Computer-Operated Landscape Irrigation And Lighting System

Abstract

A multi-zone landscape irrigation and lighting system includes a personal computer equipped with a detachable wireless remote, and a multi-station controller operating a plurality of irrigation valves and lighting circuits in accordance with schedules wirelessly transmitted to it by the computer through the remote. When detached from the computer, the remote can wirelessly operate selected irrigation or lighting zones manually. The computer has an intuitive graphic user interface capable of using actual zone photographs to identify individual zones in a strip of zone icons. The icon strip is movable past a lens-like window, the zone icon under the lens at a given time determining the zone currently programmable. A residential system can be operated by a contractor from the street, and the system can be programmed by e-mail from the contractor's shop. Fully automatic operation may be derived from data obtained over the Internet.

1 . A landscape control system, comprising:
 a first landscape controller connectable to a first plurality of valves controlling a first plurality of independently controllable irrigation zones within a landscape; said first landscape controller directly communicative with a sensor for measuring an irrigation condition for adjusting irrigation; and,   a second landscape controller connectable to a second plurality of valves to control a second plurality of independently controllable irrigation zones within said landscape;   wherein said first landscape controller is configured to directly transmit sensor data from said sensor to said second landscape controller.   
     
     
         2 . The landscape control system of  claim 1 , wherein said sensor for measuring an irrigation condition is a rain sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The landscape control system of  claim 2 , wherein said sensor data is rain sensor status data. 
     
     
         4 . The landscape control system of  claim 1 , wherein said second landscape controller is configured to directly transmit to said first landscape controller to coordinate operation of a master valve. 
     
     
         5 . The landscape control system of  claim 1 , wherein said second landscape controller is configured to directly transmit to said first landscape controller to coordinate operation of said water pump. 
     
     
         6 . The landscape control system of  claim 1 , wherein said first landscape controller and said second landscape controller are part of a plurality of controllers that are logically chained together to relay data between each other. 
     
     
         7 . The landscape control system of  claim 1 , further comprising a personal computer having a wireless transceiver, said personal computer being directly communicative with said first landscape controller. 
     
     
         8 . A landscape control system, comprising:
 a first landscape controller connectable to a first plurality of valves controlling a first plurality of independently controllable irrigation zones within a landscape;   a second landscape controller connectable to a second plurality of valves to control a second plurality of independently controllable irrigation zones within said landscape; said second landscape controller connectable to a master valve controlling water flow to said first plurality of valves and said second plurality of valves;   wherein said first landscape controller is configured to directly transmit to said second landscape controller to coordinate operation of said master valve.   
     
     
         9 . The landscape control system of  claim 8 , wherein said second landscape controller is directly communicative with a rain sensor and wherein said second landscape controller is configured to directly transmit sensor data from said rain sensor to said first landscape controller. 
     
     
         10 . The landscape control system of  claim 9 , wherein said sensor data includes a status of said rain sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The landscape control system of  claim 8 , wherein said first landscape controller is configured to directly transmit to said second landscape controller to coordinate operation of said water pump. 
     
     
         12 . The landscape control system of  claim 8 , wherein first second landscape controller directly transmit a request to turn on said master valve. 
     
     
         13 . The landscape control system of  claim 8 , further comprising a personal computer having a wireless transceiver, said personal computer being directly communicative with said second landscape controller. 
     
     
         14 . A landscape control system, comprising:
 a first landscape controller connectable to a first plurality of valves controlling a first plurality of independently controllable irrigation zones within a landscape;   a second landscape controller connectable to a second plurality of valves to control a second plurality of independently controllable irrigation zones within said landscape; said second landscape controller connectable to a water pump supplying water to said first plurality of valves and said second plurality of valves;   wherein said first landscape controller is configured to directly transmit to said second landscape controller to coordinate operation of said water pump.   
     
     
         15 . The landscape control system of  claim 14 , wherein said first landscape controller is configured to directly transmit to said second landscape controller to coordinate operation of said master valve. 
     
     
         16 . The landscape control system of  claim 14 , wherein said second landscape controller is directly communicative with a rain sensor and wherein said second landscape controller is configured to directly transmit sensor data from said rain sensor to said first landscape controller. 
     
     
         17 . The landscape control system of  claim 16 , wherein said sensor data includes a status of said rain sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The landscape control system of  claim 14 , further comprising a personal computer having a wireless transceiver, said personal computer being directly communicative with said second landscape controller. 
     
     
         19 . The landscape control system of  claim 18 , further comprising a graphical irrigation programming software executable on said personal computer for programming said first landscape controller and said second landscape controller. 
     
     
         20 . The landscape control system of  claim 14 , wherein said first landscape controller and said second landscape controller are part of a plurality of controllers that are logically chained together to relay data between each other.