Modular and Expandable Irrigation Controller

Abstract

Described herein are several embodiments relating to modular irrigation controllers. In many implementations, the irrigation controllers are modular in that various functional components of the irrigation controller are implemented in removable modules that when inserted into position within the controller, expand the capabilities of the controller. Also described are various different types of expansion modules that may be coupled to the modular controller, having as variety of functions and features, as well as related methods of use and configuration of these modules in the controller. In one implementation, expansion station modules and decoder type modules are used.

1 . A hybrid irrigation controller, comprising: 
 means for entry or selection of a watering program;    means for storing the watering program;    means for providing a plurality of receptacles for removably receiving a plurality of modules;    at least one station module configured for insertion into a first one of the receptacles and connectable to a corresponding solenoid actuated valve through a dedicated field valve line and common return line and including at least one switching device for selectively providing a first power signal that energizes the corresponding solenoid actuated valve;    at least one encoder module configured for insertion into a second one of the receptacles and connectable to a multi-wire path for sending encoded signals and a second power signal along the multi-wire path for selectively energizing one of a plurality of solenoid actuated valves connected to corresponding decoder circuits connected along the multi-wire path; and    processor means for executing the stored watering program and controlling the station module and/or the encoder module in accordance with the stored watering program.    
   
   
       2 . The controller of  claim 1  wherein the multi-wire path includes two wires.  
   
   
       3 . The controller of  claim 1  wherein each multi-wire path includes three wires.  
   
   
       4 . The controller of  claim 1  wherein each of the receptacles includes a card edge connector.  
   
   
       5 . The controller of  claim 1  wherein the station module includes a micro-controller.  
   
   
       6 . The controller of  claim 1  wherein the processor means provides at each receptacle the commands for controlling all of the modules.  
   
   
       7 . The controller of  claim 1  wherein the controller further comprises a back panel in which the receptacles are located.  
   
   
       8 . The controller of  claim 7  wherein the controller further comprises a face pack removably mounted over the back panel and supporting a circuit board on which the processor means is mounted.  
   
   
       9 . The controller of  claim 8  wherein the controller further comprises a door hingedly connected to the back panel for enclosing the face pack.  
   
   
       10 . The controller of  claim 1  and further comprising a master module configured for insertion into a third one of the receptacles and including circuitry for interfacing with a pump.  
   
   
       11 . A hybrid irrigation controller, comprising: 
 a plurality of manually actuable controls for entry or selection of a watering program;    a memory for storing the watering program;    a plurality of receptacles for removably receiving a plurality of modules;    at least one station module configured for insertion into a first one of the receptacles and connectable to a corresponding valve through a dedicated field valve line and common return line and including at least one switching device for selectively providing a first power signal that energizes the corresponding valve;    at least one encoder module configured for insertion into a second one of the receptacles and connectable to a multi-wire path for sending encoded signals and a second power signal along the multi-wire path for selectively energizing one of a plurality of valves connected to corresponding decoder circuits connected along the multi-wire path; and    a processor for executing the stored watering program and controlling the station module and/or the encoder module in accordance with the stored watering program.    
   
   
       12 . The controller of  claim 11  wherein the multi-wire path includes two wires.  
   
   
       13 . The controller of  claim 11  wherein each multi-wire path includes three wires.  
   
   
       14 . The controller of  claim 11  wherein each of the receptacles includes a card edge connector.  
   
   
       15 . The controller of  claim 11  wherein the station module includes a micro-controller.  
   
   
       16 . The controller of  claim 11  wherein the processor means provides at each receptacle the commands for controlling all of the modules.  
   
   
       17 . The controller of  claim 11  wherein the controller further comprises a back panel in which the receptacles are located.  
   
   
       18 . The controller of  claim 17  wherein the controller further comprises a face pack removably mounted over the back panel and supporting a circuit board on which the processor means is mounted.  
   
   
       19 . The controller of  claim 18  wherein the controller further comprises a door hingedly connected to the back panel for enclosing the face pack.  
   
   
       20 . The controller of  claim 11  and further comprising a master module configured for insertion into a third one of the receptacles and including circuitry for interfacing with a pump.  
   
   
       21 . A method of controlling a plurality of valves in an irrigation system, comprising the steps of: 
 entering or selecting a watering program;    selectively energizing a first plurality of valves using dedicated field valve lines and a common return line in accordance with the watering program; and    selectively energizing a second plurality of valves connected to a multi-wire path utilizing encoded signals in accordance with the watering program.    
   
   
       22 . A hybrid irrigation control system, comprising: 
 a plurality of manually actuable controls for entry or selection of a watering program;    a memory for storing the watering program;    a plurality of receptacles for removably receiving a plurality of modules;    a first plurality of valves; at least one station module removably inserted into a first one of the receptacles and connected to the first plurality of valves through corresponding dedicated field valve lines and a common return line and including a plurality of switching devices for supplying a first power signal that selectively energizes the first plurality of valves;    a second plurality of valves; at least one encoder module removably inserted into a second one of the receptacles and connected to a multi-wire path for sending encoded signals and a second power signal along the multi-wire path for selectively energizing the second plurality of valves via decoder circuits connected along the multi-wire path; and    a processor for executing the stored watering program and controlling the station module and/or the encoder module in accordance with the stored watering program.    
   
   
       23 . A hybrid irrigation controller, comprising: 
 means for entry or selection of a watering program;    means for storing the watering program;    means for providing a plurality of receptacles for removably receiving at least one station module and/or at least one encoder module;    the station module being connectable to a corresponding solenoid actuated valve through a dedicated field valve line and common return line and including at least one switching device for selectively providing a first power signal that energizes the corresponding solenoid actuated valve;    the encoder module being connectable to a multi-wire path for sending encoded signals and a second power signal along the multi-wire path for selectively energizing one of a plurality of solenoid actuated valves connected to corresponding decoder circuits connected along the multi-wire path; and    processor means for executing the stored watering program and controlling the station module and/or the encoder module in accordance with the stored watering program.    
   
   
       24 . The controller of  claim 23  wherein the multi-wire path includes two wires.  
   
   
       25 . The controller of  claim 23  wherein each multi-wire path includes three wires.  
   
   
       26 . The controller of  claim 23  wherein each of the receptacles includes a card edge connector.  
   
   
       27 . The controller of  claim 23  wherein the station module includes a micro-controller.  
   
   
       28 . The controller of  claim 23  wherein the processor means provides at each receptacle the commands for controlling all of the modules.  
   
   
       29 . The controller of  claim 23  wherein the controller further comprises a back panel in which the receptacles are located.  
   
   
       30 . The controller of  claim 29  wherein the controller further comprises a face pack removably mounted over the back panel and supporting a circuit board on which the processor means is mounted.  
   
   
       31 . The controller of  claim 30  wherein the controller further comprises a door hingedly connected to the back panel for enclosing the face pack.  
   
   
       32 . The controller of  claim 23  and further comprising a master module configured for insertion into a third one of the receptacles and including circuitry for interfacing with a pump.  
   
   
       33 . A hybrid irrigation controller, comprising: 
 a plurality of manually actuable controls for entry or selection of a watering program;    a memory for storing the watering program;    a plurality of receptacles for removably receiving at least one station module and/or at least one encoder module;    the station module being connectable to a corresponding valve through a dedicated field valve line and common return line and including at least one switching device for selectively providing a first power signal that energizes the corresponding valve;    the encoder module being connectable to a multi-wire path for sending encoded signals and a second power signal along the multi-wire path for selectively energizing one of a plurality of valves connected to corresponding decoder circuits connected along the multi-wire path; and    a processor for executing the stored watering program and controlling the station module and/or the encoder module in accordance with the stored watering program.    
   
   
       34 . The controller of  claim 33  wherein the multi-wire path includes two wires.  
   
   
       35 . The controller of  claim 33  wherein each multi-wire path includes three wires.  
   
   
       36 . The controller of  claim 33  wherein each of the receptacles includes a card edge connector.  
   
   
       37 . The controller of  claim 33  wherein the station module includes a micro-controller.  
   
   
       38 . The controller of  claim 33  wherein the processor means provides at each receptacle the commands for controlling all of the modules.  
   
   
       39 . The controller of  claim 33  wherein the controller further comprises a back panel in which the receptacles are located.  
   
   
       40 . The controller of  claim 39  wherein the controller further comprises a face pack removably mounted over the back panel and supporting a circuit board on which the processor means is mounted.  
   
   
       41 . The controller of  claim 40  wherein the controller further comprises a door hingedly connected to the back panel for enclosing the face pack.  
   
   
       42 . The controller of  claim 33  and further comprising a master module configured for insertion into a third one of the receptacles and including circuitry for interfacing with a pump.  
   
   
       43 . A hybrid irrigation controller, comprising: 
 means for storing a watering program;    means for providing a plurality of module mounting locations for removably receiving a plurality of modules;    at least one expansion module configured for insertion into a first one of the module mounting locations and connectable to a corresponding solenoid actuated valve through a dedicated field valve line and common return line;    at least one encoder module configured for insertion into a second one of the module mounting locations and connectable to a multi-wire path for sending encoded signals a plurality of decoder enabled station valves connected along the multi-wire path; and    processor means for executing the stored watering program and controlling the expansion module and/or the encoder module in accordance with the stored watering program.    
   
   
       44 . A hybrid irrigation controller, comprising: 
 a memory for storing a watering program;    a plurality of module mounting locations for removably receiving a plurality of modules;    at least one expansion module configured for insertion into a first one of the module mounting location and connectable to a corresponding valve through a dedicated field valve line and common return line;    at least one encoder module configured for insertion into a second one of the module mounting locations and connectable to a multi-wire path for sending encoded signals to a plurality of decoder enabled station valves connected along the multi-wire path; and    a processor for executing the stored watering program and controlling the expansion module and/or the encoder module in accordance with the stored watering program.    
   
   
       45 . A hybrid irrigation controller, comprising: 
 means for storing a watering program;    means for providing a plurality of module mounting locations for removably receiving at least one expansion module and/or at least one encoder module;    the expansion module being connectable to a corresponding solenoid actuated valve through a dedicated field valve line and common return line;    the encoder module being connectable to a multi-wire path for sending encoded signals to a plurality of decoder enabled station valves connected along the multi-wire path; and    processor means for executing the stored watering program and controlling the expansion module and/or the encoder module in accordance with the stored watering program.    
   
   
       46 . A hybrid irrigation controller, comprising: 
 a memory for storing the watering program;    a plurality of module mounting locations for removably receiving at least one expansion module and/or at least one encoder module;    the expansion module being connectable to a corresponding valve through a dedicated field valve line and common return line;    the encoder module being connectable to a multi-wire path for sending encoded signals along the multi-wire path to a plurality of decoder enabled station valves connected along the multi-wire path; and    a processor for executing the stored watering program and controlling the expansion module and/or the encoder module in accordance with the stored watering program.