US5805530A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System, method, and device for automatic setting of clocks
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1996-09-05
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Granted: 1998-09-08
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Expires: 2016-09-05
Abstract
Abstract A system, method, and device are disclosed for providing automatic setting of time of day and other information used by clocks and clock circuits/functions found in host devices such as household appliances, automobiles, wrist watches, computers and other electronic devices. The method and devices described bring an inexpensive automatic, and acceptably accurate procedure for getting the time of day and/or other information into these clocks. The system includes a remote host time piece device for maintaining the time of day and has a timebase with a reference from an electronic input. The system also includes a master time piece for obtaining the correct time and for transmitting the correct time to the remote host time piece device. Circuitry is included in the system for accepting the transmission of the correct time from the master time piece and for setting tile time of day in the remote host time piece device to the correct time transmitted from the master time piece. Also included in the system is circuitry, remote from the master time piece, for initiating from the master time piece the transmission of the correct time to the remote host time piece device upon the occurrence of at an event, such that the master time piece transmits to the remote lost time piece device an accuracy number that is used to determine based upon a selected tolerance whether the transmitted correct time from the master time piece is to be accepted for setting the time of day in the remote host time piece device to die correct time transmitted from the master time piece.
Inventors
- 👤 C. Eric Youngberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 17:20
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04R; G04R20/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
A system for updating the time of a remote host device, the system comprising: (a) a remote host time piece device for maintaining the time of day and having a timebase with a reference from an electronic input; (b) a master time piece for obtaining the correct time and for transmitting the correct time to the remote host time piece device; (c) means for accepting the transmission of the correct time from the master time piece and for setting the time of day in the remote host time piece device to the correct time transmitted from the master time piece; (d) means, remote from the master time piece, for initiating from the master time piece the transmission of the correct time to the remote host time piece device upon the occurrence of at an event; and wherein: the master time piece transmits to the remote host time piece device an accuracy number that is used to determine based upon a selected tolerance whether the transmitted correct time from the master time piece is to be accepted for setting the time of day in the remote host time piece device to the correct time transmitted from the master time piece.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
199 words
A system for updating the time of a remote host device, the system comprising: (a) a remote host time piece device for maintaining the time of day and having a timebase with a reference from an electronic input; (b) a master time piece for obtaining the correct time and for transmitting the correct time to the remote host time piece device; (c) means for accepting the transmission of the correct time from the master time piece and for setting the time of day in the remote host time piece device to the correct time transmitted from the master time piece; (d) means, remote from the master time piece, for initiating from the master time piece the transmission of the correct time to the remote host time piece device upon the occurrence of at an event; and wherein: the master time piece transmits to the remote host time piece device an accuracy number that is used to determine based upon a selected tolerance whether the transmitted correct time from the master time piece is to be accepted for setting the time of day in the remote host time piece device to the correct time transmitted from the master time piece.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the timebase with the reference from the electronic input is from at least one of: (i) an AC mains line frequency; (ii) a resonator or oscillator having a selected number of cycles per second; (iii) an oscillator of a control logic device for an electrical appliance; and (iv) a reference oscillator for a radio frequency device including at least one of a transmitter and a receiver.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
81 words
The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the occurrence of the event is from at least one of: (i) a user input; (ii) a restoration of power to the remote host time piece device following a loss of power to the remote host time piece device; and (iii) an elapse of a selected time period after the setting of the time of day in the remote host time piece device to the correct time transmitted from the master time piece.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
316 words
A system for updating the time of a remote host time piece device, the system comprising: a. a remote host time piece device for maintaining the time of day and having a timebase with a reference from at least one of: (i) an AC mains line frequency; (ii) a resonator or oscillator having a selected number of cycles per second; (iii) an oscillator of a control logic device for an electrical appliance; and (iv) a reference oscillator for a radio frequency device including at least one of a transmitter and a receiver; b. a master time piece for obtaining the correct time and for transmitting the correct time to the remote host time piece device; c. means for accepting the transmission of the correct time from the master time piece and for setting the time of day in the remote host time piece device to the correct time transmitted from the master time piece; d. means, remote from the master time piece, for initiating from the master time piece the transmission of the correct time to the remote host time piece device upon the occurrence of at least one of: (i) a user input; (ii) a restoration of power to the remote host time piece device following a loss of power to the remote host time piece device; and (iii) an elapse of a selected time period after the setting of the time of day in the remote host time piece device to the correct time transmitted from the master time piece, and wherein: the master time piece transmits to the remote host time piece device an accuracy number that is used to determine based upon a selected tolerance whether the transmitted correct time from the master time piece is to be accepted for setting the time of day in the remote host time piece device to the correct time transmitted from the master time piece.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
316 words
A system for updating the time of a remote host time piece device, the system comprising: a. a remote host time piece device for maintaining the time of day and having a timebase with a reference from at least one of: (i) an AC mains line frequency; (ii) a resonator or oscillator having a selected number of cycles per second; (iii) an oscillator of a control logic device for an electrical appliance; and (iv) a reference oscillator for a radio frequency device including at least one of a transmitter and a receiver; b. a master time piece for obtaining the correct time and for transmitting the correct time to the remote host time piece device; c. means for accepting the transmission of the correct time from the master time piece and for setting the time of day in the remote host time piece device to the correct time transmitted from the master time piece; d. means, remote from the master time piece, for initiating from the master time piece the transmission of the correct time to the remote host time piece device upon the occurrence of at least one of: (i) a user input; (ii) a restoration of power to the remote host time piece device following a loss of power to the remote host time piece device; and (iii) an elapse of a selected time period after the setting of the time of day in the remote host time piece device to the correct time transmitted from the master time piece, and wherein: the master time piece transmits to the remote host time piece device an accuracy number that is used to determine based upon a selected tolerance whether the transmitted correct time from the master time piece is to be accepted for setting the time of day in the remote host time piece device to the correct time transmitted from the master time piece.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system as defined in claim 4, wherein the master time piece obtains the correct time from at least one of: (i) a time manually input by a user; and (ii) a external reference source time received by signals in the form of electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system as defined in claim 4, wherein the master time piece obtains the correct time from automatically after a restoration of a power outage thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system as defined in claim 4, wherein the master time piece obtains the correct time from automatically by re-synchronizing to an external reference source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system as defined in claim 4, wherein the remote host time piece device displays the time of day it maintains.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system as defined in claim 4, wherein the remote host time piece device further comprises: at least first and second remote host time piece devices, the first remote host time piece device receiving the correct time from the master time piece and then re-transmitting the correct time to the second remote host time piece device.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
203 words
A system for updating the time of a remote host time piece device, the system comprising: a. a remote host time piece device for maintaining the time of day and having a timebase with a reference from an AC mains line frequency; b. a master time piece for obtaining the correct time and for transmitting the correct time to the remote host time piece device; c. means for accepting the transmission of the correct time from the master time piece and for setting the time of day in the remote host time piece device to the correct time transmitted from the master time piece; d. means, remote from the master time piece, for initiating from the master time piece the transmission of the correct time to the remote host time piece device upon the occurrence of a user input; and wherein: the master time piece transmits to the remote host time piece device an accuracy number that is used to determine based upon a selected tolerance whether the transmitted correct time from the master time piece is to be accepted for setting the time of day in the remote host time piece device to the correct time transmitted from the master time piece.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
203 words
A system for updating the time of a remote host time piece device, the system comprising: a. a remote host time piece device for maintaining the time of day and having a timebase with a reference from an AC mains line frequency; b. a master time piece for obtaining the correct time and for transmitting the correct time to the remote host time piece device; c. means for accepting the transmission of the correct time from the master time piece and for setting the time of day in the remote host time piece device to the correct time transmitted from the master time piece; d. means, remote from the master time piece, for initiating from the master time piece the transmission of the correct time to the remote host time piece device upon the occurrence of a user input; and wherein: the master time piece transmits to the remote host time piece device an accuracy number that is used to determine based upon a selected tolerance whether the transmitted correct time from the master time piece is to be accepted for setting the time of day in the remote host time piece device to the correct time transmitted from the master time piece.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system as defined in claim 10, wherein the master time piece obtains the correct time from at least one of: (i) a time manually input by a user; and (ii) a external reference source time received by signals in the form of electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system as defined in claim 10, wherein the master time piece obtains the correct time from automatically after a restoration of a power outage thereto.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system as defined in claim 10, wherein the master time piece obtains the correct time from automatically by re-synchronizing to an external reference source.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system as defined in claim 10, wherein the remote host time piece device further comprises: at least first and second remote host time piece devices, the first remote host time piece device receiving the correct time from the master time piece and then re-transmitting the correct time to the second remote host time piece device.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-09-07 | 2002-03-09 | 2002-09-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-07 | 2006-03-09 | 2006-09-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-07 | 2010-03-09 | 2010-09-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |