Wireless Extension to an Irrigation Control System and Related Methods
First Claim
1. An irrigation control system comprising:
- a transmitter unit comprising;
a connector adapted to be coupled to an irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors for activating stations;
a first controller coupled to the connector and adapted to receive an indication that the irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station; and
a signal transmitter coupled to the first controller, wherein responsive to the indication, the first controller is configured to cause a wireless activation signal to be transmitted by the signal transmitter, the wireless activation signal configured for receipt at a wireless receiver unit located remotely from the transmitter unit and coupled to an actuator and an actuatable device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Several embodiments provide wireless extensions to an irrigation controller system and related methods of use, as well as other improvements to irrigation control equipment. In one implementation, an irrigation control system includes a transmitter unit including a controller and having a connector to be coupled to an irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors. The controller is configured to receive an indication that the irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station, and is also configured to cause the transmitter unit to transmit a wireless activation signal responsive to the indication. A receiver unit is coupled to an actuator coupled to an actuatable device, such as an irrigation valve, the actuator configured to actuate the irrigation valve to control the flow of water therethrough. The receiver unit receives the wireless activation signal and in response, causes the actuator to actuate the actuatable device.
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Citations
107 Claims
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1. An irrigation control system comprising:
a transmitter unit comprising;
a connector adapted to be coupled to an irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors for activating stations;
a first controller coupled to the connector and adapted to receive an indication that the irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station; and
a signal transmitter coupled to the first controller, wherein responsive to the indication, the first controller is configured to cause a wireless activation signal to be transmitted by the signal transmitter, the wireless activation signal configured for receipt at a wireless receiver unit located remotely from the transmitter unit and coupled to an actuator and an actuatable device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. An irrigation control device comprising:
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a signal receiver adapted to receive a wireless activation signal from a remotely located wireless transmitter unit which is coupled to an irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors for activating stations, the wireless transmitter unit adapted to receive an indication that the irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station, and responsive to the indication, the wireless transmitter unit is adapted to cause the wireless activation signal to be wirelessly transmitted;
a controller coupled to the signal receiver and adapted to receive a message contained in the wireless activation signal; and
an activation circuit coupled to the controller, wherein responsive to the message, the controller is configured to cause the activation circuit to output signaling to cause an actuator to actuate an actuatable device. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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43. An irrigation control system comprising:
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a transmitter unit including a first controller, the transmitter unit having a connector adapted to be coupled to an irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors for activating stations;
the first controller configured to receive an indication that the irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station, the first controller configured to cause the transmitter unit to transmit a wireless activation signal responsive to the indication; and
a receiver unit adapted to be coupled to an actuator coupled to an actuatable device, the actuator configured to actuate the actuatable device, the receiver unit adapted to receive the wireless activation signal and in response, cause the actuator to actuate the irrigation valve. - View Dependent Claims (44)
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45. A method of wireless irrigation control comprising:
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receiving, at a transmitter unit coupled to an irrigation controller having station output actuation connectors for activating stations, an indication that the irrigation controller has activated a station; and
wirelessly transmitting, responsive to the receiving the indication, a wireless activation signal from the transmitter unit to a receiver unit remotely located from the transmitter unit, the wireless activation signal adapted to cause the receiver unit to cause an actuator to actuate an actuatable device. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 82)
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77. A method of wireless irrigation control comprising:
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wirelessly receiving, at a receiver unit, a wireless activation signal transmitted from a transmitter unit remotely located from the receiver unit and coupled to an irrigation controller having station output actuation connectors for activating stations, the transmitter unit having wirelessly transmitted the wireless activation signal based on a received indication that the irrigation controller has activated a station, the receiver unit coupled to an actuator which is coupled to an actuatable device; and
causing the actuator to actuate the actuatable device. - View Dependent Claims (78)
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79. A method of wireless irrigation control comprising:
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receiving, at a transmitter unit coupled to an irrigation controller having station output actuation connectors for activating stations, an indication that the irrigation controller has activated a station;
wirelessly transmitting, responsive to the receiving the indication, a wireless activation signal from the transmitter unit;
wirelessly receiving, at a receiver unit remotely located from the transmitter unit, the wireless activation signal, the receiver unit coupled to an actuator which is coupled to an actuatable device; and
causing the actuator to actuate the actuatable device. - View Dependent Claims (80)
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81. An irrigation controller comprising:
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a microcontroller adapted to generate control signals to activate irrigation at one or more irrigation stations in accordance with the one or more watering programs; and
a wireless transmitter coupled to the microcontroller and adapted to transmit a wireless activation signal responsive to the control signals to one or more receiver units coupled to the one or more irrigation stations, wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to periodically re-transmit the wireless activation signal, randomizing a time interval between transmissions. - View Dependent Claims (83, 84, 85)
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86. A molded enclosure with a conduit knockout system comprising:
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a wall;
a first knockout formed in the wall, which when removed from the wall forms a first opening in the wall; and
a second knockout formed in the wall extending from a portion of the first knockout to an edge of the wall, the second knockout forming a second opening in the wall when removed, the first opening and the second opening being contiguous. - View Dependent Claims (87, 88)
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89. A mounting bracket for irrigation equipment comprising:
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a first face;
a keying portion coupled to the first face and shaped to engage a mating portion of a wireless receiver unit adapted to cause actuation of an irrigation actuator controlling water flow; and
a mounting hole formed in the first face; and
wherein the keying portion is shaped to engage the mating portion at a plurality of orientations. - View Dependent Claims (90, 91, 92, 93)
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94. An actuator activation unit for irrigation equipment comprising:
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a housing containing circuitry adapted to output electrical signaling to cause the actuation of a solenoid of a solenoid unit, the solenoid adapted to open and close a valve controlling the flow of water therethrough; and
a receptor portion formed in the housing, the receptor portion adapted to receive and mate to a portion of the solenoid unit, such that the housing mounts directly to the solenoid unit. - View Dependent Claims (95, 96)
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97. A battery powered receiver unit for controlling irrigation equipment comprising:
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a receiver adapted to receive irrigation control signals;
a controller coupled to the receiver that is responsive to the irrigation control signals having been received;
a capacitor adapted to be charged to a first voltage and adapted to be discharged to provide a pulse sufficient to actuate a latching solenoid controlling an irrigation valve;
a battery having a voltage rating at a second voltage, the second voltage less than the first voltage, the battery providing operational power to the receiver, the controller and for charging the capacitor; and
a capacitor charging circuit comprising;
an inductor coupling the battery to the capacitor; and
a switch coupled to the inductor and operated by the controller, the switch controls the flow of current through the inductor. - View Dependent Claims (98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103)
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104. A battery powered receiver unit for controlling irrigation equipment comprising:
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a receiver adapted to receive irrigation control signals;
a controller coupled to the receiver that is responsive to the irrigation control signals having been received;
a capacitor adapted to be charged to a voltage of at least 7 volts and adapted to be discharged to provide a pulse sufficient to actuate a latching solenoid controlling an irrigation valve;
a battery having a voltage rating of less than 7 volts, the battery providing operational power to the receiver, the controller and for charging the capacitor; and
a capacitor charging circuit coupling the battery to the capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (105, 106, 107)
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Specification