With Wireless Synchronization Patents (Class 368/47)
  • Patent number: 8964510
    Abstract: This disclosure involves methods and systems for a GNSS receiver to ascertain its environmental context and subsequently adjust the signal processing and search algorithms to provide improved acquisition. A rapid pre-scan is performed to determine the presence of relatively strong signals. If no satellites are found in the initial pre-scan, successively more sensitive searches are conducted until at least one satellite is acquired. The information from these pre-scans is used to predict the environmental context of the receiver and correspondingly tailor the parameters for the remaining search operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Abdelmonaem Lakhzouri, Juha Tapani Rostrom
  • Patent number: 8953416
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a receiver configured to receive a satellite signal; a time generator configured to generate time; and a processor configured to selectively execute a first time correction processing or a second time correction processing. The first time correction processing includes acquiring time information based on the received satellite signal and correcting the time based on the acquired time information. The second time correction processing includes calculating the position of the electronic device based on satellite orbit information and the received satellite signal, and correcting the time based on the calculated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8942068
    Abstract: A timepiece includes a case; a dial made from a nonconductive material; a solar panel that has an opening and is disposed at a side opposite of a display side of the dial, the solar panel receiving light incident from the display side of the dial; a patch antenna disposed (i) at a side opposite a light receiving side of the solar panel, and (ii) at a position overlapping the opening in plan view; and a date wheel made from a nonconductive material that is disposed between the solar panel and the patch antenna in lateral view, and is disposed at a position overlapping, at least in part, the patch antenna in plan view. The dial has a date window for exposing at least part of the date wheel, and the date window is formed at a position overlapping the opening in plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8937851
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes: a radio-wave receiving unit; a time acquiring unit that acquires time information and daylight-saving-time implementation information; a storage unit that stores predetermined information associated with a time in a preset area; and a calculation unit that calculates a current time in the preset area, wherein the predetermined information includes daylight-saving-time setting information; and when the time of switching to/from daylight saving time comes during a radio-wave reception process, the calculation unit determines whether a first or second condition is satisfied, wherein the first condition is that radio-wave reception has failed; and the second condition is that the daylight-saving-time implementation information is information provided before the time of switching; and when the first or second condition is satisfied, the calculation unit switches the time to calculate current time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Matsuo, Hirofumi Nagareda
  • Publication number: 20150016229
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes a tubular exterior case, a cover glass plate that blocks one of two openings of the exterior case, a ring-shaped antenna body provided along an inner circumference of the exterior case, a circuit substrate which is provided in a position below the antenna body when viewed from the cover glass plate and on which a shield pattern G is formed, and a GPS receiver that is so provided on the circuit substrate that the GPS receiver faces away from the antenna body with the shield pattern G being a boundary and amplifies and processes a signal received by the antenna body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Toshiaki Yanagisawa, Toshitaka Nagahama
  • Patent number: 8934321
    Abstract: The invention provides an analog quartz timepiece, comprising a housing; one or more hands; a drive movement comprising gears and drive motors associated with the hands for timekeeping; a position sensor comprising a light transmitter and a light receiver positioned to define a reflective area on the dial, where the light transmitter transmits a beam of light to any one of the hands passing through the reflective area and the light receiver receives the light reflected from the passing hand; and a processor programmed to determine a position of the passing hand in the reflective area in correspondence to the reflection of the light from the hand, and to drive the movement to move the hand to a correct time position responsive to the determined position. The invention also relates to a method for providing time-correction of an analog quartz timepiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Inventor: Wai Tong Fung
  • Patent number: 8934320
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes: a timekeeping section which counts time; a time display section which displays time; an illuminating section which performs illumination; a wireless communication section which performs wireless communication by transmitting/receiving a wireless signal intermittently; and a drive control section which performs duty drive of the illuminating section when a period in which wireless communication is conducted by the wireless communication section and a period in which the illuminating section is driven overlap with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20150003212
    Abstract: A radio clock including: an antenna configured to receive a satellite signal transmitted from GPS satellite; a receiving unit configured to perform a receiving process to acquire information contained in the satellite signal received by the antenna within a predetermine upper limit period; and a control unit configured to change the number of receiving processes to be performed in a predetermined period and change the upper limit period in accordance with a total sum of durations of the receiving processes performed in the predetermined period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: SEIKO CLOCK INC.
    Inventors: Miyuki IMAMURA, Motohiro TAKO, Takayuki KANAIZUMI
  • Publication number: 20150003211
    Abstract: A radio clock including: an antenna configured to receive a satellite signals transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites; a receiving unit configured to perform a receiving process to acquire information tram a satellite signal received by the antenna, the information being contained in the satellite signal; and a control unit configured to control the receiving unit to keep synchronized with the GPS satellite that has transmitted the satellite signal and control the receiving unit to receive a satellite signal containing date information for date correction when the information acquired by the receiving unit does not contain the date information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: SEIKO CLOCK INC.
    Inventors: Miyuki IMAMURA, Motohiro TAKO, Takayuki KANAIZUMI
  • Patent number: 8913466
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece with internal antenna maintains sufficiently high reception performance of circularly polarized waves even when having a metal external case. A drive unit of the timepiece counts a time inside the external case. An antenna has a tubular-shaped side part, a bottom part that covers one of two openings of the side part, and a top part that contacts an inside surface of the side part inside the external case. The bottom part is a back cover of the external case, and the top part has a slot part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Publication number: 20140355392
    Abstract: Disclosed is a radio-controlled timepiece. The radio-controlled timepiece includes an oscillating unit, a display unit, a display driving unit, an error storage unit, a radio wave receiving unit, and a frequency setting unit. The display driving unit drives the display unit with a driving signal of a predetermined driving waveform frequency generated by the clock signal output by the oscillating unit. The error storage unit stores error data of an oscillating frequency. The radio wave receiving unit tunes to a receiving frequency of a radio wave including time information, and receives the radio wave. The frequency setting unit sets the driving waveform frequency based on the error data so that the receiving frequency does not overlap with a higher order harmonic wave of the driving waveform frequency during a period that the radio wave is received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi SANO
  • Patent number: 8902716
    Abstract: A sensitivity adjustment device adjusts radio wave sensitivity of an antenna which wirelessly transmits/receives a signal to/from an external device. The sensitivity adjustment device includes a case and a ring-shaped rotating member. The case houses the antenna. The rotating member is disposed on the outside of the case in such a way as to be rotatable. The rotating member includes (a) a shielding part which shields a radio wave and (b) a penetration part which allows penetration of a radio wave. A positional relationship between (a) the antenna and (b) the shielding part and the penetration part is changed by rotation of the rotating member so that the radio wave sensitivity of the antenna is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Maruyama
  • Patent number: 8897098
    Abstract: A time information obtaining device and a radio-controlled timepiece are shown. According to one implementation, the time information obtaining device includes a noise determining section and a reception cancelling section. The noise determining section determines whether noise mixed in a demodulated signal of a radio wave received within a predetermined unit of time is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold level. The reception cancelling section cancels reception of the radio wave when a number of times that the noise determining section determines that the noise mixed in the signal is equal to or more than a predetermined level is included at a percentage equal to or more than a predetermined percentage within a set time including a plurality of the units of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruo Kajitani, Takashi Sano
  • Patent number: 8897099
    Abstract: A small electronic timepiece with an internal antenna can maintain high GPS reception performance and affords greater freedom developing different models. The timepiece has an outside case; a time display unit that displays time and that is disposed inside the outside case; a drive unit that drives the time display unit and that is disposed inside the outside case; and an antenna that is disposed around the drive unit inside the outside case, and includes an C-shaped or annular antenna element in contact with the dielectric base. The timepiece may include power supply nodes from which power is supplied to the antenna, one such node being disposed at one end of the C-shaped antenna element and the other being disposed at the other end of the C-shaped antenna element. The annular antenna element may be embedded in the dielectric base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8897097
    Abstract: A satellite signal reception device that can desirably receive satellite signals has a charge state detection circuit 43 and a voltage detection circuit 44 that detect if the satellite signal reception device is outdoors, and a control circuit 40. If the satellite signal reception device is determined to be outdoors based on the detection result from the charge state detection circuit 43 and voltage detection circuit 44, the control circuit 40 operates a GPS reception circuit 30. If an indoor state in which the satellite signal reception device is determined to not be outdoors continues for at least a predetermined specific time, the control circuit 40 operates the GPS reception circuit 30 at a preset scheduled reception time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Norimitsu Baba, Katsuyuki Honda, Toshikazu Akiyama, Jun Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 8891338
