Electronic controller for scheduling device activation by sensing daylight

Abstract

A device controller synchronizes a counter to the detection of sunrise or sunset by photoelectrically sensing daylight, thereby establishing an approximate time reference for scheduling the timing of device activations to occur at any time of day or night. An uncalibrated method of measuring sunlight yields more reliable scheduling, relative to sunrise and sunset events. The integral approximate time reference is kept synchronized, even if occasional faults in detection of sunrise or sunset occur. The rules employed to establish and maintain synchronization, and the dynamically variable rules of evaluating changes in light intensity, contribute to the reliable performance of the controller apparatus. Inherently self-adapting and automatic, a potentiometer for setting a time parameter input and a push-button for setting a time parameter input are combined in the apparatus in such a way to yield further utility without complicating the programmability. Additionally, for animal feeder applications, a test mode utilizes a modulates activation of the feed motor to produce audible warning of imminent motor activation.

I claim:  
     
       1. An apparatus for controlling the activation of a device, comprising: 
       means for sensing light and producing an output thereof;  
       means for converting and processing the output of the means for sensing light to produce a signal nominally coincident with the event of sunrise or sunset;  
       an accumulation means including:  
       an accumulation value contained therein,  
       means for affecting the accumulation value at a fixed rate,  
       a maximum accumulation value representative of span of time at least as great as the nominal span of time between sunrise and sunset,  
       an associated value representative of the accumulation value at time of sunrise, and  
       an associated value representative of the accumulation value at time of sunset;  
       means for affecting the accumulation means in response to the signal nominally coincident with the event of sunrise or sunset; and  
       means for activating a device wherein the means for activating includes means for comparing the accumulation value to another value or a plurality of values representing a desired time of activation.  
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said accumulation value returns, the next day, to the same value and substantially at the same time, as the previous day. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said accumulation means has a digital counter containing a digital value representing said accumulation value. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said means of processing light sensing output has a means of comparing said output with a given threshold value. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said means of processing light sensing output has a rate-of-change means. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , having a means of comparing output of said rate-of-change means with given value. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 4 , having means of determining a value representing the length of time that output, of said comparing means, remains continuously in a given state. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , having a means of temporarily saving an accumulation value, nominally coincident with said sunset or sunrise signal, and a means of subsequently validating said saved accumulation value, after a substantially continuous given period of darkness. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , where said means of affecting accumulation means is to force it to a given value, or to increase of decrease value represented by accumulation means to bring it closer to a given value. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , having means of selecting rules of evaluation for said means of converting and processing, among simple rules and more complex rules, tending from simple to more complex with respect to how long apparatus has been functioning. 
     
     
       11. The method and apparatus of  claim 10 , having means of identifying discrepancy and having means of forcing said means of selecting rules to select the more simple rules. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , having means of producing a value representing an adjustment value associating real-time-of-day to time of sunrise or sunset, where said means uses a value representing measured daylight duration. 
     
     
       13. The method and apparatus of  claim 12 , where said means of producing said adjustment value is a look-up table which is indexed by daylight duration. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , having means of calculating a value representing an activation time in terms of said accumulation value, having a given fixed relationship between activation time and time of sunrise or sunset. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the varying electrical resistance of the light detection device affects the electrical current charging a capacitance, and a timing means to produce a representation of the time relating to the rate of charging. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the resistance of an operator controlled variable resistance device affects the electrical current charging a capacitance, and a timing means to produce a representation of time relating to the rate of charging. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further having 
       a means of receiving a signal from a momentary switch, and  
       a means of substantially measuring time-duration of momentary switch activation, and  
       a means of comparing said time duration with period of time nominally less than one second, wherein, if said comparison results in determination of short duration, immediate device activation is forced, and if said comparison results in determination of longer duration, said measured time duration of momentary switch activation is saved as a timing parameter substantially equal to time duration of momentary switch activation.  
     
     
       18. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , having means of generating a series of short duration device activations in advance of full device activation. 
     
     
       19. An apparatus for controlling the activation of a device, said apparatus comprising: 
       
         a sensor, said sensor being adapted to measure sunlight and produce an output indicative of the intensity thereof;  
       
       
         a processor for processing said output indicative of the intensity of the measured sunlight, said processor being adapted to produce a signal nominally coincident with a daily event selected from the group consisting of sunrise and sunset;  
       
       
         an accumulator for measuring passage of time relative to said daily event, said accumulator comprising an accumulation value substantially indicative of the number of a fixed time period having passed since said daily event, said accumulator being thereby adapted to measure a time period at least as great as the nominal span of time between sunrise and sunset;  
       
       
         a switch for activating the device, said switch being adapted to be triggered by realization in said accumulator of a selectable accumulation value; and  
       
       
         wherein said accumulator is adapted for adjustment of said accumulation value according to said signal nominally coincident with said daily event. 
       
     
     
       20. The apparatus as recited in  claim 19 , said apparatus further comprising a converter, said converter being adapted to convert said output indicative of the intensity of the measured sunlight to a digital value. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus as recited in  claim 20 , wherein said converter comprises a digital counter, said digital counter being adapted to measure the charge time of a capacitor as affected by said sensor. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said sensor is adapted to produce a variable resistance, said variable resistance depending upon the amount of light incident upon said sensor. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus as recited in  claim 20 , wherein: 
       
         said accumulator comprises a digital counter; and  
       
       
         said accumulation value comprises the count of said digital counter. 
       
     
     
       24. The apparatus as recited in  claim 23 , wherein said digital counter is adapted to roll over approximately daily. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus as recited in  claim 24 , wherein said fixed time period is approximately 5.625 minutes. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus as recited in  claim 24 , wherein said digital counter is adapted to produce a minimum value substantially coincident with said daily event and a maximum value approximately one count prior to a subsequent occurrence of said daily event. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus as recited in  claim 20 , wherein said processor is further adapted to compare said digital value to a threshold value. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus as recited in  claim 27 , wherein said processor is further adapted to determine the approximate length of time that said digital value remains continuously to one side of the threshold value. 
     
     
       29. The apparatus as recited in  claim 28 , wherein said processor is further adapted to validate said signal nominally coincident with said daily event according to said length of time that said digital value remains continuously to one side of said threshold value. 
     
     
       30. The apparatus as recited in  claim 20 , wherein said processor is further adapted to produce a time rate of change value of said digital value. 
     
     
       31. The apparatus as recited in  claim 30 , wherein said processor is further adapted to validate said signal nominally coincident with said daily event according to said time rate of change value.