US 5,274,545 A · Device and method for providing accurate time and/or frequency

Abstract

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.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A method for enhancing accuracy of an output of a unit utilized with a utilization network, the output of the unit having an accuracy which departs over time from a predetermined standard, said method comprising:

receiving the output of the unit;
establishing predicted variations of the output of the unit due to random deviations and systematic time offsets and based upon a comparison of said output of said unit with a reference input indicative of the predetermined standard;
utilizing said predicted variations to modify the received output of the unit to thereby provide an accuracy enhanced output that is developed from the output of the unit with said accuracy enhanced output varying from the received output of the unit based upon said predicted variations;
repeatedly comparing said accuracy enhanced output to the reference input indicative of the predetermined standard to thereby maintain one of a preselected accuracy when later ones of said comparisons are timewise less frequent than are earlier ones of said comparisons and improved accuracy when comparisons are timewise of substantially the same frequency;
utilizing each of said comparisons to update said established predicted variations;
and
providing said accuracy enhanced output to the utilization network.

4 more elements

A device having an accuracy enhanced output provided to a utilization network and a reference input indicative of a predetermined standard, said device comprising:

a unit providing an output, accuracy of which departs over time from the predetermined standard;
input means for receiving the reference input indicative of the predetermined standard;
output means for providing the accuracy enhanced output;
and
processor means for establishing predicted accuracy variations of said output of said unit due to random deviations and systematic time offsets and based upon a comparison of said output of said unit with said reference input, said processor means being connected with said unit to receive said output therefrom and with said output means to provide as an output at said output means the accuracy enhanced output with said accuracy enhanced output varying from said output being provided from said unit based upon said established predicted accuracy variations, and said processor means being connected with said input means to receive the reference input and with said output means to receive the reference enhanced output and comparing the reference input with the accuracy enhanced output for updating said established predicted accuracy variations upon receipt of the reference input by said input means.

2 more elements

A device having an accuracy enhanced electrical signal output and a reference input indicative of a predetermined standard, said device comprising:

an oscillator/clock unit having an electrical signal output, accuracy of which departs over time from the predetermined standard;
input means for receiving the reference input indicative of the predetermined standard;
processor means including a microprocessor for determining predicted accuracy variations of said output of said unit due to random deviations and systematic time offsets and based upon a comparison of said output of said unit with said reference input, said processor means being connected with said unit to receive said output therefrom and developing as an output from said processor means the accuracy enhanced electrical signal output that varies from said output from said unit based upon said predicted accuracy variations due to said random deviations and systematic time offsets as determined by said processor means, and said processor means also being connected with said input means to receive the reference input and comparing the reference input with the accuracy enhanced electrical signal output for updating said predicted accuracy variations upon receipt of the reference input by said input means;
and
transmission link means connected with said processor means for receiving said accuracy enhanced electrical signal output from said processor means and coupling the accuracy enhanced electrical signal output to a utilization device connected with said transmission link means.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Device and method for providing accurate time and/or frequency

Life of this patent

Device and method for providing accurate time and/or frequency

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24