Pulse signals from a radio receiver are applied to a synchronizing winding to synchronize the pendulum, balance wheel or other mechanical oscillator of a timing device, and a transistor-switching device controlled by a pickup operated by the said mechanical oscillator is electrically connected to prevent the energization of the synchronizing winding except when the mechanical oscillator is within a predetermined limited range of positions, so as to eliminate parasitic noise signals received during the remaining time.
An electric timepiece switched by a mechanical contact point including a pair of spaced balance wheels having at least two pairs of permanent magnets mounted thereon in spaced facing relation. Coil means are fixedly mounted between said two balance wheels. Mechanical contact means are provided including actuating means mounted on said balance wheels for closing a circuit between said coil and an electric source during a certain range of one reciprocation of said balance wheels to apply a driving energy to said magnet.
The time-keeping apparatus comprises a timer unit capable of emitting time signals and an indicating unit having time-indicator such as hour and minute hands. The timer unit emits a time signal wave such as a supersonic wave at constant intervals by means of a synchronous motor serving as the reference of time. Communication between the timer unit and the time-indicating unit is effected by a wireless system. A signal receiver incorporated in the time-indicating unit is rendered to the condition of being able to receive a time signal a little before this signal wave is emitted to function so that, upon receipt of same, it drives a time-indicator actuating mechanism. Thereafter, the receiver is relieved of this condition. The time-indicator actuating mechanism thus driven causes the hands to be displaced in their positions in accurate agreement with the advancement of time.
A method for operation of a radio-controlled clock comprising a quartz-controlled clock synchronized by a time signal receiver with a time signal via a signal processor. In a common array with an additional device, such as a computer or television set, reception of the time signal is generally largely prevented by the interference effect of the additional device. In the method in accordance with the invention, the quartz-controlled clock is therefore synchronized with the time signal solely when the additional device is no longer generating an interference field. For this purpose, a detector is provided that recognizes the operating state of the additional device and permits synchronization of the quartz-controlled clock with the time signal only when the additional device is not generating an interference field, or if so only a reduced one. Furthermore, a radio-controlled clock is described that is suitable for operation by the method in accordance with the invention.
A device and method provide for an accurate output from a unit, such as an oscillator and/or clock providing an output indicative of frequency and/or time. The device includes a processing section having a microprocessor that develops a model characterizing the performance of the device, including establishing predicted accuracy variations, and the model is then used to correct the unit output. An external reference is used to provide a reference input for updating the model, including updating of predicted variations of the unit, by comparison of the reference input with the unit output. The ability of the model to accurately predict the performance of the unit improves as additional updates are carried out, and this allows the interval between the updates to be lengthened and/or the overall accuracy of the device to be improved. The accuracy of the output is thus adaptively optimized in the presence of systematic and random variations.
