WIRELESS SYNCHRONOUS TIME SYSTEM WITH SOLAR POWERED TRANSCEIVER

• US 20080159080A1
• Filed: 03/12/2008
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Darrel L. Thompson, Derek J. Brykowski, James F. Stoffer, Jerald M. Cayo, Mark A. Abbott, Terrence J O'Neill
• Original Assignee: Darrel L. Thompson, Derek J. Brykowski, James F. Stoffer, Jerald M. Cayo, Mark A. Abbott, Terrence J O'Neill
• Inventors: O'Neill, Terrence J., Brykowski, Derek J., Cayo, Jerald M., Abbott, Mark A., Stoffer, James F., Thompson, Darrel L.
• Application Number:
  US12/046,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20080159080A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/47
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 10/02 the power supply being a radioactive or photovoltaic source
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 15/00 Time-pieces comprising means to be operated at preselected times or after preselected time intervals G04G11/00, G04G13/00 take precedence; electronic timers G04F1/005; pulse delay circuits H03K5/13; electronic time-delay switches H03K17/28; electronic time-programme switches which automatically terminate their operation after the programme is completed H03K17/296
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 3/00 Producing timing pulses driving circuits for stepping motors G04C3/14; producing preselected time intervals for use as timing standards G04F5/00; pulse technique in general H03K; control, synchronisation, or stabilisation of generators in general H03L
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/0005 Transmission of control signals

Abstract

A primary device for a synchronous event system. In one construction, the primary device includes a solar panel operable to convert light into electricity; a receiver operable to receive a global positioning system time signal; a processor coupled to the receiver and operable to process the global positioning system time signal to produce a processed time component; an internal clock coupled to the processor and operable to store the processed time component and to increment relative to the processed time component thereafter to produce an internal time; and a transmitter coupled to the processor and operable to transmit the internal time to a secondary device for wireless reception by the secondary device and synchronization of the secondary device relative to the primary device.

Claims

1. A synchronous event system comprising:

a primary device including

a solar panel operable to convert light into electricity,

a first receiver operable to receive a global positioning system time signal,

a first processor coupled to the first receiver and operable to process the global positioning system time signal to produce a processed time component,

a first internal clock coupled to the first processor and operable to store the processed time component and to increment relative to the processed time component thereafter to produce a first internal time, and

a transmitter coupled to the first processor and operable to transmit the first internal time; and

a secondary device including

a second receiver operable to wirelessly receive the first internal time,

a second processor coupled to the second receiver, and

a second internal clock coupled to the second receiver and operable to store the first internal time and to increment relative to the first internal time thereafter to produce a second internal time.

2. The synchronous event system of claim 1, wherein the solar panel is further operable to provide at least a portion of the electricity to at least one of the first receiver, the first processor, the first internal clock, and the transmitter.

3. The synchronous event system of claim 1, wherein the primary device further includes at least one power storage device.

4. The synchronous event system of claim 3, wherein the at least one power storage device is operable to be charged by the electricity.

5. The synchronous event system of claim 3, wherein the at least one power storage device is operable to provide power to at least one of the first receiver, the first processor, the first internal clock, and the transmitter.

6. The synchronous event system of claim 1, wherein the first processor is further operable to adjust the time signal based on a time zone adjustment.

7. The synchronous event system of claim 1, wherein the first processor is further operable to adjust the time signal based on a daylight savings time adjustment.

8. The synchronous event system of claim 1, wherein the primary device further includes a memory coupled to the first processor and operable to store a programmed instruction including a time element.

9. The synchronous event system of claim 8, wherein the transmitter is further operable to transmit the programmed instruction.

10. The synchronous event system of claim 9, wherein the second receiver is further configured to receive the programmed instruction.

11. The synchronous event system of claim 10, wherein the secondary device further includes an event switch operable to execute the programmed instruction when the second internal time matches the time element.

12. The synchronous event system of claim 1, wherein the primary device is mounted at an angle of approximately 130 degrees with respect to a horizontal reference line.

13. The synchronous event system of claim 1, wherein the secondary device further includes a display operable to display the second internal time.

14. The synchronous event system of claim 1, wherein the first processor is further operable to determine a processing time and to use the processing time to produce the processed time component.

15. The synchronous event system of claim 1, wherein the first processor is further operable to perform a diagnostic test and to generate at least one test result, and wherein the transmitter is further operable to transmit the at least one test result.

16. The synchronous event system of claim 15, wherein the second receiver is further operable to wirelessly receive the at least one test result.

17. The synchronous event system of claim 15, wherein the primary device further includes a display operable to display the at least one test result.

18. The synchronous event system of claim 15, wherein the secondary device further includes a display operable to display the at least one test result.

19. The synchronous event system of claim 1, wherein the primary device further includes at least one port coupled to the first processor and operable to connect the primary device to an external device.

20. The synchronous event system of claim 1, wherein the secondary device further includes at least one port coupled to the second processor and operable to connect the secondary device to an external device.