REAL-TIME CLOCK INTEGRATED CIRCUIT WITH TIME CODE RECEIVER, METHOD OF OPERATION THEREOF AND DEVICES INCORPORATING THE SAME
An integrated circuit (IC), a method of operating the IC and devices incorporating the IC. In one embodiment, the IC includes: (1) a monolithic substrate and (2) a time code receiver supported by the monolithic substrate and configured to receive a timing signal and employ the timing signal to adjust a local oscillator of a real time clock (RTC).
1 . An integrated circuit (IC), comprising:
a monolithic substrate; and
a time code receiver supported by said monolithic substrate and configured to receive a timing signal and employ said timing signal to adjust a local oscillator of a real time clock.
2 . The IC as recited in claim 1 wherein said real time clock is supported by said monolithic substrate.
3 . The IC as recited in claim 1 wherein said Stratum-1 clock source is configured to make at least some use of a processor of a controller coupled to said IC.
4 . The IC as recited in claim 1 wherein said IC is configured to embody functions other than a Stratum-1 clock source.
5 . The IC as recited in claim 1 wherein said time code receiver is configured to be activated before said real time clock.
6 . The IC as recited in claim 1 wherein said IC is configured to derive power from a carrier wave that bears said timing signal.
7 . The IC as recited in claim 1 wherein said IC is configured to adjust other oscillators or clocks in said IC.
8 . The IC as recited in claim 1 wherein said time code receiver is configured to receive time and frequency information from time code transmitters other than WWVB and produce a further signal indicating that said clock signal does not qualify as a Stratum-1 clock signal.
9 . A method of operating an integrated circuit (IC), comprising:
receiving a phase-modulated timing signal from WWVB into a time code receiver supported by a monolithic substrate; and
employing said timing signal to adjust a local oscillator of a real time clock.
10 . The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said real time clock is supported by said monolithic substrate.
11 . The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising making at least some use of a processor of a controller coupled to said IC.
12 . The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising embodying functions other than a Stratum-1 clock source.
13 . The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising activating said time code receiver before said real time clock.
14 . The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising deriving power for said IC from a carrier wave that bears said timing signal.
15 . The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising employing said IC to adjust other oscillators or clocks in said IC.
16 . The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising:
receiving time and frequency information from time code transmitters other than WWVB; and
producing a further signal indicating that said clock signal does not qualify as a Stratum-1 clock signal.
17 . A device, comprising:
an integrated circuit (IC), including:
a monolithic substrate, and
time code receiver supported by said monolithic substrate and configured to receive a timing signal and employ said timing signal to adjust a local oscillator of a real time clock;
a controller;
a user interface;
other device hardware, firmware or software; and
a bus coupling said IC, said controller, said user interface and said other device hardware, firmware or software.
18 . The device as recited in claim 17 wherein said real time clock is supported by said monolithic substrate.
19 . The device as recited in claim 17 wherein said time code receiver is configured to embody functions other than a Stratum-1 clock source.
20 . The device as recited in claim 17 wherein said time code receiver is configured to be activated before said real time clock.
21 . The device as recited in claim 17 wherein said IC is configured to derive power from a carrier wave that bears said timing signal.
22 . The device as recited in claim 17 wherein said time code receiver is configured to adjust other oscillators or clocks in said device.
23 . The device as recited in claim 17 wherein said time code receiver is configured to receive time and frequency information from time code transmitters other than WWVB and produce a further signal indicating that said clock signal does not qualify as a Stratum-1 clock signal.