Irrigation controller

• US 6,647,319 B1
• Filed: 02/23/2000
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Original Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Inventors: Goldberg, Allan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garland, Steven R.
• Application Number:
  US09/510,489
• Time in Patent Office: 1,357 Days
• Field of Search: 700/14-16, 700/19, 700/284, 700/17, 239/67, 239/69, 239/70, 137/624.21, 137/624.18, 137/624.11
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/165 Cyclic operations, timing systems, timing valves, impulse operations
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 Programmer or timer

Abstract

A simple, inexpensive multi-station sprinkler controller has three pushbuttons: the first selects one of a plurality of predetermined combinations of watering cycle durations and repetition rates; the second selects a starting time, and the third initiates a manual cycle. On power-up, the controller defaults to a predetermined operating cycle and start time. A short circuit at any station stops watering and initiates a fault indication that identifies the short-circuited station. All status information is conveyed by the scrolling, illumination, flashing and/or blinking of one or more of a small set of LEDs. In another embodiment, a fourth pushbutton is provided to allow setting separate combinations for different stations. In a third embodiment, these functions are performed in a single-station controller by just two buttons and one LED.

Claims

1. An irrigation controller for residential sprinkler systems, comprising:

a) a set of repetitively actuable actuators;

b) a set of indicator lights;

c) a set of watering station terminals; and

d) a microprocessor responsive to the repetitive actuation of a selected one of said actuators to selectively energize said watering station terminals in selected watering level modes, said microprocessor operating said indicators to convey information regarding the selected modes and energization status of said terminals;

e) said microprocessor operating said indicators so as to simultaneously convey said mode information and the identity of any energized terminal by a combination of flashing illumination and steady illumination of a single one of said indicator lights.

2. An irrigation controller for residential sprinkler systems, comprising:

a) a set of repetitively actuable actuators;

b) a set of indicators;

c) a set of watering station terminals; and

d) a microprocessor actuated by said actuators to selectively energize said watering station terminals, said microprocessor operating said indicators to convey operating condition information regarding the status of said controller;

e) said microprocessor operating said indicators so as to convey said information by a combination of flashing illumination, steady illumination, and sequence of illumination of said indicators;

f) said watering station terminals being energizable by one of said repetitively actuable actuators in accordance with a selected one of a set of predetermined combinations of “

on”

times and repetition rates; and

g) each of said set of indicators indicating both a selected one of said set of said predetermined combinations applied to a watering station terminal and the identity of a terminal energized at a given time.

3. An irrigation controller for residential sprinkler systems, comprising:

a) a set of repetitively actuable actuators;

b) a set of individually illuminable indicators;

c) a set of watering station terminals; and

d) a microprocessor actuated by said actuators to selectively energize said watering station terminals, said microprocessor operating said indicators to convey operating condition information regarding the status of said controller;

e) said microprocessor operating said indicators so as to convey said information by a combination of flashing illumination, steady illumination, and sequence of illumination of said indicators;

f) said operating conditions of said watering station terminals about which information is conveyed by said combination including;

i) watering station run time;

ii) watering cycle repetition rate;

iii) controller power-up; and

iv) watering station identity.

4. The controller of claim 3, in which at least said run time, cycle repetition rate, and watering station identity can be selected only by repetitive actuation of said repetitively actuable actuators.