JPH09311190A - Clock unit with automatic error correcting function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically correct an error by counting the pulse of a quartz oscillator, generating a basic pulse every fixed time, inputting the error of the basis pulse after the lapse of a fixed time, and increasing and decreasing the basic pulse on the basis of it. SOLUTION: A counting part 11 counts the pulse oscillated by a crystal oscillator 10, and oscillates a positive pulse to a driving part 12, for example, every second. An owner inputs a time error based on experience through a mode switch 13 to store it in a month difference value memory 14. A corrected value arithmetic part 15 calculates correcting timing, and transmits a signal P or signal M to a correction driving part 17 through a display 16 on the basis of it. On receiving it, the driving part 17 generates a negative or positive correction pulse of the same form as the basis pulse, and it is inputted together with the basic pulse and composed to generate a composed pulse. Thus, an error on manufacture of the oscillator 10 or an error by characteristic change with the lapse of time can be automatically corrected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a timepiece unit with an automatic error correction function, and more particularly, an automatic error correction capable of automatically correcting the time based on the input of data known from the experience of the timepiece owner. Function-related clock unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a timepiece unit having an automatic error correcting function, one which corrects a frequency based on a change with time of a crystal oscillator is known. For example, JP-A-61
In the one disclosed in JP-A-220527, the secular change characteristic of the crystal oscillator is measured in advance, and the microprocessor automatically corrects the oscillation frequency based on this data.

In the one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-077202, the number of days elapsed from the manufacturing date is calculated from the manufacturing date and the input restart date of the crystal oscillator, and The oscillation frequency is corrected using the elapsed days and the oscillation frequency change rate.

[0004]

In a timepiece using a crystal oscillator, an error occurs in time due to various factors such as manufacturing tolerances in addition to the change over time of the oscillation frequency of the crystal oscillator. It is essential to correct the time in order to obtain

However, in the above-described conventional timepiece unit with the automatic error correction function, the oscillation frequency is corrected only on the basis of the change with time of the crystal oscillator.
There was a problem that the error caused by other factors could not be corrected. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a timepiece unit with an error automatic correction function that can automatically correct changes in the oscillation frequency caused by various factors.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, in a timepiece unit with an error automatic correction function according to a first aspect of the present invention, a crystal oscillator that generates a pulse at a predetermined frequency and the pulse is counted. A basic pulse oscillating means for generating a basic pulse every predetermined period, a correction value input means for receiving an error of the basic pulse as an input with respect to a predetermined elapsed time, and an increase / decrease of the basic pulse based on the error of the input basic pulse. At least, a pulse correction means for correcting an error is provided.

That is, the basic pulse oscillating means oscillates a new basic pulse every time a pulse of a predetermined frequency oscillated by the crystal oscillator is counted a predetermined number of times. The basic pulse may be, for example, a pulse having a cycle of 1 second or may be a pulse having a shorter cycle, and the frequency of the basic pulse is not particularly limited.
As the configuration of the basic pulse oscillating means, for example, the pulse control unit for controlling the oscillation of the basic pulse and the drive unit for actually oscillating the pulse may be separately provided, or the pulse control unit and the drive unit may be separately provided. May be integrated, as long as it can oscillate a new basic pulse at least every time a pulse generated by the crystal oscillator is counted a predetermined number of times, and the configuration is not particularly limited.

By the way, the crystal oscillator changes its characteristics with the passage of time or other factors, and the oscillation frequency changes. Therefore, an error naturally occurs in the frequency of the basic pulse. Therefore, in order to obtain an accurate time, it is necessary to correct the frequency of this basic pulse. Therefore,
The correction value input means inputs the error of the basic pulse. Then, this error is input to the pulse correction means,
The pulse correction means calculates the timing for correcting the basic pulse and corrects the error by increasing or decreasing the basic pulse at the calculated timing. More specifically, when the time tends to advance, the correction for reducing the basic pulse is performed, and when the time tends to be delayed, the correction for increasing the basic pulse is performed. An example of a specific configuration is shown in claim 2 described later.

Here, the correction value input means may input, for example, an error in time per month,
Further, an error in a long period or a short period may be input and can be changed as appropriate. Of course, the correction timing is not limited, and for example, the correction may be performed every time a period in which the error of one cycle occurs in the basic pulse, or the error of several cycles is accumulated. The correction may be performed continuously at one time.

The correction value input means has various structures such as a mode switch for switching the numerical value of the error and a numerical key for directly inputting the error. The device of is applicable. In the timepiece unit with an automatic error correction function according to claim 2, the pulse correction means calculates a correction value for calculating a period in which an error of one cycle is generated based on the error of the basic pulse input from the correction value input means. Section, a correction pulse generator that generates a correction pulse each time the synchronization period elapses, and a modulator that performs pulse space modulation by combining the two types of pulses with the same basic pulse and the same correction pulse as inputs. It is provided as a configuration.

That is, based on the error of the basic pulse input from the correction value input means, the correction value calculation unit calculates the period in which the error of one cycle of the basic pulse occurs. Each time this period elapses, the correction pulse generator generates a correction pulse independent of the oscillation of the basic pulse, and the modulator combines the basic pulse with the correction pulse to correct the oscillation frequency. Here, the correction of the oscillation frequency of the basic pulse means, for example, when the basic pulse is a positive pulse, the positive pulse having the same shape as the basic pulse is shifted in phase so as to be inserted into the pulse space of the basic pulse. If combined, the number of pulses can be increased, and if a negative pulse having the same shape as the basic pulse is combined in the same phase as the basic pulse, the pulse can be reduced. In this sense, pulse space modulation is performed.

In the timepiece unit with the automatic error correcting function according to the third aspect of the invention, the correction value input means inputs the error of the basic pulse per a predetermined fixed period. Specifically, when the fixed period is set to one month and the watch owner inputs an error of the basic pulse, the pulse correction means determines the input error as an error per month and calculates the correction timing. . Of course, the fixed period is not limited to one month, and can be appropriately changed to one week or one year.

In the timepiece unit with the automatic error correction function according to the present invention, the error of the basic pulse is set at the time when the time is set by the 0 second time adjustment means for adjusting the clock time to 0 second by a predetermined operation. The difference between the time and the 0 second time is input to the correction value input means, which is a feature. Here, the 0-second time setting means is, for example, equipped with a 0-second setting button, and when the 0-second setting button is pushed to the exact 0 second of the time signal or the like, the clock time is set to 0 second. At the same time, the difference between the clock time and the 0 second time when the 0 second setting button is pressed is input to the correction value input means as an error of the basic pulse.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a timepiece unit with an automatic error correcting function of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a timepiece unit with an automatic error correction function according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the timepiece unit with an automatic error correction function according to the present embodiment has a crystal oscillator 10 that oscillates 32,768 pulses per second. Generates a pulse.

Needless to say, the frequency of the crystal oscillator 10 is not limited to the above-mentioned one, and can be appropriately changed as long as it oscillates a pulse at a predetermined frequency. The basic pulse oscillating means is composed of a counting unit 11 and a driving unit 12, and the counting unit is a CPU 11a,
It is composed of a ROM 11b and a RAM 11c. Here, the oscillation pulse of the crystal oscillator 10 is the counting unit 1
1, the program (not shown) stored in the ROM 11b is executed under the CPU 11a, and the RAM 11
Input pulses are counted while using c as a work area, and a signal is transmitted to the drive unit 12 every time 32768 times are counted. In response to this signal, the drive unit 12 generates a new basic pulse having a cycle of 1 second, which is different from the crystal oscillator 10.

In this embodiment, the basic pulse is oscillated every 32768 crystal pulses are counted, that is, every 1 second. However, it is not necessarily limited to this configuration, and at least every predetermined period. It suffices that the basic pulse is oscillated, and for example, the basic pulse may be generated every half of 0.5 seconds. In this case, it is sufficient to perform the time calculation in which the basic pulse is 2 counts and 1 second. Further, the above-mentioned counting unit 11 is composed of the CPU 11a, the ROM 11b, and the RAM 11c, and counts the pulses by using the program, but it is sufficient if at least the pulses can be counted up to a fixed value. It can be appropriately changed by using a counting circuit.

By the way, the crystal oscillator 10 exhibits characteristic changes due to manufacturing tolerances, aging, or other factors, and the oscillation frequency changes. Therefore, an error occurs in the basic pulse, and in order to obtain an accurate time, it is essential to correct the basic pulse. Therefore, in the present invention, the time error, which is known from the experience of the timepiece owner, can be input from the correction value input means. In this embodiment, the mode switch 13 is used as the correction value input means.
Is provided so that the time error that occurs per month can be entered. For example, the time advance is expressed as "+" and the delay time is expressed as "-", and if the time tends to advance by 5 seconds per month, "+5" is input. Then, this information is stored in the monthly difference value memory 14 connected to the output of the mode switch 13.

Of course, the correction value input means is not limited to the one described above, but can be changed as appropriate. For example, as a correction value input means, a 0-second time adjustment button is provided, and when the time signal is heard and the same 0-second time adjustment button is pressed at the exact 0-second time point, the same 0-second time adjustment button is pressed. The difference between the current time and the clock time at that time may be stored in the monthly difference value memory 14 as a time error per month. In this case, the timepiece owner does not need to input the time difference, and the operability can be improved.

Further, the monthly difference value memory 14 does not necessarily have to be provided, and a RAM 15c in a correction value calculation unit 15 described later is provided.
The configuration may be stored in. The pulse correction means includes a correction value calculation unit 15, a delay 16, and a correction drive unit 17.
And a modulator 18, and the correction value calculator 15 is further composed of a CPU 15a, a ROM 15b and a RAM 15c. When the time difference is input from the mode switch 13, the time difference is stored in the monthly difference value memory 14, and the program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2 stored in the ROM 15b is read by the CPU 15a.
It is executed while using the AM 15c as a work area.

In the figure, if the time error E is input, it is judged in step 100 that E = 0, and if E = 0.
If so, the correction is not performed and the program is terminated. When E ≠ 0, the process proceeds to step 101 and the timing for correcting the basic pulse, that is, the count CM of the basic pulse until the correction is calculated. For example, if there is an input of "+5" from the mode switch 13, C
M = 30 days × 24 hours × 60 minutes × 60 seconds / 5 seconds = 518
400, that is, the basic pulse should be corrected every time the basic pulse is counted 518400 times.

If the time error E is input and the value of the time error E is changed during the operation of the program, the value of the time error E in the monthly difference value memory 14 is rewritten, and A program interrupt is generated and control is returned to step 100. Thereafter, in step 102, the pulse count variable C into which the count of the basic pulse is actually substituted is cleared to zero. Then, each time the basic pulse is detected in step 103, the pulse count variable is incremented by 1, and in step 104 C
= CM, that is, whether or not to correct the basic pulse is determined, and steps 103 and 104 are looped until C = CM.

If C = CM, the sign of the correction value E is determined in step 105, and if E> 0 (when the clock tends to advance), the correction is performed in step 106. The signal P is transmitted to the drive unit 17. vice versa,
If E <0 (when the clock tends to be delayed), the signal M is transmitted to the correction driving unit 17 in step 107. The signal M is delayed by the delay 16 to 0.
The correction drive unit 17 is reached after a delay of 5 seconds.

When the correction driving section 17 receives the signal P, it outputs a correction pulse having the same shape as the basic pulse but a reversed sign. On the other hand, when the signal M is received, a correction pulse having the same shape and sign as the basic pulse is output. That is, when the basic pulse is a positive pulse signal, the signal P is a trigger for generating a negative pulse having the same shape as the basic pulse, and the signal M is a trigger for generating a positive pulse having the same shape as the basic pulse. That is.

To give a simple example, the signal P is set to "10.
The digital signal is "1", and the signal M is "110".
Digital signal. The first bit of these signals represents the communication control bit, the second bit is the delay 1
6 control bits. That is, "1" in the second bit
Then, the delay 16 operates to delay the signal by 0.5 seconds. The third bit represents the sign control bit of the correction pulse. When "1" is set to the third bit, the correction driving unit 17 generates a negative correction pulse, and conversely, when it is "0", a positive correction pulse is generated.

In the present embodiment, when the signal M is transmitted, the delay 16 operates to delay the signal for 0.5 seconds, but it is not necessary to be restricted to this 0.5 seconds. As will be described later, when the correction pulse is combined with the basic pulse, the timing is such that the correction pulse is surely inserted into the pulse space of the basic pulse, and can be appropriately changed according to the cycle of the basic pulse and the like. Also, it is not always necessary to use the delay 16,
It is sufficient that at least the signal can be delayed, and it can be appropriately changed. For example, before the signal M is sent,
The control of looping a certain subroutine and delaying it by 0.5 seconds can be performed in the program whose flow chart is shown in FIG.

The modulator 18 receives the basic pulse and the correction pulse as inputs, combines the two types of pulses, and outputs the combined pulse. That is, when the signal P is transmitted,
Since two types of pulses having the same shape but opposite signs are combined, the pulses are reduced as shown in FIG. 3 after the combination. On the other hand, when the signal M is transmitted, the pulse having the same shape and the same sign as the basic pulse arrives at the modulator 18 with a delay of 0.5 seconds with respect to the basic pulse. The pulse will increase as shown in FIG. The time calculation is performed by counting the combined pulses in the clock editing unit 19 connected to the output of the modulator 18, and the calculation result is output to the clock display unit 20. In this way, the time can be corrected by forcibly increasing or decreasing the basic pulse.

However, since the correction pulse is generated by the signal being transmitted to the correction drive unit 17 after passing through the correction value calculation unit 15 and the delay 16, when it reaches the modulator 18, it is slightly different from the basic pulse. It is conceivable that a time lag of Specifically, when the basic pulse is reduced, if the phase of the correction pulse is shifted, a pulse having a short duration remains after the pulses are combined. In this case, a filter may be connected to the output of the modulator 18 to eliminate a pulse having a short duration as noise so that the pulse is not counted.

In the present embodiment, the correction value calculator 15, the delay 16, and the correction driver 17 are used as the pulse correction means.
And modulator 18, but need not necessarily be limited to this configuration. For example, in the structure shown in FIG. 5, the output of the crystal oscillator 10 and the mode switch 13 is connected to a basic pulse oscillator 21 having both basic pulse oscillating means and pulse correcting means. Here, the pulse correction means is to control increase / decrease of the basic pulse by software as described below.

In the figure, the basic pulse oscillator 21 is C
PU21a, ROM21b, RAM21c and drive unit 2
6d is stored in the ROM 21b, and the oscillation pulse of the crystal oscillator 10 and the error of the time per month from the mode switch 13 are input to the ROM 21b under the control of the CPU 21a. To be executed. This program uses mode switch 1
When there is no time error E input from 3, that is, E = Null
Or when E = 0, as shown in steps 121 to 124, the oscillation pulse of the crystal oscillator 10 is detected, and a signal for causing the basic pulse oscillator to oscillate a pulse is counted every 32768 times. Two
1d, and the drive unit 21d oscillates a basic pulse every time it receives the same signal.

However, when a non-zero time error E is input from the mode switch 13, this time error E is stored in the RAM.
21c, the program moves to step 111 and calculates the correction timing TE. Even when the input time error E is once changed, the value of the time error E in the RAM 21c is rewritten and a program interrupt is generated to execute step 110.
It is controlled to return to.

The correction timing TE is a period until an error of 1 second occurs, and for example, step 11
When E = + 5 is input at 0, TE = 30 days × 2
4 hours × 60 minutes × 60 seconds / 5 seconds = 518400 seconds. After that, the time variable T for substituting the elapsed time is cleared to 0 in step 112, and the pulse count variable C1 for substituting the oscillation pulse count of the crystal oscillator 10 is cleared to 0 in step 113.

Then, each time the oscillation pulse of the crystal oscillator is detected in step 114, the pulse count variable C1 is incremented by 1, and in step 115 C1 = 3276.
8, that is, it is determined whether 1 second has passed, and C1 =
Step 114 and step 115 until 32768 is reached
Loop between When C1 = 32768, the time variable T is incremented by 1 in step 116 and step 1
At 17, T = TE, that is, it is determined whether or not the correction is performed. If T ≠ TE (no correction), step 1
At 18, the driving unit 21d is caused to oscillate a basic pulse, and T =
It loops between step 113 and step 118 until it becomes TE. When T = TE (correction is performed), the sign of the input error E per month is set to step 119.
When E> 0 (the clock tends to advance), the basic pulse is corrected so as not to be generated. On the contrary, when E <0 (the clock tends to be delayed), in step 120, the drive unit 21d is made to continuously oscillate the basic pulse. Even with such a configuration, it is possible to increase or decrease the basic pulse, which is the meaning of the pulse correcting means.

Next, the operation of the above-described timepiece unit with the automatic error correction function of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The counting unit 11 counts the pulses oscillated by the crystal oscillator 10, and causes the drive unit 12 to oscillate a positive pulse every 32768 times, that is, every second. On the other hand, when the clock owner inputs the empirically learned time difference through the mode switch 13, the time difference is stored in the monthly difference value memory 14, and the correction value calculation unit 15 calculates the correction timing. At the same time, the signal P or the signal M is delayed by the delay 16 based on the same timing.
Is transmitted to the correction driving unit 17 through.

Here, the signal P is a trigger that is transmitted when the input time error has a positive value, that is, when the clock tends to advance, and the correction drive unit 17 receives this signal P. Generates a negative pulse having the same shape as the basic pulse. On the other hand, the signal M is a trigger that is transmitted when the input time error has a negative value, that is, when the clock tends to be delayed, and when the correction driving unit 17 receives this signal M, it has the same shape as the basic pulse. Generate a positive pulse of. Since the delay 16 delays the signal by 0.5 seconds only when the signal M is transmitted, the phase of the correction pulse generated by the correction driving unit 17 is shifted by 0.5 seconds from the basic pulse. Become.

The correction pulse and the basic pulse generated by the correction driving unit 17 are input to the modulator 18 and the two types of pulses are combined to correspond to whether the clock tends to advance or delay. To generate the synthetic pulses shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively. That is, the basic pulse is increased or decreased to perform the correction.

[0036]

As described above, according to the timepiece unit with the automatic error correcting function of the first aspect, the time error caused by the manufacturing tolerance of the crystal oscillator, the characteristic change with time, and the like is eliminated. It can be corrected automatically.

Further, according to the timepiece unit with the automatic error correction function of the second aspect, since the pulse correction means is composed of a plurality of hardware, not only the replacement of parts by maintenance or the like can be minimized, but also The control is simplified and the design is easier than the control of the oscillation of the basic pulse by software.

Further, according to the timepiece unit with the automatic error correction function of the third aspect, originally, in order to calculate the correction timing, it is necessary to input the time difference between the predetermined period and the synchronization period. By fixing the period, it is only necessary to input the time difference, which improves the operability and simplifies the correction timing calculation process.

Further, according to the timepiece unit with the automatic error correcting function of the fourth aspect, if the time is set by the 0 second time adjusting means, the time error is calculated, so that the timepiece owner inputs the time error. It is not necessary and the operability is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a timepiece unit with an automatic error correction function according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a program in a correction value calculation unit.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a basic pulse, a correction pulse, and a composite pulse when the clock tends to advance.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a basic pulse, a correction pulse and a composite pulse when the clock tends to be delayed.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a timepiece unit with an error automatic correction function according to a modification.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a program in a basic pulse control unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Crystal oscillator 11 ... Counting unit 11a, 15a ... CPU 11b, 15b ... ROM 11c, 15c ... RAM 12 ... Drive unit 13 ... Mode switch 14 ... Month difference value memory 15 ... Correction value calculation unit 16 ... Delay 17 ... Correction drive Part 18 ... Modulator 19 ... Clock editing part 20 ... Clock display part

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A crystal oscillator that generates a pulse at a predetermined frequency, a basic pulse oscillating unit that counts the pulse and generates a basic pulse every predetermined period, and inputs an error of the basic pulse with respect to a predetermined elapsed time. And a pulse correction means for correcting the error by increasing / decreasing the basic pulse based on the input error of the input basic pulse. 2. The pulse correction means calculates a period in which an error of one cycle occurs based on an error of the basic pulse input from the correction value input means, and an error of the one cycle. A correction pulse generator that generates a correction pulse each time the period in which the occurrence occurs occurs, and a modulator that performs pulse space modulation by combining the two types of pulses with the basic pulse and the correction pulse as input The timepiece unit with an automatic error correction function according to claim 1. 3. The timepiece unit with an error automatic correction function according to claim 1, wherein the correction value input means inputs an error of a basic pulse per a predetermined fixed period. 4. The error of the basic pulse is a difference between the clock time and the 0 second time when the time is set by the 0 second time adjusting means for adjusting the clock time to 0 second by a predetermined operation,
4. A timepiece unit with an automatic error correction function according to claim 1, wherein the timepiece unit is input by the correction value input means.