ACQUISITION

TECHNICAL FIELD

[001] The present invention relates to the field of solar information acquisition systems, more particularly, to an automated system for real-time solar information acquisition.

BACKGROUND

[002] Time is the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole. The normal clocks have the ability to show local standard time depending on the location’s time zone.

[003] Solar time is based on the apparent motion of actual sun which shows the actual motion of the sun and provides information about parameters of a solar day that is the interval between two successive returns of the sun to the local meridian.

[004] Patent number IN201821041640A, disclosed a solar tracker gateway in which tracker controller provides real time position data of solar panels and uses optimal position data for angular displacement of the solar panels. However, this invention tracks the sun using solar panels which is different than the present invention.

[005] Patent number CN101206118B, disclosed an automatic computational method for solar true azimuth, solar declination, time difference, other parameters and displays on the display. This invention involves complexity when user’s location changes, however, the present invention is easy to reconfigure or for re-synchronization.

[006] Patent number CN201017195Y, disclosed a solar time display instrument which regulates initial data by the keyboard and provides real-time display of solar time. However, this invention uses complex system for reconfiguration in case of geographical position of user changes. [007] Patent number US6827445B2, disclosed a sun-tracking daylighting apparatus which guides the sunlight into a building by means of light reflecting. However, this invention fails to provide different factors related to solar information.

[008] Patent number US7372781B2, disclosed a watch which displays civil time, solar time and correction mechanism provides relative desynchronization of civil and solar time displays. However, this invention requires complex mechanism for reconfiguration.

[009] Patent number US2005105397A1, disclosed a global time reckoning system which provides global and local times simultaneously and minimizes the conversion calculations. However, this invention fails to provide information related to solar parameters.

[0010] Patent number US8995233B2, disclosed an astronomical watch which displays the day and phase of at least first celestial body. However, this invention provides limited information related to solar system.

[0011] Patent number US8896215B2, disclosed an illumination system which provides different aspects of solar event and control system adjusts the luminous output of light source. However, this invention does not provide solar information in real time.

[0012] Patent number US7518956B1, disclosed a planisphere clock which displays sidereal time and solar time. However, this invention provides limited information about solar systems.

[0013] The above mentioned prior art states that there is a need for an automated system which displays real-time solar information on display unit without solving complex mathematical equations manually.

[0014] The present invention addresses the above mentioned short comings of the prior art. SUMMARY

[0015] The summary as given below.

[0016] The present invention is an automated system to display solar time information and uses dedicated application for synchronization the present location’s longitude and time zone.

[0017] In one implementation, a clock provides the solar time information.

[0018] In one implementation, a microcontroller (100) controls the functioning of present invention.

[0019] In another implementation, a WiFi module (101), provides communication between the microcontroller (100) and application (105).

[0020] In another implementation, a display unit (102), displays solar time information.

[0021] In one implementation, a Real Time Clock (RTC) module (103), provides the real time local standard time.

[0022] In another implementation, a power supply (104), provides power supply to the microcontroller (100) through main socket or battery.

[0023] In another implementation, an application (105), synchronizes the present location’s longitude and time zone information during first time usage or in the event of reset.

[0024] In yet another implementation, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) module (106), provides short range communication, communicates information about present location’s longitude and time zone to the microcontroller (100). [0025] In yet another implementation, a Global Positioning System (GPS) module (107), feeds the date, time, coordinates, time zone data to the microcontroller (100).

[0026] In another implementation, a microcontroller (100) receives the longitude and time zone information of present location from the application (105) through the WiFi module (101) in LAN network.

[0027] In another implementation, the application (105) helps the user to reconfigure or reset the clock in case of location changes. [0028] In another implementation, the present invention avoids the need to solve complicated mathematical equations using multiple volatile input parameters manually.

[0029] In another implementation, the present invention provides information about real time changes in solar information with passage of time and change in position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The foregoing detailed description of embodiments is better understood when read in conjunction with the attached drawings. For better understanding each component is given a specific number which is further illustrated as reference number for the components used with the figure.

[0031] Figure 1, illustrates the general architecture, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[0032] Figure 2, illustrates the block diagram of clock, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[0033] Figure 3, illustrates the architecture of present invention with WiFi in a FAN for communication, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[0034] Figure 4, illustrates the architecture of present invention with BEE for communication, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[0035] Figure 5, illustrates the architecture of present invention with GPS module for communication, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[0036] Figure 6, illustrates the flow chart, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[0037] Figure 7, illustrates the flow chart of ISR, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. [0038] Figure 8, illustrates real-time image of clock, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[0039] The figures depict an embodiment of the present disclosure for the purpose of illustration and understanding only.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] Some embodiments of this disclosure, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail.

[0041] In one implementation, the present invention displays solar information such as equation of time, local standard time meridian, time correction, hour angle, solar time, day length, sun rise time and sun set time.

[0042] The disclosure herein is an automated system which displays solar time information on display module and an application is used to receive the present location’s longitude and time zone values.

[0043] In one embodiment, the present invention comprising a clock, an application (105), a BLE module (106), and a GPS module (107).

[0044] In one embodiment, the clock comprising a microcontroller (100), a WiFi module (101), a display (102), a RTC module (103), and a power supply (104).

[0045] In one embodiment, an application (105) is installed in the mobile phone.

[0046] In another embodiment, the microcontroller (100) is the main computing unit.

[0047] In another embodiment, the WiFi module (101) provides communication between the microcontroller (100) and an application (105).

[0048] In another embodiment, the clock receives present location’s longitude and time zone information using an application (105) for data synchronization during first time usage or in the event of reset. [0049] In another embodiment, the RTC module (103) provides real time local standard time to the microcontroller (100).

[0050] In one embodiment, the display (102), displays the solar time information.

[0051] In another embodiment, the Bluetooth Low Energy module (106), provides short range communication, communicates information about present location’s longitude and time zone from the application (105) to the microcontroller (100).

[0052] In another embodiment, the Global Positioning System (GPS) module (107), feeds the date, time, coordinates, time zone data to the microcontroller (100).

[0053] In another embodiment, the display (102) varies in size and types such as OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode), LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), LED Matrix (Light Emitting Diode).

[0054] In one embodiment, the power supply (104) provides power to the microcontroller (100) through direct power supply from the main supply or battery or solar powered.

[0055] In another embodiment, Serial Peripheral Interface Plash Pile

System (SPILLS) is lightweight file system and is used as permanent local storage memory in the microcontroller (100).

[0056] In another embodiment, once power supply is provided to the system, it initializes itself and open the Serial Peripheral Interface Plash Pile System (SPILLS) and read the first run state.

[0057] In another embodiment, if first run state is found equal to true, system enables the WiPi module (101) in Access Point (AP) mode and ask the user to connect to the SSID (Service Set Identifier). Once the user connects to the AP as a client, it waits for the data. [0058] In another embodiment, user open the application (105) and press the sync button which sends a string containing present location’s longitude and time zone to the microcontroller (100).

[0059] In yet another embodiment, once the data is received at the system end, WiFi is disabled and open the Serial Peripheral Interface Flash File System to save the received data and system changes the first time run state to false and restarts itself.

[0060] In yet another embodiment, the first check of first time run state changes to false this time and initiate on-board solar calculation algorithm which read the longitude and time zone values from Serial Peripheral Interface Flash File System and save into static variables and read RTC values as well.

[0061] In another embodiment, after pre-processing of received values, send the values into solar calculator function to calculate the solar information including Equation of Time, Local Standard Time Meridien, Time Correction, Hour Angle, Solar Time, Day length, Sun Rise Time, Sun Set Time and displays solar time information on the display (102).

[0062] In another embodiment, the application (105) is provided with the clock to help user to reconfigure or reset the clock in case the position changes.

[0063] In yet another embodiment, the system is provided with the feature of reset which is used for re-sync in case of any change in clock position.

[0064] In yet another embodiment, once reset button is pressed which is integrated push button provided on the clock, it initiates an interrupt and directs the system to execute the Interrupt Service Routine (ISR).

[0065] In another embodiment, in the Interrupt Service Routine, during

HIGH state of interrupt pin or when reset button is pressed, timer is incremented itself by 1 after every second and when timer value reaches 5, system consider it as reset event and change the first time run state to true in the SPIFFS and is restarted itself. [0066] In another embodiment, system changes itself into first time usage event and ask for setup including connect to application and synchronization.

[0067] In one embodiment, the clock communicates with the application

(105) using the WiFi module (101) in a LAN network to receive the longitude and time zone information of the present location.

[0068] In another embodiment, the clock communicates with the application (105) using the BLE module (106) to receive the information about present location’s longitude and time zone.

[0069] In yet another embodiment, the GPS module (107) sends the coordinates, time zone, date and time data to the microcontroller (100) and eliminates the need of mobile phone to receive longitude and time zone information of the present location.

[0070] In another embodiment, the present invention displays solar time information using application (105) and without application (105) also.

[0071] In an exemplary embodiment, the clock node communicates with the application (105) through the WiFi module (101) to collect longitude and time zone data, once data is saved at the system end, it disables the WiFi and open the Serial Peripheral Interface Flash File System for saving the received data and change the first time run state to false and restart itself. This time when system is restarted, the first check of first time run state is come false and initiate the on board solar calculation algorithm which first read the longitude and time zone values from Serial Peripheral Interface Flash File System and is saved into static variables and read RTC values from the RTC module (103). After pre-processing of received values, these values pass into the solar calculator function which uses mathematical algorithms to calculate the solar information and the solar time information is displayed through the connected display module (102).

[0072] Referring to figure 1, illustrates the general architecture of present invention in which clock receives longitude and time zone of present location from the application (105) for data synchronization during first time usage or in the event of reset.

[0073] Referring to figure 2, illustrates the block diagram of clock in which the microcontroller (100) receives information from the application through the WiFi module (101) and RTC values through the RTC module (103), and displays on the display (102). Also, the power supply is provided to the microcontroller (100) through the power supply (104).

[0074] Referring to figure 3, illustrates the architecture of present invention with WiFi in a LAN for communication in which the microcontroller (100) communicates with the application (105) through the WiFi module (101) in a Local Area Network (LAN) network to receive longitude and time zone information of the present location.

[0075] Again, referring to figure 3, the microcontroller (100) also receives real time local standard time through the RTC module (103) and display (102) module displays the information received from the microcontroller (100), and power supply is provided to the microcontroller (100) through the power supply (104).

[0076] Referring to figure 4, illustrates architecture of present invention with BLE for communication in which the microcontroller (100) communicates with the application (105) through the BLE module (106) to receive longitude and time zone information of the present location.

[0077] Again, referring to figure 4, the microcontroller (100) receives

RTC values through the RTC module (103) and display (102) displays the information received from the microcontroller (100), and power supply is provided to the microcontroller (100) through the power supply (104).

[0078] Referring to figure 5, illustrates the architecture of present invention with GPS module for communication in which the GPS module (107) feeds the coordinates, time zone, date and time data into the microcontroller (100) and displays on the display (102). The power supply is provided through the power supply (104) to the microcontroller (100).

[0079] Referring to figure 6, illustrates the flow chart of method for real time solar information acquisition in which system is initialized itself, once power supply is provided. Firstly, it opens the Serial Peripheral Interface Flash File System (SPIFFS) and read the first time run state. If the first time run state comes equal to true, it enables the WiFi module in Access Point mode and user is asked to connect to the SSID. Once the user connects to the Access Point as a client, it waits for the data and user open the application provided along with the system and tap on the sync button which further sends a string containing the present location’s longitude and time zone.

[0080] Again, referring to figure 6, once data is received at the system end, it disables the WiFi and open the Serial Peripheral Interface Flash File System for saving the received data and first time run state is changed to false and is restarted itself. Now, the first time run state comes as false and system initiates the on-board solar calculation algorithm which read the longitude and time zone values from the Serial Peripheral Interface Flash File System and save into static variables and read RTC values. After pre-processing of received values, these values pass into the solar calculator function which uses mathematical algorithms and calculates the corresponding solar information including Equation of Time, Local Standard Time Meridien, Time Correction, Hour Angle, Solar Time, Day length, Sun Rise Time, Sun Set Time and display on the connected display module.

[0081] Referring to figure 7, illustrates the flow chart of ISR. The system is having a feature of reset which is used for re-sync in case of any change in clock position. Once the reset button is pressed, it initiates an interrupt and direct the system to execute the Interrupt Service Routine.

[0082] Again, referring to figure 7, in the Interrupt Service Routine, while interrupt pin state is HIGH, a timer is incremented itself by 1 after every second and when the timer value reaches 5, the system considers it as a reset event and make the first time run state to true in the Serial Peripheral Interface Flash File System and system is restarted itself. The system is moved itself into the first-time usage event and ask again for setup that is connect to application and synchronization.

[0083] Referring to figure 8, illustrates real time image of clock displaying the solar time.

[0084] Some of the embodiments may be further upgraded upon the study performed further.