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.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
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.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method of determining time comprising the steps of:
-
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)
-
-
30. A method of determining time comprising the steps of:
-
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.
-
Specification