CN110557824A

CN110557824A - Time counting device, time counting system and time counting method

Info

Publication number: CN110557824A
Application number: CN201910148999.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 今村美由纪; 细贝则充
Original assignee: Seiko Clock Inc
Current assignee: Seiko Chuangshi Co ltd
Priority date: 2018-05-30
Filing date: 2019-02-28
Publication date: 2019-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 2039-02-28
Also published as: JP2019207187A; CN110557824B; JP7178182B2

Abstract

The invention provides a timing device, a timing system and a timing method, which can reduce crosstalk of signals for time correction. The timer device comprises: a transmission unit that sequentially transmits, to another time measurement device, a plurality of pieces of correction time information indicating correction values of the time measurement data in a predetermined transmission period; and a changing unit that changes a transmission interval of the correction time information sequentially transmitted by the transmitting unit in the transmission period.

Description

Time counting device, time counting system and time counting method

Technical Field

The invention relates to a timing device, a timing system and a timing method.

Background

the following timing systems are known: a plurality of timepieces are arranged, time information is transmitted from the timepiece as a parent device to the timepiece as a child device, and time correction is performed on the timepiece as the child device. In such a timing system, a network construction using wireless communication is performed.

When a network is constructed using wireless communication, a method of identifying IP addresses of each other by Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or the like, or a method of pairing by bidirectional communication using short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) is used. In such a method, control becomes complicated, and the user takes time and labor.

The following timing systems are known: the time adjustment of the time measuring devices of each hierarchy can be performed by layering a plurality of time measuring devices and sequentially relaying time information from a time measuring device of an upper hierarchy to a time measuring device of a lower hierarchy that is one hierarchy lower. In such a timekeeping system, time information is transmitted from a parent device, which is a timekeeping device in an upper hierarchy, to a child device, which is a timekeeping device in a lower hierarchy, by one-way communication. The one-way communication is, for example, short-range wireless communication. The child device refers to the transmission timing information included in the transmission data together with the time information, and determines an automatic reception timing for receiving the transmission data from the parent device later.

In such a timekeeping system, it is easier to construct a network than in bidirectional communication in which timekeeping devices are paired with each other. For example, a timer device capable of automatically establishing an appropriate link relationship between timer devices is known (patent document 1). In the timer system using the timer device described in patent document 1, when both the parent device and the child device are powered on and initial reception is successful, transmission is automatically started thereafter. Therefore, in this timekeeping system, the timekeeping device is easily installed.

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. 2005-257484

In the timer system using the timer device described in patent document 1, each timer device performs an advertisement intermittently, for example, every 10 seconds, during a transmission operation of transmitting time information for time adjustment. In such a time counting system, a plurality of child devices are connected to a parent device by one-way communication, and each child device is connected to a plurality of child devices of a lower hierarchy level. Therefore, in such a timekeeping system, since a plurality of advertisement signals are transmitted simultaneously at the time of installation, there is a problem that the transmitted advertisement signals are highly likely to be crosstalk with each other.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to provide a timekeeping device, a timekeeping system, and a timekeeping method capable of reducing crosstalk of signals used for time correction.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and one aspect of the present invention is a timepiece device including: a transmission unit that sequentially transmits, to another time measurement device, a plurality of pieces of correction time information indicating correction values of the time measurement data in a predetermined transmission period; and a changing unit that changes a transmission interval of the correction time information sequentially transmitted by the transmitting unit in the transmission period.

In the above-described timing device, according to an aspect of the present invention, the changing unit changes the transmission interval at random.

In the above-described timing device according to an aspect of the present invention, the changing unit changes a transmission interval of the corrected time information that the transmitting unit sequentially transmits in a 1 st transmission period among the transmission periods, and a transmission interval of the corrected time information that the transmitting unit sequentially transmits in a 2 nd transmission period having a timing different from that of the 1 st transmission period.

Another aspect of the present invention is a timepiece system including: the above-mentioned timing device; and a sub-timer device that receives the corrected time information from the timer device and corrects the timer data of its own device based on the received corrected time information.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a timing method including the steps of: a transmission step of sequentially transmitting a plurality of pieces of correction time information indicating correction values of the time measurement data to other time measurement devices within a predetermined transmission period; and a changing step of changing a transmission interval of the correction time information sequentially transmitted in the transmission period in the transmission step.

According to the present invention, crosstalk of signals for time correction can be reduced.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a timepiece system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of corrected time information and a communication channel according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of advertisement (advertisement) for a plurality of times in 1 transmission operation according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a transmission operation for each predetermined transmission interval according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a randomly set transmission interval according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the timepiece device according to the embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of display of the display panel of the display device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the control unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of preprocessing for time information reception according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing an example of long-wave reception processing in the master mode according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an example of near field communication processing in the master mode according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the close-range reception processing in the child device mode according to the embodiment of the present invention.

fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the timer processing in the normal time according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 14 is a diagram showing an example of processing for correcting time in a normal state of the slave device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the transmission operation of the corrected time signal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the reference symbols

S: a timing system; C. c1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6: a timing device; 1: a long wave receiving circuit; 2: a power supply circuit; 21: an AC (alternating current) adapter connection plug; 22: a battery; 3: a connector; 4: a master device; 5: a display device; 6: a voltage detector; 7: a regulator; 8: a switch group; 9: an RF circuit; 10: a quartz resonator; 11: a control unit; 20: a processor; 201: a correction unit; 202: a timing section; 203: a master/slave mode control unit; 204: a communication control unit; 205: an interval setting unit; 206: a display control unit; 30: a timing data acquisition unit; 40: an encoder; 50: a decoder; 60: a key input section; 70: a voltage data input section; 80: a register group; 801: a parent device child device mode register; 802: a timing data register; 803: a receive channel register; 804: a transmit channel register; 805: a layer register; 806: a continuous reception failure number register; 807: a transmit interval register; p: a display panel.

Detailed Description

(embodiment mode)

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a timekeeping system S according to the present embodiment. The time counting system S includes a plurality of time counting devices C1 to C6, and these time counting devices C1 to C6 form a tree-shaped network.

Hereinafter, 1 of the time counting devices C1 to C6 may be referred to as a time counting device C.

In this network, there are hierarchical levels shown by layers, and the time device C at the uppermost layer acquires time information and sequentially transmits the time information from the time device C at the upper layer to the time device C at the lower layer. Here, the time information acquired by the timer device C on the uppermost layer is, for example, information indicating a reference time included in the standard radio wave. The time counting device C of each layer corrects the time of its own device when receiving the time information from the time counting device C of the upper layer. Thus, the timekeeping devices C1 to C6 constituting the timekeeping system S maintain accurate time.

The timekeeping devices C1 to C6 included in the timekeeping system S are radio-controlled timepieces installed in, for example, office buildings or factories. In a radio-controlled timepiece, a standard radio wave may not be received depending on the installation location.

Therefore, in the timekeeping system S, the timekeeping devices C1 to C6 are divided into a parent device that receives the standard radio wave and a child device that receives the corrected time signal from the parent device. Here, the corrected time signal is a signal including corrected time information M as time information used for time correction. The timer C1 as a parent device is installed in a window or the like that easily receives a standard radio wave. On the other hand, the timer C2 and the timer C3 as child devices are set on the back side of the building, and receive the corrected time signal from the timer C1 as parent device.

In the timer system S, when receiving the corrected time signal from the timer device C of the higher layer, the timer device C receives the corrected time signal from the timer device C of the higher layer at a predetermined reception timing thereafter.

In the timer system S, one-way communication in the short-range wireless communication is used for transmission. For example, the short-range wireless communication is BLE (Bluetooth (registered trademark)) Low Energy. The transmission data includes layer information indicating a hierarchy of the network. The timer devices C2 to C6 add 1 to the layer value received at the initial reception to set the layer of the own device. Thereafter, the time counting devices C2 to C6 acquire only transmission data having a layer value 1 smaller than the layer value of their own device, thereby constructing a tree-shaped network.

In the timepiece system S, by using the one-way communication, time and labor for pairing in the near field communication, IP address setting in a general network, and the like are saved, and compared with these, the parent-child timepiece system can be easily realized.

The timer C1 as a parent device receives standard radio waves such as JJY (registered trademark) or satellite radio waves (UTC) by long-wave reception, and acquires time information. Alternatively, the timer device C1 as the parent device acquires time information from the smartphone by short-range wireless communication. The information source from which the timer C1 acquires the time information is set by the user. In the timer system S, the user also sets which of the parent device and the child device the timer device C functions as.

The timer C1 corrects the timer data of its own device based on the acquired time information. The timer C1 generates corrected time information M based on the corrected time data. The timer device C1 transmits a corrected time signal including the generated corrected time information M to the timer device C2 and the timer device C3 in the lower layer through the transmission channel 0.

Here, the corrected time information M and the communication channel are explained with reference to fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the corrected time information M and the communication channel according to the present embodiment. The corrected time information M includes layer information M1, transmission channel information M2, time information M3, station information M4, and calendar information M5.

The layer information M1 is information for specifying the layer where the timer C that transmitted the corrected time information M is located. The layer information M1 is, for example, in the range of 0 to 99.

The transmission channel information M2 is information for specifying a communication channel for transmitting the correction time information M. For example, when 60 channels of communication channels are prepared, the transmission channel information M2 is set to a value corresponding to a communication channel among values of 0 to 59, for example.

The time information M3 is information indicating the time of year, month, day, hour, minute, second, week, etc.

The station information M4 is information indicating which information source the time information M3 has corrected. The station information M4 is information indicating, for example, UTC, JJY (40 kHz; east/foro island transmitting station), JJY (60kHz, west/kyushu transmitting station), smartphone, and manual adjustment in a distinguished manner.

The calendar information M5 is information indicating a calendar.

Returning to fig. 1, the description of the timer system S is continued.

In the timer system S, in order to prevent crosstalk, a time slot TS every 10 seconds is provided, and the transmission timing of the corrected time information M is determined from the layer and the transmission CH (transmission channel), thereby preventing the transmission timing from overlapping among a plurality of transmission devices. Here, the transmission CH is not a time-division slot but a frequency-division slot, and is randomly set from the numbers 0 to 59. An example of the transmission timing is represented by equation (1).

Transmission timing hh: 00: 00+ (layer × 10) [ min ] + (transmission CH × 10) [ sec ] +5[ sec ] (hh ═ 0, 3, 6 …) … (formula 1)

Unlike bi-directional communication of BLE in which crosstalk is prevented by frequency hopping, in the uni-directional communication of BLE, when a broadcasting device as a transmitting device transmits an advertisement packet as transmission data, 3 frequencies are sequentially switched and transmitted, and therefore, when timings overlap, the possibility of occurrence of crosstalk increases. In the timer system S, the transmission timings are prevented from overlapping by equation (1).

Here, the transmission operation of the timer device C will be described with reference to fig. 3 to 5.

In the timer system S, when the timer device C as the master device and the timer device C as the slave device both initially receive successfully, transmission is automatically started. The timing device C advertises as a broadcasting device for BLE at the time of transmission. In the advertisement, as shown in fig. 3, the timer device C sequentially switches 3 advertisement channels of the channel CH37, the channel CH38, and the channel CH39 to perform frequency hopping. That is, in the advertisement of 1 time, the advertisement packet is transmitted using 3 frequencies.

The timer device C transmits the corrected time information M as an advertisement packet. The advertisement is to transmit a corrected time signal including the corrected time information M.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of advertisement of a plurality of times in 1 transmission operation. In order to transmit time data in 1 transmission operation, the advertisement may be transmitted 1 time. However, in the timer system S, in order to increase the reception success rate, the advertisement is performed 1 time of the transmission operation, for example, 3 times. Here, the transmission interval AI at which the advertisement packet is transmitted is referred to as an advertisement interval.

In the example shown in fig. 3, a transmission interval AI1 between the advertisement of the 1 st time and the advertisement of the 2 nd time and a transmission interval AI2 between the advertisement of the 2 nd time and the advertisement of the 3 rd time are shown.

In the automatic transmission after the reset, as shown in fig. 4, the timer C performs 3 transmission operations (transmission operations TX1 to TX3) every 10 seconds. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a transmission operation at predetermined transmission intervals AI. The timer C randomly sets the transmission interval AI according to equation (2) before performing each transmission operation.

Advertisement interval 20ms + nx0.625 ms … (equation 2)

Here, the integer n is randomly selected from integers of 0 to 31, for example. Fig. 5 shows timings when the integer n is 0, 1, and 31 when the plurality of timers C transmit after initial reception. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the transmission interval AI set at random.

As shown in fig. 5, in the timer system S, since the transmission timing is different in the advertisement after the 2 nd time, crosstalk can be avoided.

the timer C2 having the floor value of 1 receives the corrected time information M from the timer C1 having the floor value of 0. The timer device C2 corrects the timer data of its own device based on the time information M3 included in the corrected time information M. The timer C2 generates corrected time information M based on the corrected time data. The timer C2 transmits the generated corrected time information M to the timer C4 having a layer value of 2. Here, the timer C2 uses the transmission channel 3 for transmission, which is different from the transmission channel 0 used by the timer C1 of the higher layer.

Similarly, the timer C of each layer receives the corrected time information M from the timer C of the layer having the smaller value of 1, and corrects the timer data of its own device based on the time information M3 included in the received corrected time information M. The timer C generates corrected time information M based on the corrected time data. The timer device C transmits the generated corrected time information M to the timer device C of the lower layer having the layer value larger than 1, using a transmission channel different from the transmission channel used by the timer device C of the upper layer having the layer value smaller than 1.

Therefore, the timer system S includes: a timing device C of an upper layer; and a sub-timer device which receives the corrected time information M from the timer device C of the upper layer and corrects the timer data of the self-timer device based on the received corrected time information M.

In the timekeeping system S, a timekeeping device that does not have a function of transmitting the corrected time information M may be disposed as necessary in addition to the timekeeping device C.

Next, the structure of the timer device C will be described with reference to fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the timer device C of the present embodiment. The timer device C has a long-wave receiving circuit 1, a power supply circuit 2, a connector 3, a main device 4, and a display device 5.

the long-wavelength receiving circuit 1 receives and demodulates a standard radio wave jy or a satellite radio wave (UTC) including time information, and outputs digital reception information to the host apparatus 4 via the connector 3.

The power supply circuit 2 has an AC (alternating current) adapter connection plug 21 and a battery 22, and supplies direct current power from the AC adapter or the battery 22 to the host device 4 via the connector 3.

The display device 5 has a display panel P (e.g., a liquid crystal display panel) having a segment structure, and displays information such as time information and radio wave transmission/reception status.

Here, the display of the display panel P of the display device 5 is explained with reference to fig. 7.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of display on the display panel P of the display device 5 according to the present embodiment. The display panel P has a morning display section P1, a afternoon display section P2, a TL marker section P3, an hour display section P4, a separation section P5, a minute display section P6, a second display section P7, a parent-child device mode marker section P8, an information source marker section P9, a BLE marker section P10, an antenna marker section P11, a reception level section P12, a battery marker section P13, a month display section P14, a day display section P15, and a day display section P16.

In the case of the 12-hour display at the time of day, the morning display segment P1 and the afternoon display segment P2 display the morning and the afternoon separately.

The TL mark segment P3 is a display segment for displaying a case where the corrected time signal can be received from the timekeeping device C in the upper layer. Further, by switching the display form of the TL mark segment P3, the display is in reception, transmission, or the like.

The hour display segment P4, the division segment P5, the minute display segment P6, and the second display segment P7 are displayed in "hours: the minute "form shows the current time.

The parent-child apparatus mode flag segment P8 shows whether the timer C is set to the parent apparatus mode or the child apparatus mode. When the timer C is set to the parent device mode, the character "P" of the parent device child device mode flag segment P8 lights up. On the other hand, when the timer device C is set to the child device mode, the character "C" of the parent device child device mode flag segment P8 lights up.

The source flag segment P9 indicates whether or not the standard radio wave signal has been received within a predetermined time, and if so, which of the west station, the east station, and the UTC the source is. For example, when the timer C receives JJY60kHz within 24 hours and corrects the time, the W mark segment lights up. When the timer C receives JJY40kHz within 24 hours and is used for time correction, the E mark segment is lightened. When the timekeeping device C receives UTC within 24 hours and corrects the time, the U flag segment lights up.

BLE flag segment P10 indicates whether or not time information is received from the smartphone through short-range wireless communication such as BLE.

The antenna flag section P11 and the reception level section P12 are sections for displaying the intensity of the received electric wave.

the battery flag segment P13 is a segment for displaying the voltage status of the battery 22.

The month display segment P14, day display segment P15, and day display segment P16 are segments for displaying the month day and the day.

Returning to fig. 6, the configuration of the timer device C will be described.

The main device 4 includes a voltage detector 6, a regulator 7, a switch group 8, an RF (Radio Frequency) circuit 9, a quartz resonator 10, and a control unit 11.

The voltage detector 6 detects the output voltage of the power supply circuit 2 and supplies the detected value to the control unit 11.

The regulator 7 stabilizes the voltage supplied from the power supply circuit 2 and supplies the stabilized voltage to the host device 4.

The switch group 8 includes a plurality of switches such as a RESET switch, an RECV switch, and a MODE switch. The switch group 8 supplies various information and instructions to the control unit 11 according to the on/off of the switch, the length of the on time, and the like, which are based on the user operation.

When the RESET switch is operated, the control unit 11 is in an initial state.

When the RECV switch is operated, a manual reception process of receiving a reception signal for a prescribed time is performed.

When the MODE switch is operated, the MODE is switched among 3 MODEs, namely a long-wave reception master MODE for receiving long waves, a BLE master MODE for acquiring time information from a smartphone through reception based on BLE, and a slave MODE. Further, the parent device mode and the child device mode may be switched, and the time information may be acquired by automatically selecting which of the long-wave reception and the BLE reception is used in the parent device mode.

The RF circuit 9 receives the corrected time signal transmitted from the timer C of the upper layer as a reception signal under the control of the control unit 11. The RF circuit 9 demodulates the received corrected timing signal and outputs the demodulated signal to the control unit 11. The RF circuit 9 transmits the corrected time information M to the timer C in the lower layer using a transmission channel different from the reception channel.

The quartz resonator 10 oscillates at a predetermined oscillation frequency and supplies an oscillation signal to the control unit 11.

The control unit 11 controls the entire operation of the timer device C. The control unit 11 performs a timing operation based on an oscillation signal of the quartz resonator 10, a change of a transmission interval AI (advertisement interval), a correction operation of time data based on a correction time signal received from the timing device C of the upper layer, a transmission of correction time information M based on the corrected time data via the RF circuit 9, a display control of various kinds of information on the display device 5, a process in response to an operation input of the switch group 8, and the like.

Here, the configuration of the control unit 11 will be described with reference to fig. 8.

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the control unit 11 according to the present embodiment. The control unit 11 includes a processor 20, a time data acquisition unit 30, an encoder 40, a decoder 50, a key input unit 60, a voltage data input unit 70, and a register group 80.

The processor 20 includes a correction unit 201, a timer unit 202, a parent device/child device mode control unit 203, a communication control unit 204, an interval setting unit 205, and a display control unit 206. The processor 20 causes the correction unit 201, the timer unit 202, the parent device/child device mode control unit 203, the communication control unit 204, the interval setting unit 205, and the display control unit 206 to perform processing, respectively.

The processor 20 is realized by a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like.

The correction unit 201 corrects the timing data based on the standard time information included in the reception signal received by the long-wave reception circuit 1 or the RF circuit 9. The correction unit 201 corrects the time count data based on the correction time information M included in the correction time signal, which is the reception signal received by the RF circuit 9.

The timer unit 202 performs timing based on the timing data corrected by the correction unit 201.

The parent-child device mode control unit 203 changes the parent-child device mode setting information stored in the parent-child device mode register 801 in accordance with a signal for switching the parent device mode and the child device mode supplied from the key input unit 60.

The communication control unit 204 controls reception of the reception signal by the RF circuit 9 and transmission of the correction timing signal by the RF circuit 9. Here, the communication control unit 204 receives the corrected time signal transmitted from the timer C of the upper layer as a reception signal via the RF circuit 9.

The interval setting unit 205 changes the transmission interval AI (advertisement interval).

The display control unit 206 controls display of various information on the display device 5.

The timing data acquisition unit 30 counts oscillation signals from the quartz resonator 10, acquires timing data at regular intervals, and outputs a timing interrupt signal to the processor 20. Here, the certain time is, for example, 100 ms.

The encoder 40 encodes the data to be transmitted supplied from the processor 20, for example, the correction time information M, generates a baseband signal, and supplies the baseband signal to the RF circuit 9.

The decoder 50 decodes the reception signals received by the long-wave reception circuit 1 and the RF circuit 9, demodulates the baseband signals of the standard time information and the corrected time information M, and supplies the demodulated signals to the processor 20.

The key input unit 60 decodes the on/off signal input in accordance with the operation of the switch group 8, and supplies the decoded signal to the processor 20.

The voltage data input unit 70 outputs the voltage value detected by the voltage detector 6 to the processor 20.

The register group 80 has a parent device child device mode register 801, a timing data register 802, a reception channel register 803, a transmission channel register 804, a layer register 805, a consecutive reception failure number register 806, and a transmission interval register 807.

The parent device child device mode register 801 stores parent device child device mode setting information. The parent-child apparatus mode setting information indicates which one of the long-wave reception parent apparatus mode, BLE parent apparatus mode, and child apparatus mode the timer device C is set to.

The time data register 802 stores information indicating the current time measured by the time measuring device C as time data. Here, the information indicating the current time is information indicating month/day/hour/minute/second/week.

The reception channel register 803 stores reception channel designation data (for example, any one of the above-described values 0 to 59) that designates a communication channel that receives the correction time information M from the timer device C of the upper layer, and received data and the like. In the case where there is no time counter C1 having a value of 0 at the layer of the time counter C at the upper layer, the type of time such as the standard time and information indicating the information source from which the time information has been acquired are stored. Here, the information indicating the information source from which the time information is obtained is information indicating the type of standard radio wave (UTC, jjyoto transmission station, etc.) or the smartphone.

The transmission channel register 804 stores transmission channel designation data (for example, any one of the above-described values 0 to 59) that designates a transmission channel for transmitting the corrected time information M to the timer device C of the lower layer. The channel designation data stored in the transmission channel register 804 is transmitted as transmission channel information M2 in the corrected time information M.

The layer register 805 stores layer data (for example, any one of the aforementioned values of 0 to 99) indicating which layer among the plurality of layers the timer C is located.

The continuous reception failure count register 806 stores the number of times that the correction time information M from the timer device C of the upper layer cannot be continuously received, that is, the number of continuous reception failures. In addition, when there is no timer C1 in which the layer value of the timer C in the upper layer is 0, the number of times that the standard radio signal cannot be continuously received is stored.

Transmission interval register 807 stores transmission interval AI at which timer C transmits an advertisement packet in 1 transmission operation.

(configuration)

the user arranges a plurality of timepieces C constituting the timekeeping system S within a distance range in which communication by the RF circuit 9 is possible, and turns on the power.

