference data UTC being modified to the local moment.This time difference data can by user's operation table be preced with 14 and button 15,16 set, the location calculating information that also can obtain based on (during location process) during reception according to location pattern and the positional information that generates sets.When obtaining time difference data according to the positional information generated, positional information (location result) is stored in storage part 50 with the corresponding table between time difference data (time zone).

In addition, storage part 50 has the satellite number storage part 51 controlled by memory control unit 44.In satellite number storage part 51, store the satellite number of the gps satellite 100 captured by GPS receiving circuit 30 when automatic reception process.

[navigation message]

Herein, illustrate and comprise the above-mentioned satellite-signal sent from gps satellite 100 and the navigation message that respectively obtain information.In addition, navigation message as 50bps data and be modulated to the electric wave of satellite.

(C) of (A) ~ Fig. 3 of Fig. 3 is the figure for being described the structure of navigation message.

As shown in (A) of Fig. 3, navigation message is configured to take the prime frame that total bit number is 1500 bits as the data of 1 unit.Prime frame is split into 5 subframes 1 ~ 5 of each 300 bits.From each gps satellite 100 with 6 seconds for interval sends a sub-frame data.Therefore, from each gps satellite 100 with 30 seconds for interval sends prime frame data.

In subframe 1, comprise week numbering data (WN:week number), satellite correction data.

All numbering data are the information representing the week comprising current GPS time information, upgrade in units of 1 week.

In subframe 2,3, comprise ephemeris parameter (the detailed orbit information of each gps satellite 100).In addition, in subframe 4,5, almanac parameters (the outline orbit information of whole gps satellite 100) is comprised.

In addition, in subframe 1 ~ 5, from the starting comprise the HOW word of TLM (Telemetry: the remote measurement) word of storage TLM (Telemetry word: the remote measurement word) data of 30 bits and storage HOW (hand over word: the switch word) data of 30 bits.

Therefore, from gps satellite 100 with 6 seconds for interval sends TLM word and HOW word, on the other hand, with 30 seconds for interval sends week numbering data, satellite correction data, ephemeris parameter, almanac parameters.

As shown in (B) of Fig. 3, in TLM word, comprise preamble data, TLM message, retain position and odd and even data.

As shown in (C) of Fig. 3, in HOW word, include the GPS time information that TOW (Time of Week: week period is also called " Z counting ") is such.Z enumeration data with 0 elapsed time of lighting represented second from Sun. weekly, and in next week 0 of Sun. revert to 0.That is, Z enumeration data is from week, light the information in seconds represented by each week.This Z enumeration data represents the GPS time information of the initial bits sending next sub-frame data.

Therefore, electronic watch 1 by obtain comprise in subframe 1 week numbering data and subframe 1 ~ 5 in the HOW word (Z enumeration data) that comprises, come date of acquisition information and time information.But, formerly achieve week numbering data when inside carried out counting to the elapsed time from obtaining the period of week numbering data, even if electronic watch 1 does not obtain current all numbering data that all numbering data also can obtain gps satellite 100.

Therefore, electronic watch 1 only obtains the week numbering data of subframe 1 when not storing week numbering data (date and time information) as when resetting afterwards and switch on power in inside.When storing week numbering data, as long as electronic watch 1 obtains the TOW sent for interval with 6 seconds, current time can be known.Therefore, electronic watch 1 only obtains TOW usually as time information.

As mentioned above, about leap second information, obtain the information of " the current leap second " comprised in subframe 4, page 18 and store.In addition, in subframe 4, page 18, also comprise " renewal of leap second week, the day of renewal, upgrade after leap second " information, carrying out leap second more under news, forecast its opportunity.When upgrading leap second, usually perform on the doomsday in Dec or June.Therefore, as long as electronic watch 1 is before certain period at 12 the end of month and 6 the end of month, what perform leap second information obtains process, receives subframe 14, page 18, just can obtain leap second with or without renewal and at the corrected value having the leap second under more news.

[receiving process]

Next, with reference to the process flow diagram of Fig. 4, Fig. 5, the reception process of electronic watch 1 is described.

Reception process shown in Fig. 4, Fig. 5 is process when storing satellite number in satellite number storage part 51, and this process performs when above-mentioned automatic reception process and when manually receiving process by receiving control part 42.

When performing reception process, satellite capture control part 421 accesses satellite number storage part 51.And then, the gps satellite 100 of the whole satellite number stored in satellite number storage part 51 is appointed as first search satellite (SA11).Herein, in satellite number storage part 51, store the satellite number of the gps satellite 100 captured when last time receives process.

Then, satellite capture control part 421 starts to receive the satellite-signal sent from gps satellite 100.Specifically, satellite capture control part 421 control GPS receiving circuit 30, produces the pattern of the C/A code of gps satellite 100, starts to receive.And then, the correlation of satellite-signal obtained each C/A code and receive, catch can be synchronous gps satellite 100.

First, the threshold value of received signal level is set as max-thresholds (such as-125dBm) (SA12) as the 1st threshold value of the present invention by satellite capture control part 421.

The threshold value of received signal level is the threshold value for judging the gps satellite 100 captured.That is, when judging accepting state, the gps satellite 100 received signal level being exceeded this threshold value is judged to catch satellite.

Then, satellite capture control part 421 starts the search (SA13) of first search satellite.

Next, satellite capture control part 421 determines whether to have searched for whole first search satellite (SA14).Before having searched for whole first search satellite, in SA14, be judged to be "No".

When being judged to be "No" in SA14, the satellite signal receiving time information of the gps satellite 100 of generating unit 41 from catch.Then, generating unit 41 judges the reception whether successful (SA15) of time information.

When being judged to be "No" in SA15, receive control part 42 judge from receive process start time whether exceeded time-out time (SA16).Time-out time is such as set as 60 seconds.

When being judged to be "No" in SA16, receiving control part 42 and make process turn back to SA14.

That is, except the situation that success obtains time information, within time-out time, the process of SA14 ~ SA16 is repeated, until searched for whole first search satellite.

And then, finish the search of whole first search satellite under the reception of time information does not have successful state after, in SA14, be judged to be "Yes", satellite capture control part 421 judges whether the threshold value of setting is minimum threshold (setting) (SA17).Because threshold value is set to max-thresholds at first, therefore, in SA17, "No" is judged to be.

When being judged to be "No" in SA17, satellite capture control part 421 starts the search (SA18) of other gps satellite 100 not being first search satellite.This search is carried out successively according to satellite number.

Next, satellite capture control part 421 determines whether to have searched for other gps satellite 100 (SA19) whole.Before having searched for other gps satellite 100 whole, in SA19, be judged to be "No".

When being judged to be "No" in SA19, generating unit 41 from catch gps satellite 100 satellite-signal in the time of reception information.And then generating unit 41 judges the reception whether successful (SA20) of time information.

When being judged to be "No" in SA20, receiving control part 42 and judge whether the time after receiving process that starts has exceeded time-out time (SA21).Time-out time is such as set as 60 seconds.

When being judged to be "No" in SA21, receiving control part 42 and make process turn back to SA19.

That is, except the situation that success obtains time information, in time-out time, the process of SA19 ~ SA21 is repeated, until searched for other gps satellite 100 whole.

In addition, be such as the time point of 1 second in the elapsed time started receiving process, terminate the search of other gps satellite 100.

And then when the reception of time information does not have the search finishing other gps satellite 100 under successful state, be judged to be "Yes" in SA19, satellite capture control part 421 judges whether set threshold value is minimum threshold (SA22).Because threshold value is set to max-thresholds at first, therefore, in SA22, "No" is judged to be.

When being judged to be "No" in SA22, satellite capture control part 421 reduces the threshold value of received signal level, is set as intermediate threshold (such as-130dBm) (SA23).And then satellite capture control part 421 makes process turn back to SA13, start the search of first search satellite.

And then, except the situation that success obtains time information, in time-out time, repeat the process of SA14 ~ SA16, until searched for whole first search satellite.

Then, when the reception of time information does not have to have searched for whole first search satellite under successful state, in SA14, be judged to be "Yes", satellite capture control part 421 judges whether the threshold value set in SA17 is minimum threshold.Herein, because threshold value is set to intermediate threshold, thus, in SA17, "No" is judged to be.

Then, in SA18, satellite capture control part 421 starts the search of other gps satellite 100.

Then, except the situation that success obtains time information, in time-out time, the process of SA19 ~ SA21 is repeated, until searched for other gps satellite 100 whole.

Such as, being the time point of 10 seconds from the elapsed time received the starting of process, the search of other gps satellite 100 is terminated.

Then, when the reception of time information does not have the search finishing other gps satellite 100 under successful state, in SA19, be judged to be "Yes", in SA22, satellite capture control part 421 judges whether set threshold value is minimum threshold.Herein, because threshold value is set to intermediate threshold, thus, in SA22, "No" is judged to be.

Then, in SA23, satellite capture control part 421 reduces the threshold value of received signal level, is set as, as the minimum threshold (such as ,-140dBm) of the 2nd threshold value of the present invention, turning back to treatment S A13, starts the search of first search satellite.

Then, except the situation that success obtains time information, within time-out time, the process of SA14 ~ SA16 is repeated, until searched for whole first search satellite.

Then, when the reception of time information does not have to have searched for whole first search satellite under successful state, in SA14, be judged to be "Yes", satellite capture control part 421 judges whether the threshold value set in SA17 is minimum threshold.Herein, because threshold value is set to minimum threshold, thus, in SA17, "Yes" is judged to be.

When being judged to be "Yes" in SA17, accepting state detection unit 422 judges that the quantity (seizure number of satellite) of (in the current seizure) gps satellite 100 captured by satellite capture control part 421 is whether as more than specified quantity (SA24).Specified quantity is such as 3.

When being judged to be "No" in SA24, accepting state detection unit 422 makes process proceed to SA25.In this case, do not carry out the search of satellite capture control part 421 to other gps satellite 100, after the stores processor of the determination processing and SA26 that perform SA25 described later, receive stop control unit 423 control GPS receiving circuit 30, terminate the reception process of satellite-signal.

When being judged to be "Yes" in SA24, accepting state detection unit 422 makes process proceed to SA18.

Such as, be the time point of 60 seconds in the elapsed time started receiving process, terminate the search of other gps satellite 100.

Then, when the reception of time information does not have to have searched for other gps satellite 100 whole under successful state, in SA19, be judged to be "Yes", satellite capture control part 421 judges whether the threshold value set in SA22 is minimum threshold.Herein, because threshold value is set to minimum threshold, thus, in SA22, "Yes" is judged to be.

When being judged to be "Yes" in SA22, accepting state detection unit 422 judges that the quantity (seizure number of satellite) of (in the current seizure) gps satellite 100 captured by satellite capture control part 421 is whether as more than specified quantity (SA27).Specified quantity is such as 3.

When being judged to be "Yes" in SA27, satellite capture control part 421 makes process turn back to SA12, again performs the search setting the threshold to the positional information satellite of max-thresholds.

On the other hand, when being judged to be "No" in SA27, accepting state detection unit 422 makes process proceed to SA25.In this case, after the stores processor of the determination processing and SA26 that perform SA25 described later, receive stop control unit 423 control GPS receiving circuit 30, terminate the reception process of satellite-signal.

On the other hand, when being judged to be that success obtains time information in SA15, SA20, generating unit 41 was revised (SA28) the inner moment.Specifically, generating unit 41, according to the time information received, is revised inner time data.

Then, display control unit 43 carries out current time display (SA29).Specifically, display control unit 43 pairs of clock portion 60 drive, and show the moment of revised inner time data.

When the process carrying out SA29, when being judged to be "No" in SA24, when being judged to be "No" in SA27, when being judged to be time-out in SA16, SA21, memory control unit 44 determines whether to exist the gps satellite 100 (SA25) that satellite capture control part 421 captures.

When being judged to be "Yes" in SA25, the received signal level in the gps satellite 100 that satellite capture control part 421 captures by memory control unit 44 is that (SA26) in satellite number storage part 51 is stored in the satellite number rewriting of the gps satellite 100 of more than specified level.Afore mentioned rules level is such as " SNR35 ".

Such as, the gps satellite 100 that satellite capture control part 421 captures is 9, the relation of (A) that their satellite number (PRN) and received signal level (SNR) are Fig. 6.In this case, 6 satellite number being more than " SNR35 " by the received signal level shown in (B) of Fig. 6 are stored in satellite number storage part 51.

When the situation of the process carrying out SA26, in SA25, be judged to be "No", receive stop control unit 423 control GPS receiving circuit 30, terminate to receive process.

Above, describe process when to store satellite number in satellite number storage part 51, when not storing satellite number in satellite number storage part 51, the search of positional information satellite is carried out successively according to satellite number.In addition, in this case, the stores processor of memory control unit 44 pairs of satellite number is also carried out.

(action effect of the 1st embodiment)

According to such present embodiment, following action effect can be obtained.

According to the present embodiment, when carrying out reception process, satellite capture control part 421 accesses satellite number storage part 51, compared with other gps satellite 100, and the gps satellite 100 (first search satellite) of the satellite number stored in first search satellite number storage part 51.That is, according to the present embodiment, when carrying out reception process, compared with other gps satellite 100, the gps satellite 100 that first search captures when last time receives process, therefore, with search for the situation of gps satellite 100 successively by satellite number compared with, gps satellite 100 can be captured quickly.

Like this, due to gps satellite 100 can be captured rapidly, thus can rapidly success the time of reception information, can power consumption be reduced.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, in SA24, when the quantity of the gps satellite 100 being judged to capture is less than specified quantity, the reception that stop control unit 423 stops satellite-signal being received.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, by being the quantity (such as 3) as the gps satellite 100 can expecting the benchmark receiving time information using afore mentioned rules quantity set, following effect can be obtained.Namely, when carrying out the time consuming search threshold value of received signal level being set as minimum threshold, on the opportunity that the search of first search satellite terminates, when not capturing can expect the quantity receiving time information gps satellite 100, do not carry out the search of other gps satellite 100 making search time elongated and stop receiving process, therefore, it is possible to reduce power consumption.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, in SA27, when the quantity of the gps satellite 100 being judged to capture is less than afore mentioned rules quantity, the reception that stop control unit 423 stops satellite-signal being received.Thus, the threshold value of received signal level is being set as the opportunity that the first search satellite of minimum threshold and the search of other gps satellite 100 terminate, when not capturing can expect the quantity receiving time information gps satellite 100, do not carry out threshold value to revert to the search of max-thresholds and stop receiving process, therefore, it is possible to reduce power consumption.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the satellite number of the gps satellite 100 captured during automatic reception process by last time is stored in satellite number storage part 51, therefore, such as, compared with the situation of the reception history in each moment of storage, the quantity of information of storage can be reduced, reduce the scale of memory circuitry.

In addition, owing to searching for gps satellite 100 according to the satellite number stored in satellite number storage part 51, therefore, such as, with the reception history in each moment of retrieval, selects best satellite number to search for compared with the situation of gps satellite 100, can simplify to receive and process.

Thereby, it is possible to reduce power consumption further.

In the present embodiment, the threshold value of received signal level is set as that max-thresholds is to after searching for gps satellite 100, is set as that intermediate threshold, minimum threshold are to search for gps satellite 100 successively by above-mentioned threshold value by satellite capture control part 421.

Thus, if the gps satellite 100 that received signal level is higher, then the possibility that can capture this gps satellite 100 in the initial stage search above-mentioned threshold value being set as max-thresholds or intermediate threshold is higher.

Herein, when above-mentioned threshold value is higher, the search time of gps satellite 100 can be shortened.Therefore, according to the present embodiment, such as, and above-mentioned threshold value is fixed as minimum threshold to carry out compared with the situation of searching for, the higher gps satellite of received signal level 100 can be captured rapidly.

Can before the search of whole gps satellite 100 terminates, from the gps satellite 100 captured successively the time of reception information.In addition, the successful receiving rate of the time information of the gps satellite 100 that received signal level is higher is higher.Therefore, it is possible to capture the higher gps satellite of received signal level 100 rapidly, successfully time information can be received more quickly.

On the other hand, about the gps satellite 100 that received signal level is lower, can capture in the search above-mentioned threshold value being set as minimum threshold.

In the present embodiment, the received signal level in the gps satellite 100 captured during automatic reception process is that the satellite number of the gps satellite 100 of more than specified level is stored in satellite number storage part 51 by memory control unit 44.

Thus, satellite capture control part 421 searches for the gps satellite 100 that received signal level is more than afore mentioned rules level, therefore, by the benchmark being set as being judged to be that the successful receiving rate of time information is higher by afore mentioned rules level, the gps satellite 100 that the successful receiving rate of time information is higher can be captured efficiently.

Thereby, it is possible to successfully receive time information more quickly, power consumption can be reduced further.

In the present embodiment, on the opportunity that memory control unit 44 terminates in the reception of satellite-signal, the satellite number of the gps satellite 100 captured is stored into (SA26) in satellite number storage part 51.

The gps satellite 100 that can not capture again in during after being temporarily captured, before the reception process of satellite-signal terminates such as can think that be positioned at can the outer rim of range of receiving, and the successful receiving rate of time information is lower.According to said structure, such gps satellite 100 can be got rid of from object search, therefore, it is possible to the gps satellite 100 that the successful receiving rate capturing time information is efficiently higher.

[the 2nd embodiment]

Next, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the 2nd embodiment of the present invention is described.

The difference of the 2nd embodiment and the 1st embodiment is, in reception process, the storage of the satellite number in memory control unit 44 is the gps satellite 100 that captures within a certain period of time is object.Other structure is identical with the 1st embodiment.

Fig. 7, Fig. 8 are the process flow diagrams of the reception process illustrated in the 2nd embodiment.

As shown in Figure 7, Figure 8, control circuit 40 carries out the process of SB11 ~ SB30.Herein, the process of SB11 ~ SB29 is the process identical with the SA11 ~ SA29 in the 1st embodiment, thus omits the description.

In the 1st embodiment, satellite number, before reception process closes to an end, is stored into (SA26) in satellite number storage part 51 by memory control unit 44.

On the other hand, in the 2nd embodiment, be judged to be "No" in SB14 after, memory control unit 44 performs satellite number stores processor (SB30) described later, is stored into by satellite number in satellite number storage part 51.And then after performing SB30, memory control unit 44 makes process proceed to SB15.

That is, in the searching period of first search satellite, during the taking defeat of time information (be judged to be "No" in SB15 during), in time-out time, the process of SB30 is repeated.

Fig. 9 is the process flow diagram that satellite number stores processor is shown.

Memory control unit 44 determines whether to exist the gps satellite 100 (SB31) that satellite capture control part 421 captures.When being judged to be "No" in SB31, memory control unit 44 makes process terminate.

When being judged to be "Yes" in SB31, by satellite number storage part 51 store satellite number in, store moment than current morning certain hour (such as, 10 seconds) satellite number delete (SB32).

Then, the received signal level in the gps satellite 100 that satellite capture control part 421 captures by memory control unit 44 is that satellite number storage part 51 (SB33) is stored in the satellite number rewriting of the gps satellite 100 of more than specified level, ends process.

In the searching period of first search satellite, repeat such satellite number stores processor (SB30), thus, the satellite number of the gps satellite 100 captured within a certain period of time by satellite capture control part 421 is stored in satellite number storage part 51.

In addition, in the 2nd embodiment, be judged to be "No" in SB19 after, memory control unit 44 also performs above-mentioned satellite number stores processor (SB30), is stored into by satellite number in satellite number storage part 51.And then after performing SB30, memory control unit 44 makes process proceed to SB20.

That is, in the searching period of other gps satellite 100, during the taking defeat of time information (be judged to be "No" in SB20 during), in time-out time, the process of SB30 is repeated.

Like this, satellite number stores processor (SB30) is repeated in the searching period of other gps satellite 100, thus, the satellite number of the gps satellite 100 captured within a certain period of time by satellite capture control part 421 is stored in satellite number storage part 51.

(action effect of the 2nd embodiment)

According to the present embodiment, because the quantity of the satellite number stored in satellite number storage part 51 increases, therefore, the number of the first search satellite that satellite capture control part 421 is searched for also increases.

Thus, the quantity of the first search satellite that satellite capture control part 421 catches also increases, thus can improve the successful receiving rate of time information.

[the 3rd embodiment]

Next, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the 3rd embodiment of the present invention is described.

The difference of the electronic watch 1 of the 3rd embodiment and the 1st embodiment is, in reception process, judges the quantity of the gps satellite 100 captured by satellite capture control part 421 with predetermined time interval.

As shown in figure 12, the reception control part 42C of the electronic watch 1C of the 3rd embodiment, except having the structure of the reception control part 42 of the electronic watch 1 of the 1st embodiment, also has temporally accepting state detection unit 424.In addition, other structure of electronic watch 1C is identical with electronic watch 1.

Temporally accepting state detection unit 424 judges that with predetermined time interval whether the quantity (catching satellite number) of the gps satellite 100 captured by satellite capture control part 421 is as more than specified quantity.Herein, to catch satellite number be received signal level is the quantity of the gps satellite 100 of more than specified level.Specified level is set to the level slightly higher than the minimum threshold illustrated in the 1st embodiment.In addition, specified quantity is such as 3.

Then, in the present embodiment, when being judged to be that catching satellite number is less than specified quantity by accepting state detection unit 422 and any one temporally in accepting state detection unit 424, receiving stop control unit 423 control GPS receiving circuit 30, stopping the reception of satellite-signal.

Figure 13, Figure 14 are the process flow diagrams of the reception process illustrated in the 3rd embodiment.

As shown in Figure 13, Figure 14, control circuit 40C carries out the process of SC11 ~ SC29, SC41, SC50.Herein, the process of SC11 ~ SC29 is the process identical with the SA11 ~ SA29 in the 1st embodiment, thus omits the description.

In the 3rd embodiment, between the process and the process of SC12 of SC11, temporally accepting state detection unit 424 will judge that the time interval catching satellite number is appointed as predetermined time interval (SC41).Thus, judge opportunity about the satellite number in temporally accepting state detection unit 424, from reception process, set by predetermined time interval.In the present embodiment, setting predetermined time interval, judges that to make initial satellite number opportunity is after being set as the opportunity that the first search satellite acquisition of minimum threshold terminates and before the opportunity that the search of other gps satellite 100 above-mentioned threshold value being set as minimum threshold terminates by the threshold value of received signal level.

In addition, in the 3rd embodiment, between the process and the process of SC14 of SC13, temporally accepting state detection unit 424 performs temporally satellite number determination processing SC50.In addition, when being judged to be "No" in SC16, process is made to turn back to temporally satellite number determination processing SC50.

In addition, between the process and the process of SC19 of SC18, temporally accepting state detection unit 424 performs temporally satellite number determination processing SC50.In addition, when being judged to be "No" in SC21, process is made to turn back to temporally satellite number determination processing SC50.

As shown in figure 15, in temporally satellite number determination processing SC50, temporally accepting state detection unit 424 determines whether that satellite number judges opportunity (SC51).

When being judged to be "No" in SC51, temporally accepting state detection unit 424 terminates temporally satellite number determination processing SC50.

When being judged to be "Yes" in SC51, temporally accepting state detection unit 424 judges to catch satellite number whether as more than specified quantity (SC52).

When being judged to be "Yes" in SC52, temporally accepting state detection unit 424 terminates temporally satellite number determination processing SC50.

On the other hand, when being judged to be "No" in SC52, temporally accepting state detection unit 424 makes process proceed to SC25.Thus, after the process carrying out SC25, SC26, terminate to receive process.

(action effect of the 3rd embodiment)

When the opportunity that the search of the first search satellite threshold value of received signal level being set as minimum threshold terminates, be judged to catch by accepting state detection unit 422 satellite number be more than specified quantity (SC24: yes) carry out the search of other gps satellite 100, before the search of other gps satellite 100 terminates, temporally accepting state detection unit 424 judges to catch satellite number whether as more than specified quantity (SC52), when catching satellite number and being less than specified quantity, can stop receiving process.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent from, long-time continuous reception process under the state receiving time information cannot be expected, power consumption to be reduced further.

[the 4th embodiment]

Next, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the 4th embodiment of the present invention is described.

The difference of the electronic watch 1C of the 4th embodiment and the 3rd embodiment is, when reception is treated to manually reception process, does not carry out the judgement of accepting state detection unit 422, and only carries out the judgement of temporally accepting state detection unit 424.

As shown in figure 16, the reception control part 42D of the electronic watch 1D of the 4th embodiment, except the structure of reception control part 42C with the electronic watch 1C of the 3rd embodiment, also has and receives detection unit 425.In addition, other structure of electronic watch 1D is identical with electronic watch 1C.

Receive the type that detection unit 425 judges to receive the reception process that control part 42D carries out.In the present embodiment, receive detection unit 425 and judge that receiving process is automatic reception process or manually receives process.

And, receive control part 42D according to the type receiving process, by accepting state detection unit 422 and the side temporally in accepting state detection unit 424 or by accepting state detection unit 422 and temporally accepting state detection unit 424 both sides judge.In the present embodiment, when reception is treated to automatic reception process, by accepting state detection unit 422 and temporally accepting state detection unit 424 both sides judge, when reception is treated to manually reception process, do not judged by accepting state detection unit 422, and judge by means of only temporally accepting state detection unit 424.

Figure 17, Figure 18 are the process flow diagrams of the reception process illustrated in the 4th embodiment.

As shown in Figure 17, Figure 18, control circuit 40D carries out the process of SD11 ~ SD29, SD41, SD42, SD50.Herein, the process of SD11 ~ SD29, SD41, SD50 is and the SC11 ~ SC29 in the 3rd embodiment, process that SC41, SC50 are identical, thus omits the description.

In the 4th embodiment, be judged to be "Yes" in SD14 after, before the determination processing of carrying out SD17, receive detection unit 425 and judge whether the reception process that reception control part 42D carries out is manually receive process (SD42).

When being judged to be "No" in SD42, receiving detection unit 425 and make process proceed to SD17.

On the other hand, when being judged to be "Yes" in SD42, receiving detection unit 425 and make process proceed to SD18.

(action effect of the 4th embodiment)

When automatic reception process, judged whether to catch satellite number as more than specified quantity by accepting state detection unit 422, when being less than specified quantity, stopping receiving process, thereby, it is possible to efficiently searching gps satellite 100, can power consumption be reduced.In addition, by carrying out the judgement of temporally accepting state detection unit 424, power consumption can be reduced further.

When manually receiving process, because the judgement carrying out accepting state detection unit 422 opportunity do not terminated in the search of the first search satellite threshold value of received signal level being set as minimum threshold (is judged to be "Yes" in SD42, do not perform the process of SD24), therefore, after search first search satellite, at least before reaching satellite number judgement opportunity of temporally accepting state detection unit 424, other gps satellite 100 can be searched for.Therefore, it is possible to improve the probability of acceptance of time information.

Like this, according to the type receiving process, suitably selectivity carries out the judgement of accepting state detection unit 422 and temporally accepting state detection unit 424, thus, the mean value receiving the power consumption that process consumes can be reduced, and the probability of acceptance of time information can be improved.

[other embodiment]

In addition, the invention is not restricted to the structure of the respective embodiments described above, in the scope of purport of the present invention, various distortion can be carried out and implement.

Such as, in the above-described embodiment, in SA26, SB26, SB33, SC26, SD26, the received signal level in the gps satellite 100 that satellite capture control part 421 captures by memory control unit 44 is that the satellite number of the gps satellite 100 of more than specified level is stored in satellite number storage part 51.

But the satellite number of the gps satellite 100 of the some the gps satellite 100 strong from received signal level in the gps satellite 100 that satellite capture control part 421 also can capture by memory control unit 44 is several is stored in satellite number storage part 51.Some is such as 4.

Such as, the gps satellite 100 that satellite capture control part 421 captures is 9, the relation of (A) that these satellite number (PRN) and received signal level (SNR) are Figure 10.In this case, 4 satellite number several for gps satellite 100 strong for the received signal level shown in (B) from Figure 10 are stored in satellite number storage part 51.

Thus, the gps satellite 100 that satellite capture control part 421 first search received signal level is strong, therefore, it is possible to the gps satellite 100 that the successful receiving rate capturing time information is efficiently higher.

In the above-described embodiment, the gps satellite 100 of the satellite number stored in satellite capture control part 421 search of satellite numbering storage part 51, in addition, also can search for accurate zenith satellites (QZSS) such as " MICHIBIKI ".

Accurate zenith satellite is the positional information satellite by Japanese overhead, and in Japan, the successful receiving rate of time information etc. is higher.According to said structure, accurate zenith satellite can be captured, therefore, it is possible to improve the successful receiving rate of time information in Japan.

In addition, any one in the search of gps satellite 100 and accurate zenith satellite can first be carried out, but, by the accurate zenith satellite that the successful receiving rate of first searching for time information is high, time information can be obtained rapidly.

In addition, electronic watch 1 has nonvolatile memory, the satellite number of accurate zenith satellite can be stored in nonvolatile memory.

According to this structure, even if do not provide power supply, the satellite number of accurate zenith satellite also can be stored.Therefore, when the broken battery of electronic watch 1 (when the charge capacity of secondary cell 80 is zero), satellite number can be preserved.

In addition, according to this structure, different from the situation of such as ROM (Read Only Memory: ROM (read-only memory)), can rewrite data, therefore, when new launch accurate zenith satellite, newly can store the satellite number of this accurate zenith satellite.

In the above-described embodiment, Ke Yishi, in SA15, SA20, SB15, SB20, SC15, SC20, SD15, SD20, the generating unit 41 information time of reception, determine whether successfully to receive time information, receive location calculating information, judge that whether the reception of location calculating information is successful.

In this case, in SA28, SB28, SC28, SD28, location calculating information according to receiving revises inner time data, in SA29, SB29, SC29, SD29, show the time zone corresponding with the current location positional information as the location result generated according to the location calculating information received.

In this case, the time-out time of SA16, SA21, SB16, SB21, SC16, SC21, SD16, SD21 is such as set to 120 seconds.

In the above-described embodiment, reception of the present invention process is performed, compared with during automatic reception process, when manually receiving process when automatic reception process and when manually receiving process, first search satellite possibility can be captured low, therefore only can perform when automatic reception process and receive process.In this case, when manually receiving process, not preferentially search for first search satellite than other gps satellite 100, but searching for whole gps satellite 100 successively by satellite number.

In addition, after automatic reception process and manual reception process start, reception of the present invention process can be started after have passed through the stipulated time.Such as, sometimes when receiving leap second information, start to receive, the time of reception information, to leap second information transmission to calculate opportunity after, stop receiving temporarily, wait for the transmission opportunity of leap second information, again receive, on the opportunity also can carried out this and again receive, perform above-mentioned reception process.

In the above-described embodiment, the threshold value of received signal level is set as max-thresholds, intermediate threshold, minimum threshold these 3 carry out the search of gps satellite 100, but, such as also above-mentioned threshold value can be set as max-thresholds and minimum threshold these two, or be set as 1 minimum threshold.

In the above-described embodiment, it is the search performing first search satellite according to the order of satellite number, but, also received signal level can be stored into together with satellite number in satellite number storage part 51, with reference to this information, from the satellite that received signal level is higher, search for first search satellite successively.Thereby, it is possible to capture the higher gps satellite of received signal level 100 rapidly, successfully time information can be received more quickly.

In the above-described embodiment, independently the satellite number of the gps satellite 100 captured is stored in satellite number storage part 51 with whether the reception of time information is successful, but, also only can store when success, not store when failure.

In the above-described embodiment, when the gps satellite 100 captured is UnHealth satellites, satellite number can not be stored in satellite number storage part 51.

In the above-described embodiment, when no matter being when automatic reception process or when manually receiving process, all the satellite number of the gps satellite 100 captured is stored in satellite number storage part 51, but, the possibility that the gps satellite 100 captured during manual reception process is caught in upper once automatic reception process is lower than the gps satellite 100 captured during in automatic reception process, therefore, only can storing the satellite number of the gps satellite 100 captured when automatic reception process, not storing when manually receiving process.

Or, when manually receiving process, the satellite number of the gps satellite 100 captured can not be rewritten in satellite number storage part 51, but store additionally.Be appended in first search satellite thereby, it is possible to the gps satellite 100 captured when manually receiving process is supplemented.

In the above-described embodiment, as the example of positional information satellite, describe gps satellite 100, but, positional information satellite of the present invention can be not only gps satellite 100, can also be stationary satellite and the above-mentioned accurate zenith satellites such as other GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System) (GNSS), stationary satellite formula satellite navigation strengthening system (SBAS) such as Galileo (EU), GLONASS (Russia), the Big Dipper (China).

Figure 11 is the guide look of the satellite number of each position information satellite.Like this, satellite number is according to the satellite of gps satellite 100, SBAS, accurate zenith satellite and give different numberings, therefore, it is possible to they be mixedly stored in satellite number storage part 51.

In above-mentioned 3rd embodiment, to make the mode of carrying out the initial judgement of temporally accepting state detection unit 424 after the search of the first search satellite threshold value of received signal level being set as minimum threshold terminates set predetermined time interval, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Such as, also predetermined time interval can be set to make the mode of carrying out above-mentioned judgement at first after the search of the first search satellite above-mentioned threshold value being set as max-thresholds, intermediate threshold terminates.

In above-mentioned 4th embodiment, when receive be treated to automatic reception process, by accepting state detection unit 422 and temporally accepting state detection unit 424 both sides judge, but to the present invention is not limited thereto.Such as, in the same manner as the reception process of the 1st embodiment, can judge by means of only accepting state detection unit 422.

In addition, in above-mentioned 4th embodiment, receive detection unit 425 and judge that receiving process is automatic reception process or manually receives process, when reception is treated to automatic reception process, receive control part 42D by accepting state detection unit 422 and temporally accepting state detection unit 424 both sides judge, when reception is treated to manually reception process, do not judged by accepting state detection unit 422, and judge by means of only temporally accepting state detection unit 424, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Such as, also can be, receive detection unit 425 and judge that receiving process is that timing automatic receives process or light automatic reception process, when reception is treated to timing automatic reception process, receive control part 42D by accepting state detection unit 422 and temporally accepting state detection unit 424 both sides judge, when reception is treated to light automatic reception process, to receive situation about processing same with manual in the 4th embodiment, do not judged by accepting state detection unit 422, and judge by means of only temporally accepting state detection unit 424.

Claims

1. an electronic watch, it has:

Acceptance division, it carries out such reception process: catching position information satellite, receives the satellite-signal sent from the positional information satellite captured;

Satellite number storage part, the satellite number of its stored position information satellite; And

Receive control part, it controls described acceptance division,

The feature of this electronic watch is,

Described reception control part has:

Satellite capture control part, it is the described acceptance division of control, the threshold value of setting received signal level is carried out searching position information satellite and makes the control part that described acceptance division catches, this satellite capture control part using the positional information satellite of satellite number that stores in described satellite number storage part as first search satellite, compared with other positional information satellite, preferentially search for;

Accepting state detection unit, its described satellite capture control part the threshold value of received signal level is set as setting after opportunity of terminating of the search of described first search satellite, whether the quantity of the positional information satellite captured described in judging as more than specified quantity;

Receive stop control unit, it is when being judged to be less than described specified quantity by described accepting state detection unit, controls described acceptance division to stop the reception of satellite-signal; And

Memory control unit, the satellite number of the positional information satellite captured by described acceptance division is stored in described satellite number storage part by it.

2. electronic watch according to claim 1, is characterized in that,

Described threshold value is set as carrying out searching position information satellite as the 2nd threshold value of the value described setting lower than described 1st threshold value after searching positional information satellite described threshold value is set as the 1st threshold value by described satellite capture control part,

Described threshold value is set as in the search of described 2nd threshold value at described satellite capture control part, on the opportunity that described accepting state detection unit terminates in the search of described first search satellite, whether the quantity of the positional information satellite captured described in judging is as more than described specified quantity.

3. electronic watch according to claim 1 and 2, is characterized in that,

Received signal level in the positional information satellite captured by described acceptance division is that the satellite number of the positional information satellite of more than specified level is stored in described satellite number storage part by described memory control unit.

4. electronic watch according to claim 1 and 2, is characterized in that,

The satellite number of the positional information satellite of the some the positional information satellite number strong from received signal level in the positional information satellite captured by described acceptance division is stored in described satellite number storage part by described memory control unit.

5. the electronic watch according to any one in Claims 1 to 4, is characterized in that,

On the opportunity that the reception of the satellite-signal of described acceptance division terminates, the satellite number of the positional information satellite captured by described acceptance division is stored in described satellite number storage part by described memory control unit.

6. the electronic watch according to any one in Claims 1 to 4, is characterized in that,

The satellite number of the positional information satellite captured by described acceptance division in the described certain hour received when processing is stored in described satellite number storage part by described memory control unit.

7. the electronic watch according to any one in claim 1 ~ 6, is characterized in that,

Described satellite capture control part, except searching for the positional information satellite of the satellite number stored in described satellite number storage part, also searches for accurate zenith satellite.

8. electronic watch according to claim 7, is characterized in that,

Described electronic watch has nonvolatile memory,

The satellite number of described accurate zenith satellite is stored in described nonvolatile memory.

9. an electronic watch, it has:

Acceptance division, its catching position information satellite, receives the satellite-signal sent from the positional information satellite captured;

Receive control part, it controls described acceptance division,

The feature of this electronic watch is,

Described reception control part has:

Satellite capture control part, it is that the threshold value of setting received signal level is carried out searching position information satellite and carries out the control part that catches, this satellite capture control part using the positional information satellite of satellite number that stores in described satellite number storage part as first search satellite, compared with other positional information satellite, preferentially search for;

Temporally accepting state detection unit, its judge with predetermined time interval described in the quantity of positional information satellite that captures whether as more than specified quantity;

Receive stop control unit, it, when being judged to be that the quantity of positional information satellite is less than specified quantity by any one in described accepting state detection unit and described temporally accepting state detection unit, controls described acceptance division to stop the reception of satellite-signal; And

10. electronic watch according to claim 9, is characterized in that,

Described electronic watch has input part,

Described reception process comprises: the automatic reception process of receiving satellite signal when meeting automatic reception condition; And the manual reception process of receiving satellite signal is carried out according to the operation of described input part,

Described reception control part is according to the described type receiving process, by in described accepting state detection unit and described temporally accepting state detection unit or by described accepting state detection unit and described temporally accepting state detection unit both sides, judge that whether the quantity of positional information satellite is as more than specified quantity.

The satellite signal reception method of 11. 1 kinds of electronic watches, this electronic watch has:

Receive control part, it controls described acceptance division,

The feature of this satellite signal reception method is, comprises the following steps:

Satellite capture step, this step is that the threshold value of setting received signal level is carried out searching position information satellite and carries out the step that catches, in this satellite capture step, using the positional information satellite of satellite number that stores in described satellite number storage part as first search satellite, compared with other positional information satellite, preferentially search for;

Accepting state determination step, in described satellite capture step the threshold value of received signal level is set as setting after opportunity of terminating of the search of described first search satellite, judge that whether the quantity of the positional information satellite captured by described satellite capture step is as more than specified quantity;

Receiving and stop step, when being judged to be less than described specified quantity by described accepting state determination step, stopping the reception of satellite-signal; And

Store rate-determining steps, the satellite number of the positional information satellite captured by described acceptance division is stored in described satellite number storage part.