Irrigation controller with removable station modules
First Claim
1. An irrigation controller, which comprises:
- (a) a controller housing;
(b) logic and control means permanently and non-removably carried in the controller housing for storing and executing a watering program for controlling a plurality of irrigation stations;
(c) operational controls accessibly, permanently and non-removably carried on the controller housing which controls may be selectively manipulated by a user to input information into the logic and control means;
(d) means in an interior portion of the controller housing for receiving and substantially enclosing a plurality of removable station modules within the controller housing, wherein such modules include means for operatively coupling the modules to the logic and control means; and
(e) wherein each removable station module comprises a module housing that carries means for switching on and off at least one irrigation station under the control of the logic and control means, wherein each station module carries wire terminal means for electrically coupling the station module to the at least one irrigation station that is switched on and off by the switching means contained inside the module housing, whereby the total number of irrigation stations that can be controlled depends upon the number of station modules installed within the interior portion of the controller housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An irrigation controller includes a housing for enclosing a microprocessor that stores and executes at least one watering program. The microprocessor has a parallel output bus with a plurality of pin sets for controlling a plurality of irrigation stations. The connection between the controller and the irrigation stations is through a plurality of station modules that are removably coupled, in any desired number, to the various pin sets on the output bus. The number of stations controlled is adjusted by the number of modules connected to the output bus. The controller housing has a pocket for holding a user'"'"'s manual, which is positioned between the controller housing and a mounting bracket when the controller housing is installed on the mounting bracket.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An irrigation controller, which comprises:
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(a) a controller housing; (b) logic and control means permanently and non-removably carried in the controller housing for storing and executing a watering program for controlling a plurality of irrigation stations; (c) operational controls accessibly, permanently and non-removably carried on the controller housing which controls may be selectively manipulated by a user to input information into the logic and control means; (d) means in an interior portion of the controller housing for receiving and substantially enclosing a plurality of removable station modules within the controller housing, wherein such modules include means for operatively coupling the modules to the logic and control means; and (e) wherein each removable station module comprises a module housing that carries means for switching on and off at least one irrigation station under the control of the logic and control means, wherein each station module carries wire terminal means for electrically coupling the station module to the at least one irrigation station that is switched on and off by the switching means contained inside the module housing, whereby the total number of irrigation stations that can be controlled depends upon the number of station modules installed within the interior portion of the controller housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An irrigation controller, which comprises:
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(a) a controller housing; (b) logic and control means permanently and non-removably carried in the controller housing for storing and executing a watering program for controlling a plurality of irrigation stations; (c) operational controls accessibly, permanently and non-removably carried on the controller housing which controls may be selectively manipulated by a user to input information into the logic and control means; (d) the controller housing further having means for receiving a plurality of removable station modules with such modules being substantially contained within the controller housing and further being operatively coupled to the logic and control means when such modules are in place in the receiving means; and (e) wherein each removable station module has means for switching on and off at least one irrigation station under the control of the logic and control means, wherein each removable station module includes a snap-in wire terminal for receiving a separate electrical lead wire extending to each irrigation station controlled by that station module, and wherein each snap-in wire terminal includes a movable lever that may be moved from an open position in which the wire may be inserted into the terminal to a closed position in which the wire is clamped or retained in the terminal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification