Abstract: A timepiece includes a timepiece movement provided with an analog display and at least one wheel rotating integrally with a rotary indicator of the analog display. The wheel includes an electrically conductive plate pierced with at least one aperture. The timepiece also includes a device for detection of a reference angular position of the aperture. The detection device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a common electrode which are planar and arranged in a plane parallel to the wheel. The common electrode is arranged along portions of the first electrode and of the second electrode. The aperture is at least partially above or below: the first electrode in a first position of disequilibrium; the first electrode and the second electrode in a position of equilibrium; and the second electrode in a second position of disequilibrium.

Abstract: The mechanical timepiece movement includes at least one barrel, a set of gear wheels driven at one end by the barrel, and an escapement mechanism of a local oscillator with a resonator in the form of a sprung balance and a feedback system for the timepiece movement. The escapement mechanism is driven at another end of the set of gear wheels. The feedback system includes at least one precise reference oscillator combined with a frequency comparator to compare the frequency of the two oscillators and a mechanism for regulating the local oscillator resonator to slow down or accelerate the resonator based on the result of a comparison in the frequency comparator.

Abstract: Calendar repair may be provided. Calendar events, such as appointments and meetings, may be created and copied to a plurality of attendee calendars. A first copy of the event may be compared to a second copy of the event, and an event property of the second event may be updated to match a corresponding event property of the first event.

Abstract: An electric vehicle charging station, which does not include a battery-backed Real Time Clock, is in a charging station network managed by a charging station network server. Upon booting, the charging station requests actual real time from a remote source. While the charging station has not received the actual real time, it records the time of charging station specific events in a local system time format that resets when the charging station loses power. The charging station maintains the events recorded in their local system time until actual time is received. When actual real time is received, the charging station synchronizes its local system clock with the actual real time and converts the time of each event into real time format. When actual time is received, the charging station converts the time of each event into real time format. After the time of the events are converted to real time format, they are communicated to the charging station network server for further processing.

Abstract: A wireless communication system (20) includes a base station controller (22) that receives timing information from a data set (26) that is generated by a neural network (28). The data set (26) allows for generating timing information based upon previous time information received from a GPS (24) and in one example, is capable of covering a time interval of up to two weeks during which effective communication with the GPS may be interrupted. In one example, the data set is continuously updated so that the base station controller (24) continuously has up to two weeks of future time information available.

Abstract: A master generator that updates time data of remote devices comprises an acquisition module, a clock module, an encoding module, and a transmission module. The acquisition module acquires time data representing current time of day. The clock module receives and stores the time data from the acquisition module and periodically updates the time data. The encoding module encodes the time data from the clock module into time messages. The transmission module selectively superimposes the time messages onto a power signal.

Abstract: An appointment system for synchronizing disparate electronic calendars of a plurality of remote electronic devices is disclosed. The system includes a primary electronic calendar having a memory for storing information from the remote electronic devices. A processing means processes the information received from remote electronic devices that are connected to an electronic network. The primary electronic calendar utilizes a remote device access means to access each remote electronic device. The primary electronic calendar reads from and writes to each remote electronic calendar through one of the at least one remote device translation means thereby synchronizing the electronic calendar of each remote electronic device with the primary electronic calendar. Appointments, events and reminder maintained on any one of the electronic devices are displayed on all the remote electronic devices associated with the electronic network.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the invention provides a method of synchronizing a clock included in a device. According to one embodiment, the method includes acts of: (a) receiving with the device a clock signal including a time standard provided by a reference clock; (b) determining an elapsed time since a prior receipt of a clock signal including a time standard provided by the reference clock; (c) determining an error between a time provided by the clock signal received in act (a) and a time maintained by the clock included in the device; and (d) adjusting the time maintained by the clock included in the device to correct for the error determined by act (c), where the reference clock comprises an atomic clock.

Abstract: Provided is a self-calibrating time code generator and method for generating an accurate time code (e.g., an accurate IRIG waveform). The self-calibrating time code generator includes a phase-locked loop configured to provide a generated output signal based on a phase difference between an absolute time reference signal and a compensated generated input signal, an IRIG encoder configured to couple a present time value with the generated output signal to form an IRIG waveform, a delay difference indicator configured to provide a time interval value based on a comparison of corresponding pulse edges of the generated output signal and the IRIG waveform, and a numerical delay component configured to delay the generated output signal by the time interval value to form the compensated generated input signal used to time-align the IRIG waveform with the absolute time reference signal to form the accurate IRIG waveform.

Abstract: Information usable in determining the quality of time produced by a clock of a processing environment is obtained. The information is obtained directly by an application program absent use of a supervisor service, such as an operating system or operating system service. The application program invokes an instruction that returns a parameter block that includes the information.

Abstract: A radio-controlled clock (RCC) for receiving and decoding a transmitted time signal to display a precise time in accordance with a time standard. A light emitting diode (LED) display emits sufficient light for easy readability under all lighting conditions, including the time numerals. A signal reception indicator remains lit if the RCC has successfully decoded a time signal. If the time signal is currently being received and decoded, the signal reception indicator flashes. If the decoding is unsuccessful, the signal reception indicator will be unlit until the next decoding attempt. A power transformer to supply current to electronic circuitry contained within in the housing of the RCC is located in the power line cord, as at the plug end, to minimize electromagnetic interference with the decoding of the time signals. A signal strength indicator may have multiple segments to indicate if the received signal is strong, medium, weak or too weak for decoding.

Abstract: In an analog electrical timepiece with a motor coil, when an external operating member is in a prescribed operating condition, the operating mode of the analog electrical timepiece is set to the data receive mode. Next, the analog timepiece generates a synchronization signal which is in synchronized to an external synchronization signal that is input from outside. Then, the analog electrical timepiece, when the operating mode is the data receive mode by the detection circuit, based on a synchronization signal and a data voltage signal that is a voltage signal induced around the motor coil by a data signal input from outside, generates and outputs a receive data.

Abstract: In an analog electrical timepiece with a motor coil, when an external operating member is in a prescribed operating condition, the operating mode of the analog electrical timepiece is set to the data receive mode. Next, the analog timepiece generates a synchronization signal which is in synchronized to an external synchronization signal that is input from outside. Then, the analog electrical timepiece, when the operating mode is the data receive mode by the detection circuit, based on a synchronization signal and a data voltage signal that is a voltage signal induced around the motor coil by a data signal input from outside, generates and outputs a receive data.

Abstract: A data transmission/reception system for wrist-type electronic timepiece. The data transmission/reception system for electronic timepieces comprises a data transmission device for generating data signals, and an electronic timepiece that receives data signals from the data transmission device by utilizing a coil for driving the hands, wherein the electronic timepiece is provided with a timing signal-generating means which generates a timing signal, and the data transmission device is provided with a timing signal-receiving means which receives the timing signals output from said hand-driving coil and transmits data signals in synchronism with the timing signals that are received. The data are transmitted and received in an ordinary hand-moving state without halting the timepiece while the functions are being operated. Therefore, there is no need of adjusting the time after the operation of the functions.

Abstract: A novel and useful mechanism for measuring the time duration between asynchronous events. The mechanism utilizes two metastability resolvers, one for detecting the rising edge of the input signal and one for detecting its falling edge. The input signal is typically assumed to have some known nominal clock rate, but its exact frequency and phase (timing of transitions) are not known. Each of the two metastability resolvers comprises two branches of cascaded flip flops, each clocked off the rising edge and falling edge of a fast clock. Each metastability resolver functions to output an edge event signal and a clock phase signal indicating which edge of the fast clock the rising (or falling) edge of the data signal was closer to. The edge event signals are used to start and stop a counter clocked off the fast clock. The clock phase is used to correct (i.e. compensate) the counter value depending on which half cycle of the fast clock the rising and falling edge of the data signal arrived in.

Abstract: A data transmission/reception system for wrist-type electronic timepiece. The data transmission/reception system for electronic timepieces comprises a data transmission device for generating data signals, and an electronic timepiece that receives data signals from the data transmission device by utilizing a coil for driving the hands, wherein the electronic timepiece is provided with a timing signal-generating means which generates a timing signal, and the data transmission device is provided with a timing signal-receiving means which receives the timing signals output from said hand-driving coil and transmits data signals in synchronism with the timing signals that are received. The data are transmitted and received in an ordinary hand-moving state without halting the timepiece while the functions are being operated. Therefore, there is no need of adjusting the time after the operation of the functions.

Abstract: A self adjusting clock system operable to provide a uniform time display on clocks throughout a facility including a master time-keeper, a plurality of slave time-keepers, and a time-keeping correction apparatus for correcting time of the slave time-keepers in accordance with the master timekeeper. The master time-keeper keeps the correct time and is operable to generate a master signal representative of a time correction. This master signal is then received by the time-keeping correction apparatus and analyzed in combination with other applicable information. The time-keeping correction apparatus supplies a slave correction signal to the slave time-keepers. The slave time-keepers independently keep and display the slave time-keeper time and respond to the slave correction signal to correct their slave time-keeper time when it deviates from the correct time kept by the master time-keeper.

Abstract: A master secondary clock system of the analog impulse type consisting of separate motor driven secondary clocks and a master control unit. The secondary clocks can be set at any time by an appropriate signal from the master clock so that even widely scattered secondary clocks can be brought at any time to the correct time. In one disclosed embodiment, the secondary clocks are moved by a series of rapid pulses form the master clock to a predetermined known time, the secondary clocks are brought into registry, the master clock calculates the time disparity between the registration time and the real time, and the secondary clocks are moved in unison to the real time.

Abstract: A master/secondary clock system of the impulse type consisting of stepper motor driven secondary clocks and a master control unit. At five minutes before a predetermined registration time, for example 6:00, the sensor of each secondary clock movement is activated by a reverse polarity signal from the master control unit and a series of reset pulses are thereafter transmitted to the secondary clocks with each secondary clock stopping as the window in its drive train gear moves into alignment with the emitter and detector of its sensor mechanism. After this five minute pulse reset phase to correct clocks that are five or less minutes fast, the master control unit transmits a rapid pulse train so as to quickly move all of the remaining clocks to the 6:00 position with each clock being halted at the 6:00 position by movement of the window of its gear into alignment with the emitter and detector of the sensor mechanism of that clock.

Abstract: A switching arrangement comprises a spring-loaded clockwork movement and a switch to control a device, the movement of the spring itself, as it is tensioned or becomes substantially de-tensioned, being utilized to operate the switch.