GPS Time Correction Control Apparatus Reducing Power Consumption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current time correction control apparatuses for GPS signals require extended time to receive all subframes of navigation data, leading to increased power consumption and potential time discrepancies due to battery exhaustion or user errors, necessitating precise correction of both time and date information.

Innovation Solution

A time correction control apparatus and method that utilizes a CPU, RAM, and ROM to process GPS signals, allowing for the precise correction of internal time by selectively receiving and processing hour/minute/second and year/month/day information from GPS satellites, with the ability to correct only the necessary components based on the time difference threshold, thereby reducing power consumption and improving accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If all subframes of navigation data are received to correct time precisely, then time correction accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime correction accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the navigation data into essential subframes (containing HOW data for time correction) and non-essential subframes. By selectively receiving only the essential subframes needed for time correction rather than all subframes, the system achieves accurate time correction while reducing power consumption. This segmentation allows the receiver to process only the necessary portion of data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and processes only the critical time information (HOW data) from the navigation data subframes, rather than processing all subframes completely. This extraction approach allows the system to obtain sufficient time correction information without the overhead of receiving and processing the entire navigation data set, thereby reducing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Measurement precision

If time correction is performed frequently to maintain precision, then time accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic time correction by continuously monitoring the time difference between the receiver's internal clock and GPS time. The system adjusts the correction frequency and intensity based on the current time deviation state, performing more frequent corrections when larger deviations are detected and reducing correction frequency when time is relatively accurate, thus balancing accuracy with power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the correction parameters dynamically based on the time difference threshold. When the time difference exceeds a predetermined threshold, the system activates full time correction mode. When the time difference is within the threshold, the system uses minimal correction or relies on battery backup. This parameter adjustment optimizes the balance between maintaining time accuracy and conserving power.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Use of energy by moving object

If internal time is reset or stopped due to battery exhaustion or error, then power saving is achieved, but time discrepancy increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower savingVSAvoidtime discrepancy
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary time correction by continuously comparing the internal clock time with GPS time information even before complete battery exhaustion or system reset. By maintaining an ongoing correction process and storing correction data in non-volatile memory, the system prepares correction information in advance so that when power is restored or the system restarts, time correction can be resumed without requiring complete re-synchronization, thus reducing the time discrepancy that would otherwise occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors the time difference between internal clock and GPS time, and adjusts its operation accordingly. When time discrepancy approaches certain thresholds, the system activates correction routines or switches to battery-powered operation. This feedback loop ensures that time discrepancy is kept within acceptable limits even during low-power states, preventing excessive drift that would occur without monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2005260B1Time correction control apparatus and method of time correction control
Publication Date: 2011.03.16 CASIO COMPUTER CO LTD
  • EP2005260B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2005260B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP2005260B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A time correction control apparatus which calculates a time difference between hour/minute/second indicated in hour/minute/second information included in a received GPS signal, and which corrects counted year/month/date and hour/minute/second by using both the received year/month/date information and hour/minute/second information when the calculated time difference is greater than the predetermined time difference, and corrects the counted hour/minute/second by using the received hour/minute/second information when the calculated time difference is smaller than the predetermined time difference.