Wireless extension to an irrigation control system and related methods

• US 8,504,210 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2012
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Inventors: Ensworth, Mark M., Booth, Barbara E., Thornton, Dean C., Fern, David G., Hern, Randall A., Napier, Malcolm N.
• Primary Examiner(s): HARTMAN JR, RONALD D
• Application Number:
  US13/475,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20120232708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 700282-284, 239 63- 64, 239 67- 71, 137/78.2, 137/78.3
• US Class Current: 700/282
• 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 method for use in controlling irrigation comprising:

receiving, at a first controller of a transmitter unit via a connector, an indication that an irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station,

the connector coupled to the irrigation controller,

the irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors for activating irrigation stations,

wherein the transmitter unit has a user interface comprising one or more user inputs;

causing, responsive to the indication, transmission of a wireless activation signal by a signal transmitter coupled to the first controller, the wireless activation signal configured for receipt at a wireless receiver unit located remotely from the transmitter unit and coupled to an actuator and an actuatable device; and

sensing, using sensor circuitry, an electrical signal applied to one or more of the station actuation output connectors of the irrigation controller, the electrical signal providing the indication that the irrigation controller has activated the irrigation station.

2. A method for use in controlling irrigation comprising:

receiving, at a first controller of a transmitter unit via a connector, an indication that an irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station,

the connector coupled to the irrigation controller,

the irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors for activating irrigation stations,

wherein the transmitter unit has a user interface comprising one or more user inputs;

causing, responsive to the indication, transmission of a wireless activation signal by a signal transmitter coupled to the first controller, the wireless activation signal configured for receipt at a wireless receiver unit located remotely from the transmitter unit and coupled to an actuator and an actuatable device; and

causing re-transmission of the wireless activation signal a plurality of times by the signal transmitter, randomizing a time interval between transmissions.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the receiving step comprises the first controller is configured to sampling an input of the first controller to receive the indication;

and

wherein the causing the transmission step comprises;

causing transmission of a given wireless activation signal by the signal transmitter upon receipt of the indication,

waiting a random time interval;

re-sampling the input; and

causing transmission of a subsequent wireless activation signal in the event the indication is again received.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the time interval between each subsequent transmission of the wireless activation signal is a time period selected from a plurality of discrete time periods.

5. A method for use in controlling irrigation comprising:

receiving, at a first controller of a transmitter unit via a connector, an indication that an irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station,

the connector coupled to the irrigation controller,

the irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors for activating irrigation stations,

wherein the transmitter unit has a user interface comprising one or more user inputs;

causing, responsive to the indication, transmission of a wireless activation signal by a signal transmitter coupled to the first controller, the wireless activation signal configured for receipt at a wireless receiver unit located remotely from the transmitter unit and coupled to an actuator and an actuatable device;

receiving, at a signal receiver of the receiver unit, the wireless activation signal from the wireless transmitter unit;

receiving, at a second controller coupled to the signal receiver, a message contained in the wireless activation signal;

causing, responsive to the message, an activation circuit coupled to the second controller to output signaling; and

causing, responsive to the output signaling, the actuator to actuate the actuatable device;

wherein the actuatable device comprises an irrigation valve controlling the flow of water therethrough and wherein the activation circuit comprises;

a capacitor configured to be charged to a first voltage and configured to be discharged to provide a pulse sufficient to actuate the actuator controlling the 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 unit, the second 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 second controller, the switch controls the flow of current through the inductor.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the capacitor charging circuit includes a diode coupling the inductor to the capacitor.

7. A method for use in controlling irrigation comprising:

receiving, at a first controller of a transmitter unit via a connector, an indication that an irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station,

the connector coupled to the irrigation controller,

the irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors for activating irrigation stations,

wherein the transmitter unit has a user interface comprising one or more user inputs;

causing, responsive to the indication, transmission of a wireless activation signal by a signal transmitter coupled to the first controller, the wireless activation signal configured for receipt at a wireless receiver unit located remotely from the transmitter unit and coupled to an actuator and an actuatable device;

receiving, at a signal receiver of the receiver unit, the wireless activation signal from the wireless transmitter unit;

receiving, at a second controller coupled to the signal receiver, a message contained in the wireless activation signal;

causing, responsive to the message, an activation circuit coupled to the second controller to output signaling; and

causing, responsive to the output signaling, the actuator to actuate the actuatable device;

wherein the activation circuit comprises;

a capacitor configured to be charged to a voltage of at least 7 volts and configured to be discharged to provide a pulse sufficient to actuate the actuator controlling the irrigation valve;

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

a capacitor charging circuit coupling the battery to the capacitor.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the battery comprises a D cell battery having a voltage rating of 1.5 volts.

9. A method for use in controlling irrigation comprising:

receiving, at a first controller of a transmitter unit via a connector, an indication that an irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station,

the connector coupled to the irrigation controller,

the irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors for activating irrigation stations,

wherein the transmitter unit has a user interface comprising one or more user inputs;

causing, responsive to the indication, transmission of a wireless activation signal by a signal transmitter coupled to the first controller, the wireless activation signal configured for receipt at a wireless receiver unit located remotely from the transmitter unit and coupled to an actuator and an actuatable device; and

putting the transmitter unit into a learning mode in order to be paired with the wireless receiver unit when the one or more user inputs are manipulated by a user.

10. A method for use in controlling irrigation comprising:

receiving, at a first controller of a transmitter unit via a connector, an indication that an irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station,

the connector coupled to the irrigation controller,

the irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors for activating irrigation stations,

wherein the transmitter unit has a user interface comprising one or more user inputs;

causing, responsive to the indication, transmission of a wireless activation signal by a signal transmitter coupled to the first controller, the wireless activation signal configured for receipt at a wireless receiver unit located remotely from the transmitter unit and coupled to an actuator and an actuatable device; and

causing the transmitter unit to transmit a test signal to the wireless receiver unit when the one or more user inputs are manipulated by a user.

11. A method for use in controlling irrigation comprising:

receiving, at a first controller of a transmitter unit via a connector, an indication that an irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station,

the connector coupled to the irrigation controller,

the irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors for activating irrigation stations,

wherein the transmitter unit has a user interface comprising one or more user inputs;

causing, responsive to the indication, transmission of a wireless activation signal by a signal transmitter coupled to the first controller, the wireless activation signal configured for receipt at a wireless receiver unit located remotely from the transmitter unit and coupled to an actuator and an actuatable device; and

allowing, via the one or more user inputs, a user to input a number of actuators supported by a given wireless receiver unit to be paired to the transmitter unit.

12. A method for use in controlling irrigation comprising:

receiving, at a first controller of a transmitter unit via a connector, an indication that an irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station,

the connector coupled to the irrigation controller,

the irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors for activating irrigation stations,

wherein the transmitter unit has a user interface comprising one or more user inputs;

causing, responsive to the indication, transmission of a wireless activation signal by a signal transmitter coupled to the first controller, the wireless activation signal configured for receipt at a wireless receiver unit located remotely from the transmitter unit and coupled to an actuator and an actuatable device; and

allowing, via the one or more user inputs, a user to input one or more of the irrigation stations to associate to the wireless receiver unit.

13. A method for use in controlling irrigation comprising:

receiving, at a first controller of a transmitter unit via a connector, an indication that an irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station,

the connector coupled to the irrigation controller,

the irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors for activating irrigation stations,

wherein the transmitter unit has a user interface comprising one or more user inputs;

causing, responsive to the indication, transmission of a wireless activation signal by a signal transmitter coupled to the first controller, the wireless activation signal configured for receipt at a wireless receiver unit located remotely from the transmitter unit and coupled to an actuator and an actuatable device;

wherein the user interface further comprises a display screen; and

displaying with the display screen which of the irrigation stations are associated with the wireless receiver unit.

14. A method for use in controlling irrigation comprising:

receiving, at a first controller of a transmitter unit via a connector, an indication that an irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station,

the connector coupled to the irrigation controller,

the irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors for activating irrigation stations,

wherein the transmitter unit has a user interface comprising one or more user inputs;

causing, responsive to the indication, transmission of a wireless activation signal by a signal transmitter coupled to the first controller, the wireless activation signal configured for receipt at a wireless receiver unit located remotely from the transmitter unit and coupled to an actuator and an actuatable device;

wherein the user interface further comprises a display screen; and

displaying with the display screen a low battery indicator associated with the wireless receiver unit.

15. A method for use in controlling irrigation comprising:

receiving, at a first controller of a transmitter unit via a connector, an indication that an irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station,

the connector coupled to the irrigation controller,

the irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors for activating irrigation stations,

wherein the transmitter unit has a user interface comprising one or more user inputs;

causing, responsive to the indication, transmission of a wireless activation signal by a signal transmitter coupled to the first controller, the wireless activation signal configured for receipt at a wireless receiver unit located remotely from the transmitter unit and coupled to an actuator and an actuatable device;

wherein the user interface further comprises a display screen; and

displaying with the display screen a status of the transmitter unit.

16. A method for use in controlling irrigation comprising:

receiving, at a first controller of a transmitter unit via a connector, an indication that an irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station,

the connector coupled to the irrigation controller,

the irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors for activating irrigation stations,

wherein the transmitter unit has a user interface comprising one or more user inputs;

causing, responsive to the indication, transmission of a wireless activation signal by a signal transmitter coupled to the first controller, the wireless activation signal configured for receipt at a wireless receiver unit located remotely from the transmitter unit and coupled to an actuator and an actuatable device;

wherein the user interface further comprises a display screen; and

displaying via the display screen that the transmitter unit has received the indication that the irrigation controller has activated the irrigation station.

17. A method for use in controlling irrigation comprising:

receiving, at a first controller of a transmitter unit via a connector, an indication that an irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station,

the connector coupled to the irrigation controller,

the irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors for activating irrigation stations,

wherein the transmitter unit has a user interface comprising one or more user inputs;

causing, responsive to the indication, transmission of a wireless activation signal by a signal transmitter coupled to the first controller, the wireless activation signal configured for receipt at a wireless receiver unit located remotely from the transmitter unit and coupled to an actuator and an actuatable device;

receiving, at the first controller, an indication that the irrigation controller has deactivated the irrigation station; and

causing, at the first controller, a wireless deactivation signal to be transmitted by the signal transmitter, the wireless deactivation signal configured for receipt at the wireless receiver unit.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the actuatable device comprises an irrigation valve controlling the flow of water therethrough.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the connector of the transmitter unit includes a power connection configured to be coupled to the irrigation controller to receive operational power.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the irrigation controller is contained within a first housing and the transmitter unit is contained within a second housing separate from the first housing.

21. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

receiving, at a signal receiver of the receiver unit, the wireless activation signal from the wireless transmitter unit;

receiving, at a second controller coupled to the signal receiver, a message contained in the wireless activation signal;

causing, responsive to the message, an activation circuit coupled to the second controller to output signaling; and

causing, responsive to the output signaling, the actuator to actuate the actuatable device.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the actuatable device comprises an irrigation valve controlling the flow of water therethrough.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

receiving the wireless activation signal at one or more additional receiver units, each configured to be coupled to an additional actuator coupled to an additional actuatable device, the additional actuator configured to actuate the additional actuatable device; and

causing, at each of the one or more additional receiver units and in response to the receiving, the additional actuator to actuate the additional actuatable device.

24. The method of claim 17 wherein the one or more user inputs comprise one or more buttons.

25. The method of claim 17 further comprising changing an operational state of the transmitter unit when the one or more user inputs are manipulated by a user.

26. The method of claim 17 wherein the user interface further comprises a display screen.

27. The method of claim 17 further comprising sensing, using sensor circuitry, a lapse of the electrical signal applied to the one or more of the station actuation output connectors of the irrigation controller, the lapse of the electrical signal providing the indication that the irrigation controller has deactivated the irrigation station.

28. The method of claim 17 further comprising outputting signaling, at the wireless receiver unit, to cause the actuator to deactuate the actuatable device in response to receiving the wireless deactivation signal or in response to expiration of a predetermined time period.

29. The method of claim 17 wherein the connector comprises an input connector configured to be coupled by wireline to an output connector of the irrigation controller.

30. The method of claim 17 wherein the connector comprises an input connector configured to be coupled to one or more of the station actuation output connectors of the irrigation controller.

31. A method for use in controlling irrigation comprising:

receiving, at a first controller of a transmitter unit, an indication that an irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station,

the transmitter unit including the first controller and a user interface comprising one or more user inputs,

the transmitter unit having a connector configured to be coupled to the irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors for activating stations;

causing the transmitter unit to transmit a wireless activation signal responsive to the indication, the wireless activation signal being configured to be received by a receiver unit, the receiver unit configured to be coupled to an actuator coupled to an actuatable device, the actuator configured to actuate the actuatable device, the receiver unit configured to cause the actuator to actuate the irrigation valve in response to receiving the wireless activation signal;

receiving, at the first controller, an indication that the irrigation controller has deactivated the irrigation station; and

causing the transmitter to transmit a wireless deactivation signal responsive to the indication that the irrigation controller has deactivated the irrigation station, the wireless deactivation signal configured to be received by the receiver unit.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the user interface further comprises a display screen.