SUH, Hosuhng (101-201, Lotte Apt.Nae-dong, Seo-g, Daejeon 302-761, KR)
KIM, Youngbeom (1 Banseok Maeul, 977Jijok-dong, Yuseong-g, Daejeon 305-772, 08-2002, KR)
SUH, Hosuhng (101-201, Lotte Apt.Nae-dong, Seo-g, Daejeon 302-761, KR)
[CLAIMS]
[Claim l]
A method of providing an independently surviving clock synchronized with a time signal service in commercial broadcasting, comprising: a first step of receiving serial data for a year, month, day, hour, minute, and second from external input or another independently surviving clock provision module, and setting time information composed of year, month, day, hour, minute, and second, which constitute a start time point of a counter for counting current time, under control of a processor; a second step of receiving a second pulse (1 pps) from a divider, which divides oscillation frequency of various types of oscillators into the second pulse (1 pps) , and counting current time using the time information as a start time point through the counter; a third step of detecting a precise hourly time signal in a broadcasting signal, received through a Radio Frequency (RF) tuner, using a synchronous signal detector if external power is supplied while the current time is counted using internal power of an independently surviving clock provision module; a fourth step of resetting the divider the moment that the precise hourly time signal is detected in the broadcasting signal, and determining whether current time counted by the counter and composed of year, month, day, hour, minute, and second is a precise hour; and a fifth step of adjusting time information of the counter for counting current time to a precise hour under control of the processor if it is determined that current time is not a precise hour at the fourth step.
[Claim 2]
The method according to claim 1, wherein the processor adjusts time information of the counter to a previous hour when the precise hourly time signal is detected in the broadcasting signal within 30 minutes from a time point at which the current time counted by the counter reached an hour of the counter, whereas the processor adjusts time information of the counter to a subsequent hour when the precise hourly time signal is detected in the broadcasting signal more than 30 minutes after a time point at which the current time counted by the counter reached an hour of the counter.
[Claim 3] The method according to claim 1, wherein the processor outputs serial data for a year, month, day, hour, minute, and second of the current time output from the counter to an outside while external power is supplied. [Claim 4]
The method according to claim 1, wherein the processor drives a pulse driver while external power is supplied, thus amplifying the second pulse (1 pps) output from the divider and outputting an amplified second pulse to an outside .
[Claim 5]
The method according to claim 1, wherein the external power charges the internal power while being supplied.
[Claim 6]
The method according to claim 1, wherein the RF tuner, the synchronous signal detector, the divider, the counter, the processor, and an internal power source are produced in a form of an independently surviving clock provision module, which is a single part. |
[DESCRIPTION]
[invention Title]
METHOD FOR PROVIDING SELF-SURVIVING CLOCK TO BE SYNCHRONIZED WITH A TIMECAST IN COMMERCIAL BROADCASTING
[Technical Field]
The present invention relates, in general, to a method of providing an independently surviving clock synchronized with a time signal service in commercial broadcasting. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of providing an independently surviving clock synchronized with a time signal service for commercial broadcasting, which allows an independently surviving clock provision module, produced in the form of a small part, to reset a divider for dividing an oscillation frequency by a precise hourly time signal, which is detected in a broadcasting signal from the moment that external power is supplied, and for generating a second pulse, and to output both a second pulse, obtained by synchronizing the hour of current time, counted by a counter, with the precise hourly time signal detected in the broadcasting signal, and serial data about the current time to the outside of the module.
[Background Art]
An analog watch or a digital watch for providing time information, such as hours, minutes, and seconds, to the general public is driven by a spring, or energy such as power. In particular, since a digital watch has its own oscillator, such as a crystal oscillator, precise time information can be provided to the general public. However, such watches are limited in that, as time elapses, it is impossible to precisely display current time and drift occurs due to structural factors thereof . Further, in some airwave broadcasting, such as radio broadcasting, information about current time is provided. However, such broadcasting provides only different types of tone signals for a time signal, including a tone signal of 440 Hz or 880 Hz, but does not provide detailed digital time information required by the general public, such as the year, month, day, hour, minute, and second.
Moreover, a standard frequency station (High Level Architecture: HLA), which provides time information-only broadcasting, is disadvantageous in that a reception device has a large size and is complicated, thus increasing the cost thereof. Further, time information can also be provided using a Global Positioning System (GPS) . In this case, such a method is not suitable for easy use by the general public because shielded areas, including the inside of buildings, are wide, and the cost thereof is high.
[Disclosure] [Technical Problem]
Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a scheme, which allows an independently surviving clock provision module produced in the form of a small part to provide a second pulse, synchronized with a time signal service for commercial broadcasting, and serial data about current time, thus providing a second pulse and time information having high precision to the general public at low cost.
[Technical Solution]
In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a method of providing an independently surviving clock synchronized with a time signal service in commercial broadcasting, comprising a first step of receiving serial data for a year, month, day, hour, minute, and second from external input or another independently surviving clock provision module, and setting time information composed of year, month, day, hour, minute, and second, which constitute a start time point of a counter for counting current time, under control of a processor; a second step of receiving a second pulse (1 pps) from a divider, which divides oscillation frequency of various
types of oscillators into the second pulse (1 pps) , and counting current time using the time information as a start time point through the counter,- a third step of detecting a precise hourly time signal in a broadcasting signal, received through a Radio Frequency (RF) tuner, using a synchronous signal detector if external power is supplied while the current time is counted using internal power of an independently surviving clock provision module; a fourth step of resetting the divider the moment that the precise hourly time signal is detected in the broadcasting signal, and determining whether current time counted by the counter and composed of year, month, day, hour, minute, and second is a precise hour,- and a fifth step of adjusting time information of the counter for counting current time to a precise hour under control of the processor if it is determined that current time is not a precise hour at the fourth step.
Preferably, the processor may adjust time information of the counter to a previous hour when the precise hourly time signal is detected in the broadcasting signal within 30 minutes from a time point at which the current time counted by the counter reached an hour of the counter, whereas the processor may adjust time information of the counter to a subsequent hour when the precise hourly time signal is detected in the broadcasting signal more than 30 minutes after a time point at which the current time
counted by the counter reached an hour of the counter.
Preferably, the processor may output serial data for a year, month, day, hour, minute, and second of the current time output from the counter to an outside while external power is supplied.
Preferably, the processor may drive a pulse driver while external power is supplied, thus amplifying the second pulse (1 pps) output from the divider and outputting an amplified second pulse to an outside. Preferably, the external power may charge the internal power while being supplied.
Preferably, the RF tuner, the synchronous signal detector, the divider, the counter, the processor, and an internal power source may be produced in a form of an independently surviving clock provision module, which is a single part .
[Advantageous Effects]
Accordingly, the present invention provides a method of providing an independently surviving clock synchronized with a time signal service for commercial broadcasting, which allows an independently surviving clock provision module produced in the form of a small part to reset a divider for dividing an oscillation frequency by a precise hourly time signal, which is detected in a broadcasting signal from the moment that external power is supplied, and
for generating a second pulse, and to output both a second pulse, obtained by synchronizing the current time counted by a counter with the precise hourly time signal detected in the broadcasting signal, and serial data about the current time to the outside of the module, thus providing a second pulse and time information having high precision to the general public at low cost .
[Description of Drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the construction of a module for providing an independently surviving clock synchronized with a time signal service for commercial broadcasting according to the present invention; and
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a process of outputting a second pulse and serial data using the independently surviving clock provision module of FIG. 1.
-Description of reference characters of important parts
31: RF tuner 32: synchronous signal detector 33 : divider 34 : counter 35: processor 36: battery 37: pulse driver
[Best Mode]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.
A module for providing an independently surviving clock synchronized with a time signal service for commercial broadcasting according to the present invention is produced in the form of an independent module that can be mounted in other products, and is constructed to include a Radio Frequency (RF) tuner 31 for tuning a broadcasting signal for various types of commercial broadcasting, such as radio broadcasting, a synchronous signal detector 32 for detecting a precise hourly time signal in a broadcasting signal received through the tuner 31, a divider 33 for dividing the pulse of various oscillators, such as a crystal oscillator, and generating a second pulse (1 pps) synchronized with the precise hourly time signal output from the synchronous signal detector 32, a counter 34 for receiving the second pulse (1 pps) from the divider 33 and counting current time, composed of year, month, day, hour, minute, and second, and a processor 35 for outputting serial data about time information, composed of year, month, day, hour, minute, and second, and output from the counter 34, to the outside of the module, as shown in FIG. 1.
In this case, the independently surviving clock provision module according to the present invention, produced in the form of a small module that can be mounted in other products, includes therein an internal power source, that is, a battery 36. The battery 36 is adapted to
supply driving power both to the divider 33 and to the counter 34 so that the independently surviving clock provision module can continuously perform only an operation required to generate a clock even when external power is not supplied.
When external power is not supplied, the battery 36 supplies power only to the divider 33 and to the counter 34 to minimize power consumption. When external power is supplied, the battery 36 is charged by the external power, thus supplying driving power both to the divider 33 and to the counter 34 in the case where external power is discontinued again.
Of course, the external power can also be supplied to the divider 33 and the counter 34, as well as the RF tuner 31, the synchronous signal detector 32, the processor 35, and a pulse driver 37, thus preventing the battery 36 from being unnecessarily discharged.
The processor 35 is constructed to receive the serial data for the year, month, day, hour, minute, and second from a separate input device or another independently surviving clock provision module according to the present invention, and to set the year, month, day, hour, minute, and second, which constitute the start time point of current time counted by the counter 34. The case where the year, month, day, hour, minute, and second of the start time point of the counter 34 are
newly set in this way may include, for example, the procedure for initially producing the independently surviving clock provision module according to the present invention, or the case where the power of the battery 36 or external power is completely exhausted, and time information about the set current time is erased. That is, the independently surviving clock provision module according to the present invention is constructed to be provided with current time information through the connection to another module that is normally operating.
Moreover, the present invention includes the pulse driver 37 for amplifying the second pulse (1 pps) output from the divider 33, and outputting the amplified second pulse to the outside of the module. The pulse driver 37 is restrictively operated only while external power is supplied in order to minimize the power consumption of the battery 36.
Hereinafter, the process for synchronizing current time with a precise hourly time signal detected in a broadcasting signal, and outputting second pulse and serial data about the current time to the outside, using the independently surviving clock provision module, produced in the form of a part that can be mounted in other products, is described with reference to FIGS . 1 and 2. First, when the independently surviving clock provision module is initially produced, or when internal
power of the independently surviving clock provision module, which was discharged, that is, the power of the battery 36, is supplied again, the processor 35 receives serial data for the year, month, day, hour, minute, and second from external input, or another independently surviving clock provision module, and sets time information composed of year, month, day, hour, minute, and second, which constitute the start time point of the counter 34 for counting current time at step SIl. If the start time point for counting has been set in this way, the counter 34 receives the second pulse (1 pps) output from the divider 33, which divides the oscillation frequency of various types of oscillators by the second pulse (1 pps) , and then counts current time using the above set time information as a start time point at step S12.
If external power is supplied to the RF tuner 31, the synchronous signal detector 32, the divider 33, the counter 34, the processor 35, the battery 36, and the pulse driver 37 at step S13 while current time is counted by the power of the battery 36 of the independently surviving clock provision module, the synchronous signal detector 32 detects a precise hourly time signal in a broadcasting signal, received through the RF tuner 31 at step S14, at step S15, and provides the precise hourly time signal to the divider 33 and the processor 35.
The moment the precise hourly time signal is detected
in the broadcasting signal, the divider 33 resets the procedure for dividing the oscillation frequency and generating the second pulse (1 pps) at step S16, and then starts division again using the second pulse (1 pps) to allow the second pulse to be synchronized with the precise hourly time signal. The processor 35 determines whether current time, composed of year, month, day, hour, minute, and second, and counted by the counter 34, is a precise hour at step S18. Of course, before or after step S18 of determining whether the current time, composed of year, month, day, hour, minute, and second and counted by the counter 34, is the precise hour, the pulse driver 37, supplied with external power, is driven under the control of the processor 35, so that the second pulse (1 pps) output from the divider 33 is amplified and is output to the outside of the module. Further, the processor 35 outputs serial data for the year, month, day, hour, minute, and second of the current time, which is output from the counter 34, to the outside while the external power is supplied at step S17.
As a result of the determination at step S19 based on step S18, if it is determined that the current time is not a precise hour, the processor 35 adjusts the time information of the counter 34 for counting the current time to the precise hour at steps S20 and S21.
That is, if the precise hourly time signal is
detected in the broadcasting signal within 30 minutes from the time point at which the current time counted by the counter 34 reached the hour of the counter, the processor 35 adjusts the time information of the counter 34 to the previous hour, whereas if the precise hourly time signal is detected in the broadcasting signal more than 30 minutes after the time point at which the current time counted by the counter 34 reached the hour of the counter, the processor 35 adjusts the time information of the counter 34 to the subsequent hour at steps S19, S20, and S21.
[Mode for Invention]
[industrial Applicability]
As described above, the present invention provides a method of providing an independently surviving clock synchronized with a time signal service for commercial broadcasting, which allows an independently surviving clock provision module produced in the form of a small part to reset a divider for dividing an oscillation frequency by a precise hourly time signal, which is detected in a broadcasting signal from the moment that external power is supplied, and for generating a second pulse, and to output both a second pulse, obtained by synchronizing an hour of current time counted by a counter with the precise hourly
time signal detected in the broadcasting signal, and serial data about the current time to the outside of the module, thus providing a second pulse and time information having high precision to the general public at low cost .
[Sequence List Text]
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