JP6687141B2 - Radio clock - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a radio timepiece capable of receiving satellite radio waves and ground waves.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some electronic timepieces have a function of correcting the date and time measured by a built-in clock by receiving radio waves and acquiring accurate date and time information. Radio waves to be received by the radio-controlled timepiece are mainly standard radio waves and radio waves from positioning satellites related to the positioning system. Some radio-controlled timepieces that receive radio waves from positioning satellites are also used to select the time zone of the current location and the daylight saving time enforcement rule by also acquiring location information.

  Leap second adjustment may be performed twice a year in counting the date and time currently used in the world. The leap second adjustment is an adjustment of 1 second based on the deviation between the international atomic time and the rotation period, and up to the present, 1 second is inserted irregularly at a preset feasible timing. Conventionally, radio-controlled watches acquire advance notice information before implementation and apply leap second adjustment related to the advance notice to the built-in clock at the implementation timing, or accurate date and time information when leap second adjustment is made immediately after implementation. By retrieving, the accurate date and time counting and display are restored.

  However, its complementary satellites (hereinafter, referred to as positioning satellites (GPS satellites) related to GPS (Global Positioning System) which is a positioning system in the United States and positioning satellites (QZS satellites) related to Japanese Quasi Zenith Satellite System) The GPS satellites collectively do not reflect the leap second adjustment in the counting date and time (GPS clock) being transmitted, and the positioning satellite's internal clock (hereafter referred to as satellite clock) and UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) ), The UTC correction parameter which is the time difference information is separately transmitted. Therefore, even if the satellite clock count date and time after the leap second adjustment is performed is simply obtained, the radio clock cannot know the accurate date and time. In addition, compared to the data of the counting date and time that is transmitted once every 6 seconds, the transmission interval of this UTC correction parameter is once every 12.5 minutes for GPS satellites, irregular for QZS satellites, and currently once every 5 minutes at maximum. And very long.

  In a radio-controlled timepiece, a lightweight and small battery is used because of its weight and size. However, the power consumption required to receive satellite radio waves is significantly higher than the display power required for normal timekeeping operations and time display operations.Therefore, there is a technology for efficiently obtaining date and time information while shortening the radio wave reception time. Being developed. As a technique for reducing power consumption used when acquiring deviation time information related to leap seconds, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a time interval from acquisition of information related to normal date and time to transmission timing of UTC correction parameter. Is disclosed, the reception is paused once, and then the reception is restarted immediately before the transmission timing of the UTC correction parameter.

Japanese Patent No. 5114936 Japanese Patent No. 5200636

  However, in order to receive the UTC correction parameter, even if the radio wave reception is interrupted once, it is necessary to eventually receive the radio wave from the GPS satellite twice. In addition, if the interval is opened before the second reception, there may occur a problem that the user is forced to wait until the end of reception or the reception environment is changed and the possibility of successful reception is reduced. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to acquire the necessary information regarding the leap second more efficiently while suppressing an increase in power consumption.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a radio-controlled timepiece that can efficiently acquire necessary information related to leap seconds while suppressing an increase in power consumption.

The present invention, in order to achieve the above object,
Satellite radio wave receiving means for receiving satellite radio waves,
Ground wave receiving means for receiving ground wave including date and time information,
Reception control means for controlling the reception operation of the satellite radio wave reception means and the terrestrial wave reception means,
Equipped with a,
Said reception control means until obtainable timing of leap seconds correction information from the time acquisition end date and time information by leap second said satellite radio receiving means definitive within notice period embodiments notice leap second information adjusted in the terrestrial may be transmitted A radio-controlled timepiece characterized by causing the ground wave receiving means to acquire the implementation notice information when it is determined that the satellite radio wave receiving means does not acquire the leap second correction information based on the time interval of Is.

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to more efficiently acquire necessary information related to leap seconds while suppressing an increase in power consumption.

It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the radio-controlled timepiece of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the format of the navigation message which a GPS satellite transmits. It is a flow chart which shows the control procedure of the date acquisition processing performed with the radio clock of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control procedure of the date acquisition processing performed with the radio clock of 2nd Embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the radio-controlled timepiece according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The radio-controlled timepiece 1 according to the first embodiment is a portable electronic timepiece, for example, an electronic wristwatch.
The radio-controlled timepiece 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 41 (reception control unit, correction information setting unit, reception area determination unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) 42, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 43, and a display unit 45. And its display driver 46, operation unit 47, oscillating circuit 50, frequency dividing circuit 51, time measuring circuit 52 (time measuring means), satellite electric wave reception processing unit 48 (satellite electric wave receiving means, current position acquisition means), The antenna A1, the long wave receiving section 49 (terrestrial wave receiving means) and the antenna A2, the light quantity sensor 53, the power supply section 54 (power supply means) and the like are provided.

  The CPU 41 performs various kinds of arithmetic processing and integrally controls the overall operation of the radio-controlled timepiece 1. Further, the CPU 41 sends a signal to the clock circuit 52 based on the date and time data acquired from the satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48 and the date and time data obtained by decoding the signal input from the long wave reception unit 49, and the clock circuit 52. Correct the date and time data held by. Further, when the RAM 43 stores, in the RAM 43, schedule information about the start and end of daylight saving time and execution notice information related to the insertion or deletion of leap seconds (leap second adjustment), the standard radio wave from these scheduled execution timings. The date and time output from the time counting circuit 52 is corrected until the correct date and time data after the timing is acquired by receiving, etc., and then output to each unit such as the display driver 46.

  The ROM 42 stores various programs and initial setting data for the radio-controlled timepiece 1 to perform various operations. The programs stored in the ROM 42 include a program 42a used for managing the date and time counted by the clock circuit 52 at the timing when leap seconds can be inserted or deleted.

  The RAM 43 provides a working memory space to the CPU 41, and stores various temporary data and setting data that can be overwritten and updated. The RAM 43 includes a date / time correction history storage unit 43a and leap second execution information 43b.

  The date and time correction history storage unit 43a stores the latest date and time when the transmission radio wave from the positioning satellite or the long-wave transmission radio wave (standard radio wave) including time information is received and the date and time counted by the timing circuit 52 is corrected. In addition, the date and time correction history storage unit 43a also stores the received flag and sets the received flag every time the date and time information is acquired. For example, the received flag is set every day just before 1:00 am in local time. The flag may be reset.

  The leap second execution information 43b is the leap second adjustment feasible timing with respect to 0:00:00 on January 1st and July 1st in UTC, which is defined as the feasible timing for leap second adjustment. In advance, whether or not the leap second adjustment is performed, or whether any of the later-described leap second correction time 48a (leap second implementation information) after the relevant feasible timing is acquired, and after the feasible timing The leap second correction information is set and stored. The CPU 41 reads out the leap second execution information 43b at the leap second adjustment feasible timing, corrects the date and time counted by the timing circuit 52, and activates the satellite wave reception processing unit 48 for the first time after the feasible timing. The leap second correction time 48a after this feasible timing is rewritten. It should be noted that the data before and after the update may be stored together in advance in the leap second correction time 48a of the satellite radio wave reception processing unit.

  The display unit 45 has a display screen and displays various information such as date and time information based on a drive signal from the display driver 46. The display screen is not particularly limited, but a segment type liquid crystal display (LCD) is used. This display screen is configured to be able to display a reception success mark indicating that the date and time based on the accurate date and time acquired by the latest radio wave reception is counted and displayed. Alternatively, it may be an analog pointer-type radio-controlled timepiece having a plurality of hands as the display unit 45 and a stepping motor for rotating the plurality of hands, and displaying date and time information and the like depending on the positions indicated by the plurality of hands.

  The operation unit 47 includes a plurality of operation keys and push buttons, and when these operation keys and push buttons are operated, the operations are converted into electric signals and output to the CPU 41 as input signals. Further, the operation unit 47 may include a crown, a touch sensor, or the like in addition to or in place of the operation keys and the push buttons.

  The satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48 receives the transmission radio wave from the positioning satellite using the antenna A1 capable of receiving the transmission radio wave in the L1 band (1.57542 GHz in the GPS type satellite), and signals from the radio wave (navigation message). Is a module for demodulating and decoding and decoding and outputting date and time information and position information. The satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48 operates in response to a control signal from the CPU 41, separately from the other parts, to be supplied with power only during the reception operation.

The satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48 includes a non-volatile memory, and a leap second correction time 48a (leap second) for a shift amount (Δt _LS described later) of date and time data of a satellite clock received from a GPS satellite by leap seconds. (Correction information). When the satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48 obtains the date and time data from the GPS satellite by the satellite clock, it calculates and outputs the current date and time with reference to the leap second correction time 48a. Therefore, the satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48 normally receives only the date and time information, so that the accurate date and time can be calculated without receiving the shift amount each time.
Further, when the satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48 acquires the date and time information from one GPS type satellite, the satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48 roughly estimates the delay amount corresponding to the propagation time from the GPS type satellite to the receiving point and corrects it appropriately. , The date and time information is output while reducing the influence of the delay amount.

  The long wave receiving unit 49 receives a ground wave (standard radio wave) using the antenna A2 that receives a long wave radio wave (LF wave) and demodulates a time code signal from the received standard radio wave. The standard radio wave is an amplitude-modulated wave (AM wave) in the long wave band, and the long wave receiving unit 49 of the present embodiment performs demodulation by, for example, a superheterodyne method, although not particularly limited thereto. The long wave receiving unit 49 is configured to be supplied with power from the power supply unit 54 only when receiving the standard radio wave by the control signal from the CPU 41. Further, the tuning frequency by the antenna A2 can be changed according to the transmission frequency of the standard radio wave transmission station to be received by adjusting the setting of a tuning circuit (not shown) in the long wave receiving section 49.

  The oscillation circuit 50 outputs an oscillation signal having a predetermined frequency, for example, 32 kHz. The oscillator circuit 50 is not particularly limited, but includes, for example, a small-sized, low-cost, low-power-consumption crystal oscillator having no temperature compensation circuit.

  The frequency divider circuit 51 divides this oscillation signal to generate and output a necessary frequency signal. The frequency dividing circuit 51 can output a signal of a different frequency by appropriately switching the frequency dividing ratio by a control signal from the CPU 41.

  The clock circuit 52 adds the elapsed time to the set date and time acquired from the RTC (Real Time Clock) or the like based on the predetermined frequency signal input from the frequency divider circuit 51 to determine the current date and time. Count. The date and time counted by the time counting circuit 52 is rewritten and corrected by a control signal from the CPU 41 based on the data acquired from the GPS satellite and the standard radio wave.

  The light amount sensor 53 is provided, for example, in parallel with the display screen of the display unit 45, and measures the amount of light emitted from the outside. As the light quantity sensor 53, for example, a photodiode is used. The light amount sensor 53 outputs an electric signal (voltage signal or current signal) according to the amount of incident light, is digitally sampled by an ADC (analog / digital converter) (not shown), and is input to the CPU 41.

  The power supply unit 54 supplies electric power necessary for the operation of each unit of the radio-controlled timepiece 1. The power supply unit 54 includes, for example, a battery of a button type primary battery, and the battery is detachably replaceable. This battery is preferably a small and lightweight battery that can be continuously and stably operated for a long time when used under a low load. Therefore, in the radio-controlled timepiece 1, the satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48 that consumes extremely large power is used. It is desirable that the operations be performed for a short time and at sufficient intervals. The power supply unit 54 also includes a remaining amount measuring unit 54a (electric power remaining amount measuring means), measures the remaining amount of the battery (remaining electric energy amount) by measuring the output voltage from the power source unit 54, and sends a signal to the CPU 41. Is output. The battery remaining amount does not have to be a specific numerical value, and may be, for example, a high level (H), a middle level upper part (MH), a middle level lower part (ML), a charge level (L), and a power saving mode transition level. The output may be divided into a plurality of steps such as (C).

Next, the navigation message received from the GPS satellite will be described.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a format of a navigation message transmitted by a GPS satellite.

  The navigation message transmitted from the GPS satellite is composed of frame data of 25 pages in total, and the transmission time of each page is 30 seconds. Each frame (page) is composed of 5 sub-frame data (6 seconds and 1500 bits each), and one sub-frame data is further composed of 10 WORDs (0.6 seconds and 300 bits each). Therefore, the navigation message will be transmitted at a cycle of 12.5 minutes.

  WORD1s of all subframes include a TLM (telemetry word), and the fixed code string (Preamble) included at the beginning of this TLM identifies the start position of the subframe. Also, in WORD2, HOW (handover word) is transmitted. The HOW includes a TOW-Count indicating the elapsed time in the week from 0:00 on Sunday and a subframe ID. The subframe ID indicates which subframe in the page the read data is.

In all pages, WORD3 of the data of subframe 1 includes WN (week number). This WN indicates a week number whose start date is January 6, 1980, which is periodically counted with 10 bits. That is, by acquiring the data of one frame (5 subframes), the data of these WN and HOW are surely acquired. Here, when it is expected that the deviation of the date and time counted by the time counting circuit 52 is sufficiently small for the time width indicated by HOW, that is, one week, the HOW data and the time counting circuit 52 are acquired without acquiring WN. The current date and time can be obtained based on the date and time of. In this case, data of any subframe may be received.
Therefore, the radio-controlled timepiece 1 receives data for 1 to 5 subframes and acquires date and time information as needed.

  From WORD3 onward in subframes 2 and 3, ephemeris data, which is orbit information of the GPS satellite that is the source of the navigation message, is transmitted. Also, in a part of subframe 4 and WORD3 and later of subframe 5, almanac data related to predicted orbits of all GPS satellites is divided into pages and transmitted sequentially with satellite IDs.

  In the other part of the sub-frame 4, the information regarding the data condition of the satellite is transmitted, and the sub-frame 4 of the page 18 includes the UTC correction parameters from WORD6 to WORD10. That is, this UTC correction parameter can be acquired only once every 25 pages at the transmission timing of this subframe 4 (timing at which leap second correction information can be acquired).

As described above, the date and time (satellite date and time) of the satellite clock counted by each GPS satellite is the date and time when the start date is January 6, 1980, and the implementation of leap second adjustment is reflected on this date and time. It has not been. Therefore, there is a difference between the satellite date and time and the UTC date and time by the integrated value of the leap seconds inserted by the leap second adjustment performed after January 6, 1980. The UTC correction parameters include the current integrated value of leap seconds Δt _LS (leap second correction time), the scheduled week number WN _LSF and the day number DN for the scheduled execution of the next leap second adjustment. The expected value Δt _LSF (advance time) of the integrated value is included. Therefore, the satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48 corrects the calculated GPS date and time by the integrated value Δt _{LS and} outputs it as the date and time in the current UTC. The integrated value Δt _LS of the leap second can be continuously used until the next leap second adjustment is performed once the UTC correction parameter is acquired. On the other hand, when the leap second adjustment is performed, the radio-controlled timepiece 1 needs to receive a new UTC correction parameter and update the integrated value Δt _LS .

