Abstract:
A time recorder includes a radio wave clock having a receiving controller for regularly executing a receiving operation of a standard time wave. The radio wave clock automatically corrects the current time based on the time data of the standard time wave on successful reception of the standard time wave. The time recorder further includes: a storing device for storing the time of successful reception of the standard time wave; and a receiving schedule setting device that assumes the time zone around the successful receiving time as the next receiving trial time zone. Preferably, the time recorder includes: a receiving operation indicator for indicating the receiving operation of the standard time wave; an input level indicator for indicating reception of the standard time wave during the receiving operation; and a controller for varying the blinking interval of said input level indicator depending on the input level.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a time recorder, and in particular to a time recorder where the error of the clock is automatically corrected.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    In a conventional electronic time recorder, a built-in clock cannot avoid a certain degree of error. It is thus necessary to check and correct the error of the clock on a routine basis.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The above leads to technical problems to be solved in order to save the work of clock management of a time recorder and reduce the management effort. The invention aims at solving the problems.  
           [0006]    The invention, proposed to attain the objects, provides a time recorder incorporating a radio wave clock including a receiving controller for regularly executing receiving operation of a standard time wave, the clock automatically correcting the current time based on the time data of the standard time wave on successful reception of the standard time wave, wherein the time recorder comprises means for storing the time of successful reception of the standard time wave and receiving schedule setting means that assumes the time zone around the successful receiving time as the next receiving trial time zone.  
           [0007]    Further, the invention provides a time recorder incorporating a radio wave clock including a receiving controller for regularly executing receiving operation of a standard time wave, the clock automatically correcting the current time based on the time data of the standard time wave on successful reception of the standard time wave,  
           [0008]    wherein the time recorder includes a receiving operation indicator such as an LED or lamp to indicate the receiving operation during receiving operation and an input level indicator such as an LED or lamp to indicate reception of a radio wave during receiving operation, as well as control means for varying the blinking interval of the input level indicator depending on the input level.  
           [0009]    Further, the invention provides a time recorder incorporating a radio wave clock including a receiving controller for regularly executing receiving operation of a standard time wave, the clock automatically correcting the current time based on the time data of the standard time wave on successful reception of the standard time wave,  
           [0010]    wherein the time recorder includes receiving time setting means for arbitrarily setting the receiving operation time of the radio wave clock,  
           [0011]    wherein the time recorder includes control means for inhibiting the radio wave receiving operation of the radio wave clock from the first printing time to the time when all attendants left an office in a day, and  
           [0012]    wherein the time recorder includes control means for reading the earliest starting time data and the latest quitting time data from the past data stored in the time recorder and inhibiting the radio wave receiving operation of the radio wave clock between the earliest starting time and the latest quitting time. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a time recorder according to the first embodiment of the invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the automatic time calibration by the time recorder according to the first embodiment of the invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a time recorder according to the second embodiment of the invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the automatic time calibration by the time recorder according to the second embodiment of the invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a time recorder according to the third embodiment of the invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the automatic time calibration by the time recorder according to the third embodiment of the invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is another flowchart of the automatic time calibration by the time recorder according to the third embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]    Embodiments of the invention will be detailed referring to drawings.  
         [0021]    A first embodiment of the invention will be detailed referring to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a time recorder according to the first embodiment of the invention. A radio wave clock  101  is composed of a clock section  102  and a receiving controller  103 . A numeral  104  designates an I/O,  105  a CPU,  106  a ROM, and  107  a RAM.  
         [0022]    The CPU  105  sequentially reads the time data of the clock section  102  of the radio wave clock  101  via the I/O  104  and drives a time display  108  to display time. When a time card is inserted into the card slot of the time recorder, the CPU  105  drives the card feed mechanism  109  to pull the time card and read the personal ID number of the time card as well as feeds the time card until the date column of the time card corresponding to the current date coincides with the position of the printer head  110  and prints the current time in the starting time column or the quitting time column.  
         [0023]    The printed time data is written into and stored in the individual data tables in the RAM  107  and the administrator can read or print out the totalized duty hours data anytime, same as in a conventional time recorder.  
         [0024]    The receiving controller  103  of the radio wave clock  101  is equipped with the function to receive the standard time wave and the function to correct the clock section  102 . In case the power cord of the time recorder is not connected to a commercial power source or in case a commercial power source is not supplied due to power outage, the clock section  102  of the radio wave clock  101  feeds the power from the lithium battery to compensate for power outage built into the time recorder to operate the clock. In this case, the receiving operation other than the clock count is not executed in order to suppress the power consumption.  
         [0025]    The ROM  106 , same as a general radio wave clock, stores a regular receiving schedule program for executing the receiving operation of the standard time wave every hour and anew receiving schedule setting program for setting the receiving schedule anew at actual operation. The CPU  105  controls the radio wave clock based on the regular receiving schedule program and the new receiving schedule setting program.  
         [0026]    When the power cord of the time recorder is connected to the AC outlet of the commercial power source, the time recorder enters the receiving mode at a fixed time according to the regular receiving schedule to try receiving of the standard time wave, and on successful reception of the standard time wave, calibrates the time data of the clock section  102  as well as sets the receiving schedule anew, and executes receiving operation in the next and the subsequent rounds.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 shows the flow of control of the radio wave clock. When the power cord of the time recorder is connected to the AC outlet, the time recorder is energized, and the CPU  105  reads the time data from the clock section  102  of the radio wave clock  101  then causes the receiving controller to execute receiving operation when the radio wave receiving time written in the regular receiving schedule program is reached (Steps  101  to  102 ). In case the receiving controller has failed to receive the time data, it executes the receiving operation again at the next regular receiving time (Steps  103  to  101 )  
         [0028]    When the receiving controller has succeeded in receiving the time data, it calibrates the time of the radio wave clock, and the CPU  105  writes the successful receiving time data into the RAM  107  based on the new schedule setting program and sets the time zone of a certain width around the time as a new receiving time zone (Steps  104  to  105 ).  
         [0029]    The new receiving schedule setting program is adapted to execute receiving operation in the new receiving time zone that is based on the successful receiving time data (Steps  106 -&gt; 107 -&gt; 108 -&gt; 109 ), instead of returning to the receiving operation based on the regular receiving schedule program (Steps  101  to  102 ), once the successful receiving time data has been acquired. Since the sending power of the standard time wave transmitting station is weak, the wave clock hardly succeeds in receiving the radio wave from the station every time and the time zone where receiving of the radio wave is successful is somewhat limited, although not constant depending on the installation environment of the time recorder. Thus, by executing the receiving operation in the next and the subsequent rounds at the time which reception is successful, it is possible to omit the receiving operation in the time zones where reception of the radio wave is hardly successful thereby upgrading the work efficiency of the time recorder. The aforementioned setting program is based on this philosophy.  
         [0030]    After obtaining the successful receiving time data, the receiving controller  103  starts receiving the standard time wave in the new receiving time zone. In case the receiving controller has succeeded in receiving the radio wave, it automatically calibrates the current time setting of the clock section  102  based on the obtained time data. In case the receiving controller fails to receive the radio wave in the first trial, it retries receiving of the standard time wave until it succeeds. In case the receiving controller fails to receive the radio wave in the new receiving time zone, execution returns to Step  101  after completion of receiving operation and executes the routine starting with Step  101  to perform the receiving operation via the regular receiving schedule program.  
         [0031]    The calibration time at successful reception is displayed on the display board of the time recorder for checkup of calibration history. The calibration time may be printed on a time card.  
         [0032]    As discussed above, by providing a function to regularly receiving the standard time wave (JJY), same as a radio wave clock, in the clock of a time recorder and automatically correct time can reduce the effort of clock management.  
         [0033]    However, since the long-wave standard time wave has a small sending power, a time recorder positioned in a place where receiving radio wave is weak has lower possibility of successful reception of the standard time wave. The radio wave receiving condition varies with time, it is necessary to consider the installation place of the time recorder. Thus, information on the radio wave receiving state allows determination on whether the installation place is appropriate or not.  
         [0034]    As indicator means of field strength of a receiving radio wave, an indicator of electric field strength in a bar-graph form via an LED panel or a plurality of aligned LEDs is generally known. However, such an indicator is disadvantageous in that it requires a considerable space on the display panel and that it is impossible to determine whether the receiving operation is suspended or electric field strength is too small while LEDs are off.  
         [0035]    This leads to further technical problems to be solved in order to indicate the receiving operation and the electric field strength of the standard time wave thus providing a more practical time recorder with a built-in radio wave clock. A second embodiment of the invention aims at solving these problems.  
         [0036]    Hereinafter, the second embodiment of the invention will be detailed referring to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a time recorder according to the second embodiment of the invention. A radio wave clock  201  is composed of a clock section  202  and a receiving controller  203 . A numeral  204  designates an I/O,  205  a CPU,  206  a ROM, and  207  a RAM.  
         [0037]    The CPU  205  sequentially reads the time data of the clock section  202  of the radio wave clock  201  via the I/O  204  and drives a time display  208  to display time. When a time card is inserted into the card slot of the time recorder, the CPU  205  drives the card feed mechanism  209  to pull the time card and read the personal ID number of the time card as well as feeds the time card until the date column of the time card corresponding to the current date coincides with the position of the printer head  210  and prints the current time in the starting time column or the quitting time column.  
         [0038]    The printed time data is written into and stored in the individual data tables in the RAM  207  and the administrator can read or print out the totalized duty hours data anytime, same as in a conventional time recorder.  
         [0039]    The receiving controller  203  of the radio wave clock  201  is equipped with the function to receive the standard time wave and the function to correct the clock section  202 . A set button  211  is used to select the date/time display mode or the date/time correction mode and the adjust button  212  is used to set the current time.  
         [0040]    The ROM  206  stores a regular receiving schedule program for executing the receiving operation of the standard time wave every hour. The CPU  205  controls the radio wave clock  201  based on the regular receiving schedule program and causes the receiving execution indicator LED  213  to illuminate during receiving operation in order to show that receiving operation is in progress.  
         [0041]    In the second stage of an RF amplifier stage of the receiving controller  203  is provided an integrator  214 . The output of the integrator  214  is input to an A/D converter  215 . The CPU  205  detects the level of the radio wave input from an antenna (not shown) and drives the receiving level indicator LED  216  depending on the input level.  
         [0042]    The receiving level indicator LED  216  does not illuminates while the antenna input level is zero but permanently illuminates at a level where time data may be read. Via a configuration where the LED  216  blinks while the antenna input level is between zero and the time data readable level the speed of blinking is varied depending on the input level, it is possible to determine the degree of the antenna input level.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 3 shows the flow of control of the radio wave clock. The radio clock is driven by a power outage compensation battery until the power cord of the time recorder is connected to an AC outlet (Steps  201 -&gt; 207 -&gt; 208 -&gt; 207 ).  
         [0044]    When the power cord is connected to the AC outlet, a receiving operation execution instruction is output to the receiving controller  203  of the radio wave clock  201 . This causes the receiving controller  3  to start receiving the standard time wave (Steps  208 -&gt; 203 ) and the receiving execution indicator LED  213  to illuminate as well as causes the receiving level indicator LED  216  to blink or illuminate depending on the antenna input level.  
         [0045]    While the receiving level indicator LED  216  does not illuminate or blink at a lower speed, the antenna input level is zero or low thus automatic calibration of the time cannot be expected. In this case, it is necessary to move the time recorder to a location where the receiving level LED  216  illuminates or blinks at a high speed.  
