Watering control system

• US 5,025,361 A
• Filed: 08/03/1989
• Issued: 06/18/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John L. Pitman, Kyn A. Mccauley
• Original Assignee: John L. Pitman, Kyn A. Mccauley
• Inventors: McCauley, Kyn A., Pitman, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): MacDonald, Allen
• Application Number:
  US07/390,475
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 364/131-147, 364/509, 364/510, 364/420, 364/464.02, 137/624.11-624.22, 251/25, 251/29, 251/30.01, 239/68-70, 365/227, 235/375
• US Class Current: 700/14
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21101 Connect I-O interface to joystick port
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23051 Remote control, enter program remote, detachable programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23342 Pluggable rom, smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25178 Serial communication, data, also repeater
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25289 Energy saving, brown out, standby, sleep, powerdown modus for microcomputer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/22 Improving land use; Improving water use or availability; Controlling erosion

Abstract

An irrigation controller (1) which includes a removable module (8) which is adapted to interface a computer (10) under specific control of a ROM cartridge (11) through a joystick port. The module (8) includes a central processing unit (13), memory (14,15) and a controlling programme together with battery back-up (18) for maintenance and control for a pattern of irrigation control varying dependent on the month of the year.

Claims

1. Apparatus for controlling a plurality of outputs of a control system comprising,

a basic unit including a plurality of off/on controllers, and prompting module to control said off/on controllers,

said off/on controllers being connected to output control devices for selective operation thereof,

said prompting module comprising a central processing unit, clock means interfacing with said central processing unit for providing timing information for controlling the operation of said central processing unit, memory means interfacing with said central processing unit to provide program information to said central processing unit to operate said off/on controllers,

said prompting module being separable from said basic units and coupled thereto by output connecting means which enables communication between said prompting module and said basic unit for control of said off/on controllers,

said separable prompting module being removable from said basic unit and able to be coupled to an interfacing port of a computer by means of said output connecting means so as to communicate with an interface adapter within said computer, wherein said interface adapter may be configured for two-way communication such that said memory means in said prompting module may be reprogrammed by means of said computer.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein,

said prompting module further comprises means to maintain memory status when said prompting module is removed from said basic unit and reprogrammed by means of said computer.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein,

said interfacing port of said computer is a joystick port and said prompting module connects into and interfaces with said computer through the joystick port.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein,

said prompting module receives and sends information by means of said output connecting means to form a serial interface connection for serial transfer of information.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein,

said central processing unit of said prompting module is coupled to an output connector which itself is coupled to a shift register for activation for one of said off/on controllers at any particular time during operation.

6. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein,

said module includes calendar information in said memory so as to allow control of said off/on controller in a periodic manner.

7. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein,

said module includes calendar information in said memory of said prompting module to allow said program information to be based on said calendar information and said clock means in conjunction with said memory allows control of said off/on controllers according to the time of day, the day of the week, and the month of the year which may be selectively varied by reprogramming said prompting module.

8. Apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising,

second clock means coupled to said central processing unit so as to initiate the control operations of said central processing unit and thereby control said off/on controllers.

9. Apparatus as in claim 8, wherein,

said second clock means provides output signals by which the status of said central processing unit and of said off/on controllers may be upgraded at intervals of time between which said central processing unit will be in a waiting mode until further initiation from said second clock means such that said central processing unit operates on a periodic basis to reduce the amount of power necessary for operation of said prompting module.

10. Apparatus as in claim 8 further comprising,

a checking means being activated at intervals by said second clock means such that after a selected number of pulses from said second clock means said checking means will compare the number of pulses from said second clock means with pulses resulting from said central processing unit and in the event of there being greater than selected difference, said checking means will affect a reset of said central processing unit.

11. A method of controlling an irrigation system having control solenoids associated with valves for distribution of water in an area comprising the steps of:

coupling a plurality of off/on controllers to said control solenoids for selective control of said valves,

providing a separable prompting module having a central processing unit, clock means and memory means interfacing with said central processing unit,

programming said promting module with program information stored in said memory means for control of said central processing unit,

controlling said off/on controllers by means of said separable prompting module, and

selectively reprogramming said prompting module by coupling said prompting module to an interfacing port of a computer whereby said central processing unit will configure said interfacing port to be used for output as well as input of information to and from said prompting module for said reprogramming step.

12. A method as in claim 11 further comprising the steps of providing a second clock means in said prompting module,

providing a checking means which is activated after a predetermined number of pulses from said second clock means to check the function of said central processing unit in said prompting module and to upgrade the status of said central processing unit to maintain proper control of said off/on controllers by said prompting module.

13. A method as in claim 11 wherein,

said step of reprogramming said prompting module includes maintaining the memory status of said central processing unit in said prompting module while being interfaced with said computer.

14. A method as in claim 13 wherein,

said step of reprogramming said prompting module is conducted by means of said interfacing port which is a joystick port on said computer and said prompting module is adapted to connect into and interface with said computer through said joystick port.

15. An apparatus for controlling a plurality of outputs for an irrigation system comprising,

a basic unit including a plurality of off/on controllers, and prompting module to control said off/on controllers,

said off/on controllers being connected to selectively operable output control devices used to supply an irrigation fluid,

said prompting module comprising a central processing unit, clock means interfacing with said central processing unit for providing timing information for controlling the operation of said central processing unit, and memory means interfacing with said central processing unit to provide program information to said central processing unit to operate said off/on controllers,

said prompting module being separable from said basic units and coupled thereto by output connecting means which enables communication between said prompting module and said basic unit for control of said off/on controllers,

said separable prompting module being removable from said basic unit and able to be coupled to an interfacing port of a computer by means of said output connecting means so as to communicate with an interface adapter within said computer, wherein said interface adapter may be configured for two-way communication such that said memory means in said prompting module may be reprogrammed by means of said computer.