JP2000206275A - Time adjusting method for electric apparatus and device thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a time adjusting method for electric apparatus capable of saving the load of users of electric apparatus and automatically adjusting time of internal clock of the electric apparatus. SOLUTION: A time adjusting method of electric apparatus is to transmit time information from a time information transmitter 4 provided on an electric power network 1 through the network 1 in which electricity is supplied by a power company toward an internal clock 93X of the electric apparatus 7X connected to a power line 11X and control time of the internal clock 93X of the electric apparatus 7X. The time information transmitter 4 is provided at least one of power station 2, a substation 21X and a power line transformer 3X. To the time information transmitter 4, a time information transmission means 51 for transmitting time information, and to the electric apparatus 7X, a time information reception means 91X for receiving the time information transmitted by the time information transmission means 51, and a time adjusting means 92X for adjusting time of the internal clock 93X according to the time information received with the time information reception means 91X, are provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a time adjustment method and a time adjustment device for adjusting the time of a built-in clock of an electric device, and to those electric devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Many electric appliances currently on the market include:
Built-in clock. Watches of such electrical equipment
In addition to a function of notifying the user of the time or date and time, an automatic driving function using a timer is often performed. However, time adjustment (time adjustment) of the built-in clock of the electric device must be performed by the user himself, which is a burden on the user. In addition, since the method of performing the time adjustment differs depending on the type of electric device and its manufacturer, the user has to check the manual of the electric device in detail for each electric device and adjust the time. The burden on is large. In particular,
After the power supply is stopped due to a power outage or the like, the time of the clock of the electric device must be reset, and a user who uses a large number of electric devices has a heavy burden of setting the time.

[0003] Recently, personal computers have become widespread, and the use of e-mail on the Internet and intranets has increased at companies and homes. In such an e-mail, the transmission content is sent instantaneously, and the transmission date and time are displayed in seconds, so that the e-mail transmission time must be accurate. Therefore, the time of the personal computer is too large with an error of one second or more. However, since time adjustment is performed manually by a user, it is difficult to make the times of a plurality of electric devices the same. In particular, it is extremely difficult to adjust the time of an electrical device to the exact same time in a plurality of electrical devices having different users or a plurality of electrical devices having different installation locations. In addition, the operation accuracy of the timepiece differs depending on the electric device. Even if the consistency of the timepiece is ensured among a plurality of electric devices, a deviation occurs with the passage of time.

[0004] In a network of personal computers, a method of setting the time of each personal computer by a server is also used, but this method is not compatible with all electric devices such as personal computers and other electric devices not connected to the network. . In addition, in order for this method to be compatible with all electric devices, new wiring is required for the electric devices, which not only increases the burden on the user but also increases the cost. In view of this, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-254585 proposes a method of adjusting the time of a built-in clock of an electric device using a communication technology using a power line, that is, a power line communication technology. This method transmits clock information of a clock built in an arbitrary device among a plurality of electric devices connected to a power line to one or more other devices through the power line, and transmits the clock information to the other device. This is a method of setting the time of the clock being set according to the transmitted clock information. Therefore, in this method, it is not necessary to newly provide a time adjustment wire of the timepiece as long as the electric device is powered from the power line.

[0005]

However, in the method described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-254584, the electric device must be provided with clock information transmitting means and / or clock information receiving means. In the case of providing one of the transmission means and the reception means of the clock information in the electrical equipment, it is necessary to remember which equipment is provided with the transmission means or the reception means, even if it is understood by reading the manual, It is not immediately known which device is provided with the transmitting means. In addition, the electric equipment provided with the transmitting means is 1
The other equipment must be equipped with receiving means, and when purchasing electrical equipment, it is necessary to select whether the equipment is equipped with transmitting means or receiving means. You have to buy it. On the other hand, when the transmission means and the reception means are provided in all the electric devices, the cost is high because the transmission means is provided even if only the reception means is required. In particular, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
In the method described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 83, the user must adjust the built-in clock of at least one of the electric devices, and not all clocks are automatically adjusted. That is, the method is a method for ensuring the consistency of the built-in clock between the electric devices, and the time of the clock of the electric device provided with the transmission means, the transmission time of which is adjusted manually, and the reception means provided. This is a method of matching the time of a built-in clock of an electric device. Therefore, if the time of the electric device provided with the transmission means is not accurate, the time of the electric device receiving the time information will also be incorrect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device for adjusting the time of an electric device which can automatically adjust the time of a built-in clock of the electric device without burdening the user. is there. Another object of the present invention is to provide a time adjustment method and a time adjustment device for an electric device that can accurately adjust the time.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a time adjustment method and a time adjustment device for an electric device which can be provided at low cost. Another object of the present invention is to provide an electric device that can use the time adjustment method having the above characteristics.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, according to the present invention, a time information transmission system provided on an electric appliance connected to a power line through a power network supplied with electricity by a power company is provided with a time information. The time adjustment method of the electric equipment which transmits the time information from the unit and adjusts the time of the internal clock of the electric equipment is adopted.

[0008] Most electric appliances are powered by inserting a plug into an outlet. The electric equipment connected to such a power line can perform power line carrier communication for transmitting and receiving information using the power line. In the power line carrier communication, the power line is used as a line such as a telephone line, and an information signal modulated at a carrier frequency higher than the commercial power frequency (50 Hz / 60 Hz) is transmitted and received by being superimposed on the power signal. In the present invention, such power line carrier communication is used.

[0009] In the time adjustment method for electric equipment according to the present invention, the time information is transmitted from a time information transmitting unit provided on the power network through a power network supplied with electricity by a power company. You do not need to make a call.
Therefore, the user does not need to adjust the built-in clock of the electric device at all, and the burden of time adjustment on the user can be greatly reduced, and the usage method is simple. In other words, the user simply plugs the electrical device into the outlet,
The time of the built-in clock of the electric device is adjusted. In addition, since the time information is not information based on the time set by the user as appropriate, but is information provided by a service that transmits the time information, accurate time information is transmitted, and the electrical device receives the accurate time information. The time of the built-in clock can be adjusted accurately.

[0010] The time of the built-in clock of the electric device is adjusted according to the time information transmitted from the time information transmitting unit. Clock information transmitted over the power network is received using power line carrier communication by plugging electrical equipment into a power outlet, and there is no need to provide new wiring for time adjustment. Not only can the burden be reduced, but it is economically inexpensive. Since the electric device does not transmit the time information but only receives the time information, the electric device only needs to include a device related to reception, and can be manufactured at low cost. Further, since it is sufficient that only the reception-related device is provided with the electric device, the number of components can be reduced, the manufacturing time can be shortened, and the cost can be further reduced.

[0011] Further, since time information flows through the power network, the electric equipment manufacturer also manufactures and sells electric equipment capable of adjusting the time of the built-in clock according to the time information transmitted through the electric power network. Or easy to sell. Therefore, it can be provided at lower cost by mass production. Since accurate time can be transmitted as time information to be transmitted, highly accurate time adjustment that cannot be performed manually can be performed.

The time information transmitting unit is on a power line network,
The position is not particularly limited as long as time information can be transmitted to a user's electric device connected to the power line network, but may be provided in at least one of a power plant, a substation, and a power line transformer. preferable.

The means for transmitting and receiving the time information is not particularly limited, but the time information transmitting section may be provided with time information transmitting means for transmitting the time information, and the electric device may include the time information transmitting means. And time adjusting means for adjusting the time of the internal clock according to the time information received by the time information receiving means.

Further, the time information transmitting section can be provided with a signal synthesizing circuit for superimposing the time information signal transmitted from the time information transmitting means on the electric power signal. A signal separation circuit capable of separating a signal from a power signal can be provided. When such a circuit is provided, the time information signal can be easily superimposed on the power signal, or the time information signal and the power signal can be separated.

The time information can be transmitted by a method of transmitting the information at predetermined time intervals. With such a method, the time can be readjusted periodically, and the time of the built-in clock can be kept almost accurately even if the accuracy of the built-in clock of the electric device is low. In addition, since households and companies do not know when electrical equipment will be added and introduced, and of course, when power outages will occur, it is better to transmit time information at predetermined time intervals. It is easy to respond to the introduction of power and blackouts.

The power line transformer has a signal separation circuit capable of separating a time information signal and a power signal, and a time information signal separated by the signal separation circuit for superimposing the time information signal on the power signal. A signal synthesis circuit. By providing such a circuit, the time information signal superimposed on the power signal is not affected by the transformation by the power line transformer, and correct time information can be transmitted to the electric device.

The present invention also includes a power line time transmitting apparatus having time information transmitting means for transmitting time information for adjusting the time of a clock of an electric device connected to the power line.

According to the present invention, there are provided time information receiving means for receiving time information transmitted through a power network, and time adjusting means for adjusting the time of a built-in clock according to the time information received by the time information receiving means. It also includes a time adjustment device for electric equipment that it has.

The present invention also provides time information receiving means for receiving time information transmitted through a power network, and time adjusting means for adjusting the time of a built-in clock according to the time information received by the time information receiving means. An electric device provided with an electric device time adjustment device having the following.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a signal separating circuit capable of separating a time information signal and a power signal, and a time information signal separated by the signal separating circuit is superimposed on the power signal. And a power line time information separating / synthesizing device configured with the above signal synthesizing circuit.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a time adjustment method for an electric device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a power grid, 2 denotes a power plant, and 21x (x
= 1, 2,...) Are substations (the substation 21x may be collectively referred to as the substation 21), 31, 32, 33,.
x (x = 1, 2, 3,...) is a power line transformer (the power line transformer 3x may be collectively referred to as a power line transformer 3), 4 is a time information transmitting unit, 5 is a time transmitting device, and 51 is time The information transmission means 52 is a clock.

6x such as 61, 62, 63, etc.
(X = 1, 2, 3,...) Is the power customer (power customer 6x
May be collectively referred to as a power consumer 6), 71, 72,
7 and 7 (x = 1, 2, 3,...) Are electrical devices (the electrical device 7x may be collectively referred to as the electrical device 7), 8
8x such as 1, 82, 83, etc. (x = 1, 2, 3, ...)
Are time adjustment devices (the time adjustment device 8x may be collectively referred to as the time adjustment device 8), and 91x (x = 1, 2, 3,...) Such as 911, 912, 913,. 92x (x = 1, 2, 3,...) Such as 921, 922, 923, etc. are time adjusting means (time adjusting means 92x is referred to as time information receiving means 91x). 93x (x = x, such as adjusting means 92), 931, 932, 933...
.., Are built-in clocks (the clock 93x may be collectively referred to as a clock 93).

Further, 11x (x = 1, 2, 3,...) Such as 111, 112, 113,.
x may be collectively referred to as a power line 11), which is a power line branched from the power line transformer 3 on the power network 1 to the power customer 6.

Electricity is transmitted from the power plant 2 to the power consumer 6 via the substation 21 on the power network 1 and further via the power line transformer 3 on the power network 1 via the power line 11.
The power line transformer 3 transforms the voltage to a voltage suitable for transmitting power to the power consumer 6. In the electric power consumer 6, electric power is supplied to the electric equipment 7 by inserting a plug of the electric equipment 7 into an outlet.

In the present invention, the time information transmitting unit 4 is provided on the power network 1. In FIG. 1, the time information transmitting unit 4 is provided between the substation 21 and the power line transformer 3,
The installation position of the time information transmitting unit 4 is not particularly limited as long as it is on the power network 1. That is, the time information transmitting unit 4 includes the power station 2, the power line between the power station 2 and the substation 21, the substation 2
1, a power line between the substation 21, a power line between the substation 21 and the power line transformer 3, a power line between the power line transformer 3, and a power line between the power line transformers 3. A preferred installation position of the time information transmitting unit 4 is at least one of the power plant 2, the substation 21, and the power line transformer 3, and more preferably, the substation 21. The time information transmitting unit 4 is provided with a time transmitting device (time transmitting device for power line) 5, and the time transmitting device 5 includes a time information transmitting unit 51 and a clock 52. The time information transmitting means 51 is not particularly limited as long as it can receive the time information of the clock 52 and transmit the time information through the power network 1. The time information transmitting unit 4 can be provided singly or in combination of a plurality.

In the electric power consumer 6, the electric equipment 7 is connected to the electric power line 11 through the outlet by inserting the plug into the outlet. The electric device 7 includes a time adjustment device (time adjustment device for electric device) 8
And a clock 93. The time adjustment device 8
It has time information receiving means 91 and time adjusting means 92. The time information receiving means 91 receives the time information transmitted through the power network 1 and converts the information to the time adjusting means 92.
, And the time adjusting means 92 can adjust or set the time of the clock 93 in accordance with the time information from the time information receiving means 91. The clock 93 has a function of electronically adjusting time information such as date and time.
Therefore, the time information receiving unit 91 receives the time information transmitted from the time information transmitting unit 4 through the power network 1, and the time information receiving unit 91 transmits the received time information to the time adjusting unit 92.
And the time adjusting means 92 adjusts the time of the clock 93 in accordance with the input time information, and can adjust the time of the clock 93. The configuration and the like of the electric device 7 or the time adjustment device 8 are not particularly limited as long as the electric device 7 or the time adjustment device 8 has means capable of adjusting the time of the clock by receiving the time information.

The electric device 7 has a built-in clock that is electronically adjusted in time, and is not particularly limited as long as it is an electric device that can be connected to a power line. For example, a personal computer, a video, a television, a rice cooker Examples include a device, a telephone, a clock, a radio, and the like. The time adjustment device 8 can be configured using a so-called “power modem”.

The time information from the time information transmitting section 4 may be transmitted at all times, or may be transmitted at predetermined time intervals. The time adjustment of the built-in clock 93 of the electric device 7 is usually performed when the electric device 7 is used for the first time in the power consumer 6 or when it is used again, when the time of the clock 93 of the electric device 7 is shifted, It is not always necessary to always transmit the time information because the transmission is performed when the power transmission to the device 7 is stopped. Therefore, the time information is preferably transmitted at predetermined time intervals, and particularly preferably after a power failure or the like, at short time intervals. The time interval for transmitting the time information is not particularly limited, and the interval may be different depending on the day of the week, day, or night.

Since power line carrier communication is used in the present invention, it is preferable that the time information is transmitted after being modulated into a high-frequency signal. If such a high-frequency signal is modulated, the power frequency (50 Hz) is used. / 60 Hz), and both can be clearly distinguished in the electrical equipment 7 or the like.

Further, it is preferable that the time information transmitting section 4 is provided with a signal synthesizing circuit (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "signal synthesizing circuit A") for superimposing the time information signal on the power signal. When the signal combining circuit A is used, a signal of time information can be easily superimposed on a signal of power and transmitted.

When the time information transmitting section 4 is provided on the power network 1 between the power plant 2 and the power line transformer 3, the time information signal is transmitted while being superimposed on the power signal. 3 and transmitted through the substation 21. In this case, the power line transformer 3 and the substation 21 (particularly, the power line transformer 3) are provided with a signal separation circuit (hereinafter, referred to as a "signal separation circuit C") capable of separating a time information signal and a power signal. And a signal synthesizing circuit (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as “signal synthesizing circuit C”) for superimposing the time information signal separated by the signal separating circuit C on the power signal again. It is preferable to provide a power line time information separating / combining device.

When the signal separating circuit C is provided in the power line transformer 3 or the substation 21, the time information signal is not affected by the transformation when passing through the power line transformer 3 or the substation 21 and the time information can be accurately calculated. Can be transmitted to the electrical equipment 7. Of course, the power signal is separated by the signal separation circuit C and transmitted to the transformer in the transformer 3, where it is transformed to a target voltage and transmitted. When the signal synthesizing circuit C is provided in the power line transformer 3 or the substation 21, the signal of the time information separated by the signal separating circuit C can be easily superimposed on the power signal.

It is preferable that the electric device 7 is provided with a signal separation circuit (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a "signal separation circuit B") capable of separating a time information signal and a power signal. The signal separating circuit B can separate the time information signal and the power signal transmitted from the AC signal and output the time information signal to the time information receiving means 91.
Of course, the electric power signal can be supplied to a necessary portion of the electric device 7. The time information receiving means 91 demodulates the input time information signal to obtain time information, and outputs the time information to the time adjusting means 92. The time adjusting means 92 controls the clock 93 according to the input time information. Adjust the time.

The clock 52 in the time information transmitting section 4
Is preferably high in accuracy and time is accurate. Therefore, the clock 52 of the time information transmitting unit 4 receives the accurate time information from a communication satellite, a radio, a television, or the like, and adjusts the time to an accurate time at any time.
It is preferable to increase the accuracy of the above. The time information from the time information transmitting unit 4 can be transmitted by an electric power company, a time information transmitting service company, or the like.

The electric device 7 may adopt a method of receiving the time information whenever the time information is transmitted and adjusting the time of the clock, but a method for controlling the reception of the time information may be employed. It is preferable to employ For example, (1) a method of providing a function of always receiving the next time information in the case of a power supply stop or the first use due to a power failure, and (2) a timer for performing a signal of the time information at predetermined time intervals. And (3) a method of providing a switch for starting reception of time information in order to receive the next time information signal. When the method (1) is adopted, the time is automatically adjusted without the user of the electric device adjusting the time at all. When the method (2) is adopted, time information can be automatically received and time can be adjusted, so that accurate time can always be maintained. When the method (3) is adopted, the time can be adjusted when the user wants to adjust the time.
In addition, the method of controlling the reception of the time information can be adopted singly or in combination.

[0036]

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to Examples, but the present invention is not limited to these Examples. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a time adjustment method according to Embodiment 1. In the first embodiment (FIG. 2), the generator 22
The power or electric signal generated by the power line transformer 3 is transmitted to the power line transformer 3 through the power line 12, and the power line transformer 3
After the voltage is changed to an appropriate voltage, the power is transmitted to the power consumer 61 via the power line 13.

The time information transmitting section 4 is provided on the power line 12 between the generator 22 and the power line transformer 3. The time information transmitting unit 4 includes a circuit (signal combining circuit A) 4a for superimposing a time information signal on the power signal, a time transmitting device 5,
And a clock 52. The time transmitting device 5 includes a time information transmitting unit 51 and a timer 53. The time information transmitting means 51 receives the time information of the clock 52 at each time interval set in the timer 53, modulates the time information to a high frequency, and outputs the high frequency to the signal synthesizing circuit A4a. The signal synthesizing circuit A4a superimposes the high-frequency modulated time information signal (modulated time signal) on the power signal and transmits it to the power line 12.

The modulation time signal and the power signal are transmitted to the power line transformer 3 through the power line 12. The power line transformer 3 is provided with a circuit (signal separation circuit C) 3a capable of separating the modulation time signal and the power signal. The modulation time signal and the power signal are separated by the signal separation circuit C3a, the modulation time signal is transmitted through the line A, and a circuit (signal synthesis circuit C) 3b for superimposing the modulation time signal on the power signal
Thus, the modulation time signal is superimposed on the power signal again and transmitted. On the other hand, the power signal is transmitted through the line B, transformed into a target voltage by the transformer 3c, and transmitted. And
The modulation time signal and the power signal are transmitted to the power line consumer 61 via the power line 13.

In the power consumer 61, the electric equipment 7 is connected to the power line 13 via an outlet. Electrical equipment 7
Is provided with a circuit (signal separation circuit B) 7a capable of separating a modulation time signal and a power signal. The modulation time signal and the power signal are separated by the signal separation circuit B7a, and the separated modulation time signal is output to the time adjustment device 8. The time information receiving means 911 of the time adjusting device 8 demodulates the input modulated time signal into time information, and outputs the time information to the time adjusting means 921. Then, the time adjusting unit 921 adjusts the time of the clock 931 according to the input time information. On the other hand, after the power signal input to the signal separation circuit B7a is transmitted to the power supply 7b, power is supplied to each unit of the electric device 7.

Therefore, the user of the electric device can provide a time adjustment method of the electric device that can automatically adjust the time of the built-in clock only by plugging the plug of the electric device into the outlet. In addition, reception of time information
By providing a timer or the like, it is possible to control the reception timing.

[0041]

The method for adjusting the time of an electric device according to the present invention can be performed through a power network supplied with electric power by a power company.
Since the time information is transmitted from the time information transmitting unit provided on the power network and the time of the internal clock of the electric device is adjusted, the user of the electric device does not need to adjust the internal clock at all. In addition, the burden of time setting on the user is greatly reduced, and the method of using the time is easy. In addition, the time of the built-in clock can be accurately adjusted. Further, it is possible to provide an electric device or the like by this method at low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a time adjustment method for an electric device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a time adjustment method according to the first embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Power network 111 Power line 11x Power line 2 Power station 211 Substation 21x Substation 31 Power line transformer 3x Power line transformer 4 Time information transmission unit 5 Time transmission device 51 Time information transmission means 52 Clock 61 Power consumer 6x Power consumer 71 Electric equipment 7x Electric device 81 Time adjustment device 8x Time adjustment device 911 Time information receiving means 91x Time information receiving means 921 Time adjusting means 92x Time adjusting means 931 Clock 93x Clock

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A time information transmitting section provided on a power network for transmitting a time information to a built-in clock of an electric device connected to a power line through a power network supplied with electricity by a power company. Time adjustment method for electric equipment that adjusts the time of the internal clock of the computer. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the time information transmitting unit is provided in at least one of a power plant, a substation, and a power line transformer. 3. The time information transmitting section is provided with time information transmitting means for transmitting time information.
Time information receiving means for receiving the time information transmitted by the time information transmitting means, and time adjusting means for adjusting the time of the internal clock according to the time information received by the time information receiving means are provided. The method for adjusting the time of an electric device according to claim 1. 4. The time information transmitting section is provided with a signal synthesizing circuit for superimposing a time information signal transmitted from the time information transmitting means on a power signal.
4. The time adjustment method for an electric device according to claim 3, further comprising a signal separation circuit capable of separating a signal of time information and a signal of power. 5. The time adjustment method for an electric device according to claim 1, wherein the time information is transmitted at predetermined time intervals. 6. A power line transformer for separating a signal of time information and a signal of power from each other, and a signal of the time information separated by the signal separating circuit for superimposing the signal of time information on the signal of power. And a signal synthesizing circuit.
6. The time adjustment method for an electric device according to any one of items 5 to 5. 7. A power line time transmitting device having time information transmitting means for transmitting time information for adjusting the time of a clock of an electric device connected to a power line. 8. A time information receiving means for receiving time information transmitted through a power network, and a time adjusting means for adjusting the time of a built-in clock according to the time information received by the time information receiving means. Time adjustment device for electrical equipment. 9. Time information receiving means for receiving time information transmitted through a power network, and time adjusting means for adjusting the time of a built-in clock in accordance with the time information received by the time information receiving means. Electrical equipment provided with a time adjustment device for electrical equipment. 10. A signal separation circuit capable of separating a time information signal and a power signal, and a signal synthesis circuit for superimposing the time information signal separated by the signal separation circuit on a power signal. A power line time information separating / combining device comprising: