Sun synchronized timer for an animal feeder

A Microprocessor controlled timer particularly adapted for control of an animal feeder with a display of program items and with user settable feeding times and duration of such feeding times based upon the microprocessor calculated sunrise and sunset times with a selector switch and a change switch and display of program items allowing user reprogramming of the timer; the timer being broadly usable for activation of electrical equipment when desirable activation is at times relative to sunrise and sunset and also being usable for activation of electrical equipment according to normal clock time.

BACKGROUND 
There are large variety of timers for various purposes on the market 
to-day. Almost invariably these timers are set for a particular time or 
time period in a day based on a clock setting. This invention is aimed at 
filling a need for a timer that may be set to activate an output switch at 
user desired times and to keep the switch active for user desired periods 
of time. There are uses such as activation of an animal feeder wherein the 
most desirable time or times for activation of the feeder would be times 
as measured by minutes or hours before and after sunrise and times before 
sunset and after sunset. This invention uses inputs to a microprocessor to 
calculate times of sunset and sunrise from latitude, longitude, time zone, 
and day of the month and year, and allows a user to set activation times 
both by clock time and by time as measured as an offset from sunrise or 
sunset. The microprocessor is preprogrammed to display a menu of usual 
settings one line at a time for all these variables and using a single 
pole double throw selector switch a user may select a variable to be 
changed and using a second single pole double throw change switch change 
the settings of the variables. Output times and time periods will 
thereafter correspond with the new settings. 
For use with an animal feeder the time periods are generally chosen between 
0 and 99 seconds but periods of up to 24 hours are within the purview of 
the invention. 
With the data as outlined the programming of the microprocessor converts 
automatically to and from daylight saving time and corrects for leap year. 
Quite generally desired activation periods are on a particular day of the 
week and correction for leap year allows this even with unattended 
operation. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The heart of the invention is a microprocessor controlled timer. The 
microprocessor is programmed to have a daily calendar and an internal 
clock. The microprocessor is further programmed to show user input 
settings of listed menu items one line at a time and to allow modifying 
each of the listed menu items with a single pole double throw selector 
switch to select menu items and a second single pole double throw change 
switch to change or modify settings of the menu items when change is 
desired. The microprocessor using the settings calculates and records time 
of sunrise and sunset and may calculate desired time activation periods in 
the AM as offsets from sunrise and time activation periods in the PM as 
offsets from sunset. 
Such programming is easily done by one of normal skill in the art. 
Menu items comprise 
latitude 
longitude 
local time zone 
day of the week 
date . . . month, day, and year 
time of day . . . hour, minute and seconds 
In a first output time settable system based upon time offsets from sunrise 
and sunset menu items additionally include one or more clock times in the 
AM and one or more clock times in the PM for closure of a minimum of one 
outlet or output switch with each of the closure durations being user 
settable to be closed for a user desired period of time. A user may choose 
a zero time setting and there would be no activation of the output switch. 
In a second-output time settable system based upon actual clock times menu 
items additionally include one or more clock times per day for closure of 
a minimum of one output switch with each of the closure times being user 
settable to be closed for a user desired period of time. With a zero 
setting there would be no activation of the output switch. 
Additionally included in the microprocessor programming may be a third 
output time settable system, that may be manually or remotely activated to 
operate the output switch. 
The display on the timer face is activated by an upward or downward push of 
the selector switch and remains activated for a limited preprogrammed 
period usually about two minutes after the last use of the selector switch 
in order to minimize battery drain. The first line of the display always 
shows sunrise and sunset times after the initial default settings or 
required menu entries which include longitude and latitude are made. The 
second line of the display shows the menu one line at a time as called up 
sequentially with the selector switch. 
There will be one or more output switches with each of the output switches 
controlled by preselected and programmed menu lines or settings and the 
microprocessor based clock. The output switches may lead to any of a wide 
variety of electrically operated devices. 
When the timer is used in a dispensing unit attached to an animal feeder 
the output switch activates an electric motor to operate the dispensing 
unit. The timer operates on DC power from a battery or rectified AC power. 
An operator controlled remote control unit may be included with the animal 
feeder to allow an operator to activate the dispensing unit at will 
without interfering with preset times of operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The invention may best be described from the drawings. In FIG. 1 a timer 
face 10 with a two line electronic display screen 12 as shown. A 
microprocessor controller 30, FIG. 2 is programmed with menu item default 
settings that using a single pole double throw selector switch 14 may be 
called up to appear on lower display screen line 20 one line at a time. 
The microprocessor or microprocessor controller 30, FIG. 2, is programmed 
to have a daily calendar and an internal clock. The microprocessor is 
further programmed to show user input settings of listed menu items line 
at a time and to allow modifying each of the settings of the listed menu 
items with the single pole double throw selector switch 14 to select menu 
item settings and the second single pole double throw change switch 15 to 
change or modify settings of the menu items when change is desired. The 
microprocessor using the settings calculates and records time of sunrise 
and sunset and in a first output time settable system may calculate 
desired time activation periods in the AM as offsets from sunrise and time 
activation periods in the PM as offsets from sunset. In a second output 
time settable system time and duration of desired output activation period 
may be a fixed clock time. In a third or auxiliary time activation period 
the duration of the activation period is preselected and the time of 
activation is user chosen and manually remotely operated. 
