Irrigation Controller With Removable Station Modules

Abstract

An irrigation controller includes a housing for enclosing a microprocessor that stores and executes at least one watering program. The microprocessor has a parallel output bus with a plurality of pin sets for controlling a plurality of irrigation stations. The connection between the controller and the irrigation stations is through a plurality of station modules that are removably coupled, in any desired number, to the various pin sets on the output bus. The number of stations controlled is adjusted by the number of modules connected to the output bus. The controller housing has a pocket for holding a user's manual, which is positioned between the controller housing and a mounting bracket when the controller housing is installed on the mounting bracket.

1 . An irrigation controller system comprising:
 a housing assembly;   a microprocessor disposed in said housing assembly and programmable to run an irrigation schedule;   a selection of station modules independently connectable to said microprocessor;   at least two of said station modules in said selection being interchangeable with one another;   a plurality of slots disposed in said housing assembly, each of said plurality of slots sized to receive a station module;   a routine disposed in said microprocessor for sensing a presence or absence of a station module in each of said plurality of slots; and,   a routine disposed in said microprocessor for programming said irrigation schedule based on said sensing of a presence or absence of a station module in said plurality of slots.   
   
   
       2 . An irrigation controller system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an electrical interface located at one end of each of said plurality of slots and connectable to one end a station module;   said electrical interface connected to a power source suitable for energizing a solenoid connected to said station module.   
   
   
       3 . An irrigation controller system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a locking mechanism associated with each of said plurality of slots for securing a station module in each of said plurality of slots.   
   
   
       4 . An irrigation controller system according to  claim 3 , wherein said locking mechanism is a spring biasing member. 
   
   
       5 . An irrigation controller system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a rain switch interface.   
   
   
       6 . An irrigation controller system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a covering removably disposed on said housing assembly;   said covering sized to enclose said plurality of slots;   
   
   
       7 . An irrigation controller system according to  claim 6 , wherein said covering includes operational controls mounted thereon. 
   
   
       8 . An irrigation controller system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an alignment member associated with each of said plurality of slots for aligning a position of a station module in each of said plurality of slots.   
   
   
       9 . An irrigation controller system according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a guide surface disposed on each of said at least two station modules, said guide surface shaped to interact with said alignment member.   
   
   
       10 . An irrigation controller system according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least two station modules each have a generally rectangular base secured to a generally tapered top. 
   
   
       11 . An irrigation control system comprising:
 a base assembly;   a plurality of station modules, at least two of which being interchangeable with each other;   a microprocessor housed in said base assembly;   a plurality of slots disposed in said base assembly, each of said plurality of slots shaped to receive one of said plurality of station modules;   an electrical interface associated with each of said plurality of slots and connectable to a station module;   an electrical pathway providing an electrical connection between said microprocessor and each electrical interface;   a power source disposed on said base assembly;   said power source providing energy to each electrical interface suitable for operating a solenoid when said electrical interface is connected to a station module.   
   
   
       12 . An irrigation control system according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a power source providing 24VDC to each electrical interface.   
   
   
       13 . An irrigation control system according to  claim 11 , wherein said electrical pathway is an electrical bus. 
   
   
       14 . An irrigation control system according to  claim 13 , wherein said electrical bus is a parallel output bus. 
   
   
       15 . An irrigation control system according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a routine disposed in said microprocessor for sensing a presence or absence of a station module in said plurality of slots.   
   
   
       16 . An irrigation control system according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a routine disposed in said microprocessor for programming a watering schedule in said microprocessor based on sensing a presence or absence of a station module in said plurality of slots.   
   
   
       17 . An irrigation control system according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a locking mechanism associated with each of said plurality of slots for securing a station module in each slot.   
   
   
       18 . An irrigation control system according to  claim 17 , wherein said locking mechanism is a spring biased locking mechanism. 
   
   
       19 . An irrigation controller system comprising:
 a housing;   a collection of individual modules, each individual module connectible to a plurality of watering stations;   a plurality of slots disposed in said housing, each of said slots shaped to receive a portion of one of said individual modules;   at least two individual modules of said collection of individual modules being interchangeable with each other;   a microprocessor disposed in said housing and having an electrical pathway to each of said plurality of slots;   said microprocessor having software with which to sense an insertion of a module into any of said plurality of slots;   said microprocessor having software with which to program a watering schedule based on said sensing of an insertion of a module into any of said plurality of slots.   
   
   
       20 . An irrigation controller system according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a power source disposed in said housing for energizing said watering stations;   said power source providing energy to said watering stations through said electrical pathway to each of said plurality of slots.