Phase estimating device, signal generating device, synchronizing system, and signal processing device

A signal generating device comprising:

• a computer including a processor;
• and
• hardware storage,
• wherein the computer is configured to control the signal generating device to perform operations comprising:
• synchronizing a reference time with that of a phase estimating device by wirelessly communicating with the phase estimating device that determines phase information on a phase of a first periodic signal;
• storing, in the hardware storage, the reference time synchronized with that of the phase estimating device;
• wirelessly receiving the phase information transmitted from the phase estimating device;
• reading the reference time from the hardware storage, and generating a second periodic signal synchronized with the first periodic signal based on the read reference time and the received phase information;
• and
• outputting the generated second periodic signal.

A synchronizing system comprising a phase estimating device including a hardware interface configured to obtain a first periodic signal, a first computer and first hardware storage, and one or more signal generating devices each configured to wirelessly communicate with the phase estimating device and including a second computer and second hardware storage, wherein

• the first computer is configured to control the phase estimating device to perform operations comprising:
• synchronizing a reference time with that of the signal generating device by wirelessly communicating with a signal generating device;
• storing, in the first hardware storage, the reference time synchronized with that of the signal generating device;
• obtaining a sampled time from the first hardware storage at a timing at which the first periodic signal rises above or falls below a predetermined level, and determining a phase information on a phase of the first periodic signal based on the obtained sampled time and period information on a period of the first periodic signal;
• and
• wirelessly transmitting the phase information to the signal generating device, and
• the second computer of the signal generating device is configured to control the signal generating device to perform operations comprising:
• synchronizing a reference time with that of the phase estimating device by wirelessly communicating with the phase estimating device;
• storing, in the second hardware storage, the reference time synchronized with that of the phase estimating device;
• wirelessly receiving the phase information from the phase estimating device;
• generating a second periodic signal synchronized with the first periodic signal based on the reference time and the phase information;
• and
• outputting the generated second periodic signal.

A synchronization processing device being operable as either a phase estimating device that determines phase information on a phase of a first periodic signal or a signal generating device that outputs a second periodic signal synchronized with the first periodic signal, the synchronization processing device comprising:

• a computer comprising a processor;
• wireless communication circuitry;
• and
• hardware storage,
• wherein the computer is configured to control the synchronization processing device to perform operations comprising:
• synchronizing a reference time with that of another synchronization processing device by wirelessly communicating with the other synchronization processing device;
• storing, in the hardware storage, the reference time synchronized with that of the signal generating device;
• determining the phase information on the phase of the first periodic signal;
• generating the second periodic signal synchronized with the first periodic signal;
• obtaining configuration information to determine a configuration of the synchronization processing device;
• and
• setting, based on the configuration information, a mode to either a first mode in which the synchronization processing device operates as the phase estimating device or a second mode in which the synchronization processing device operates as the signal generating device, wherein
• if the mode is set to the first mode, the computer is configured to control the synchronization processing device to perform further operations comprising:
• obtaining the first periodic signal,
• obtaining a sampled time from the hardware storage at a timing at which the first periodic signal rises above or falls below a predetermined level, and determining the phase information on the phase of the first periodic signal based on the obtained sampled time and period information on a period of the first periodic signal, and
• wirelessly transmitting the phase information, and
• if the mode is set to the second mode, the computer is configured to control the synchronization processing device to perform further operations comprising:
• wirelessly receiving the phase information,
• generating the second periodic signal synchronized with the first periodic signal based on the reference time and the phase information, and
• outputting the generated second periodic signal.