EP2148252B1 - Switching clock with a device for calculating switching points depending on the location of the sun - Google Patents

Abstract

The programmable timer has a switchable output for connecting an electrical load which is switched on or off to a switching time point by the timer. A unit is provided for calculating a switching time point depending on the position of the sun and a user input. Another unit is provided for entering a switching angle, where the switching angle is the elevation angle of the sun. A control agent is provided to switch the output to the calculated switching time point.

Description

The present invention relates to a programmable timer with at least one switchable output for connecting at least one electrical load to be switched by the timer to be programmed switching times or off, and a means for calculating at least one of the switching times depending on the position of the sun and a user input. By means of an actuating means of the timer, the output is switched to the calculated switching time.

Programmable, electronic timers are known from the prior art, which set based on astronomical algorithms switching times for switching an electrical load by means of an electrical relay. The astronomical algorithms can calculate the time of sunrise or sunset for a specific location on Earth and for a particular date. Based on this calculated time, the switching times can be set. Thus, it is possible, for example, that based on the calculated time of sunrise or sunset, the switching times are set with an offset (switching time offset) of an arbitrarily determinable time interval.

Such timers are also referred to as Astroschaltuhren.

Astroschaltuhren are mainly used to control lighting systems, blinds or the like.

Basically, the time of a certain position of the sun can be calculated by means of the astro timer. Preferably, the times of sunrise and sunset of the sun are calculated. At these times, however, it is already or still so bright that lighting systems already have to be switched off or not already switched on or blinds have already pulled up or not yet lowered. As far as energy consumption is concerned, apart from a few exceptional cases, it is generally not advisable to switch on a lighting system at the time of sunset and switch off the system at the time of sunrise. Therefore, in the known Astroschaltuhren by the user a switching time offset can be entered. This shift time offset is subtracted or added from or at the calculated time of the sunrise or sunset, whereby the switching time is calculated at which the output of the timer is turned on or off. The offset shifts the switching time and thus causes an adaptation to the dusk before dawn and after sunset still sufficient illuminance.

In the past, such Astroschaltuhren have prevailed. This is due to the simple traceability for each user of the importance of the switching time offset of, for example, 30 minutes before or after sunrise or sunset.

Such Astroschaltuhr is for example from the publication with the publication number DE 30 19 279 A1 known. In the described timer, a user can set the switching times by entering a fixed reference to the state of the sun, z. B. 15 Define minutes after sunset to achieve an individual adaptation to the dusk.

The publication of the European patent application with the publication number EP 0 762 244 A2 describes a similar working electronic timer, in which also a switching time offset of, for example, 15 or 30 minutes before or after sunset or sunrise programmable. In addition to the astro clocks, the person skilled in the art also knows so-called twilight switches, which determine the ambient brightness via a light sensor and switch an electrical load as a function of the illuminance and an adjustable threshold value. By setting the threshold, twilight switches can be adapted to different purposes. Astro timers have the advantage over twilight switches in terms of installation in a building that they do not need an external light sensor, which reduces the installation effort. In addition to this disadvantage, twilight switches have the further disadvantage that the external light sensors can become dirty or even be destroyed by vandalism.

The disadvantage of astro-clocks compared to twilight switches, however, is that the actual lighting situation is not sufficiently considered. Although the input of the switching time offset achieves an adaptation to the actual illuminance in the environment, it does not take into account that twilight on different days of the year has a different length. As a result, for example, 30 minutes before sunrise, different levels of illumination are achieved in the course of the year in cloudless skies and unclouded atmospheres. If one compares the daily duty cycle of a twilight switch and an astro timer with switching time offset in the course of a year, for example, in cloudless skies and unclouded atmospheres, then one will notice that higher switch-on durations are achieved with the astro timer. In the comparison, the devices were set so that in the course of the year both devices turn on the electrical consumers in the evening as closely as possible at the end of the so-called bourgeois twilight, but in no case later, and that in the morning as early as possible at the beginning of civil twilight, the electrical consumers switch off, but in no case earlier. The result is easy to explain, since a twilight switch under the conditions mentioned turns on the electrical consumers at the end of the bourgeois twilight all year round and switches them off exactly at the beginning of the civil twilight. This can only be achieved with an astro timer with a constant shift time offset under the conditions mentioned on two days of the year on the days with the shortest twilight. These two days are a few days before the beginning of spring and a few days after the beginning of autumn. On the other days of the year, on the other hand, the astro timer switches the electrical consumers off in the morning and earlier in the evening. A maximum deviation from the switching times of the twilight switch is present at the time of the winter solstice and the summer solstice.

This results in the disadvantage that under the conditions mentioned, the energy consumption of an electrical consumer in the course of a year when controlled by a Astroschaltuhr with switching time offset is higher than when controlling the same consumer by a twilight switch.

This is where the present invention begins.

The invention is based on the problem to improve a programmable timer of the type mentioned in order to avoid unnecessary turn-on of the electrical load.

The problem is solved in that the time switch has means for inputting at least one switching angle, wherein the switching angle is the elevation angle of the sun with respect to the astronomical horizon, when reached the switching time is to be reached. Further, in a timepiece according to claim 1 of the invention, the calculation means is suitable and arranged to calculate, for the given switching angle, the switching time on each day during the year.

In contrast to the earlier Astrozeitschaltuhren no switching time offset is specified, which leads to the sun is switched daily at different elevation angles, but it is the switching angle entered by the user, which causes the astro clock according to the invention daily when reaching the switching angle by the elevation angle the sun is shining. The switching angle is a threshold value at which the time switch is to switch due to the elevation angle of the sun. For this purpose, the elevation angle of the sun is not compared directly with the switching angle. Rather, by means of the calculation means it is calculated at which times on each day the elevation angle exceeds the threshold, ie reaches the switching angle. These times are the switching times at which the timer switches the output. In the timer, the current time is compared with the calculated switching times. Corresponds to the current one Time one of the switching times is switched by the adjusting means of the timer the output.

Depending on whether the elevation angle of the setting sun or the rising sun reaches the switching angle, the output can be switched on or off according to the user's specification. If a lighting system is connected to the time switch as an electrical load, the lighting system is switched on at sunset when reaching the switching angle while it is turned off at sunrise when reaching the switching angle. The elevation angle of the sun is zero degrees as soon as the center of the sun is at the height of the astronomical horizon.

A timer according to the invention is preferably suitable for installation in a distributor of a domestic installation and set up. The power supply of the timer can then be done via a supply network. The voltage of the supply network can be converted into a power supply of the time switch. It is also possible that alternatively or additionally provide internal or external energy storage, the timer with electrical energy.

The calculating means of a timer according to the invention may be a microprocessor in which a timer control program is loaded. The timepiece control program may be suitable and arranged to execute an astronomical algorithm for calculating the daily times of sunrise and sunset. The program can then also be used to calculate the time switching points that depend on sunrise and sunset.

By definition, sunrise and sunset are defined below as those times when the Sunbeam has reached an angular position of 50 arc minutes or 0.83 degrees below the astronomical horizon in the morning or evening.

According to the invention, the input means of a timepiece according to the invention for inputting the geographical coordinates of the operating location at the time switch can be suitable and arranged. Thus, it is possible, in particular, for the input means to be suitable and set up for input of the geographical length and / or width. Furthermore, the time, the date, the time zone and / or the height of the job site can be entered.

With an input means of a timer according to the invention in a particular embodiment, in addition to the switching angles further switching times can be entered, which are independent of the position of the sun programmable. These further switching times can be entered directly as times.

The calculating means of a time switch according to the invention can be suitable and set up for calculating the switching time as a function of the entered geographical length, width and / or height of the place of use.

The switching angle can be entered by the user by means of the input means of a timer according to the invention in various ways or changed at any time. The input means may be suitable and arranged, for example, for an indirect and / or an immediate input of the switching angle. When the switching angle is input directly, it is preferably entered as an angle variable with a resolution of 0.1 °. In the indirect input of the switching angle, a substitute size is entered by means of the input means, which within the Timer is related to a predefined switching angle. That is, each of these substitute sizes is assigned a specific switching angle. The calculation means of a timer according to the invention may be suitable and configured to calculate the switching time as a function of the substitute size. The replacement size can be a percentage. The percentage value may refer to a period of time, for example the duration of civil twilight, or to a reference angle, for example the angle between the elevation angle of the sun at the beginning and at the end of civil twilight. The substitute size can also be entered as the illuminance value in lux unit

The purpose of entering the substitute size as a percentage or illuminance value is to save the user from having to enter the switching angle. Under the immediate input of the switching angle relative to the elevation angle of the sun of, for example, 0 °, a user can sometimes imagine little. On the other hand, a user may be more likely to imagine something below the value of illuminance or percentage related to a time period after or before sunset, for example, in relation to the duration of civil twilight. It should be made clear at this point that the value of illuminance that is input need not be an exact value at the calculated switching instant. Rather, it is a mean illuminance value that an average user would subjectively associate with a corresponding twilight phase.

Each percentage value and each average value of the illuminance is assigned a switching angle. This can be done via a stored in a memory of the timer allocation table. As well it is possible that a switching angle is calculated for each percentage value and each average value of the illuminance.

wobei w_auf/unter der Höhenwinkel der Sonne in Grad unterhalb des Horizonts sowohl bei Aufgang als auch bei Untergang der Sonne ist und w_max der maximale Höhenwinkel der Sonne in Grad unterhalb des Horizonts ist, bei dessen Erreichen abends spätestens und morgens frühestens geschaltet werden soll.For example, the calculation means may be suitable and arranged to calculate the switching angle sw in degrees from the percentage as follows: $$\mathrm{sw}\mathrm{=}{\mathrm{w}}_{\mathrm{on}\mathrm{/}\mathrm{under}}\mathrm{+}\left({\mathrm{w}}_{\mathrm{Max}}\mathrm{-}{\mathrm{w}}_{\mathrm{on}\mathrm{/}\mathrm{under}}\right)\mathrm{*}\mathrm{p}\mathrm{/}\mathrm{100}\mathrm{.}$$

where w is _{at / below} the elevation angle of the sun in degrees below the horizon at both sunrise and sunset, and w _{max is} the maximum elevation angle of the sun in degrees below the horizon at which to arrive at the evening and at the earliest in the evening ,

wobei E_m der mittlere Wert der Beleuchtungsstärke in Lux ist und k zwischen 300 und 1367, vorzugsweise bei 550 liegt.Likewise, the calculation means may be suitable and arranged to calculate the switching angle sw in degrees according to the following equation from the mean value of the illuminance E _m : $$\mathrm{sw}\mathrm{=}\mathrm{-}\ln \left({\mathrm{e}}_{\mathrm{m}}\mathrm{/}\mathrm{k}\right)$$

where E _{m is} the mean value of illuminance in lux and k is between 300 and 1367, preferably 550.

Particularly user-friendly is a timer according to the invention, if you can choose between the direct input of the switching angle and an input of the substitute size and between the different ways to enter the substitute size.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the calculation means may be suitable and arranged, the annual total duty cycle of a consumer connected to the output of the timer for the input switching angle or for the switching angle calculated from the entered substitute size. A user can thereby form an idea of the energy consumption with different choice of the switching angle or the corresponding substitute size.

The calculation means may also be suitable and configured to calculate the current elevation angle of the sun. At an interface of a timer according to the invention, a signal may be applied, which indicates the current, calculated elevation angle of the sun. This signal indicating the elevation angle of the sun can be used, for example, to control the power of the electrical consumers according to the elevation angle. Thus, it may be possible, for example, to increase or decrease the power of a lighting system as a function of the elevation angle. Thus it can be achieved that a lighting system is switched on at times during twilight already with low power and the performance of the lighting system - in the case of the evening twilight - is increased gradually or continuously until the end of twilight or beyond the end of twilight.

The actuating means of a timer according to the invention may be a monostable or bistable relay. The relay switches as soon as the calculated switching times match the current time. The timer may have multiple relays that can be independently controlled.

A timer according to the invention may have an interface to an external input device. The input device may be, for example, a computer on which programming software is installed. It is also conceivable that a timer according to the invention is a reading device for a data memory and can read the inputs to the switching angle and other inputs via the reading device from a data carrier. The data carrier may have previously been programmed by means of a computer.

Furthermore, it is possible for a time switch according to the invention to have a receiver with which signals of a time signal transmitter can be received. It is likewise possible for a time switch according to the invention to have a receiver for signals of a navigation system, in particular of a satellite-supported navigation system.

Fig. 1

ein Dämmerungsdauer-Zeit-Diagramm für einen Ort mit einer geographischen Breite von 52° Nord,

Fig. 2

ein Dämmerungsdauer-Zeit-Diagramm für einen Ort mit einer geographischen Breite von 60° Nord,

Fig. 3

ein Einschaltdauer-Zeit-Diagramm für den Ort mit einer geographischen Breite von 52° Nord,

Fig. 4

ein Einschaltdauer-Zeit-Diagramm für den Ort mit einer geographischen Breite von 60° Nord,

Fig. 5

eine Konkordanz-Tabelle für den Winkelversatz, Prozentwertversatz und die Eingabe der mittleren Beleuchtungsstärke,

Fig. 6

ein Blockschaltbild einer erfindungsgemäßen Schaltuhr.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. It shows:

Fig. 1

a twilight time-time diagram for a location with a latitude of 52 ° north,

Fig. 2

a twilight time-time diagram for a location with a latitude of 60 ° north,

Fig. 3

a duty cycle time diagram for the location with a latitude of 52 ° north,

Fig. 4

a duty cycle time diagram for the location with a latitude of 60 ° north,

Fig. 5

a concordance table for the angular offset, percentage offset and the input of the mean illuminance,

Fig. 6

a block diagram of a timer according to the invention.

The in the twilight time-time diagram in FIG. 1 The graph shows the twilight duration in minutes for the location on a latitude of 52 ° North as a function of the day of the year shown on the abscissa. The maximum seasonal variation of twilight duration for a location on the 52nd northern parallel is 15.4 min. The longest twilight period is reached at the time of the summer solstice. The shortest twilight period is reached a few days before the beginning of spring and a few days after the beginning of autumn.

The in the twilight time-time diagram according to FIG. 2 The graph shows the twilight duration in minutes with a latitude of 60 ° north as a function of the days of the year. The maximum seasonal fluctuation of the twilight duration for a location on the 60th northern parallel is 65.7 min. For places that have a latitude greater than 60 °, there are already days when the bourgeois twilight no longer ends. In other words, this means that the sun does not sink lower than 6 ° below the horizon during these nights during the night. Beyond the Arctic Circle, there are days in the year when the sun does not sink lower than 0.83 ° below the horizon

From the FIG. 3 the difference of the daily duty cycle in hours between a timer according to the invention and a conventional astro timer for a location with a latitude of 52 ° north can be read off. The settings of the timers were chosen in both cases so that in the evening either at exactly or at the latest at the end of civil twilight and in the morning is switched exactly or at the earliest at the beginning of civil twilight.

The solid curve in the diagram after FIG. 3 shows the course of the duty cycle for a conventional Astroschaltuhr during the year. It is assumed that in the evening the electrical load is turned on and off in the morning the electrical load, as is typically the case with lighting systems. Time offset was 33.6 minutes after sunset and 33.6 minutes before sunrise. The timer switches with this offset at 52 ° north latitude only on two days in the year, namely just before the beginning of spring and shortly after the beginning of the fall at the very end of the bourgeois Dawn on and in the morning just at the beginning of the civil twilight. On all other days of the year, the switching takes place in the evening earlier, ie before the end of bourgeois twilight and in the morning later, ie after the onset of bourgeois twilight.

