Irrigation Controller

• US 20160282833A1
• Filed: 03/25/2015
• Published: 09/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yuan MEI Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yuan MEI Corporation
• Inventors: WANG, KING-YUAN, Cheng, Chi-Han
• Granted Patent: US 10,599,121 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/165 Cyclic operations, timing systems, timing valves, impulse operations
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/108 characterised by physical layout of switches; switches co-operating with display; use of switches in a special way
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23067 Control, human or man machine interface, interactive, HMI, MMI
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering

Abstract

An irrigation controller is revealed. The irrigation controller includes a user interface presenting information to users, easily-operated by buttons and allowing users to program irrigation related information directly. The user interface is composed of a round display, a plurality of program keys, and a selective key. An indicator and programmable information zones are shown on the round display. There are at least six programmable information zones. The information zone is selected by a single selective key. The indicator is moved in one direction in a circular path.

Claims

1. An irrigation controller connected to irrigation devices with switchable valves for control of water flow comprising:

a housing having an information controller with memory and at least one valves mounted therein;

wherein the memory is used for storing and executing a plurality of information zones including information of automatic irrigation, manual irrigation, clock set, start time, duration for watering, irrigation frequency, power saving, and valve selection;

wherein the valve is disposed on one end of the housing;

wherein the information controller outputs a signal to the valve based on a signal from the memory to control opening or closing of the valve; and

a user interface disposed on an outer surface of the housing;

wherein the user interface is operated easily by triggering elements and used for presenting the information of the information zone to users;

wherein the user interface allows the users to learn the information directly and program the information;

wherein the user interface is coupled to the information controller and providing signals to the information controller according to user'"'"'s programming for users to create an irrigation schedule;

wherein the user interface includes an indicator, a selective key, at least two program keys, and a round display;

wherein the selective key is set on surface of one side of the user interface and used for switching the information zone;

wherein the program keys is disposed on surface of one side of the user interface, located around the selective key and used for programming the information zones;

wherein the round display disposed on one side of the user interface opposite to the side of the user interface with the selective key;

the round display is used for showing the information of the information zone and is connected to the information controller for allowing the users to directly learn changes in the information of the information zone after programming;

wherein the indicator is displayed on the round display and used for pointing to the information zone selected;

the indicator is moved in a circular path by operating the selective key;

the indicator is moved to the next information zone by clicking the selective key once;

wherein the information zone is programmed by operating the program keys.

3. The irrigation controller connected to irrigation devices with switchable valves for control of water flow, as recited in claim 1, wherein the round display of the user interface is replaced by an oval display.

2. An irrigation controller connected to irrigation devices with switchable valves for control of water flow comprising:

a housing having an information controller with memory;

wherein the memory is used for storing and executing various information zones including automatic irrigation, manual irrigation, clock set, start time, duration for watering, irrigation frequency, power saving, and valve selection;

a user interface disposed on an outer surface of the housing;

wherein the user interface is operated easily by triggering elements and used for presenting the information of the information zone to users;

wherein the user interface allows the users to learn the information directly and program the information;

wherein the user interface is coupled to the information controller and providing signals to the information controller according to user'"'"'s programming for users to create an irrigation schedule;

wherein the user interface having

a selective key set on surface of one side of the user interface and used for switching the information zone;

at least two program keys disposed on surface of one side of the user interface, located around the selective key and used for programming the information zones;

a round display disposed on one side of the user interface;

wherein the round display is connected to the information controller for allowing the users to directly learn changes in the information zone after the information zone being programmed; and

an indicator displayed on the round display and used for pointing to the information zone selected, moved in a circular path by operating the selective key;

wherein the indicator is moved one time by clicking the selective key once;

wherein the information zone is programmed by operating the program keys.

4. The irrigation controller connected to irrigation devices with switchable valves for control of water flow, as recited in claim 2, wherein the round display of the user interface is replaced by an oval display.

5. An irrigation controller connected to irrigation devices with switchable valves for control of water flow comprising:

a housing having an information controller with memory and at least one valves mounted therein;

wherein the memory is used for storing and executing a plurality of information zones including information of automatic irrigation, manual irrigation, clock set, start time, duration for watering, irrigation frequency, power saving, and valve selection;

wherein the valve is disposed on one end of the housing;

wherein the information controller outputs a signal to the valve based on a signal from the memory to control opening or closing of the valve; and

a user interface disposed on an outer surface of the housing;

wherein the user interface is operated easily by triggering elements and used for presenting the information of the information zone to users;

wherein the user interface allows the users to learn the information directly and program the information;

wherein the user interface is coupled to the information controller and providing signals to the information controller according to user'"'"'s programming for users to create an irrigation schedule;

wherein the user interface includes an indicator, a selective key, at least two program keys, and a display;

wherein the selective key is set on surface of one side of the user interface and used for switching the information zone;

wherein the program keys is disposed on surface of one side of the user interface, located around the selective key and used for programming the information zones;

wherein the display disposed on one side of the user interface opposite to the side of the user interface with the selective key;

the display is used for showing the information of the information zone and is connected to the information controller for allowing the users to directly learn changes in the information of the information zone after programming;

wherein the indicator is displayed on the display and used for pointing to the information zone selected;

the indicator is moved in a circular path by operating the selective key;

the indicator is moved to the next information zone by clicking the selective key once;

wherein the information zone is programmed by operating the program keys.