Radio Wave Receiver Timing Control for Satellite Signal Acquisition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional radio-controlled timepieces face challenges in efficiently obtaining positioning information from satellite radio waves while minimizing power consumption, leading to issues such as excessive power usage or failed acquisitions due to inadequate signal acquisition time settings.

Innovation Solution

A radio wave receiver with a processor that controls the reception start timing and sets the acquiring operation to balance power consumption within a predetermined limit, ensuring the acquisition time is sufficient for obtaining necessary positioning information from multiple satellites while optimizing power usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the acquiring upper limit time is set too short, then power consumption is reduced, but the radio wave cannot be acquired and the necessary information cannot be obtained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidsignal acquisition reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the acquiring upper limit time adjustable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically changes the acquiring upper limit time based on the correlation value threshold, allowing the system to adapt the acquisition time to current signal conditions while staying within power consumption constraints

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of acquiring upper limit time based on the correlation value threshold. When the threshold is lower (easier to meet), a longer acquisition time is permitted; when the threshold is higher (stricter), a shorter acquisition time is enforced, optimizing the balance between power consumption and acquisition reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the acquiring upper limit time is set too long, then signal acquisition reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal acquisition reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the acquiring upper limit time based on real-time correlation value threshold conditions rather than using a static long duration, ensuring reliability is achieved only when necessary while conserving power otherwise

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The acquiring upper limit time parameter is changed according to the correlation value threshold, allowing the system to extend acquisition time only when signal conditions permit, thereby improving reliability without unnecessary power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Use of energy by moving object

If the reception operation time is shortened to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but the acquiring time may be insufficient and acquisition may fail

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidinformation acquisition efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the acquiring upper limit time dynamic based on correlation threshold conditions, allowing the system to maximize acquisition time within power constraints rather than using a uniformly short duration that would fail to acquire signals in challenging conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If the reception operation time is extended to ensure complete information acquisition, then information acquisition reliability is improved, but power consumption becomes excessive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation acquisition reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the acquiring upper limit time parameter based on the correlation value threshold, extending acquisition time only when signal conditions allow, thereby ensuring information acquisition reliability without excessive power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10031488B2Radio wave receiver, radio-controlled timepiece, signal obtaining method and storage medium

Publication Date: 2018.07.24 CASIO COMPUTER CO LTD

AI summary

A radio wave receiver includes a radio wave reception processor which receives radio waves and obtains signals transmitted from positioning satellites from the received radio waves; and a processor which sets reception start timing of the radio waves by the radio wave reception processor and controls the radio wave reception processor to start reception. The processor sets the reception start timing so that following reception conditions are satisfied: (i) a total power consumption amount of a power amount necessary for positioning and a power amount according to an obtaining upper limit time from start timing of a positioning operation by the radio wave reception processor to when the radio wave reception processor obtains signals necessary for computing a present position and the positioning operation is equal to or less than a predetermined upper limit power consumption amount, and (ii) the obtaining upper limit time is equal to or more than a predetermined reference time.