Irrigation controller with removable station modules

• US 6,459,959 B1
• Filed: 09/21/1999
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Original Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Inventors: Williams, Jonathan D., Tam, Peter M. F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, PAUL L
• Application Number:
  US09/400,031
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 700/12, 700/14-16, 700/18, 700/19, 700/283, 700/284, 239/69, 239/70, 361/686
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25314 Modular structure, modules
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25328 Module connected to parallel bus
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering

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.

Claims

1. An irrigation controller comprising:

a housing having a microprocessor for storing and executing a watering program for controlling a plurality of irrigation stations, wherein the microprocessor includes a parallel output bus within the housing having a plurality of separate station output pins for controlling the irrigation stations with one station output pin used for controlling each station; and

a plurality of receptacles disposed in said housing, each receptacle ensuring a direct electronic connection to said output pins;

a selection of modules, at least two of which being configured for interchangeable placement into at least two of said receptacles within said housing, each of said modules having a terminal suited for receiving an electrical lead wire extending to the irrigation station, each of said modules further having a driver and switch for activating the station as commanded by the microprocessor over the at least one station output pin.

2. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein a plurality of modules may be plugged into the output bus for controlling a plurality of stations.

3. The irrigation controller of claim 2, wherein each module has a plurality of terminals for receiving a plurality of electrical lead wires extending to a plurality of irrigation stations.

4. The irrigation controller of claim 3, wherein each terminal is a snap-in wire terminal for receiving a separate electrical lead wire extending to each irrigation station controlled by that module, 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.

5. The irrigation controller of claim 2, further including a removable access panel on the housing for providing access within the housing to ease installation or removal of the modules.

15. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein each of said modules includes at least two terminals.

16. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein each of said modules contains electronic circuitry configured to absorb energy from a lightning strike.

17. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein said housing includes a surface for displaying operating instructions.

18. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein each receptacle includes a conductor in electronic communication with said microprocessor.

19. The irrigation controller of claim 18, wherein said conductor is located beneath a wall of said receptacle.

20. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein each receptacle has a top wall and a bottom wall.

21. The irrigation controller of claim 20, wherein said bottom wall includes a guiding structure.

22. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein each module is received in a receptacle via a spring biased member.

23. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein each of said modules is configured to be received and retained within said receptacle without using tools.

6. An irrigation controller comprising:

a microprocessor for storing and executing a watering program for controlling a plurality of irrigation stations;

at least two slots adapted to receive a removable station module, each of said at least two slots having an electronic connection to said microprocessor; and

at least two removable station modules, each of said removable station modules being coupled to said microprocessor through a corresponding one of said at least two slots, wherein each of said at least two removable station modules is secured within its corresponding slot via a spring biasing member.

7. The irrigation controller of claim 6, wherein the removable station modules are configured to be received and retained within the slot without using tools.

24. The irrigation controller of claim 6, wherein each of said at least two removable station modules includes at least two terminals.

25. The irrigation controller of claim 6, wherein each of said station modules contain electronic circuitry configured to absorb energy from a lightning strike.

26. The irrigation controller of claim 6, wherein said controller further includes a surface for display operating instructions.

27. The irrigation controller of claim 6, wherein each slot includes a conductor in electronic communication with said microprocessor.

28. The irrigation controller of claim 27, wherein said conductor is located beneath a wall of said slot.

29. The irrigation controller of claim 6, wherein each slot has a top wall and a bottom wall.

30. The irrigation controller of claim 29, wherein said bottom wall includes a guiding structure.

8. An expandable irrigation controller comprising:

a microprocessor;

a plurality of slots;

each slot including an electronic connection to said microprocessor; and

wherein each slot includes at least one guide member;

a plurality of removable station modules, wherein each of said removable station modules is connectable with said microprocessor through a corresponding one of said plurality of slots; and

wherein each removable station module includes at least one alignment member, said alignment member being formed to slidably engage said guide member of a corresponding said slot; and

a spring biasing element adapted to secure said removable station module within said slot of said irrigation controller.

9. The expandable irrigation controller of claim 8, wherein each of said plurality of slots includes a mechanical electronic connector mateable with a removable station module, wherein each mechanical electronic connector couples a removable station module to said microprocessor of said expandable irrigation controller.

10. The expandable irrigation controller of claim 9, wherein said spring biasing element is separate and distinct from said mechanical electronic connector.

11. The expandable irrigation controller of claim 8, wherein each of said plurality of removable station modules includes one or more electronic switching devices for switching on and off one or more irrigation stations.

12. The expandable irrigation controller of claim 11, wherein each of said electronic switching devices includes at least one transistor driver coupled to at least one TRIAC switching device.

13. The expandable irrigation controller of claim 8, wherein at least one of said plurality of removable station modules includes at least one wire terminal for receiving an electrical lead wire extending to an irrigation station controlled by said removable station module.

14. The expandable irrigation controller of claim 13, wherein said wire terminal includes a movable lever that may be moved from an open position in which said lead wire may be inserted into said wire terminal to a closed position in which said lead wire is clamped or retained in said wire terminal.

31. The irrigation controller of claim 8, wherein each of said removable station modules includes at least two terminals.

32. The irrigation controller of claim 8, wherein each of said removable modules contain electronic circuitry configured to absorb energy from a lightning strike.

33. The irrigation controller of claim 8, wherein said controller includes a surface for displaying operating instructions.

34. The irrigation controller of claim 8, wherein each slot includes a conductor in electronic communication with said microprocessor.

35. The irrigation controller of claim 34, wherein said conductor is located beneath a wall of said slot.

36. The irrigation controller of claim 8, wherein each slot has a top wall and a bottom wall.