         [0046]    When the receiving controller has succeeded in receiving the standard time wave, it calibrates the current time setting of the clock section  202 , and stops the receiving operation. This turns off the receiving execution indicator LED  213  and the receiving level indicator  216  (Steps  204 -&gt; 205 ).  
         [0047]    In case the receiving controller has failed to receive the standard time wave in the first trial, it retries receiving of the standard time wave. In case receiving controller has failed to receive the standard time wave in a predetermined number of trials, it stops the receiving operation. This turns off the receiving execution indicator LED  13  and the receiving level indicator  16  (Step  206 ).  
         [0048]    When a predetermined radio wave receiving time is reached, the receiving controller repeats the routine to try automatic calibration of time setting on a regular basis.  
         [0049]    When a power outage has taken place, the clock is driven by a built-in battery (Steps  201 -&gt; 207 -&gt; 208 -&gt; 207 ). When the power is restored, the CPU  5  detects the restoration of power and causes the receiving controller  3  to execute radio wave receiving operation (Steps  208 -&gt; 203 ).  
         [0050]    As discussed in the first and second embodiments of the invention, effort of time management can be reduced by incorporating a radio wave clock having an automatic time correction function in a time recorder. However, using a radio wave clock that typically performs a single receiving operation per hour places the time recorder in the receiving state in duty hours on a regular basis. In case the time of the clock is corrected during the duty hours, the actual duty hours may differ from the duty hours data on the time recorder.  
         [0051]    This leads to further technical problems to be solved in order to eliminate the effort of time management and avoid any difference between the actual duty hours and the working hours on the time recorder. A third embodiment of the invention aims at solving these problems.  
         [0052]    Hereinafter, the third embodiment of the invention will be detailed referring to FIGS.  5  to  7 . FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a time recorder according to the invention. A radio wave clock  301  is composed of a clock section  302  and a receiving controller  303 . A numeral  304  designates an I/O,  305  a CPU,  306  a ROM, and  307  a RAM.  
         [0053]    The CPU  305  sequentially reads the time data of the clock section  302  of the radio wave clock  301  via the I/O  304  and drives a time display  308  to display time. When a time card is inserted into the card slot of the time recorder, the CPU  305  drives the card feed mechanism  309  to pull the time card and read the personal ID number of the time card as well as feeds the time card until the date column of the time card corresponding to the current date coincides with the position of the printer head  310  and prints the current time in the starting time column or the quitting time column.  
         [0054]    The printed time data is written into and stored in the individual data tables in the RAM  307  and the administrator can read or print out the totalized duty hours data anytime, same as in a conventional time recorder.  
         [0055]    The receiving controller  303  of the radio wave clock  301  is equipped with the function to receive the standard time wave and the function to correct the clock section  302 . A set button  311  is used to select the date/time display mode or the date/time correction mode and the adjust button  312  is used to set the current time and the receiving time.  
         [0056]    The ROM  306  stores a regular receiving schedule program for executing the receiving operation of the standard time wave every hour, same as a general radio wave clock, and a program executing reception at an arbitrarily set time. The CPU  305  controls the radio wave clock  301  based on the regular receiving schedule program or arbitrary receiving execution program.  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 6 shows the flow of control of the radio wave clock. When the power cord of the time recorder is connected to the AC outlet, the time recorder is energized, and the CPU  305  reads the time data from the clock section  302  of the radio wave clock  301 .  
         [0058]    In case the receiving time is not set manually, the receiving controller enters the receiving mode and tries receiving the standard time wave on a regular basis or once an hour (Steps  301 -&gt; 302 -&gt; 304 ). In case the receiving controller has failed to receive the standard time wave, it retries receiving the standard time wave at the next receiving time (Steps  305 -&gt; 301 ). In case the receiving controller has succeeded in receiving the standard time wave, it calibrates the time of the radio wave clock (Step  306 ) and execution returns to Step  1 .  
         [0059]    In case the receiving time is set manually, execution follows from Step  301  to Step  303 . The receiving controller enters the receiving mode at a specified time (Step  304 ) and tries receiving the standard time wave. Thus, in case setting of receiving time is manually made to the midnight or early in the morning, the radio wave clock never starts receiving operation during duty hours, and the time of the radio wave clock is not corrected during duty hours. Accordingly, there arises no difference between the actual duty hours and the duty hours data on the time recorder.  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 7 shows another example of the radio wave control of the third embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the receiving controller is automatically placed in the receive operation halt mode during duty hours. From the update of date (not necessarily 12:00 midnight but set depending on the duty schedule) to the first printing on a time card on the day, the receiving controller enters the receiving mode on a regular basis (once an hour) according to the ordinary regular receiving schedule program and tries receiving the standard time wave (Steps  311 -&gt; 314 -&gt; 315 ). In case the receiving controller has failed to receive the standard time wave, it retries the receiving operation at the next regular receiving time (Steps  316 -&gt; 311 ). In case the receiving controller has succeeded in receiving the standard time wave, it calibrates the time of the radio wave clock (Step  317 ) and execution returns to Step  311 .  
         [0061]    When the first time card on the day is inserted into the time recorder and is printed, execution proceeds from Steps  311  to  312  and receiving operation is stopped. The receiving operation continues until quitting times are printed on all the time cards on which starting times are printed on the day (known from the attendance data in RAM  307 ), that is, until all the attendants on that day leaves the office. Once all the attendants have left the office, execution proceeds from Steps  313  to  314  and the receiving controller enters the regular receiving mode (Step  314 ) and tries receiving the standard time wave until the first time card on the next data is inserted into the time recorder.  
         [0062]    Thus, same as the control of the radio wave clock in FIG. 6, the radio wave clock never starts the receiving operation and the time of the radio wave clock is corrected off duty hours. Accordingly, there arises no difference between the actual duty hours and the duty hours data on the time recorder.  
         [0063]    Another embodiment that is not shown is possible where the receiving schedule is configured so that the CPU  305  may read the earliest starting time data and the latest quitting time data from the past starting time data stored in the RAM  307  of the time recorder and that the receiving controller may be automatically placed in the regular receiving mode only between the latest quitting time and the earliest starting time.  
         [0064]    The calibration time at successful reception is displayed on the display board of the time recorder for checkup of calibration history. The calibration time may be printed on a time card.  
         [0065]    While only certain embodiments of the invention have been specifically described herein, it will be apparent that numerous modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0066]    As discussed above, a time recorder according to the first embodiment of the invention incorporates a radio wave clock and automatically calibrates the time of the clock based on the standard time wave. Thus it is possible to prevent an error in the duty hours data caused by an error of the clock. It is also possible to execute the receiving operation of the standard time wave intensively in a time zone where reception of the radio wave is generally successful, thus eliminating the effort of repeating receiving operation in the time zones where reception of the radio wave is hardly successful and reducing the power consumption.  
         [0067]    Further, a time recorder according to the second embodiment of the invention incorporates a radio wave clock and automatically calibrates the time of the clock based on the standard time wave. Thus it is possible to eliminate the effort of clock management. The receiving operation indicator illuminates and the input level indicator blinks or illuminates to indicate the input level of the receiving radio wave during receiving operation. Thus it is made easy to determine the radio wave receiving condition during receiving operation by checking the receiving operation indicator and the input level indicator and select an installation place with favorable receiving level.  
         [0068]    The receiving operation indicator and the input level indicator can be configured by a single LED respectively. This is advantageous in that such an indicator leaves space on the front panel or time display panel on the time recorder.  
         [0069]    Moreover, a time recorder according to the third embodiment of the invention incorporates a radio wave clock and automatically calibrates the time of the clock based on the standard time wave. Thus it is possible to prevent an error in the starting/quitting time data caused by an error of the clock. Correction of time is not executed during duty hours, thus reduce the effort of clock management of the time recorder.