JPH08254583A - Alignment method and alignment device for built-in clock and electrical equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an automatic adjustment method for internal clock of each electric component gaining power from electric cable without necessity of new cabling for clock adjustment and without any additional work of a user. CONSTITUTION: By exchanging clock information by way of electric cable 20 between a transmission component 10 having a transmission device 2 for transmitting clock information of an internal clock 1a via electric cable 20 and a reception component 11 (12) having a reception device 3a (3b) for receiving the clock information sent via the electric cable 20 and setting the time of internal clock 1b (1c), the internal clock 1b (1c) of the reception component 11 (12) is adjusted to the internal clock 1a of the transmission component 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and device for aligning a timepiece contained in various electric devices, and an electric device incorporating a timepiece.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, many electric devices have a built-in clock, which indicates the date and time to users of the electric devices and provides an automatic driving function using a timer. However, since those clock functions can usually be used only after the user adjusts the clock, the burden on the user increases as the number of electric devices increases. Moreover, since the time is set manually, it is difficult to match the built-in clocks of a plurality of electric devices. Therefore, it is necessary to automatically set the time of the built-in clock and to make the built-in clocks of a plurality of electric devices match each other.

As described above, the user manually sets the built-in clock for each electric device. In addition, some conventional electric devices perform time setting using a dedicated remote device, but the remote device cannot be used for other electric devices. There are also services that provide accurate time such as television / radio broadcasting, telephone services, and electronic networks. Although it is possible to make a device that receives these services and sets the time of the built-in clock, it becomes a fairly large-scale device, and it is not realistic to incorporate it in all electric devices.

[0004]

As described above, one by one
The user must manually set the built-in clocks of the two electrical devices. Therefore, at the time of new installation of electrical equipment, it takes time to read the instruction manual of the electrical equipment to understand the clock setting method, and it takes time to reset the clock after a long power outage or power failure. There are problems that it is difficult to set the time accurately, and it is difficult to match the built-in clocks of a plurality of electric devices. Further, since the operation precisions of the respective built-in clocks are different, there is also a problem that even if the built-in clocks are once matched, a deviation occurs between the built-in clocks as time passes.

By the way, there is known a technique for transmitting an information signal by using a power line for supplying power to general electric equipment in each home or office. This technology is called the power line carrier communication technology. While supplying power, which is the original purpose of the power line, the commercial power frequency (50
The power line is used as a line for information signal transmission such as a telephone line by superimposing an information signal modulated at a carrier frequency higher than (Hz / 60 Hz) on a power signal and transmitting the power line. As a specific example, it is known that an electric power company uses it for signal transmission for security management of electric power equipment, and most household electric appliances are connected to an electric power line through an outlet. home·
In connection with automation systems, information communication using this technology has also been proposed to centrally manage the operation of household electrical appliances.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is not necessary to newly provide a wiring for setting a clock for an electric device which takes a power source from an electric power line, and the automatic operation can be performed without a user's trouble. An object of the present invention is to provide a matching method and a matching device for a built-in timepiece that can match the built-in timepiece.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a time information of a highly accurate built-in timepiece if the built-in timepiece having high accuracy exists in the electric equipment even if the accuracy of the built-in timepiece of other electric equipment is poor. An object of the present invention is to provide a built-in timepiece matching method and a matching device that can keep the built-in timepieces of other electric devices with high accuracy by receiving them.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an electric device capable of aligning a built-in timepiece of another electric device with its own built-in timepiece.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an electric device capable of aligning its own built-in timepiece with the built-in timepiece of another electric device.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for adjusting a built-in timepiece, the timepieces being installed in each of a plurality of devices connected to a power line. In, transmitting clock information of a clock built in any of the plurality of devices to one or more other devices via the power line, and clock time of the clock built in the other devices. Is set according to the transmitted clock information.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for matching a built-in timepiece according to the first aspect, wherein the time of the timepiece built in the one or more other devices is transmitted to the timepiece information. After being set accordingly, the clock information of the clock built in the one or more other devices is transmitted to the arbitrary device via the power line, and the clock information of the clock built in the arbitrary device is transmitted. And the transmitted clock information of the clock incorporated in the other one or more other devices to obtain their difference, and the clock information of the clock incorporated in the arbitrary device is obtained. The compensated clock information that has been compensated only is transmitted to one or a plurality of other devices via the power line, and the time of a clock built in the one or a plurality of other devices is transmitted according to the transmitted compensated clock information. Characterized by setting

