Electronic timepiece and electronic device

• US 9,342,056 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2015
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Honda, Katsuyuki, Baba, Norimitsu, Matsuzaki, Jun, Akiyama, Toshikazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Kayes, Sean
• Application Number:
  US14/921,024
• Publication Number:
  US 20160048109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 207 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/00 Input or output devices integrated in time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 5/00 Setting, i.e. correcting or changing, the time-indication radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 7/00 Synchronisation radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/0064 in which functions not related to time can be displayed digital output to display devices of digital computers G06F3/14
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/02 the radio signal being sent by a satellite, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/04 Tuning or receiving; Circuits therefor

Abstract

An electronic timepiece enables a simple construction, and an electronic device has the electronic timepiece. A wristwatch 1 has a button A 6; a mode setting unit 32 that sets the operating mode of the wristwatch 1 based on an input operation of the button A 6. Based on the continuous input time that the button A 6 is operated continuously, the mode setting unit 32 changes the operating mode between a timekeeping mode that receives satellite signals from one or more GPS satellites and adjusts the internal time information based on time information contained in the received satellite signal(s); and a positioning mode that receives satellite signals from three or more GPS satellites and adjusts the internal time information based on time information and positioning information contained in the received satellite signals.

Claims

1. An electronic timepiece comprises:

an external operating member;

a mode setting unit that sets an operating mode of the timepiece based on an input operation of the external operating member;

a reception unit that receives a satellite signal transmitted from a positioning information satellite;

a reception control unit that controls operation of the reception unit based on the set operating mode; and

a time adjustment unit that adjusts internal time information based on the satellite signal received by the reception unit;

wherein based on a continuous input time for which the external operating member is operated continuously, the mode setting unit changes and sets the operating mode to

a first mode that receives a satellite signal from one or more positioning information satellites and adjusts the internal time information based on time information contained in the received satellite signal, or

a second mode that receives satellite signals from three or more positioning information satellites and adjusts the internal time information based on time information and positioning information contained in the received satellite signals; and

wherein the continuous input time when the mode setting unit sets the first mode as the operating mode is shorter than the continuous input time when the mode setting unit sets the second mode as the operating mode.

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

when the operating mode set by the mode setting unit is the second mode, the time adjustment unit calculates a standard time at the current location of the electronic timepiece and sets the internal time information based on the time information and positioning information contained in the satellite signals.

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

a reception result storage unit that stores a reception result indicating whether or not satellite signal reception by the reception unit succeeded;

a reception result display unit that displays the reception result; and

a result display control unit that causes the reception result display unit to display the reception result;

wherein the mode setting unit sets a third mode that causes displaying the reception result stored in the reception result storage unit based on the continuous input time as the operating mode, and

when the third mode is set as the operating mode, the result display control unit displays the reception result on the reception result display unit.

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

the continuous input time when the mode setting unit sets the third mode as the operating mode is shorter than the continuous input time when the mode setting unit sets the first mode or the second mode as the operating mode.

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

an operating time display unit that displays the operating time that the external operating member is operated continuously.

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

a set mode display unit that displays the operating mode corresponding to the operating time that the external operating member is operated continuously.

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

an operation mode display unit that displays the operating mode being executed.

8. An electronic device comprising the electronic timepiece described in claim 1.

9. A control method of an electronic timepiece comprises:

determining a continuous input time during which an external operating member is operated continuously;

when the continuous input time is greater than a first time, the control method further comprises

receiving a satellite signal from one or more positioning information satellites, and

adjusting a display time based on time information contained in the received satellite signal;

when the continuous input time is greater than a second time, which is greater than the first time, the control method further comprises

receiving satellite signals from three or more positioning information satellites, and

adjusting the display time based on time information and positioning information contained in the received satellite signals.