Universal clock
OwnerMichael P. Burkeinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A self regulating clock system operable to display a synchronized time throughout a facility where the desired time is kept by a master time keeper, which can correct secondary or slave clocks of the system. The secondary clocks of the system have the ability to automatically adapt to the existing correction scheme used by other secondary clocks and alter their display to show the desired time of day based on information received from the master time keeper. In another embodiment, the secondary clock correction schemes may be enabled through a transmission from the master time keeper or other attached device. In yet another embodiment, the secondary clock may be taught a new correction scheme through encoded signals transmitted throughout the system making it compatible with existing clocks of the system.
Claims54
A method for synchronizing a clock system comprised of a master time keeper and at least one secondary clock, the secondary clock including a control device in operable communication with the master time keeper, and a time display for exhibiting a time of day, the time display being operable by the control device, comprising the steps of:
- sending a correction signal from the master time keeper to the control device of the secondary clock, the correction signal carrying information formatted in one of a plurality of predetermined correction schemes;
- receiving the correction signal at the control device;
- and
- automatically analyzing the correction signal received by the control device to determine which correction scheme from the plurality of predetermined correction schemes was used to format the information being carried by the correction signal.
A method for synchronizing a clock system comprised of a master time keeper and at least one secondary clock, the secondary clock including a control device in operable communication with the master time keeper, a time display for exhibiting a time of day, the time display being operable by the control assembly, and one or more position sensors for detecting a position of the display device, the position sensors operably communicating with the control device, comprising the steps of:
- sending a correction signal from the master time keeper to the control device of the secondary clock, the correction signal carrying information formatted in one of a plurality of predetermined correction schemes;
- and
- sending an encoded signal to the control device for determining which correction scheme from the plurality of predetermined correction schemes to enable on the control device.
A method for synchronizing a clock system comprised of a master time keeper and at least one secondary clock, the secondary clock including a control device in operable communication with the master time keeper, a time display for exhibiting a time of day, the time display being operable by the control assembly, and one or more position sensors for detecting a position of the display device, the position sensors operably communicating with the control device, comprising the steps of:
- sending a correction signal formatted in an unrecognized correction scheme from the master time keeper to the control device of the secondary clock;
- and
- sending an encoded signal to the control device defining the unrecognized correction scheme.
A secondary clock for use in a clock system having a master time keeper for transmitting a control signal carrying time information formatted in one of a plurality of predetermined correction schemes, the secondary clock comprising:
- a control device configured to receive the correction signal transmitted from the master time keeper, the control device comprising a processor operable for automatically interpreting the correction signal to determine which of the plurality of predetermined correction schemes the master time keeper used to format the control signal;
- and
- a time display for exhibiting a time of day, the time display being operable by the control device in response to the control signal transmitted by the master time keeper.
A clock system comprising:
- a master timekeeper configured to transmit a correction signal carrying time information formatted in one of a plurality of predetermined correction schemes;
- at least one secondary clock operably connected to the master time keeper, the secondary clock comprising a control device configured to receive the correction signal transmitted from the master time keeper, the control device automatically operating to determine the correction scheme used to format the time information and to decipher the time information carried by the correction signal based on the determined correction scheme, and a time display for exhibiting a time of day, the time display being controllable by the control device based on the deciphered time information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.