Radio clock and method for extracting time information
View Patent ↗A method for extracting time information from a received, amplitude-modulated time signal is provided. The method provides that the time signal is demodulated, the analog signal thus obtained is digitized by a comparator, and the digital signal thus obtained is analyzed to extract the time information. In addition, a characteristic value of the time duration of at least one signal phase of a specific signal level of the digital signal is compared to a target value, and a comparator threshold of the comparator is altered as a function of a result of the comparison such that the time duration of at least the applicable signal phase of the digital signal approaches the target value. In this way, an improved system sensitivity is achieved according to the invention in a receiver for receiving time signals. In particular, the frequency of occurrence of errors due to misreading of pulse lengths is reduced here, and distorted received signals are better detected as being distorted on account of their temporal deviation from the applicable target value. In addition, compensation of manufacturing tolerances of the various components in the described circuit arrangement is possible.
1. A method comprising:
receiving an amplitude-modulated time signal from a transmitter, the time signal comprising a plurality of markers representing time information, the amplitude-modulation of the time signal comprising modulation of an amplitude of a carrier of the time signal with a plurality of pulses, each pulse of the plurality of pulses corresponding to a respective marker and having a pulse width corresponding at least to a first pre-determined time duration representing a first binary value of the respective marker or a second pre-determined time duration representing a second binary value of the respective marker;
demodulating the amplitude-modulated time signal to provide an analog signal;
digitizing the demodulated analog signal by comparing the demodulated analog signal with one or more reference levels of a comparator;
extracting time information from the digitized demodulated time signal;
determining a characteristic value of one or more measured time durations of one or more first or second binary values of respective markers in the digitized demodulated time signal;
comparing the characteristic value with the first or second pre-determined time duration; and
adjusting one or more of the reference levels of the comparator based on the comparison of the characteristic value with the first or second pre-determined time duration.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting one or more of the reference levels further comprises digitally adjusting one or more of the reference levels.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic value is an average time duration of the one or more measured time durations.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting one or more of the reference levels of the comparator comprises continuing to adjust one or more of the reference levels until measured time durations of first or second binary values in the digitized demodulated time signal substantially match the first or second pre-determined time duration.
5. A circuit configured to:
receive an amplitude-modulated time signal from a transmitter, the time signal comprising a plurality of markers representing time information, the amplitude-modulation of the time signal comprising modulation of an amplitude of a carrier of the time signal with a plurality of pulses, each pulse of the plurality of pulses corresponding to a respective marker and having a pulse width corresponding at least to a first pre-determined time duration representing a first binary value of the respective marker or a second-pre-determined time duration representing a second binary value of the respective marker;
demodulate the amplitude-modulated time signal to provide an analog signal;
digitize the demodulated analog signal by comparing the demodulated analog signal with one or more reference levels of the comparator;
extract time information from the digitized demodulated time signal;
determine a characteristic value of one or more measured time durations of first or second binary values of respective markers in the digitized demodulated time signal;
compare the characteristic value with the first or second pre-determined time duration; and
adjust one or more of the reference levels of the comparator based on the comparison of the characteristic value with the first or second pre-determined time duration.
6. The circuit of claim 5 , further configured to detects the time signal transmitter out of a plurality of time signal transmitters, and wherein an appropriate target value is provided as a function of the detected time signal transmitter.
7. The circuit of claim 5 , further configured to digitally adjusts one or more of the reference levels of the comparator based on the comparison.
8. The circuit of claim 5 , wherein the circuit is provided in a radio clock.
9. The circuit of claim 5 , wherein the characteristic value is an average time duration of the one or more measured time durations.
10. The circuit of claim 5 , wherein to adjust one or more of the reference levels of the comparator, the circuit is further configured to continue to adjust one or more of the reference levels until measured time durations of first or second binary values in the digitized demodulated time signal substantially match the first or second pre-determined time duration.
11. A system comprising:
means of receiving an amplitude-modulated time signal from a transmitter, the time signal comprising a plurality of markers representing time information, the amplitude-modulation of the time signal comprising modulation of an amplitude of a carrier of the time signal with a plurality of pulses of a carrier of the time signal, each pulse of the plurality of pulses corresponding to a respective marker and having a pulse width corresponding at least to a first pre-determined time duration representing a first binary value of the respective marker or a second pre-determined time duration representing a second binary value;
means for demodulating the amplitude-modulated time signal to provide an analog signal;
means for digitizing the demodulated analog signal by comparing the demodulated analog signal with one or more reference levels of a comparator;
means for extracting time information from the digitized demodulated time signal;
means for determining a characteristic value of one or more measured time durations of one or more first or second binary values of respective markers in the digitized demodulated time signal;
means for comparing the characteristic value with the first or second pre-determined time duration; and
means for adjusting one or more of the reference levels of the comparator based on the comparison of the characteristic value with the first or second pre-determined time duration.