The in the diagram according to FIG. 3 dashed curve shows the course of the duty cycle for a timer according to the invention with a switching angle of 6 ° below the horizon for a location on the latitude 52 ° latitude north. When setting the switching angle of 6 ° below the horizon switches the switch according to the invention for any location worldwide, including the latitude of 52 ° north all year round at night exactly at the end of bourgeois twilight and in the morning just at the beginning of bourgeois twilight. This reduces the annual total duty cycle compared to a conventional astro timer.

For a location on a latitude of 52 ° north results for a conventional Astroschaltuhr with a switching time offset of 33.6 min an annual total duty cycle is 62.98 hours longer than the annual total duty cycle of a timer according to the invention with a switching angle of 6 °. This results in a use of a timer according to the invention energy savings of 1.62 percent over the conventional Astroschaltuhr.

The reduction of the total annual duty cycle depends on the latitude. This is in particular from the diagram according to FIG. 4 seen. For the from the diagram according to the FIG. 4 apparent comparison, in turn, the settings were chosen so that during the year in the evening exactly or at the latest at the end of bourgeois twilight and in the morning is switched exactly or at the earliest at the beginning of civil twilight.

The solid curve in the diagram according to FIG. 4 again shows the course of the turn-on in a conventional Astroschaltuhr with a switching time offset, with a switching time offset of 41.46 minutes is selected, ie that turned on 41.46 minutes after sunset and turned off 41.46 minutes before sunrise. The switching times coincide when using the conventional Astroschaltuhr with this time offset for a location with a latitude of 60 ° north only on two days with the actual beginning in the morning or the actual end evening of civil twilight. These are again the days with the shortest dusk shortly before the beginning of spring and shortly after the beginning of autumn.

The dashed curve in the diagram according to the FIG. 4 shows the course of the duty cycle for a timer according to the invention. As a switching angle, as in the example of FIG. 3 , a switching angle of 6 ° below the horizon is selected. The timer switches with this setting for each location worldwide, including a location on the 60th parallel all year round in the evening at the end of bourgeois twilight and in the morning just at the beginning of bourgeois twilight. Under the above-mentioned boundary conditions, with a leap year of 366 days, a possible reduction in the total annual operating time of 178.9 h results, which corresponds to an energy saving of 4.7 percent when using a timer according to the invention. The relative energy savings can be significantly increased if the consumer in addition at night completely or partially to a switched off at certain time, and only be switched on again in the morning at a certain time.

In certain cases, it makes sense that consumers are turned off at night and turned on during the day. This can be useful for solar applications, for example. In such a case, a timer according to the invention can be configured so that switched on with a switching angle with respect to the sunrise and off with a switching angle with respect to the sunset.

Although the entry of a switching angle for professional users seems quite understandable and practicable, the method lacks some practicality for an average user, especially a user who is unfamiliar with astronomical terms such as atmospheric refraction or bourgeois twilight. There are at least two solutions according to the invention for this problem:

The time switch according to the invention can initially optionally offer the possibility of entering the switching angle, such as a conventional time switch to be able to enter the switching time offset. The user can choose between the input of the switching time offset and the possibility of entering the switching angle. The savings potential by the timer according to the invention would then remain unused when selecting the input of the switching time offset.

However, in order to open non-professionals easy access to the energetically favorable process, the further embodiment of the switch according to the invention provides further input options, these being attributed to the switching angle. For example, there is the possibility of one Angular proportional input and / or an angle-proportional input of the illuminance.

The table according to FIG. 5 Incidentally, there is an overview of how the average illuminance and percentages can be defined in an angle-proportional manner.

For example, with angular proportional input, the angular positions of the sun between sunset and the end of bourgeois twilight in the evening and the angular positions between the beginning of bourgeois twilight in the morning and sunrise can be mapped on a percentage scale in the range of zero percent to one hundred percent. Zero percent means a switching angle of 0.83 below the horizon, and that the circuit is always exactly at the time of sunrise or sunset. One hundred percent, however, means a switching angle of 6 ° below the horizon, so that the switching times fall on the end of the evening or at the beginning of the morning civil twilight. For the example according to the FIG. 5 the 100 percent value was set to an elevation angle of 6 degrees below horizon. Of course, it is within the scope of the invention to set the 100 percent value to any elevation angle, for example 12 or 18 degrees below or above the horizon. The entry of the percentage value is preferably carried out in one-percent increments.

The indirect input of the switching angle as angle-proportional average illuminance is another way to make the input of the switching angle for a user more vivid.

The input of the average illuminance by the user is preferably in the range of 300 lux to 100 lux in Steps of ten lux, in the range of 99 lux to 10 lux in increments of 1 lux, and in the range of 9.9 to 1 lux in increments of 0.1 lux.

Preferably, in an astro timer according to the invention, various arbitrary input possibilities are combined with one another, so that the user can select a possibility that is comfortable for him.

Claims (15)

1. Programmable timer having at least one switchable output for connecting at least one electrical load which is intended to be switched on or off at switching times using the timer, and having a means for calculating at least one of the switching times on the basis of the position of the sun and a user input, the timer having an actuating means which is suitable and set up to switch the output at the calculated switching time,
   characterized in that
   the timer has means for inputting at least one switching angle, the switching angle being the elevation angle of the sun, upon the reaching of which the switching time is supposed to have been reached, and
   in that the calculation means is suitable and set up to calculate the switching time on any day during a year for the switching angle.
2. Timer according to Claim 1, characterized in that the input means is suitable and set up to input the longitude and/or latitude.
3. Timer according to Claim 2, characterized in that the calculation means is suitable and set up to calculate the switching time on the basis of the input longitude and latitude and/or altitude of the place of use.
4. Timer according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the input means is suitable and set up to directly input the switching angle.
5. Timer according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the input means is suitable and set up to indirectly input the switching angle, that is to say to input a substitute variable, the calculation means being suitable and set up to calculate the switching time on the basis of the substitute variable and a reference angle.
6. Timer according to Claim 5, characterized in that the substitute variable is a percentage.
7. Timer according to Claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the substitute variable is an average illuminance value.
8. Timer according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the percentage and/or the average illuminance value is/are assigned to a switching angle.
9. Timer according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that a switching angle can be calculated from the percentage and/or the average illuminance value.
10. Timer according to Claim 9, characterized in that the calculation means is suitable and set up to calculate the switching angle (sw) from the percentage (p) as follows: $$\mathrm{sw}\mathrm{=}{\mathrm{w}}_{\mathrm{auf}\mathrm{/}\mathrm{unter}}\mathrm{+}\left({\mathrm{w}}_{\max }\mathrm{-}{\mathrm{w}}_{\mathrm{auf}\mathrm{/}\mathrm{unter}}\right)\mathrm{*}\mathrm{p}\mathrm{/}\mathrm{100}$$

    

    
    where W_auf/unter is the elevation angle of the sun below the horizon both during sunrise and during sunset and W_max is the maximum elevation angle of the sun below the horizon, upon the reaching of which switching is intended to be carried out at the latest in the evening and at the earliest in the morning.
11. Timer according to Claim 9, characterized in that the calculation means is suitable and set up to calculate the switching angle (sw) from the average illuminance value (E_m) as follows: $$\mathrm{sw}\mathrm{=}\mathrm{-}\ln \left({\mathrm{E}}_{\mathrm{m}}\mathrm{/}550\right)\mathrm{.}$$

    
12. Timer according to one of Claims 4 to 11, characterized in that the timer is suitable and set up such that it is possible to choose between the direct input of the switching angle and input of a substitute variable and/or the input of a switching time delay.
13. Timer according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the calculation means is suitable and set up to calculate the total annual switched-on duration.
14. Timer according to one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the calculation means is suitable and set up to calculate the current elevation angle of the sun.
15. Timer according to Claim 14, characterized in that the timer has an interface to which a signal which indicates the current elevation angle of the sun is applied.

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