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

• US 8,687,645 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2012
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Goldsmith, Michael Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nimesh
• Application Number:
  US13/549,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20120276842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 455/425, 455/3.02, 455/3.05, 455/427, 455/12.1, 455/98, 455/127.4, 455/144, 455/220, 455/340, 455/276.1, 455/295, 455/262, 455/141, 455/264, 455/256, 370/252, 370/508, 370/512, 370/516, 370/522, 375/354, 375/358, 375/362, 375/366, 375/240.27, 375/148, 375/317
• US Class Current: 370/425
• 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. An electronic device comprising:

a voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit;

a cellular receiver coupled to the voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit;

a satellite positioning clock circuit;

a satellite positioning receiver coupled to the satellite positioning clock circuit;

a temperature sensor positioned adjacent the voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit; and

a clock correction circuit coupled to receive an input from the temperature sensor and configured to

correct said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit based upon timing signals from said cellular receiver when available,

correct said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit based upon historical temperature correction values when timing signals are unavailable, the historical temperature correction values comprising voltage correction values for said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit, and

provide a correction signal to said satellite positioning receiver based upon said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein said clock correction circuit comprises a processor.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein said satellite positioning clock circuit comprises a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (TOXO).

4. The electronic device of claim 1 further comprising an analog-to-digital converter coupled between said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit and said clock correction circuit.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 further comprising a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) coupled between said clock correction circuit and said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit.

6. An electronic device comprising:

a portable housing;

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

a cellular receiver coupled to the voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit and carried by said portable housing;

a satellite positioning receiver carried by said portable housing;

a temperature sensor positioned adjacent the voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit; and

a clock correction circuit coupled to receive an input from the temperature sensor and carried by said portable housing and configured to

correct said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit based upon timing signals from said cellular receiver when available,

correct said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit based upon historical temperature correction values when timing signals are unavailable, the historical temperature correction values comprising voltage correction values for said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit, and

provide a correction signal to said satellite positioning receiver based upon said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 wherein said clock correction circuit comprises a processor.

8. The electronic device of claim 6 wherein said satellite positioning receiver comprises a satellite positioning clock circuit.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 wherein said satellite positioning clock circuit comprises a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (TOXO).

10. The electronic device of claim 6 further comprising an analog-to-digital converter coupled between said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit and said clock correction circuit.

11. The electronic device of claim 6 further comprising a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) coupled between said clock correction circuit and said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit.

12. A clock correction method for an electronic device comprising a voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit, a cellular receiver coupled to the voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit, a satellite positioning receiver, and a temperature sensor positioned adjacent the voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit, the method comprising:

sensing temperature adjacent the voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit;

correcting the voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit based upon timing signals from the cellular receiver when available;

correcting the voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit based upon historical temperature correction values when timing signals are unavailable, the historical temperature correction values comprising voltage correction values for said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit; and

providing a correction signal to the satellite positioning clock circuit based upon the voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising storing the historical temperature correction values.