Irrigation timer with multiplexing watering mode

• US 6,490,505 B1
• Filed: 11/17/1999
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tim Simon, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tim Simon, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Blaine M., Simon, Timothy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rapp, Chad
• Application Number:
  US09/440,300
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 700/284, 239/61, 239/65, 239/67, 239/64, 239/68, 239/69, 239/70, 239/71, 239/72, 239/94, 137/624.11, 137/78.3
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/165 Cyclic operations, timing systems, timing valves, impulse operations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 Programmer or timer

Abstract

An irrigation timer (2) includes a controller (8), including output signal terminals (18) coupleable to irrigation valve actuators (20) and an internal clock, and user inputs (12). Each irrigation valve actuator is coupleable to an irrigation valve for a watering zone with a watering period setting for each of the watering zones during a watering cycle (96). The controller divides the watering period for each watering zone by an integer n greater than 1 to obtain fractional watering periods (98). This permits each zone to be watered for its fractional watering period during a first fractional watering cycle (100) prior to beginning a second fractional watering cycle n of the fractional watering cycles constitute the watering cycle. The use of fractional watering periods help to spread out watering over a long period of time in each zone.

Claims

1. An irrigation timer of a type including a controller coupleable to a power source, a user input providing an input to the controller, the controller comprising output signal terminals coupleable to irrigation valve actuators and an internal clock, each irrigation valve actuator coupleable to an irrigation valve for a watering zone, said controller comprising a watering period setting for each said watering zone during a watering cycle, an improvement comprising:

a user-actuated multiplexing mode number-selection switch for the user selection of a multiplexing mode integer n greater than 1;

said controller, when in a multiplexing mode, dividing said watering period setting for each said watering zone by n to obtain fractional watering periods by which each zone is watered for its factional watering period during a first fractional watering cycle prior to beginning a second fractional watering cycle, n of said fractional watering cycles constituting said watering cycle;

whereby said fractional watering periods help to spread out the watering over a longer period of time for each watering zone.

2. An irrigation timer according to claim 1, wherein said watering period settings are the same for each said watering zone during a watering cycle.

3. An irrigation timer according to claim 1, wherein said watering period settings are different for at least some of said watering zones during a watering cycle.

4. An irrigation method for use with an irrigation timer of a type including a controller coupleable to a power source, a user input providing an input to the controller, the controller comprising output signal terminals coupleable to irrigation valve actuators and an internal clock, each irrigation valve actuator coupleable to an irrigation valve for a watering zone, comprising:

setting, by a user, a watering period for each said watering zone during a watering cycle;

selecting, by the user, a multiplexing mode integer n greater than 1, n being equal to a number of fractional watering periods desired;

dividing said watering period for each said watering zone by n to obtain fractional watering periods;

watering each zone for its fractional watering period during a fractional watering cycle;

repeating said watering step for n of said fractional watering cycles, whereby said fractional watering periods help to spread out the watering over a longer period of time for each watering zone.

5. An irrigation timer of a type including a controller coupleable to a power source, a user input providing an input to the controller, the controller comprising output signal terminals coupleable to irrigation valve actuators and an internal clock, each irrigation valve actuator coupleable to an irrigation valve for a watering zone, said controller comprising a watering period setting for each said watering zone during a watering cycle, an improvement comprising:

a user-actuated multiplexing mode-selection switch for the user selection of a multiplexing mode;

said controller, when in a multiple mode, dividing said watering period setting for at least a plurality of said watering zones into fractional watering periods by which each of said plurality of watering zones is watered for fractional watering periods during said watering cycle;

whereby said fractional watering periods help to spread out the watering over a longer period of time for each watering zone.

6. An irrigation method for use with an irrigation timer of a type including a controller coupleable to a power source, a user input providing an input to the controller, the controller comprising output signal terminals coupleable to irrigation valve actuators and an internal clock, each irrigation valve actuator coupleable to an irrigation valve for a watering zone, comprising:

setting, by a user, a watering period for each said watering zone during a watering cycle;

setting, by the user, the controller to a multiplexing mode;

watering at least a plurality of said watering zones for fractional watering periods during a fractional watering cycle;

repeating said watering step for at least a second said fractional watering cycle, whereby said fractional watering periods help to spread out the watering over a longer period of time for each watering zone.