Water timer with watering plan and method
First Claim
1. A method for creating a water timer used to set a watering plan for watering a plurality of zones, comprising:
- selecting a water timer comprising a user interface and a controller, the user interface comprising a user input region, the water timer being connectable to a plurality of flow control devices;
programming the controller to permit the following steps by a user;
(a) selecting a first zone;
(b) selecting a first watering duration for the first zone;
(c) selecting a first start time for the first zone and the first watering duration; and
(d) selecting a first day of the week for the first start time; and
the programming step carried out to permit the above selecting steps (a), (b), (c) and (d) by a user in any order.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A water timer comprises a user interface, having a user input region, and a controller, coupled to the user interface and programmed to provide flow control device control signals. The controller is programmed to permit the following steps by a user: (a) selecting a zone; (b) selecting a first watering duration for the zone; (c) selecting a first start time for the zone and the first watering duration; and (d) selecting a first day of the week for the first start time. The controller is also programmed to permit the above selecting steps (a), (b), (c) and (d) by a user in any order. The invention includes other aspects.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for creating a water timer used to set a watering plan for watering a plurality of zones, comprising:
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selecting a water timer comprising a user interface and a controller, the user interface comprising a user input region, the water timer being connectable to a plurality of flow control devices;
programming the controller to permit the following steps by a user;
(a) selecting a first zone;
(b) selecting a first watering duration for the first zone;
(c) selecting a first start time for the first zone and the first watering duration; and
(d) selecting a first day of the week for the first start time; and
the programming step carried out to permit the above selecting steps (a), (b), (c) and (d) by a user in any order. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A water timer for controlling the operation of a plurality of flow control devices, comprising:
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a user interface comprising a user input region;
a controller coupled to the user interface and programmed to provide control signals for controlling a plurality of flow control devices, each flow control device capable of controlling the passage of water from a water source to a watering zone;
the controller programmed to permit the following steps by a user;
(a) selecting a zone;
(b) selecting a first watering duration for the zone;
(c) selecting a first start time for the zone and the first watering duration; and
(d) selecting a first day of the week for the first start time; and
the controller also programmed to permit the above selecting steps (a), (b), (c) and (d) by a user in any order. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A water timer for controlling the operation of a plurality of flow control devices, comprising:
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a user interface comprising a user input region;
a controller coupled to the user interface and programmed to provide control signals for controlling a plurality of flow control devices, each flow control device capable of controlling the passage of water from a water source to a watering zone;
the controller programmed to a permit the following steps by a user;
(a) selecting a zone;
(b) selecting a watering duration for the zone;
(c) selecting a start time for the zone and the watering duration; and
(d) selecting a day of the week for the start time;
(e) the start time (c) selecting step being carried out before the zone (a) selecting step; and
(f) either (1) the zone (a) selecting step is carried out before the watering duration (b) selecting step, or (2) the (a) and (b) selecting steps are carried out simultaneously.
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12. A method for setting a watering plan for a watering system having a plurality of zones to be watered, comprising
(a) selecting a zone; -
(b) selecting a first watering duration for the zone;
(c) selecting a first start time for the zone and the first watering duration;
(d) selecting a first day of the week for the first start time;
(f) selecting a second start time for the zone;
(g) selecting a second watering duration for the zone and the second start time; and
(h) selecting a second day of the week for the zone and the second start time. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A water timer for controlling the operation of a plurality of flow control devices, comprising:
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a user interface comprising a user input region;
a controller coupled to the user interface and programmed to provide control signals for controlling a plurality of flow control devices, each flow control device capable of controlling the passage of water from a water source to a watering zone;
the controller programmed to a permit the following steps by a user;
(c) selecting a zone;
(d) selecting a first watering duration for the zone;
(c) selecting a first start time for the zone and the first watering duration;
(d) selecting a first day of the week for the first start time;
(f) selecting a second start time for the zone;
(g) selecting a second watering duration for the zone and the second start time; and
(h) selecting a second day of the week for the zone and the second start time. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for setting a watering plan for a watering system having a plurality of zones to be watered, comprising
(a) selecting a zone; -
(b) selecting a watering duration for the zone;
(c) selecting a start time for the zone and the watering duration;
(d) selecting a day of the week for the start time;
(e) the start time (c) selecting step being carried out before the zone (a) selecting step; and
(f) either (1) the zone (a) selecting step is carried out before the watering duration (b) selecting step, or (2) the (a) and (b) selecting steps are carried out simultaneously. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A self-testing circuit for a controller for a system for determining if a perceived problem is due to a problem with the controller or with the system itself, the system being temporarily disconnected from the controller, comprising:
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a first, current limiting test circuit selectively coupling the power source to the system in a current limiting manner when the first test circuit is placed in a closed, test state; and
a second, load function test circuit selectively coupling the power source to the system when the second test circuit is placed in a closed, test state.
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Specification