Portable device using location determination and MEMS timekeeping to update and keep time

• US 7,852,711 B1
• Filed: 02/25/2008
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pillar, LLC
• Inventors: Mooring, Dave, Fitzgerald, Alissa M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska; Vit W
• Application Number:
  US12/037,015
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 368/11, 368/21, 368/47, 368/155, 331/154
• US Class Current: 368/21
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/0076 in which the time in another time-zone or in another city can be displayed at will
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/04 Tuning or receiving; Circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/16 Tuning or receiving; Circuits therefor

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.

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.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the MEMS oscillator unit is fabricated prior to and underneath the location detection element on the common substrate.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the MEMS oscillator unit is fabricated adjacent to the location detection element on the common substrate.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the MEMS oscillator unit is fabricated above the location detection element.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the location detection element comprises a GPS chip.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a cell phone chipset to enhance accuracy of location and time determination and provide internet access capability when a cellular signal is available.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

an FM receiver to enhance accuracy of location and time determination when an FM radio broadcast is available.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a network interface element for obtaining periodic updates to the lookup table, wherein the controller further causes the lookup table to be periodically refreshed via download to update international time zone and daylight savings information.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the controller causes the location detection element to enter a power conservation mode after the current location has been determined.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a display, wherein the device modulates the display'"'"'s brightness according to the available daylight at the current location, date, and time.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the device is programmed to automatically determine the current location by activating the location detection element at regular intervals.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein:

a user can manually cause the device to determine the current location.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the local time is determined based on a location other than the current location determined by the location detection element.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a pressure detection element, wherein pressure data received over time from the pressure detection element is used to determine whether air travel has occurred.

15. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a pressure detection element, wherein pressure data is used to determine altitude for location determination.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein:

the controller further disables the location detection element during detected air travel and enables the location detection element upon detected landing.

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.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the MEMS oscillator unit is fabricated prior to and underneath the location detection element.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the MEMS oscillator unit is fabricated next to the location detection element.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the MEMS oscillator unit is fabricated above the location detection element.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the location detection element comprises a GPS chip.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

enhancing accuracy of location and time determination using a cell phone chipset when a cellular signal is available.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

enhancing accuracy of location and time determination using an FM receiver when an FM radio broadcast is available.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

periodically refreshing a lookup table via download to update international time zone and daylight savings information.

25. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

causing the location detection element to enter a power conservation mode after the current location has been determined.

26. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

activating the location detection element at regular intervals to automatically determine the current location.

27. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

a user manually causing determination of the current location.

28. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

determining a pressure change over time using a pressure detection element; and

determining whether air travel has occurred based on the pressure change over time.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the steps of:

disabling the location detection element during detected air travel; and

enabling the location detection element upon detected landing.

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.