JP7002327B2 - Radio clock - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a radio clock.

Patent Document 1 discloses a radio-controlled clock that corrects an internal time based on a weekly time TOW (Time Of Week) included in a satellite signal transmitted from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite. The weekly time TOW is information indicating the elapsed seconds from midnight on the latest Sunday. In addition, the satellite signal contains information about leap second (LS: Leap Second), and that information is updated irregularly. The information about leap seconds includes information about the scheduled leap second update time and the leap second update value. Leap seconds are used to adjust the difference between the time output by the atomic clock of GPS satellites (hereinafter also referred to as GPS time) and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) (hereinafter also referred to as reference time). Added or deleted. The radio-controlled clock as described above has a configuration in which a leap second update value is added or deleted at the internal time based on the information regarding the leap second received by the receiving circuit. Hereinafter, in a radio-controlled timepiece, adding or deleting a leap second update value to an internal time based on information about a leap second is referred to as a leap second update.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-333381

As described above, the leap second update is performed to adjust the deviation of the GPS time with respect to the reference time. Further, the internal time of the radio-controlled clock is corrected based on the weekly time TOW included in the satellite signal. That is, the leap second update is performed in a state where the internal time indicates an accurate time based on the weekly time TOW, which means that the deviation of the internal time from the reference time is adjusted. On the other hand, if the leap second update is performed when the internal time is not the time based on the weekly time TOW, the internal time after the leap second update indicates a time that has no meaning.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to perform leap second update when the radio-controlled timepiece is in an appropriate state for leap second update.

The invention disclosed in the present application in order to solve the above problems has various aspects, and the outline of typical ones of these aspects is as follows.

(1) A radio-controlled timepiece having a receiving circuit and a control circuit for receiving a signal including information on a leap second, wherein the control circuit holds a holding unit for holding information on the leap second received by the receiving circuit. And, based on the information about the leap second, the leap second update unit that updates the internal time of the radio-controlled clock when the leap second is scheduled to be updated, and the holding unit holds the information about the leap second, a predetermined prohibition condition. When the condition is satisfied, the prohibition unit for prohibiting the update of the internal time by the leap second update unit, and the release unit for canceling the prohibition of the update of the internal time by the prohibition unit when the predetermined release condition is satisfied are included. Radio clock.

(2) In (1), the holding unit has an operation unit that accepts the adjustment operation of the internal time manually by the user, the holding unit holds reception information regarding the acceptance of the adjustment operation, and the prohibition condition is the above. A radio-controlled clock including the holding of the reception information by the holding unit.

(3) In (1) or (2), the receiving circuit receives information about a time, and the control circuit includes an internal time adjusting unit that corrects the internal time based on the information about the time. The release condition includes the correction of the internal time based on the information regarding the time information by the internal time correction unit.

(4) In (3), the prohibition condition is a radio-controlled timepiece including that a predetermined period has elapsed since the last acquisition of information regarding the time.

(5) In any of (1) to (4), the battery and the voltage detection unit for detecting the battery voltage are provided, and the prohibition condition is that the battery voltage is equal to or less than a predetermined voltage threshold. The release condition includes, and the release condition includes that the battery voltage is larger than the voltage threshold.

(6) In any of (1) to (5), the prohibition condition includes a temperature detection unit for detecting the internal temperature, the prohibition condition includes the internal temperature outside a predetermined range, and the release condition is. , The radio clock including that the internal temperature is within the predetermined range.

(7) In any of (1) to (6), the radio-controlled timepiece has a light detection unit that detects external light, and the radio-controlled clock has a period during which the amount of light detected by the light detection unit is equal to or less than a predetermined light threshold value. If is longer than a predetermined period, the mode is set to power saving mode, the prohibition condition includes the radio clock being in the power saving mode, and the release condition is that the amount of light detected by the light detection unit is larger than the light threshold value. A radio-controlled clock including the change from the power saving mode to the normal mode.

(8) In any of (5) to (7), the cancellation condition is set when the counter is included to count the count value for the period in which the prohibition condition is satisfied and the count value is larger than the predetermined count value. A radio-controlled clock for correcting the internal time based on information related to the time information by the internal time correction unit.

(9) In any of (1) to (8), when the release unit releases the prohibition of updating the internal time, the leap second update unit elapses the leap second update scheduled time. If so, a radio-controlled clock that updates the internal time based on information about the leap second when the internal time reaches the next 00 seconds.

(10) A radio-controlled timepiece having a warning unit indicating to the user that the prohibition condition is satisfied in any one of (1) to (9).

It is a top view which shows the radio clock which concerns on this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. It is a figure which shows the circuit structure and the system structure of the radio clock which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows typically one subframe in the satellite signal transmitted by the GPS satellite. It is a time chart which shows an example of prohibition and cancellation of leap second update in this embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the leap second update process in this embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the prohibition flag management process in this embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as the present embodiment) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a radio clock according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 shows a body 1 which is the exterior (clock case) of the radio-controlled watch 100, a dial 2 arranged in the body 1, and an hour hand 3, a minute hand 4, and a second hand 5 which are pointers indicating a time. Further, a crown 61 and a button 62 as an operation unit for the user to perform various operations are arranged on the side surface of the body 1 on the 3 o'clock side. Further, the dial 2 is provided with a date window 15 for displaying a date. The date displayed on the day window 15 is updated at 00:00. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the dial 2 may be provided with a day of the week window for displaying the day of the week. A band fixing portion 8 for fixing the band extends from the side surfaces of the body 1 on the 12 o'clock side and the 6 o'clock side.

The design of the radio-controlled clock 100 shown in FIG. 1 is an example. In addition to the ones shown here, for example, the body 1 may be square instead of round, and the number and arrangement of the crown 61 and the buttons 62 are arbitrary. Further, in the present embodiment, the pointers are three, the hour hand 3, the minute hand 4, and the second hand 5, but the present invention is not limited to this, and even if the second hand 5 is omitted, the presence or absence of the time zone and summer time, and the reception of radio waves You may add a guideline for displaying the status, the remaining battery level, and various displays.

In the present embodiment, the radio-controlled clock 100 is a wristwatch having a function of receiving a satellite signal transmitted from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite and correcting the internal time based on the date and time information contained in the satellite signal. Will be explained using. However, the present invention is not limited to a wristwatch, and may be another wearable terminal having a watch function. The internal time is time information (including time and date) held by the control circuit 47 inside the radio-controlled clock 100. The radio-controlled clock 100 of the present embodiment has a configuration in which the internal time is indicated by a pointer so that the user can visually recognize the internal time.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. A windshield 9 is attached to the body 1 so as to cover the dial 2 of the radio-controlled watch 100, and a back cover 10 is attached to the body 1 on the opposite side of the windshield 9. The material of the windshield 9 is a transparent material such as glass, which is non-magnetic and non-conductive. The material of the body 1 and the back cover 10 is not particularly limited, but is metal in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the direction in which the windshield 9 of the radio-controlled watch 100 is arranged (upward in FIG. 2) is referred to as the windshield side, and the direction in which the back cover 10 is arranged (downward in FIG. 2) is referred to as the back cover side. ..

A solar cell (photomotive panel) 11 is arranged on the back cover side of the dial 2, and power is generated by the light received from the windshield side. Therefore, the dial 2 may be made of a material that transmits light rays to some extent. In the present embodiment, the dial 2 is fixed to the base member 12 so as to sandwich the solar cell 11.

The base member 12 is made of a non-magnetic and non-conductive material such as synthetic resin, and supports various members such as a patch antenna 14 and a gear mechanism 25 for driving a pointer. The patch antenna 14 is provided with a feeding pin 14b so as to penetrate the thickness direction thereof, and the surface on the windshield side is a receiving surface 14a for receiving radio waves from the satellite.

A circuit board 24 is arranged on the back cover side of the base member 12, and a battery 26 is arranged on the back cover side thereof. In the present embodiment, the battery 26 is a rechargeable secondary battery, and a button-type lithium ion secondary battery is used. Then, the electric power generated by the solar cell 11 is stored. Further, a motor 23, which is a drive source of the gear mechanism 25, is also attached to the circuit board 24. The shape of the battery 26 is not limited to the button type and is arbitrary. Further, as the secondary battery, a battery other than the lithium ion secondary battery, for example, a lithium ion capacitor or a nickel hydrogen storage battery may be used.

Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the receiving surface 14a of the patch antenna 14 is provided parallel to the light receiving surface of the solar cell 11, and both face the windshield side. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the solar cell 11 has a substantially circular shape, and a part of the outer periphery thereof is cut into a rectangular shape. The patch antenna 14 is arranged in this portion. Therefore, both the receiving surface 14a of the patch antenna 14 and the light receiving surface of the solar cell 11 directly face the back surface of the dial 2. In the present embodiment, the amount of power generated by the solar cell 11 is the amount of light received by the radio-controlled clock 100. When strong light hits the dial 2, it is highly possible that the patch antenna 14 is facing the satellite, such as outdoors during the daytime or near a window, and the environment is suitable for receiving satellite signals.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration and a system configuration of a radio-controlled clock according to the present embodiment. The circuit elements shown in FIG. 3 are mainly arranged on the circuit board 24. The receiving circuit 31 is a circuit that receives a command from the control circuit 47 and performs a receiving operation for receiving information related to the time and the like. The receiving circuit 31 includes a high frequency circuit 46 and a decoder circuit 53. The satellite signal received by the patch antenna 14 is converted into a baseband signal by the high frequency circuit 46, and information about the time, specifically information indicating the time and date, is extracted by the decoder circuit 53 and received by the control circuit 47. Passed.

The control circuit 47 includes at least a RAM (holding unit) 47a, a ROM 47b, an internal time adjustment unit 47c, a leap second update unit 47d, a prohibition unit 47e, and a release unit 47f, and is composed of one integrated circuit. The control circuit 47 performs various information processing according to the program stored in the ROM 47b. The RAM 47a functions as a work memory of the control circuit 47, and data to be processed by the control circuit 47 is written. For example, a bit string (received data) representing the contents of the satellite signal received by the receiving circuit 31 is sequentially written in the buffer area in the RAM 47a, and the values of various variables for control are held.

