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Seiko Watches Releases GPS Controlled Timepiece
Seiko Watches Releases GPS Controlled Timepiece
Seiko Watches have released a world first model that relies on the network of GPS Satellites to receive time updates
Brierley Hill,
West Midlands,
United Kingdom
(prbd.net)
09/03/2012
Companies such as Seiko Watches have long been at the forefront of watch-based technology, but their latest watch takes a leap in to the space age.
The long established firm of watchmakers has announced plans for a new range of watches, known as the Astron, that has a tiny Global Positioning System receiver chip embedded within its body to synchronise the time with a constellation of twenty four satellites in low-earth orbit.
The GPS unit receives a signal from multiple satellites and times how long it takes the signal to reach its position. By taking signals from at least four of the orbiting satellites its is able to work out with a relatively high accuracy level where it is located.
Of course for most watch users the accuracy will not need to be as accurate as that in a car navigation unit as it will simply be using the time signals, provided by atomic clocks on-board the satellite to set the time and to select the correct timezone based on location.
The functionality of this range from Seiko Watches is an improvement on previous designs of radio-controlled watches. These watches used a technique of receiving low frequency radio signals broadcast from a number of radio stations such DCF77 in Frankfurt and the MSF signal sent from transmitters near Anthorn in Cumbria. These previous timepieces from Seiko Watches and other manufacturers were only able to update a watch in the area in which they were able to receive a signal.
The older watches were also unable to give a precise location. Even the best watches with the ability to receive signals from multiple transmitters did not have the ability to tell the watches position and set the time zone accordingly. The new watches, such as the Astron will have this facility and the ability to set the corresponding time in any of the world’s 39 time zones.
Technical details of the new timepieces suggest that it will come in a choice of high intensity titanium or stainless steel and offer the water resistance to 10 bar of atmospheric pressure. It will also be accurate to better than 15 seconds a month whilst not in reception of its GPS signal and will feature a perpetual calendar. Inside it is based on the company’s 7X52 calibre and features solar panels embedded under the dial.
UK availability has not yet been confirmed, but it Is set to retail in Japan for around £1600.
For more details on the range of Seiko watches visit http://www.thewatchhut.co.uk