Hybrid modular/decoder irrigation controller

• US 8,014,904 B1
• Filed: 01/15/2010
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hunter Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hunter Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Woytowitz, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Decady; Albert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee; Douglas S
• Application Number:
  US12/688,637
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 700/16, 700/17, 700/19, 700/90, 700/283, 700/284, 239/63, 239/68, 239/69, 239/70, 137/78.3
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/189 Soil moisture sensing

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 selectively providing a first power signal that energizes the corresponding solenoid actuated valve. At least one encoder module is configured for insertion into 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.

Claims

1. A hybrid irrigation controller, comprising:

at least one control for entry or selection of a watering program;

a memory for storing the watering program;

a plurality of receptacles for removably receiving at least one station module or at least one encoder module;

the station module being connectable to a corresponding valve through a dedicated field valve line and including at least one switching device for selectively providing a first power signal that energizes the corresponding valve;

the encoder module being 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 or the encoder module in accordance with the stored watering program.

2. The controller of claim 1 wherein the encoder module is physically larger than the station module and bridges more than one of the receptacles.

3. The controller of claim 1 wherein the encoder module includes a micro-controller.

4. The controller of claim 1 wherein the encoder module includes driver circuitry.

5. The controller of claim 3 wherein the encoder module includes a plurality of push buttons connected to the micro-controller.

6. The controller of claim 3 wherein the encoder module includes a display connected to the micro-controller.

7. The controller of claim 3 wherein the encoder module includes a communications interface circuit connected to the micro-controller.

8. The controller of claim 1 wherein the station module is inserted into one of the receptacles and is operatively connected to the processor.

9. The controller of claim 1 wherein the encoder module is inserted into one of the receptacles and is operatively connected to the processor.

10. The controller of claim 1 wherein the station module and the encoder module are inserted into corresponding ones of the receptacles and are operatively connected to the processor.