Claims
- 1. A time keeping system comprising:
a pulse generating module providing a first plurality of reference pulses having a first frequency and a second plurality of reference pulses having a second frequency; a first time module operable to keep a first time and operable to advance the first time by a predefined amount in response to each reference pulse in the first plurality of reference pulses; a second time module operable to keep a second time and operable to advance the second time by a predefined amount in response to each reference pulse in the second plurality of reference pulses; a display module operable to display a display time corresponding to the second time; an interruption module operable to prevent the second time module from advancing the second time; and a control module operable to detect a time difference between the first time kept by the first time module and the second time kept by the second time module, the control module operable to adjust the second frequency to reduce the time difference.
- 2. The time keeping system of claim 1, further comprising:
a primary power source operable to supply power to the first time module, the second time module, the display module, and the control module; and a secondary power source operable to supply power to the first time module and the control module.
- 3. The time keeping system of claim 2, wherein the pulse generating module, the first time module, the second time module, the interruption module, the control module, the primary power source, and the secondary power source are all contained in a standard clockwork that is approximately two inches long, approximately two inches wide, and approximately five-eighths of an inch high.
- 4. The time keeping system of claim 2, wherein the secondary power source is operable to supply power to the first time module and the control module when power supplied by the primary power source is interrupted.
- 5. The time keeping system of claim 2, wherein the control module is operable to detect a low voltage signal.
- 6. The time keeping system of claim 5, wherein the interruption module is operable to prevent the second time module from advancing the second time in response to a control signal generated by the control module upon detecting a low voltage signal.
- 7. The time keeping system of claim 1, wherein the display module comprises an analog display.
- 8. A time keeping system comprising:
a first time module operable to keep a first time; a second time module operable to keep a second time; a display module operable to visually display a third time that corresponds to the second time; and a control module operatively coupled to the first time module and to the second time module, the control module operable to detect a time difference between the first time and the second time and adjust the second time to reduce the time difference.
- 9. The time keeping system of claim 8, further comprising a pulse generating module providing first and second pluralities of reference pulses, the second plurality of reference pulses having a first frequency, the first time advancing a predefined amount in response to each reference pulse in the first plurality of reference pulses and the second time advancing a predefined amount in response to each reference pulse in the second plurality of reference pulses.
- 10. The time keeping system of claim 9, wherein the second time is adjusted by increasing the first frequency to a second frequency.
- 11. The time keeping system of claim 10, wherein the second frequency is approximately eight times the first frequency.
- 12. The time keeping system of claim 9, wherein the second time is adjusted by decreasing the first frequency to a second frequency.
- 13. The time keeping system of claim 12, wherein the second frequency is approximately one fifth the first frequency.
- 14. The time keeping system of claim 9, wherein the control module contains information and the first time is adjusted according to the information.
- 15. The time keeping system of claim 9, further comprising a power source that supplies power to the first time module, the second time module, the display module, and the control module, the control module detecting a change in the power supplied by the power source and preventing the third time from advancing.
- 16. The time keeping system of claim 8, wherein the display module comprises an analog display.
- 17. The time keeping system of claim 15, wherein the pulse generating module, the first time module, the second time module, the control module, and the power source are all contained in a standard clockwork that is approximately two inches long, approximately two inches wide, and approximately five-eighths of an inch high.
- 18. A method of operating a time keeping system, the method comprising:
providing a first time; providing a second time; providing a display time; establishing a first series of pulses at a first pulse rate; establishing a second series of pulse at a second pulse rate; advancing the first time by a predefined amount in response to each pulse in the first series of pulses; advancing the second time by a predefined amount in response to each pulse in the second series of pulses; advancing the display time by a predefined amount in response to each pulse in the second series of pulses; detecting a time difference between the first time and the second time; and adjusting the second pulse rate to reduce the time difference between the first time and second time.
- 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:
interrupting the second series of pulses, such that the second and third time do not advance, thereby creating the time difference; and re-establishing the second series of pulses, such that the second and third time advance.
- 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:
adjusting the first time in response to information, thereby creating the time difference.
- 21. The method of claim 20, wherein adjusting the second pulse rate comprises increasing the second pulse rate.
- 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the second pulse rate is increased to approximately eight times the second pulse rate.
- 23. The method of claim 20, wherein adjusting the second pulse rate comprises decreasing the second pulse rate.
- 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the second pulse rate is decreased to approximately one fifth the second pulse rate.
- 25. A system for keeping time, the system comprising:
a first time keeping means for keeping a first time; a second time keeping means for keeping a second time; a display means for displaying a third time, the third time corresponding to the second time kept by the second clock means; and a control means for substantially instantaneously adjusting the first time in response to information stored in the control means, the control means further adjusting the second time and the third time over a period of time until the second time substantially equals the first time.
- 26. The time keeping system of claim 25, further includes a power means for supplying power to the system and wherein the power means, the first time keeping means, the second time keeping means and the control means are all contained in a standard clockwork that is approximately two inches long, approximately two inches wide, and approximately five-eighths of an inch high.
- 27. The system for keeping time of claim 25, wherein the display means comprises an analog display.
- 28. The system for keeping time of claim 27, wherein the first time is adjusted substantially instantaneously and the second time and third time are adjusted over a period of time.
- 29. The system for keeping time of claim 28, wherein the control means substantially instantaneously adjusts the first time ahead substantially one hour and thereafter speeds up the second time keeping means until the second time substantially equals the first time.
- 30. The system for keeping time of claim 29, wherein the second time keeping means speeds up to approximately eight times its normal rate.
- 31. The system for keeping time of claim 28, wherein the control means substantially instantaneously adjusts the first time back substantially one hour and thereafter slows down the second time keeping means until the second time substantially equals the first time.
- 32. The system for keeping time of claim 31, wherein the second time keeping means slows down to approximately one fifth its normal rate.
- 33. A time keeping system comprising:
a plurality of time modules operable to keep a plurality of independently adjustable times; a display module operable to keep a display time, at least one of the plurality of time modules keeping a time corresponding to the display time; a control module operable to detect a time difference between the time kept by the one of the plurality of time modules keeping a time corresponding to the display time and the time kept by another of the plurality of time modules, the control module operable to adjust a rate of advancement of the one of the plurality of time modules keeping a time corresponding to the display time to reduce the time difference.
- 34. The time keeping system of claim 33, wherein the plurality of time modules and the control module are contained in a standard clockwork that is approximately two inches long, approximately two inches wide, and approximately five-eighths of an inch high.
- 35. The time keeping system of claim 33, wherein the time modules and display module advance the times they keep in response to a plurality of pulses received from the control module, the control module adjusting the rate of advancement of the one of the plurality of time modules keeping a time corresponding to the display time and the display module by adjusting a pulse frequency to them.
- 36. The time keeping system of claim 35, wherein the pulse frequency is increased.
- 37. The time keeping system of claim 36, wherein the pulse frequency is increased by eight times.
- 38. The time keeping system of claim 35, wherein the pulse frequency is decreased.
- 39. The time keeping system of claim 38, wherein the pulse frequency is decreased by five times.
- 40. A method of setting a time keeping system, the time keeping system comprising an analog display, a first clock module, a second clock module, and a battery compartment, the battery compartment being electrically connected to the digital display, the analog display, the first clock module, and the second clock module, the method comprising:
setting the analog display to a position representing approximately 12 o'clock; inserting a battery into the battery compartment; setting the first clock module to a set time approximately equal to the current time; and sending signals to the second clock module and the analog display to adjust the second clock module and the analog display until they substantially equal the set time.
- 41. The method of claim 40, wherein the time keeping system further comprises a digital display, the method further comprising setting the digital display to represent approximately the current time, the digital display thereafter setting the first clock module to the set time.
- 42. The method of claim 41, wherein the time keeping system further comprises a control module that adjusts the set time for daylight savings changes.
- 43. A method of setting a time keeping system, the time keeping system comprising an analog display, a first clock module, a second clock module, a control module and a battery compartment, the battery compartment being electrically connected to the digital display, the analog display, the first clock module, and the second clock module, the method comprising:
setting the analog display to a position representing approximately the current time; inserting a battery into the battery compartment; adjusting a first time kept by the first clock module in response to signals from the control module and thereafter adjusting a second time kept by the second clock module and a display time kept by the analog display until the second time substantially equals the first time.
- 44. The method of claim 43, wherein the first time is substantially instantaneously adjusted and the second time and display time are adjusted over a period of time.
- 45. The method of claim 43, wherein the signals from the control module are sent in response to programmed daylight savings changes.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part patent application of prior filed co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/094,100, filed on Mar. 8, 2002, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference, and is a patent application which claims priority to prior filed co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/960,638, filed on Sep. 21, 2001, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10094100 |
Mar 2002 |
US |
Child |
10243036 |
Sep 2002 |
US |