Further, the solar cell 11 is connected to the battery 26 via the switch 29, and in a state where the switch 29 conducts the solar cell 11 and the battery 26 according to an instruction from the control circuit 47, the solar cell 11 generates electric power. The generated power is stored in the battery 26. Then, power is supplied from the battery 26 to the receiving circuit 31 and the control circuit 47.

Further, the solar cell 11 is also connected to the photodetector unit 30 via the switch 29, and in a state where the switch 29 conducts the solar cell 11 and the photodetector unit 30 according to an instruction from the control circuit 47, the solar cell 11 is connected to the photodetector unit 30. The current generated by 11 flows through the photodetector 30. The photodetector 30 converts this current into a voltage, further converts this voltage into a digital value, and supplies it to the control circuit 47 as a detection value.

The switch 56 is a switch for switching on / off of power supply to the receiving circuit 31, that is, the high frequency circuit 46 and the decoder circuit 53, and is controlled by the control circuit 47. Since the high frequency circuit 46 and the decoder circuit 53 operating at high frequencies consume a large amount of power, the control circuit 47 turns on the switch 56 only when receiving the satellite signal, and sets the reception circuit 31, that is, the high frequency circuit 46 and the decoder circuit 53. It is preferable to operate the switch 56 and turn off the switch 56 at other times to reduce the power consumption.

The reception operation by the reception circuit 31 may be executed when the radio-controlled clock 100 is in an environment suitable for the reception environment. Specifically, the control circuit 47 determines whether or not the detection value (light amount) detected by the light detection unit 30 is larger than a predetermined light threshold value, and when a detection value larger than the predetermined light threshold value is detected, It is advisable to issue a command to cause the receiving circuit 31 to execute the receiving operation. On the other hand, if the radio clock 100 is indoors or in an environment unsuitable for receiving satellite signals, that is, if the detection value detected by the photodetection unit 30 is equal to or less than a predetermined optical threshold value, the reception operation is not executed. It is good to say. This is because there is a high possibility that reception will fail even if the reception operation is executed in such an environment, and there is a risk of unnecessarily consuming power.

Here, a satellite signal (navigation data) transmitted by a GPS satellite used for adjusting the date and time of the radio-controlled clock 100 will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing one subframe in a satellite signal transmitted by a GPS satellite.

GPS satellites repeatedly transmit satellite signals with a total of 25 frames (pages) as one set in chronological order. Each frame contains a signal for 30 seconds, and the GPS satellite transmits a signal for all 25 frames in a cycle of 12.5 minutes. Further, each frame is composed of five subframes SF1 to SF5. Since one frame is 30 seconds, one subframe SF corresponds to a signal for 6 seconds. One subframe SF contains information for 300 bits in total. Further, since 1 subframe SF is composed of 10 words and 1 subframe is 6 seconds, 1 word corresponds to a signal for 0.6 seconds.

The head word of each subframe SF is called a TLM (TeLeMetry word), and the TLM includes a code indicating the head of each subframe SF and information of the ground control station. The head portion of the TLM (that is, the head portion of the entire subframe SF) includes a preamble indicating the start position of the subframe SF.

The second word of each subframe SF is called HOW (HandOver Word), and the beginning of HOW is related to the GPS time starting from the beginning of the week (Sunday 0:00 am), that is, the current time. Information such as the weekly time TOW (Time Of Week) is included. The information following the HOW is different for each subframe SF, and the subframe SF1 includes the week number WN (Week Number) following the HOW. The week number WN is information indicating the number of the week to which the time represented by the weekly time TOW belongs, and is counted up once a week at 0:00 am on Sunday.

The subframe SF2 and the subframe SF3 include the orbit information of each GPS satellite called Ephemeris following the HOW, and the subframes SF4 and SF5 include the approximate orbits of all the GPS satellites called the almanac following the HOW. Information is included, but a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Further, the explanation will be continued by returning to FIG. The radio clock 100 receives satellite signals from one or more GPS satellites. Then, the control circuit 47 holds the weekly time TOW extracted from the received satellite signal in the built-in RAM 47a, and the internal time correction unit 47c corrects the internal time based on the held weekly time TOW. , Drives the motor 23 based on the corrected internal time. The rotational power generated by the motor 23 is transmitted to the pointers (hour hand 3, minute hand 4 and second hand 5) via the train wheel, and the time is displayed.

Further, as information included in the satellite signal transmitted from the GPS satellite, there is information related to leap seconds (hereinafter, also referred to as LS (Leap Second) information). Leap seconds are added or deleted in order to adjust the deviation between the GPS time output by the atomic clock of the GPS satellite and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) (hereinafter, also referred to as the reference time). Hereinafter, updating the internal time of the radio-controlled clock 100 based on the LS information is also referred to as leap second update. The LS information is information including information on a leap second update scheduled for the next leap second update, information on a leap second update value in the next leap second update, and the like. The control circuit 47 holds the LS information extracted from the satellite signal in the built-in RAM 47a, and based on the held LS information, the leap second update unit 47d updates the internal time when the leap second update is scheduled. The LS information is included only once out of 25 times (pages 1 to 25) of the satellite signal subframe 4 being transmitted. Specifically, the LS information is included only in the subframe 4 of page 18.

