Satellite Irrigation Controller
First Claim
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1. A satellite irrigation controller comprising:
- a controller housing;
a circuit board disposed on said controller housing, said circuit board having a CPU and a memory, said CPU configured to execute an irrigation program, a first communication protocol, and a second communication protocol;
a user interface coupled to said circuit board and further configured to modify irrigation data associated with said irrigation program;
a first I/O port operatively coupled to said circuit board, said first I/O port configured to interchangeably receive an input card and an output card; and
wherein said input card communicates with said first communication protocol and said output card communicates with said second communication protocol.
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Abstract
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a satellite irrigation controller that allows a user to insert a input/output card into any position in any sequence and be recognized as an input card or an output card. When the correct card type is determined, the card is service according to its specified functionality. In another embodiment, the satellite irrigation controller includes firmware which allows a user to program a range of stations at one time. In yet another embodiment, the satellite irrigation controller provides three user input programs that reduce the amount of input data needed to program the irrigation cycle of an irrigation station.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A satellite irrigation controller comprising:
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a controller housing; a circuit board disposed on said controller housing, said circuit board having a CPU and a memory, said CPU configured to execute an irrigation program, a first communication protocol, and a second communication protocol; a user interface coupled to said circuit board and further configured to modify irrigation data associated with said irrigation program; a first I/O port operatively coupled to said circuit board, said first I/O port configured to interchangeably receive an input card and an output card; and wherein said input card communicates with said first communication protocol and said output card communicates with said second communication protocol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of detecting an I/O card of a satellite controller comprising:
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providing a satellite controller comprising a circuit board having a CPU and a memory; creating a communicative connection between an I/O card and said CPU; transmitting at least one of a first protocol and a second protocol from said CPU to said I/O card; and
,determining a type of said I/O card based on a response from the transmitting of at least one of said first protocol and second protocol. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An irrigation controller comprising:
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a circuit board having a CPU and a memory; an irrigation program stored in said memory and executable by said CPU; a user interface coupled to said circuit board for inputting at least one irrigation parameter into said irrigation program; a routine included in said irrigation program which isolates all irrigation stations having a common value for said at least one irrigation parameter into a range of irrigation stations associated with said irrigation program; and
,said irrigation program enabling said user to treat said range as a single irrigation station during future adjustments by said user to said irrigation program. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18-35. -35. (canceled)
Specification