Radio-Controlled Timepiece Synchronization Using Parallel Waveform Error Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional time-information obtaining apparatuses for radio-controlled timepieces require a long time to accurately obtain present time from standard-time radio waves due to noise interference and synchronization challenges, leading to inefficiencies in data processing.
Innovation Solution
A time-information obtaining apparatus with a receiving unit, an internal time counting unit, and an error detecting unit that generates and compares input waveform data patterns with calculation-waveform data patterns to correct the base time, reducing errors and improving processing speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional synchronization processes (second-synchronization, minute-synchronization, code obtaining, consistency judgment) are performed sequentially, then time information can be obtained with high accuracy, but the processing time becomes extremely long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs minute-synchronization and code-obtaining processes in parallel before consistency judgment, rather than sequentially. The minute-synchronization unit detects position markers to determine minute leading positions, while simultaneously the code-obtaining unit reads time code data. This preliminary parallel execution of synchronization tasks significantly reduces the total processing time while maintaining accuracy through subsequent consistency verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the time-information obtaining process into independent functional units: second-synchronization unit, minute-synchronization unit, code-obtaining unit, and consistency-judgment unit. Each unit operates independently with its own processing logic, allowing parallel execution of non-dependent tasks. This segmentation enables the system to process multiple aspects of time code analysis simultaneously, reducing overall processing time while maintaining high accuracy through coordinated operation of all units.
2Measurement precision
If noise filtering and threshold adjustment are applied to improve TCO data quality, then measurement accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an adaptive threshold adjustment mechanism where the threshold value is automatically modified based on the statistical characteristics of the input signal. The system calculates the standard deviation of the demodulated signal and dynamically adjusts the threshold to maintain optimal detection performance under varying noise conditions. This self-adjusting capability eliminates the need for manual filter tuning and complex preprocessing, improving TCO data quality while keeping the device structure relatively simple.
Data Source
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AI summary
A time-information obtaining apparatus is provided with an input waveform data pattern generating unit (21,24) for sampling a received standard-time radio wave signal to generate an input waveform data pattern, an internal time counting unit (17) for generating a base time, a calculation-waveform data pattern generating unit (23) for generating plural calculation-waveform data patterns based on the base time, an invalid-bit detecting unit (31) for detecting in the plural calculation-waveform data patterns, invalid bits not to be compared with the input waveform data pattern, an error counting unit (32) for comparing the sample values of valid bits of the plural calculation-waveform data patterns with the invalid bits removed and the corresponding sample values of the input waveform data pattern to detect discrepancies between them, and a present-time correcting unit (11,26) for correcting the base time based on the calculation-waveform data pattern having the smallest number of errors.