Residential time reference system
US5334975A · kind A · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 16, 1991 |
| Grant date | Aug 2, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 16, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N7/106
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and provides for transmitting a time reference throughout a residence or other facility for use by appliances operating within the facility. A time reference is received from the headend of a cable television (CATV) system at the subscriber converter and is retransmitted to set the internal clock timers of residential appliances throughout the house. The time reference is received by the CATV converter, then encoded and modulated for transmission on the residential AC wiring system which also carries AC power to all of the appliances in the house. Individual appliances receive the encoded time reference from the AC power line, demodulate the received signal and use the received time reference to set its internal clock timer. In such manner, a residential appliance does not need to have its internal clock set by the consumer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.