With Wireless Synchronization Patents (Class 368/47)
  • Publication number: 20120206999
    Abstract: A crystal device includes leading electrodes that are formed on a base substrate, and a bump for mounting a piezoelectric vibrating reed on the leading electrodes, and alignment marks for performing the positioning of the bump are formed on the base substrate separately from the leading electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Aratake
  • Patent number: 8243554
    Abstract: An analog type electronic timepiece including a plurality of hands for displaying a time; a driving unit for electrically driving the hands; a receiver for receiving and demodulating a radio wave containing a time code signal; and a second synchronization determination unit for determining a second synchronous point of the time code signal demodulated by the receiver through identifying a driving noise mixed in the time code signal by action of the driving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Haruo Kajitani
  • Publication number: 20120201101
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece can easily acquire a leap second information reception time with minimal processor load. A first table groups leap second information reception times expressed by hour, minute, second, and day values into plural minute-second patterns of minute-second combinations that are common to plural hours, and relates numbers identifying these minute-second patterns to the day and hour values. The minute-second combinations are grouped by number in a second table. The number corresponding to the day and hour of the internal time is found from the first table (S1). A minute-second combination that is later than the internal time is found from the minute-second combinations corresponding to the acquired number (S2). And leap second reception time is calculated. If the resulting leap second reception time matches the internal time is determined (S9). If the times match, the leap second information is received (S10, S11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshikazu Akiyama, Oh Jaekwan
  • Publication number: 20120195170
    Abstract: A piezoelectric vibrating reed includes: a pair of vibrating arm portions arranged in a line; an outer groove portion and an inner groove portion formed on both principal surfaces of the vibrating arm portions so as to extend along the Y direction (longitudinal direction) of the vibrating arm portions; and a base portion to which the pair of vibrating arm portions are connected, in which a plurality of groove portions is formed so as to be arranged in a line in the X direction (width direction) of the vibrating arm portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventor: Takashi Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20120195171
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a piezoelectric vibrating reed for forming electrodes on a surface of a piezoelectric plate using a photolithography technique, an electrode forming step of forming excitation electrodes includes: an exposure step of exposing a photoresist (mask material); a developing step of immersing the photoresist in a developing solution to selectively remove the photoresist to thereby form a mask pattern; and an etching step of forming the excitation electrodes. An immersing step of immersing a piezoelectric plate on which the photoresist is applied in a first solution that is dissolvable in the developing solution and has lower viscosity than the developing solution is performed between the exposure step and the developing step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventor: Daiki Irokawa
  • Patent number: 8233354
    Abstract: A radio-controlled timepiece that receives a standard time signal containing a time code and adjusts internal time data, the radio-controlled timepiece including a reception unit that receives the standard time signal, and a control unit that controls the reception unit. The reception unit has an amplifier circuit that amplifies a reception signal of the standard time signal, and an analog/digital conversion circuit that digitizes the amplified reception signal and acquires a time code. The control unit sets the reception mode of the reception unit to a normal reception mode or to a high sensitivity reception mode that improves reception performance compared with the normal reception mode, sets the reception mode to the high sensitivity reception mode for a specific period that is set based on the time code of the standard time signal after establishing at least second synchronization with the time code of the standard time signal, and otherwise sets the reception mode to the normal reception mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Publication number: 20120188854
    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: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Norimitsu Baba
  • Publication number: 20120188853
    Abstract: An electronic device with time update function includes a radio module, a clock module, an audio input port, a storage module, and a processing module. The radio module receives and outputs audible signals from the broadcasts of a broadcasting station. The audio input port receives audible sound generated by the radio module, and the clock module provides a source of real time. The processing module determines whether the signals received by the audio input port include current time information, and if so whether the system time is consistent with the current time information. The processing module updates the stored initial time with the current time information and adjusts the system time as necessary. A time update method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., FU TAI HUA INDUSTRY (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: JU-YUAN ZHANG, ZHANG-YONG ZHENG, BI-QING LUO, XIN LU, SHIH-FANG WONG
  • Patent number: 8223593
