Low power radio controlled clock incorporating independent timing corrections
US8533516B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 22, 2011 |
| Grant date | Sep 10, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 2, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02D30/70
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A timekeeping device that tracks the time provided by a digital broadcast and the protocol of that broadcast, defined by its data frame structure and modulation scheme, are adapted to allow for superior performance of the timekeeping devices in terms of range of operation, immunity to interference, ability to operate with lower cost antennas due to enhanced link robustness, and reduced energy consumption. The timekeeping device operates with infrequent receptions of the broadcast by relying on independent self-compensation. This alleviates the need for frequent receptions to ensure timing accuracy while reducing energy consumption. The mean and variability of successive measurements of timing drift are evaluated and an estimated upper bound for the drift-estimation error is set. Based on this bound, the device employs a reception strategy that relies on less frequent receptions, corresponding to the error in estimating the drift rather than to the magnitude of the drift itself.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.