Automatically corrected electronic timepiece

• US 4,023,344 A
• Filed: 09/03/1975
• Issued: 05/17/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha
• Inventors: Mukaiyama, Fumiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Rubinson, Gene Z.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US05/610,022
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 58/23 R, 58/24 R, 58/35 W, 58/85.5, 318/16
• US Class Current: 368/47
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/26 the radio signal being a near-field communication signal

Abstract

An electronic timepiece assembly for automatically correcting the time displayed by a digital display electronic timepiece is provided. A first time standard electronic timepiece accurately counts present time, such standard electronic timepiece including a transmitter for selectively transmitting setting signals representative of the present time counted by the time standard timepiece. A further digital display electronic timepiece includes a timekeeping circuit for producing timekeeping signals and digital display means for displaying the present time in response to the timekeeping signals. The further electronic timepiece includes a receiver for selectively receiving the setting signals transmitted by the time standard electronic timepiece transmitter, and correction circuitry coupled to the timekeeping circuitry for automatically correcting the count of the timekeeping circuit in response to the setting signals selectively received by the receiver.

Claims

1. An electronic timepiece assembly for automatically correcting the time display of a digital display electronic timepiece comprising in combination a first time standard electronic timepiece for accurately counting present time, said time standard electronic timepiece including transmitter means for selectively transmitting setting signals representative of the present time count of said time standard timepiece, and a further digital display electronic timepiece including timekeeping circuit means for producing timekeeping signals representative of the count thereof and digital display means for displaying time in response to said timekeeping signals, said further electronic timepiece further including receiver means for selectively receiving the setting signals representative of the count of present time transmitted by said time standard electronic timepiece transmitter means, and correction means coupled to the timekeeping means for automatically correcting the count of said timekeeping circuit means in response to the setting signals selectively received by said receiver means.

2. An electronic timepiece assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said timekeeping circuit means of said further electronic timepiece includes a plurality of series connected divider stages for respectively producing timekeeping signals representative of digits of time, at least a selected group of said divider stages being adapted to be preset to a selected count upon the application of a preset signal and a control signal to each of said respective stages to be preset, said correction means being adapted to store said setting signals as preset signals for application to respective divider stages, and being further adapted to produce a control signal when all of said setting signals required to preset said divider stages are stored in said correction means and apply said control signal to said divider stages to be preset to effect presetting of same to the count represented by said setting signals.

3. An electronic timepiece assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said time standard electronic timepiece includes operating means adapted to receive said further digital display electronic timepiece and position same proximate said time standard electronic timepiece transmitter means.

4. An electronic timepiece assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said further electronic timepiece includes control means adapted for selective disposition in a locking mode and in an unlocking mode, said control means being connected intermediate said receiver means and said correction means for selectively applying said setting signal to said correction means for storage therein when said control means is in its unlocking mode but preventing transmission of said setting signal to said correction means when said control means is in its locking mode.

5. An electronic timepiece assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said control means includes switching means for selecting between said locking and unlocking modes.

6. An electronic timepiece assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said switching means is a manually operated two-position switch.

7. An electronic timepiece assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said further electronic timepiece includes oscillator means for producing a high frequency time standard signal, said series connected divider stages being adapted to produce low frequency time keeping signals and at least one intermediate frequency signal in response to said high frequency time standard signal applied thereto, said correction means including internal clock pulse generator means for receiving said intermediate frequency signal and said setting signals, and in response thereto, produce a synchronizing signal for gating said setting signals into said correction means for storage.

8. An electronic timepiece assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein said correction circuit means includes first circuit means for resetting said divider stages upon the switching of said control means from its locked to its unlocked mode and upon the receipt of a predetermined number of pulses of said setting signal, said internal clock pulse generator means thereafter receiving said intermediate frequency signal for production of said synchronizing signal.

9. An electronic timepiece assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein said internal clock pulse generator means includes means for inhibiting the production of said synchronizing signal upon receipt of said control signal.

10. An electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 8, wherein said internal clock pulse generator means includes means for inhibiting the production of said synchronizing signal upon receipt of said control signal.

11. An electronic timepiece assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said time standard electronic timepiece operating means includes a recess for receiving and positioning said further electronic timepiece proximate said time standard electronic timepiece transmitter means.

12. A digital display electronic wristwatch adapted to have the time displayed thereby automatically corrected in response to setting signals representative of the count of present time transmitted from a remote source comprising timekeeping circuit means including a plurality of series-connected divider stages for respectively producing timekeeping signals representative of the count thereof, digital display means for displaying time in response to said timekeeping signals, receiver means for selectively receiving said setting signals, and correction means coupled to a selected group of said divider stages for automatically correcting the count of said divider stages to the count of present time in response to the setting signals transmitted by the remote source being selectively received by the receiver means.

13. An electronic timepiece assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein said selected group of said divider stages is adapted to be preset to a selected count upon the application of a preset signal and a control signal to each of said respective stages to be preset, said correction means being adapted to store said setting signals as preset signals for application to respective divider stages and being further adapted to produce a control signal when all of said setting signals required to preset said divider stage are stored in said correction means and apply said control signal to said divider stages to be preset to effect presetting of same to the count represented by said setting signals.

14. An electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 13, and including control means adapted for selective disposition in a locking mode and in an unlocking mode, said control means being connected intermediate said receiver means and said correction means for selectively applying said setting signals to said correction means for storage therein when said control means is disposed in an unlocking mode but preventing transmission of said setting signal to said correction means when said control means is disposed in said locking mode.

15. An electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 14, wherein said control means includes switching means for selecting between said locking and unlocking modes.

16. An electronic timepiece as claimed in claim 14, and including oscillator means for producing a high frequency time standard signal, said series-connected divider stages being adapted to produce low frequency timekeeping signals and at least one intermediate frequency signal in response to said high frequency time standard signal applied thereto, said correction means including internal clock pulse generator means for receiving said intermediate frequency signal and said setting signals, and in response thereto, producing a synchronizing signal for gating said setting signals into said correction means for storage.

17. An electronic timepiece assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein said correction circuit means includes first circuit means for resetting said divider stages upon the switching of said control means from said locked to said unlocked mode and upon receipt of a predetermined number of pulses of said setting signal, said internal clock pulse generator means thereafter receiving said intermediate frequency signal for production of said synchronizing signal.