(initial action)

When the timer C is powered on, it starts preprocessing for receiving the time information together with other initialization operations. This preprocessing is also started when the RESET switch of the switch group 8 is operated and the control unit 11 is in the initial state.

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of preprocessing for time information reception according to the present embodiment.

Step S100: the parent-child apparatus mode control unit 203 determines whether or not the timer C is set to the parent apparatus mode. Here, the parent device mode is any one of a long-wave reception parent device mode and a BLE parent device mode.

The parent-child device mode control unit 203 acquires parent-child device mode setting information from the parent-child device mode register 801. If the parent device/child device mode control unit 203 determines that the acquired parent device/child device mode setting information indicates either the long-wave reception parent device mode or the BLE parent device mode (step S100; yes), the processor 20 executes the process of step S110.

On the other hand, if the parent device/child device mode control unit 203 determines that the acquired parent device/child device mode setting information does not indicate any one of the long-wave reception parent device mode and the BLE parent device mode (step S100; no), the processor 20 executes the child device mode short-distance reception process of step S140. The sub-device mode close range reception processing is described later with reference to fig. 12.

In step S100, the parent-child device mode control unit 203 supplies the parent-child device mode setting information to the display control unit 206. The display control unit 206 causes the display device 5 to display whether the timer C is set to the parent device mode or the child device mode by using the parent-child device mode flag P8, based on the parent-child device mode setting information supplied from the parent-child device mode control unit 203.

Step S110: the parent-child apparatus mode control unit 203 determines whether or not the timer C is set to the long-wave reception parent apparatus mode. When the parent device/child device mode control unit 203 determines that the parent device/child device mode setting information indicates the long-wave reception parent device mode (yes in step S110), the processor 20 executes the long-wave reception process in step S120. The long wave reception process is described later with reference to fig. 10.

On the other hand, when the parent-device child-device mode control unit 203 determines that the parent-device child-device mode setting information does not indicate the long-wave reception parent-device mode (step S110; no), the processor 20 executes the parent-device mode short-range communication process of step S130. The mother device mode near field communication process will be described later with reference to fig. 11.

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing an example of long-wave reception processing in the parent device mode according to the present embodiment. The process shown in fig. 10 is the long-wave reception process of step S120 shown in fig. 9.

Step S200: the communication control unit 204 controls the long wave receiving circuit 1 to receive the standard radio wave broadcasted at 60kHz from the kyushu transmitting station of JJY. Here, the predetermined time is, for example, 30 seconds. The communication control unit 204 causes the decoder 50 to decode the reception signal received by the long-wave reception circuit 1, thereby acquiring the standard time information.

Step S201: the communication control unit 204 controls the long wave receiving circuit 1 to receive the standard radio wave broadcast at 40kHz from the fukushima transmitting station of jy. Here, the predetermined time is, for example, 30 seconds. The communication control unit 204 causes the decoder 50 to decode the reception signal received by the long-wave reception circuit 1, thereby acquiring the standard time information.

Step S202: when the communication control unit 204 determines that the long-wave receiving circuit 1 has received both the standard radio waves of 60kHz and 40kH and has acquired the decoded signal (step S202; yes), it executes the process of step S208. On the other hand, when the communication control unit 204 determines that the long wave receiving circuit 1 has failed to receive the standard radio waves of both 60kHz and 40kH (step S202; no), it executes the process of step S203.

Step S203: when the communication control unit 204 determines that the long-wave receiving circuit 1 has received the standard radio wave of 60kHz (step S203; yes), it executes the process of step S209. On the other hand, when the communication control unit 204 determines that the long-wave receiving circuit 1 has failed to receive the standard radio wave of 60kHz (step S203; NO), it executes the processing of step S204.

Step S204: when the communication control unit 204 determines that the long-wave receiving circuit 1 has received the standard radio wave of 40kHz (step S204; yes), it executes the process of step S210. On the other hand, when the communication control unit 204 determines that the long wave receiving circuit 1 has failed to receive the standard radio wave of 40kHz (step S204; no), it executes the process of step S205.

Step S205: when the long-wave receiving circuit 1 fails to receive the standard radio wave, the communication control unit 204 causes the long-wave receiving circuit 1 to receive UTC from a GPS satellite or the like.

Step S206: the communication control unit 204 determines whether or not the long-wave receiving circuit 1 has received UTC. When the communication control unit 204 determines that the UTC has been received by the long-wave receiving circuit 1 (step S206; yes), the processor 20 executes the process of step S211.

On the other hand, when the communication control unit 204 determines that the long-wave receiving circuit 1 has failed to receive UTC (step S206; no), the processor 20 executes the process of step S207.

Step S207: the communication control unit 204 executes a long-wave reception failure process. The communication control unit 204 supplies a signal indicating that the long-wave reception has failed to the display control unit 206.

the display controller 206 causes the display device 5 to display the long-wave reception failure using the antenna marker band P11 and the reception level band P12, based on the signal supplied from the communication controller 204. Here, the display device 5 blinks the antenna marker segment P11 and extinguishes the reception level segment P12, for example.

Step S208: the communication control unit 204 selects one transmission station that can be received more stably. Then, the communication control unit 204 executes the processing of step S211.

Step S209: communication control unit 204 selects a west transmission station (kyushu). Then, the communication control unit 204 executes the processing of step S211.

Step S210: the communication control section 204 selects an east transmitting station (fukushima). Then, the communication control unit 204 executes the processing of step S211.

Step S211: the processor 20 performs a long wave reception initial setting process.

The timer unit 202 sets the timer data based on the received standard radio wave in the timer data register 802.

The communication control unit 204 sets information indicating a standard radio wave and a physical transmitting station for each time type in the reception channel register 803. Further, the communication control unit 204 sets 0 as a layer value in the layer register 805. The communication control unit 204 resets the number of consecutive reception failures stored in the number-of-consecutive reception failures register 806.

When the timer data is set, the processor 20 starts the transmission operation of the correction time signal. Next, the transmission operation of the corrected time signal will be described with reference to fig. 15.

The display control unit 206 causes the display device 5 to display the time counting data stored in the time counting data register 802, the reception state, and the battery state. Here, the display contents of the display panel P of the display device 5 include, for example, the display of the morning/afternoon based on the morning display segment P1 and the afternoon display segment P2, the display of the year, month, hour, minute, second and week based on the hour display segment P4, the partition segment P5, the partition segment P6, the second display segment P7, the month display segment P14, the day display segment P15 and the week display segment P16, the display of the information source based on the standard radio wave of the information source flag segment P9, the display of the reception state based on the standard radio wave of the reception level segment P12, and the display of the power supply state based on the detection value of the voltage detector 6 input via the voltage data input unit 70.

Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an example of near field communication processing in the parent device mode according to the present embodiment. The process shown in fig. 11 is the parent-device-mode near field communication process of step S130 shown in fig. 9.

Step S300: the communication control section 204 activates the RF circuit 9.

Step S310: the communication control unit 204 causes the RF circuit 9 to intermittently transmit an advertisement signal for connection to the smartphone for a predetermined time. Here, the predetermined time is, for example, 30 seconds.

Step S320: the communication control unit 204 determines whether or not the RF circuit 9 is connected to the smartphone and receives the short-range time signal. When the communication control unit 204 determines that the RF circuit 9 has received the short-range time signal (step S320; yes), the processor 20 executes the process of step S340. On the other hand, when the communication control unit 204 determines that the RF circuit 9 has not received the short-range time signal (no in step S320), the processor 20 executes the process of step S330.

Step S330: the communication control unit 204 executes the short-range communication failure processing. The communication control unit 204 supplies a signal indicating that the short-range communication has failed to the display control unit 206.

The display controller 206 causes the display device 5 to display the failure of the short-range communication using the BLE marker segment P10, the antenna marker segment P11, and the reception level segment P12, based on the signal supplied from the communication controller 204. Here, the display device 5 lights up the BLE marker segment P10, blinks the antenna marker segment P11, and turns off the reception level segment P12, for example.

Step S340: the processor 20 executes the near field communication initial setting process.

The timer unit 202 sets the timer data based on the received short-distance time signal in the timer data register 802.

The communication control unit 204 sets information indicating the time received from the smartphone or the like for the time type in the reception channel register 803. Further, the communication control unit 204 sets 0 as a layer value in the layer register 805. The communication control unit 204 resets the number of consecutive reception failures stored in the number-of-consecutive reception failures register 806.

The display control unit 206 causes the display device 5 to display the time counting data stored in the time counting data register 802, the reception state, and the battery state. Here, the display contents of the display panel P of the display device 5 include, for example, the display of the morning/afternoon based on the morning display segment P1 and the afternoon display segment P2, the display of the year, month, minute, second, and day based on the hour display segment P4, the division segment P5, the division segment P6, the second display segment P7, the month display segment P14, the date display segment P15, and the day display segment P16, the display of the time information acquired from the smartphone based on the BLE marker segment P10, the display of the reception status of the short-range communication radio wave based on the reception level segment P12, and the display of the power state based on the detection value of the voltage detector 6 input via the voltage data input unit 70.

Further, when the two modes of the master mode and the slave mode are switched and the time information is acquired by automatically selecting which of the long wave reception and the BLE reception is used in the master mode, for example, when the long wave reception process at step S120 in fig. 9 fails, the master mode near field communication process at step S130 may be executed. In another example, the long wave reception process of step S120 may be performed when the parent device mode near field communication process of step S130 of fig. 9 fails.

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the short-range reception processing in the slave mode according to the present embodiment. The process shown in fig. 12 is the child device mode close range reception process of step S140 shown in fig. 9.

Step S400: the communication control section 204 activates the RF circuit 9.

Step S410: the communication control unit 204 determines whether or not the RF circuit 9 has received the short-range time signal. When the communication control unit 204 determines that the RF circuit 9 has received the short-range time signal (yes in step S410), the corrected time information M is acquired from the decoder 50. Then, the processor 20 executes the process of step S420.

On the other hand, when the communication control unit 204 determines that the RF circuit 9 has not received the short-range time signal (no in step S410), the processor 20 executes the process of step S430.

Step S420: the correction unit 201 corrects the timing data. The correction unit 201 acquires the corrected time information M from the communication control unit 204. The correction unit 201 corrects the time data stored in the time data register 802 based on the time information included in the acquired corrected time information M. Thus, the corrected time information M is used to correct the time data.

When the time data is corrected, the processor 20 starts the transmission operation of the correction time signal. Next, the transmission operation of the corrected time signal will be described with reference to fig. 15.

In step S420, the display control unit 206 causes the display device 5 to display information indicating the corrected time count data, the reception state, and the battery state stored in the time count data register 802. Here, the display contents of the display panel P of the display device 5 include, for example, the display of the morning/afternoon based on the morning display segment P1 and the afternoon display segment P2, the display of the year, month, hour, minute, second and week based on the hour display segment P4, the partition segment P5, the partition segment P6, the second display segment P7, the month display segment P14, the day display segment P15 and the week display segment P16, the display of the reception status of the short-range communication radio wave based on the reception level segment P12, the display of the power supply state based on the detection value of the voltage detector 6 input via the voltage data input unit 70, and the like.

Step S430: the communication control unit 204 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the RF circuit 9 was activated. Here, the prescribed time is, for example, 24 hours. However, the predetermined time may be changed according to the number of layers of the timer system S.

When determining that the predetermined time has elapsed since the RF circuit 9 was activated (step S430; yes), the communication control unit 204 executes the process of step S440. On the other hand, when the communication control unit 204 determines that the predetermined time has not elapsed since the RF circuit 9 was activated (step S430; no), the process of step S410 is repeated.

Step S440: the communication control unit 204 executes timeout processing. The communication control unit 204 supplies a signal indicating that the reception of the correction timing signal has failed to the display control unit 206.

