Wireless Communications Device Providing Temperature-Compensated Clock Correction Features and Related Methods

• US 20080144754A1
• Filed: 12/14/2006
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Goldsmith, Michael Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,233,898 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/354
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/04 Speed or phase control by synchronisation signals H04L7/0075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

A wireless communications device may include a portable housing and a temperature-compensated clock circuit carried by the portable housing. The device may further include a wireless receiver carried by the portable housing for receiving timing signals, when available, from a wireless network, and a satellite positioning clock circuit carried by the portable housing. A clock correction circuit may be carried by the portable housing for correcting the temperature-compensated clock circuit based upon timing signals from the wireless network when available, and storing historical correction values for corresponding temperatures. The clock correction circuit may also correct the temperature-compensated clock circuit based upon the stored historical correction values when timing signals are unavailable from the wireless network, and correct the satellite positioning clock based upon the temperature-compensated clock circuit.

Claims

1. A wireless communications device comprising:

a portable housing;

a temperature-compensated clock circuit carried by said portable housing;

a wireless receiver carried by said portable housing for receiving timing signals, when available, from a wireless network;

a satellite positioning clock circuit carried by said portable housing; and

at least one clock correction circuit carried by said portable housing for

correcting said temperature-compensated clock circuit based upon timing signals from the wireless network when available, and storing historical correction values for corresponding temperatures,

correcting said temperature-compensated clock circuit based upon the stored historical correction values when timing signals are unavailable from the wireless network, and

correcting said satellite positioning clock based upon said temperature-compensated clock circuit.

2. The wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said wireless receiver comprises a cellular receiver.

3. The wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said wireless receiver comprises a satellite positioning receiver.

4. The wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said temperature-compensated clock circuit comprises a voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit;

and wherein the historical correction values comprise voltage correction values for said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit.

5. The wireless communications device of claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor carried by said portable housing and connected to said at least one clock correction circuit.

6. The wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said at least one clock correction circuit comprises a processor.

7. The wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said satellite positioning clock circuit comprises a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO).

8. The wireless communications device of claim 1 further comprising an analog-to-digital converter coupled between said temperature-compensated clock circuit and said at least one clock correction circuit.

9. The wireless communications device of claim 1 further comprising a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) coupled between said at least one clock correction circuit and said temperature-compensated clock circuit.

10. A wireless communications device comprising:

a portable housing;

a temperature-compensated clock circuit carried by said portable housing;

a cellular receiver carried by said portable housing for receiving timing signals, when available, from a wireless network;

a satellite positioning clock circuit carried by said portable housing;

a satellite positioning receiver carried by said portable housing and connected to said satellite positioning clock; and

at least one clock correction circuit carried by said portable housing for

correcting said temperature-compensated clock circuit based upon timing signals from the wireless network when available, and storing historical correction values for corresponding temperatures,

correcting said temperature-compensated clock circuit based upon the stored historical correction values when timing signals are unavailable from the wireless network, and

correcting said satellite positioning clock based upon said temperature-compensated clock circuit.

11. The wireless communications device of claim 10 wherein said temperature-compensated clock circuit comprises a voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit;

and wherein the historical correction values comprise voltage correction values for said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit.

12. The wireless communications device of claim 10 further comprising a temperature sensor carried by said portable housing adjacent the temperature-compensated clock circuit and connected to said at least one clock correction circuit.

13. The wireless communications device of claim 10 wherein said satellite positioning clock circuit comprises a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO).

14. The wireless communications device of claim 10 further comprising an analog-to-digital converter coupled between said temperature-compensated clock circuit and said at least one clock correction circuit.

15. A clock correction method for a wireless communications device comprising a portable housing, a temperature-compensated clock circuit carried by the portable housing, a wireless receiver carried by the portable housing for receiving timing signals, when available, from a wireless network, and a satellite positioning clock circuit carried by the portable housing, the method comprising:

when timing signals are available from the wireless network, correcting the temperature-compensated clock circuit based upon the timing signals and storing historical correction values for corresponding temperatures;

when timing signals are unavailable from the wireless network, correcting the temperature-compensated clock circuit based upon the stored historical correction values; and

correcting the satellite positioning clock circuit based upon the temperature-compensated clock circuit.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the wireless receiver comprises a cellular receiver.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the wireless receiver comprises a satellite positioning receiver.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the temperature-compensated clock circuit comprises a voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit;

and wherein the historical correction values comprise voltage correction values for the voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the wireless communications device further includes a temperature sensor carried by the portable housing adjacent the temperature-compensated clock circuit and connected to the clock correction circuit.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the satellite positioning clock circuit comprises a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO).