Electronic Timepiece Dual Acquisition for Power and Reliability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic timepieces face challenges in efficiently and reliably acquiring accurate time information due to limited reception areas and high power consumption, especially when using radio waves or satellite signals.
Innovation Solution
The electronic timepiece employs a dual acquisition method, prioritizing communication with external devices via Bluetooth for quick and low-power time information acquisition, and secondary radio wave reception from satellites or standard radio waves when initial methods fail, ensuring time accuracy with minimized power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radio wave reception is used to acquire time information, then reliability is improved, but time consumption increases and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between two acquisition modes: communication-based mode (first acquisition operation) and radio wave reception mode (second acquisition operation). The processor selects the appropriate mode based on availability of external devices and current time acquisition needs, optimizing both speed and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The time information acquisition function is segmented into two independent operations: first acquisition operation using communication with external devices, and second acquisition operation using radio wave reception. Each segment handles specific scenarios, allowing the system to leverage the speed advantage of communication when available and the reliability of radio waves when needed
2Reliability
If radio wave reception is used to acquire time information, then reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts power consumption by selecting between low-power communication-based acquisition and higher-power radio wave reception based on real-time conditions. When external devices are available, the system uses the energy-efficient communication path
Solution Approach 2:
The acquisition function is divided into two operational segments with different power characteristics. The first acquisition operation (communication-based) is designed for low power consumption, while the second (radio wave-based) provides reliability backup when necessary
3Loss of time
If communication with external devices is prioritized for time information acquisition, then time consumption decreases and power consumption decreases, but reliability may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between communication-based acquisition (fast, low power) and radio wave reception (reliable) based on the availability of external devices and the need for time correction
Solution Approach 2:
The acquisition system is segmented into two independent operations that can be selectively executed. The processor prioritizes the first acquisition operation for speed but falls back to the second operation when the first is unavailable, ensuring both efficiency and reliability
Data Source
AI summary
A device having one or more processors, the one or more processors configured to acquire time information by performing one or more of a first acquisition operation to control a communicator to communicate with an external device to receive signals including the time information, and a second acquisition operation to control one or more radio wave receivers to receive transmission radio waves with signals including the time information.