The display controller 206 causes the display device 5 to display the reception failure of the corrected time signal using the antenna marker segment P11 and the reception level segment P12, based on the signal supplied from the communication controller 204. Here, the display device 5 blinks the antenna marker segment P11 and extinguishes the reception level segment P12, for example. The user can also change and reset the position of the time keeper C in response to the failure of the reception of the corrected time signal by the time keeper C.

(action at normal time)

In a normal operation, the time data acquisition unit 30 of the control unit 11 supplies a time interrupt signal for updating the measurement time to the processor 20 every time a certain time (for example, 50ms) is measured using the oscillation signal of the quartz resonator 10. In response to the timing signal, the processor 20 starts the process shown in fig. 13.

Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the timer processing in the normal state according to the present embodiment.

Step S500: the timer unit 202 updates the timer data stored in the timer data register 802.

step S510: the timer unit 202 causes the display control unit 206 to execute processing such as updating of display information of the display device 5.

The timer unit 202 transmits a timer interrupt signal for receiving the corrected time signal to the processor 20 every time a predetermined time (for example, 500ms) elapses.

In response to the timer interrupt signal, the processor 20 starts the process shown in fig. 14.

Fig. 14 is a diagram showing an example of processing for correcting time in a normal state, which is applied to the slave device of the present embodiment.

Step S600: the communication control unit 204 determines whether or not the current time is the reception timing of the corrected time signal.

Here, the communication control unit 204 calculates the reception timing from the above equation (1) based on the value of the layer of the own device stored in the layer register 805 and the reception channel stored in the reception channel register 803. The reception timing is the transmission timing of the timer C of the upper layer.

The communication control unit 204 acquires the timing data stored in the timing data register 802. The communication control unit 204 compares the calculated reception timing with the current time indicated by the acquired time count data, and determines whether or not the current time is a time before a predetermined time of the reception timing. Here, the predetermined time is, for example, 2 seconds.

When determining that the current time is the reception timing of the corrected time signal (step S600; yes), the communication control unit 204 executes the process of step S610. On the other hand, if the communication control unit 204 determines that the current time is not the reception timing of the corrected time signal (step S600; no), the process ends.

Step S610: the communication control unit 204 causes the RF circuit 9 to receive the corrected time signal. Here, the communication control unit 204 causes the RF circuit 9 to receive the corrected time signal for a maximum period of 4 seconds.

The communication control unit 204 acquires the corrected time information M from the decoder 50.

Step S620: the correction unit 201 updates the time data stored in the time data register 802 based on the corrected time information M supplied from the communication control unit 204.

Next, the transmission operation of the corrected time signal by the timer device C will be described with reference to fig. 15. In any of the long-wave reception process (step S120), the master-device-mode short-range communication process (step S130), and the slave-device-mode short-range reception process (step S140) in fig. 9, when the timer C succeeds in initial reception of the reception signal and the timer data is corrected based on the reception signal, the transmission operation of the corrected time signal shown in fig. 15 is started. That is, in the timer system S, when both the parent device and the child device are powered on and initial reception is successful, the timer device C automatically starts transmission thereafter.

The timer unit 202 transmits a timer interrupt signal for transmitting the corrected time signal to the processor 20 every time a predetermined time (for example, 500ms) elapses. In response to the timer interrupt signal, the processor 20 starts the processing shown in fig. 15.

Fig. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of the transmission operation of the corrected time signal according to the present embodiment.

Step S700: the timer unit 202 generates the corrected time information M. The timer unit 202 generates the corrected time information M based on the layer value indicated by the layer information stored in the layer register 805, the transmission channel indicated by the transmission channel specifying data stored in the transmission channel register 804, the time information indicated by the timer data stored in the timer data register 802, the information indicating the information source of the time information stored in the reception channel register 803, and the like.

The timer unit 202 supplies the generated corrected time information M to the communication control unit 204.

Step S710: the communication control unit 204 starts the process of repeating the transmission operation for each transmission operation number.

Step S720: interval setting unit 205 sets transmission interval AI of the correction time signal included in 1 transmission operation. Here, interval setting unit 205 randomly sets transmission interval AI by equation (2) described above.

The transmission interval AI stored in the transmission interval register 807 is set to an initial value after the timer C is reset. Here, the initial value is, for example, 20 ms. Interval setting unit 205 sets transmission interval AI by changing transmission interval AI stored in transmission interval register 807.

Therefore, interval setting unit 205 changes transmission interval AI of correction time information M sequentially transmitted by communication control unit 204 during the transmission period. Here, interval setting unit 205 randomly changes transmission interval AI.

The interval setting unit 205 changes the transmission interval AI of the advertisement packet in the transmission period TP1, the transmission interval AI of the advertisement packet in the transmission period TP2, and the transmission interval AI of the advertisement packet in the transmission period TP3, respectively.

Therefore, the interval setting unit 205 changes the transmission interval of the corrected time information M sequentially transmitted by the communication control unit 204 in the 1 st transmission period in the transmission period (the transmission period TP1, the transmission period TP2, and the transmission period TP3) and the transmission interval of the corrected time information M sequentially transmitted by the communication control unit 204 in the 2 nd transmission period having a timing different from that of the 1 st transmission period.

In the present embodiment, the case where the interval setting unit 205 changes the transmission interval AI of the advertisement packet for each of the transmission period TP1, the transmission period TP2, and the transmission period TP3 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The interval setting unit 205 may change the transmission interval AI of the advertisement packet in at least 1 period among the transmission period TP1, the transmission period TP2, and the transmission period TP 3.

Step S730: the communication control unit 204 performs advertisement. Here, communication control unit 204 transmits the corrected time signal 3 times in accordance with transmission interval AI set by interval setting unit 205. The communication control unit 204 includes the corrected time information M generated by the correcting unit 201 in these corrected time signals and transmits the corrected time information M. In the 3-time transmission of the corrected time signal, the corrected time information M included in each corrected time signal is the same.

Therefore, the communication control unit 204 sequentially transmits the plurality of correction time information M indicating the correction value of the time measurement data to the other time measurement device C during a predetermined transmission period.

Step S740: the communication control unit 204 waits for 10 seconds.

Step S750: the communication control unit 204 ends the process of repeating the transmission operation for each transmission operation number.

In the present embodiment, the case where interval setting unit 205 randomly changes transmission interval AI according to equation (2) has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The transmission interval AI may be changed according to the layer of the timer C and the transmission channel. For example, the interval setting section 205 may determine the integer n of the equation (2) having values from 0 to 31 from the transmission channel having values from 0 to 59 by making the integer from 0 to 59 correspond to the integer from 0 to 31.

As described above, the timer device C of the present embodiment includes the transmission unit (communication control unit 204) and the change unit (interval setting unit 205).

The transmission unit (communication control unit 204) sequentially transmits a plurality of pieces of correction time information M indicating correction values of the time measurement data to the other time measurement device C during a predetermined transmission period.

The changing unit (interval setting unit 205) changes the transmission interval AI of the correction time information M sequentially transmitted by the transmitting unit (communication control unit 204) during the transmission period.

With this configuration, in the timer device C according to the present embodiment, since the plurality of corrected time information M can be sequentially transmitted in the changed transmission interval AI, crosstalk of signals for time correction can be reduced. Here, in the timer device C of the present embodiment, even when a plurality of timer devices C start transmission of the corrected time information M at the same time at the time of installation, since the corrected time information M is transmitted in the transmission interval AI after the change, crosstalk can be avoided.

In timer device C according to the present embodiment, the changing unit (interval setting unit 205) randomly changes transmission interval AI.

With this configuration, in the timer device C according to the present embodiment, since the transmission interval AI at which the plurality of pieces of corrected time information M are sequentially transmitted can be randomly changed, crosstalk of signals for time correction can be reduced as compared with a case where the transmission interval AI is not randomly changed.

In the timer device C according to the present embodiment, the changing unit (interval setting unit 205) changes the transmission interval AI of the corrected time information M sequentially transmitted by the transmission unit (communication control unit 204) in the 1 st transmission period of the transmission periods (transmission period TP1, transmission period TP2, and transmission period TP3) and the transmission interval AI of the corrected time information M sequentially transmitted by the transmission unit (communication control unit 204) in the 2 nd transmission period having a timing different from that of the 1 st transmission period.

According to this configuration, in the timer device C of the present embodiment, since the interval setting unit 205 randomly changes the transmission interval AI, even when the transmission interval AI of the advertisement packet in the transmission period TP1 overlaps among the plurality of timer devices C, the transmission interval AI of the advertisement packet in the transmission period TP2 and the transmission interval AI of the advertisement packet in the transmission period TP2 are randomly changed, and therefore, the transmission interval AI of the advertisement packet can be prevented from overlapping among the plurality of timer devices C in all of the transmission period TP1, the transmission period TP2, and the transmission period TP 3.

The timekeeping system S of the present embodiment includes: a timing device C; and a sub-timer device (timer device C at a lower layer than the timer device C) that receives the corrected time information M from the timer device C and corrects the timer data of the self-device based on the received corrected time information M.

With this configuration, in the timekeeping system S according to the present embodiment, crosstalk of signals used for time correction can be reduced, and accurate time can be maintained as compared with a case where crosstalk of signals used for time correction is not reduced.

Further, a part of the timer device C in the above-described embodiment, for example, the control unit 11 may be realized by a computer. In this case, the control function may be realized by recording a program for realizing the control function in a computer-readable recording medium, and reading the program recorded in the recording medium into a computer system and executing the program. The term "computer system" as used herein refers to a computer system built in the timer device C, and is assumed to include hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. The "computer-readable recording medium" refers to a removable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, and a CD-ROM, and a storage device such as a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. The "computer-readable recording medium" may include the following recording media: a recording medium that dynamically holds a program for a short time, such as a communication line for transmitting the program via a network such as the internet or a communication line such as a telephone line, or a recording medium that holds a program for a certain time, such as a volatile memory in a computer system serving as a server or a client at that time. Further, the above-described program may be used to realize a part of the aforementioned functions, and the aforementioned functions can also be realized by combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

In addition, a part or all of the timer device C in the above-described embodiment may be implemented as an integrated circuit such as an LSI (Large Scale Integration). Each functional block of the timer device C may be individually formed into a processor, or may be partially or entirely integrated into a processor. The method of integration is not limited to LSI, and may be realized by a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose processor. Further, when a technique for realizing an integrated circuit that replaces an LSI appears due to the progress of semiconductor technology, an integrated circuit based on the technique may be used.

While one embodiment of the present invention has been described above in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to the above configuration, and various design changes and the like can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A timing device, having:

A transmission unit that sequentially transmits, to another time measurement device, a plurality of pieces of correction time information indicating correction values of the time measurement data in a predetermined transmission period; and

And a changing unit that changes a transmission interval of the correction time information sequentially transmitted by the transmitting unit in the transmission period.

2. A time keeping device according to claim 1,

The changing unit randomly changes the transmission interval.

3. A time keeping device according to claim 2,

The changing unit changes a transmission interval of the corrected time information, which the transmitting unit sequentially transmits in a 1 st transmission period among the transmission periods, and a transmission interval of the corrected time information, which the transmitting unit sequentially transmits in a 2 nd transmission period having a timing different from that of the 1 st transmission period.

4. A timing system, having:

A timekeeping device according to any one of claims 1 to 3; and

And a sub-timer device that receives the corrected time information from the timer device and corrects the timer data of the self-timer device based on the received corrected time information.

5. A timing method, wherein the following processes are provided:

A transmission step of sequentially transmitting a plurality of pieces of correction time information indicating correction values of the time measurement data to other time measurement devices within a predetermined transmission period; and

A changing step of changing a transmission interval of the correction time information sequentially transmitted in the transmission period in the transmission step.