EP0180155A2 - Radio-controlled watch - Google Patents

Radio-controlled watch Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0180155A2
EP0180155A2 EP85113560A EP85113560A EP0180155A2 EP 0180155 A2 EP0180155 A2 EP 0180155A2 EP 85113560 A EP85113560 A EP 85113560A EP 85113560 A EP85113560 A EP 85113560A EP 0180155 A2 EP0180155 A2 EP 0180155A2
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
time
radio
pulse sequence
pointer
pulse train
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Granted
Application number
EP85113560A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0180155B1 (en
EP0180155A3 (en
Inventor
Jürgen Allgaier
Wolfgang Ganter
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Junghans Uhren GmbH
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Junghans Uhren GmbH
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Priority to AT85113560T priority Critical patent/ATE83866T1/en
Publication of EP0180155A2 publication Critical patent/EP0180155A2/en
Publication of EP0180155A3 publication Critical patent/EP0180155A3/en
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Publication of EP0180155B1 publication Critical patent/EP0180155B1/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04R—RADIO-CONTROLLED TIME-PIECES
    • G04R20/00—Setting the time according to the time information carried or implied by the radio signal
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04R—RADIO-CONTROLLED TIME-PIECES
    • G04R20/00—Setting the time according to the time information carried or implied by the radio signal
    • G04R20/08—Setting the time according to the time information carried or implied by the radio signal the radio signal being broadcast from a long-wave call sign, e.g. DCF77, JJY40, JJY60, MSF60 or WWVB
    • G04R20/10—Tuning or receiving; Circuits therefor

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a radio clock according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • a radio clock is understood to mean the apparatus association between a radio receiver and a self-sufficient clock that is equipped with a time-keeping electronic circuit, although in certain Intervals, the current time display is compared with the actual time transmitted via radio in coded form and corrected if necessary.
  • the invention is based on the object of designing a generic radio clock in such a way that, as a conventional pointer clock, it enables information that can be easily interpreted by laypersons without additional display means, via the fact that radio reception of the coded time information is possible is either disturbed or regular (and will therefore soon lead to the correction of an incorrect pointer position).
  • the relevant hand of the watch is moved by the received pulse sequence (which occurs regularly in the second grid, with suppression of the 59th pulse of a full minute) and thus in undisturbed reception conditions in a rhythmically familiar second step sequence.
  • This pointer advancement which makes the reception of discrete impulses clearly recognizable, can also be interpreted by the layperson, if necessary, without further ado that the radio clock is working regularly, so he recognizes that the time is displayed in the case
  • Switching the control of the relevant pointer stepper motor from the demodulated receive pulses to the time-keeping device can be advantageous - especially if it is a matter of realizing the decoding of the time information and determining and updating the displayed time by means of a microprocessor - in a circuit-technical connection with the decryption circuit and the comparator for the time information transmitted via radio coding.
  • a radio receiver 1 with a radio-frequency part 3 connected to an antenna 2 (for example a ferrite coil), this demodulator 4 and output amplifier 5 connected downstream supplies a square-wave pulse sequence 6 with a pulse repetition frequency of 1 Hz, which is encoded within one by means of binary pulse length coding Minute contains complete time and date information (not considered in the drawing).
  • the information about the current point in time can be detected therefrom by means of a decryption circuit 7 and with the current time display, in the form of the position of hands 8 in front of the minute track on the dial 9 of a clock, in a comparator 10 can be compared, which is supplied by a pointer position detector 11 (on the basis of, for example, rotary angle meters or incremental actuators).
  • the pulse train 6 passing a threshold stage 12 controls (in the example shown: with its differentially positive flanks) the dynamic switch input 13 of a bistable reversing circuit 14, at the outputs of which are inverted with respect to one another, 6 H potential and L potential change in the rhythm of the pulse train . If necessary, it can be useful to connect amplifiers 15 to these outputs, which can also be part of a pole-changing bridge circuit.
  • a pointer here the second hand 18
  • this pulse sequence 6 is disturbed (in the form of failing or interrupted individual pulses), then the movement of the pointer used for the reception indication (here the second hand 18) can be seen without further ado because it is not the familiar, uniform one Executes step movement in the angular second cycle, but eg jumps uneasily.
  • a switchover device 19 is preferably provided for the control of the stepping motor 16, via which - as just described - the pulse train 6 is passed from the radio receiver 1 to the reversing circuit 14 as soon as the overall arrangement, or at least the radio receiver 1 after a break in operation is put into operation; for example by means of an operating switch 20, or for example as a result of the use of a power source 21 (for example a battery).
  • a set input 23 becomes a switch input 19, possibly via a trigger circuit 22 for triggering a set pulse driven for this switching of the pulse train 6 on the reversing circuit 14.
  • the progression of the indicator pointer 18 therefore only actually indicates the time lapse in a second pattern when an undisturbed pulse sequence 6 is received.
  • the switching device 19 is switched via its reset input 24 to receive the time-keeping pulses 25 from a time-keeping device 26, that is to say to a clock-second cycle; in which from now on (until the next break in operation of the radio clock), for example, a second hand 18 is switched on.
  • the time-keeping pulses can, however, also have a higher frequency, for example, if the comparator 10 detects a deviation between the time indicated by the pointer 8 and the current time decoded by the decoding circuit 7.
  • the block diagram shown does not take into account the fact that it may be more expedient to provide separately controlled stepper motors 16 on the one hand for the second hand 18 and on the other hand for the hour and minute hands 8 and to control them separately from the comparator 10; in order to enable a quick adjustment of the position of the hands 8 without having to rotate the second hand 18 unduly quickly via a gear coupling.
  • Such separate motors 16 also make it possible to select the minute or even the hour hand 8 as the reception indicator pointer; in this case, the function of the switching device 19 would include separating the indicator motor 16 from the received pulse train 6 and applying the time-keeping pulse train 25 to the clock drive circuit.

Abstract

A radio controlled timepiece includes a radio receiver for demodulating a transmitted signal on which time and date information has been encoded. A pulse sequence is derived from the transmitted radio signal which is used to drive the stepping motor which advances the hands of a standard display timepiece. If unfavorable reception conditions exist, then the stepping motor will not be driven smoothly and the poor reception will be readily apparent from the irregular movement of the clock hand. A switch is provided to allow the stepping motor to be normally driven by a pulse sequence output of a standard time keeping circuit. A comparator compares the time displayed on the face of the timepiece with the time information encoded on the radio signal and, if the displayed time deviates from the actual time, the frequency of the pulse sequence from the time keeping circuit is adjusted to correct the displayed time.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft eine Funkuhr gemäß dem Oberbegriff des Anspruches 1.The invention relates to a radio clock according to the preamble of claim 1.

Die gattungsbildenden Maßnahmen sind bekannt aus der DE-OS 30 15 312. Unter einer Funkuhr wird dabei im Zusammenhang mit vorliegender Erfindung die apparative Vereinigung zwischen einem Funkempfänger und einer an sich autark arbeitenden, dafür mit einer zeithaltenden elektronischen Schaltung ausgestatteten Uhr verstanden, wobei in gewissen Abständen die momentane Zeitanzeige mit dem tatsächlichen, über Funk in kodierter Form übermittelten Zeitpunkt verglichen und bei Abweichungen erforderlichenfalls korrigiert wird.The generic measures are known from DE-OS 30 15 312. In the context of the present invention, a radio clock is understood to mean the apparatus association between a radio receiver and a self-sufficient clock that is equipped with a time-keeping electronic circuit, although in certain Intervals, the current time display is compared with the actual time transmitted via radio in coded form and corrected if necessary.

Insbesondere im Falle einer als Konsumuhr ausgestalteten Funkuhr kann es in bedienungstechnischer Hinsicht problematisch sein, daß je nach den Plazierungsgegebenheiten der Uhr und nach momentanen Umwelteinflüssen der Empfang der kodierten Zeitinformation gestört oder sogar unterbunden sein kann. Das stört insoweit wenig, als dadurch möglicherweise die Dekodierung der tatsächlichen Zeit und deren Vergleich mit der momentanen Zeitanzeige zu einem vorgesehenen Zeitpunkt nicht stattfinden kann und deshalb zwangsläufig auf einen späteren Zeitpunkt verschobenn wird, in dem wahrscheinlich wieder bessere Empfangsverhältnisse vorliegen; das stört insbesondere aber dann, wenn die Funkuhr so ungünstig aufgestellt ist, daß überhaupt keine verwertbaren Empfangsinformationen vorliegen und deshalb, z.B. bei Inbetriebnahme der Uhr, garkeine Überführung der noch falsch oder ungenau angezeigten Zeitinformation in die tatsächliche Zeit stattfinden kann.Particularly in the case of a radio-controlled watch designed as a consumer watch, it can be problematic from an operational point of view that, depending on the placement of the watch and on current environmental influences, the reception of the coded time information can be disturbed or even prevented. This does not bother as much as it may mean that the decoding of the actual time and its comparison with the current time display cannot take place at a designated point in time and is therefore necessarily postponed to a later point in time when the reception conditions are probably better again; This is particularly annoying when the radio clock is set up so unfavorably that there is no usable reception information at all and therefore, for example when the clock is started up, the time information which is still incorrectly or inaccurately displayed cannot be converted into the actual time.

Bei solcher Konstellation ist es für den Benutzer wenig hilfreich, gemäß den gattungsbildenden Maßnahmen einen elektronischen Vergleich der für die Zeitdekodierung unzureichenden Empfangsinformation mit Normimpulsen vorzunehmen und eine digitale Anzeige der Qualität der Empfangsimpulse, also eine verschlüsselte Information über die Empfangsgegebenheiten zu übermitteln; weil eine solche digitale Beurteilung der Empfangsgegebenheiten zwar von wissenschaftlichem Interesse sein mag, für den Alltags-Benutzer einer Konsumuhr aber ohne besondere Aussagekraft ist.In such a constellation, it is of little help to the user, in accordance with the generic measures, to carry out an electronic comparison of the received information, which is insufficient for time decoding, with standard pulses and to transmit a digital display of the quality of the received pulses, that is to say encrypted information about the reception conditions; because such a digital assessment of the reception conditions may be of scientific interest, but is of no particular significance for the everyday user of a consumer watch.

In Erkenntnis dieser Gegebenheiten liegt der Erfindung die Aufgabe zugrunde, eine gattungsgemäße Funkuhr derart auszubilden, daß sie, als gängige Zeiger-Uhr, ohne zusätzliche Anzeigemittel eine ohne weiteres auch für den Laien interpretierbare.Informationsübermittlung über die Tatsache ermöglicht, daß der Funkempfang der kodierten Zeitinformation entweder gestört oder aber regulär (und deshalb in Kürze zur Korrektur einer etwa noch unrichtigen Zeiger-Stellung führend) ist.In recognition of these circumstances, the invention is based on the object of designing a generic radio clock in such a way that, as a conventional pointer clock, it enables information that can be easily interpreted by laypersons without additional display means, via the fact that radio reception of the coded time information is possible is either disturbed or regular (and will therefore soon lead to the correction of an incorrect pointer position).

Die Aufgabe wird erfindungsgemäß im wesentlichen dadurch gelöst, daß bei der gattungsgemäßen Uhr die Kennzeichnungsmerkmale des Anspruches 1 realisiert werden.The object is essentially achieved in that the characterizing features of claim 1 are realized in the generic watch.

Nach dieser Lösung erübrigt sich jeglicher Aufwand für eine quantitative Beurteilung der Güte der mit der kodierten Zeitinformation modulierten Funkempfangsinformation. Stattdessen wird der betreffende Zeiger der Uhr von der empfangenen Impulsfolge (die regulär im Sekundenraster, bei Unterdrückung des jeweils 59. Impulses einer vollen Minute,auftritt) und damit bei ungestörten Empfangsgegebenheiten in rythmisch vertrauter Sekunden-Fortschaltsequenz bewegt. Diese Zeiger-Fortschaltung, die den Empfang diskreter Impulse deutlich erkennbar macht, ist auch für den Laien bedarfsweise ohne weiteres dahingehend interpretierbar, daß die Funkuhr regulär arbeitet, er erkennt also, daß sich deren Zeitanzeige, im FalleAccording to this solution, there is no need for any effort for a quantitative assessment of the quality of the radio reception information modulated with the coded time information. Instead, the relevant hand of the watch is moved by the received pulse sequence (which occurs regularly in the second grid, with suppression of the 59th pulse of a full minute) and thus in undisturbed reception conditions in a rhythmically familiar second step sequence. This pointer advancement, which makes the reception of discrete impulses clearly recognizable, can also be interpreted by the layperson, if necessary, without further ado that the radio clock is working regularly, so he recognizes that the time is displayed in the case

einer von der tatsächlichen Zeit abweichenden Anzeige, zum nächstfolgenden Vergleichszeitpunkt auf die richtige Zeitanzeige einstellen wird. Wenn dagegen der Empfang der kodierten Zeitinformation gestört ist, fallen entweder Impulse aus, oder aber es treten Impulse in rascherer oder unregelmäßiger Folge als gemäß dem Sekundentakt auf. Beides führt zu einer ungewohnten da von der Sekundenschrittfolge abweichenden Fortbewegung des Zeigers; und auch der Laie erkennt zweifelsfrei, daß gestörte Empfangsverhältnisse vorliegen. Das gilt im Ergebnis erst recht, wenn gar keine Sekundentakt-Zeigerbewegung auftritt, weil gar keine Impulse vom Empfänger aufgenommen und demoduliert werden können.a display that differs from the actual time, will set the correct time display at the next comparison time. If, on the other hand, the reception of the coded time information is disturbed, either pulses fail, or pulses occur in a faster or irregular sequence than according to the second cycle. Both lead to an unusual movement of the pointer that deviates from the sequence of steps in a second; and even the layperson can recognize without a doubt that there are disturbed reception conditions. In the result, this applies even more when there is no second-hand movement because no pulses can be picked up and demodulated by the receiver.

Jedenfalls ist aus einer solchen bezüglich des Sekunden-Rythmus nicht-regulären Zeiger-Bewegung auch dem Laien unter den Konsumenten ohne weiteres ersichtlich, daß die momentane Zeitanzeige nicht gesichert ist und auf absehbare Zeit auch nicht korrigiert werden wird. Er kann dann z. B. versuchen, durch eine Veränderung in der räumlichen Aufstellung der Funkuhr die Empfangsverhältnisse womöglich zu verbessern.In any case, such a movement of the pointer, which is not regular with regard to the rhythm of the seconds, also makes it readily apparent to the layperson among the consumers that the current time display is not secured and will also not be corrected for the foreseeable future. He can then z. B. try to possibly improve the reception conditions by changing the spatial layout of the radio clock.

Besonders zweckmäßig ist es, diese Aufschaltung der demodulierten Empfangsimpulse auf die Weiterschaltung des betreffenden Zeigers nur zu Betriebsbeginn vorzunehmen und dessen auf die zeithaltende Schaltung umzusteuern, sobald eine erste vollständige Zeitinformation dekodiert, und für den Zeitvergleich sowie gegebenenfalls für die Anzeigekorrektur zur Verfügung gestellt, ist. Wenn zu diesem Zeitpunkt bereits regulär im Sekundentakt eintreffende demodulierte Impulse vorliegen und als Empfangsindikator der Sekunden-Zeiger einer Uhr gewählt ist, bemerkt der Konsument womöglich nicht einmal die Umschaltung der Zeiger-Fortschaltung vom (mit Ausnahme des jeweils fehlenden 59. Impulses) Sekundentakt der demodulierten Empfangsimpulse auf den (ununterbrochenen) Sekundentakt der zeithaltenden Schaltung; er wird also durch diese Maßnahme nicht womöglich, unnötigerweise, irritiert.It is particularly expedient to carry out this connection of the demodulated receive pulses to the relaying of the pointer in question only at the start of operation and to switch it over to the time-keeping circuit as soon as a first complete time information is decoded and made available for the time comparison and possibly for the display correction. If at this point there are regular demodulated pulses arriving every second and the seconds hand of a watch is selected as the reception indicator, the consumer may not even notice the changeover of the hand advance from the (except for the missing 59th pulse) the second clock of the demodulated ones Receive pulses on the (uninterrupted) second cycle of the time-keeping circuit; he is therefore not possibly, unnecessarily, irritated by this measure.

Wenn dagegen eine deutlichere Information über diesen Umschaltvorgang bei ungestörten Empfangsverhältnissen angestrebt wird, ist es zweckmäßiger, als Indikator-Zeiger einen zu wählen, der normalerweise nicht im Sekundentakt bewegt wird, also z.B. den über einen eigenen Motor angesteuerten Minuten- oder Stundenzeiger der Uhr.If, on the other hand, clearer information about this switching process is sought in the case of undisturbed reception conditions, it is more expedient to select one as an indicator pointer that is normally not moved every second, e.g. the minute or hour hand of the watch controlled by its own motor.

Die Umschaltung der Ansteuerung des betreffenden Zeiger-Schrittmotors von den demodulierten Empfangsimpulsen auf die zeithaltende Einrichtung kann vorteilhaft - zumal wenn es sich um Realisierung der Dekodierung der Zeitinformation und um Ermittlung und Nachführung der angezeigten Zeit mittels eines Mikroprozessors handelt - in schaltungstechnischer Verbindung mit der Entschlüsselungsschaltung und dem Vergleicher für die über Funk kodiert übermittelte Zeitinformation realisiert werden.Switching the control of the relevant pointer stepper motor from the demodulated receive pulses to the time-keeping device can be advantageous - especially if it is a matter of realizing the decoding of the time information and determining and updating the displayed time by means of a microprocessor - in a circuit-technical connection with the decryption circuit and the comparator for the time information transmitted via radio coding.

Zusätzliche Alternativen und Weiterbildungen sowie weitere Merkmale und Vorteile der Erfindung ergeben sich aus den weiteren Ansprüchen und aus nachstehender Beschreibung eines in der Zeichnung unter Beschränkung auf das Wesentliche, stark vereinfacht als Blockschaltbild skizzierten bevorzugten Realisierungsbeispiels zur erfindungsgemaSen Lösung.Additional alternatives and further developments as well as further features and advantages of the invention result from the further claims and from the following description of a preferred implementation example for the solution according to the invention which is outlined in the drawing and limited to the essentials, greatly simplified as a block diagram.

Bei einer Funkuhr liefert ein Funkempfänger 1 mit an eine Antenne 2 (beipielsweise eine Ferritstab-Spule) angeschlossenem Hochfrequenzteil 3, diesem nachgeschaltetem Demodulator 4 und Ausgangsverstärker 5 eine Rechteck-Impulsfolge 6 mit einer Pulsfolgefrequenz von 1 Hz, die mittels binärer Pulslängen-Kodierung innerhalb einer Minute eine vollständige Zeit- und Datumsinformation führt (in der Zeichnung nicht näher berücksichtigt).In the case of a radio clock, a radio receiver 1 with a radio-frequency part 3 connected to an antenna 2 (for example a ferrite coil), this demodulator 4 and output amplifier 5 connected downstream supplies a square-wave pulse sequence 6 with a pulse repetition frequency of 1 Hz, which is encoded within one by means of binary pulse length coding Minute contains complete time and date information (not considered in the drawing).

Wenn eine ungestörte Impulsfolge 6 über mindestens eine vollständige Minute eingegangen ist, kann daraus mittels einer Entschlüsselungsschaltung 7 die Information über den aktuellen Zeitpunkt detektiert und mit der momentanen Zeitanzeige, in Form der Stellung von Zeigern 8 vor der Minuterie auf dem Zifferblatt 9 einer Uhr, in einem Vergleicher 10 verglichen werden, die von einem Zeigerstellungsdetektor 11 (auf der Basis von z.B. Drehwinkelmessern oder inkrementalen Stellschrittgebern) geliefert wird.If an undisturbed pulse sequence 6 has been received for at least one complete minute, the information about the current point in time can be detected therefrom by means of a decryption circuit 7 and with the current time display, in the form of the position of hands 8 in front of the minute track on the dial 9 of a clock, in a comparator 10 can be compared, which is supplied by a pointer position detector 11 (on the basis of, for example, rotary angle meters or incremental actuators).

Die eine Schwellstufe 12 passierende Impulsfolge 6 steuert (im dargestellten Beispielsfalle: mit ihren differentiell positiven Flanken) den dynamischen Umschalteingang 13 einer bistabilen Umkehr-Schaltung 14 an, an deren zueinander invertierten Ausgängen somit im Rythmus der Impulsfolge 6 H-Potential und L-Potential wechseln. Gegebenenfalls kann es zweckmäßig sein, Verstärker 15 diesen Ausgängen nachzuschalten, die auch Bestandteil einer Polwender-Brückenschaltung sein können.The pulse train 6 passing a threshold stage 12 controls (in the example shown: with its differentially positive flanks) the dynamic switch input 13 of a bistable reversing circuit 14, at the outputs of which are inverted with respect to one another, 6 H potential and L potential change in the rhythm of the pulse train . If necessary, it can be useful to connect amplifiers 15 to these outputs, which can also be part of a pole-changing bridge circuit.

Jedenfalls liegt an der, über die Ausgänge der bistabilen Schaltung 14 bzw. der Verstärker 15 gelegten, Steuerspule eines bipolaren Einphasen-Uhrenschrittmotors 16 dadurch abwechselnd gerade die Signalfolge, die zur Aufeinanderfolge von Drehschritten um je eine halbe Umdrehung, und dementsprechend über eine getriebliche Kopplung 17 zur schrittweisen Bewegung eines Zeigers (hier des Sekundenzeigers 18) um Ein-Sekunden-Schritte führt, wenn tatsächlich die vom Funkempfänger 1 abgegebene Impulsfolge 6 ungestört ist, also mit einer Impulsfolgefrequenz im Sekundenraster ansteht.In any case, the control coil of a bipolar single-phase clock stepping motor 16, which is placed over the outputs of the bistable circuit 14 or the amplifier 15, thereby alternately has precisely the signal sequence which leads to the succession of rotation steps by half a revolution, and accordingly via a gear coupling 17 leads to the step-by-step movement of a pointer (here the second hand 18) by one-second steps if the pulse sequence 6 emitted by the radio receiver 1 is actually undisturbed, that is to say with a pulse repetition frequency in the second grid.

Wenn dagegen diese Impulsfolge 6 gestört ist (in Form von ausfallenden oder von unterbrochenen Einzel-Impulsen), dann ist das der Bewegung des der Empfangs-Indikation dienenden Zeigers (hier also des Sekundenzeigers 18) ohne weiteres anzusehen, weil dieser nicht die vertraute, gleichförmige Schrittbewegung im zeitlich winkelmäßigen Sekundentakt ausführt, sondern z.B. unruhig springt.If, on the other hand, this pulse sequence 6 is disturbed (in the form of failing or interrupted individual pulses), then the movement of the pointer used for the reception indication (here the second hand 18) can be seen without further ado because it is not the familiar, uniform one Executes step movement in the angular second cycle, but eg jumps uneasily.

Vorzugsweise ist für die Ansteuerung des Schrittmotors 16 eine Umschalteinrichtung 19 vorgesehen, über die - wie eben beschrieben - die Impulsfolge 6 aus dem Funkempfänger 1 auf die Umkehr-Schaltung 14 geführt wird, sobald die Gesamt-Anordnung, oder wenigstens der Funkempfänger 1 nach einer Betriebspause in Funktion gesetzt wird; etwa mittels eines Betriebsschalters 20, oder beispielsweise infolge Einsetzens einer Leistungsquelle 21 (z.B. einer Batterie). Dadurch wird, gegebenenfalls über eine Triggerschaltung 22 zur Auslösung eines Setiimpulses, ein Setzeingang 23 zur Umschalteinrichtung 19 für dieses Durchschalten der Impulsfolge 6 auf die Umkehr-Schaltung 14 angesteuert. Zu Betriebsbeginn gibt das Fortschreiten des Indikator-Zeigers 18 also nur dann tatsächlich den Zeitablauf im Sekundenraster an, wenn eine ungestörte Impulsfolge 6 empfangen wird. Sobald die Entschlüsselungsschaltung 7 aus dieser die Zeitinformation dekodiert hat, wird die Umschalteinrichtung 19 über ihren Rücksetzeingang 24 auf Empfang der zeithaltenden Impulse 25 aus einer zeithaltenden Einrichtung 26, also auf einen Uhren-Sekundentakt umgeschaltet; in dem fortan (bis zur nächsten Betriebsunterbrechung der Funkuhr) z.B. die Weiterschaltung eines Sekundenzeigers 18 erfolgt. Die zeithaltenden Impulse können aber vorübergehend auch z.B. eine höhere Frequenz aufweisen, wenn nämlich der Vergleicher 10 eine Abweichung zwischen der mittels der Zeiger 8 angezeigten Uhrzeit und der von der Entschlüssungsschaltung 7 dekodierten aktuellen Uhrzeit feststellt.A switchover device 19 is preferably provided for the control of the stepping motor 16, via which - as just described - the pulse train 6 is passed from the radio receiver 1 to the reversing circuit 14 as soon as the overall arrangement, or at least the radio receiver 1 after a break in operation is put into operation; for example by means of an operating switch 20, or for example as a result of the use of a power source 21 (for example a battery). As a result, a set input 23 becomes a switch input 19, possibly via a trigger circuit 22 for triggering a set pulse driven for this switching of the pulse train 6 on the reversing circuit 14. At the start of operation, the progression of the indicator pointer 18 therefore only actually indicates the time lapse in a second pattern when an undisturbed pulse sequence 6 is received. As soon as the decryption circuit 7 has decoded the time information from it, the switching device 19 is switched via its reset input 24 to receive the time-keeping pulses 25 from a time-keeping device 26, that is to say to a clock-second cycle; in which from now on (until the next break in operation of the radio clock), for example, a second hand 18 is switched on. The time-keeping pulses can, however, also have a higher frequency, for example, if the comparator 10 detects a deviation between the time indicated by the pointer 8 and the current time decoded by the decoding circuit 7.

Im Interesse der Übersichtlichkeit ist beim dargestellten Blockschaltbild außer Betracht gelassen, daß es zweckmäßiger sein kann, getrennt angesteuerte Schrittmotoren 16 einerseits für den Sekunden- zeiger 18 und andererseits für die Stunden- und Minutenzeiger 8 vorzusehen und getrennt aus dem Vergleicher 10 anzusteuern; um eine rasche Justage der Stellung der Zeiger 8 zu ermöglichen, ohne über eine getriebliche Kopplung zum Sekundenzeiger 18 diesen ungebührlich schnell mitdrehen zu müssen. Solche getrennten Motore 16 ermöglichen es, auch als Empfangsindikator-Zeiger den Minuten- oder sogar den Stundenzeiger 8 zu wählen; in diesem Falle würde die Funktion der Umschalteinrichtung 19 des Trennen des Indikator-Motors 16 von der Empfangsimpulsfolge 6 und das Aufschalten der zeithaltenden Impulsfolge 25 auf die Uhrenantriebsschaltung beinhalten.In the interest of clarity, the block diagram shown does not take into account the fact that it may be more expedient to provide separately controlled stepper motors 16 on the one hand for the second hand 18 and on the other hand for the hour and minute hands 8 and to control them separately from the comparator 10; in order to enable a quick adjustment of the position of the hands 8 without having to rotate the second hand 18 unduly quickly via a gear coupling. Such separate motors 16 also make it possible to select the minute or even the hour hand 8 as the reception indicator pointer; in this case, the function of the switching device 19 would include separating the indicator motor 16 from the received pulse train 6 and applying the time-keeping pulse train 25 to the clock drive circuit.

Claims (5)

1. Funkuhr mit Empfangssignal-Anzeige, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Ansteuersignale für einen Schrittmotor (16) zur Bewegung eines Indikator-Zeigers (8, 18) aus der demodulierten Empfangs-Impulsfolge (6) abgeleitet sind.1. Radio clock with received signal display, characterized in that the control signals for a stepper motor (16) for moving an indicator pointer (8, 18) are derived from the demodulated receive pulse train (6). 2. Funkuhr nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß Steuerimpulse für einen Sekundenzeiger-Schrittmotor (16) über eine Umschalteinrichtung (19) alternativ von der demodulierten Empfangs-Impulsfolge (6) oder aus der Folge zeithaltender Impulse (25) aus einer zeithaltenden Einrichtung (26) abgeleitet sind.2. Radio clock according to claim 1, characterized in that control pulses for a second hand stepper motor (16) via a switching device (19) alternatively from the demodulated receive pulse train (6) or from the sequence of time-keeping pulses (25) from a time-keeping device ( 26) are derived. 3. Funkuhr nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß Steuerimpulse für den Schrittmotor (16) zum Antrieb eines Zeigers (8) über eine Umschalteinrichtung (19) alternativ von der demodulierten Empfangsimpulsfolge (6) oder aus einer zeithaltenden Einrichtung (26) abgeleitet sind.3. Radio clock according to claim 1, characterized in that control pulses for the stepper motor (16) for driving a pointer (8) via a switching device (19) are alternatively derived from the demodulated receive pulse train (6) or from a time-keeping device (26). 4. Funkuhr nach Anspruch 2 oder 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Umschalteinrichtung (19) bei Betriebsbeginn der Funkuhr auf Durchschalten der empfangenen Impulsfolge (6) setzbar und danach, von der Entschlüsselungsschaltung (7) für die darin enthaltene Zeitinformation, auf die zeithaltende Einrichtung (26) rücksetzbar ist.4. Radio clock according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the switching device (19) at the start of operation of the radio clock on switching the received pulse train (6) settable and then, from the decryption circuit (7) for the time information contained therein, to the time-keeping device (26) is resettable. 5. Funkuhr nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Impulsfolgen (6, 25) eine bistabil arbeitende Umkehr-schaltung (14) ansteuern, zwischen deren in Bezug zueinander invertierter Ausgängen der Indikatorzeiger-Schrittmotor (16) geschaltet ist.5. Radio-controlled clock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pulse trains (6, 25) drive a bistable reversing circuit (14), between the outputs of which are inverted with respect to one another, the indicator pointer stepper motor (16) is connected.
EP85113560A 1984-10-30 1985-10-25 Radio-controlled watch Expired - Lifetime EP0180155B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT85113560T ATE83866T1 (en) 1984-10-30 1985-10-25 RADIO CLOCK.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE3439638 1984-10-30
DE3439638A DE3439638C1 (en) 1984-10-30 1984-10-30 Autonomous radio clock

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0180155A2 true EP0180155A2 (en) 1986-05-07
EP0180155A3 EP0180155A3 (en) 1988-03-09
EP0180155B1 EP0180155B1 (en) 1992-12-23

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ID=6249071

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP85113560A Expired - Lifetime EP0180155B1 (en) 1984-10-30 1985-10-25 Radio-controlled watch

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US4650344A (en)
EP (1) EP0180155B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS61191981A (en)
AT (1) ATE83866T1 (en)
DE (2) DE3439638C1 (en)

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Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0355567A2 (en) * 1988-08-17 1990-02-28 Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH Date and time correcting device and method therefor
EP0355567B1 (en) * 1988-08-17 1995-01-04 Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH Date and time correcting device and method therefor
EP0394654A2 (en) * 1989-03-22 1990-10-31 DIEHL GMBH & CO. Time switch
EP0394654B1 (en) * 1989-03-22 1993-02-03 DIEHL GMBH & CO. Time switch
EP0590337B2 (en) † 1992-10-02 2001-01-10 TEMIC TELEFUNKEN microelectronic GmbH Method for the functioning pf a radio clock and radio clock to be used in an envirenment with disturbed field
EP0627822A1 (en) * 1993-06-02 1994-12-07 GRUNDIG E.M.V. Elektro-Mechanische Versuchsanstalt Max Grundig GmbH & Co. KG Clock radio with remote radio clock receiver
EP0751444A1 (en) * 1995-06-27 1997-01-02 Isa France S.A. Time measuring instrument with analogue display, in particular watch, clock or table-clock, and method for controlling the automatic setting of this instrument
EP0990196B1 (en) * 1997-06-18 2005-12-07 IDT-LCD Holdings (BVI) Limited Projection clock
EP1316861A2 (en) * 2001-11-29 2003-06-04 Seiko Instruments Inc. Radio-controlled apparatus and radio-controlled timepiece by using the same
EP1316861A3 (en) * 2001-11-29 2005-02-02 Seiko Instruments Inc. Radio-controlled apparatus and radio-controlled timepiece by using the same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0180155B1 (en) 1992-12-23
US4650344A (en) 1987-03-17
EP0180155A3 (en) 1988-03-09
DE3586924D1 (en) 1993-02-04
DE3439638C1 (en) 1986-05-15
ATE83866T1 (en) 1993-01-15
JPS61191981A (en) 1986-08-26

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