Radio Controlled Timepiece Adaptive Reception Logic

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Solution Overview

Problem

Radio controlled timepieces that receive standard radio waves face high power consumption and potential inaccuracies due to frequent receptions, especially in noisy environments, where correct time data may not be received or received incorrectly.

Innovation Solution

A radio controlled timepiece that performs initial and secondary receptions at different times, using threshold comparisons to verify the accuracy of received time data, allowing for accurate time correction while minimizing power consumption by avoiding unnecessary receptions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the reception is performed multiple times per day to ensure accurate time correction, then the time correction accuracy is improved, but the power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime correction accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary reception at a first time and stores the received time data. Then, at a second time, it compares the previously stored time data with the current internal time to determine whether a second reception is necessary, avoiding unnecessary receptions and reducing power consumption while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from comparing the first reception time data with the internal time to decide whether to perform a second reception. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adaptively determine the necessary number of receptions based on the current time state, optimizing both accuracy and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If the reception is performed at fixed points in time to simplify the control logic, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of time correction decreases in noisy environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol logic simplicityVSAvoidtime correction reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the reception strategy based on the comparison results between first reception time data and internal time. When the difference exceeds a threshold, a second reception is triggered. This dynamic approach maintains simple fixed-time reception points while adding adaptability to ensure reliability in noisy environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Use of energy by moving object

If the reception is performed only once per day to reduce power consumption, then the power consumption is reduced, but the time correction accuracy decreases due to potential noise interference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidtime correction accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs a first reception at a predetermined first time and stores the time data. Then, at a second time, it compares the stored time data with the current internal time. If the difference is within a threshold, no second reception is needed, saving power. If the difference exceeds the threshold, a second reception is performed to ensure accuracy, thus optimizing both power consumption and accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Measurement precision

If multiple reception processes are performed to ensure accurate time data acquisition, then the time correction accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime data accuracyVSAvoidreception process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs a first reception at a predetermined first time and stores the time data in memory. Then, at a second time, it compares the stored time data with the current internal time using a comparison unit. Only when the difference exceeds a threshold does it trigger a second reception. This preliminary action and comparison approach adds minimal complexity while ensuring accurate time data acquisition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9709961B2Radio controlled timepiece and method for controlling radio controlled timepiece

Publication Date: 2017.07.18 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

The fixed-time reception control section carries out the reception process at first time to acquire first reception time data and compares the acquired first reception time data with the internal time. When a difference in time between the first reception time data and the internal time is greater than or equal to a first threshold, the fixed-time reception control section carries out the reception process at second time different from the first time to acquire second reception time data. The time correction section compares the acquired second reception time data with the internal time and corrects the internal time based on the second reception time data when a difference in time between the second reception time data and the internal time is smaller than a second threshold.