Satellite Irrigation Controller
First Claim
1. A method of detecting an I/O device of an irrigation controller comprising:
- providing said irrigation controller comprising a circuit board, a CPU connected to said circuit board, a memory connected to said circuit board and a plurality of communications ports connected to said circuit board;
accepting a communicative connection between a first I/O device and a first communications port of said plurality of communications ports;
detecting said first I/O device with said CPU;
accepting a non-sequential communicative connection between a second I/O device and a second communications port of said plurality of communications ports;
said second communications port being non-sequentially positioned relative to said first communications port; and
,detecting said second I/O device with said CPU.
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Accused Products
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
19 Claims
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1. A method of detecting an I/O device of an irrigation controller comprising:
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providing said irrigation controller comprising a circuit board, a CPU connected to said circuit board, a memory connected to said circuit board and a plurality of communications ports connected to said circuit board; accepting a communicative connection between a first I/O device and a first communications port of said plurality of communications ports; detecting said first I/O device with said CPU; accepting a non-sequential communicative connection between a second I/O device and a second communications port of said plurality of communications ports;
said second communications port being non-sequentially positioned relative to said first communications port; and
,detecting said second I/O device with said CPU. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An irrigation controller comprising:
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a controller housing; a circuit board disposed in said controller housing;
said circuit board having a CPU and a memory;
said CPU configured to execute an irrigation program; and
;a plurality of device connections on said circuit board in communication with said CPU; wherein each of said connections is interchangeably connectable to any one of a plurality of I/O devices; and
wherein each of said plurality of I/O devices can be coupled to any of said connections in a nonsequential order. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of detecting a selectively removable I/O component of an irrigation controller comprising:
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providing an irrigation controller having a plurality of spaces to each accommodate said I/O component; selecting a first I/O component from a plurality of interchangeable I/O components; connecting said first I/O component to a first port in a first space; selecting a second I/O component from said plurality of interchangeable I/O components; successively connecting said second I/O component to a second port in a second space;
said second space located in a nonadjacent position relative to said first I/O component;communicating with said first I/O component and said second I/O component with a CPU; wherein said CPU detects the presence of said first I/O component and said second I/O component. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification