Modular and expandable irrigation controller
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An expansion module for a modular irrigation controller comprising:
- a housing;
an electrical connector coupled to the housing and adapted to removably connect to one of a plurality of expansion module mounting locations of the modular irrigation controller, each expansion module mounting location electrically coupled to a control unit of the modular irrigation controller that executes stored irrigation programs;
a microcontroller within the housing and coupled to the electrical connector;
the microcontroller adapted to;
determine that the expansion module has been connected to the one expansion module mounting location; and
transmit a signal to the control unit to indicate the presence of the expansion module to the control unit.
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Abstract
Described herein are several embodiments relating to modular irrigation controllers. In many implementations, the irrigation controllers are modular in that various functional components of the irrigation controller are implemented in removable modules that when inserted into position within the controller, expand the capabilities of the controller. Also described are various different types of expansion modules that may be coupled to the modular controller, having as variety of functions and features, as well as related methods of use and configuration of these modules in the controller.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. An expansion module for a modular irrigation controller comprising:
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a housing;
an electrical connector coupled to the housing and adapted to removably connect to one of a plurality of expansion module mounting locations of the modular irrigation controller, each expansion module mounting location electrically coupled to a control unit of the modular irrigation controller that executes stored irrigation programs;
a microcontroller within the housing and coupled to the electrical connector;
the microcontroller adapted to;
determine that the expansion module has been connected to the one expansion module mounting location; and
transmit a signal to the control unit to indicate the presence of the expansion module to the control unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An expansion module for a modular irrigation controller comprising:
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a housing;
an electrical connector coupled to the housing and adapted to removably connect to one of a plurality of expansion module mounting locations of the modular irrigation controller, each expansion module mounting location electrically coupled to a control unit of the modular irrigation controller that executes stored irrigation programs;
a microcontroller within the housing and coupled to the electrical connector;
a visual indicator coupled to the housing and the microcontroller, wherein at least a portion of which is visible from outside of the housing and indicates a status of the expansion module. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An expansion module for a modular irrigation controller comprising:
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a housing;
an electrical connector coupled to the housing and adapted to removably connect to one of a plurality of expansion module mounting locations of the modular irrigation controller, each expansion module mounting location electrically coupled to a control unit of the modular irrigation controller that executes stored irrigation programs;
a microcontroller within the housing and coupled to the electrical connector;
an audible indicator coupled to the housing and the microcontroller, the audible indicator emitting an audible sound that indicates a status of the expansion module. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. An expansion module for a modular irrigation controller comprising:
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a housing;
an electrical connector coupled to the housing and adapted to removably connect to any one of a plurality of expansion module mounting locations of the modular irrigation controller, each expansion module mounting location electrically coupled to a control unit of the modular irrigation controller that executes stored irrigation programs;
a microcontroller within the housing and coupled to the electrical connector;
an input device coupled to the housing and to the microcontroller, the input device adapted to send a signal to the microcontroller in response to the operation of the input device by a user. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. An expansion module for a modular irrigation controller comprising:
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a housing;
an electrical connector adapted to removably connect to any one of a plurality of expansion module mounting locations of a modular irrigation controller, each expansion module mounting location electrically coupled to a control unit adapted to execute stored irrigation programs; and
a microcontroller within the housing and coupled to the electrical connector, the microcontroller adapted to;
transmit commands to the control unit, the commands causing the control unit to display information to a user. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A modular irrigation controller comprising:
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a housing;
a control unit within the housing, the control unit including a first microcontroller for executing stored irrigation programs and a memory;
a plurality of expansion module mounting locations within the housing adapted to removably receive expansion modules, each expansion mounting location electrically coupled to the first microcontroller;
a first expansion module removably mounted to a first expansion module mounting location and electrically coupled to the first microcontroller, the first expansion module including driver circuitry for actuating irrigation valves in accordance with control signals received from the first microcontroller; and
the first microcontroller adapted to store user defined configuration data specific to the first expansion module in the memory, the user defined configuration data retained in the memory when the first expansion module is removed from the first expansion module mounting location. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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29. A modular irrigation controller comprising:
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a housing;
a control unit within the housing, the control unit including a first microcontroller for executing stored irrigation programs, the control unit having a first internet protocol address;
a plurality of expansion module mounting locations within the housing adapted to removably receive expansion modules, each expansion mounting location electrically coupled to the first microcontroller;
an expansion module removably mounted to a first expansion module mounting location and contained within the housing, the expansion module electrically coupled to the first microcontroller, the expansion module including a second microcontroller, the second microcontroller adapted to operate with the first microcontroller, the expansion module having a second internet protocol address;
wherein the control unit addresses the expansion module using an internet transmission protocol. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. A modular irrigation controller comprising:
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a housing;
a control unit within the housing, the control unit including a first microcontroller for executing stored irrigation programs;
a plurality of expansion module mounting locations within the housing adapted to removably receive expansion modules, each expansion mounting location electrically coupled to the first microcontroller;
an expansion module removably mounted to a first expansion module mounting location and electrically coupled to the first microcontroller, the expansion module including a second microcontroller, the second microcontroller adapted to operate with the first microcontroller;
wherein the first microcontroller is adapted;
to transmit an authentication request to the expansion module;
receive a response to the authentication request from the expansion module; and
determine, based on the response, if the expansion module is authorized to operate with the first microcontroller. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. An expansion module for a modular irrigation controller comprising:
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a housing;
an electrical connector adapted to removably connect to one of a plurality of expansion module mounting locations of a modular irrigation controller, each expansion module mounting location electrically coupled to a control unit that executes stored irrigation programs; and
a microcontroller within the housing and coupled to the electrical connector, the microcontroller adapted to operate with the control unit;
wherein the microcontroller is adapted;
to transmit an authentication request to the control unit;
receive a response to the authentication request from the control unit; and
determine, based on the response, if the control unit is authorized to operate with the microcontroller. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A modular irrigation controller comprising:
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a housing;
a control unit within the housing, the control unit including a first microcontroller for executing stored irrigation programs;
a plurality of expansion module mounting locations within the housing adapted to removably receive expansion modules a back plane circuit board comprising a bus coupling the first microcontroller to each of the plurality of expansion module mounting locations;
wherein the bus comprises a serial multi-drop bus comprising;
a serial data in line; and
a serial data out line. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45)
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46. An expansion module for a modular irrigation controller comprising:
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a housing having a surface adapted to contact one of a plurality of expansion module mounting locations of a modular irrigation controller, each expansion module mounting location electrically coupled to a control unit of the modular irrigation controller that executes stored irrigation programs;
an electrical connector coupled to the surface and adapted to removably connect to the one of the plurality of expansion module mounting locations;
driver circuitry within the housing adapted to actuate irrigation valves in accordance with control signals received from the control unit;
a guidepost extending substantially perpendicularly from surface, the guidepost adapted to insert into a corresponding guide hole formed in expansion module mounting location;
a tab extending substantially perpendicularly from the surface, the tab having a ledge formed at a distal end of the tab, the tab adapted to fit within a corresponding tab hole formed in the expansion module mounting location such that the ledge is located under an edge of a periphery of the tab hole. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48)
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49. A modular irrigation controller comprising:
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a housing;
a back plane circuit board within the housing;
a control unit removably mounted within the housing and electrically coupled to the back plane circuit board, the control unit including a first microcontroller for executing stored irrigation programs;
a plurality of expansion module mounting locations within the housing and electrically coupled to the back plane circuit board and adapted to removably receive expansion modules;
a first expansion module removably mounted to a first expansion module mounting location and electrically coupled to the first microcontroller;
the first expansion module comprises;
a second microcontroller, the second microcontroller adapted to operate with the first microcontroller;
driver circuitry adapted to actuate irrigation valves in accordance with control signals received from the first microcontroller; and
current detection circuitry coupled to the second microcontroller, wherein the second microcontroller is adapted to detect a short circuit condition or an over current condition and suspend irrigation. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51)
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52. A user interface for an irrigation controller comprising:
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a display screen; and
a microcontroller for driving the display screen to display information;
wherein the microcontroller is adapted to display a user interface screen that allows a user to select one of a plurality of user groups and, in response to a selection of the user, generate and display a sequence of display screens to facilitate the programming of the irrigation controller corresponding to the selected user group, where the sequence of display screens is different for each of the plurality of user groups.
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53. A user interface for an irrigation controller comprising:
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a display screen;
a microcontroller for driving the display screen to display information; and
a memory storing user interface displays in each of a plurality of languages, wherein the microcontroller is adapted to display a user interface screen that allows a user to select one of the plurality of languages and, in response to a selection of the user, generate and display at least one menu display screen in the selected language.
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54. An expansion module for a modular irrigation controller comprising:
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a housing;
an electrical connector adapted to removably connect to any one of a plurality of expansion module mounting locations of a modular irrigation controller, each expansion module mounting location electrically coupled to a control unit controlled by firmware stored in the control unit, the control unit executes stored irrigation programs;
a microcontroller within the housing and coupled to the electrical connector; and
a memory coupled to the microcontroller, the memory containing a new firmware version of the firmware stored in the control unit;
the microcontroller adapted to load the new version of the firmware into the control unit.
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55. An expansion module for a modular irrigation controller comprising:
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a housing;
an electrical connector adapted to removably connect to any one of a plurality of expansion module mounting locations of a modular irrigation controller, each expansion module mounting location electrically coupled to a control unit controlled by firmware stored in the control unit, the control unit executes stored irrigation programs; and
a memory within the housing and coupled to the electrical connector, the memory containing a new firmware version of the firmware stored in the control unit;
the memory adapted to allow the control unit of the modular irrigation controller to load the new version of the firmware from the memory into the control unit.
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56. A user interface for an irrigation controller comprising:
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a control unit that executes stored irrigation programs;
a display coupled to the control unit, the control unit adapted to cause information to be displayed on the display for the user;
a memory adapted to store irrigation program parameters;
wherein the control unit is adapted to display parameters stored in the memory relating to an irrigation program in a single user interface comprising one or more display screens that do not allow for the parameters to be edited.
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57. A user interface for an irrigation controller comprising:
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a control unit that executes stored irrigation programs;
a display coupled to the control unit, the control unit adapted to cause information to be displayed on the display for the user;
a memory adapted to store irrigation program parameters;
wherein the control unit is adapted to determine and store in the memory a total run time for an irrigation program and display the total run time for the irrigation program in a display screen that does not allow for the program related parameters to be edited.
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Specification