Landscape controller with feature module
First Claim
1. A landscape controller, comprising:
- a housing;
a back plane housed by the housing;
a control panel mounted to the housing, the control panel including at least one manual control that enables a user to enter and/or select a watering schedule, a display, a memory for storing an operational program for carrying out the watering schedule, a processor capable of executing the operational program, and at least one connecting device;
at least one feature module inserted into the control panel operatively connected to the processor via the at least one connecting device, and configured to provide the control panel with additional functionality not available without the at least one feature module; and
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, the station control circuitry configured to be removably insertable on the back plane.
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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 enables 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.
84 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A landscape controller, comprising:
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a housing; a back plane housed by the housing; a control panel mounted to the housing, the control panel including at least one manual control that enables a user to enter and/or select a watering schedule, a display, a memory for storing an operational program for carrying out the watering schedule, a processor capable of executing the operational program, and at least one connecting device; at least one feature module inserted into the control panel operatively connected to the processor via the at least one connecting device, and configured to provide the control panel with additional functionality not available without the at least one feature module; and 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, the station control circuitry configured to be removably insertable on the back plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A landscape controller, comprising:
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a housing; a control panel associated with the housing including at least one manual control that enables a user to enter and/or select a watering schedule, a display, and a connecting device; a memory storing an operational program for carrying out the watering schedule; a processor capable of executing the operational program; a feature module attached to the control panel, operatively connected to the processor via the connecting device, and configured to provide the control panel with additional functionality not available without the feature module; and 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. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A landscape controller, comprising:
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a plurality of station modules having a plurality of switch circuits for energizing a plurality of valves; a housing including a rear panel having a plurality of receptacles configured to removably receive the plurality of station modules; a feature module; a face pack removably mounted in the rear panel and configured to enable a user to enter and/or select a watering schedule, the face pack including a memory comprising a stored operational program for executing the watering schedule, a processor connected to the memory and configured to execute the operational program and control the plurality of switch circuits in the plurality of station modules in accordance with the watering schedule, and a connecting device to enable the feature module to be removably connected to the face pack to establish a communications path with the processor, the memory further comprising a watering program including at least one locked irrigation feature; the feature module configured to unlock the at least one locked irrigation feature programmed into the watering program when the at least one feature module is connected to the face pack, the processor configured to execute the unlocked at least one irrigation feature, and the feature module not interchangeable with any of the plurality of the station modules.
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Specification