Distributed architecture irrigation controller
First Claim
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1. A distributed architecture 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;
a plurality of station modules each configured for insertion into one of the receptacles and connectable to a corresponding solenoid actuated valve, each station module including a micro-controller and at least one switching device for selectively providing a power signal that energizes the corresponding solenoid actuated valve;
processor means for executing the stored watering program and controlling the station modules in accordance with the stored watering program;
a controller area network (CAN) bus connecting the processor means and the receptacles; and
the processor means and the micro-controllers each including means for sending and receiving messages over the bus that are generated by the processor means and the micro-controllers.
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Abstract
A processor is connected by a bus to a plurality of station modules, each station module being connected to a corresponding valve and having a micro-controller. The processor executes a stored watering program and controls the station modules in accordance with the program. Messages are bi-directionally sent and received over the bus that are generated by the processor and the micro-controllers. Each message contains an identification field with an instruction that describes a meaning of the message. The processor and the micro-controllers each interpret the messages received thereby and perform predetermined functions in response thereto.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A distributed architecture 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; a plurality of station modules each configured for insertion into one of the receptacles and connectable to a corresponding solenoid actuated valve, each station module including a micro-controller and at least one switching device for selectively providing a power signal that energizes the corresponding solenoid actuated valve; processor means for executing the stored watering program and controlling the station modules in accordance with the stored watering program; a controller area network (CAN) bus connecting the processor means and the receptacles; and the processor means and the micro-controllers each including means for sending and receiving messages over the bus that are generated by the processor means and the micro-controllers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A distributed architecture 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; a plurality of station modules each configured for insertion into one of the receptacles and connectable to a corresponding solenoid actuated valve, each station module including a micro-controller and at least one switching device for selectively providing a power signal that energizes the corresponding solenoid actuated valve; a microprocessor that executes the stored watering program and controls the station modules in accordance with the stored watering program; a controller area network (CAN) bus connecting the microprocessor and the receptacles; and the microprocessor and the micro-controllers being capable of sending and receiving messages over the bus that are generated by the microprocessor and the micro-controllers. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of controlling a plurality of valves in an irrigation system, comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of valves; providing a processor connected by a controller area network (CAN) bus to a plurality of station modules, each station module being connected to a corresponding one of the valves and having a micro-controller, the processor executing a stored watering program and controlling the station modules in accordance with the program; and bi-directionally sending and receiving messages over the bus that are generated by the processor and the micro-controllers, each message containing an identification field with an instruction that describes a meaning of the message, the processor and the micro-controllers each interpreting the messages received thereby and performing predetermined functions in response thereto.
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19. A method of upgrading programming in a distributed architecture irrigation controller, comprising the steps of:
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providing a main processor connected by a controller area network (CAN) bus to a plurality of station modules, each station module being connected to a corresponding valve and having a micro-controller; the main processor executing a watering program and controlling the station modules in accordance with the watering program; each micro-controller performing one or more functions based on its own application programming; loading application re-programming for the micro-controllers into the main processor; and uploading the application re-programming from the main processor to the micro-controllers through the bus.
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Specification