Real-time clock module, electronic device, vehicle, and information processing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10732670-B2
Application number	US-201816011713-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 19, 2018
Priority date	Jun 20, 2017
Publication date	Aug 4, 2020
Grant date	Aug 4, 2020

Abstract

A real-time clock module includes a clocking circuit configured to generate clocking data based on a clock signal, an output terminal, a memory circuit configured to store output control information for controlling an output of a signal from the output terminal and output value information in which a value of the signal output from the output terminal is set, and an interface circuit configured to receive a setting value of the output control information and a setting value of the output value information. When the setting value of the output control information is a first setting value, the real-time clock module outputs a first signal based on the setting value of the output value information from the output terminal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A real-time clock module comprising:
a clocking circuit configured to generate clocking data based on a clock signal;
an output terminal;
a memory circuit configured to store output control information for controlling an output of a signal from the output terminal and output value information in which a value of the signal output from the output terminal is set; and
an interface circuit configured to receive a setting value of the output control information and a setting value of the output value information, wherein
when the setting value of the output control information is a first setting value, the real-time clock module outputs a first signal based on the setting value of the output value information from the output terminal.

2. The real-time clock module according to claim 1 , wherein
the memory circuit further stores flag information indicating an operation state of the real-time clock module, and
when the setting value of the output control information is a second setting value, the real-time clock module outputs a second signal based on the flag information from the output terminal.

3. The real-time clock module according to claim 2 , wherein
the memory circuit further stores output logic selection information for selecting whether the second signal is in a high level or a low level when the flag information has a predetermined value, and
the interface circuit receives a setting value of the output logic selection information.

4. The real-time clock module according to claim 3 , further comprising a logic inversion selection circuit configured to select based on the setting value of the output logic selection information whether a value of the flag information is logically inverted.

5. An electronic device comprising:
the real-time clock module according to claim 1 ;
a control device configured to transmit the setting value of the output control information and the setting value of the output value information to the real-time clock module; and
a control target device controlled based on the first signal output from the output terminal of the real-time clock module.

6. An electronic device comprising:
the real-time clock module according to claim 2 ;
a control device configured to transmit the setting value of the output control information and the setting value of the output value information to the real-time clock module; and
a control target device controlled based on the first signal output from the output terminal of the real-time clock module.

7. An electronic device comprising:
the real-time clock module according to claim 3 ;
a control device configured to transmit the setting value of the output control information and the setting value of the output value information to the real-time clock module; and
a control target device controlled based on the first signal output from the output terminal of the real-time clock module.

8. An electronic device comprising:
the real-time clock module according to claim 4 ;
a control device configured to transmit the setting value of the output control information and the setting value of the output value information to the real-time clock module; and
a control target device controlled based on the first signal output from the output terminal of the real-time clock module.

9. A vehicle comprising the real-time clock module according to claim 1 .

10. An information processing system comprising:
a real-time clock module; and
a control device, wherein
the real-time clock module includes:
a clocking circuit configured to generate clocking data based on a clock signal;
an output terminal;
a memory circuit configured to store output control information for controlling an output of a signal from the output terminal and output value information in which a value of the signal output from the output terminal is set; and
an interface circuit configured to receive a setting value of the output control information and a setting value of the output value information from the control device,

when the setting value of the output control information is a first setting value, the real-time clock module outputs a first signal based on the setting value of the output value information from the output terminal, and
the control device transmits the setting value of the output control information to the real-time clock module.

11. The information processing system according to claim 10 , wherein
the memory circuit further stores flag information indicating an operation state of the real-time clock module,
when the output control information has a second setting value, the real-time clock module outputs a second signal based on the flag information from the output terminal,
the control device has a first operation mode and a second operation mode in which power consumption is lower than in the first operation mode,
before shifting from the first operation mode to the second operation mode, the control device transmits the second setting value to the real-time clock module as the setting value of the output control information, and
after shifting from the second operation mode to the first operation mode, the control device transmits the first setting value to the real-time clock module as the setting value of the output control information.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Usuda Toshiya

Classifications

• G07C5/10 Primary

  using counting means or digital clocks · CPC title

• G06F1/14 Primary

  Time supervision arrangements, e.g. real time clock · CPC title

• B60W20/00

  Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles {(hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L)} · CPC title

• G07C5/085

  using electronic data carriers · CPC title

• G06F1/10

  Distribution of clock signals {, e.g. skew} · CPC title