Radio Controlled Watch Time Code Receiver Noise Resilience
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radio controlled watches face difficulties in accurately determining time code data pulses due to noise interference, especially when the signal contains considerable noise, leading to incorrect time and date calculations.
Innovation Solution
A time information receiver that samples the detected signal and calculates correlation values for each data pulse, allowing for accurate determination of the received data pulses even in noisy conditions, using methods that involve sampling at specific intervals and averaging noise to reduce interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional binarized data detection is used to determine data pulses, then the method is simple to implement, but the determination accuracy deteriorates when considerable noise is present in the signal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter from simple binarized data to correlation values calculated from sampled signal data. By calculating correlation values between the sampled signal and reference waveforms for different data pulse patterns, the system achieves accurate data pulse determination even in noisy conditions, resolving the contradiction between implementation simplicity and determination accuracy.
2Reliability
If four frames of time code are received to avoid wrong recognition, then the time code accuracy is improved, but the reception duration is extended making clear signal reception difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of extending reception duration with a signal processing approach using correlation value calculation. By calculating correlation values from sampled data and comparing them against reference patterns, the system can accurately determine data pulses within a single frame, achieving high reliability without requiring extended reception duration.
3Measurement precision
If signal sampling and correlation calculation are performed for each data pulse, then the data pulse determination accuracy in noisy conditions is improved, but the calculation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the correlation calculation process into discrete steps: sampling the detected signal at specific time points, calculating correlation values for each data pulse position, and comparing results against reference patterns. This structured segmentation makes the complex calculation process manageable and implementable while maintaining high determination accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A standard time and frequency signal receiver receives a time code in which a plurality of data pulses “1”, “0” and “P” which are identified by width are arranged one in a respective one of unit periods of the standard signal. An amplitude of a detected signal of the time code is sampled with respect to a seconds synchronization point in a unit period. Then, correlation values F1, F0 and FP for the data pulses “P”, “1” and “0”, respectively, are calculated based on the sampled values. These correlation values F1, F0 and FP are then compared to determine the data pulse received. Even when the time code contains a considerable noise, which of the “1”, “0” and “P” signals was received is determined accurately, thereby achieving the reception of the time code with a reduced error.