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for aligning a built-in timepiece according to the first aspect, wherein clock information is transmitted from the arbitrary device to the one or more other devices via the power line. It is characterized in that the transmission is repeated at predetermined time intervals.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for aligning a built-in timepiece, wherein the timepieces built in each of a plurality of devices connected to a power line are shifted by a predetermined time difference to perform matching. In the method, clock information of a clock built in any of the plurality of devices is transmitted to one or more other devices via the power line, and the transmitted clock information is the predetermined time difference. It is characterized in that only the time is converted and the time of the clock built in the one or more other devices is set according to the converted clock information.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a matching device for a built-in timepiece, which is a device for adjusting the time of a built-in timepiece of each of a plurality of devices connected to a power line. A transmitting means for transmitting the clock information of the clock built in any of the devices to one or more other devices via the power line, and receiving the transmitted clock information, and depending on the received clock information. And a receiving unit that sets the time of a clock built in the one or more other devices.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a matching device for a built-in timepiece, which is a device for matching the time of a built-in timepiece of each of a plurality of devices connected to a power line. First transmitting means for transmitting clock information of a clock built in any of the devices to one or more other devices via the power line, and clock information received by receiving the transmitted clock information. According to the first receiving means for setting the time of the clock built in the one or more other devices, and the clock information of the clock built in the one or more other devices after the setting. Second transmitting means for transmitting to the arbitrary device via the power line, second receiving means for receiving the transmitted clock information, received clock information, and clock information of a clock built in the arbitrary device. Compare with those A means for obtaining a difference, obtaining compensation clock information in which the clock information of the clock built in the arbitrary device is compensated for the obtained difference, and outputting the obtained compensation clock information to the first transmitting means. It is characterized by

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a matching device for a built-in timepiece according to the fifth aspect, wherein the timepiece information from the arbitrary device to the one or a plurality of other devices is transmitted via the power line. It is characterized by further comprising means for outputting a command signal for commanding transmission to the transmitting means at predetermined time intervals.

According to an eighth aspect of the invention, there is provided a matching device for a built-in timepiece, which adjusts the time of a built-in timepiece of each of a plurality of devices connected to a power line by shifting a predetermined time difference. In the device, a transmitting unit that transmits clock information of a clock built in any of the plurality of devices to one or more other devices via the power line, and receives the transmitted clock information. And means for converting the received clock information by the predetermined time difference and setting the time of the clock built in the one or more other devices according to the converted clock information. And

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric device, which is an electric device connected to a power line, and has a built-in timepiece, and the timepiece information of the timepiece is supplied to another electric device via the power line. And a transmitting means for transmitting to the.

The electric device of the invention according to claim 10 (the tenth invention) is an electric device connected to a power line, and a timepiece built therein and a timepiece transmitted from another electric device through the power line. A receiving unit that receives information and sets the time of the clock according to the received clock information.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the principle of the first, fifth, ninth and tenth inventions. In the figure, 10 is a transmitting side device as an electric device on the side of transmitting clock information, and the transmitting side device 10 has a built-in clock 1a capable of electronically reading and setting clock information such as time and date. In addition, it receives clock information such as the time and date from the clock 1a and uses that information for power line
It also has a transmitter 2 for transmitting to 20. Further, 11 and 12 are reception side devices as electric devices on the side of receiving clock information, and each reception side device 11 and 12 is a clock capable of electronically reading and setting clock information such as time and date. In addition to incorporating 1b and 1c, it also has receiving devices 3a and 3b that receive clock information sent via the power line 20 and set each clock 1b and 1c based on the information. .