    Abstract: Packet formats and associated metering infrastructure for filtering meter reading data that is being transmitted by utility meters are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method is provided of measuring the accuracy of an endpoint clock, such as a utility meter clock, from a remote device configured to capture transmissions that originate from the utility meter. Generally, the method includes synchronizing the time maintained by the utility meter with the time maintained by the remote device. The method receives and decodes a packet that includes a time stamp provided by the utility meter. Then, the method calculates the extent of the inaccuracy of the time stamp in the received packet and determines whether the extent of the inaccuracy satisfies a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Itron, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Johnson, Mark Cornwall
  • Patent number: 8885446
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece has a case of which at least part is conductive; a clock chip that keeps and displays time on a time display means; a receiver chip that receives a radio signal through a GPS antenna; a storage battery; a timekeeping voltage conversion unit that converts output voltage from the storage battery to drive voltage for the clock chip; and a receiver voltage conversion unit that converts output voltage from the storage battery to drive voltage for the receiver chip. The output terminal of the timekeeping voltage conversion unit is connected to the clock chip and the case, and the output terminal of the receiver voltage conversion unit is connected to the receiver chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Matsuzaki
  • Publication number: 20140321248
    Abstract: A small electronic timepiece with an internal antenna can maintain high GPS reception performance and affords greater freedom developing different models. The timepiece has an outside case; a time display unit that displays time and that is disposed inside the outside case; a drive unit that drives the time display unit and that is disposed inside the outside case; and an antenna that is disposed around the drive unit inside the outside case, and includes an C-shaped or annular antenna element in contact with the dielectric base. The timepiece may include power supply nodes from which power is supplied to the antenna, one such node being disposed at one end of the C-shaped antenna element and the other being disposed at the other end of the C-shaped antenna element. The annular antenna element may be embedded in the dielectric base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8873342
    Abstract: A wristwatch includes a face having a first area, in which the hour of the time associated with a first time zone is displayable; a second area, in which the hour of the time associated with a second time zone is displayable; and a third area, in which the minutes past the respective hours of the first and second time zones is displayable. The first area includes an analog display of an hour hand without a minute hand; the second area includes an analog display of an hour hand without a minute hand; and the third area includes an analog display of a minute hand without an hour hand. Each of the displays alternatively could be digital. Each of the areas preferably is compartmentalized and physically separated from the other areas on the face of the wristwatch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: UCB Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Ursula Blackshere Boudreaux, Ian D. Kovacevich, Daniel Lee Bizzell
  • Patent number: 8867317
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a circuit substrate, an antenna, an electronic component or a terminal, and a shield pattern. The antenna includes: a core having a length direction; and a coil part including a conducting wire wound around the core, and is disposed on a first side of the substrate in such a way that the length direction is nearly parallel to the first side. The electronic component or the terminal is disposed on a second side of the substrate in such a way as to correspond to the antenna. The shield pattern is disposed on and/or in the substrate between the antenna and the electronic component or the terminal. The length of a part of the shield pattern, the part overlapping with the antenna, is shorter than the length of the coil part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Sano, Yoshihiko Enta
  • Patent number: 8868104
    Abstract: Methods, program products, and systems for multi-tier geofence detection are disclosed. In general, in one aspect, a mobile device can be configured to perform a task when the mobile device enters a geographic region. The mobile device can monitor a current location using a multi-tier approach. A baseband subsystem can monitor a coarse location of the mobile device using various course location parameters, such as a mobile country code (MCC), a location area code (LAC), or a cell identifier (cell ID), as the mobile device moves closer to the geographic region. Upon determining that the mobile device is in a cell that intersects the geographic region, the baseband subsystem can transfer the monitoring to the application subsystem. The task can be performed when the application subsystem determines that the mobile device is currently located in the geographic region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Morgan Grainger, Ronald K. Huang, Robert Mayor
  • Patent number: 8861315
    Abstract: A radio-controlled wristwatch that determines whether or not illuminance of light irradiating a solar cell is high, using plural criteria but without directly measuring voltage or current. The wristwatch includes: a solar cell; a control circuit which stops operation under a predetermined condition; and an illuminance detection circuit which indicates illuminance of light irradiating the solar cell being higher than a given threshold value. The wristwatch switches the given threshold value between a first and a second value, larger than the first value, starts the control circuit in a stop state when a signal indicating that the illuminance is higher than the first value is output, receives a satellite signal containing time information from a satellite when a signal indicating that the illuminance is higher than the second value is output, and displays time corresponding to the time information contained in the received satellite signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignees: Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd., Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takushi Hagita, Akira Kato
  • Publication number: 20140293756
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece has a receiver device that receives at least a first satellite signal containing a first leap second value and a second satellite signal containing a second leap second value; a timekeeping device that keeps time according to the current leap second; an evaluation condition setting unit that sets an evaluation condition of the correctness of the first leap second value and the second leap second value based on the timing of first satellite signal and second satellite signal reception; and a leap second correction unit that corrects the current leap second based on the first leap second value or the second leap second value when the first leap second value and the second leap second value satisfy the set evaluation condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshikazu Akiyama
  • Patent number: 8848490
    Abstract: A reception apparatus includes a first determination unit to determine whether a state exists in which timing information and six orbital elements information can be obtained from GPS signals transmitted by only two GPS satellites. When the state exists, a calculation unit calculates a trajectory line having a predetermined width on a surface of the earth, based on the GPS signals transmitted by the two satellites. A second determination unit determines whether the trajectory line traverses a district of use stored by the apparatus. A time correcting unit obtains a current time using the obtained timing information, by correcting the timing information based on a time zone corresponding to the district of use, when the trajectory line traverses the district of use. The time correcting unit does not obtain the current time using the obtained timing information when the trajectory line does not traverse the district of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshio Hanabusa
  • Publication number: 20140286136
    Abstract: A timepiece can acquire time information in a short time, reduce power consumption, and display the correct time. A timepiece comprises a receiver to receive a satellite signal, and a time information generator to generate internal time information. The receiver runs a first reception process that acquires first information including week information from the satellite signal, a second reception process that acquires second information including leap second information from the satellite signal, or a third reception process that acquires third information including hour, minute and second information from the satellite signal. In the first reception timing, after the internal time information is initialized, the receiver runs the first reception process and runs the second reception process after running the first. In a next reception timing, after the first reception timing, the receiver runs the third reception process if the first and second information are acquired in the first reception timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventor: Norimitsu Baba
  • Publication number: 20140269220
    Abstract: A piezoelectric vibrating piece including: a pair of vibrating arm sections which has a groove section, respectively; a base section which is disposed between the pair of vibrating arm sections; and a connecting section which connects each base end of the pair of vibrating arm sections and the base section. If a length from a base end to a leading end of the vibrating arm section in a longitudinal direction of the vibrating arm section is Lv, and a length from the base end of the vibrating arm section to an end of the connecting section on the opposite side to the vibrating arm section is Lc, a relationship of Lc/Lv?0.1 is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: SII Crystal Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Masanori TAMURA
  • Publication number: 20140269221
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a receiver configured to receive a satellite signal; a time generator configured to generate time; and a processor configured to selectively execute a first time correction processing or a second time correction processing. The first time correction processing includes acquiring time information based on the received satellite signal and correcting the time based on the acquired time information. The second time correction processing includes calculating the position of the electronic device based on satellite orbit information and the received satellite signal, and correcting the time based on the calculated position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Publication number: 20140254329
    Abstract: A piezoelectric vibrating piece is provided including: a pair of vibrating arm sections; a base section which is provided between the pair of vibrating arm sections; and connecting sections which connect base end sections of the pair of vibrating arm sections and a base end section of the base section, in which the vibrating arm sections have bending points and the vibrating arm sections extend in a direction away from the base section from the base end sections of the vibrating arm sections to the bending points, and the vibrating arm sections extend along the base section from the bending points to leading end sections of the vibrating arm sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: SII Crystal Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Masanori TAMURA
  • Publication number: 20140254328
    Abstract: A piezoelectric vibrating piece includes: a pair of vibrating arm sections which are disposed at a distance away from each other in a width direction of a base section; the base section to which each base end of the pair of vibrating arm sections is connected; and a support arm section that is connected to the base section between the pair of vibrating arm sections and extends from the base section to the same side as the pair of vibrating arm sections, in which convex sections are formed continuous with side surfaces of roots of the vibrating arm sections and side surfaces of the base section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: SII Crystal Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Masanori TAMURA
  • Publication number: 20140247701
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes a receiving device that receives a satellite signal transmitted from a positioning information satellite; a display device that displays a time; a time correction unit that acquires time information from the satellite signal received by the receiving device and corrects the time to be displayed on the display device; and a case that accommodates the receiving device, the display device and the time correction unit. Power consumption of the receiving device is 30 mW or less, and a volume of the case is 30,000 mm3 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Honda
  • Patent number: 8824244
    Abstract: Provided is a radio-controlled wristwatch that receives a radio wave including day-related information from a satellite within a global positioning system, in which a cycle number of the day-related information is correctly updated even in a case where a power supply voltage drops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignees: Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd., Citizen Watch Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Akira Kato, Takushi Hagita
  • Publication number: 20140241131
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes a light-transmitting dial; a solar panel which is arranged on a side opposite to a display surface of the dial; and a secondary battery to which power generated by the solar panel is charged. The solar panel is divided into seven or more solar cells and the respective solar cells are connected to one another in series. Since seven or more solar cells are connected in series, a lithium ion secondary battery whose electromotive voltage is high can be charged. Accordingly, a need for charging by means of an external battery charger can be eliminated and a wristwatch capable of internally having a device requiring larger current consumption such as a receiving device can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Honda
  • Publication number: 20140241133
    Abstract: A satellite signal receiving device includes a receiving circuit that receives a satellite signal transmitted from a position information satellite, a solar cell that converts light energy into electrical energy, and a control section that controls the receiving circuit and starts a receiving process of the satellite signal, when illuminance of light incident on the solar cell is equal to or greater a preset illuminance threshold within a range of equal to or greater than 1,000 Lx and less than 5,000 Lx.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Norimitsu Baba
  • Publication number: 20140241132
    Abstract: A piezoelectric vibrator is provided in which a piezoelectric vibrating piece is accommodated in a package, the piezoelectric vibrating piece including: a pair of vibrating arm sections; a base section to which each base end of the pair of vibrating arm sections is connected; and a support arm section that is connected to the base section between the pair of vibrating arm sections and extends from the base section to the same side as the vibrating arm sections, in which the piezoelectric vibrating piece is supported within the package in mount sections provided in the support arm section, and in which the mount sections are provided in a region which is defined between a position of which a distance from an end section of the base section opposite to the side where the support arm section is connected to the side of a leading end of the support arm section is 25% of a width dimension of the base section along the width direction and a position of which the distance is 65% of the width dimension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: SII CRYSTAL TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventor: Masanori TAMURA
  • Publication number: 20140233357
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic device. The electronic device includes a display section, at least one substrate, a control section, a connecting section, a receiving section, and output wiring. The at least one substrate includes a plurality of wiring layers overlapped as a whole. Output wiring is provided on the first layer among the plurality of wiring layers and connects each of the plurality of the output terminals and the control section. From a planar view of the substrate, a bar antenna is attached on a face of a second layer on a side opposite of the first layer, in a position between positions corresponding to positions of the connecting section and the control section. The output wiring crosses between regions corresponding to both edge regions including both edges of the bar antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun MIWA, Takashi SANO
  • Publication number: 20140233358
    Abstract: A timepiece includes a case; a dial made from a nonconductive material; a solar panel that has an opening and is disposed at a side opposite of a display side of the dial, the solar panel receiving light incident from the display side of the dial; a patch antenna disposed (i) at a side opposite a light receiving side of the solar panel, and (ii) at a position overlapping the opening in plan view; and a date wheel made from a nonconductive material that is disposed between the solar panel and the patch antenna in lateral view, and is disposed at a position overlapping, at least in part, the patch antenna in plan view. The dial has a date window for exposing at least part of the date wheel, and the date window is formed at a position overlapping the opening in plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8812256
    Abstract: An intelligent electronic device incorporates a first port that accepts a time signal from a time server over a network and a second port for receiving a second time signal over a separate network. The intelligent electronic device approximates the amount of error in the second time signal based on calculations of the error in the first time signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Tony J. Lee, Keith C. Henriksen
  • Patent number: 8804466
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece that receives signals and displays information can be driven using solar power while suppressing antenna sensitivity loss to a sufficiently low level. An electronic timepiece has a dial, on the face of which time is displayed, a flat antenna, and a solar cell. The flat antenna is disposed in an area on the back side of the dial, extends in the plane direction of the dial, and receives signals passing through the dial. The solar cell is also disposed in the area on the back side of the dial, positioned vertically between the dial and the flat antenna. The solar cell also extends in the plane direction of the dial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 8804465
    Abstract: A small electronic timepiece with an internal antenna can maintain high GPS reception performance and affords greater freedom developing different models. The timepiece has a cylindrical outside case 80 of which at least part is made from a non-conductive material, a dial 11 that displays the time inside the case 80, a drive mechanism 30 that drives displaying the time on the dial 11 inside the case 80, and a C-shaped antenna 40 disposed around the drive mechanism 30 inside the case 80. A crystal 84 covers one of the two openings to the case 80, and a circuit board 25 with a GPS reception unit 26 for radio communication is disposed inside the case 80. The antenna 40 is disposed closer to the crystal 84 than the circuit board 25, and the GPS reception unit 26 is disposed on the back cover 85 side of the circuit board 25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8792308
    Abstract: Provided is a radio-controlled watch capable of performing leap second correction even when information on a leap second is not received from a satellite. Provided is a radio-controlled watch that adjusts time by receiving a signal containing time information from a satellite, the radio-controlled watch being configured to: store a leap second correction value to be used for leap second correction with respect to the time information; display a numerical value corresponding to the leap second correction value; receive an instruction operation of changing the leap second correction value from a user in a state in which the numerical value is displayed; and change the leap second correction value in response to the received instruction operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignees: Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd., Citizen Watch Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Akira Kato, Takushi Hagita, Tadashi Yasuoka
  • Publication number: 20140204718
    Abstract: A method for synchronizing a first device with a second device may include receiving an alarm activation time from the first device. An alarm may be set on the second device to be the same as the alarm activation time. An indication that the alarm is set on the second device may be sent to the first device. Immediately prior to the alarm activation time, it may be determined that the first device is proximate to the second device, and upon determining that the first device is proximate to the second device, the alarm may be activated on the second device at the alarm activation time. The devices may be considered proximate based on a connection protocol, such as when the first device is able to communicate with the second device over a wired or wireless communication protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Adam Heinberg, David Philip Feltenberger
  • Publication number: 20140192625
    Abstract: A piezoelectric vibrating piece includes a pair of vibrating arm portions which are arranged with a center axis interposed therebetween, a base portion which is arranged between a pair of vibrating arm portions and fixed to the outside, and a pair of connecting portions which connect proximal end portions of a pair of vibrating arm portions and a proximal end portion of the base portion. The distance between distal end portions of the vibrating arm portions and the center axis is smaller than the distance between the proximal end portions of the vibrating arm portions and the center axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: SII Crystal Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Masanori TAMURA
  • Patent number: 8773955
    Abstract: A time adjustment device can acquire time information in a short time, reduce power consumption, and display the correct time. A GPS wristwatch has a reception unit that receives satellite signals; a time information generating unit that generates internal time information; a reception control unit that controls the reception unit; and a time information adjustment unit that adjusts the internal time information. The time information adjustment unit has a first information time adjustment means that receives first information containing year, month, day, hour, minute, second, and satellite health information, and adjusts the internal time information; a second information time adjustment means that receives second information including leap second information, and adjusts the internal time information; a third information time adjustment means that receives third information of hour, minute, second information, and adjusts the internal time information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Norimitsu Baba
  • Patent number: 8755253
    Abstract: A timepiece includes a case that is made from a conductive material; a movement that is housed in the case and has a plurality of motors that drive plural staffs disposed at a plurality of locations; a dial that is made from a nonconductive material; and an antenna that is disposed inside the case. At least two display units including a first display unit and a second display unit are formed as plane circles on the surface of the dial with a staff in the plane center of each plane circle. The diameter of the first display unit is greater than the diameter of the second display unit, and the antenna is disposed to a position superimposed in plan view on the first display unit and the second display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Publication number: 20140160898
    Abstract: A time information obtaining device and a radio-controlled timepiece are shown. According to one implementation, the time information obtaining device includes a noise determining section and a reception cancelling section. The noise determining section determines whether noise mixed in a demodulated signal of a radio wave received within a predetermined unit of time is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold level. The reception cancelling section cancels reception of the radio wave when a number of times that the noise determining section determines that the noise mixed in the signal is equal to or more than a predetermined level is included at a percentage equal to or more than a predetermined percentage within a set time including a plurality of the units of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO.,LTD.
    Inventors: Haruo KAJITANI, Takashi SANO
  • Publication number: 20140126337
    Abstract: A timepiece with a wireless function comprises a movement that displays time; a conductive case that holds the movement; a crystal that is disposed on a face side of the case and covers a face side of the movement; a conductive plate that is disposed between the movement and the crystal and reflects radio waves; an antenna that has a substantially annular, conductive antenna electrode and is disposed along an outside edge of the conductive plate between the conductive plate and the crystal as seen in a lateral view; and a dial ring that is made of non-conductive material and has a channel in which the antenna is held. The antenna electrode is configured to receive the radio waves reflected by the conductive plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8705321
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes a reception unit that receives satellite signals transmitted from positioning information satellites and acquires time information and positioning information, a time zone information storage unit that stores region data dividing geographical information containing time difference information into a plurality of regions, and time difference information contained in each region, a time difference information acquisition unit that extracts the region containing the positioning information acquired by the reception unit from the region data, and acquires the time difference information contained in that region, and a time calculation unit that calculates the current time based on the time difference information acquired by the time difference information acquisition unit and the time information acquired by the reception unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshikazu Akiyama, Chen Wei Lin
  • Patent number: 8686908
    Abstract: A wireless function watch includes an antenna for receiving a radio wave from outside; a housing for accommodating the antenna; a conductive projecting portion projecting in a planar direction from an inner wall of the housing toward the inside of a watch case; and an opening penetrating the conductive projecting portion vertically so as to improve receiving characteristics of the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventors: Kouichi Kusunoki, Setsuo Kachi
  • Publication number: 20140086020
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece has a case of which at least part is made from a conductive material; an annular antenna housed in the case; and a dial disposed inside the antenna. The antenna has an annular dielectric base. The base has a sloped surface that slopes toward the dial and decreases in height to the dial with proximity to the inside. The antenna element is made from a conductive material and is fed by the feed part of the antenna, and is disposed to the sloped surface of the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko FUJISAWA
  • Publication number: 20140086022
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece has a case of which at least part is conductive; a clock chip that keeps and displays time on a time display means; a receiver chip that receives a radio signal through a GPS antenna; a storage battery; a timekeeping voltage conversion unit that converts output voltage from the storage battery to drive voltage for the clock chip; and a receiver voltage conversion unit that converts output voltage from the storage battery to drive voltage for the receiver chip. The output terminal of the timekeeping voltage conversion unit is connected to the clock chip and the case, and the output terminal of the receiver voltage conversion unit is connected to the receiver chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Matsuzaki