Integrated control circuitry and coil assembly for irrigation control

• US 8,840,084 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2009
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Inventors: Crist, Timothy J., Prucinsky, Matthew S.
• Primary Examiner(s): KEASEL, ERIC S
• Application Number:
  US12/510,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20110017845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,884 Days
• Field of Search: 251/129.15, 251/129.04, 700/284, 239/67, 239/69, 340/13.23
• US Class Current: 251/129.04
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0623 characterised by the set value given to the control element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4902 Electromagnet, transformer or inductor

Abstract

An irrigation control device comprises a coil adapted to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of irrigation equipment. Control circuitry is electrically coupled to the coil to receive control signals from an irrigation control unit and to control the flux at the coil. A spacer is configured to maintain the coil at a predetermined position relative to the control circuitry.

Claims

1. An irrigation control device comprising:

a coil configured to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of irrigation equipment;

control circuitry coupled to the coil and configured to receive, at input connections, control signals comprising a modulated power signal from an external irrigation control unit of an irrigation control system and configured to control the electromagnetic flux at the coil based on the control signals, wherein the control circuitry is configured to derive data from the modulated power signal and based on the data, output signaling to the coil to cause the coil to develop the flux; and

a housing covering at least a portion of both the coil and the control circuitry, the housing including a threaded end configured to thread the irrigation control device to a valve assembly to be actuated by the electromagnetic flux of the coil, the housing having a first wall generally extending around the coil and at least in part generally corresponding to a curvature of the coil, and a radially expanded portion extending around the control circuitry, the control circuitry being positioned in the radially expanded portion of the housing, the coil being positioned in part in the expanded portion of the housing and being electrically connected to the control circuitry in the expanded portion of the housing;

wherein the control circuitry is further configured to communicate to the external irrigation control unit via the input connections.

2. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises an aperture;

and

wherein the irrigation control device further comprises a valve member within the housing and located relative to the coil and the aperture such that the valve member is configured to move relative to the aperture in response to the electromagnetic flux.

3. The irrigation control device of claim 2 wherein the valve member is configured to extend out of the aperture to engage a valve seat external to the housing.

4. The irrigation control device of claim 2 wherein the valve member opens and closes an opening on a valve seat member disposed within the housing.

5. The irrigation control device of claim 2 further comprising a core tube within the housing, wherein the valve member is a plunger configured to move relative to the aperture and within the core tube.

6. The irrigation control device of claim 2 further comprising a spring disposed within the housing to bias the valve member into a closed position against a valve seat.

7. The irrigation control device of claim 2 further comprising a core tube and a magnet to control the axial position of the plunger within the core tube.

8. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the coil is substantially secured in position relative to the control circuitry within the housing.

9. The irrigation control device of claim 1 further comprising a curable, electrically non-conductive potting material substantially holding the control circuitry in a fixed position relative to the coil within the housing.

10. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the housing and the threaded end define a longitudinal axis, and wherein the housing includes a curved wall facing the circuitry and curving about the longitudinal axis.

11. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the housing is a one-piece housing.

12. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to communicate to the external irrigation control unit by selectively shorting a control wire path from the external irrigation control unit at the input connections.

13. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to provide feedback to the external irrigation control unit to indicate that the control signals have been received by the control circuitry and that commands were executed based on the received control signals.

14. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the control signals are received at input connections from the external irrigation control unit through a control wire path via a modulated power signal readable by the control circuitry.

15. The irrigation control device of claim 14 wherein the control wire path is configured to connect the external irrigation control unit to a plurality of irrigation control devices each having control circuitry configured to read the control signals transmitted from the external irrigation control unit via the control wire path.

16. The irrigation control device of claim 1, wherein the threaded end is configured to thread the irrigation control device directly to a valve assembly to be actuated by the electromagnetic flux of the coil.

17. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the control circuitry is configured to derive the data from the modulated power signal, the data comprising data bits corresponding to one or more of a plurality of instructions for the control circuitry to execute.

18. The irrigation control device of claim 17 wherein the plurality of instructions comprise instructions to:

activate the irrigation equipment, deactivate the irrigation equipment, adjust a parameter stored in the control circuitry, and implement an operation of the control circuitry.

19. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the control circuitry is configured to derive the data from the modulated power signal as logic 1 and logic 0 data bits depending on whether the modulated power signal is clipped.

20. An irrigation control device comprising:

a coil configured to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of irrigation equipment;

control circuitry coupled to the coil and configured to receive, at input connections, control signals comprising a modulated power signal from an external irrigation control unit of an irrigation control system and configured to control the electromagnetic flux at the coil based on the control signals, wherein the control circuitry is configured to derive data from the modulated power signal and based on the data, output signaling to the coil to cause the coil to develop the flux; and

a housing covering at least a portion of both the coil and the control circuitry, the housing including a threaded end configured to thread the irrigation control device to a valve assembly to be actuated by the electromagnetic flux of the coil;

wherein the control circuitry comprises a circuit board and electronic components mounted on the circuit board and wherein the housing includes a radially expanded portion extending around the control circuitry, and at least one of;

wherein the radially expanded portion of the housing extending around the control circuitry has a curved outer wall and the circuit board is positioned in the radially expanded portion of the housing such that the electronic components mounted on the circuit board provide clearance for the curved wall to maintain a substantially constant radius around the circuit board,

wherein the circuit board has two main opposite surfaces, and wherein the electronic components are placed on both surfaces such that the electronic components on a first surface of the circuit board are located in a gap between the curved wall and the circuit board and the electronic components on a second surface of the circuit board opposite the first side are located in a gap between the circuit board and the coil, and

wherein the housing comprises a gap with a varying width between the curved wall and the circuit board, the gap having a widest location, and wherein largest components of the electronic components are disposed at the widest location of the housing.

21. A method of forming an irrigation control device comprising:

providing a housing with a threaded end, the threaded end configured to thread the irrigation control device to a valve assembly;

covering at least a portion of a coil within the housing, the coil configured to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of irrigation equipment; and

covering at least a portion of a control circuitry within the housing and coupled to the coil, the control circuitry configured to receive, at input connections, control signals comprising a modulated power signal from an external irrigation control unit of an irrigation control system and configured to control the electromagnetic flux at the coil based on the control signals, the control circuitry configured to derive data from the modulated power signal and based on the data, output signaling to the coil to cause the coil to develop the flux, the control circuitry further configured to communicate to the external irrigation control unit via the input connections;

wherein the control circuitry comprises a circuit board with opposite lateral edges and electronic components mounted on both sides of the circuit board, and wherein the positioning of the control circuitry in the radially expanded portion of the housing further includes positioning the electronic components on a first side of the circuit board in a gap between the curved wall and the circuit board and positioning the electronic components on a second side of the circuit board opposite the first side in a gap between the circuit board and the coil.

22. A method of forming an irrigation control device comprising:

providing a housing with a threaded end, the threaded end configured to thread the irrigation control device to a valve assembly;

covering at least a portion of a coil within the housing, the coil configured to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of irrigation equipment; and

covering at least a portion of a control circuitry within the housing and coupled to the coil, the control circuitry configured to receive, at input connections, control signals comprising a modulated power signal from an external irrigation control unit of an irrigation control system and configured to control the electromagnetic flux at the coil based on the control signals, the control circuitry configured to derive data from the modulated power signal and based on the data, output signaling to the coil to cause the coil to develop the flux, the control circuitry further configured to communicate to the external irrigation control unit via the input connections;

wherein the housing has a first wall generally extending around the coil and at least in part generally corresponding to a curvature of the coil, and a radially expanded portion extending around the control circuitry, the method further comprising;

positioning the control circuitry in the radially expanded portion of the housing;

positioning the coil in part in the expanded portion of the housing; and

electrically connecting the coil to the control circuitry in the expanded portion of the housing.

23. The method of claim 22 comprising substantially fixing the position of the control circuitry relative to the position of the coil and within the housing by placing a curable potting material in the housing.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the providing a housing with a threaded end includes providing the housing with a threaded end configured to thread the irrigation control device directly to a valve assembly.