Wireless extension to an irrigation control system and related methods
First Claim
1. An irrigation control system comprising:
- a transmitter unit comprising;
a connector configured to be coupled to an irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors for activating irrigation stations;
a first controller coupled to the connector and configured to receive an indication that the irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station;
a signal transmitter coupled to the first controller, wherein responsive to the indication, the first controller is configured to cause a wireless activation signal to be transmitted by the signal transmitter, the wireless activation signal configured for receipt at a wireless receiver unit located remotely from the transmitter unit and coupled to an actuator and an actuatable device; and
a user interface comprising one or more user inputs.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Several embodiments provide wireless extensions to an irrigation controller system and related methods of use, as well as other improvements to irrigation control equipment. In one implementation, an irrigation control system includes a transmitter unit including a controller and having a connector to be coupled to an irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors. The controller is configured to receive an indication that the irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station, and is also configured to cause the transmitter unit to transmit a wireless activation signal responsive to the indication. A receiver unit is coupled to an actuator coupled to an actuatable device, such as an irrigation valve, the actuator configured to actuate the irrigation valve to control the flow of water therethrough. The receiver unit receives the wireless activation signal and in response, causes the actuator to actuate the actuatable device.
146 Citations
37 Claims
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1. An irrigation control system comprising:
a transmitter unit comprising; a connector configured to be coupled to an irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors for activating irrigation stations; a first controller coupled to the connector and configured to receive an indication that the irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station; a signal transmitter coupled to the first controller, wherein responsive to the indication, the first controller is configured to cause a wireless activation signal to be transmitted by the signal transmitter, the wireless activation signal configured for receipt at a wireless receiver unit located remotely from the transmitter unit and coupled to an actuator and an actuatable device; and a user interface comprising one or more user inputs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An irrigation control system comprising:
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a transmitter unit comprising; a connector configured to be coupled to an irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors for activating irrigation stations; a first controller coupled to the connector and configured to receive an indication that the irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station; and a signal transmitter coupled to the first controller, wherein responsive to the indication, the first controller is configured to cause a wireless activation signal to be transmitted by the signal transmitter, the wireless activation signal configured for receipt at a wireless receiver unit located remotely from the transmitter unit and coupled to an actuator and an actuatable device; the receiver unit comprising; a signal receiver configured to receive the wireless activation signal from the wireless transmitter unit; a second controller coupled to the signal receiver and configured to receive a message contained in the wireless activation signal; and an activation circuit coupled to the second controller, wherein responsive to the message, the second controller is configured to cause the activation circuit to output signaling to cause the actuator to actuate the actuatable device; wherein the receiver unit further comprises; a second controller configured to process a message contained in the wireless activation signal having been received; and an activation circuit coupled to the second controller, wherein responsive to the message, the second controller is configured to cause the activation circuit to output signaling to cause the actuator to actuate the actuatable device; and wherein the actuatable device comprises an irrigation valve controlling the flow of water therethrough and wherein the activation circuit comprises; a capacitor configured to be charged to a first voltage and configured to be discharged to provide a pulse sufficient to actuate the actuator controlling the irrigation valve; a battery having a voltage rating at a second voltage, the second voltage less than the first voltage, the battery providing operational power to the receiver unit, the second controller and for charging the capacitor; and a capacitor charging circuit comprising; an inductor coupling the battery to the capacitor; and a switch coupled to the inductor and operated by the second controller, the switch controls the flow of current through the inductor. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. An irrigation control system comprising:
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a transmitter unit comprising; a connector configured to be coupled to an irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors for activating irrigation stations; a first controller coupled to the connector and configured to receive an indication that the irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station; and a signal transmitter coupled to the first controller, wherein responsive to the indication, the first controller is configured to cause a wireless activation signal to be transmitted by the signal transmitter, the wireless activation signal configured for receipt at a wireless receiver unit located remotely from the transmitter unit and coupled to an actuator and an actuatable device; the receiver unit comprising; a signal receiver configured to receive the wireless activation signal from the wireless transmitter unit; a second controller coupled to the signal receiver and configured to receive a message contained in the wireless activation signal; and an activation circuit coupled to the second controller, wherein responsive to the message, the second controller is configured to cause the activation circuit to output signaling to cause the actuator to actuate the actuatable device; wherein the receiver unit further comprises; a second controller configured to process a message contained in the wireless activation signal having been received; and an activation circuit coupled to the second controller, wherein responsive to the message, the second controller is configured to cause the activation circuit to output signaling to cause the actuator to actuate the actuatable device; and wherein the activation circuit comprises; a capacitor configured to be charged to a voltage of at least 7 volts and configured to be discharged to provide a pulse sufficient to actuate the actuator controlling the irrigation valve; a battery having a voltage rating of less than 7 volts, the battery providing operational power to the receiver, the second controller and for charging the capacitor; and a capacitor charging circuit coupling the battery to the capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. An irrigation control system comprising:
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a transmitter unit including a first controller and a user interface comprising one or more user inputs, the transmitter unit having a connector configured to be coupled to an irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors for activating irrigation stations; the first controller configured to receive an indication that the irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station, the first controller configured to cause the transmitter unit to transmit a wireless activation signal responsive to the indication; and a receiver unit configured to be coupled to an actuator coupled to an actuatable device, the actuator configured to actuate the actuatable device, the receiver unit configured to receive the wireless activation signal and in response, cause the actuator to actuate an irrigation valve. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. An irrigation controller comprising:
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a microcontroller configured to generate control signals to activate irrigation at one or more irrigation stations in accordance with one or more watering programs; and a wireless transmitter coupled to the microcontroller and configured to transmit a wireless activation signal responsive to the control signals to one or more receiver units coupled to the one or more irrigation stations, wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to periodically re-transmit the wireless activation signal, randomizing a time interval between transmissions. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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Specification