Portable device using location determination and MEMS timekeeping to update and keep time
First Claim
1. A portable device comprising:
- a location detection element for determining a current location;
a memory unit comprising a lookup table for determining a local time zone based on the current location given by the location detection element;
a MEMS oscillator unit for keeping time, wherein the MEMS oscillator unit and the location detection element are co-fabricated on a common substrate; and
a controller element for determining a current time based on the local time zone.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods for determining a current location using a location detection element, determining a local time zone based on the current location using a memory unit, keeping time using a micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) oscillator unit co-fabricated on a common substrate with the location detection element, and determining a local time based on the local time zone using a controller element. Optional embodiments comprise a MEMS oscillator unit that is fabricated underneath, next to, or on top of the location detection element. Additional embodiments comprise a GPS chip optionally assisted by a cell phone chipset or FM receiver to enhance location and time determination. Optional embodiments may additionally enter a power conservation mode after the current location has been determined, or may detect air travel to disable the location detection element and enable the location detection element upon detected landing.
34 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A portable device comprising:
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a location detection element for determining a current location; a memory unit comprising a lookup table for determining a local time zone based on the current location given by the location detection element; a MEMS oscillator unit for keeping time, wherein the MEMS oscillator unit and the location detection element are co-fabricated on a common substrate; and a controller element for determining a current time based on the local time zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of determining time comprising the steps of:
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determining a current location using a location detection element; determining a local time zone relative to the current location; determining a current time based on a reference time updated to reflect a difference between a reference time zone and the determined local time zone, wherein the updated reference time is kept by a MEMS oscillator unit co-fabricated on a common substrate with the location detection element. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of determining time comprising the steps of:
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determining a current location using a location detection element; determining a local time zone relative to the current location; determining a current time based on a reference time updated to reflect a difference between a reference time zone and the determined local time zone, wherein the updated reference time is kept by a MEMS oscillator unit assembled on a common circuit board with the location detection element.
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Specification