Systems and methods for adaptation to wireless remote control of irrigation valves from existing hardwired control devices

• US 7,286,904 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2005
• Issued: 10/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NPD Corporation
• Original Assignee: NPD Corporation
• Inventors: Graham, Glen Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard; Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee; Douglas S
• Application Number:
  US11/209,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20060043208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 700/283, 700/284, 340/539.1, 340/601, 340/602, 340/825.69, 239/63, 239/64, 239/69, 137/78.3
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25187 Transmission of signals, medium, ultrasonic, radio
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25289 Energy saving, brown out, standby, sleep, powerdown modus for microcomputer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/189 Soil moisture sensing

Abstract

A low cost system and method for retrofitting an existing control device to communicate wirelessly with one or more water-flow devices is provided. For example, an existing wired irrigation system may be adapted to allow wireless communication between a commercially available irrigation controller and commercially available water-flow devices, such as sprinkler valves. A wireless irrigation adapter receives control signals from an existing irrigation controller and transmits a wireless representation of the control signals. Water-flow devices may be coupled to one or more wireless receivers that receive the wireless representation of the control signals and operate the water-flow device(s) accordingly. The wireless irrigation receiver(s) listen(s) for the wireless control signals occasionally, thus reducing power consumption by the wireless receiver(s). This system and method may also wirelessly adapt control devices to irrigation that may never have been intended for that purpose when they were fabricated.

Claims

1. A wireless receiver coupled to a irrigation solenoid valve, the wireless receiver comprising:

means for activating the irrigation solenoid valve in response to receiving a wireless control signal indicating a desired state of the irrigation solenoid valve, wherein the means for activating comprises;

a decode module for receiving the wireless control signal;

a clock configured to generate electrical signals indicative of a sleep mode and a listen mode, wherein during the sleep mode, at least the decode module enters a very low power mode;

a latch module for maintaining the desired state received in the wireless control signal for a predetermined time, wherein the predetermined time is longer than a duration of the listen mode;

an output module for outputting an electrical signal to the irrigation valve in accordance with the desired state stored in the latch module for the predetermined time; and

means for deactivating the irrigation solenoid valve if the wireless control signal is not again detected during a pre-determined time interval after being initially received by the activating means.

2. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the latch module comprises one or more monostable multivibrators.

3. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is longer than about three listen modes and sleep modes.

4. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is longer than ten listen modes and sleep modes.

5. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the low power mode comprises disabling the decoder.

6. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the clock comprises an asynchronous clock.