Wireless communications device providing temperature-compensated clock correction features and related methods

• US 8,233,898 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2006
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Goldsmith, Michael Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nimesh
• Application Number:
  US11/610,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20080144754A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,056 Days
• Field of Search: 370/252, 370/502, 370/508, 370/512, 370/516, 370/522, 455/425, 455/3.02, 455/3.05, 455/427, 455/12.1, 455/13.2, 455/98, 455/127.4, 455/144, 455/220, 455/340, 455/276.1, 455/295, 455/262, 455/141, 455/146, 455/264, 455/256, 375/354, 375/358, 375/362, 375/364, 375/366, 375/240.27, 375/148, 375/317
• US Class Current: 455/425
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/04 Speed or phase control by synchronisation signals H04L7/0075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

A wireless communications device may include a portable housing and a temperature-compensated clock circuit carried by the portable housing. The device may further include a wireless receiver carried by the portable housing for receiving timing signals, when available, from a wireless network, and a satellite positioning clock circuit carried by the portable housing. A clock correction circuit may be carried by the portable housing for correcting the temperature-compensated clock circuit based upon timing signals from the wireless network when available, and storing historical correction values for corresponding temperatures. The clock correction circuit may also correct the temperature-compensated clock circuit based upon the stored historical correction values when timing signals are unavailable from the wireless network, and correct the satellite positioning clock based upon the temperature-compensated clock circuit.

Claims

1. A wireless communications device comprising:

a portable housing;

a temperature-compensated clock circuit carried by said portable housing;

a cellular wireless receiver carried by said portable housing, coupled to said temperature-compensated clock circuit and configured to receive timing signals, when available, from a cellular wireless network;

a satellite positioning receiver carried by said housing and configured to receive satellite positioning signals;

a satellite positioning clock circuit carried by said portable housing and coupled to said satellite positioning receiver;

a temperature sensor; and

at least one clock correction circuit carried by said portable housing and coupled to said temperature sensor for

correcting said temperature-compensated clock circuit based upon timing signals from the cellular wireless network when available, and storing historical correction values for corresponding temperatures,

correcting said temperature-compensated clock circuit based upon the stored historical correction values when timing signals are unavailable from the cellular wireless network, and

providing an offset correction signal to said satellite positioning receiver based upon said temperature-compensated clock circuit.

2. The wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said temperature-compensated clock circuit comprises a voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit;

and wherein the historical correction values comprise voltage correction values for said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit.

3. The wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said at least one clock correction circuit comprises a processor.

4. The wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said satellite positioning clock circuit comprises a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO).

5. The wireless communications device of claim 1 further comprising an analog-to-digital converter coupled between said temperature-compensated clock circuit and said at least one clock correction circuit.

6. The wireless communications device of claim 1 further comprising a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) coupled between said at least one clock correction circuit and said temperature-compensated clock circuit.

7. A clock correction method for a wireless communications device comprising a portable housing, a temperature-compensated clock circuit carried by the portable housing, a temperature sensor carried by the portable housing adjacent the temperature-compensated clock circuit, a cellular wireless receiver carried by the portable housing for receiving timing signals, when available, from a cellular wireless network, a satellite positioning receiver carried by the portable housing and configured to receive satellite positioning signals, and a satellite positioning clock circuit carried by the portable housing and coupled to the satellite positioning receiver, the method comprising:

when timing signals are available from the cellular wireless network, correcting the temperature-compensated clock circuit based upon the timing signals and storing historical correction values for corresponding temperatures;

when timing signals are unavailable from the cellular wireless network, correcting the temperature-compensated clock circuit based upon the stored historical correction values; and

providing an offset correction signal to the satellite positioning receiver based upon the temperature-compensated clock circuit.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein correcting the temperature-compensated clock circuit comprises correcting a voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit;

and wherein storing the historical correction values comprises storing voltage correction values for the voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit.

9. The method of claim 7

wherein correcting the satellite positioning clock circuit comprises correcting a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO).