Electronic Timepiece Predicted Ephemeris Update Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic timepieces face high power consumption and inefficiency in determining the current position due to the time it takes to receive positional information from positioning satellites, which also prolongs the initial time to identify the current position.

Innovation Solution

An electronic timepiece with a radio wave receiver, communication unit, and memory that stores predicted positional information, which updates this information only when a predetermined condition of the elapsed time from its valid period is met, allowing for efficient communication with an external device to receive updated positional data alongside other information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the electronic timepiece receives positional information from positioning satellites to identify the current position, then positioning accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases and the time to identify position is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic timepiece obtains predicted positional information (predicted ephemeris) in advance through network communication and stores it in memory. This predicted information is used temporarily to identify position without immediately receiving actual positional information from satellites, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining positioning capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces predicted positional information as an intermediary between the need for accurate positioning and the power consumption of satellite communication. This intermediate solution allows the device to achieve positioning using stored predicted data rather than continuously receiving fresh satellite data, thus reducing energy usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the electronic timepiece receives positional information from positioning satellites to identify the current position, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the time to identify position is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidtime to identify position

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic timepiece obtains predicted positional information in advance through network communication and stores it in memory. This predicted information is used temporarily to identify position without immediately receiving actual positional information from satellites, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining positioning capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If the electronic timepiece frequently updates predicted positional information to maintain accuracy, then positioning precision is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic timepiece updates predicted positional information periodically based on elapsed time from the valid period rather than continuously. The control unit determines whether to update the predicted ephemeris by checking if a predetermined condition regarding elapsed time is satisfied, thus reducing unnecessary communication and power consumption while maintaining acceptable positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The update frequency of predicted positional information is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system adjusts the update timing based on whether a predetermined condition regarding elapsed time is satisfied, allowing the device to balance between maintaining positioning precision and conserving power by updating only when necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11550269B2Electronic timepiece, information update control method and storage medium

Publication Date: 2023.01.10 CASIO COMPUTER CO LTD

AI summary

An electronic timepiece includes a radio wave receiver, a communication unit, a memory and a processor. The radio wave receiver receives radio waves from positioning satellites. The communication unit communicates with an external device. The memory stores a program and predicted positional information on the positioning satellites. Based on the program stored in the memory, in response to a predetermined condition for an elapsed time from a valid period of the stored predicted positional information being satisfied, the processor causes the communication unit to receive predicted positional information with other information from the external device when the communication unit receives the other information.