Three button programmable sprinkler controller

• US 5,602,728 A
• Filed: 09/07/1994
• Issued: 02/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Watermation Group Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Watermation Group Ltd.
• Inventors: Nutt, Graham J., Beks, Franciscus B. J. M., Caviar, Robert A., Madden, Peter R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Envall, Jr., Roy N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garland, Steven R.
• Application Number:
  US08/301,612
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 364/133, 364/140, 364/141, 364/143-147, 364/420, 364/510, 239/68-70, 239/63, 137/624.11-624.2, 137/78.3
• US Class Current: 700/16
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• 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 2219/21015 Easy expansion, extension of I-O
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23029 Up down, increment decrement keys, jog, sequentially show functions or values
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23401 Programmer has connection with pc to enter parameters into system directly by pc
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23406 Programmer device, portable, handheld detachable programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25467 Detect if expansion board is connected
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering

Abstract

A three button programmable sprinkler control system includes a control module having an LCD display, a decrement button, an increment button, and a set or select button. In a preferred embodiment, the control module is battery powered, sized for hand holding, and conveniently positionable in and removable from a system cabinet having therein a power transformer and base triac board including a base set of zone valve triacs. The system cabinet is sized to receive an expansion board having a second group of triacs for expanding the number of sprinkler valves which can be controlled. The control module includes a processor having stored therein a control program which is menu based and which is accessed for setting irrigation control parameters by operation of the three switches with reference to icons displayed for the various menus. The control module interfaces with the base triac board and an expansion board by a connector. The control module is also adapted for interfacing to a personal computer for programming irrigation control parameters by way of the personal computer.

Claims

1. A programmable irrigation sprinkler controller module for controlling an irrigation sprinkler valve and comprising:

(a) a controller housing;

(b) an irrigation control processor mounted in said housing and including an input port, an output port, a display port, memory storing a menu based irrigation control program and irrigation control parameters, and a clock;

(c) a display device mounted in said housing and interfaced to said display port;

(d) a menu cycle switch operable to cycle among menus of said control program and to cycle among parameters within a current menu and a menu select switch operable to select a current menu and to select a parameter within a current menu, said switches being mounted on said housing and interfaced to said input port of said processor;

(e) said output port being adapted for interfacing to an irrigation sprinkler valve for control of said valve by the presence of a selected logic state on said output port;

(f) said switches and said display cooperating with said control program to display menus enabling selection of irrigation control parameters to provide a timed sequence of logic states on said output port by execution of said control program in cooperation with said clock; and

(g) a battery mounted in said housing, coupled to said processor, and providing a sole source of operating power for said processor and said display.

2. A controller module as set forth in claim 1 and including:

(a) a battery mounted in said housing, coupled to said processor, and providing operating power for said processor and said display.

3. A controller module as set forth in claim 1 and including:

(a) a controlled valve driver device mounted in said housing and adapted to supply valve actuating power to a solenoid operated sprinkler valve upon said valve driver device being enabled, said valve driver device including a valve power input terminal, a valve power output terminal, and an enable terminal;

(b) said valve power input terminal being adapted for connection to a source of valve actuating power;

(c) said valve power output terminal being adapted for connection to a solenoid operated sprinkler valve; and

(d) said enable terminal being adapted for connection to said output port of said processor whereby said selected logic state on said output port enables said valve driver device.

4. A controller module as set forth in claim 1 wherein said processor includes:

(a) a controller communication port configured for connection to a personal computer communication port whereby software operating within a personal computer having said personal computer communication port enables selection of said irrigation control parameters by operation of said personal computer.

5. A programmable irrigation sprinkler controller module for controlling a plurality of irrigation sprinkler valves and comprising:

(a) a controller housing;

(b) an irrigation control processor mounted in said housing and including a plurality of input/output ports, memory storing a menu based irrigation control program and irrigation control parameters, and a real time clock/calendar;

(c) a display device mounted in said housing and interfaced to a display port of said processor;

(d) a battery mounted in said housing, coupled to said processor, and providing a sole source of operating power for said processor and said display;

(e) a menu increment switch, a menu decrement switch, and a menu select switch mounted on said housing and interfaced to a switch port of said processor, said menu increment switch and said menu decrement switch being operable to cycle among menus of said program and to cycle among parameters within a current menu, and said menu select switch being operable to select a current menu and to select a parameter within a current menu;

(f) one of said input/output ports of said processor being configured as a multiple line valve control port adapted for interfacing to a plurality of irrigation sprinkler valves for control of said valves by the presence of selected logic states on respective lines said valve control port; and

(g) said switches and said display cooperating with said control program to display menus enabling selection of irrigation control parameters to provide a timed sequence of logic states on said valve control port by execution of said control program in cooperation with said clock/calendar.

6. A programmable irrigation sprinkler controller for controlling an irrigation sprinkler valve and comprising:

(a) a controller housing;

(b) an irrigation control processor mounted in said housing and including an input port, an output port, a display port, memory storing a menu based irrigation control program and irrigation control parameters, and a clock;

(c) a display device mounted in said housing and interfaced to said display port;

(d) a menu cycle switch operable to cycle among menus of said control program and to cycle among parameters within a current menu and a menu select switch operable to select a current menu and to select a parameter within a current menu, said switches being mounted on said housing and interfaced to said input port of said processor;

(e) said output port being adapted for interfacing to an irrigation sprinkler valve for control of said valve by the presence of a selected logic state on said output port;

(f) said switches and said display cooperating with said control program to display menus enabling selection of irrigation control parameters to provide a timed sequence of logic states on said output port by execution of said control program in cooperation with said clock;

(g) said housing being portable and being configured to be removably received within an irrigation sprinkler controller cabinet;

(h) said cabinet having mounted therein a controlled valve driver device adapted to supply valve actuating power to a solenoid operated sprinkler valve upon said valve driver device being enabled, said valve driver device including a valve power input terminal, a valve power output terminal, and an enable terminal;

(i) said valve power input terminal being adapted for connection to a source of valve actuating power;

(j) said valve power output terminal being adapted for connection to a solenoid operated sprinkler valve; and

(k) said enable terminal being connected to said output port of said processor when said housing is positioned within said cabinet whereby said selected logic state on said output port enables said valve driver device.

7. A programmable irrigation sprinkler controller for controlling a plurality of irrigation sprinkler valves and comprising:

(a) a controller housing;

(b) an irrigation control processor mounted in said housing and including a plurality of input/output ports, memory storing a menu based irrigation control program and irrigation control parameters, and a real time clock/calendar;

(c) a display device mounted in said housing and interfaced to a display port of said processor;

(d) a battery mounted in said housing, coupled to said processor, and providing operating power for said processor and said display;

(e) a menu increment switch, a menu decrement switch, and a menu select switch mounted on said housing and interfaced to a switch port of said processor, said menu increment switch and said menu decrement switch being operable to cycle among menus of said program and to cycle among parameters within a current menu, and said menu select switch being operable to select a current menu and to select a parameter within a current menu;

(f) one of said input/output ports of said processor being configured as a multiple line valve control port adapted for interfacing to a plurality of irrigation sprinkler valves for control of said valves by the presence of selected logic states on respective lines said valve control port;

(g) said switches and said display cooperating with said control program to display menus enabling selection of irrigation control parameters to provide a timed sequence of logic states on said valve control port by execution of said control program in cooperation with said clock/calendar;

(h) a valve power transformer, adapted for connection to a source of electrical power, and having a transformer output providing sprinkler valve operating power;

(i) a plurality of controlled valve driver devices mounted in said housing and adapted to supply valve actuating power to a plurality of solenoid operated sprinkler valves upon a respective valve driver device being enabled, each valve driver device including a valve power input terminal, a valve power output terminal, and an enable terminal;

(j) each valve power input terminal being coupled to said transformer output;

(k) each valve power output terminal being adapted for connection to a solenoid operated sprinkler valve; and

(1) each enable terminal being coupled to a respective line of said output port of said processor whereby said selected logic state on a line of said output port enables a respective valve driver device to transfer valve operating power from said power transformer to a valve connected to said valve driver device.

8. A controller as set forth in claim 7 and including:

(a) said processor including a multiple line expansion port adapted for interfacing to a second plurality of irrigation sprinkler valves, in addition to the first named plurality of valves, for control of the second plurality of valves by the presence of selected logic states on respective lines of said expansion port;

(b) a plurality of controlled expansion valve drivers mounted in said housing and adapted to supply valve actuating power to a second plurality of solenoid operated sprinkler valves upon a respective expansion valve driver being enabled, each expansion valve driver including an expansion driver power input terminal, an expansion driver power output terminal, and an expansion driver enable terminal;

(c) each expansion driver power input terminal being coupled to said transformer output;

(d) each expansion driver power output terminal being adapted for connection to a respective solenoid operated sprinkler valve of said second plurality; and

(e) each expansion driver enable terminal being coupled to a respective line of said expansion port whereby said selected logic state on a line of said expansion port enables a respective expansion valve driver to transfer valve operating power from said power transformer to a valve connected to said expansion valve driver.

9. A programmable irrigation sprinkler controller for controlling a plurality of irrigation sprinkler valves and comprising:

(a) a controller housing;

(b) an irrigation control processor mounted in said housing and including a plurality of input/output ports, memory storing a menu based irrigation control program and irrigation control parameters, and a real time clock/calendar;

(c) a display device mounted in said housing and interfaced to a display port of said processor;

(d) a battery mounted in said housing, coupled to said processor, and providing operating power for said processor and said display;

(e) a menu increment switch, a menu decrement switch, and a menu select switch mounted on said housing and interfaced to a switch port of said processor, said menu increment switch and said menu decrement switch being operable to cycle among menus of said program and to cycle among parameters within a current menu, and said menu select switch being operable to select a current menu and to select a parameter within a current menu;

(f) one of said input/output ports of said processor being configured as a multiple line valve control port adapted for interfacing to a plurality of irrigation sprinkler valves for control of said valves by the presence of selected logic states on respective lines said valve control port;

(g) said switches and said display cooperating with said control program to display menus enabling selection of irrigation control parameters to provide a timed sequence of logic states on said valve control port by execution of said control program in cooperation with said clock/calendar;

(h) said housing being portable and being configured to be removably received within an irrigation sprinkler cabinet;

(i) a valve power transformer, adapted for connection to a source of electrical power, and having a transformer output providing sprinkler valve operating power;

(j) a plurality of controlled valve driver devices mounted in said cabinet and adapted to supply valve actuating power to a plurality of solenoid operated sprinkler valves upon a respective valve driver device being enabled, each valve driver device including a valve power input terminal, a valve power output terminal, and an enable terminal;

(k) each valve power input terminal being coupled to said transformer output;

(l) each valve power output terminal being adapted for connection to a solenoid operated sprinkler valve; and

(m) each enable terminal being connected to a respective line of said output port of said processor when said housing is received within said cabinet whereby said selected logic state on a line of said output port enables a respective valve driver device to transfer valve operating power from said power transformer to a valve connected to said valve driver device.

10. A controller as set forth in claim 9 and including:

(a) said processor including a multiple line expansion port adapted for interfacing to a second plurality of irrigation sprinkler valves, in addition to the first named plurality of valves, for control of the second plurality of valves by the presence of selected logic states on respective lines of said expansion port;

(b) a plurality of controlled expansion valve drivers mounted in said cabinet and adapted to supply valve actuating power to a second plurality of solenoid operated sprinkler valves upon a respective expansion valve driver being enabled, each expansion valve driver including an expansion driver power input terminal, an expansion driver power output terminal, and an expansion driver enable terminal;

(c) each expansion driver power input terminal being coupled to said transformer output;

(d) each expansion driver power output terminal being adapted for connection to a respective solenoid operated sprinkler valve of said second plurality; and

(e) each expansion driver enable terminal being coupled to a respective line of said expansion port whereby said selected logic state on a line of said expansion port enables a respective expansion valve driver to transfer valve operating power from said power transformer to a valve connected to said expansion valve driver.