Virtual dial irrigation controller
First Claim
1. An electronic irrigation controller comprising:
- a controller housing;
a microprocessor disposed on said controller housing;
an input device operable to selectively change an irrigation control mode of said microprocessor;
a first electronic display having energizable indicia corresponding to each selected irrigation control mode of said input device;
a second electronic display having energizable indicia corresponding to programming information for each irrigation control mode indicated on said first electronic display; and
, said energizable indicia of said first electronic display being the sole visual indicator of said selected irrigation control mode of said input device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention includes an irrigation controller utilizing a “virtual” dial. In particular, the present invention contemplates an electronic programming and controlling interface that is controlled according to actuation of a simple on/off switch (i.e., a binary switch), preferably a push button. For example, in one embodiment, an irrigation controller is provided wherein a rotary dial is replaced with a circular liquid crystal display. The LCD contains segments peripherally on its screen that are energized according to the desired function selected by the user. The segment that is “on” at a particular time will correspond to visual indicia on the panel of the controller to inform the user which function is operable at that particular time. The user can then advance to the next segment on the LCD screen by pressing a button located elsewhere on the controller panel.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An electronic irrigation controller comprising:
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a controller housing;
a microprocessor disposed on said controller housing;
an input device operable to selectively change an irrigation control mode of said microprocessor;
a first electronic display having energizable indicia corresponding to each selected irrigation control mode of said input device;
a second electronic display having energizable indicia corresponding to programming information for each irrigation control mode indicated on said first electronic display; and
,said energizable indicia of said first electronic display being the sole visual indicator of said selected irrigation control mode of said input device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An irrigation controller comprising:
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a programmable processing unit operable to execute an irrigation program;
an input surface connected to said processing unit, said input surface operable to cause a change in a control state of said processing unit;
an electronic display operatively connected to said processing unit and said input surface so as to display a current control state of said processing unit; and
,said electronic display being sized and shaped to simulate a mechanical rotary dial on a face of said controller. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of programming an irrigation system comprising;
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providing an electronic irrigation controller having an electronic display with energizable indicia corresponding to a selected control state and to a selected watering program of said controller;
selecting a first watering program for programming;
observing the selection of said first watering program in said electronic display;
electronically selecting a first control state of said controller and observing corresponding energized indicia in said electronic display;
inputting program parameters corresponding to said selected first control state into said controller;
electronically selecting a second control state of said controller and observing corresponding energized indicia in said electronic display;
inputting program parameters corresponding to said selected second control state into said controller;
continuing the selecting of control states and the inputting of program parameters until programming of said first watering program is substantially complete. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification