CA2329121C - Programmable timer with daylight compensation - Google Patents

Abstract

A programmable timer for switching electrical devices on and off compensated by calculations based on the length of day, as well as other programmable conditions. The timer consists of two major parts: a handheld Master Programmer that is used for programming Timer Modules; and a Timer Module which is programmed from the handheld Master Programmer and provides the timing and power control. A single Master Programmer can program multiple Timer Modules. The handheld Master Programmer includes an input device, an LCD, a microcontroller and a means fox programming the Timer Modules. The user interface provides all necessary parameters to the microcontroller. The Timer Module has daylight compensation" automatic daylight savings compensation, multiple on off sequences per day, a security feature, brownout and blackout indicator and on-board software diagnostics and error handler. Programming can be accomplished via one of the following methods: an input port, an infrared link or an RF (Radio Frequency) link. This Timer Module can be used either indoors or outdoors.

Description

Specification This invention relates to a programmable timer for switching electrical devices on and off compensated by calculations based on the length of day, as well as other programmable conditions. This also includes adjusting for daylight savings and a security feature.
Until now, programmable timers have consisted primarily of devices that switched power of some type (AC, DC, High or Iow voltage), on or off, at pre-selected times.
These times would be determined by values input via the user interface, which is part of every timer.
Some timers would also have an optical device like a photo cell to indicate when the sun had gone down in order to trigger the switch. Others would use a combination ofthese two approaches.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,198,574 discloses a timing control circuit which turns a light on and offover time to give a dwelling the appearance ofoccupaney. However, this device must be set on a day-to-day basis. Further, the device is responsive to mechanical settings and thus has limited on and off patterns. In addition, the device requires a photocell input to turn on under low light conditions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,349,748 discloses a timer and power control system which responds to successive advancement of a rotatable control dial. This system is also limited because it is essentially a mechanically controlled system.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,739,226 discloses an emergency light circuit for mounting to an electrical wall outlet. This device replaces a wall switch and uses rechargeable batteries to energize a light when the main power fails or the ambient light intensity falls below a predetermined level. This device is also photocell responsive.

Summary of the Invention These examples all suffer from a lack of flexibility in control parameters such as random turn on or off and automatic compensation for day length from an enclosed environment.
All of these difficulties can be overcome using the programmable timer with daylight compensation, which takes a completely different approach_ This timer is comprised of two distinct parts: the handheld Master Programmer and the Timer Module. The Master Programmer eats as the user interface to the Timer Module and downloads the program into the Timer Module. The Timer Module does the power control and acts independently from the Master Programmer after the programs are loaded.
The major difference which sets this Timer Module apart from all other timers is the proprietary algorithm which calculates the length of day and automatically adjusts the on times to compensate for changing day lengths. The result is that daylight compensation can be accomplished without using an optical device like a photocell. The disadvantage of a photocell is that it links the on time to a particular level of brightness.
The proprietary algorithm adjusts the on time relative to a user selected value and does not need light as a trigger at all. The Timer Module can also be used anywhere in the world. It includes a security feature that can randomly change the on and off times which simulates occupancy in a empty house. The Timer Module also detects and advises the consumer of a power failure via the integrated LED.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,853 attempted to compensate automatically for day length, but was still extremely limited with poor accuracy. This patent was only for the continental United States, and divided the USA into 3 canes or latitudes. There are considerable compensation differences from one degree of latitude to the next. There are more than 20 degrees of latitude between the northern and southern borders of the United States.
Consequently, there would be substantial errors in daylight compensation using only 3 latitudes for all of the continental United States. Further, this device was only meant to replace a light switch inside a building.

Brief Description of the Drawings In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention, Figures I thru 7 depict the Master Programmer, and Figures 8 thru 12 depict the Timer Module and Figure 13 the Logic Flow Diagram.
Figure 1 shows the Tap view of the direct connect Master Programmer, Figure 2 shows the Bottom view.
Figure 3 show the Top view of the Tnfrared version of the Master Programmer Figure 4 show the Front view of the Infrared version of the Master Programnner Figwe 5 show the Bottom view of the Infrared version of the Master Programmer.
Figure 5 show the Top view of the RF version of the Master Programmer Figure 7 show the Bottom view of the RF version of the Master Programmer.
Figwe 8 shows the Top view of the Infrared Timer Module Figure 9 shows the Back view of the Infrared Timer Module Figure 1 Q shows the Edge view of the Infrared Timer Module.
Figure 1 I shows the Top view of the RF Timer Module, Figure 12 shows the tog view of the direct connect Timer Module.
Figure 13 is the logic diagram that shows the overview of the programming sequence on the first page. The following six pages show the programming sequence in detail.

Detailed Description Figures 1 through I2 include details ofeach view. In Figure I, the Top view oft direct connect Master Programmer, lA depicts the input device whose preferred embodiment is a Navigation switch with an integrated momentary contact switch. Figure 1B is the LCD
display whose preferred embodiment is an 8X2 alpha numeric display. The display, combined with the optical encoder, create the user interface through which the programming occurs. Figure IC the programming port through which the Master Programmer downloads the operational programming parameters to the Timer Module.
In Figure 2, the Bottom view of the Master Programmer, 2A depicts the input device whose preferred embodiment is a Navigation switch with an integrated momentary contact switch while 2$ depicts the battery cover and 2C depicts the programming port.
In Figure 3, the Top view of the Infrared Master Programmer, 3A depicts the input device whose preferred embodiment is a Navigation switch with an integrated momentary contact switch. Figure 3B is the LCD display whose preferred embodiment is an 8X2 alpha numeric display. The display, combined with the Navigation switch, create the user interface through which the programming occurs.
Figure 4 depicts the Front view of the Infrared Master Programmer and 4A shows the positioning of the infrared LED.
In Figure 5, the Bottom view of the Infrared Master Programmer, SA depicts the input device whose preferred embodiment is a Navigation switch with an integrated momentary contact switch and SB depicts battery cover.
In Figure 6, the Top view of the 1tF Master Programmer, fiA depicts the input device whose preferred embodiment is a Navigation switch with an integrated momentary contact switch.
Figure 6B is the LCD display whose preferred embodiment is an 8X2 alpha numeric display. The display, combined with the Navigation switch, create the user interface through which the programming occurs.
In Figure 7, the Bottom view of the RF Master Programmer, 7A depicts the input device whose preferred embodiment is a Navigation switch with an integrated momentary contact switch and 7B depicts the battery cover.

In Figure 8, the Top view of the Infrared Timer Module, 8A is an LED_ The LED
tells the consumer if the program has been successfully downloaded, if there has been a power outage, or if a fatal error in the device has occurred. It does this by blinking the LED in different distinct patterns. 8B is the Phototransistor which is the receiver of the Infrared transmission from the Infrared Master Programmer; 8C is the AC line receptacle into which various electrical devices may be plugged. The embodiment shown 1s for North America, but this does not preclude the Timer Module being user for any other country by modifying the configuration of the receptacle.
In Figure 9, the back view of the Timer Module, 9A depicts the AC line plug that would be inserted into any powered receptacle. The embodiment shown is fox North America, but this does not preclude it being used for any other country by modifying the configuration of the plug contacts.
In Figure 14, the Edge view of the Timer .Module, l0A depicts the AC Line plug that would be inserted into any powered receptacle. The embodiment shown is for North America, but this does not preclude it being used for any other country by modifying the configuration oi~
the plug contacts.
In Fi gore 11, the Top view of the RF Timer Module, 1 lA is an LED. The LED
tells the consumer if the program has been successfully downloaded via the ItF
communication protocol.
The LED also indicates if there has been a power outage, or if a fatal error has occurred in the device. It does this by blinking the LED in different distinct patterns.
11$ is the AC line receptacle into which various electrical devices may be plugged. The embodiment shown is for North America, but this does not preclude the Timer Module being user for any other country by modifying the configuration of the receptacle.
In Figure 12, the Top view of the direct connect Timer Module, 12A is an LED.
The LED
tells the consumer if the program has been successfully downloaded, if there has been a power outage, or if a fatal error in the device has occurred. It does this by blinking the LED
in different distinct patterns. 12B is the AC line receptacle into which various electrical devices may be plugged. The embodiment shown is for North America, but this does not preclude the Timer Module being user for any other country by modifying the configuration of the receptacle. 12C is the Programming Port into which the Master Programmer plugs via a cable to download the programming parameters from the Direct connect Master Programmer.
The Back and Edge views of the 12F and Direct Connect Timer Modules follow the same pattern as Figures 9 and 10 previously discussed above.
Figure 13 outlines the logic flow diagrams for inputting the timing parameters into the Master Programmers and then downloading the programs to the Timer Module.
Whether the Master Programmer is RF, Infrared or Direct Connect it acts as the user interface to the Timer Module and downloads the programming parameters into the Timer Module. The Timer Module does the power control and acts independently from the Master Programmer after the programs are loaded.
t~ handheld independent user interface (i.e. Master Programmer) means that the consumer may purchase a single Master Programmer with multiple Timer Modules. This will minimize wasted resources and reduce overall cost for consumers who use multiple timers.
The Master Programmer's input device is a navigational switch combined with a momentary contact switch. The wheel on the switch scrolls through the options presented by the LCD. When the option is reached it is selected by pushing the wheel while in the neutral position toward the Master Programmer to engage the momentary contact switch.
The microcontroller then moves on to the next step in the sequence.
The Timer Module employs a .proprietary algorithm, which calculates the length of day so that daylight compensation is accomplished without using an optical device like a photo cell.
This permits the Timer Module to be used in an enclosed area aut of the sun and still activate the switch at a time relative to the programmed time and adjusted for the length of day.
The algorithm calculates on one degree increments from 50 degrees south Latitude to 65 degrees north Latitude with a maximum error of 10 minutes. The Timer Module can therefore be used worldwide; unlike U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,853, it is not restricted it to a single geographic location.
The Timer Module has a security feature to make a dwelling appear occupied in a more random pattern than simple pre-set times. It uses a proprietary algorithm which calculates a random number between 0 and 30 which is randomly added to or subtracted fi-om the on and off times as a security precaution. The random switching is confined to the current day being serviced so there is no overlap between days.
The Timer Module also detects when there has been a power failure {brownout or blackout) and blinks an LED to advise the consumer of the failure occurrence. No programming information is lost but the time of day will be behind by the length of the outage if it is more than one minute. The LED will blink, however, regardless of the length of the outage.
Reprogramming the date and time will reset the Timer Module to normal operation.

