Radio Wave-Corrected Timepiece

The present invention relates to a radio wave-corrected timepiece capable of extracting information about time from radio waves containing encoded information about the time and of correcting the time.

In a known structure as described in Japanese Patent Publication JP-B-61-191981(1986), received radio waves are converted into a pulse train, and an indicator or hand is moved in synchronism with the pulse train obtained by the conversion. In a radio timepiece of another known structure, the intensity of received radio waves is displayed, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,396.

However, in the first-mentioned prior art technique, a decision made as to whether the received radio waves are being jammed or in normal state depends on an operation consisting of watching an indicator or hand. Therefore, there is a possibility that the decision is made incorrectly.

The second-mentioned prior art technique has the problem that it is impossible to judge whether the received radio waves are being jammed or in normal state, although the intensity of the received radio waves can be known.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a radio wave-corrected timepiece capable of accurately correcting the time by judging that the radio waves are normal.

The above object is achieved in the present invention by a first structure in which rules for encoding of information about time are stored, and in which radio waves containing information about time are received. A pulse train containing the information about time is compared with the rules for encoding. In this way, jammed information is eliminated.

In a second structure, radio waves containing information about time are received. A pulse train containing the information about time is compared with rules for encoding. The results of the comparison are displayed. This enables one to judge whether received radio waves containing information about time are being jammed or not.

In a third structure, the period of time for which a receiving circuit is in operation is measured. This permits the time starting with reception to be measured.

In FIG. 1, oscillating means 130 generates a periodic signal. Dividing means 131 produces a signal having a frequency which is a submultiple of the frequency of the periodic signal from the oscillating means. Timing signal generating means 132 receives the output from the dividing means 131 and measures time. The time measured by the timing signal generating means 132 is displayed on first displaying means 133. Radio waves containing encoded information about time are received by an antenna 100, which converts the waves into an electrical signal. Receiving means 101 receives the output from the antenna 100 and produces a rectangular pulse train containing the encoded information about time. Rules of the encoded information about time are stored in memory means 102. Comparing means 103 compares the output from the memory means 102 with the output signal from the receiving means 101. Calculating means 104 receives the output from the comparing means 103 and calculates the time. The timing signal generating means 132 is corrected according to the output from the calculating means 104. Counting means 110 counts the output from the comparing means 103. The contents of the counting means 110 are displayed by a second displaying means 111. Measuring means 120 receives the output from the receiving means 101 and the output from the dividing means 131 and measures the time for which the receiving means 101 is in operation. The results of the measurement made by the measuring means 120 are displayed by a third displaying means 121.

That is, the present invention provides a radio wave-corrected timepiece capable of easily discriminating between jammed radio waves and normal radio waves.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one example of typical structure of a radio wave-corrected timepiece according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a radio wave-corrected timepiece according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of a radio wave-corrected timepiece according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating conversion of signals, showing one example of a radio wave-corrected timepiece according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating one example of operation of the second embodiment of a radio wave-corrected timepiece according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a sequence of displays, showing one example of a radio wave-corrected timepiece according to the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing one example of a radio wave-corrected timepiece according to the invention.

Embodiments of the invention are hereinafter described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a radio wave-corrected timepiece according to the present invention. Radio waves containing encoded information about time are received by an antenna 200. A receiving circuit 201 converts an electrical signal containing the encoded information about time into a pulse train containing the encoded information about time and delivers the pulse train as an output signal. A comparing circuit 203 compares the pulse train containing the encoded information about time with the contents of a memory circuit 202.

An example of a signal applied to the receiving circuit 201, an example of an output signal from the receiving circuit 201, and an example of contents compared by the comparing circuit 203 are now described by referring to FIG. 4. An input pulse wave 400 is an example of the signal applied to the receiving circuit 201. An output pulse wave 401 is an example of the signal from the receiving circuit 201. The input pulse wave 400 has a varying amplitude. The amplitude of the input pulse wave changes from a small value to a large value periodically. That is, periods of time 404 and 405 have the same length. When the amplitude of the input pulse wave 400 is large, it contains two kinds of periods, e.g., 402 and 403. That is, the period 404 can represent binary 1, while the period 405 can represent binary 0. Thus, it is possible to have binary notation. If variations in the amplitude are synchronized with changes in a second of time, then the second or other units of time can be represented. The input pulse wave 400 is converted into a rectangular pulse train so that the output pulse wave 401 can be treated easily by a digital circuit. The comparing circuit 203 can judge whether binary information are being applied and whether a signal is being applied periodically from the rectangular pulse train, by storing the lengths of the periods 404, 402, and 403 in the memory circuit 202.

Referring next to FIG. 2, an oscillating circuit 230 generates a periodic signal. A dividing circuit 231 produces a signal having a frequency which is a submultiple of the frequency of the periodic signal from the oscillating circuit 230. A timing signal generating circuit 232 receives the output signal from the dividing circuit 231 and measures time.

A calculating circuit 204 receives the output from the comparing means 203 and calculates the time. The results of calculation performed by the calculating circuit 204 are delivered to the timing signal generating circuit 232 so that time can be corrected.

Information about time counted by the timing signal generating circuit 232 is displayed on a first liquid crystal panel 234 by a first liquid crystal panel driving circuit 233.

A counting circuit 210 counts the results of comparison made by the comparing circuit 203. As an example, if the pulse train is normal, 1 is added. If the pulse train is not normal, 1 is subtracted. A second liquid crystal panel driving circuit 211 drives a second liquid crystal panel 212 to display the contents of the total count of the counting circuit 210.

For instance, the contents of the counting circuit 210 are displayed as shown in FIG. 6. When radio waves containing normal information about time are being received, the number of marks displayed are increased from display 600 to display 601 and then to display 602. When radio waves containing abnormal information about time are being received, the number of displayed marks is reduced such as from display 602 to display 603. By displaying the contents of the counting circuit 210 as described above, it is possible to judge whether radio waves containing normal information about time or radio waves containing abnormal information about time are being received.

In FIG. 2, a measuring circuit 220 receives the output from the receiving circuit 201 and the output from the dividing circuit 231 and measures the time of the state of the receiving circuit. As an example, the measuring circuit 220 counts the signal from the dividing circuit 231 during the period beginning with the start of operation of the receiving circuit 201 and ending with the end of operation of the receiving circuit 201. In this way, the time for which the receiving circuit 201 is in operation can be measured. A third liquid crystal panel driving circuit 221 drives a third liquid crystal panel 222 to display the contents of the measuring circuit 220. Since the operation time of the receiving circuit 201 is displayed, if extended reception is impossible, then the present location can be regarded as unsuitable for reception.

In the present embodiment, description is made, using liquid crystal panels. The method of providing a display with liquid crystal panels is merely one example. A display may be provided, using an indicator or hand, by driving a motor, instead of using liquid crystal panels. Furthermore, the liquid crystal displays may be replaced by any other display elements such as LEDs, ECDs, and ELs, and by sound sources such as loudspeakers.

FIG. 7 is an example of a perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention. A radio wave-corrected timepiece 700 has a time displaying portion 703 which displays time. A graphical display portion 701 displays the contents of the counting circuit 210. A displaying portion 702 displays the contents of the measuring circuit 220.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of a radio wave-corrected timepiece according to the present invention. The present embodiment is so constructed that it uses a CPU 302, a ROM 305, and a RAM 306. A program for controlling the CPU 302 is stored in the ROM 305.

Radio waves containing encoded information about time are received by an antenna 300. A receiving circuit 301 converts an electrical signal containing encoded information about time into a pulse train and produces it as an output signal. The CPU 302 compares the pulse train containing encoded information about time with the contents of the ROM 305. The results of the comparison are stored in the RAM 306. An oscillating circuit 303 generates a periodic signal. A dividing circuit 304 produces a signal having a frequency which is a submultiple of the frequency of the periodic signal from the oscillating circuit 303. The CPU 302 receives the output signal from the dividing circuit 304 and measures time. The results of counting are stored in the RAM 306.

The CPU 302 receives the output from the receiving circuit 301 and calculates the time from the pulse train containing information about time. The results of the calculation are stored in the RAM 306.

The CPU 302 measures inputs from the receiving circuit 301 and from the dividing circuit 304 and stores the operation time of the receiving circuit in the RAM 306.

A liquid crystal panel driving circuit 307 drives a liquid crystal panel 308 via the CPU 302 to display the storage contents of the RAM 306.

The operation of the CPU 302 when the timepiece is receiving is described next by referring to the flowchart of FIG. 5.

When reception is started, the operation is started (step 500).

The measuring circuit for performing a counting operation to judge whether radio waves containing normal information about time held in the RAM 306 or radio waves containing abnormal information about time are being received is reset (step 501).

The measuring circuit for measuring the time of the operation of the receiving circuit is reset (step 502).

The measuring circuit is incremented to count the time of operation of the receiving circuit 301 (step 503).

The rectangular pulse train containing information about time input to the CPU 302 is compared with the rules of the rectangular pulse train containing information about time stored in the ROM 305 (step 504).

If the result of the decision in step 504 is YES, then the counting circuit is incremented (step 505).

If the result of the decision in step 504 is NO, then the counting circuit is decremented (step 506).

The time is calculated from the rectangular pulse train containing information about time entered into the CPU 302, and is stored (step 507).

The liquid crystal panel driving circuit 307 displays the contents of the counting circuit stored in the RAM 306 on the liquid crystal panel 308, via the CPU 302 (step 508).

The liquid crystal panel driving circuit 307 displays the contents of the counting circuit stored in the RAM 306 on the liquid crystal panel 308, via the CPU 302 (step 509).

A decision is made as to whether the reception ends (step 510). If the reception does not yet end, control returns to step 503. If the reception ends, step 511 is carried out.

The time is corrected (step 511).

The operation is ended (step 512).

In the present embodiment, the description is made, using liquid crystal panels. The method of providing a display, using liquid crystal panels, is merely one example. A display may be provided, using an indicator or hand, by driving a motor, instead of using liquid crystal panels. Furthermore, the liquid crystal panels may be replaced by any other display elements and sound sources.

As described thus far, according to the present invention, a decision as to whether radio waves containing correct information about time or radio waves containing abnormal information about time are being received can be easily made, by counting the result of the output from a comparing circuit and displaying the count or by measuring the state of operation of a receiving circuit and displaying the results.