Integrated control circuitry and coil assembly for irrigation control
First Claim
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1. An irrigation control device comprising:
- a coil configured to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of irrigation equipment;
control circuitry electrically coupled to the coil and configured to receive, at input connections, modulated power signals from an external irrigation control unit of an irrigation control system via a control wire path coupled to the input connections, wherein the control circuitry is configured to derive control signals from the modulated power signals received from the control wire path and based on the control signals, output signaling to the coil to control the electromagnetic flux at the coil; and
a housing covering at least a portion of the coil and at least a portion of the control circuitry, the housing having a wall generally extending around the coil and generally corresponding to the curvature of the coil, and a radially expanded portion including a curved wall extending around the control circuitry and having a constant radius of curvature, the curved outer wall being connected by a pair of connecting walls to the wall generally extending around the coil.
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Abstract
An integrated irrigation valve control device has a coil adapted to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of irrigation equipment. Control circuitry is electrically coupled to the coil to control the flux at the coil. A housing covers at least a portion of the coil and at least a portion of the control circuitry.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An irrigation control device comprising:
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a coil configured to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of irrigation equipment; control circuitry electrically coupled to the coil and configured to receive, at input connections, modulated power signals from an external irrigation control unit of an irrigation control system via a control wire path coupled to the input connections, wherein the control circuitry is configured to derive control signals from the modulated power signals received from the control wire path and based on the control signals, output signaling to the coil to control the electromagnetic flux at the coil; and a housing covering at least a portion of the coil and at least a portion of the control circuitry, the housing having a wall generally extending around the coil and generally corresponding to the curvature of the coil, and a radially expanded portion including a curved wall extending around the control circuitry and having a constant radius of curvature, the curved outer wall being connected by a pair of connecting walls to the wall generally extending around the coil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An irrigation control device comprising:
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a coil configured to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of irrigation equipment; control circuitry electrically coupled to the coil and configured to receive, at input connections, modulated power signals from an external irrigation control unit of an irrigation control system via a control wire path coupled to the input connections, wherein the control circuitry is configured to derive control signals from the modulated power signals received from the control wire path and based on the control signals, output signaling to the coil to control the electromagnetic flux at the coil; and a housing covering at least a portion of the coil and at least a portion of the control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry comprises a circuit board with opposite lateral edges and electronic components mounted on the circuit board, and wherein the housing comprises a radially expanded portion including a curved wall extending at least in part around the circuit board and adjacent both opposite lateral edges, wherein the circuit board is positioned in the radially expanded portion of the housing such that the electronic components on a first side of the circuit board are located within the constant radius of curvature in a gap between the curved wall and the circuit board and the electronic components on a second side of the circuit board opposite the first side are located in a gap between the circuit board and the coil.
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19. An irrigation control device comprising:
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a coil configured to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of irrigation equipment; control circuitry electrically coupled to the coil and configured to receive, at input connections, modulated power signals from an external irrigation control unit of an irrigation control system via a control wire path coupled to the input connections, wherein the control circuitry is configured to derive control signals from the modulated power signals received from the control wire path and based on the control signals, output signaling to the coil to control the electromagnetic flux at the coil, and wherein the control circuitry includes a circuit board with opposite lateral edges and electronic components mounted on both sides of the circuit board; and a housing entirely covering the coil and the control circuitry, the housing being an integrally formed one-piece 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 including a curved wall extending around the control circuitry and having a constant radius of curvature, the curved outer wall being connected to the first wall by a pair of connecting walls, wherein the housing includes a curable potting material disposed at least between the control circuitry and the coil, and wherein the potting material sufficiently fills the housing so that the control circuitry and the coil remain substantially fixed to each other; wherein the circuit board is positioned in the radially expanded portion of the housing such that the electronic components on a first side of the circuit board are located within the constant radius of curvature in a gap between the curved wall and the circuit board and the electronic components on a second side of the circuit board opposite the first side are located in a gap between the circuit board and the coil, and wherein any electrical connection between the coil and the control circuitry remains within the housing.
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20. A method of making an irrigation control device comprising:
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holding a solenoid assembly with a coil near to control circuitry for controlling an electromagnetic flux at the coil, the control circuitry having input connections adapted to be coupled to an external irrigation control unit of an irrigation control system via a control wire path to be coupled to the input connections; electrically connecting the coil to the control circuitry; placing the solenoid assembly and control circuitry into a housing, the housing having a wall generally extending around the coil and generally corresponding to the curvature of the coil, and a radially expanded portion including a curved wall extending around the control circuitry and having a constant radius of curvature, the curved outer wall being connected by a pair of connecting walls to the wall generally extending around the coil; securing the solenoid assembly to the housing so that the solenoid assembly can be actuated to reciprocate a valve member through an aperture in the housing to selectively engage a valve seat; and fixing the control circuitry and coil within the housing; wherein the control circuitry is configured to receive, at the input connections, modulated power signals from the external irrigation control unit via the control wire path coupled to the input connections, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to derive control signals from the modulated power signals and based on the control signals, output signaling to the coil to control the electromagnetic flux at the coil. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification