Wireless irrigation control device and related method
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a wireless irrigation control system having at least one wireless irrigation control device including a controller contained in a substantially sealed controller housing, an antenna coupled to the controller and capable of receiving radio-frequency (RF) signals, and a rechargeable battery power supply contained in the controller housing to supply power to the controller and a water flow control device, the method comprising:
- initializing the controller by actuating a switch sealed within the controller housing and actuatable from outside of the controller housing;
recharging, as needed, the battery power supply using a battery charging generator;
broadcasting signals for reception by the initialized controller through the antenna;
decoding the broadcast signals received by the initialized controller and confirming that they apply to the particular irrigation control device associated with the initialized controller;
based on signals received from time to time, and decoded in the preceding step, storing and updating at least one watering schedule in a memory module; and
based on the stored watering schedule, generating signals to control a water flow control device in accordance with the watering schedule.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An irrigation control device has a controller sealed within a watertight housing. The control device also has an antenna, power supply and battery charging device, such as a solar array. The controller receives signals through the antenna and updates one or more watering schedules stored in a memory module, based on the received signals, and generates control signals to execute a watering schedule. The battery charging device recharges the power supply and the irrigation control device requires no external electrical connections for power or control. Control signals are generated in a central controller remote from the rotor, and are preferably transmitted to the rotor antenna through a commercial paging or other type of public broadcast network.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a wireless irrigation control system having at least one wireless irrigation control device including a controller contained in a substantially sealed controller housing, an antenna coupled to the controller and capable of receiving radio-frequency (RF) signals, and a rechargeable battery power supply contained in the controller housing to supply power to the controller and a water flow control device, the method comprising:
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initializing the controller by actuating a switch sealed within the controller housing and actuatable from outside of the controller housing; recharging, as needed, the battery power supply using a battery charging generator; broadcasting signals for reception by the initialized controller through the antenna; decoding the broadcast signals received by the initialized controller and confirming that they apply to the particular irrigation control device associated with the initialized controller; based on signals received from time to time, and decoded in the preceding step, storing and updating at least one watering schedule in a memory module; and based on the stored watering schedule, generating signals to control a water flow control device in accordance with the watering schedule. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A wireless irrigation control system, comprising:
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at least one water flow control device; at least one wireless irrigation control device coupled to said water flow control device and including a controller mounted within a substantially sealed housing, an antenna capable of receiving radio-frequency (RF) signals, a configurable microcontroller contained within the housing and coupled to receive and process signals from the antenna, a memory module contained within the housing for storing watering schedules established or modified by wireless signals received through the antenna, and a switch sealed within the housing and actuatable from outside of the housing, the switch configured to initialize the controller; a rechargeable battery power supply contained within the housing to supply power to the microcontroller and to the water flow control device; means for actuating said switch from outside of the housing for initializing said controller; and broadcast means for transmitting wireless signals for reception by the initialized controller through the antenna, said controller decoding the received broadcast signals received by the initialized controller and confirming that the broadcast signals apply to the particular irrigation control device associated therewith, said controller responding to the received broadcast signals for storing and updating at least one watering schedule in a memory module, and, based on the stored watering schedule, for generating signals to control said water flow control device in accordance with the watering schedule for reception by said antenna. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification