Radio synchronized time-keeping apparatus and method
First Claim
1. In a time controller system of the type which supplies electrical timing pulses of a predetermined pulse rate derived from a frequency source to one or a plurality of clocks for driving the respective clock mechanisms included therein in response to the number of timing pulses received and wherein said system includes means for increasing or decreasing the timing pulse rate relative to said predetermined pulse rate for advancing or retarding the time indication of said clocks, the improvement comprising:
- synchronizer circuit means coupled to said system for automatically controlling said means for increasing or decreasing the timing pulse rate following at least one timing pulse measurement period, which period is derived from signals received from a predetermined standard signal source;
radio receiver means coupled to said synchronizer circuit means and being operatively responsive to a WWV signal broadcast by the National Bureau of Standards, said receiver means providing a tone output signal at one minute intervals and wherein said synchronizer circuit means is responsive to said tone output signal and includes circuit means for generating digital signals for defining said pulse measurement period in response to said tone output signals;
said synchronizer circuit means additionally includes means for inhibiting operation of said one or a plurality of clocks until the occurrence of the first said WWV signal following power being applied to the system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A synchronizer comprised of a combination of integrated circuits including logic gates, latches and counters designed to interface with a master time controller to provide a means of linking the accuracy of the time controller to a time reference provided by the WWV signal broadcast by the National Bureau of Standards.
28 Citations
24 Claims
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1. In a time controller system of the type which supplies electrical timing pulses of a predetermined pulse rate derived from a frequency source to one or a plurality of clocks for driving the respective clock mechanisms included therein in response to the number of timing pulses received and wherein said system includes means for increasing or decreasing the timing pulse rate relative to said predetermined pulse rate for advancing or retarding the time indication of said clocks, the improvement comprising:
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synchronizer circuit means coupled to said system for automatically controlling said means for increasing or decreasing the timing pulse rate following at least one timing pulse measurement period, which period is derived from signals received from a predetermined standard signal source; radio receiver means coupled to said synchronizer circuit means and being operatively responsive to a WWV signal broadcast by the National Bureau of Standards, said receiver means providing a tone output signal at one minute intervals and wherein said synchronizer circuit means is responsive to said tone output signal and includes circuit means for generating digital signals for defining said pulse measurement period in response to said tone output signals; said synchronizer circuit means additionally includes means for inhibiting operation of said one or a plurality of clocks until the occurrence of the first said WWV signal following power being applied to the system.
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2. In a time controller system of the type which supplies electrical timing pulses of a predetermined pulse rate derived from a frequency source to one or a plurality of clocks for driving the respective clock mechanisms included therein in response to the number of timing pulses received and wherein said system includes means for increasing or decreasing the timing pulse rate relative to said predetermined pulse rate for advancing or retarding the time indication of said clocks, the improvement comprising:
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synchronizer circuit means coupled to said system for automatically controlling said means for increasing or decreasing the timing pulse rate following at least one timing pulse measurement period, which period is derived from signals received from a predetermined standard signal souce; radio receiver means coupled to said synchronizer circuit means and being operatively responsive to a WWV signal broadcast by the National Bureau of Standards, said receiver means providing a tone output signal at one minute intervals and wherein said synchronizer circuit means is responsive to said tone output signal and includes circuit means for generating digital signals for defining said pulse measurement period in response to said tone output signals; said synchronizer circuit means additionally includes discriminator means for discriminating against false tone signals, said discriminator means providing a signal for rendering operative said synchronizer circuit means after a minimum duration of time upon the occurrence of said tone output signal. - View Dependent Claims (3)
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4. In a time controller system of the type which supplies electrical timing pulses of a predetermined pulse rate derived from a frequency source to one or a plurality of clocks for driving the respective clock mechanisms included therein in response to the number of timing pulses received and wherein said system includes means for increasing or decreasing the timing pulse rate relative to said predetermined pulse rate for advancing or retarding the time indication of said clocks, the improvement comprising:
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synchronizer circuit means coupled to said system for automatically controlling said means for increasing or decreasing the timing pulse rate following at least one timing pulse measurement period, which period is derived from signals received from a predetermined standard signal source; circuit means for receiving periodic signals from said standard signal source and providing periodic output signals in accordance therewith; and wherein said synchronizer circuit means comprises; timing pulse counter circuit means coupled to said system timing pulses and providing a count output signal therefrom; digital circuit means coupled to said receiving circuit means and being adapted to generate a digital pulse coincident with each of said periodic output signals from said receiving circuit means; decoder circuit means coupled to said counter circuit means and said digital circuit means and being responsive to said digital pulse to decode the count level of said counter circuit means and provide a first control signal for a first count level range and a second control signal for a second count level range; timer circuit means coupled to said decoder circuit means and being triggered thereby to provide a time control signal which is fed back to said decoder circuit means to inhibit further operation of said decoder circuit means until a subsequent digital pulse from said digital circuit means is generated; retard circuit means coupled to said decoder circuit means and being responsive to said first control signal to produce a signal coupled back to said means for increasing or decreasing the timing pulse rate and being operative to effect a decrease of the timing pulse rate; and advance circuit means coupled to said decoder circuit means and being responsive to said second control signal to provide a signal coupled to said means for increasing or decreasing the timing pulse rate and being operative to effect and increase of the timing pulse rate. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of synchronizing time keeping accuracy of a master time controller system to a standard time signal wherein the time controller system drives one or more clocks by means of electrical timing pulses applied thereto from a source comprising the steps of:
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sensing the time interval between said standard time signals; counting the number of said electrical timing pulses during said interval; and thereafter eliminating a predetermined number of timing pulses for a subsequent second time interval less than said predetermined time interval in the event a first count level is counted and increasing the number of electrical timing pulses for said second time interval in the event a second count level is counted. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification