Modular irrigation controller

• US 20060030971A1
• Filed: 08/08/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Original Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Inventors: Parker, Greg, Nelson, Arnold, Garcia, Richard Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 7,613,546 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/165 Cyclic operations, timing systems, timing valves, impulse operations

Abstract

The present invention provides a modular controller that connects to irrigation modules with varying station terminals and a standard footprint size. Additionally, the modular controller includes surge protection options, wireless communication with PDA'"'"'s and other external devices, no required position for each controller module to be connected, immediate display of station modules on the LCD display, retention of a water program if module is removed, communications module for flow monitoring, a modular transformer, rain sensor receiver within the housing, an improved 9-volt batter holder, and other aspects described in the present application.

Claims

1. An irrigation controller comprising:

a controller housing having a microprocessor for storing and executing a watering program for controlling a plurality of irrigation stations and a transformer module footprint; and

a transformer module removably coupled to said transformer module footprint within said controller housing, said transformer module comprising;

a transformer housing; and

a transformer disposed within said transformer housing.

2. The irrigation controller of claim 1 wherein said transformer module is removably coupled by mounting screws.

3. The irrigation controller of claim 1 wherein said transformer module includes a terminal block.

4. A method of adapting an irrigation controller for outdoor use comprising:

providing an irrigation controller;

providing a transformer module including a transformer disposed within a transformer housing;

mounting said transformer module at a mounting space within said irrigation controller;

connecting said transformer to said irrigation controller.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said connecting said transformer to said irrigation controller includes positioning power wires through an aperture on a bottom surface of said transformer housing.

6. An irrigation controller comprising:

a housing having a microprocessor for storing and executing a watering program for controlling a plurality of irrigation stations;

a plurality of receptacles disposed in said housing, each receptacle including a plurality of electrical contacts for communicating with said microprocessor;

a first module configured for interchangeable placement within any one of said plurality of receptacles and having a first terminal bank configured to connect to a plurality of irrigation stations; and

a second module configured for interchangeable placement within any one of said plurality of receptacles and having a first terminal bank configured to connect to a plurality of irrigation stations and a second terminal bank configured to connect to a plurality of irrigation stations;

wherein said first module and said second module are sized and shaped to be positioned within only one of said plurality of receptacles at one time.

7. The irrigation controller of claim 6 further comprising a third module configured for interchangeable placement within any one of said plurality of receptacles and having a first terminal bank configured to connect to a plurality of irrigation stations, a second terminal bank configured to connect to a plurality of irrigation stations, and a sensor bank configured to connect to a sensor.

8. The irrigation controller of claim 6 wherein said first module and said second module include a spring-biased latch configured to engage said housing to maintain a position within said plurality of receptacles.

9. A method of adapting an irrigation controller apparatus to control a number of irrigation stations comprising:

selecting a first removable module having a first number of irrigation terminals from a selection of removable modules, at least two of which being interchangeable with each other to fit within a single receptacle having a connection to a microprocessor of said irrigation control apparatus;

inserting said first selected removable module into the receptacle;

selecting a second removable module having a second number of irrigation terminals from said selection of removable modules, said second number being different than said first number;

inserting said second removable module into a receptacle having the same size as the receptacle containing said first selected removable module; and

connecting irrigation stations to said selected first and second removable modules of said irrigation control apparatus.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising connecting a sensor to said first removable module of said irrigation control apparatus.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said inserting said first selected removable module into the receptacle includes a spring-biased latch.

12. A modular irrigation controller comprising:

a housing having a microprocessor for storing and executing a watering program for controlling a plurality of irrigation stations;

a plurality of receptacles disposed in said housing, each receptacle including a plurality of electrical contacts for communicating with said microprocessor;

wherein

a first module configured for interchangeable placement within any one of said plurality of receptacles and having a first terminal bank configured to connect to a plurality of irrigation stations, said first module including a surge protector;

wherein said first module is further configured to communicate an inclusion of said surge protector in said first module to said microprocessor.

13. The modular irrigation controller of claim 12 wherein said surge protector includes a metal oxide varister.

14. A method of configuring a modular irrigation controller comprising:

selecting a first removable irrigation module;

coupling said first removable irrigation controller to a communication bus of said modular irrigation controller;

communicating information describing said first removable irrigation module to a microprocessor in said modular irrigation controller; and

displaying said information describing said first removable irrigation module on a display of said modular irrigation controller.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said information describing said first removable irrigation module is selected from a group of:

a receptacle position, a station count, a sensor capability, and a type of sensor.

16. An irrigation controller comprising:

a controller housing;

a microprocessor for storing and executing a watering program for controlling a plurality of irrigation stations;

a modular rain sensor receiver configured to connect to said microprocessor within said controller housing;

a rain sensor including a wireless transmitter configured to communicate with said modular rain sensor receiver;

wherein said microprocessor prevents watering during said watering program based on communication sent to said wireless receiver by said wireless transmitter.

17. The modular irrigation controller of claim 16 wherein electrical power is provided to said modular rain sensor receiver by said irrigation controller.

18. A battery holder for an irrigation controller comprising:

a slot sized to accept a battery;

a battery terminal positioned at an end of said slot, said battery terminal electrically coupled to a microprocessor of said irrigation controller;

a biased spring arm positioned on a first side of said slot; and

a retaining lip positioned on a second side, opposite to said first side;

wherein said biased spring arm is configured to position an end of said battery against said retaining lip, thereby maintaining a position of said battery within said slot.

19. The battery holder of claim 18 wherein said battery is a 9-volt battery.

20. A method of installing a flow sensor comprising:

providing an irrigation controller for determining an irrigation schedule of an irrigation system;

selecting a flow sensor;

connecting said flow sensor to a sensor port on said irrigation controller;

manipulating a user interface of said irrigation controller to select a flow sensor model;

automatically determining configuration data for said flow sensor.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said configuration data includes K and Offset values for said flow sensor.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein said automatically determining configuration data for said flow sensor includes searching a lookup table for said flow sensor model.

23. An irrigation controller comprising:

an irrigation housing having a contoured edge;

a faceplate engaged adjacent to said contoured edge of said irrigation housing to allow hinged movement of said faceplate relative to said irrigation housing;

wherein said contoured edge is shaped to provide a detent angle for said faceplate during said hinged movement.

24. The irrigation controller of claim 23 wherein said faceplate engages a first aperture on said irrigation housing and a second aperture on said irrigation housing.

25. The irrigation controller of claim 23 wherein said first aperture includes a groove positioned to create a second detent force coinciding with said detent angle.

26. A method of programming an irrigation schedule for a modular irrigation controller comprising:

providing a modular irrigation controller with a first irrigation module and a second irrigation module;

selecting a first module icon representing said first irrigation module;

selecting a first irrigation station icon representing a first irrigation station;

programming said first irrigation station;

selecting a second module icon representing said second irrigation module;

selecting a second irrigation station icon representing a second irrigation station;

programming said second irrigation station.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising displaying an icon representing a functionality of said first irrigation module.