Modular irrigation controller

• US 9,538,713 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2013
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Original Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Inventors: Jones, Burnett, McIntosh, Jack, Miller, Jeff, Macasias, Noel, Pettet, Eric, Le, Tong, Jackson, Mike, Pearson, Randall, Ries, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): KASENGE, CHARLES R
• Application Number:
  US13/942,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20140018965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,275 Days
• Field of Search: 700/284, 239/67, 239/69, 239/70
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/165 Cyclic operations, timing systems, timing valves, impulse operations
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

A controller has two irrigation station module connection areas within it and can either accept two irrigation station modules at the same time or one larger module that spans both connection areas. The larger module, however, includes more irrigation station terminals than both of the smaller irrigation station modules combined. Therefore, a greater number of irrigation stations can be connected to the controller when the larger module is substituted for the two smaller modules.

Claims

1. An irrigation controller comprising:

a user interface having a plurality of interface elements for programming an irrigation schedule;

a controller housing connected to said user interface surface;

a module connection area located in said controller housing;

said module connection area comprising a first module area and a second module area, each of which having an electrical connection terminal and a physical connection mechanism;

said first module area and said second module area each configured to simultaneously accommodate an irrigation module having a first width;

said first module area and said second module area configured to both simultaneously accommodate a single, irrigation module having a second width extending entirely across said first module area and said second module area;

wherein two of said irrigation module having said first width have a total number of irrigation terminals less than said irrigation module having a second width.

2. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein said controller has a mechanical switch capable of changing any two fixed stations to a decoder driven system.

3. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein said user interface has a menu system designed for multiple users.

4. The menu system of claim 3, wherein both operational shortcuts and an advanced menu are available.

5. The menu system of claim 3, wherein a graphical irrigation schedule is displayed.

6. The menu system of claim 5, wherein the graphical irrigation schedule is displayed based on a view of the week.

7. The menu system of claim 5, wherein the graphical irrigation schedule is displayed based on a view of the day.

8. The irrigation controller of claim 1 comprising of multiple module ports.

9. The irrigation controller of claim 8 comprising of at least two four-station modules.

10. The irrigation controller of claim 8 comprising of at least one twelve-station module.

11. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein said housing has a placeholder for microphone and speaker hardware.

12. The irrigation controller of claim 11, wherein said microphone and speaker hardware are connected to a controller circuit board.

13. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein data is stored on a removable memory device.

14. The irrigation controller of claim 1, containing a Smart Adapter port to the rear of the controller.

15. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein said controller housing further comprises a first plurality of number indicia, each of which being located in said first module area and said second module area, adjacent to irrigation terminals on said irrigation module having a first width, when connected in said first module area or said second module area;

wherein said irrigation module having a second width is sized to cover said first plurality of numbered indicia when connected in said first module area and said second module area; and

wherein said irrigation module having a second width includes a second plurality of number indicia that are located adjacent to said irrigation terminals.

16. An irrigation controller comprising:

a user interface having a plurality of interface elements configured to program an irrigation schedule;

a controller housing connected to said user interface surface;

a module connection area located in said controller housing;

said module connection area comprising a first module area and a second module area, each of which having an electrical connection terminal and a physical connection mechanism;

said first module area and said second module area each configured to simultaneously accommodate a first irrigation module type having a first width;

said first module area and said second module area configured to both simultaneously accommodate a second irrigation module type having a second width extending completely across both said first module area and said second module area.

17. The irrigation controller of claim 16, wherein two of said first irrigation module type have a total number of irrigation terminals less than said second irrigation module type;

wherein said irrigation terminals are arranged to selectively supply power to irrigation stations.

18. The irrigation controller of claim 16, wherein said controller housing further comprises a plurality of number indicia, each of which being located adjacent to irrigation terminals on said first irrigation module type when connected in said first module area or said second module area;

wherein said second irrigation module type is sized to cover said plurality of numbered indicia when connected in said first module area and in said second module area.

19. An irrigation controller comprising:

a user interface having a plurality of interface elements configured to program an irrigation schedule;

a controller housing connected to said user interface surface;

a module connection area located in said controller housing;

said module connection area comprising a first module area and a second module area, each of which having an electrical connection terminal and a physical connection mechanism;

said first module area and said second module area each configured to simultaneously accommodate a first irrigation module type having a first width;

said first module area and said second module area configured to both simultaneously accommodate a second irrigation module type having a second width extending completely across both said first module area and said second module area;

wherein said controller housing further comprises a first plurality of number indicia, each of which being located in said first module area and said second module area, adjacent to irrigation terminals on said first irrigation module type when connected in said first module area or said second module area;

wherein said second irrigation module type is sized to cover said first plurality of numbered indicia when connected in said first module area and in said second module area; and

wherein said second irrigation module type includes a second plurality of number indicia that are located adjacent to said irrigation terminals.