MODULAR AND EXPANDABLE IRRIGATION CONTROLLER

• US 20110270449A1
• Filed: 07/13/2011
• Published: 11/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Inventors: Nickerson, Harvey J., Nguyen, Andrew M., Basch, Susan E., Perez Araujo, Sergio R., Leatherman, Russel D., Merkt, Bill, Dunford, Adam A., Macias Galarza, Jose
• Application Number:
  US13/182,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20110270449A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/167 Control by humidity of the soil itself or of devices simulating soil or of the atmosphere; Soil humidity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23043 Remote and local control panel, programming unit, switch
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23051 Remote control, enter program remote, detachable programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23297 Remote load of program with cellular, wireless, satellite connection
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23406 Programmer device, portable, handheld detachable programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25085 Several function expansion units for master, main unit, universal system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering

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 one implementation, an expansion module is provided that includes a microcontroller capable of sending and receiving data communications to and from a main microcontroller of the controller that executed irrigation programs, the data communications relating to an irrigation program.

Claims

1. A modular irrigation controller comprising:

a housing;

a control unit within the housing, the control unit including a first microcontroller for executing stored irrigation programs;

a first expansion module removably mounted within the housing and electrically coupled to the first microcontroller, the first expansion module including driver circuitry for actuating irrigation valves in accordance with control signals received from the first microcontroller; and

a second expansion module removably mounted within the housing and electrically coupled to the first microcontroller, the second expansion module including a second microcontroller configured to send and receive data communications to and from the first microcontroller, the data communications relating to an irrigation program.

2. The modular irrigation controller of claim 1 wherein the control unit and the second expansion module share data relating to the irrigation program.

3. The modular irrigation controller of claim 1 wherein the first microcontroller is configured to monitor user manipulation of user inputs of the modular irrigation controller and transmit one or more signals providing indications of the user manipulation to the second microcontroller.

4. The modular irrigation controller of claim 1 wherein the one or more data value, variable and/or constant are stored in a first memory associated with the first microcontroller.

5. The modular irrigation controller of claim 1 wherein the data communications relating to the irrigation program include at least a portion of the irrigation program.

6. The modular irrigation controller of claim 1 wherein the first expansion module and the second expansion module are contained entirely within the housing of the modular irrigation controller.

7. The modular irrigation controller of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of expansion module mounting locations within the housing and configured to removably receive expansion modules, each expansion mounting location electrically coupled to the first microcontroller,

wherein the first expansion module is coupled to a first one of the expansion module mounting locations and the second expansion module is coupled to a second one of the expansion module mounting locations, and

wherein the first microcontroller is configured to operate with the first expansion module and the second expansion module if the first expansion module was alternatively coupled to the second one of the expansion module mounting locations and the second expansion module was alternatively coupled to the first one of the expansion module mounting locations.

8. A modular irrigation controller comprising:

a housing;

a control unit within the housing, the control unit including a main microcontroller for executing stored irrigation programs;

a plurality of expansion module mounting locations within the housing configured to removably receive expansion modules, each expansion mounting location electrically coupled to the main microcontroller; and

a first expansion module removably mounted to a first expansion module mounting location and electrically coupled to the main microcontroller, the first expansion module including a first microcontroller, the first microcontroller configured to operate with the main microcontroller and provide additional functionality not present in the capabilities of the main microcontroller.

9. The modular irrigation controller of claim 8 further comprising:

a second expansion module removably mounted to a second expansion module mounting location and electrically coupled to the main microcontroller, the second expansion module including driver circuitry for actuating irrigation valves in accordance with control signals received from the main microcontroller.

10. The modular irrigation controller of claim 8 wherein the first expansion module includes driver circuitry for actuating irrigation valves in accordance with control signals received from the main microcontroller.

11. The modular irrigation controller of claim 8 wherein the main microcontroller is programmed to be able to perform a first set of functionality, wherein the first microcontroller is programmed to operate with the main microcontroller, wherein the additional functionality is not included in the first set of functionality, such that the modular irrigation controller can perform the first set of functionality and the additional functionality.

12. The modular irrigation controller of claim 11 wherein the first set of functionality includes the ability to control driver circuitry of one or more expansion modules removably coupled to one or more expansion module mounting locations, the driver circuitry for actuating irrigation valves in accordance with control signals received from the main microcontroller.

13. The modular irrigation controller of claim 11 wherein the additional functionality comprises one or more functions selected from a group consisting of:

adjust irrigation based on the evapotranspiration (ET) data;

provide a direct current (DC) pulse to a latching solenoid;

transmit a wireless signal;

provide a cycle and soak feature; and

communicate a fault condition.

14. The modular irrigation controller of claim 8 wherein the first expansion module includes an input to receive data, wherein the additional functionality includes processing the data.

15. The modular irrigation controller of claim 8 wherein the first expansion module is contained entirely within the housing of the modular irrigation controller.

16. The modular irrigation controller of claim 8 wherein the main microcontroller is configured to alternatively function with a second expansion module removably mounted to the first expansion module mounting location, the second expansion module including driver circuitry for actuating irrigation valves in accordance with control signals received from the main microcontroller.

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

a housing;

an electrical connector configured to removably connect to one of a plurality of expansion module mounting locations of a modular irrigation controller; and

a microcontroller within the housing and coupled to the electrical connector, the microcontroller configured to operate with a control unit of the modular irrigation controller and provide additional control functionality not present in the capabilities of the control unit.

18. The expansion module of claim 17 wherein the electrical connector is configured to removably connect to any one of the plurality of expansion module mounting locations of the modular irrigation controller.

19. The expansion module of claim 17 wherein the control unit is programmed to be able to perform a first set of functionality, wherein the microcontroller is programmed to operate with the control unit, wherein the additional control functionality is not included in the first set of functionality, such that the modular irrigation controller can perform the first set of functionality and the additional control functionality.

20. The expansion module of claim 19 wherein the first set of functionality includes the ability to control driver circuitry of one or more expansion modules removably coupled to one or more expansion module mounting locations, the driver circuitry for actuating irrigation valves in accordance with control signals received from the control unit.

21. The expansion module of claim 19 wherein the additional control functionality comprises one or more functions selected from a group consisting of:

adjust irrigation based on the evapotranspiration (ET) data;

provide a direct current (DC) pulse to a latching solenoid;

transmit a wireless signal;

provide a cycle and soak feature; and

communicate a fault condition.

22. The expansion module of claim 17 further comprising an input coupled to the microcontroller and configured to receive data, wherein the additional functionality includes processing the data.

23. The expansion module of claim 17 wherein the housing of the expansion module is sized to be contained entirely within a controller housing of the modular irrigation controller.

24. The expansion module of claim 17 wherein the one of the plurality of expansion module mounting locations of the modular irrigation controller is configured to receive and the modular irrigation controller is configured to alternatively function with a second expansion module removably mounted to the one of the plurality of expansion module mounting locations, the second expansion module including driver circuitry for actuating irrigation valves in accordance with control signals received from the control unit.