Electronic Timepiece and Time Difference Correction Method for an Electronic Timepiece

• US 20100057349A1
• Filed: 09/02/2009
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Akiyama, Toshikazu
• Granted Patent: US 8,576,670 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/04 Tuning or receiving; Circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/06 Decoding time data; Circuits therefor

Abstract

An electronic timepiece has a function for receiving satellite signals transmitted from positioning information satellites, and includes a reception unit that receives the satellite signal and acquires satellite information from the received satellite signal, a satellite search unit that executes a process of searching for a capturable positioning information satellite based on the received satellite signal and capturing the found satellite signal, a positioning calculation unit that selects a specific number of positioning information satellites from among the positioning information satellites captured by the satellite search unit, executes a positioning calculation based on the satellite information contained in the satellite signals sent from the selected positioning information satellites, and generates positioning information, a time information adjustment unit that corrects internal time information based on the satellite information, a time information display unit that displays the internal time information, a storage unit that stores time difference information defining the time difference in each of a plurality of areas into which geographical information is divided, and a time difference evaluation unit that calculates an assumed positioning region based on the positioning information, and determines based on the time difference information if the assumed positioning region contains a time difference boundary. The time information adjustment unit correcting the internal time information based on the time difference in the assumed positioning region when the time difference evaluation unit determines that the assumed positioning region does not contain a time difference boundary, The positioning calculation unit reselecting the specific number of positioning information satellites and continuing the positioning calculation when the time difference evaluation unit determines that the assumed positioning region contains a time difference boundary. The reception unit terminates satellite signal reception when the time difference evaluation unit determines that the assumed positioning region does not contain a time difference boundary.

Claims

1. An electronic timepiece having a function for receiving satellite signals transmitted from positioning information satellites, comprising:

a reception unit that receives the satellite signal and acquires satellite information from the received satellite signal;

a satellite search unit that executes a process of searching for a capturable positioning information satellite based on the received satellite signal and capturing the found satellite signal;

a positioning calculation unit that selects a specific number of positioning information satellites from among the positioning information satellites captured by the satellite search unit, executes a positioning calculation based on the satellite information contained in the satellite signals sent from the selected positioning information satellites, and generates positioning information;

a time information adjustment unit that corrects internal time information based on the satellite information;

a time information display unit that displays the internal time information;

a storage unit that stores time difference information defining the time difference in each of a plurality of areas into which geographical information is divided; and

a time difference evaluation unit that calculates an assumed positioning region based on the positioning information, and determines based on the time difference information if the assumed positioning region contains a time difference boundary;

the time information adjustment unit correcting the internal time information based on the time difference in the assumed positioning region when the time difference evaluation unit determines that the assumed positioning region does not contain a time difference boundary,

the positioning calculation unit selecting the specific number of positioning information satellites again and continuing the positioning calculation when the time difference evaluation unit determines that the assumed positioning region contains a time difference boundary, and

the reception unit terminating satellite signal reception when the time difference evaluation unit determines that the assumed positioning region does not contain a time difference boundary.

2. The electronic timepiece described in claim 1, wherein:

the satellite search unit

continues a process searching for new capturable positioning information satellites until positioning information satellites equal to a maximum number of capturable satellites are captured, and

executes a process of stopping the capture of at least one positioning information satellite and searching for a new capturable positioning information satellite when the maximum capturable number of positioning information satellites is captured and the time difference evaluation unit determines the assumed positioning region contains a time difference boundary.

3. The electronic timepiece described in claim 1, wherein:

the reception unit ends satellite signal reception when the time difference evaluation unit does not determine that the assumed positioning region does not contain a time difference boundary before a specified time limit passes.

4. The electronic timepiece described in claim 1, wherein:

the positioning calculation unit calculates the positioning information error based on a DOP value; and

the time difference evaluation unit calculates the assumed positioning region based on said error.

5. The electronic timepiece described in claim 1, further comprising:

a positioning information display unit that displays the positioning information, and updates the displayed positioning information when the time difference evaluation unit determines that the assumed positioning region does not contain a time difference boundary.

6. The electronic timepiece described in claim 1, wherein:

the time difference information includes information identifying the position of a virtual region containing a plurality of areas defined with different time differences selected from the plurality of areas into which the geographical information is divided; and

the time difference evaluation unit determines based on the time difference information if the assumed positioning region contains at least a part of the virtual region, and

determines whether or not the assumed positioning region contains a time difference boundary based on the position of the area contained in the virtual region when the assumed positioning region contains the virtual region.

7. The electronic timepiece described in claim 6, wherein:

the areas are grouped into first-level to N-level (where N≧

2) areas;

the time difference information includes first-level to N-level time difference information defining the time difference in each of the first-level to N-level areas;

the virtual region in the k-level (where 1≦

k<

N) time difference information includes areas of levels k+1 and less; and

the time difference evaluation unit determines based on the k level time difference information whether or not the assumed positioning region contains at least a part of the virtual region, and

when the assumed positioning region contains at least a part of the virtual region, determines based on the k+1 level time difference information whether or not the assumed positioning region contains at least a part of the virtual region.

8. The electronic timepiece described in claim 6, wherein:

the areas and the virtual region are drawn with a rectangular shape.

9. A time difference adjustment method for an electronic timepiece including a reception unit that receives satellite signals transmitted from positioning information satellites and acquires satellite information from the received satellite signal, a time information display unit that displays internal time information, and a storage unit that stores time difference information defining the time difference in each of a plurality of areas into which geographical information is divided, the time difference adjustment method comprising:

acquiring the satellite information by means of the reception unit;

searching for a capturable positioning information satellite based on the received satellite signal and capturing the found satellite signal;

selecting a specific number of positioning information satellites from among the positioning information satellites captured by the satellite search step, executing a positioning calculation based on the satellite information contained in the satellite signals sent from the selected positioning information satellites, and generating positioning information;

calculating an assumed positioning region based on the positioning information;

determining based on the time difference information if the assumed positioning region contains a time difference boundary; and

correcting the internal time information based on the time difference in the assumed positioning region and terminating satellite signal reception by the reception unit when the assumed positioning region is determined to not include a time difference boundary;

selecting the specific number of positioning information satellites and continuing the positioning calculation when the assumed positioning region is determined to contain a time difference boundary.