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes a reception unit that receives satellite signals transmitted from positioning information satellites; a manual reception process unit that starts operation of the reception unit and executes a manual reception process when an external operating member is operated; an automatic reception process unit that automatically operates the reception unit and executes an automatic reception process when a predetermined condition is satisfied; a simple time adjustment process unit that executes such a process to receive a satellite signal from one positioning information satellite, acquire time information from the received satellite signal, and adjust an internal time; and a high precision time adjustment process unit that executes such a process to receive satellite signals from a plurality of positioning information satellites, acquire time and positioning information from the received satellite signals and determine the location, and adjust the internal time to the time acquired base
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Publication number: 20120176868
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece that receives satellite signals transmitted from positioning information satellites includes: a satellite signal reception unit that receives satellite signal(s); a satellite capturing unit that executes a process of capturing at least one of the satellites within a capture time based on the satellite signal(s) received by the reception unit; a time adjustment information generating unit that acquires satellite information from the satellite signal(s) transmitted from the captured satellite(s), and generates time adjustment information based on the satellite information; a time information adjustment unit that adjusts internal time information based on the time adjustment information; and a time information display unit that displays the internal time information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jun Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 8218691
    Abstract: A time information receiver including a reception unit for receiving and demodulating a standard radio wave containing a time code in which data pulses are arranged at a predetermined period; a determining section for determining rising and falling points of a demodulated signal; a first calculator for calculating first differences between respective time intervals of any pair of the rising points and a time period concerned with the predetermined period, and calculating a rising dispersion amount; a second calculator for calculating second differences between respective time intervals of any pair of the falling points and a time period concerned with the predetermined period, and calculating a falling dispersion amount; a comparison section for comparing the rising dispersion amount and the falling dispersion amount; and a judger for judging a code type of the received time code on the basis of a comparison result of the comparison section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Nomura, Hideo Abe
  • Publication number: 20120170425
    Abstract: A timekeeping device has a reception unit that receives a satellite signal transmitted from a positioning information satellite, a time information generating unit that generates time information based on the received satellite signal, a time display unit that displays the time information, and a reception control unit that controls the reception unit. The reception control unit includes a signal condition detection unit that detects a signal condition of the received satellite signal, and a reception setting unit that sets the reception unit to a single satellite mode or a multi-satellite mode based on the detected signal condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jun Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 8213266
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece, comprises a timing section to perform timing of time based on an oscillation signal; an electric wave receiving section to receive an electric wave; a voltage detecting section to detect a power source voltage supplied from a power source section; and a stop control section to stop a receiving function of the electric wave receiving section and continue a timing operation of the timing section when the voltage detecting section detects that the power source voltage becomes lower than a first level range, and then to stop the timing operation of the timing section when a warning period for urging a user to perform the power generation by the power generating section elapsed in a state where the power source voltage is lower than the first level range without changing to a lower level than a second level range lower than the first level range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoo Kasuo, Fumiaki Ochiai
  • Patent number: 8194506
    Abstract: An analog radio controlled clock includes a housing, a plurality of indicating, a radio controlled unit, and an audio alarm arrangement, which includes an alarm control unit and an audio device. The alarm control unit is disposed in the receiving cavity of the housing to communicate with the driving control unit for allowing setup of an alarm time. The audio device is electrically connected with the alarm control unit, and is arranged to generate interactive audible signal to a user regarding setting of an alarm time, wherein the audio device is arranged to commands and transmits them to the alarm control unit for setting up the alarm time, so that the user is able to set up the alarm time through commands such as voice instructions and simple physical actuation to the analog radio controlled lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Inventor: Tai Wai Luk
  • Publication number: 20120134241
    Abstract: A time-information obtaining apparatus is provided with an input waveform data pattern generating unit for sampling a received standard-time radio wave signal to generate an input waveform data pattern, an internal time counting unit for generate a base time, a calculation-waveform data pattern generating unit for generating plural calculation-waveform data patterns based on the base time, an invalid-bit detecting unit for detecting in the plural calculation-waveform data patterns, invalid bits not to be compared with the input waveform data pattern, an error counting unit for comparing the sample values of valid bits of the plural calculation-waveform data patterns with the invalid bits removed and the corresponding sample values of the input waveform data pattern to detect discrepancies between them, and a present-time correcting unit for correcting the base time based on the calculation-waveform data pattern having the smallest number of errors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keiichi Nomura, Hideo Abe
  • Publication number: 20120128080
    Abstract: In the present invention, time information is sent through a common power line in executing home automation devices or using various industrial equipments. In the power line broadcasting, a small amount of data, such as time information, is transmitted unidirectionally, and long-distance power line broadcasting can be possible using carriers of a low frequency band. time setting for various instruments is automatically performed in response to a power signal after a breakdown of electric current, making unnecessary a user's action to perform the time setting, and the existing power line can be used without change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: Sam Yong Woo, Young Beom Kim, Myungsoo Kim, Taeg Yong Kwon, Seong Hoon Yang
  • Patent number: 8185770
    Abstract: Modern computers (10, 20) come with different timers having different attributes like time resolution, supported time range and time reference. Some are local timers, representing relative time values like the TSC counter (11, 21) counting CPU cycles from the power on or reset of the computer. Some are global timers, representing an absolute or real time. Having different classes of timers in the computer (10, 20), a number of computations need to be performed to tie the different timers to each other. It is the idea of the invention to define a single high resolution timer structure wherein the time value is represented with a digital number and a flag clarifies whether the timer is a global timer or local timer. The invention enables a much faster processing of the time values. The global time, tied to a high-resolution timer can be tracked much faster. This means better precision of scheduling of time critical jobs, like packet scheduling for data transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Tixel GmbH
    Inventors: Eduard Siemens, Frank Glaeser, Jens Brocke, Stefan Kubsch, Ralf Koehler, Andreas Matthias Aust
  • Patent number: 8184505
    Abstract: A method for determining portions of a GPS satellite signal may use non-coherent integration to determine a repeated pattern such as a preamble. Once the repeated pattern is determined, portions of the GPS satellite signal that may be determined with partial correlation sums. Sensitivity to satellite signals may be increased by computing more partial correlation sums on portions of the GPS satellite signal. In one embodiment, time of day information may be determined from the GPS satellite signal with partial correlation sums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm Atheros, Inc.
    Inventors: Yi-Hsiu Wang, Dennis Hilgenberg
  • Patent number: 8169857
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece having a function for receiving satellite signals transmitted from positioning information satellites, including a satellite signal reception unit that receives the satellite signals, a satellite capturing unit that executes a process of capturing the positioning information satellites within a capture time based on the satellite signals received by the satellite signal reception unit, a time adjustment information generating unit that acquires satellite information from the satellite signal sent from the positioning information satellite captured by the satellite capturing unit, and generates time adjustment information based on the satellite information, a time information adjustment unit that adjusts internal time information based on the time adjustment information, a time information display unit that displays the internal time information, and a time limit setting unit that variably sets a time limit for the time adjustment information generating unit to generate the time adjustm
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 8169856
    Abstract: Techniques are described herein for synchronizing cluster time. According to one technique, a master node is appointed in a cluster. Other “slave” nodes periodically synchronize their clocks with the master node. To synchronize its clock with the master node, a slave node sends a timestamped message to the master node, which also timestamps the message and sends the message back to the slave node, which then timestamps the message again. Based on the timestamps, the slave node is able to determine the difference between the master node's clock's time and slave node's clock's time, compensating for the message travel time between master node and slave node. Depending on various circumstances, and based on the determined difference, the slave node adjusts its clock so that the time indicated by the slave node's clock at least begins to approach more closely the time indicated by the master node's clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Vikram Rai, Alok Srivastava, Angelo Pruscino, Sameer Joshi
  • Patent number: 8160184
    Abstract: A method for extracting time information from a received, amplitude-modulated time signal is provided. The method provides that the time signal is demodulated, the analog signal thus obtained is digitized by a comparator, and the digital signal thus obtained is analyzed to extract the time information. In addition, a characteristic value of the time duration of at least one signal phase of a specific signal level of the digital signal is compared to a target value, and a comparator threshold of the comparator is altered as a function of a result of the comparison such that the time duration of at least the applicable signal phase of the digital signal approaches the target value. In this way, an improved system sensitivity is achieved according to the invention in a receiver for receiving time signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventor: Horst Haefner
  • Publication number: 20120082008
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Oren E. Eliezer, Aditya Awasthi
  • Publication number: 20120075962
    Abstract: The present invention provides a piezoelectric vibration piece of tuning fork type which comprises a pair of arms extending in parallel to each other from a base. Each of the arms has a weight added section which has at least two bulges projecting in the opposite directions at different longitudinal locations along the respective arm, and the at least two bulges are shaped and located such that both arms are equal in weight and a gravity center of the respective arms is situated on a center line running longitudinally through the respective arms and at a same longitudinal location along the respective arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventor: Daishi Arimatsu
  • Patent number: 8144548
    Abstract: An electronic device corrects its device side time with a time correction information supplied from outside the device. The electronic device includes a reception section and a time correction section. The reception section receives the time correction information. The time correction section judges whether the information is received during any correction inhibiting periods of the device side time, then either discards the time correction information if it is received during the correction inhibiting periods, or corrects the device side time with the time correction information if it is received other than the correction inhibiting periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Tatsuya Gamo, Makoto Sugimoto, Yoshiaki Kikuchi, Yuko Nakajima, Makoto Nakano
  • Publication number: 20120051191
    Abstract: A time adjustment device having a time information generating unit that generates and outputs time information containing internal time data; a reception unit that receives satellite signals transmitted from a positioning information satellite in subframe information units; an external input unit that generates, through manual operation thereof, command information that instructs the reception unit to enter a reception mode; a reception timing start setup unit that, when in the reception mode, sets the start time of reception so that the subframe information units are acquired at the time determined by the internal time data; and a corrected time information storage unit that stores the satellite-time-related information as corrected time information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8125854
    Abstract: A satellite signal reception device according to an aspect of the invention comprises a reception operation unit that executes a reception operation process to receive a satellite signal transmitted from a positioning information satellite and generates positioning information from the satellite signal. The satellite signal has precise and coarse information orbit periods containing precise and coarse orbit information respectively for the positioning information satellite. The reception operation unit executes the reception operation process in the precise orbit information period, uses the coarse orbit information period as a suspended reception period, and pauses at least a part of the reception operation process in the suspended reception period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8116170
    Abstract: A timekeeping device has a reception unit that captures a positioning information satellite and receives satellite signals transmitted from the captured positioning information satellite, a time information generating unit that generates time information based on the satellite signal received by the reception unit, a time display unit that displays time information, and a reception control unit that controls the reception unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 8111586
    Abstract: An improved electronic device and method provide an improved clock feature that includes a time zone management function which enables multiple times from multiple time zones to be managed by the user. Responsive to a detection that the electronic device has been moved from one time zone to another, a dialog is initiated wherein the user is queried whether a current time on the electronic device should be changed and whether multiple times should be output on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Sherryl Lee Lorraine Scott, David Paul Yach
  • Patent number: 8111588
    Abstract: Two or more wirelessly networked devices for control or data acquisition functions for real-time application are provided with a error corrected synchronization and data collection process. A single start device transmits a start message, followed by each stop device acknowledging that start message. If one or more stop devices fails to acknowledge the initial start message, one or more start messages are transmitted including an elapsed time since the initial start message. Each stop device receives the initial start message and any subsequent start messages, using the elapsed time in the start message to synchronize a local timer. Upon stop event detection, each stop device records its local timer value and subsequently transmits that value to a collection device or console.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Inventor: Frederick E Frantz
  • Publication number: 20120026842
    Abstract: A time information acquiring apparatus includes: a first decoder which decodes a time code signal frame by frame so as to generate solo-decoded time information; a first determining section which determines consistency of the solo-decoded time information; a second decoder which combines detection data of the frames, and performs a code determination on the time code signal based on the combined detection data so as to generate sum-up-decoded time information; a second determining section which determines the consistency of the sum-up-decoded time information; and a controller which makes the first decoder generate the solo-decoded time information, the first determining section determine the consistency of the solo-decoded time information, the second decoder generate the sum-up decoded time information, and the second determining section determine the consistency of the sum-up-decoded time information in a predetermined order so as to extract time information having the consistency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Teruhisa Tokiwa, Takashi Sano
  • Publication number: 20120026841
    Abstract: Disclosed is a time information acquiring apparatus wherein: a second data acquiring section acquires a second data by measuring pulse signals of a frame of a time code signal during a period of time including a period of time a first data acquiring section acquires a first data which is stored in a first data storing section; and when a time data, which is generated by a decoder based on information on a starting point of the frame detected by a detecting section and the second data stored in a second data storing section, is determined as inconsistent by a consistency determining section, a controller makes the detecting section re-detect the starting point of the frame, and makes the decoder re-generate the time data based on a result of the re-detection of the starting point of the frame and the second data stored in the second data storing section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Teruhisa Tokiwa, Takashi Sano
  • Publication number: 20120020191
    Abstract: A wireless system and method comprises a plurality of master time sources, each master time source wireless transmitting time signals containing time data, a plurality of slave clocks, each of the slave clocks for wirelessly receiving time signals which cause the slave clocks to operate in synchronization with a source of the received time signals, the source of the received time signals for at least one of the slave clocks being the master time source and the source for each other one of the slave clocks being one of the master time source or another one of the slave clocks which receives and retransmits the time signals in repeater fashion; and wherein each of the slave clocks is associated and paired with the master time source from which the time signal is first transmitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventor: Ilan Shemesh
  • Publication number: 20120014226
    Abstract: A marker detecting apparatus includes: a signal input section where a time code signal is inputted; a level detecting section detecting a signal level of a pulse signal of the time code signal at points in a marker characteristic interval to detect a match between the pulse signal and an ideal marker pulse signal in the signal level; a first calculating section calculating a number of the detected matches so as to obtain a value thereof, and correlating the obtained value with a pulse position of the pulse signal, the pulse position being a same in any of frames of the time code signal; a second calculating section adding up the obtained values correlated with the pulse position in the frames; and a marker determining section determining at which pulse position in the frames a marker pulse signal is disposed, based on the added-up value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Teruhisa Tokiwa, Takashi Sano
  • Publication number: 20120014225
    Abstract: A radio controlled timepiece includes: a radio wave receiving section which outputs a time code signal; an indicator display section which performs a display regarding a reception condition; a level change detecting section which detects a change of a signal level of the time code signal in a predetermined detection interval in a period of 1 second; an indicator control section which controls a content of the display based on a number of times that the change of the detected signal level appears; and an interval setting section which specifies the detection interval as a whole interval of the period of 1 second during a detecting process of a synchronization point in the time code signal every 1 second, and narrows the detection interval to be a certain interval within the period of 1 second after a detection of the synchronization point every 1 second.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Teruhisa Tokiwa, Takashi Sano
  • Publication number: 20120008466
    Abstract: A time information acquiring apparatus for acquiring time information from a time code signal included in a standard radio wave, including: a pulse measuring section which detects a degree of proximity of an individual pulse signal constituting the time code signal to a predetermined code value; a grouping section which groups pulse signals into one group; a code string estimating section which estimates a code string having a possibility of emerging in a portion of the group in a frame of the time code signal; a code string determining section which determines a probability that the code string indicated by the grouped pulse signals corresponds to the estimated code string based on the degree of proximity; and a time information generating section which generates the time information based on the code string for which the code string determining section determines that the probability is high.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Teruhisa Tokiwa, Takashi Sano
  • Publication number: 20120002512
    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 200 has a dial 52 on the face 52a of which time is displayed, a flat antenna 11, and a solar cell 51. The flat antenna 11 is disposed on the back 52b side of the dial 52 vertically overlapping the dial 52 in a direction perpendicular to the dial 52, extends in the plane direction of the dial 52, and receives signals passing through the dial 52. The solar cell 51 is vertically disposed between the dial 52 and the flat antenna 11, and extends in the plane direction of the dial 52.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jun Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 8085623
    Abstract: Two or more wirelessly networked devices for control or data acquisition functions for real-time application are provided with a error corrected synchronization and data collection process. A single start device transmits a start message, followed by each stop device acknowledging that start message. If one or more stop devices fails to acknowledge the initial start message, one or more start messages are transmitted including an elapsed time since the initial start message. Each stop device receives the initial start message and any subsequent start messages, using the elapsed time in the start message to synchronize a local timer. Upon stop event detection, each stop device records its local timer value and subsequently transmits that value to a collection device or console.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Inventor: Frederick E Frantz
  • Publication number: 20110305119
    Abstract: Provided is a manufacturing method of a package including a plurality of substrates that are bonded to each other, a cavity that is formed inside the plurality of substrates, and through electrodes that conduct current between the inside of the cavity and the outside of the plurality of substrates. The through electrodes are each formed such that a conductive core portion made of a metal material is arranged in a hole portion of a through electrode forming substrate made of a glass material. The manufacturing method includes: a hole portion forming step of forming the hole portion, into which the core portion is inserted, in a through electrode forming substrate wafer; a core portion inserting step of inserting the core portion into the hole portion formed in the through electrode forming substrate wafer; a welding step of heating the through electrode forming substrate wafer and welding it to the core portion; and a cooling step of cooling the through electrode forming substrate wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventors: Masashi NUMATA, Kazuyoshi SUGAMA, Hiroshi HIGUCHI
  • Patent number: 8077551
    Abstract: A time adjustment device having a time information generating unit that produces time information and outputs the generated time information; a reception unit that receives satellite signals transmitted sequentially from a positioning information satellite in subframe information units where a plurality of subframe information units each containing satellite-time-related information and at least one subframe information unit containing satellite health information is a unit, the satellite-time-related information is the time-related information of the positioning information satellite, and the satellite health information denotes an operating condition of the positioning information satellite; an external input unit that outputs command information instructing the reception unit to receive in response to external input; a reception timing configuration unit that sets the start time of reception by the reception unit so that the satellite signal is received immediately or at a predetermined timing based on com
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8077808
    Abstract: Disclosed is a radio wave receiver including: a receiving unit to receive a radio wave including a time code in which a plurality of types of data pulse different in pulse width from one another are arranged with a predetermined period of time; a detection circuit to detect the time code in the radio wave received by the receiving unit to obtain a detected signal; a low-pass filter to pass low-frequency components in the detected signal detected by the detection circuit, a cutoff frequency of the low-pass filter being twice a transmit frequency of the data pulse or less; and a data distinction unit to distinguish the types of data pulse based on an output of the low-pass filter for at least one specific point of time during a transmit period of data pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kaoru Someya
  • Patent number: 8077550
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece has a reception unit that can receive satellite signals transmitted from positioning information satellites and acquire time information and positioning information; a time zone data storage component that stores region data dividing geographical information for which time zone information is set into a plurality of regions, and time zone information for each region; a time zone information acquisition component that extracts a region containing positioning information acquired by the reception unit from the region data, and acquires the time zone information for that region; a time zone information display that displays the time zone information acquired by the time zone information acquisition component as a time zone candidate; an input device; a time zone information selection component that selects time zone information from the time zone candidates displayed on the display based on operation of the input device; a time calculation component that calculates the current time based
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshikazu Akiyama
  • Patent number: 8072844
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece with an internal antenna has an antenna that has an elongated magnetic core formed from a magnetic body and a coil wound around the magnetic core, and can receive external wireless information, the magnetic core having a coil winding part to which the coil is wound in the lengthwise center part of the magnetic core, and a pair of lead parts extending from both ends of the coil winding part; a module that houses the antenna and processes the external wireless information; and a magnetic member that is positioned with a predetermined gap between the magnetic member and the lead part at a position that is not superposed on a coil-overlapping area that overlaps the coil winding part of the antenna and is superposed on at least a part of a lead-overlapping area that overlaps the pair of lead parts when the electronic timepiece with internal antenna is viewed in plan view from the timepiece thickness direction of the electronic timepiece with internal antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Fumiaki Miyahara
  • Patent number: 8072845
    Abstract: An electric wave receiving apparatus obtains the received data in a partial period, and judges the timing of the received data in which partial data has been received by comparing the received data with the partial data. Thereby, the electric wave receiving apparatus performs correction of the second data of timing data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kaoru Someya
  • Publication number: 20110292769
    Abstract: A lightweight radio/CD player for vehicular application is virtually “fastenerless” and includes a case and frontal interface formed of polymer based material that is molded to provide details to accept audio devices such as playback mechanisms (if desired) and radio receivers, as well as the circuit boards required for electrical control and display. The case and frontal interface are of composite structure, including an insert molded electrically conductive wire mesh screen that has been pre-formed to contour with the molding operation. The wire mesh provides EMC, RFI, BCI and ESD shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips. The PCB architecture is bifurcated into a first board carrying common circuit components in a surface mount configuration suitable for high volume production, and a second board carrying application specific circuit components in a wave soldered stick mount configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: CHRIS R. SNIDER, Vineet Gupta, Joseph K. Huntzinger, Michael G. Coady, Curtis Allen Stapert, Kevin Earl Meyer, Timothy D. Garner, Jeffrey T. Bell, Robert L. Vadas, Donald G. Moeschberger, Allen E. Oberlin, Paul C. Burton, Dan D. Carman, Gary L. Stahl, John Michael Matly, Rick L. Hatcher, Edgar Glenn Hassler, Quan N. Nguyen, William R. Reed, Kip R. Piel, Jerry J. Wendling, Tim A. Kenworthy, Paul A. Uglum, Michael E. Fye, Philip M. Scott
  • Patent number: 8059053
    Abstract: An antenna that can ensure a sufficient radio receiving level and a radio-wave receiving device on which the antenna is equipped are provided. The antenna includes a columnar magnetic core formed by a ferromagnetic body, a coil portion wound around the magnetic core, a flat-plate state extension portion extended from an end portion of the magnetic core, and a standing portion provided at least on a one-direction face of the extension portion. Such antenna is suitable for installation on a wrist-watch type radio controlled timepiece, particularly requiring a reduction in size and weight. By this arrangement, while the time display dial is more easily viewable, the radio controlled timepiece ensures that a sufficient standard-wave receiving level is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Miyazaki, Nobuhiro Sato
  • Patent number: 8054175
    Abstract: A portable type information transmitting apparatus has a bionic information measuring section that outputs bionic information in accordance with a detected bionic signal. A standard radio wave receiving section receives a standard radio wave including current time information. A time counting section counts time. A time correcting section corrects the time counted by the time counting section based on the standard radio wave received by the standard radio wave section. A transmission data generating section generates transmission data including first time information corresponding to the time counted by the time counting section and the bionic information from the bionic information measuring section. A data transmission section transmits the transmission data generated by the transmission data generating section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuo Kato, Akira Takakuka
  • Publication number: 20110261659
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing packages having contents sealed therein, including: a step of forming cavities in a plurality of package forming areas on a first wafer; a step of bonding the first wafer and a second wafer while arranging the contents in the cavities; and a step of irradiating a bonded wafer member with a laser and separating the packages into pieces, characterized in that dummy cavities are formed on an outside of the package forming area in an outermost periphery of the first wafer in the cavity forming step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventor: Junya Fukuda
  • Publication number: 20110261658
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a piezoelectric vibrator according to the invention is a method of manufacturing a piezoelectric vibrator in which a piezoelectric vibrating reed is sealed in a cavity formed between a base substrate and a lid substrate bonded to each other, the method including the steps of: inserting a core portion of a conductive rivet member, which includes a planar head portion and the core portion extending in a direction vertically to the surface of the head portion, into a penetration hole of the base substrate and bringing the head portion of the rivet member into contact with a first surface of the base substrate; attaching a laminate material having elastic properties to the first surface of the base substrate so as to cover the head portion; applying a paste-like glass frit on a second surface of the base substrate and filling the glass frit in the penetration hole; and baking and curing the glass frit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Yoichi Funabiki, Masashi Numata, Kazuyoshi Sugama
  • Publication number: 20110255378
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a package capable of sealing an electronic component in a cavity formed between a plurality of substrates bonded to each other includes a penetration electrode forming step of forming a penetration electrode which passes through a first substrate of the plurality of substrates in the thickness direction and which electrically connects the inside of the cavity and the outside of the package to each other. The package manufacturing method is characterized in that the penetration electrode forming step includes a through hole forming step of forming a through hole for disposing the penetration electrode in the first substrate and a filling step of filling a filler into the through hole under a decompressed atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventors: Yoichi Funabiki, Masashi Numata, Kazuyoshi Sugama
  • Publication number: 20110255377
    Abstract: A time information acquisition apparatus comprises an input waveform data pattern generator configured to sample a standard time radio wave signal in order to generate an input waveform data pattern, a predicted waveform data pattern generator configured to generate predicted waveform data patterns, represents a string of codes based on a base time, and has a head position, an error detector configured to detect non-coincidence between the input waveform data pattern and each of the predicted waveform data patterns in order to acquire a number of errors indicative of a number of non-coincidences, a current time correction module configured to correct the base time based on the predicted waveform data pattern indicative of a minimum value of the number of errors, and a controller configured to determine the number of predicted waveform data patterns to be generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideo Abe