Claims (11)

1. A handheld Master Programmer used for programming a plurality of programmable Timer Modules comprising an input device for providing programming information about month, day, hour, minute, daylight compensation requirements, latitude, security requirements; a plurality of on/off switching intervals for each day of the week; a microcontroller for storing the programmed information on a non volatile memory module and for controlling the and transmitting the program information, a plurality of interfaces, at least one programmable timer module which communicates with the programmer using one of a direct connection, an infrared communication link and a radio frequency communication link, An alpha numeric LCD (liquid crystal display) display for providing change in the programming of the handheld Master Programmer.

2. A handheld Master Programmer used for programming a plurality of Timer Modules as per claim 1, wherein the Programmable Timer Module comprises an electronically controlled switch or switches for activating electrical devices utilizing AC voltage up to 250 volts or DC voltage up to 30 Volts and currents up to 15 amps.

3. A handheld Master Programmer used for programming a plurality of Timer Modules as per claim 2, wherein the microcontroller of the programmable timer module calculates all the timing functions and generates a control signal for an electronic switch or switches and a feedback LED.

4. A handheld Master Programmer used for programming a plurality of Timer Modules as per claim 3, wherein the electronically controlled switch or switches are responsive to the control signal for controlling the power to be applied to a device connected to the Programmable Timer Module.

5. A handheld Master Programmer used for programming a plurality of Timer Modules as per claim 4, wherein the Programmable Timer Module is used with a microcontroller programmed with a firmware for providing the calculation of the length of daylight hours and inputting them in the microcontroller with using program memory.

6. A handheld Master Programmer used for programming a plurality of Timer Modules as per claim 5, wherein the Programmable Timer Module with firmware provides calculations for the tilt of the earth on it's axis and using geographical data in the form of latitudes to calculate the day length.

7. A handheld Master Programmer used for programming a plurality of Timer Modules as per claim 6, wherein the firmware of the Programmable Timer Module provides everyday calculations for determining the length of day at any time of the year based on the selected latitude from 50 degrees south to 65 degrees north in one degree increments.

8. A handheld Master Programmer used for programming a plurality of Timer, Modules as per claim 7, wherein the Programmable Timer Module firmware provides on and off times to be adjusted to compensate for an earlier or later rising or setting of the sun calculated from the day length value.

9. A handheld Master Programmer used for programming a plurality of Timer Modules as per claim 8, wherein the Programmable Timer Module provides an algorithm to generate a random number for on and off times adjustment by +/-minutes of the calculated time.

10. A handheld Master Programmer used for programming a plurality of Timer Modules as per claim 9, wherein the Programmable Timer Module is used indoors.

11. A handheld Master Programmer used for programming a plurality of Timer Modules as per claim 10, wherein the Programmable Timer Module is used outdoors.