Electronic Timepiece Dual Synchronization Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic timepieces face time deviation issues when unable to perform wireless communication with terminals, leading to increased power consumption due to early initiation of time synchronization attempts.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a near field communication unit for Bluetooth Low Energy and a standard electric wave receiving unit to allow time synchronization through Bluetooth Low Energy communication with terminals and reception of standard electric waves, enabling time correction even without wireless communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electronic timepiece starts time synchronization operation early to ensure time accuracy, then time synchronization reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The time synchronization operation is made dynamic by adjusting its execution timing based on communication status. When communication with the terminal is possible, synchronization occurs at scheduled times. When communication fails, the system dynamically switches to using stored standard time information, eliminating the need for continuous early synchronization attempts and reducing power consumption while maintaining time accuracy.
2Device complexity
If the electronic timepiece uses only near field communication for time synchronization, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates when communication fails
Solution Approach 1:
Standard time information serves as an intermediary backup when near field communication fails. The system stores this information locally and uses it as a fallback mechanism, ensuring time synchronization reliability without requiring complex additional hardware. This intermediary approach maintains simple device architecture while providing reliable timekeeping under all conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic timepiece includes a counter, a near field communication unit, a standard electric wave receiving unit and a control unit. The counter is configured to count current time. The near field communication unit is configured to communicate with a terminal by near field communication electric waves and to receive first time information. The standard electric wave receiving unit is configured to receive standard electric waves and to acquire second time information. The control unit changes current time counted by the counter, based on the first or second time information.