Hybrid modular/decoder irrigation controller
First Claim
1. A hybrid irrigation controller, comprising:
- means for entry or selection of a watering program;
means for storing the watering program;
means for providing a plurality of receptacles for removably receiving a plurality of modules;
at least one station module configured for insertion into a first one of the receptacles and connectable to a corresponding solenoid actuated valve through a dedicated field valve line and common return line and including at least one switching device for selectively providing a first power signal that energizes the corresponding solenoid actuated valve;
at least one encoder module configured for insertion into a second one of the receptacles and connectable to a multi-wire path for sending encoded signals and a second power signal along the multi-wire path for selectively energizing one of a plurality of solenoid actuated valves connected to corresponding decoder circuits connected along the multi-wire path; and
processor means for executing the stored watering program and controlling the station module and/or the encoder module in accordance with the stored watering program.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A plurality of receptacles in an irrigation controller removably receive a plurality of modules. At least one station module is configured for insertion into a first one of the receptacles and is connectable to a corresponding solenoid actuated valve through a dedicated field valve line and common return line. The station module includes at least one switching device for selectvely providing a first power signal that energizes the corresponding solenoid actuated valve. At least one encoder module is configured for insertioninto a second one of the receptacles and is connectable to a multi-wire path for sending encoded signals and a second power signal along the multi-wire path for selectively energizing one of a plurality of solenoid actuated valves connected to corresponding decoder circuits connected along the multi-wire path. A processor executes the stored watering program and controls the station module and/or the encoder module in accordance with the stored watering program.
186 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A hybrid irrigation controller, comprising:
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means for entry or selection of a watering program; means for storing the watering program; means for providing a plurality of receptacles for removably receiving a plurality of modules; at least one station module configured for insertion into a first one of the receptacles and connectable to a corresponding solenoid actuated valve through a dedicated field valve line and common return line and including at least one switching device for selectively providing a first power signal that energizes the corresponding solenoid actuated valve; at least one encoder module configured for insertion into a second one of the receptacles and connectable to a multi-wire path for sending encoded signals and a second power signal along the multi-wire path for selectively energizing one of a plurality of solenoid actuated valves connected to corresponding decoder circuits connected along the multi-wire path; and processor means for executing the stored watering program and controlling the station module and/or the encoder module in accordance with the stored watering program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A hybrid irrigation controller, comprising:
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a plurality of manually actuable controls for entry or selection of a watering program; a memory for storing the watering program; a plurality of receptacles for removably receiving a plurality of modules; at least one station module configured for insertion into a first one of the receptacles and connectable to a corresponding valve through a dedicated field valve line and common return line and including at least one switching device for selectively providing a first power signal that energizes the corresponding valve; at least one encoder module configured for insertion into a second one of the receptacles and connectable to a multi-wire path for sending encoded signals and a second power signal along the multi-wire path for selectively energizing one of a plurality of valves connected to corresponding decoder circuits connected along the multi-wire path; and a processor for executing the stored watering program and controlling the station module and/or the encoder module in accordance with the stored watering program. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of controlling a plurality of valves in an irrigation system, comprising the steps of:
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entering or selecting a watering program; selectively energizing a first plurality of valves using dedicated field valve lines and a common return line in accordance with the watering program; and selectively energizing a second plurality of valves connected to a multi-wire path utilizing encoded signals in accordance with the watering program.
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22. A hybrid irrigation control system, comprising:
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a plurality of manually actuable controls for entry or selection of a watering program; a memory for storing the watering program; a plurality of receptacles for removably receiving a plurality of modules; a first plurality of valves; at least one station module removably inserted into a first one of the receptacles and connected to the first plurality of valves through corresponding dedicated field valve lines and a common return line and including a plurality of switching devices for supplying a first power signal that selectively energizes the first plarality of valves; a second plurality of valves; at least one encoder module removably inserted into a second one of the receptacles and connected to a multi-wire path for sending encoded signals and a second power signal along the multi-wire path for selectively energizing the second plurality of valves via decoder circuits connected along the multi-wire path; and a processor for executing the stored watering programand controlling the station module and/or the encoder module in accordance with the stored watering program.
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Specification