IRRIGATION TWO-WIRE COMMUNICATION CONTROL
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of controlling irrigation based on communications over a two-wire interface, comprising:
- defining a reference voltage at a first voltage level;
receiving an AC voltage input signal;
detecting a synchronization identifier encoded on the signal relative to the reference voltage at the first level;
defining the reference voltage at a second voltage level;
identifying a first data bit of a communication to coordinating irrigation encoded on the signal following the synchronization identifier.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present embodiments provide methods, systems and apparatuses for use in implementing and/or controlling irrigation through communication over a two-wire interface. Some method of controlling irrigation over a two-wire interface define a reference voltage at a first voltage level, receive an AC voltage input signal, detect a synchronization identifier encoded on the signal relative to the reference voltage at the first level, define the reference voltage at a second voltage level, identify a first data bit of a communication to coordinating irrigation encoded on the signal following the synchronization identifier.
-
Citations
38 Claims
-
1. A method of controlling irrigation based on communications over a two-wire interface, comprising:
-
defining a reference voltage at a first voltage level; receiving an AC voltage input signal; detecting a synchronization identifier encoded on the signal relative to the reference voltage at the first level; defining the reference voltage at a second voltage level; identifying a first data bit of a communication to coordinating irrigation encoded on the signal following the synchronization identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method of controlling irrigation, comprising:
-
setting a variable reference voltage to a first voltage level and activating a timer; determining whether the timer exceeds a first time threshold; registering a first type of data bit in response to determining that the first time threshold is exceeded; comparing a voltage level of a modulated AC voltage input signal received over a two-wire interface regarding implementing irrigation with the variable reference voltage set at the first voltage level prior to determining that the first time threshold has been exceeded; detecting when the voltage level of the input signal exceeds the variable reference voltage set at the first voltage level prior to determining that the first time threshold has been exceeded; and registering a second type of data bit when it is determined that the voltage level of the input signal exceeds the variable reference voltage set at the first voltage level. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method of implementing irrigation through communications over two-wire interface, comprising:
-
comparing a voltage level of an AC voltage input signal directed to controlling irrigation with a variable reference voltage set at a first voltage level; detecting when the voltage level of the input signal fails to cross the variable reference voltage at the first voltage level; changing the variable reference voltage to a second voltage level in response to the detection that the voltage level of the input signal fails to cross the variable reference voltage at the first voltage level; and detecting a data bit relative to the second voltage level. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A system that implements irrigation, comprising:
-
a two-wire interface input that receives an alternating signal; a conversion unit coupled with the two-wire interface input that generates a data signal according to the received alternating signal; a variable reference voltage generator that generates a reference voltage; a comparator coupled with the conversion unit and the variable reference voltage generator such that the comparator outputs comparator signals relative to a relationship between a voltage level of the data signal and a voltage level of the reference voltage; and a controller coupled with the comparator that receives the comparator signals. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
-
-
26. An apparatus that controls irrigation, comprising:
-
a two-wire interface input coupled with a two-wire interface to receive an AC voltage current input signal; a conversion unit coupled with the two-wire interface input to receive the input signal and output an alternating data signal proportional to the input signal; a variable reference voltage generator that generates a reference voltage; a comparator coupled with the variable reference voltage generator and the conversion unit and compares the reference voltage with the data signal generating a comparator output relative to a relationship between the reference voltage and the data signal; and memory that stores levels of the comparator output. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
-
36. A method of decoding a signal from a two wire path in an irrigation control system comprising:
-
selecting a first reference voltage level from a plurality of reference voltage levels; determining when a voltage level of an AC voltage input signal coordinating irrigation reaches the first reference voltage level; and decoding data encoded on the input signal based on the determining step. - View Dependent Claims (37)
-
-
38. A method of decoding a signal from a two wire path in an irrigation control system comprising:
-
selecting a first reference voltage level from a plurality of reference voltage levels; determining when a voltage level of an incoming voltage signal directed to controlling irrigation reaches the first reference voltage level; selecting a second reference voltage level from the plurality of reference voltage levels relative to the determination of when the voltage level of the incoming voltage signal reaches the first reference voltage; determining when the voltage level of the incoming voltage signal reaches the second reference voltage level; and decoding data encoded on the incoming voltage signal based on the determining when the voltage level of the incoming voltage signal reaches the second reference voltage level.
-
Specification