GPS Timepiece Dual Reception Control for Power and Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic timepieces, such as wristwatches, face challenges in maintaining accurate time adjustments due to unreliable satellite signal reception, particularly when worn indoors or under conditions where solar panel power output is insufficient, leading to wasteful power consumption and reduced battery life.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of dual reception control units - an outdoor reception control unit and a scheduled reception control unit - that automatically initiate satellite signal reception based on outdoor detection and scheduled times, respectively, to enhance the probability of successful signal acquisition and reduce power wastage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the automatic reception process is executed based on solar panel power output threshold, then power consumption is reduced by avoiding reception indoors, but the reception process may not execute when outdoors under low illuminance conditions (winter, cloudy weather, covered solar cell)
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic reception control unit is divided into two independent sub-units: an outdoor reception control unit that triggers reception when outdoor conditions are detected, and a scheduled reception control unit that triggers reception at predetermined times. This segmentation ensures that at least one reception opportunity exists regardless of solar panel performance or outdoor detection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The scheduled reception control unit performs reception at predetermined times in advance, ensuring reception opportunities are provided before the battery becomes depleted. This preliminary action compensates for situations where the outdoor reception control unit fails to trigger reception due to low solar panel output.
2Reliability
If the reception process is executed frequently to improve time adjustment reliability, then timekeeping accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases reducing battery life
Solution Approach 1:
The scheduled reception control unit executes reception at predetermined periodic intervals rather than continuously. This periodic action provides regular time adjustment opportunities to maintain reliability while significantly reducing overall power consumption compared to continuous reception, thereby extending battery life.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts reception timing based on detected outdoor conditions. When outdoor conditions are favorable (sufficient solar panel output), the outdoor reception control unit triggers reception immediately. When conditions are unfavorable, the system relies on the scheduled reception control unit to provide reception opportunities at appropriate times, optimizing the balance between reliability and power consumption.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach increases the opportunities for successful satellite signal reception, ensures accurate timekeeping, and conserves power by optimizing the frequency and timing of reception processes, thereby extending battery life and improving user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
solar panel power output depends upon the illuminance of the light incident to the solar panel
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic timepiece has a GPS receiver, outdoor detection device, timekeeping device, control device, and storage device. The control device has an automatic reception control unit that starts reception control when the time kept by the timekeeping device reaches the reception control start time stored in the storage device, and stops reception control until the next reception control start time when a stop reception control condition is met; and a time correction unit that corrects the time kept by the timekeeping device based on time information contained in the satellite signal when satellite signal reception is successful. The automatic reception control unit includes an outdoor reception control unit that executes an outdoor reception process when the outdoor detection device detects being outdoors, and a scheduled reception control unit that executes a scheduled reception process when the time kept by the timekeeping device goes to the scheduled reception time.