In this specification, changing the internal time based on the weekly time TOW is referred to as "correction" of the internal time, and changing the internal time based on the LS information is referred to as "update" of the internal time. I will do it.

The leap second update schedule is, for example, the last second at 23:59 on the end of June or the end of December. That is, the leap second is added, for example, between 59 minutes 59 seconds on December 31st and 00:00 seconds on January 1st. Further, the LS information is updated irregularly, and is included in the satellite signal transmitted from the GPS satellite for one month before the scheduled leap second update, for example. However, the period is not limited to this, and the period in which the LS information is included in the satellite signal transmitted from the GPS satellite may be longer than one month or shorter. Further, the LS information may be included in the satellite signal transmitted from the GPS satellite even after the scheduled leap second update time has elapsed. Even when the LS information is received, there may be no plan to update the leap second. That is, the leap second update value included in the LS information may be 0.

As described above, the internal time of the radio-controlled clock 100 is corrected based on the weekly time TOW included in the satellite signal from the GPS satellite to indicate the accurate time. Then, the leap second is updated in a state where the internal time indicates an accurate time, so that the deviation from the reference time is adjusted. On the other hand, if the leap second update is performed when the internal time is not the time corrected based on the weekly time TOW, that is, the internal time does not indicate the exact time, the internal time after the leap second update is performed. , Will indicate a time that makes no sense.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the leap second is updated when the internal time of the radio-controlled clock 100 deviates from the corrected time based on the weekly time TOW, or when there is a possibility that the internal time deviates from the time. Was decided to be prohibited. Hereinafter, the condition in which the internal time deviates from or may deviate from the time corrected based on the weekly time TOW is referred to as a prohibition condition. When the prohibition condition is satisfied, it is preferable to hold the prohibition flag in the RAM 47a. Then, when the internal time of the radio-controlled clock 100 indicates a time corrected based on the weekly time TOW, the prohibition of leap second update may be lifted. Hereinafter, the condition that the internal time does not deviate from or may not deviate from the time corrected based on the weekly time TOW is referred to as a cancellation condition. When the release condition is satisfied, the prohibition flag held in the RAM 47a may be released, and the leap second update may be performed with the prohibition flag released. Hereinafter, the prohibition of leap second update and its cancellation in the present embodiment will be specifically described.

In one example of the present embodiment, it is preferable that the operation unit 60 accepts the manual adjustment operation of the internal time by the user as a prohibition condition. When the user manually operates the operation unit 60, the internal time of the radio-controlled clock 100 indicates a time deviated from the corrected time based on the weekly time TOW, and the leap second update is performed in that state. This is because the internal time after the leap second update indicates a time that does not make any sense. The prohibition unit 47e writes reception information indicating that the operation unit 60 has accepted the internal time adjustment operation manually by the user to the RAM 47a and holds it as a prohibition flag. While the prohibition flag is held in the RAM 47a, the leap second update by the leap second update unit 47d is prohibited.

Then, it is preferable that the reception circuit 31 receives the weekly time TOW by performing the reception operation, and the internal time correction unit 47c corrects the internal time based on the weekly time TOW as a release condition. In this case, the control circuit 47 may release the prohibition flag held in the RAM 47a by the release unit 47f so that the leap second update unit 47d can perform the leap second update. When the internal time is corrected based on the weekly time TOW, the internal time is in a state indicating an accurate time, and if the leap second update is performed in such a state, the leap second update is performed after the leap second update is performed. This is because the internal time indicates the time in which the deviation from the reference time is adjusted. That is, it has the original meaning of performing a leap second update.

The reception operation for acquiring the weekly time TOW by the reception circuit 31 may be automatically performed when the internal time reaches a predetermined time, or it is determined that a predetermined period has elapsed from the previous reception operation. Then, reception may be performed, or may be performed by the user operating the operation unit 60. Further, prior to the start of the reception operation, a reception environment check for confirming whether or not the radio-controlled clock 100 is in an environment suitable for receiving satellite signals may be performed. The reception environment check may be performed, for example, based on the amount of light detected by the photodetector unit 30. If the amount of light detected by the photodetector 30 is high, it may be determined that the radio-controlled clock 100 is in an environment suitable for reception such as outdoors, and the reception operation may be executed. On the other hand, if the amount of light detected by the light detection unit 30 is low, it may be determined that the radio-controlled clock 100 is in an environment unsuitable for reception such as indoors, and the reception operation may not be executed.

The leap second update unit 47d may perform leap second update at the timing when the internal time is scheduled to be leap second update in a state where the prohibition condition is released. If the internal time has already passed the scheduled leap second update time when the prohibited condition is released, the leap second update unit 47d updates the leap second without delay after the prohibited condition is released. good.

Here, when the internal time is corrected by the internal time correction unit 47c and the pointer is driven so as to indicate the corrected internal time, the date feed of the date window 15 may be driven at the same time. If the date feed and the drive of the pointer based on the leap second update are performed at the same time, the motor drive process becomes complicated, so these processes may be dispersed. Therefore, for example, when the internal time has already passed the scheduled leap second update time, the leap second update unit 47d determines that the internal time indicates the next 00 seconds after the prohibition condition is released. Leap second update is recommended. Specifically, for example, when the time corrected by the internal time correction unit 47c is 3:10:45, when the time is 3:11:00, the leap second update unit 47d updates the leap second. good.

When the prohibition flag held in the RAM 47a is released, if the internal time is before the scheduled leap second update time, the leap second update unit 47d may perform the leap second update after waiting for the scheduled leap second update time. If the prohibition flag is canceled once and the prohibition flag is set again before the scheduled leap second update, and then the internal time reaches the scheduled leap second update, the leap second update unit 47d prohibits the leap second update. It should be done.

The radio-controlled clock 100 is not limited to the configuration in which the internal time can be adjusted manually by the user, and the leap second held in the RAM 47a may be adjusted manually by the user. In this case, it may be a prohibition condition that the operation unit 60 accepts the user's manual leap second adjustment operation.

More specifically, an example of prohibition and cancellation of leap second update in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a time chart showing an example of prohibition and cancellation of leap second update in the present embodiment. In FIG. 5, the time chart of the reference time is shown in the upper part, and the time chart of the internal time of the radio-controlled timepiece is shown in the lower part.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, as of December 1, the internal time of the radio-controlled clock 100 indicates a time corrected based on the weekly time TOW. Therefore, at this point, the internal time almost coincides with the reference time. Then, after December 1st and before the leap second update schedule (the last second at 23:59 on December 31st), the receiving circuit 31 performed the receiving operation, and succeeded in receiving the LS information. It is shown that. The received LS information is held in the RAM 47a. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the LS information shows that the current leap second value is 18 seconds, the leap second update schedule is the last second at 23:59 on December 31, and the leap second. The second update value shall include information about being 19 seconds.

After that, the operation unit 60 accepts the manual adjustment operation of the internal time by the user, and indicates that the internal time has been adjusted from 23:00 on December 31st to 22:00 on December 31st. That is, it indicates that the internal time has been adjusted so as to be delayed by one hour from the reference time. At this time, the prohibition unit 47e writes the reception information regarding the acceptance of the adjustment operation by the operation unit 60 to the RAM 47a and holds it as the prohibition flag. The arrow extending in the time axis direction in FIG. 5 indicates the period during which the prohibition flag is set.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, the leap second update is not performed by the leap second update unit 47d when the last second of 23:59 on December 31, which is the scheduled leap second update time, has elapsed. Is shown. That is, it indicates that the internal time was timed at 00:00 on January 1st, 1 second after 23:59:59 on December 31st, without the leap second update.

After that, the receiving circuit 31 performs a receiving operation, indicating that the weekly time TOW included in the satellite signal has been successfully received. As a result, the release unit 47f releases the prohibition flag held in the RAM 47a. Then, the internal time correction unit 47c corrects the internal time based on the weekly time TOW, and indicates that the internal time is 03:00 on January 1st. Here, 03:00 on January 1st has passed the last second at 23:59 on December 31st, which is the scheduled leap second update time. Therefore, it is preferable that the leap second update unit 47d updates the leap second without delay after the internal time is corrected by the internal time correction unit 47c.

Note that the prohibition condition is not limited to the fact that the operation unit 60 accepts the user's manual internal time adjustment operation as described above. Further, the cancellation condition is not limited to the fact that the internal time is corrected based on the weekly time TOW. Examples of prohibition conditions and cancellation conditions other than the example described with reference to FIG. 5 will be described below.

It is preferable that the prohibition condition is that the battery voltage V of the battery 26 detected by the voltage detection unit 50 is equal to or less than a predetermined voltage threshold value Vth. This is because when the battery voltage V drops, sufficient power cannot be supplied to the receiving circuit 31 and the control circuit 47, and the accuracy of the internal time measured by the control circuit 47 may decrease. That is, the internal time may deviate from the corrected time based on the weekly time TOW. The predetermined voltage threshold Vth may be, for example, 2.4V.

When the prohibition condition is that the battery voltage V is equal to or less than the voltage threshold Vth, the release condition may be that the battery voltage V is larger than the voltage threshold Vth. When the battery voltage V recovers from a state in which the battery voltage V drops due to charging of the battery 26 such as the solar cell 11 generating electricity, sufficient power can be supplied to the receiving circuit 31 and the control circuit 47, and the time is measured in the control circuit 47. This is because the internal time is likely to be accurate.

If the period during which the battery voltage V is equal to or less than the voltage threshold Vth is within a predetermined period, it is preferable that the battery voltage V becomes larger than the voltage threshold Vth as a release condition as described above. When the period during which is equal to or less than the voltage threshold Vth is longer than the predetermined period, it is preferable that the battery voltage V becomes larger than the voltage threshold Vth and the internal time is corrected based on the weekly time TOW as a release condition. This is because even when the battery voltage V is recovered, if the battery voltage V is in a low state for a long period of time, there is a high possibility that the amount of deviation of the internal time from the reference time is large. The predetermined period for determining which release condition to use may differ depending on the magnitude of the battery voltage V. For example, when the battery voltage V is 2.1 V, the predetermined period may be shorter than when the battery voltage V is 2.3 V.

The control circuit 47 may include a counter that counts a count value for a period in which the prohibition condition is satisfied. When the count value is larger than the predetermined count value, that is, when the period in which the prohibition condition is satisfied is longer than the predetermined period, the control circuit 47 sets the release condition, and the battery voltage V becomes larger than the voltage threshold value Vth. Moreover, it is preferable that the internal time is corrected by the internal time correction unit 47c based on the weekly time TOW.

Further, it is preferable that the prohibition condition is that the internal temperature T of the radio-controlled timepiece 100 detected by the temperature detection unit 40 is out of a predetermined range. Here, the crystal unit used for measuring the internal time of the radio-controlled clock 100 has a temperature characteristic, and a rate shift occurs according to the temperature characteristic. The rate deviation based on the temperature characteristics of the crystal unit is the smallest at room temperature (about 25 ° C.), and the rate deviation tends to be large when the temperature is higher or lower than the normal temperature. Therefore, if the internal temperature T is an abnormal temperature such as when it is excessively high or excessively low, the internal time tends to deviate from the time corrected based on the weekly time TOW. Within the predetermined range, for example, the internal temperature T may be −5 ° C. to 40 ° C.

When the prohibition condition is that the internal temperature T is outside the predetermined range, the release condition may be that the internal temperature is within the predetermined range. This is because when the internal temperature T changes from an abnormal temperature to a normal temperature, the internal time measured by the control circuit 47 is likely to be accurate.

If the period during which the internal temperature T is outside the predetermined range is within the predetermined period, it is preferable that the internal temperature T is within the predetermined range as described above, but the internal temperature T may be released. When the period outside the predetermined range is longer than the predetermined period, it is preferable that the internal temperature T is within the predetermined range and the internal time is corrected based on the weekly time TOW as a release condition. This is because even if the internal temperature T is within a predetermined range, if the internal temperature T is an abnormal temperature for a long period of time, there is a high possibility that the amount of deviation of the internal time from the reference time is large. .. The predetermined period for determining which release condition to use may differ depending on the magnitude of the internal temperature. For example, when the internal temperature T is −15 ° C., the predetermined period may be set shorter than when the internal temperature T is −5 ° C.

Further, it is preferable that the prohibition condition is that the radio-controlled clock 100 is in the power saving mode. Here, in the radio-controlled clock 100, when the period in which the light amount L (detection value) detected by the light detection unit 30 is equal to or less than the predetermined optical threshold value Lth is longer than the predetermined period, the power saving mode may be set. .. The control circuit 47 may have the RAM 47a hold information regarding the setting of the power saving mode. The power saving mode is a mode set so that the radio-controlled clock 100 is not unnecessarily consumed when the radio-controlled clock 100 is placed in a dark place such as a desk for a long period of time. It is good to stop the hand movement.

When the power saving mode is set as the prohibition condition, the release condition is that the light amount L detected by the photodetection unit 30 becomes larger than the predetermined light threshold value Lth, so that the power saving mode is changed to the normal mode. It is good to do it. The normal mode is a mode in which the hand movement of the pointer is driven to indicate the internal time. In the power saving mode, the internal time is measured inside the radio-controlled clock 100, and when the power saving mode is switched to the normal mode, the motor 23 may be driven so that the pointer indicates the internal time.

Further, it is preferable that the prohibition condition is that a predetermined period has passed since the previous successful reception of the time TOW within the week. This is because if a long time has passed since the previous weekly time TOW was successfully received, it is highly possible that the internal time deviates from the reference time. Then, it is preferable that the cancellation condition is that the internal time is corrected based on the weekly time TOW.

In this embodiment, it is preferable to perform the process using one or more of the above-mentioned prohibited conditions. Similarly, as for the release condition, it is preferable to perform the process using one or more of the above-mentioned ones.

Further, as described above, as a prohibition condition, a condition relating to the accuracy of the internal time with respect to the reference time may be used, but the condition is not limited thereto. For example, in the radio-controlled clock 100 having an alarm function, it is advisable to set the prohibition condition that the alarm is being output and the release condition that the alarm output is stopped. This is because it is preferable not to update the leap second while other additional functions are being executed, such as during alarm output, in order to decentralize the processing in the control circuit 47. Further, in the radio-controlled clock 100 having a function of detecting that the pointer deviates from a predetermined reference position, the prohibition condition may be set during the detection operation of the pointer position, and the end of the detection operation may be set as the release condition. Here, the reference position is a position where the tip of the pointer accurately points to the hour character on the dial 2. For example, a position sensor may be used to detect whether or not the pointer deviates from the reference position. Further, the pointer position detection operation may be started when the user operates the operation unit 60. Further, the prohibition condition may be set during the reception operation.

The radio-controlled clock 100 may have a warning unit indicating to the user that the prohibition condition is satisfied. The warning unit may notify the user that the leap second update is prohibited by, for example, outputting an alarm sound, indicating a predetermined character by the pointer, or operating the pointer. In addition, the configuration may be such that the user is notified that the prohibition condition has been lifted. Further, a warning display may be displayed in both the state where the leap second update is prohibited and the case where the reception of the LS information is not successful. At this time, the same warning unit may show the same behavior, or the behavior of the pointer may be controlled so as to be different so that they can be distinguished.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the leap second update can be performed when the radio-controlled clock 100 is in an appropriate state for the leap second update. Further, for example, it is against the user's will that the leap second minutes are automatically added or deleted from the adjusted internal time when the user manually adjusts the internal time for his own convenience. Where there is a risk, in this embodiment, it is possible to suppress leap second updates against the user's will.

The operation of the control circuit 47 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. The control circuit 47 may perform a leap second update process and a prohibition flag management process, as described below.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the leap second update process in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, when the internal time is after the leap second update scheduled time (YES in step S1), the control circuit 47 determines whether or not the prohibition flag is set (step S2). When the prohibition flag is not set (NO in step S2), the control circuit 47 performs the internal time update process based on the LS information by the leap second update unit 47d (step S3). It should be noted that the determination in step S1 does not have to be performed all the time, and may be performed periodically at predetermined time intervals. For example, when it is determined that the internal time is not after the scheduled leap second update time (NO in step S1), the determination in step S1 may be further performed after the waiting time (for example, 1 minute) has elapsed. Alternatively, if it is determined that the internal time is not after the scheduled leap second update time (NO in step S1), the flow shown in FIG. 5 is terminated, and after the waiting time has elapsed, steps S1 to 5 are performed again. You may start the flow shown.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the prohibition flag management process in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, when the control circuit 47 has received the LS information (YES in step S11) and plans to perform the leap second update (YES in step S12), the control circuit 47 is based on the LS information. The leap second update scheduled time and the leap second update value are set (step S13), and the information is retained in the RAM 47a. On the other hand, even when the LS information is received, if there is no plan to update the leap second based on the LS information (NO in step S12), the prohibition flag management process is terminated. It should be noted that the determination in step S11 does not have to be performed all the time, and may be performed periodically at predetermined time intervals. For example, when it is determined that the LS information has not been received (NO in step S11), the determination in step S11 may be further performed after the waiting time has elapsed. Alternatively, if it is determined that the LS information has not been received (NO in step S11), the process of ending the flow shown in FIG. 6 is performed, and after the waiting time has elapsed, the flow shown in FIG. 6 is started again from step S11. It doesn't matter if you do.

After step S13, the control circuit 47 determines whether or not the prohibition condition is satisfied (step S14). If the prohibition condition is not satisfied (NO in step S14) and the leap second update is performed in the leap second update process shown in FIG. 6 (YES in step S15), the prohibition flag management process is terminated. On the other hand, when the leap second update has not been performed yet (NO in step S15), it is determined whether or not the prohibition condition is continuously satisfied (step S14). When the prohibition condition is satisfied (YES in step S14), the prohibition flag is set (step S16) and the RAM 47a is held.

The control circuit 47 determines whether or not the release condition is satisfied with the prohibition flag set (step S17). When the cancellation condition is satisfied (YES in step S17), the prohibition flag is canceled (step S18), and it is further determined whether or not the prohibition condition is satisfied (step S14). Then, when the leap second update is performed (YES in step S15), the prohibition flag management process is terminated.

In FIG. 7, the prohibition condition and the cancellation condition may include at least one of the above-mentioned ones. Then, in determining whether or not the prohibition condition is satisfied, if any one or more of the prohibition conditions are satisfied, the prohibition flag may be set.

The signal received by the radio clock 100 is not limited to that transmitted from the GPS satellite, and is, for example, a signal transmitted by QZSS (Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, Quasi-Zenith Satellite System: Michibiki) or GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System). However, the configuration may be such that reception corresponding to these a plurality of satellites is possible. Further, by selecting a satellite having a large number of satellites arranged in orbit and receiving a signal transmitted from the selected satellite, it is expected that the success rate of reception will be improved. Since the satellite signal from the GPS satellite is the earliest for the update timing of the LS information, it is preferable to preferentially select the GPS satellite when the configuration corresponds to a plurality of satellites. Further, the signal received by the radio clock 100 is not limited to the satellite signal, but may include LS information, and may be, for example, a signal transmitted from a radio wave transmission station.

In the present embodiment, the prohibition flag held in the RAM 47a manages the prohibition of leap second update, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, by setting the leap second update date itself to a date that does not exist in the calendar (for example, February 30), the leap second update may be prohibited until the leap second reception is successful again. ..

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the specific configuration shown in this embodiment is shown as an example, and it is not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention to this. Those skilled in the art may appropriately modify these disclosed embodiments, and it should be understood that the technical scope of the invention disclosed herein also includes such modifications.

1 body, 2 dial, 3 hour hand, 4 minute hand, 5 second hand, 8 band fixing part, 9 windshield, 10 back cover, 11 solar cell, 12 base member, 14 patch antenna, 14a receiving surface, 14b feeding pin, 15 days Window, 23 motor, 24 circuit board, 25 gear mechanism, 26 battery, 29 switch, 30 optical detector, 31 receiver circuit, 46 high frequency circuit, 47 control circuit, 47a RAM, 47b ROM, 47c internal time adjustment unit, 47d leap Second update section, 47e prohibition section, 47f release section, 53 decoder circuit, 56 switches, 60 operation section, 61 crown, 62 buttons, 100 radio clock.

Claims (9)

A receiving circuit that receives a signal containing information about leap seconds,
Control circuit and
It is a radio clock with
The control circuit is
A holding unit that holds information about the leap second received by the receiving circuit,
A leap second update unit that updates the internal time of the radio-controlled clock when the leap second is scheduled to be updated based on the information related to the leap second.
In a state where the holding unit holds information about the leap second, if a predetermined prohibition condition is satisfied, a prohibition unit that prohibits the update of the internal time by the leap second update unit and a prohibition unit.
When the predetermined release condition is satisfied, the release unit that releases the prohibition of updating the internal time by the prohibition unit, and the release unit.
Including
It has an operation unit that accepts the internal time adjustment operation manually by the user.
The holding unit holds reception information regarding the reception of the adjustment operation.
The prohibition condition includes the holding of the reception information by the holding unit.
Radio clock. A receiving circuit that receives a signal containing information about leap seconds,
Control circuit and
It is a radio clock with
The control circuit is
A holding unit that holds information about the leap second received by the receiving circuit,
A leap second update unit that updates the internal time of the radio-controlled clock when the leap second is scheduled to be updated based on the information related to the leap second.
In a state where the holding unit holds information about the leap second, if a predetermined prohibition condition is satisfied, a prohibition unit that prohibits the update of the internal time by the leap second update unit and a prohibition unit.
When the predetermined release condition is satisfied, the release unit that releases the prohibition of updating the internal time by the prohibition unit, and the release unit.
Including
The receiving circuit receives information about the time and receives information.
The control circuit includes an internal time correction unit that corrects the internal time based on the information regarding the time.
The release condition includes the correction of the internal time based on the information regarding the time by the internal time correction unit.
Radio clock. The prohibition condition includes that a predetermined period has passed since the last acquisition of the information regarding the time.
The radio-controlled timepiece according to claim 2 . A receiving circuit that receives a signal containing information about leap seconds,
Control circuit and
It is a radio clock with
The control circuit is
A holding unit that holds information about the leap second received by the receiving circuit,
A leap second update unit that updates the internal time of the radio-controlled clock when the leap second is scheduled to be updated based on the information related to the leap second.
In a state where the holding unit holds information about the leap second, if a predetermined prohibition condition is satisfied, a prohibition unit that prohibits the update of the internal time by the leap second update unit and a prohibition unit.
When the predetermined release condition is satisfied, the release unit that releases the prohibition of updating the internal time by the prohibition unit, and the release unit.
Including
Batteries and
A voltage detector that detects the battery voltage and
Have,
The prohibition condition includes that the battery voltage is equal to or less than a predetermined voltage threshold value.
The release condition includes that the battery voltage is larger than the voltage threshold value.
Radio clock. A receiving circuit that receives a signal containing information about leap seconds,
Control circuit and
It is a radio clock with
The control circuit is
A holding unit that holds information about the leap second received by the receiving circuit,
A leap second update unit that updates the internal time of the radio-controlled clock when the leap second is scheduled to be updated based on the information related to the leap second.
In a state where the holding unit holds information about the leap second, if a predetermined prohibition condition is satisfied, a prohibition unit that prohibits the update of the internal time by the leap second update unit and a prohibition unit.
When the predetermined release condition is satisfied, the release unit that releases the prohibition of updating the internal time by the prohibition unit, and the release unit.
Including
It has a temperature detector that detects the internal temperature, and has a temperature detector.
The prohibition condition includes that the internal temperature is out of a predetermined range.
The release condition includes that the internal temperature is within the predetermined range.
Radio clock. A receiving circuit that receives a signal containing information about leap seconds,
Control circuit and
It is a radio clock with
The control circuit is
A holding unit that holds information about the leap second received by the receiving circuit,
A leap second update unit that updates the internal time of the radio-controlled clock when the leap second is scheduled to be updated based on the information related to the leap second.
In a state where the holding unit holds information about the leap second, if a predetermined prohibition condition is satisfied, a prohibition unit that prohibits the update of the internal time by the leap second update unit and a prohibition unit.
When the predetermined release condition is satisfied, the release unit that releases the prohibition of updating the internal time by the prohibition unit, and the release unit.
Including
It has a photodetector that detects external light, and has a photodetector.
When the period in which the amount of light detected by the photodetector is equal to or less than the predetermined optical threshold value is longer than the predetermined period, the radio-controlled timepiece is set to the power saving mode.
The prohibition condition includes that the radio clock is in the power saving mode.
The release condition includes the change from the power saving mode to the normal mode when the amount of light detected by the photodetector becomes larger than the light threshold value.
Radio clock. The control circuit includes an internal time correction unit that corrects the internal time based on the information regarding the time.
Includes a counter that counts the count value for the period in which the prohibition condition is satisfied.
When the count value is larger than the predetermined count value, the cancellation condition is the correction of the internal time based on the information regarding the time by the internal time correction unit.
The radio-controlled timepiece according to any one of claims 4 to 6 . In the leap second update unit, when the release unit releases the prohibition of updating the internal time, if the internal time has passed the scheduled leap second update time, the internal time becomes the next 00 seconds. At that time, the internal time is updated based on the information about the leap second.
The radio-controlled timepiece according to any one of claims 1 to 7 . It has a warning unit that indicates to the user that the prohibition condition is satisfied.
The radio-controlled timepiece according to any one of claims 1 to 8 .

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