Remotely-synchronizable time display

• US 5,251,191 A
• Filed: 10/15/1990
• Issued: 10/05/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diehl GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Diehl GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Schott, Bernard, Sturzl, Wilhelm
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US07/597,728
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 368/46, 368/47, 368/52, 368/55-61, 340/310 R, 340/310 A, 364/492, 364/493
• US Class Current: 368/47
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 13/022 via existing power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 15/006 for operating at a number of different times cigar or cigarette receptacles or boxes with means for limiting the frequency of smoking A24F15/005
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/08 the radio signal being broadcast from a long-wave call sign, e.g. DCF77, JJY40, JJY60, MSF60 or WWVB
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/20 the radio signal being an AM/FM standard signal, e.g. RDS

Abstract

A time display which is remotely-synchronizable, especially a time display including timer switching zones or paths for the control of an electrical load or appliance. The time is equipped with a display receiver for the carrier frequency-converted absolute-coded time informations which are receivable through local transmitting intervals for the correction of the time display which is autonomously operated in an evaluating or sample-and-hold.

Claims

1. An arrangement for transmitting encoded absolute time information to at least one evaluating station which is connected to a local AC power transmission network which supplies AC electrical power to the at least one evaluating station, comprising

a central converter-receiver, including a receiver for receiving a carrier frequency encoded absolute time information signal, and a frequency converter connected to the output of said receiver for converting the frequency of the carrier frequency encoded absolute time information signal to a converted frequency to derive a converted frequency encoded absolute time information signal and for conducting the converted frequency encoded absolute time information signal into the local AC power transmission network which is connected between the frequency converter and the at least one evaluating station as a local transmission path for the converted frequency encoded absolute time information signal, and

the at least one evaluating station includes an autonomously operated timer which is remotely-synchronizable by the converted frequency encoded absolute time information signal, a timer actuated switch for time controlled switching of electrical power to a load or appliance, a station receiver for receiving the converted frequency encoded absolute time information signal from the local AC power transmission network for correction of the absolute time of the autonomously operated timer, an input coupling stage for inductively coupling the station receive to the local AC power transmission network which includes a coupling transformer and an oscillating circuit, the frequency of which is correlated to the converted frequency, and the station input coupling stage is combined with an AC power supply connector for the station.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frequency converter upconverts the frequency of the carrier frequency encoded absolute time information signal to a higher converted frequency signal.

3. An arrangement for transmitting encoded absolute time information to at least one evaluating station which is connected by a local transmission path, comprising

a central converter-receiver, including a receiver for receiving a carrier frequency encoded absolute time information signal, and a frequency converter connected to the output of said receiver for converting the frequency of the carrier frequency encoded absolute time information signal to a converted frequency to derive a converted frequency encoded absolute time information signal, and a local transmitting antenna for transmitting locally the converted frequency encoded absolute time information signal, and

the at least one evaluating station includes an autonomously operated timer which is remotely-synchronizable by the converted frequency encoded absolute time information signal, a timer actuated switch for time controlled switching of electrical power to a load or appliance, a station receiver including a local receiving antenna for receiving the converted frequency encoded absolute time information signal for correction of the absolute time of the autonomously operated timer.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein said frequency converter upconverts the frequency of the carrier frequency encoded absolute time information signal to a higher converted frequency signal.