MODULAR AND IRRIGATION CONTROLLER SUPPORTING MODULES HAVING DIFFERENT STATION COUNTS
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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, a modular controller supports expansion modules received in any one of the plurality module mounting locations, the expansion modules having different numbers of the station output connectors.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. (canceled)
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2. A modular irrigation controller comprising:
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a housing; a control unit within the housing, the control unit including a first microcontroller configured to execute stored irrigation programs; and a plurality of module mounting locations within the housing, each module mounting location electrically coupled to the first microcontroller and configured to removably and interchangeably receive one of a plurality of expansion modules, each of the plurality of expansion modules including driver circuitry and a number of station output connectors for actuating irrigation valves in accordance with control signals received from the first microcontroller, wherein the first microcontroller is configured to operate with and control expansion modules having different numbers of the station output connectors when received in any one of the plurality module mounting locations. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for use with a modular irrigation controller comprising:
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removably mounting a plurality of expansion modules to a plurality of expansion module mounting locations within a housing of a control unit of the modular irrigation controller, the control unit including a first microcontroller configured to execute stored irrigation programs, where each of the plurality of module mounting locations is electrically coupled to the first microcontroller, wherein each of the plurality of expansion modules comprises a driver circuitry and a number of station output connectors for actuating irrigation valves in accordance with control signals received from the first microcontroller; and
wherein at least two of the plurality of expansion modules have different numbers of the station output connectors; andoutputting signaling from the first microcontroller to control the plurality of expansion modules mounted to any one of the plurality module mounting locations in accordance with a stored irrigation program. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification