Wireless extension to an irrigation control system and related methods

• US 7,558,650 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2006
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Inventors: Thornton, Dean C., Napier, Malcolm N., Hern, Randall A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hartman, Jr.; Ronald D
• Application Number:
  US11/458,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20070106426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 700/284
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/18 Numerical control [NC], i.e. automatically operating machines, in particular machine tools, e.g. in a manufacturing environment, so as to execute positioning, movement or co-ordinated operations by means of programme data in numerical form G05B19/418 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/00 Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/22 Improving land use; Improving water use or availability; Controlling erosion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1866 For controlling soil irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/189 Soil moisture sensing

Abstract

Several embodiments provide wireless extensions to an irrigation controller system and related methods of use, as well as other improvements to irrigation control equipment. In one implementation, an irrigation control system includes a transmitter unit including a controller and having a connector to be coupled to an irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors. The controller is configured to receive an indication that the irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station, and is also configured to cause the transmitter unit to transmit a wireless activation signal responsive to the indication. A receiver unit is coupled to an actuator coupled to an actuatable device, such as an irrigation valve, the actuator configured to actuate the irrigation valve to control the flow of water therethrough. The receiver unit receives the wireless activation signal and in response, causes the actuator to actuate the actuatable device.

Claims

1. A battery powered receiver unit for controlling irrigation equipment comprising:

a receiver adapted to receive irrigation control signals;

a controller coupled to the receiver that is responsive to the irrigation control signals having been received;

a capacitor adapted to be charged to a first voltage and adapted to be discharged to provide a pulse sufficient to actuate a latching solenoid controlling an irrigation valve;

a battery having a voltage rating at a second voltage, the second voltage less than the first voltage, the battery providing operational power to the receiver, the controller and for charging the capacitor; and

a capacitor charging circuit comprising;

an inductor coupling the battery to the capacitor; and

a switch coupled to the inductor and operated by the controller, the switch controls the flow of current through the inductor.

2. The receiver unit of claim 1 wherein the capacitor charging circuit includes a diode coupling the inductor to the capacitor.

3. The receiver unit of claim 1 further comprising a housing containing the receiver, the controller, the capacitor, the battery and the capacitor charging circuit.

4. The receiver unit of claim 1 wherein the receiver includes an antenna for receiving wireless irrigation control signals.

5. The receiver unit of claim 1 wherein the battery comprises a D cell battery having a voltage rating of 1.5 volts.

6. The receiver unit of claim 1 wherein the first voltage is at least 7 volts and the second voltage is less than 7 volts.

7. The receiver unit of claim 6 wherein the second voltage is less than 2 volts.

8. A battery powered receiver unit for controlling irrigation equipment comprising:

a receiver adapted to receive irrigation control signals;

a controller coupled to the receiver that is responsive to the irrigation control signals having been received;

a capacitor adapted to be charged to a voltage of at least 7 volts and adapted to be discharged to provide a pulse sufficient to actuate a latching solenoid controlling an irrigation valve;

a battery having a voltage rating of less than 7 volts, the battery providing operational power to the receiver, the controller and for charging the capacitor; and

a capacitor charging circuit coupling the battery to the capacitor.

9. The receiver unit of claim 8 wherein the battery has a voltage rating of less than 2 volts.

10. The receiver unit of claim 8 wherein the battery comprises a D cell battery having a voltage rating of 1.5 volts.

11. The receiver unit of claim 8 wherein the capacitor charging circuit comprises a switched-inductor based capacitor charging circuit.