Independent control of two solenoid operated valves over two wires in an irrigation system
First Claim
1. Apparatus to allow independent control of a first load and a second load configured as solenoid operated valves in an irrigation system via a single conductor with a single common return, said apparatus comprising:
- an encoder circuit locatable in use proximal to an irrigation controller, and a decoder circuit locatable adjacent to said solenoid operated valves, said encoder circuit having a first input for connection to a first irrigation controller output, and a second input for connection to a second irrigation controller output, and having an output for connection to the single conductor, and said decoder circuit having an input for connection to the single conductor, a first output for connection to said first load and a second output for connection to said second load, where when said first input is energised, said first output will be energised, and when said first input is de-energised said first output will be de-energised and when said second input is energised, said second output will be energised, and when said second input is de-energised said second output will be de-energised;
wherein the decoder circuit also incorporates a first switching circuit between said input and said first output, interfaced with a first turn on delay timer to time out a predetermined period before operating said first switching circuit, and a second switching circuit between said input and said second output, interfaced with a second turn on delay timer to time out a predetermined period before operating said second switching circuit, and wherein the first output of the decoder circuit and the second output of the decoder circuit each include associated therewith a turn-off delay circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus 11 and 13 for interfacing two AC sources with two AC loads 17a 17b in the form of solenoid operated valves over a single conductor 25, with a return conductor 19 in an irrigation system is disclosed. The apparatus has an encoder circuit 11 with two inputs 21a 21b for connection to the two AC sources, and an output 23 for connection to the single conductor 25, and a decoder circuit 13 having an input 27 for connection to the conductor 25, and two outputs 29a 29b for connection to loads 17a 17b respectively. When the first input 21 a is powered, the first load 17a will be switched on, and when the second input 21b is powered, the second load 17b will be switched on. The decoder portion 13 incorporates switching circuits 43a 43b, interfaced with turn on delay timers 45a 45b respectively, to delay operating the loads at switch on, and turn-off delay timers 47a 47b to hold the loads on after switch off.
31 Citations
20 Claims
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1. Apparatus to allow independent control of a first load and a second load configured as solenoid operated valves in an irrigation system via a single conductor with a single common return, said apparatus comprising:
- an encoder circuit locatable in use proximal to an irrigation controller, and a decoder circuit locatable adjacent to said solenoid operated valves, said encoder circuit having a first input for connection to a first irrigation controller output, and a second input for connection to a second irrigation controller output, and having an output for connection to the single conductor, and said decoder circuit having an input for connection to the single conductor, a first output for connection to said first load and a second output for connection to said second load, where when said first input is energised, said first output will be energised, and when said first input is de-energised said first output will be de-energised and when said second input is energised, said second output will be energised, and when said second input is de-energised said second output will be de-energised;
wherein the decoder circuit also incorporates a first switching circuit between said input and said first output, interfaced with a first turn on delay timer to time out a predetermined period before operating said first switching circuit, and a second switching circuit between said input and said second output, interfaced with a second turn on delay timer to time out a predetermined period before operating said second switching circuit, and wherein the first output of the decoder circuit and the second output of the decoder circuit each include associated therewith a turn-off delay circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- an encoder circuit locatable in use proximal to an irrigation controller, and a decoder circuit locatable adjacent to said solenoid operated valves, said encoder circuit having a first input for connection to a first irrigation controller output, and a second input for connection to a second irrigation controller output, and having an output for connection to the single conductor, and said decoder circuit having an input for connection to the single conductor, a first output for connection to said first load and a second output for connection to said second load, where when said first input is energised, said first output will be energised, and when said first input is de-energised said first output will be de-energised and when said second input is energised, said second output will be energised, and when said second input is de-energised said second output will be de-energised;
- 13. An irrigation system solenoid operated valve control circuit, said control circuit having an input connecting to a half wave rectifier having a half wave rectified output, said half wave rectified output leading to a switching circuit interfaced with a turn on delay timer to time out a predetermined period before operating said switching circuit on said half wave rectifier passing current at an operational voltage, the output of the switching circuit connecting to an output for connecting to a solenoid of said solenoid operated valve, where the output includes associated therewith, a turn-off delay circuit.
Specification