Time keeping system with automatic daylight savings time adjustment
AssigneeQuartex, division of Primex, Inc.
InventorsTerrence J. O'Neill, Robin W. Gollnick, Roland W. Bihler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A time keeping system having a first time module operable to keep a first time, a second time module operable to keep a second time, and a display module operable to visually display a third time that corresponds to the second time. The system also includes a control module operatively coupled to the first time module and to the second time module. The control module detects a time difference between the first time and the second time and adjusts the second time to reduce the time difference.
Claims45
A time keeping system comprising:
- a pulse generating module providing a first plurality of reference pulses having a first frequency and a second plurality of reference pulses having a second frequency;
- a first time module operable to keep a first time and operable to advance the first time by a predefined amount in response to each reference pulse in the first plurality of reference pulses;
- a second time module operable to keep a second time and operable to advance the second time by a predefined amount in response to each reference pulse in the second plurality of reference pulses;
- a display module operable to display a display time corresponding to the second time;
- an interruption module operable to prevent the second time module from advancing the second time;
- and
- a control module operable to detect a time difference between the first time kept by the first time module and the second time kept by the second time module, the control module operable to adjust the second frequency to reduce the time difference.
A time keeping system comprising:
- a first time module operable to keep a first time;
- a second time module operable to keep a second time;
- a display module operable to visually display a third time that corresponds to the second time;
- and
- a control module operatively coupled to the first time module and to the second time module, the control module operable to detect a time difference between the first time and the second time and adjust the second time to reduce the time difference.
A method of operating a time keeping system, the method comprising:
- providing a first time;
- providing a second time;
- providing a display time;
- establishing a first series of pulses at a first pulse rate;
- establishing a second series of pulse at a second pulse rate;
- advancing the first time by a predefined amount in response to each pulse in the first series of pulses;
- advancing the second time by a predefined amount in response to each pulse in the second series of pulses;
- advancing the display time by a predefined amount in response to each pulse in the second series of pulses;
- detecting a time difference between the first time and the second time;
- and
- adjusting the second pulse rate to reduce the time difference between the first time and second time.
A system for keeping time, the system comprising:
- a first time keeping means for keeping a first time;
- a second time keeping means for keeping a second time;
- a display means for displaying a third time, the third time corresponding to the second time kept by the second clock means;
- and
- a control means for substantially instantaneously adjusting the first time in response to information stored in the control means, the control means further adjusting the second time and the third time over a period of time until the second time substantially equals the first time.
A time keeping system comprising:
- a plurality of time modules operable to keep a plurality of independently adjustable times;
- a display module operable to keep a display time, at least one of the plurality of time modules keeping a time corresponding to the display time;
- a control module operable to detect a time difference between the time kept by the one of the plurality of time modules keeping a time corresponding to the display time and the time kept by another of the plurality of time modules, the control module operable to adjust a rate of advancement of the one of the plurality of time modules keeping a time corresponding to the display time to reduce the time difference.
A method of setting a time keeping system, the time keeping system comprising an analog display, a first clock module, a second clock module, and a battery compartment, the battery compartment being electrically connected to the digital display, the analog display, the first clock module, and the second clock module, the method comprising:
- setting the analog display to a position representing approximately 12 o'clock;
- inserting a battery into the battery compartment;
- setting the first clock module to a set time approximately equal to the current time;
- and
- sending signals to the second clock module and the analog display to adjust the second clock module and the analog display until they substantially equal the set time.
A method of setting a time keeping system, the time keeping system comprising an analog display, a first clock module, a second clock module, a control module and a battery compartment, the battery compartment being electrically connected to the digital display, the analog display, the first clock module, and the second clock module, the method comprising:
- setting the analog display to a position representing approximately the current time;
- inserting a battery into the battery compartment;
- adjusting a first time kept by the first clock module in response to signals from the control module and thereafter adjusting a second time kept by the second clock module and a display time kept by the analog display until the second time substantially equals the first time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.