초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for correcting errors in an electronic digital timepiece that includes an oscillator which has a 2n frequency output, an n-stage frequency divider for reducing the oscillator output frequency to a time keeping frequency, and means for displaying the count of the time keeping f

A method and apparatus for correcting errors in an electronic digital timepiece that includes an oscillator which has a 2n frequency output, an n-stage frequency divider for reducing the oscillator output frequency to a time keeping frequency, and means for displaying the count of the time keeping frequency. The error E in the time of the timepiece for an arbitrary period of time T is determined. A computer computes a new adjustment value N+(2n-m+N)E/T where N is the preceding adjustment value and m is a nonnegative integer less than n. Then the 2n-m divisor of the first n-m stages of the n-stage frequency divider is adjusted in an amount equal to the new adjustment value. In first and second embodiments of the invention the timepiece is synchronized with a time standard at the beginning of the period of time T. In the first embodiment of the invention the timepiece user observes E (the difference between the time standard and the timepiece time at the end of the period T) and then operates a selected switch to correct the time of the timepiece and to obtain a count for E. In the second embodiment of the invention, the user operates a switch at the beginning of T and at the end of T and a count for E is obtained electronically.

대표청구항 ▼

In an electronic digital timepiece that includes an oscillator that has a 2n frequency output, an n stage frequency divider for reducing the oscillator output frequency to a time keeping frequency, and means for counting and displaying the count of the time keeping frequency, apparatus for correctin

In an electronic digital timepiece that includes an oscillator that has a 2n frequency output, an n stage frequency divider for reducing the oscillator output frequency to a time keeping frequency, and means for counting and displaying the count of the time keeping frequency, apparatus for correcting errors in said timepiece due to changes in the output frequency of said oscillator comprising: a first counting means connected to the output of the (n-m)th stage of said frequency divider where m is a whole number less than n and greater than zero; a second counting means connected to the output of the (n-m)th stage of said frequency divider; means for activating said first counting means for a selected period of time T whereby the first counting means counts the output of the (n-m)th stage of said frequency divider during the period T; means for activating said second counting means for a period of time │E│where │E│is equal to the error accumulated by said time piece during said period T; means for dividing the count on said second counting means by the count on said first counting means, multiplying by (2n-m+N) and adding N to produce a new adjustment value where N is the preceding adjustment value; and means for adjusting the 2n-m divisor of the first (n-m)th stages of said frequency divider by the amount of said new adjustment value.