IP Library Granted Patent US 8,687,645
Granted Patent B2
US 8,687,645 · App. 13/549,556 · Granted Apr 1, 2014

Wireless communications device providing temperature-compensated clock correction features and related methods

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,687,645
App. No.
13/549,556
Granted
Apr 1, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wireless communications device may include a portable housing and a temperature-compensated clock circuit carried by the portable housing. The device may further include a wireless receiver carried by the portable housing for receiving timing signals, when available, from a wireless network, and a satellite positioning clock circuit carried by the portable housing. A clock correction circuit may be carried by the portable housing for correcting the temperature-compensated clock circuit based upon timing signals from the wireless network when available, and storing historical correction values for corresponding temperatures. The clock correction circuit may also correct the temperature-compensated clock circuit based upon the stored historical correction values when timing signals are unavailable from the wireless network, and correct the satellite positioning clock based upon the temperature-compensated clock circuit.

Claims (35)

1. An electronic device comprising:

a voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit;

a cellular receiver coupled to the voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit;

a satellite positioning clock circuit;

a satellite positioning receiver coupled to the satellite positioning clock circuit;

a temperature sensor positioned adjacent the voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit; and

a clock correction circuit coupled to receive an input from the temperature sensor and configured to

correct said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit based upon timing signals from said cellular receiver when available,

correct said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit based upon historical temperature correction values when timing signals are unavailable, the historical temperature correction values comprising voltage correction values for said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit, and

provide a correction signal to said satellite positioning receiver based upon said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein said clock correction circuit comprises a processor.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein said satellite positioning clock circuit comprises a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (TOXO).

4. The electronic device of claim 1 further comprising an analog-to-digital converter coupled between said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit and said clock correction circuit.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 further comprising a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) coupled between said clock correction circuit and said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit.

6. An electronic device comprising:

a portable housing;

a voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit carried by said portable housing;

a cellular receiver coupled to the voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit and carried by said portable housing;

a satellite positioning receiver carried by said portable housing;

a temperature sensor positioned adjacent the voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit; and

a clock correction circuit coupled to receive an input from the temperature sensor and carried by said portable housing and configured to

correct said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit based upon timing signals from said cellular receiver when available,

correct said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit based upon historical temperature correction values when timing signals are unavailable, the historical temperature correction values comprising voltage correction values for said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit, and

provide a correction signal to said satellite positioning receiver based upon said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 wherein said clock correction circuit comprises a processor.

8. The electronic device of claim 6 wherein said satellite positioning receiver comprises a satellite positioning clock circuit.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 wherein said satellite positioning clock circuit comprises a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (TOXO).

10. The electronic device of claim 6 further comprising an analog-to-digital converter coupled between said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit and said clock correction circuit.

11. The electronic device of claim 6 further comprising a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) coupled between said clock correction circuit and said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit.

12. A clock correction method for an electronic device comprising a voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit, a cellular receiver coupled to the voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit, a satellite positioning receiver, and a temperature sensor positioned adjacent the voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit, the method comprising:

sensing temperature adjacent the voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit;

correcting the voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit based upon timing signals from the cellular receiver when available;

correcting the voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit based upon historical temperature correction values when timing signals are unavailable, the historical temperature correction values comprising voltage correction values for said voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit; and

providing a correction signal to the satellite positioning clock circuit based upon the voltage-controlled temperature-compensated clock circuit.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising storing the historical temperature correction values.

Assignments (4)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 19, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064269/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064104/0103 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
To: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 031911/0793 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 16, 2012
From: GOLDSMITH, MICHAEL ANDREW
To: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
Reel/Frame 028554/0114 →