Modular and Expandable Irrigation Controller

• US 20100145531A1
• Filed: 12/15/2009
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Inventors: Venegas, Ken R., Nickerson, Harvey J., Musselman, James R., Nguyen, Andrew M., Basch, Susan E., Leatherman, Russel D., Neitzel, Roger S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,265,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/165 Cyclic operations, timing systems, timing valves, impulse operations
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25314 Modular structure, modules
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0617 specially adapted for fluid materials

Abstract

Described herein are several embodiments relating to modular irrigation controllers. In many implementations, the irrigation controllers are modular in that various functional components of the irrigation controller are implemented in removable modules that when inserted into position within the controller, expand the capabilities of the controller. Also described are various different types of expansion modules that may be coupled to the modular controller, having as variety of functions and features, as well as related methods of use and configuration of these modules in the controller. In some embodiments, authentication procedures are provided for one or both of a modular irrigation controller and an expansion module to determine if they are authorized to operate together.

Claims

1. An expansion module for a modular irrigation controller comprising:

a housing;

an electrical connector coupled to the housing and adapted to removably connect to one of a plurality of expansion module mounting locations of the modular irrigation controller, each expansion module mounting location electrically coupled to a control unit of the modular irrigation controller that executes stored irrigation programs;

a microcontroller within the housing and coupled to the electrical connector;

a visual indicator coupled to the housing and the microcontroller, wherein at least a portion of which is visible from outside of the housing and indicates a status of the expansion module.

2. The expansion module of claim 1 further comprising:

driver circuitry within the housing and coupled to the microcontroller; and

an output connector coupled to the driver circuitry, the output connector adapted to be electrically coupled to at least one irrigation valve.

3. The expansion module of claim 1 wherein the visual indicator comprises a light emitting device.

4. The expansion module of claim 3 wherein the microcontroller is adapted to intermittently illuminate the light emitting device in order to indicate the status of the expansion module.

5. The expansion module of claim 1 wherein the visual indicator comprises a light emitting diode.

6. The expansion module of claim 1 wherein the visual indicator comprises a display screen.

7. The expansion module of claim 1 further comprising a driver coupled to the microcontroller and to the visual indicator, the driver adapted to operate the visual indicator in response to commands from the microcontroller.

8. The expansion module of claim 1 wherein the electrical connector is adapted to removably connect to any one of the plurality of expansion module mounting locations of the modular irrigation controller.

9. An expansion module for a modular irrigation controller comprising:

a housing;

an electrical connector coupled to the housing and adapted to removably connect to one of a plurality of expansion module mounting locations of the modular irrigation controller, each expansion module mounting location electrically coupled to a control unit of the modular irrigation controller that executes stored irrigation programs;

a microcontroller within the housing and coupled to the electrical connector;

an audible indicator coupled to the housing and the microcontroller, the audible indicator emitting an audible sound that indicates a status of the expansion module.

10. The expansion module of claim 9 further comprising:

driver circuitry within the housing and coupled to the microcontroller; and

an output connector coupled to the driver circuitry, the output connector adapted to be electrically coupled to at least one irrigation valve.

11. The expansion module of claim 9 wherein the electrical connector is adapted to removably connect to any one of the plurality of expansion module mounting locations of the modular irrigation controller.

12. An expansion module for a modular irrigation controller comprising:

a housing;

an electrical connector coupled to the housing and adapted to removably connect to one of a plurality of expansion module mounting locations of the modular irrigation controller, each expansion module mounting location electrically coupled to a control unit of the modular irrigation controller that executes stored irrigation programs;

a microcontroller within the housing and coupled to the electrical connector;

an input device coupled to the housing and to the microcontroller, the input device adapted to send a signal to the microcontroller in response to the operation of the input device by a user.

13. The expansion module of claim 12 wherein the input device comprises a device selected from a group consisting of a key and a button.

14. The expansion module of claim 12 further comprising a display screen coupled to the microcontroller.

15. The expansion module of claim 12 wherein the electrical connector is adapted to removably connect to any one of the plurality of expansion module mounting locations of the modular irrigation controller.

16. A method for use with a modular irrigation controller comprising:

removably connecting an expansion module having a housing and containing a microcontroller to one of a plurality of expansion module mounting locations of a modular irrigation controller, each expansion module mounting location electrically coupled to a control unit of the modular irrigation controller that executes stored irrigation programs; and

indicating a status of the expansion module using a visual indicator coupled to the housing and the microcontroller, wherein at least a portion of the visual indicator is visible from outside of the housing.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

electrically coupling an irrigation valve to an output connector of the expansion module, the output connector being coupled to a driver circuit within the housing.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the indicating step comprises:

indicating the status of the expansion module with the visual indicator, wherein the visual indicator comprises a light emitting device.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the indicating step comprises:

intermittently illuminating the light emitting device.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the indicating step comprises:

indicating the status of the expansion module with the visual indicator, wherein the visual indicator comprises a light emitting diode.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the indicating step comprises:

indicating the status of the expansion module with the visual indicator wherein the visual indicator comprises a display screen.

22. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

driving the visual indicator in response to commands from the microcontroller.

23. The method of claim 16 wherein the removably connecting step comprises:

removably connecting the expansion module to any one of the plurality of expansion module mounting locations of the modular irrigation controller.

24. A method for use with a modular irrigation controller comprising:

removably connecting an expansion module having a housing and containing a microcontroller to one of a plurality of expansion module mounting locations of a modular irrigation controller, each expansion module mounting location electrically coupled to a control unit of the modular irrigation controller that executes stored irrigation programs;

indicating a status of the expansion module with an audible indicator coupled to the housing and the microcontroller.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

electrically coupling an output connector of the expansion module to at least one irrigation valve, the output connector being coupled to driver circuitry within the housing, the driver circuitry coupled to the microcontroller.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the removably connecting step comprises:

removably connecting the expansion module to any one of the plurality of expansion module mounting locations of the modular irrigation controller.

27. A method for use with a modular irrigation controller comprising:

removably connecting an expansion module having a housing and containing a microcontroller to one of a plurality of expansion module mounting locations of a modular irrigation controller, each expansion module mounting location electrically coupled to a control unit of the modular irrigation controller that executes stored irrigation programs;

sending a signal to the microcontroller in response to the operation of an input device by a user, wherein the input device is coupled to the housing and the microcontroller.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the input device comprises a device selected from a group consisting of a key and a button.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the expansion module includes a display screen coupled to the microcontroller.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the removably connecting step comprises:

removably connecting the electrical connector to any one of the plurality of expansion module mounting locations of the modular irrigation controller.