In the first, fifth, ninth and tenth inventions, the clock information of the clock 1a built in one transmitting side device 10 is received by the other through the power line 20 by using the power line carrier communication. Side device 1
It sends it to 1, 12 and adjusts the time of the built-in clocks 1b and 1c to match the built-in clocks of all electric devices.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the second and sixth inventions. In the figure, 10 is a transmitting side device as an electric device on the side of transmitting clock information, and 11 is a receiving side device as an electric device on the side of receiving clock information. The reception side device 11 includes the same clock 1b and reception device 3a as in FIG. 1, the transmission device 4 that reads the clock information once set in the clock 1b and sends the clock information back to the transmission side device 10 via the power line 20. Have. The transmitting side device 10 has a built-in clock 1a and transmitting device 2 similar to those in FIG. 1, a receiving device 5 for receiving the clock information transmitted by the transmitting device 4 of the transmitting side device 11, a clock information received by the receiving device 5. The time information is compared with the clock information of the clock 1a that is operating, and if there is a deviation, the compensated clock information compensated for the deviation amount is retransmitted to the receiving device 3a of the receiving-side device 11 via the power line 20. And a clock comparison / compensation device 6 for controlling the transmission device 2.

In the second and sixth inventions, the built-in clock 1 of the transmitting side device 10 and the receiving side device 11 is generated at the timing when the clock information received by the receiving side device 11 is set in the clock 1b.
It adjusts the deviation between a and 1b.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the third and seventh inventions. In the figure, 10 is a transmitting side device as an electric device on the side of transmitting clock information, and the transmitting side device 10 is the same clock as in FIG.
1a and the transmitting device 2, and a timer device 7 that determines the timing of transmitting the clock information from the transmitting device 2. The timer device 7 sends a transmission command to the transmission device 2 at a predetermined time interval, and the transmission device 2 clocks based on the transmission command.
The clock information of 1a is transmitted to the device on the receiving side via the power line 20.

In the third and seventh inventions, the transmission / reception of the clock information between the transmitting side device 10 and the receiving side device 11 is repeated at predetermined time intervals.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the principle of the fourth and eighth inventions. In the figure, 10 is a transmitting side device as an electric device on the side of transmitting clock information, and 11 is a receiving side device as an electric device on the side of receiving clock information. The transmission side device 10 has the same clock 1a and transmission device 2 as in FIG. The receiving device 11
A clock 1b and a receiving device 3a similar to those in FIG. 1 and clock information received by the receiving device 3a from the transmitting device 10 side via the power line 20 are converted, and the clock is converted based on the converted clock information.
And a clock information conversion device 8 for setting 1b.

In the fourth and eighth aspects of the invention, after converting the clock information received by the receiving side device 11, the built-in clock 1b is set by the converted clock information.

[0028]

The operation of the first, fifth, ninth and tenth inventions will be described with reference to FIG. In the transmitting side device 10, the clock information of the built-in clock 1a is read, and the clock information is transmitted from the transmitting device 2 to the power line 20. The clock information transmitted through the power line 20 is received by the receiving devices 3a and 3b of the receiving side devices 11 and 12, respectively, and the clocks built in the receiving side devices 11 and 12 based on the received clock information. Time adjustment of 1b and 1c is performed. Therefore, the times of all the clocks 1a, 1b, 1c built in the transmitting side device 10 and the receiving side devices 11, 12 are matched.

By doing so, the user does not have to manually set the time for each electric device, and by matching one built-in clock, the other built-in clocks can be matched with it. work. Further, the user does not need to check the method of setting the clock of each electric device. If a mechanism for receiving accurate clock information from the information source such as television or radio broadcasting is received by the transmitting side device, it is possible to perform accurate clock setting which is impossible by hand. Further, since the clock information is communicated using the power line already connected to the electric device, it is not necessary to provide an extra connection for information communication between the electric devices.

The operation in the second and sixth inventions will be described with reference to FIG. First, as in the case of the first aspect of the invention described above, the clock information of the clock 1a built in the transmitting side device 10 is transmitted to the transmitting device 2
Is received by the receiving device 3a of the receiving side device 11 via the power line 20, and the time of the clock 1b built in the receiving side device 11 is adjusted based on the received clock information. After that, the clock information set in the clock 1b is read, and the read clock information is transmitted from the transmission device 4 to the power line 20. The clock information transmitted through the power line 20 is received by the reception device 5 of the transmission side device 10, and the clock comparison and compensation device 6 is received.
Sent to The clock comparison / compensation device 6 compares the transmitted clock information of the clock 1b in the receiving side device 11 with the clock information of the clock 1a in the transmitting side device 10. Then, when there is a deviation between the clock information of the both, the compensated clock information compensated by the amount of the deviation is sent to the transmitting device 2. Then, the compensation clock information is transmitted from the transmission device 2 to the power line 20. The compensated clock information transmitted through the power line 20 is the reception side device 11
The time is set again for the timepiece 1b based on the received compensation timepiece information received by the receiving device 3a.

By doing so, even if the time adjustment of the built-in clock in the receiving side device that has received the clock information is not performed immediately after the reception, since the deviation is adjusted after that, the clock received by the receiving side device is adjusted. It is possible to prevent a deviation between the built-in clocks of the transmitting side device and the receiving side device depending on the timing when the information is set in the built-in clock, and it is possible to accurately match the built-in clocks of both devices.

The operation of the third and seventh inventions will be described with reference to FIG. In the transmission side device 10, a transmission command is sent from the timer device 7 to the transmission device 2 at a predetermined time interval,
Based on the transmission command, the clock information of the clock 1a is transmitted to the receiving side device via the power line 20. That is, the transmitting device 10
The clock information is repeatedly transmitted from the receiving device to the receiving device at predetermined time intervals, and the time of the built-in clock of the receiving device is periodically adjusted.

By doing so, the transmitting device,
Even if there is a difference in accuracy between the built-in clocks of the receiving devices and the time drifts with the passage of time, the time is periodically reset and the built-in clocks of multiple devices can be kept consistent. It is possible.

The operation of the fourth and eighth inventions will be described with reference to FIG. In the receiving side device 11, the clock information received from the transmitting side device 10 in the receiving device 3a is converted by the clock information converting device 8 by a predetermined time difference. Then, the time of the clock 1b in the receiving side device 11 is adjusted based on the converted clock information.

By doing so, it is possible to set the time having a certain time difference from the built-in clock of the transmitting side device in the built-in clock of the receiving side device. Therefore, according to the fourth aspect of the invention, while maintaining a constant time difference with the built-in clock of the transmitting side device,
The time offset from the internal clock of the transmitting device, such as seasonal time (such as daylight saving time), can be displayed on the internal clock of the receiving device.

[0036]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention in which a power line carrier communication technique is used for communication of clock information. The first embodiment is based on the above-mentioned first, third and
It is an embodiment incorporating the contents of the fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth inventions.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 10 denotes a transmitting side device as an electric device on the side of transmitting clock information.
Is a clock 1a, a transmitting device 2, a timer device 7, and a signal synthesizing circuit.
31 and a power supply circuit 33a. The clock 1a is the electronic time,
It is possible to read and set clock information such as date.
The timer device 7 sends a transmission command to the transmission device 2 at a predetermined time interval. The transmitting device 2 receives the time from the clock 1a,
It receives clock information such as a date, high-frequency modulates the clock information, and outputs a clock information signal (hereinafter referred to as a high-frequency clock signal) that is high-frequency modulated based on a transmission command from the timer device 7 to the signal synthesis circuit 31. The signal synthesis circuit 31
The high frequency clock signal is superimposed on the power signal and transmitted to the power line 20. The power supply circuit 33a extracts necessary power from the power line 20 and supplies it to each unit of the transmission side device 10.

Further, 11 is a receiving side device as an electric device on the side of receiving clock information, and the receiving side device 11 is a clock 1b.
A receiver 3a, a clock information converter 8 and a signal separation circuit 32a.
And a power supply circuit 33b. The signal separation circuit 32a is a power line
The high frequency clock signal is separated from the transmitted AC signal and the signal is output to the receiving device 3a. The receiving device 3a demodulates the input high frequency clock signal to obtain clock information, and outputs the clock information to the clock information converting device 8. The clock information conversion device 8 is
The input clock information is converted by a predetermined time difference, and the clock 1b that can electronically read and set the clock information such as time and date is set according to the converted clock information. ing. The power supply circuit 33b extracts necessary power from the power line 20 and supplies it to each unit of the reception-side device 11.

Further, 12 is a receiving side device as an electric device on the side of receiving clock information, and the receiving side device 12 is a clock 1c.
It has a receiver 3b, a signal separation circuit 32b, and a power supply circuit 33c. The signal separation circuit 32b separates the high frequency clock signal from the AC signal transmitted through the power line 20 and outputs the high frequency clock signal to the reception device 3b. The receiver 3b demodulates the input high-frequency clock signal to obtain clock information, and according to the clock information, the clock 1c capable of electronically reading and setting clock information such as time and date is set. It is supposed to do. Power supply circuit 33
c is the receiving device that extracts the required power from the power line 20.
Supply to 12 parts.

At the boundary between the indoor and outdoor of the power line 20,
A signal blocking device 40 that blocks a high-frequency signal (a high-frequency clock signal in this example) is attached to prevent the high-frequency clock signal from leaking outdoors.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of the signal synthesizing circuit 31, the signal separating circuit 32a (32b) and the signal interrupting device 40 described above. The signal cutoff device 40 is a device that includes a blocking coil BC and that cuts off only the high frequency signal so that the high frequency clock signal does not leak outdoors. The signal synthesizing circuit 31 and the signal separating circuit 32a (32b) are both a coupling capacitor CC for putting a high-frequency signal (high-frequency clock signal) on the power line 20 and taking it out from the power line, and a signal other than the high-frequency clock signal from the power line 20. It has a coupling filter CF for preventing it from receiving unnecessary signals (50 Hz / 60 Hz power supply frequency, noise, etc.).

In the signal synthesizing circuit 31, the high-frequency clock signal input from the transmitting device 2 passes through the coupling filter CF and is placed on the power line 20 by the coupling capacitor CC. The coupling filter CF prevents unnecessary signals from being input from the power line 20 to the transmission device 2. In the signal separation circuit 32a (32b), only the high-frequency clock signal is separated by the coupling filter CF from the AC signal extracted from the power line 20 by the coupling capacitor CC, and the separated high-frequency clock signal is transmitted to the receiving device 3a (3b). Sent.

Next, the matching processing operation of the built-in timepiece in the first embodiment will be described. The clock information of the clock 1a built in the transmission side device 10 is read, and the clock information is modulated by the transmission device 2 into a high frequency clock signal. On the other hand, the timer device 7 sends a transmission command to the transmission device 2 at a predetermined time interval. Then, a high frequency clock signal is periodically output from the transmitting device 2 to the signal synthesizing circuit 31 in response to the transmission command. The high frequency clock signal is superimposed on the power signal of the power line 20 in the signal synthesis circuit 31 and transmitted.

In the signal separation circuit 32b of the reception side device 12, the high frequency clock signal is separated from the AC signal of the power line 20 and output to the reception device 3b. The receiving device 3b demodulates the high frequency clock signal to obtain clock information. Then, the time of the clock 1c built in the receiving-side device 12 is adjusted based on the obtained clock information. In the signal separation circuit 32a of the reception-side device 11, the high frequency clock signal is separated from the AC signal of the power line 20 and output to the reception device 3a. The high-frequency clock signal is demodulated by the receiving device 3a, and the obtained clock information is sent to the clock information converting device 8. The clock information conversion device 8 converts the input clock information by a predetermined time difference. Then, the time of the clock 1b in the receiving side device 11 is adjusted based on the converted clock information.

In the first embodiment, the clock information conversion device 8 is incorporated in the receiving side device 11, the time difference is added to or subtracted from the clock information received by the receiving device 3a, and then the built-in clock 1b is added. Since the calculation result is set as the clock information, it is possible to provide a time difference between the clock 1b in the receiving side device 11 and the clocks 1a and 1c in the other devices 10 and 12.

Further, in the first embodiment, the timer device 7 is incorporated in the transmitting side device 10 so that the clock information is periodically transmitted to the receiving side devices 11 and 12 at appropriate intervals.
Even if there is a difference in accuracy among the clocks 1a, 1b, 1c built in 10, 11, 12, the time that always matches the clock 1a, 1c in the device 10, 12 is set in the device 10, 11. The clocks 1a and 1b can always accurately display the time offset by the time difference.

The timer device 7 in the transmitting side device 10 can be incorporated in the clock 1a.

When power line carrier communication is performed indoors,
For the purpose of not leaking indoor signals to the outdoors, it is common to provide a signal blocking device for blocking information signals (high frequency clock signals) between the indoor wiring and the outdoor wiring, as shown in FIGS. Is. However, it is conceivable that the high-frequency clock signal can be freely transmitted and received even outdoors, and the clock information broadcasting service over a wide area is provided.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a second embodiment of the present invention in which a power line carrier communication technique is used for communication of clock information. The second embodiment is based on the above-mentioned first, second, and
It is an embodiment incorporating the contents of the fifth and sixth inventions.

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 10 denotes a transmitting side device as an electric device on the side of transmitting clock information.
Is a clock 1a, a transmitter 2, a receiver 5, a clock comparison / compensation device 6, a signal synthesis circuit 31, a signal separation circuit 32c, and a power supply circuit 33.
have a and. Among them, the timepiece 1a, the transmitter 2, the signal synthesizing circuit 31, and the power supply circuit 33a are the same as those in the first embodiment. Further, 11 is a receiving-side device as an electric device on the receiving side of the clock information.
Reference numeral 11 is a clock 1b, a receiving device 3a, a transmitting device 4, and a signal synthesizing circuit.
31a, a signal separation circuit 32a, and a power supply circuit 33b. Among them, the clock 1b, the receiving device 3a, the signal separation circuit
The power supply circuit 33b and 32a are the same as those in the first embodiment.

The transmitting device 4 in the receiving-side device 11 reads the clock information once set in the clock 1b, modulates the clock information by high frequency, and obtains the obtained high frequency clock signal by the signal synthesizing circuit 31.
Output to a. The signal synthesis circuit 31a superimposes the high-frequency clock signal on the power signal and transmits the power signal to the power line 20. The signal separation circuit 32c in the transmission side device 10 separates the high frequency clock signal derived from the reception side device 11 from the AC signal transmitted through the power line 20 and outputs it to the reception device 5. The receiving device 5 demodulates the input high-frequency clock signal to obtain clock information, and outputs the clock information to the clock comparison / compensation device 6. Watch comparison and compensation device 6
Compares the clock information demodulated by the receiving device 5 with the clock information of the built-in clock 1a, and if there is a shift, the clock information of the clock 1a is added to the difference clock information indicating the shift amount. The added compensation clock information is sent to the transmitter 2. Transmitter 2
Performs high frequency modulation of the input compensation clock information, and outputs the modulated high frequency clock signal (hereinafter, referred to as compensation high frequency clock signal) to the signal synthesis circuit 31. The signal synthesis circuit 31 superimposes the compensated high frequency clock signal on the power signal and transmits the power signal to the power line 20. The signal separation circuit 32a separates the compensated high-frequency clock signal from the AC signal transmitted through the power line 20 and outputs it to the reception device 3a. The receiving device 3a demodulates the input compensated high frequency clock signal to obtain compensated clock information. Then, the time of the clock 1b is reset based on the obtained compensated clock information.

Incidentally, the signal synthesizing circuit 31 in the second embodiment.
The basic configuration of the a signal separation circuit 32c is the same as the configuration of the signal synthesis circuit 31 and the signal separation circuit 32a (32b) shown in FIG.

Next, the matching processing operation of the built-in timepiece in the second embodiment will be described. First, the clock information (display time T1) of the clock 1a built in the transmission side device 10 is read, the clock information is modulated by the transmission device 2 into a high frequency clock signal, and the signal combining circuit 31 of the power line 20. This high frequency clock signal is superimposed on the power signal and transmitted. Receiver device
In the signal separation circuit 32a of 11, the high frequency clock signal is separated from the AC signal of the power line 20, output to the receiving device 3a, and demodulated to obtain clock information. Then, the time of the clock 1b incorporated in the receiving-side device 11 is adjusted based on the obtained clock information.

After that, the clock information (display time T2) set in the clock 1b is read, and the clock information is transmitted to the transmitting device 4.
Is modulated into a high frequency clock signal, and the high frequency clock signal is superimposed on the power signal of the power line 20 by the signal synthesizing circuit 31a and transmitted. In the signal separation circuit 32c of the reception-side device 11, the high-frequency clock signal derived from the reception-side device 11 is separated from the AC signal of the power line 20, output to the receiving device 5, and demodulated to obtain clock information. The obtained clock information is input to the clock comparison / compensation device 6. The clock comparison and compensation device 6 obtains the difference between the clock information of the clock 1a (display time T1) and the clock information of the clock 1b (display time T2), and the difference clock information (T3 =
Compensated clock information obtained by adding (T1−T2) to the clock information (T1) of the clock 1a is output to the transmission device 2. The transmitter 2 modulates the compensated high-frequency clock signal into the compensated high-frequency clock signal, and the signal synthesizing circuit 31 superimposes the compensated high-frequency clock signal on the power signal of the power line 20 for transmission.

In the signal separation circuit 32a of the receiving side device 11, the compensation high frequency clock signal is separated from the AC signal of the power line 20 and output to the receiving device 3a, and demodulated to obtain the compensation clock information. Then, the time of the clock 1b incorporated in the receiving-side device 11 is corrected based on the obtained compensated clock information.

The clock information is transmitted from the transmitter device 10 to the receiver device 11
Clock 1b on the receiving device 11 despite being sent to
If the setting is not made immediately, the clock 1a in the sending device 10
Between the watch and the clock 1b in the receiving device 11
There is a case where the time T1 of 1 is different from the time T2 of the clock 1b. In the second embodiment, in such a case, the receiving side device
The transmitting side device 10 uses the time T2 of the clock 1b in 11 as the clock information.
The time difference T3 between the time T2 and the time T1 of the clock 1a (= T1-
T2) is obtained, the time information obtained by adding the difference T3 to the time T1 is transmitted again to the reception side device 11, and the clock 1b is readjusted. By doing so, the difference that has occurred is the difference T3.
The clocks 1a and 1b of the two are matched.

In the above embodiment, the compensated clock information obtained by adding the differential clock information to the current clock information of the clock 1a is transmitted to the receiving side device 11 to readjust the clock 1b in the receiving side device 11. However, the difference clock information may be transmitted to the reception side device 11 and the clock 1b may be adjusted by the difference.

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention in which the built-in timepiece is adjusted by using the power line carrier communication, the time adjustment can be performed without newly providing time setting wiring for an electric device which receives power from the power line. Since this can be done automatically, the labor of the user can be saved.

Further, according to the present invention, if there is one highly accurate built-in clock, even if the accuracy of other built-in clocks is inferior, by transmitting and receiving the time information of the highly accurate built-in clock, another The built-in clock can also be kept to a very high degree of accuracy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of first, fifth, ninth and tenth inventions of the present application.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the principle of second and sixth inventions of the present application.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the third and seventh inventions of the present application.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the fourth and eighth inventions of the present application.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a first exemplary embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of a signal synthesis circuit, a signal separation circuit, and a signal interruption device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a second exemplary embodiment of the present application.

[Explanation of Codes] 1a, 1b, 1c Clock 2, 4 Transmitter 3a, 3b, 5 Receiver 6 Clock comparison compensator 7 Timer device 8 Clock information converter 10 Transmitter device 11, 12 Receiver device 20 Power line 31, 31a Signal synthesis circuit 32a, 32b, 32c Signal separation circuit 40 Signal interruption device

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A method for synchronizing the time of a clock incorporated in each of a plurality of devices connected to a power line, wherein the clock information of a clock incorporated in an arbitrary device of the plurality of devices is used as the clock information. A method for matching a built-in clock, comprising transmitting the time to one or a plurality of other devices via a power line, and setting a time of a clock built in the other device according to the transmitted clock information. 2. A clock of a clock built in said one or more other devices after setting the time of the clock built in said one or more other devices according to the transmitted clock information. Information is transmitted to the arbitrary device via the power line, and the clock information of the clock incorporated in the arbitrary device and the transmitted clock information of the clock incorporated in the one or more other devices are transmitted. To find their differences,
Compensated clock information obtained by compensating for the calculated difference of the clock information of the clock built in the arbitrary device is transmitted to one or more other devices via the power line, and is transmitted to the one or more other devices. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the time of the built-in clock is set according to the transmitted compensation clock information. 3. The built-in timepiece according to claim 1, wherein transmission of timepiece information from the arbitrary device to the one or more other devices via the power line is repeated at predetermined time intervals. Matching method. 4. A method for matching the time of a clock built in each of a plurality of devices connected to a power line by shifting a time by a predetermined time difference, the method being built in any device of the plurality of devices. The clock information of the existing clock is transmitted to one or more other devices via the power line, the transmitted clock information is converted by the predetermined time difference, and the one or more other clocks are converted according to the converted clock information. The method of adjusting the built-in clock, characterized by setting the time of the clock built into the device. 5. An apparatus for synchronizing the time of a clock incorporated in each of a plurality of devices connected to a power line, wherein the clock information of a clock incorporated in an arbitrary device of the plurality of devices is stored in the device. Transmitting means for transmitting to one or a plurality of other devices via the power line, and receiving the transmitted clock information, according to the received clock information, a clock built in the one or a plurality of other devices. A matching device for a built-in timepiece, comprising: a receiving means for setting the time. 6. An apparatus for synchronizing the time of a clock built in each of a plurality of devices connected to a power line, wherein the clock information of a clock built in an arbitrary device of the plurality of devices is used as the information. First transmitting means for transmitting to one or a plurality of other devices via a power line, and receiving the transmitted clock information, and built in the one or a plurality of other devices according to the received clock information. First receiving means for setting the time of the clock, and second transmitting means for transmitting the clock information of the clock built in the one or more other devices after the setting to the arbitrary device via the power line. A second receiving means for receiving the transmitted clock information, and comparing the received clock information with the clock information of the clock built in the arbitrary device to obtain a difference between them, and built in the arbitrary device. Clock information And a means for outputting the compensated clock information obtained by compensating only for the calculated difference and outputting the obtained compensated clock information to the first transmitting means. 7. A means for outputting a command signal for instructing the transmission of clock information from the arbitrary device to the one or more other devices via the power line to the transmitting means at predetermined time intervals. The matching device for a built-in timepiece according to claim 5, further comprising: 8. An apparatus for matching the time of a clock built in each of a plurality of devices connected to a power line by shifting a time by a predetermined time difference, the device being built in any device of the plurality of devices. Transmitting means for transmitting the clock information of the clock that is present to one or more other devices via the power line, means for receiving the transmitted clock information, and converting the received clock information by the predetermined time difference, A device for adjusting a built-in timepiece, comprising means for setting the time of a timepiece built in the one or more other devices according to the converted timepiece information. 9. An electric device connected to a power line,
An electric device, comprising: a built-in watch; and a transmission means for transmitting the clock information of the watch to another electric device via the power line. 10. An electric device connected to a power line receives a built-in clock and clock information transmitted from another electric device via the power line, and according to the received clock information, An electric device comprising: a receiving unit that sets a time of a clock.