Landscape controller with control panel insertable feature module
First Claim
1. A landscape controller, comprising:
- a control panel for entering and/or selecting a watering schedule;
data memory and program memory storing an operational program including a watering program for executing the watering schedule;
a plurality of station module receptacles located on a back plane, each station module receptacle configured to receive a removable station module, each removable station module comprising a plurality of switch circuits for energizing one or more valves;
a processor connected to the data memory and the program memory and configured to execute the operational program and control the plurality of switch circuits in accordance with the watering schedule, the processor, the data memory, and the program memory located on the control panel; and
at least one feature module comprising a flash memory device, each feature module of the at least one feature module inserted into a corresponding feature module receptacle located on the control panel, the at least one feature module operatively connectable to the processor through a communications path located on the control panel, wherein the communication path between the processor and the at least one feature module does not include the backplane, the at least one feature module configured to provide additional functional irrigation features not available without the at least one feature module, the processor configured to execute the additional functional irrigation features when the at least one feature module is operationally connected to the processor, the flash memory device configured to provide additional memory capacity not provided by the data memory and the program memory.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A landscape controller includes a housing and a control panel in the housing. The control panel includes a display and at least one manual control that enable a user to enter and/or select a watering schedule. A memory is provided for storing an operational program for carrying out the watering schedule. A processor is connected to the memory and is capable of executing the operational program. A connecting device in the control panel operatively connects at least one feature module to the processor. The controller further includes station control circuitry controlled by the processor that enables the processor to selectively energize a plurality of valves to deliver water to sprinklers in accordance with the watering schedule.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A landscape controller, comprising:
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a control panel for entering and/or selecting a watering schedule; data memory and program memory storing an operational program including a watering program for executing the watering schedule; a plurality of station module receptacles located on a back plane, each station module receptacle configured to receive a removable station module, each removable station module comprising a plurality of switch circuits for energizing one or more valves; a processor connected to the data memory and the program memory and configured to execute the operational program and control the plurality of switch circuits in accordance with the watering schedule, the processor, the data memory, and the program memory located on the control panel; and at least one feature module comprising a flash memory device, each feature module of the at least one feature module inserted into a corresponding feature module receptacle located on the control panel, the at least one feature module operatively connectable to the processor through a communications path located on the control panel, wherein the communication path between the processor and the at least one feature module does not include the backplane, the at least one feature module configured to provide additional functional irrigation features not available without the at least one feature module, the processor configured to execute the additional functional irrigation features when the at least one feature module is operationally connected to the processor, the flash memory device configured to provide additional memory capacity not provided by the data memory and the program memory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A landscape controller, comprising:
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a control panel for entering and/or selecting a watering schedule; a data memory and a program memory storing an operational program including a watering program for executing the watering schedule; a plurality of station module receptacles located on a back plane, each station module receptacle configured to receive a removable station module that comprises a plurality of switch circuits for energizing a plurality of valves; a processor connected to the data memory and the program memory and configured to execute the operational program and control the plurality of switch circuits in accordance with the watering schedule, the processor, the data memory, and the program memory located on the control panel; and at least one feature module comprising a secure digital memory (SD) card, the at least one feature module mounted to a connecting device located on the control panel and operationally connected to the processor through the connecting device and a communication path located on the control panel, the at least one feature module configured to provide additional functional irrigation features not available without the at least one feature module, the processor configured to execute the additional functional irrigation features when the at least one feature module is operationally connected to the processor;
the SD card configured to provide additional memory capacity not provided by the data memory and the program memory. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification