Radio-Controlled Timepiece Leap Second Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radio-controlled timepieces face challenges in maintaining accurate date and time due to irregular leap second adjustments, which are not always executed, leading to increased power consumption from frequent data updates regardless of whether a leap second is inserted or deleted.
Innovation Solution
A radio-controlled timepiece with a date/time obtaining necessity setting unit that determines when to update date and time information based on preliminary notice of leap second adjustments, reducing unnecessary power consumption by only updating when adjustments occur.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the timepiece receives date/time data frequently to ensure accurate timekeeping, then the time accuracy is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The timepiece receives preliminary notice information about leap second adjustments in advance (before the actual adjustment occurs). This allows the device to prepare and update its timekeeping only when necessary, rather than continuously checking for changes. The preliminary notice enables the timepiece to synchronize its internal clock with the upcoming leap second adjustment, ensuring accuracy while minimizing unnecessary reception operations and power consumption.
2Measurement precision
If the timepiece updates date and time information continuously to maintain accuracy, then the time accuracy is improved, but the electric power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous updates, the timepiece performs periodic reception of date/time information at predetermined intervals. The system intelligently determines when updates are necessary based on whether leap second adjustments are detected. This periodic action with conditional execution reduces the frequency of power-consuming reception operations while maintaining time accuracy, as updates only occur when actual changes are detected rather than on every scheduled interval.
3Measurement precision
If the timepiece receives UTC correction parameters frequently to account for leap second changes, then the time accuracy is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The timepiece extracts and processes only the specific leap second adjustment information from the received data, rather than continuously processing all UTC correction parameters. By focusing on detecting changes in leap second status specifically, the system minimizes the amount of data processing required. This selective extraction approach allows the timepiece to maintain accurate timekeeping by detecting leap second changes without the need for frequent comprehensive UTC parameter updates, thereby reducing power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A radio-controlled timepiece is shown including the following. A timekeeping unit keeps date and time. A date/time obtaining unit obtains date/time information from outside to correct the date and time of the timekeeping unit. A preliminary notice information obtaining unit obtains from outside preliminary notice information regarding whether leap second adjustment in which a leap second is inserted or deleted is executed. A date/time obtaining necessity setting unit sets whether the date/time information needs to be obtained based on history of obtaining the date/time information. The date/time obtaining necessity setting unit sets that the date/time information needs to be obtained when the preliminary notice information is not obtained by the adjustment possible date/time or the leap second adjustment is executed at the adjustment possible date/time, and does not change setting when the preliminary notice information is obtained and the leap second adjustment is not executed.