Control unit for game or fish feeder
AssigneeNordic Gamekeeper AB
InventorCarl Pfeiff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a control unit (116) for a game or fish feeder (100). The control unit (116) is mounted on the feeder (100) and comprises: means (130) for controlling the powering of a drive unit (110) of said feeder (100) for controlled output of feed from the feeder (100); a wireless transmitter (138) arranged to communicate over a wireless network (146) with a remote unit (140); a sensor (132; 134) for measuring a parameter of the feeder (100); and means (124) for determining whether a measured parameter value provided by said sensor (132; 134) fulfills a predetermined condition in order to detect an action-requiring state of the feeder (100). In response to a detected action-requiring state, the wireless transmitter (138) is triggered to send a notification to said remote unit (140).
Claims7
A control unit for a game or fish feeder, wherein the control unit is arranged for mounting on or in connection to the feeder, said control unit comprising:
- means for controlling the powering of a drive unit of said feeder for controlled output of feed from the feeder;
- a wireless transmitter arranged to communicate over a wireless network with a remote unit;
- a sensor for measuring a parameter of the feeder;
- and
- means for determining whether a measured parameter value provided by said sensor fulfills a predetermined condition in order to detect an action-requiring state of the feeder,
- wherein, in response to a detected action-requiring state, the wireless transmitter is triggered to send a notification to said remote unit,
- wherein the wireless transmitter is part of a wireless transceiver for receiving and transmitting information over a wireless network,
- wherein the control unit is arranged to cause said wireless transmitter to periodically communicate with a central control system, regardless whether any action-requiring state is detected, and receive information for updating scheduling data for controlling output of feed from the feeder,
- wherein the scheduling data for controlling output of feed from the feeder is based on the central control system receiving information regarding a location of the control unit and having access to sunrise and sunset times for the location such that a user may define control unit specific parameters for controlling output of feed from the feeder in relation to the sunrise and sunset times.
A method for detecting an action-requiring state of a game or fish feeder and for updating scheduling data for controlling output of feed from the feeder, wherein the feeder has a control unit mounted on or in connection to the feeder, said method comprising, by the control unit:
- controlling the powering of a drive unit of said feeder for controlled output of feed from the feeder;
- measuring a power consumption of said drive unit;
- determining whether a value of the measured power consumption fulfils a predetermined condition in order to detect an action-requiring state of the feeder;
- in response to a detected action-requiring state, sending a notification to a remote unit, and
- periodically causing said wireless transmitter to communicate with a central control system, regardless whether any action-requiring state is detected, and receiving information for updating scheduling data for controlling output of feed from the feeder,
- wherein the scheduling data for controlling output of feed from the feeder is based on the central control system receiving information regarding a location of the control unit and having access to sunrise and sunset times for the location such that a user may define control unit specific parameters for controlling output of feed from the feeder in relation to the sunrise and sunset times.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.