Menu item default settings may be follows: 
______________________________________ 
* blank display off 
* Time 12:25:24 A 
for hours, minutes and seconds 
with A for AM and P for PM 
* Time Zone = CTZ 
may be set for local time zone ETZ 
or MTZ or PTZ or CTZ 
* Date = 01/12/98 
month/day and year 
* Day = Wednesday 
day of the week (Std/Daylight 
Saving time conversion on Sat. night only) 
* Lat. = 30.3 latitude in degrees to one decimal 
place 
* Lon = 97.7 longitude in degrees to one 
decimal place 
* s&s1 06:55A 05 S 
first sunrise and sunset offset 
run, time of, A or P and seconds duration 
* s&s2 07:15A 03 S 
second run 
* s&s3 07:35A 05 S 
third run 
* s&s4 05:10P 05 S 
fourth run 
* s&s5 05:25P 05 S 
fifth run 
* s&s6 05:40P 05 S 
sixth run 
* clk1 03:20A 03 S 
first clock run, Time of, A or P, 
and seconds duration 
* clk2 11:30A 02 S 
second clock run 
* clk3 03:00P 03 S 
third clock run 
* clk4 11:00.sup. 04 s 
fourth clock run 
* Aux. 03 S 
Auxiliary/remote/test run, 
of three seconds duration 
Blank Display off 
______________________________________ 
A user programs the unit for-his use by changing the default settings using 
the single pole double throw selector switch 14 and a single pole double 
throw change switch 15. Both switches are spring loaded to return to an 
OFF central position. To change the first line in the example default 
setting menu: 
the user pushes the selector switch upward or downward momentarily. This 
activates the display screen 12. The upper line 18 will display the time 
of sunrise on the left and the time of sunset on the right as calculated 
from the default settings. The lower line 20 will display the default 
time: 
Time 12:25:24A and the cursor will appear under the hours number 12. As an 
example . . . if the user wishes to set the time to the actual time 10:20, 
AM he toggles the change switch upward ten times and the number 10 appears 
in the hour place. He then toggles the selector switch upward one time to 
move the cursor under the 25 and toggles the change switch downward five 
times to display the desired 20 number. If the user is changing settings 
using a watch with a second hand just before the second hand gets straight 
up to enter the next minute he momentarily toggles the change switch 
upward and that will advance to the next minute and restart the clock at 
zero seconds to exactly match the watch. 
After the setting as outlined the user toggles the selector switch upward 
to display the next line on the menu with the cursor under the term CTZ. 
The user then toggles the change switch to change to his time zone. 
Each item or setting in the menu can be changed or reprogrammed as 
outlined. If a user does not wish to use any one of the default setting 
runs he simply sets that run for zero seconds and the run is effectively 
eliminated unless or until the user reprograms to use the run. 
The timer unit 10 has two screws 17 on the face that may be used to short 
across to test the timer unit or may be used with dual lead wires and a 
push button switch to activate the unit for the number of seconds set in 
the menu under the aux. term. In some embodiments the timer unit is 
equipped to be remotely operated with a handheld transmitter similar to 
the well known automatic garage door opener to activate the timer unit for 
the time set under the aux. menu item. The timer is preprogrammed using 
the user programmed changed settings to correct for leap year and to 
automatically change from standard to daylight saving time and vice versa 
on the appropriate days. 
FIG. 2 shows internal circuitry in block flowsheet form in timer case 10, 
FIG. 1. Microprocessor controller 30 is programmed as discussed under FIG. 
1, is powered from battery 32 or other direct current source and is 
operably connected with display screen 12, and output or outlet switches 
34, 36, and 33, and selector switch 14 and change switch 15. Switches 14 
and 15 are used to change settings as discussed under FIG. 1. Each of the 
output switches are governed by associated settings or lines in menu items 
as discussed under FIG. 1. Output switches 33, 34, and 36 are in lines 
leading to electrical equipment and when the timer 10 is used with an 
animal feeder 1, FIG. 3, the switches are in lines leading to electric 
motor 4 in dispenser unit 3. The switches are selectively closed to 
operate motor 4, FIG. 3, for time activation periods as discussed under 
FIG. 1. 
FIG. 3 shows an animal feeder with feed container body 1 preferably of 
galvanized steel with rainproof closure 2, legs 9 and a cone or funnel 
shaped outlet 6 that discharges close to rotatable spinner plate 5. 
Clearances are such that feed outflow continues only during the time that 
rotatable spinner plate 5 is spinning. Spinner plate 5 is preferably vaned 
or ridged to give more effective feed dispersion. Spinner plate 5 is motor 
driven by motor 4, located in an interior of dispenser 3. Dispenser unit 3 
may be bolted to feeder body 1 with struts 11. Timer 10 is preferably 
mounted on an inner side of a rainproof hinged door on dispenser 3 and 
controls operation of the motor 4 to drive the spinner plate 5 at user 
desired times for user desired intervals as discussed under FIG.'S 1 and 
2.