Multiplexed automatic control system

• US 4,785,843 A
• Filed: 02/29/1988
• Issued: 11/22/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Garden America Corporation
• Original Assignee: Garden America Corporation
• Inventors: Nicholson, Laurence R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chambers, A. Michael
• Application Number:
  US07/162,015
• Time in Patent Office: 267 Days
• Field of Search: 137/624.11, 137/78.3, 239/63, 239/64
• US Class Current: 137/78.3
• 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: G05D 22/02 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/189 Soil moisture sensing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 Programmer or timer

Abstract

A control system and circuit for use with one or more inductance-type actuators, such as solenoid controlled water sprinkler valves, having a relatively low impedance at low frequencies, which serves to operate the actuators, for example, when ground moisture falls below a preset level. A sensor having a relatively high impedance at low frequencies, and which for example may be moisture variable, is provided for each actuator. The control circuit is connected to the actuator over appropriate electric leads, and the same leads are used to connect the sensor back to the control circuit thereby obviating the need for extra wires and difficult retrofits.

Claims

1. A control system for controlling at least one actuator having a relatively low impedance at low frequencies comprising:

a source of energy of relatively low frequency for energizing the actuator;

a pair of leads connecting the source of energy to the actuator;

a sensor having a relatively high impedance at low frequencies connected to the leads;

an oscillator for generating a sensing signal of relatively high frequency, and means coupling the high frequency signal from said oscillator to said leads to be supplied to said sensor over said leads;

switching means connected to at least one of said leads for controlling the energization of the actuator by the energy from said source; and

control circuitry connected to said leads and responsive to said high frequency sensing signal flowing in the leads and through the sensor for operating said switching means to energize the actuator when the impedance of said sensor means reaches a predetermined value.

2. The control system defined in claim 1, in which said actuator comprises a solenoid valve.

3. The control system defined in claim 2, in which said sensor is a moisture-sensitive type.

4. The control system defined in claim 3, in which said sensor includes moisture-sensitive resistor means and high-pass filter means.

5. The control system defined in claim 1, in which said control circuitry comprises a comparator form comparing the amplitude of said high frequency sensing signal flowing in said leads with a pre-set reference level, and in which said control circuitry includes a latch circuit connected to the output of said comparator and to said switching means to actuate said switching means and energize said actuator when the amplitude of said sensing signal flowing in said leads reaches said pre-set reference level.

6. The control system defined in claim 5, and which includes circuit means connected to said latch and to said coupling means to cause said coupling means to introduce the output of said oscillator to said leads until the amplitude of said sensing signal reaches said pre-set reference level.

7. The control system defined in claim 6, in which said circuit means includes a means for causing said coupling means to introduce the output of said oscillator to said leads only after a predetermined time interval before the amplitude of the sensing signal has reached the pre-set reference level.

8. The control system defined in claim 5, in which said switching means comprises a silicon controlled rectifier having a gate electrode connected to the latch to cause the latch to trigger the silicon controlled rectifier when the amplitude of the sensing signal reaches said predetermined pre-set level.

9. The control system defined in claim 8, in which said control circuitry includes a further circuit connected to the gate electrode of the silicon controlled rectifier to control the timing of the triggering of the silicon controlled rectifier.

10. The control system defined in claim 9, and which includes a direct current power supply connected in circuit with said silicon controlled rectifier to be regulated by the triggering of the silicon controlled rectifier by said further circuit and said latch.

11. The control system defined in claim 10, and which includes a bridge rectifier connected to said source of alternating current energy and to said silicon controlled rectifier and power supply, and in which said further circuit triggers the silicon controlled rectifier at a predetermined point in each cycle of the alternating current energy from said source.