Next, the date and time information transmitted by the standard radio wave will be described.
The standard radio waves mainly include JJY (registered trademark) in Japan, WWVB in the US, MSF in the UK, DCF77 in Germany, and the like. In these standard radio waves, date and time information for every minute is transmitted from the transmitting station in a 1-minute cycle. The date and time information is encoded in a predetermined format for each standard radio wave and is transmitted as a time code one code per second in synchronization with the beginning of each second. At the time of receiving the standard radio wave, after identifying the start timing (second synchronization point) of this second, the code array is identified, and the code array is decoded to obtain date and time information.

  With these standard radio waves, 1 second is inserted in real time when leap second adjustment is performed. Therefore, the radio-controlled timepiece 1 receives these standard radio waves, decodes and decodes them according to the time code format of each transmitting station, and thus the leap second in the time zone (UTC in WWVB) according to each transmitting station. You can get the exact date and time when the correction was applied. At the time of receiving, demodulating and decoding standard radio waves, it is possible to apply various well-known techniques for improving the decoding accuracy. Further, normally, when the standard time signal is received and the date and time is acquired, it is assumed that the correct date and time is acquired after performing reception for two cycles (2 minutes) or more to confirm the consistency, and based on the date and time. Correct the current date and time.

  Among these standard radio waves, the JJY time code includes advance notice information for the leap second adjustment, and it is about one month before the practicable timing. From 2) to the feasible timing, information indicating any of the insertion, deletion, or no adjustment of leap seconds is transmitted by 2 bits. In the WWVB time code, the information indicating whether or not the leap second adjustment is performed is transmitted as one bit from 0:00 on December 1 and June 1 which is one month before. There is. Further, in the time code of the DCF77, the advance notice information for the leap second adjustment is transmitted in 1 bit for one hour before the leap second adjustment. Until now, only one second has been inserted as the leap second adjustment, and whether or not one second is inserted at the next leap second enabling timing by acquiring this implementation notice information. Can be determined.

  Next, the operation information acquisition operation of the leap second adjustment carried out by the radio-controlled timepiece 1 of this embodiment will be described. In the radio-controlled timepiece 1 of the present embodiment, when normal date and time information is acquired, transmission of the leap second adjustment advance notice information in the standard radio wave can be started during a period corresponding to one leap second feasible timing. If leap second execution information within the relevant period is not acquired from about one month before the second leap second execution timing to about one month before the next leap second execution timing, leap second adjustment advance notice information Alternatively, the leap second correction information after execution is acquired.

  Here, as described above, since the execution start information transmission start timing is slightly different between JJY and WWVB, the common execution advance information acquisition start timing is a timing slightly later than the JJY execution advance information transmission start timing. For example, it is possible to set 0:00 on the third day in June and December, respectively. The radio-controlled timepiece 1 acquires the advance notice information for the leap second adjustment within a possible range within the leap second notice period from the acquisition start timing to the leap second adjustment executable timing, and the appropriate timing within the leap second notice period. If there is, or if the leap second execution information has not been acquired by the leap second execution possible timing, the leap second correction information is acquired.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control procedure by the CPU 41 of the date and time acquisition processing executed by the radio-controlled timepiece 1 of this embodiment.
This date and time acquisition process is automatically started once a day when the date and time information is not acquired at a predetermined timing (predetermined date and time acquisition timing) or at a timing satisfying a predetermined condition. It is activated based on the user's input operation to the operation unit 47. For example, the CPU 41 causes the standard radio wave to be received every hour until the date and time information is acquired every day from 1:00 to 5:00 in local time, and the date and time information cannot be acquired, and the light amount sensor When the amount of light equal to or greater than a predetermined reference value corresponding to the outdoors during the day is detected by 53 for the first time on the day, satellite radio waves are received.

  When the date / time acquisition process is started, the CPU 41 determines whether or not it is the reception timing of the standard radio wave (step S101). When it is determined that it is the standard radio wave reception timing (“YES” in step S101), the CPU 41 determines whether or not the current position is within the standard radio wave reception area (step S102). The CPU 41 holds information on the current position calculated by the satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48 or the current position set according to the input operation to the operation unit 47 by the user, and the current position receives the standard radio wave. When it is determined that it is not within the area (“NO” in step S102), the CPU 41 ends the date and time acquisition process.

  When it is determined that it is within the reception area (“YES” in step S102), the CPU 41 activates the long wave reception unit 49 to receive the standard radio wave and acquires date and time information (step S103). The CPU 41 determines whether the leap second correction information after the feasible timing has not been set and is within the transmission period of the leap second adjustment advance notice information (step S104). When it is determined that the setting is not performed and is within the transmission period of the leap second adjustment execution notice information (“YES” in step S104), the CPU 41 also obtains the leap second adjustment execution notice information acquired from the received radio wave. Based on, the leap second correction information is set and stored as the leap second execution information 43b (step S105), and the date and time acquisition process ends. If it is determined that it is not set or that it is not within the transmission period of the leap second adjustment advance notice information (“NO” in step S104), the CPU 41 ends the date and time acquisition process.

  When it is determined in the determination processing of step S101 that the standard radio wave reception timing is not reached (“NO” in step S101), it is the radio wave reception period from the positioning satellite, and therefore the CPU 41 sends power to the satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48. To receive the satellite radio wave and to obtain date and time information from the received satellite radio wave (step S111). After the reception of the satellite radio wave or the end of the reception time, the CPU 41 stops the power supply to the satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48 and determines whether the date and time information has been successfully acquired (step S112). When it is determined that the acquisition of the date / time information has not succeeded (“NO” in step S112), the CPU 41 ends the date / time acquisition process.

  When it is determined that the acquisition of the date and time information has succeeded (“YES” in step S112), the CPU 41 determines whether or not the leap second correction information after the leap second enable timing has not been set (step). S113). If it is determined that it is not set (set) (“NO” in step S113), the CPU 41 ends the date and time information acquisition process.

  When it is determined that the leap second correction information is not set (“YES” in step S113), the CPU 41 can obtain the advance notice information of the leap second adjustment from the receivable (in the reception area) standard radio wave. It is determined whether it is within the period (step S114). Here, the CPU 41 determines whether or not it is within the implementation notice information transmission period and is two minutes or more before the implementable timing. When it is determined that it is not within the implementation notice information acquisition possible period (“NO” in step S114), the process of the CPU 41 proceeds to step S121.

  When it is determined that it is within the implementation notice information obtainable period (“YES” in step S114), the CPU 41 starts receiving the standard radio wave when the standard radio wave is not being received, and the second synchronization point is set. After the identified timing or a lapse of a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds), it is determined whether or not the second synchronization point has been successfully identified (step S119). When it is determined that the second synchronization point has not been successfully identified (“NO” in step S119), the CPU 41 returns the process to step S119 and repeats the process of step S119. It should be noted that the time-out period is appropriately set, and if the second synchronization is not successful within the time-out period, the CPU 41 stops the reception of the standard radio wave and ends the date / time acquisition process.

  When it is determined that the second synchronization point has been successfully identified (“YES” in step S119), the CPU 41 identifies and decodes the code array of the received and demodulated standard radio wave, and the leap second adjustment advance notice information. To get. Further, the CPU 41 sets the leap second correction information based on the acquired advance notice information (step S120). In this case, since the position of the leap second implementation notice information and the relevant code only have to be identified with certainty, the matching of other code sequences indicating the date and time, the identification accuracy, etc. are not necessarily required. Then, the CPU 41 ends the date / time acquisition process.

  When the processing shifts from the determination processing of step S114 to the processing of step S121, the CPU 41 determines whether or not it is the leap second correction information reception timing from the GPS satellite (step S121). The CPU 41 determines whether it is a predetermined time (several seconds) before the UTC correction parameter transmission timing from the GPS satellite. When it is determined that it is not the leap second correction information reception timing (“NO” in step S121), the CPU 41 repeats the process of step S121. When it is determined that it is the leap second correction information reception timing (“YES” in step S121), the CPU 41 restarts the power supply to the satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48 and receives the radio wave from the GPS satellite. To obtain the UTC correction parameter. The CPU 41 acquires leap second correction information according to the acquired UTC correction parameter (step S122). Then, the CPU 41 ends the date / time acquisition process.

As described above, the radio-controlled timepiece 1 according to the first embodiment includes the satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48 that receives satellite radio waves, the long wave reception unit 49 that receives the standard radio wave including date and time information, the satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48, and A CPU 41 as a reception control unit that controls the reception operation of the long wave reception unit 49 and a clock circuit 52 that counts the current date and time are provided. The CPU 41 also operates as correction information setting means for setting leap second correction information of date and time information acquired by the satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48.
The CPU 41 as the reception control means receives the standard radio wave within the leap second notice period in which the leap second notice information can be transmitted in the standard radio wave to obtain the notice information, and the CPU 41 as the correction information setting means The leap second correction information is updated based on the obtained implementation notice information.
As a result, the leap second correction information does not need to be received again from the GPS satellites more than necessary, so that it is possible to reduce the reception time of the satellite radio wave that consumes very much power. Further, it is usually possible to acquire the advance notice information in a few minutes without requiring a waiting time of up to 12 minutes. Therefore, it is possible to more efficiently acquire the necessary information regarding the leap second while suppressing an increase in power consumption.

The satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48 operates as a current position acquisition unit that acquires the current position, and the CPU 41 determines whether the current position is within the standard radio wave reception area for transmitting the leap second adjustment advance notice information. It operates as a receiving area determining means for determining. The CPU 41 as the reception control unit causes the long-wave receiving unit 49 to acquire the implementation announcement information when it is determined that the leap second adjustment implementation announcement information is within the standard radio wave reception area.
Therefore, the standard radio wave is not unnecessarily received outside the transmission area of JJY or WWVB to which the advance notice information for leap second adjustment is transmitted.

Further, the CPU 41 as the reception control means operates the long-wave reception unit 49 at a preset date and time acquisition timing to obtain the leap second adjustment advance notice information together with the information relating to the current date and time.
Therefore, it is possible to obtain the leap second correction information without imposing a heavy burden on the user, because the time and power consumption of the radio wave reception are not generated more than the reception of the normal standard radio wave.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, the radio timepiece 1 of the second embodiment will be described.
The functional configuration of the radio-controlled timepiece 1 according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the radio-controlled timepiece 1 according to the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given to omit the description.

  A leap second information acquisition operation in the radio-controlled timepiece 1 of the second embodiment will be described. In the radio-controlled timepiece 1 of the present embodiment, as in the radio-controlled timepiece 1 of the first embodiment, the leap second correction information is acquired at an appropriate timing within the normal date / time acquisition process.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control procedure by the CPU 41 of the date / time acquisition processing executed by the radio-controlled timepiece 1 of the second embodiment.
This date and time acquisition process is different from the date and time acquisition process controlled by the CPU 41 in the radio-controlled timepiece 1 of the first embodiment in that the processes of steps S115 to S118 are added between the processes of step S114 and step S119. Except that the same processing contents are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  When branching to "YES" in the determination process of step S114, the CPU 41 acquires the battery remaining amount measured by the remaining amount measuring unit 54a (step S115). The CPU 41 determines whether or not the acquired battery remaining amount is equal to or higher than a predetermined reference level (step S116). For example, the CPU 41 determines that the remaining battery amount is OK when the remaining battery amount is equal to or higher than the MH level.

  When it is determined that the battery remaining amount is not OK (“NO” in step S116), the process of the CPU 41 proceeds to step S119. When it is determined that the battery remaining amount is OK (“YES” in step S116), the CPU 41 further determines whether the number of seconds synchronization error in the standard radio wave reception started in step S119 is the upper limit number or more. It is determined whether or not (step S117). When it is determined that the number of times is equal to or more than the upper limit number (“YES” in step S117), the process of the CPU 41 proceeds to step S121.

  When it is determined that the number of seconds synchronization errors is not greater than or equal to the upper limit number (“NO” in step S117), the CPU 41 determines that the GPS-type satellite is obtained based on the date and time calculated by the satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48. It is determined whether or not the latest leap second correction information, that is, the time (time interval) from the current date and time until the transmission timing of the UTC correction parameter is within the reference time (lower limit reference time) (step S118). As the reference time, for example, about 2 minutes to 2 minutes and 10 seconds is set as the minimum time required to acquire the implementation notice information by the standard radio wave. If it is determined that it is within the reference time (“YES” in step S118), the process of the CPU 41 proceeds to step S121.

  When it is determined that the time until the UTC correction parameter transmission timing is not within the reference time (“NO” in step S118), the processing of the CPU 41 proceeds to step S119.

  The timeout time set in the process of step S119 is slightly longer than the time length corresponding to the occurrence of the upper limit number of seconds synchronization error (for example, the next loop processing when the upper limit number of seconds synchronization error is reached). You can set it to about ().

As described above, in the radio-controlled timepiece 1 according to the second embodiment, when the CPU 41 as the reception control means acquires the date and time information by the satellite radio-wave reception processing unit 48 within the leap second advance notice period, the satellite radio-wave reception processing unit 48 concerned. Based on the time interval from the end of the acquisition of the date and time information to the acquisition timing of the leap second correction information (UTC correction parameter), it is determined whether the satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48 acquires the leap second correction information. If it is determined that the satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48 should acquire the UTC correction parameter, the satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48 causes the UTC correction parameter to be acquired.
As a result, if the timing of receiving the radio wave from the GPS satellite is just before the timing of transmitting the UTC correction parameter, the UTC correction parameter can be received as it is, so that the reception time can be shortened. The leap second correction information can be efficiently acquired in the shortest possible time by reducing the burden on the user.

When the satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48 determines not to acquire the UTC correction parameter, the CPU 41 as the reception control unit causes the long wave reception unit 49 to acquire the leap second adjustment advance notice information.
As a result, the leap second execution information can be acquired efficiently and appropriately in a short time and with low power consumption, rather than causing the satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48 to receive the UTC correction parameter according to the reception status.

Further, the CPU 41 as the reception control means can acquire the leap second correction information while the long wave receiving unit 49 is acquiring the advance notice information of the leap second adjustment after the satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48 has acquired the date and time information. If the time up to the timing is less than the lower limit reference time corresponding to the time estimated to be required for the longwave reception unit 49 to obtain the implementation notice information, the acquisition of the implementation notice information by the longwave reception unit 49 is stopped and the satellite is stopped. The leap second correction information is acquired by the radio wave reception processing unit 48.
Therefore, even if you choose to acquire the advance notice information for the leap second adjustment using the standard radio wave, if it takes time to receive the standard radio wave and it burdens the user or increases the power consumption, it should be done at an appropriate timing. By returning to the reception of satellite radio waves, it is possible to efficiently increase the burden on the user and efficiently acquire the leap second information.

Further, the power supply unit 54 for supplying electric power to the radio-controlled timepiece 1 is provided with a remaining amount measuring unit 54a for detecting the remaining amount of the battery, and the CPU 41 as the reception control means uses the satellite electric wave reception processing unit 48 to set the date and time within the leap second notice period. When the information is acquired, either the satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48 acquires the leap second correction information or the long wave reception unit 49 acquires the leap second adjustment advance notice information based on the remaining battery level.
Receiving the satellite radio waves again immediately after receiving the satellite radio waves related to the acquisition of the date / time information usually puts an excessive load on the battery, so if overloading is not preferable depending on the remaining battery level, Even if the timing is suitable for the reception of the UTC correction parameter, the advance notice information of the leap second adjustment by the standard radio wave is acquired without making any effort. This makes it possible to stabilize the operation of the radio-controlled timepiece 1, prevent the resetting and saving operations of the radio-controlled timepiece 1, and prevent the user from promptly changing the battery or charging the battery.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made.
For example, in the above embodiment, the radio wave reception from the GPS satellite has been described, but the same may be applied to the QZS satellite such as Michibiki (registered trademark). In the case of the QZS satellite, since the transmission order and frequency of the subframes 4 and 5, that is, the transmission position of the UTC correction parameter can be changed within 30 frames (15 minutes), the latest information on the transmission position is retained. Unless it is done, the reception cannot be resumed at the acquisition timing. Therefore, the leap second correction information can be updated more effectively by using the standard radio wave.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the determination is performed within the reception area of JJY or WWVB, but when it is originally assumed that the reception is only within these areas, the determination may not be performed.

  Further, in the above embodiment, it is not assumed that the leap second correction information has not been acquired and updated even once in 6 months, but in this case, the UTC correction parameter must be received in the next 6 months. The leap second execution information 43b can be set to be acquired.

  Further, since the leap second correction information only needs to be acquired once within 6 months, when the user frequently goes in and out of the reception area of JJY or WWVB, or when the standard radio wave of the JJY or WWVB When the reception (second synchronization) is not successful, the leap second correction information may not be acquired by satellite radio wave reception in early December or early June. After that, the setting can be made so that the leap second correction information is acquired by receiving the satellite radio wave only after the middle or the end of December or June.

  On the other hand, when the date and time information is obtained by satellite radio wave reception, even if the end timing does not match the transmission timing of the UTC correction parameter, the leap second adjustment execution notice information acquisition operation is always performed by receiving the standard radio wave. You don't have to. The advance notice information for the leap second adjustment may be acquired only at the timing when the standard radio wave is separately received. Further, the acquisition of the advance notice information of the leap second adjustment by receiving the standard radio wave may be used together after the middle or the end of December or June. Further, in this case, a wider range than the reception area of the standard radio waves (JJY or WWVB) that is normally set for the acquisition of date and time information may be set as the receivable area.

  Further, even if only a part of the determination condition added in the second embodiment is used to switch between acquisition of advance notice information for execution of leap second adjustment by reception of standard radio wave and acquisition of leap second correction information by reception of satellite radio wave. good.

Further, in the second embodiment, when the leap second correction information is acquired by re-receiving the satellite radio wave, a timeout time shorter than the timeout time related to the first acquisition of date and time information may be set. Further, this setting may be determined according to the remaining battery level.
Further, the battery remaining amount need not be obtained each time the process returns from the process of step S119 to the process of step S115, but may be performed at wider intervals. Alternatively, if it is “NO” in the determination process of step S119 only once, it may be returned to the process of step S117.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the information related to the leap second adjustment is acquired together with the normal date and time acquisition processing, but the radio wave reception is mainly performed to acquire the information related to the leap second adjustment separately from the date and time information. May be performed. Even in this case, since the date and time information is also acquired, the date and time counted by the clock circuit 52 can be corrected using the date and time information.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, after receiving the standard radio wave, the advance notice information for the leap second adjustment is also acquired as necessary, but whether the advance notice information for the leap second adjustment is necessary or not. If it is unnecessary, the code of the 53rd and 54th bits of JJY or the code of the 56th bit of WWVB to which the implementation notice information is transmitted during the standard radio wave reception operation is not identified, for example, the code of two times. It is also possible not to verify the consistency of the code in column identification.

  Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, if the reference time is cut off before the start of the leap second adjustment execution notice by the standard radio wave is received after the satellite radio wave is received and the second synchronization is successful, the satellite radio wave is received from the standard radio wave. It was decided to return to the acquisition of the leap second correction information by the reception of, but, even after the identification of the second synchronization point, if the identification of the code string has failed a predetermined number of times consecutively, the The acquisition of the advance notice information for the leap second adjustment may be stopped.

  Further, when the standard radio wave reception period is set or operated so as to straddle the leap second adjustment achievable timing, reception may be waited until the leap second adjustment achievable timing has passed.

  Moreover, when the leap second correction information is corrected by the advance notice information for the leap second adjustment in the above-described embodiment, the absolute value of the leap second correction information is not acquired. Therefore, the current date and time may be acquired before and after the leap second adjustment feasible timing, and it may be confirmed that the date and time are acquired almost accurately before and after the leap second correction information is updated.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the CPU 41 sets the leap second correction time 48a, but the CPU 41 transmits the correction data to the satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48, and the control unit of the satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48 finally receives the correction data. It can be a process of setting. Further, when the UTC correction parameter is directly acquired by the satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48, the control unit of the satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48 first sets the leap second correction time 48 a, and then the control unit instructs the CPU 41 to do so. Then, the setting may be output. The CPU 41 updates the leap second execution information 43b according to the setting.
In addition, the specific details such as the configuration of the radio-controlled timepiece 1 and the content and order of the leap second acquisition information acquisition operation can be appropriately changed without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof. .
Hereinafter, the inventions described in the claims attached to the application of this application will be additionally described. The claim numbers listed in the appendices are as set forth in the claims initially attached to the application for this application.

[Appendix]
<Claim 1>
Satellite radio wave receiving means for receiving satellite radio waves,
Ground wave receiving means for receiving ground wave including date and time information,
Reception control means for controlling the reception operation of the satellite radio wave reception means and the terrestrial wave reception means,
A timekeeping means for counting the current date and time,
Correction information setting means for setting leap second correction information of date and time information acquired by the satellite radio wave receiving means,
Equipped with
The reception control means, to receive the terrestrial wave by receiving the terrestrial wave within the leap second notice period in which the leap second adjustment notice information in the terrestrial wave can be transmitted,
The radio-controlled timepiece, wherein the correction information setting means updates the leap second correction information based on the acquired advance notice information.
<Claim 2>
When the reception control means acquires the date and time information by the satellite radio wave reception means within the leap second advance notice period, from the end of acquisition of the date and time information by the satellite radio wave reception means to the acquisition possible timing of the leap second correction information. Based on the time interval, it is determined whether to obtain the leap second correction information by the satellite radio wave receiving means, and when it is determined that the leap second correction information is obtained by the satellite radio wave receiving means. The radio-controlled timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the satellite radio wave reception means acquires the leap second correction information.
<Claim 3>
The reception control means causes the terrestrial wave reception means to acquire the implementation notice information when it is determined that the satellite radio wave reception means does not acquire the leap second correction information. The radio clock described.
<Claim 4>
The reception control means, after obtaining the date and time information by the satellite radio wave receiving means, while obtaining the implementation notice information by the terrestrial wave receiving means, the time until the leap second correction information obtainable timing is If the lower limit reference time corresponding to the time estimated to be required for obtaining the implementation notice information by the terrestrial reception means is less than, the acquisition of the implementation notice information by the terrestrial reception means is stopped and the satellite radio wave is stopped. 4. The radio-controlled timepiece according to claim 3, wherein the leap second correction information is acquired by a receiving means.
<Claim 5>
The radio-controlled timepiece is provided with a power remaining amount measuring unit that detects the remaining power amount of the power supply unit that supplies power,
The reception control means, when the date and time information is acquired by the satellite radio wave reception means within the leap second advance notice period, the leap second correction information is acquired by the satellite radio wave reception means based on the remaining power amount, or The radio-controlled timepiece according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein any one of acquisition of the implementation notice information by the terrestrial wave reception means is performed.
<Claim 6>
Current position acquisition means for acquiring the current position,
Reception area determination means for determining whether or not the current position is within the reception area of the terrestrial wave transmitting the implementation notice information,
Equipped with
The reception control means causes the terrestrial reception means to acquire the implementation notice information when it is determined that the reception area is within the reception area. The radio clock described.
<Claim 7>
2. The radio-controlled timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the reception control means operates the terrestrial reception means at a preset date and time acquisition timing to obtain the implementation notice information together with the information on the current date and time.

1 Radio clock 41 CPU
42 ROM
42a program 43 RAM
43a Date / time correction history storage unit 43b Leap second execution information 45 Display unit 46 Display driver 47 Operation unit 48 Satellite radio wave reception processing unit 48a Leap second correction time 49 Long wave receiving unit 50 Oscillation circuit 51 Dividing circuit 52 Clock circuit 53 Light intensity sensor 54 Power supply Part 54a Fuel gauge A1 Antenna A2 Antenna

Claims (3)

Satellite radio wave receiving means for receiving satellite radio waves,
Ground wave receiving means for receiving ground wave including date and time information,
Reception control means for controlling the reception operation of the satellite radio wave reception means and the terrestrial wave reception means,
Equipped with a,
Said reception control means until obtainable timing of leap seconds correction information from the time acquisition end date and time information by leap second said satellite radio receiving means definitive within notice period embodiments notice leap second information adjusted in the terrestrial may be transmitted A radio-controlled timepiece characterized by causing the ground wave receiving means to acquire the implementation notice information when it is determined that the satellite radio wave receiving means does not acquire the leap second correction information based on the time interval of . 2. The radio-controlled timepiece according to claim 1 , wherein the reception control means receives the terrestrial wave within the leap second notice period to acquire the implementation notice information . Further comprising correction information setting means for setting leap second correction information of date and time information acquired by the satellite radio wave receiving means,
The correction information setting means updates the leap second correction information based on the acquired advance notice information.
The radio timepiece according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that.

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