Method and apparatus for communicating irrigation data

Abstract

Methods and systems control an irrigation system that includes an irrigation controller, and at least one irrigation sensor connected by a communication circuit. A series of addressing pulses is also generated over the communication circuit, which indicate a device identifier of at least one irrigation sensor. The series of addressing pulses activate at least one irrigation sensor having the device identifier indicated by the series of addressing pulses such that the activated irrigation sensor provides a sensor signal indicative of an irrigation condition to the irrigation controller via the communication network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An irrigation control system, comprising:
 a communication circuit;   an irrigation controller, comprising:
 a processor configured to run an irrigation program, 
 a signal generator configured to generate address information that identifies at least one irrigation sensor and to generate valve control signals for opening and closing an irrigation valve, wherein the irrigation controller is configured to communicate the address information and the valve control signals over the communication circuit, and 
 a data collection module configured to process a sensor signal received via the communication circuit and to execute a control action based on the received sensor signal; 
   at least one irrigation sensor connected to the communication circuit, each of the at least one irrigation sensors associated with a unique device identifier; and   a valve actuator configured to receive the valve control signals from the irrigation controller via the communication circuit and open or close a valve based on the valve control signals.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises:
 a sensor device configured to provide a sensor signal indicative of an irrigation condition to the irrigation controller via the communication circuit, when the sensor device is activated; and   a sensor controller configured to receive address information over the communication circuit, determine if the address information indicates the device identifier of the respective irrigation sensor, and if so activate the sensor device.   
     
     
         3 . The irrigation control system of  claim 1 , wherein the valve actuator comprises a solenoid operably coupled to an irrigation valve, and wherein the valve control signals comprise one or more solenoid actuation pulses and the valve actuator is configured to operate the solenoid to open or close the valve coupled thereto based on the one or more solenoid actuation pulses. 
     
     
         4 . The irrigation control system of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more solenoid actuation pulses comprise bi-polar pulses. 
     
     
         5 . The irrigation control system of  claim 3 , wherein the valve actuator comprises a pulse compression and polarity circuit to operate the solenoid. 
     
     
         6 . The irrigation control system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one irrigation sensor comprises at least one of a rain sensor, a temperature sensor, a moisture sensor, humidity sensor, a radiation sensor, a flow sensor, or a wind sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The irrigation control system of  claim 1 , wherein the communication circuit consists of a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector connecting the irrigation controller, the at least irrigation sensor, and the at least one valve actuator. 
     
     
         8 . The irrigation control system of  claim 7 , wherein the signal generator is further configured to generate a sensor charging signal, and wherein the irrigation controller is configured to communicate the sensor charging signal to the at least one irrigation sensor using the first and second electrical connectors. 
     
     
         9 . The irrigation control system of  claim 8 , wherein the duration of the sensor charging signal is between about 1 millisecond and about 100 milliseconds. 
     
     
         10 . The irrigation control system of  claim 8 , wherein the duration of the sensor charging signal is between 9 milliseconds and 11 milliseconds. 
     
     
         11 . The irrigation control system of  claim 8 , wherein the duration of the sensor charging signal is between about 5 milliseconds and about 25 milliseconds. 
     
     
         12 . The irrigation control system of  claim 1 , wherein the address information includes a series of addressing pulses. 
     
     
         13 . The irrigation control system of  claim 12 , wherein the series of addressing pulses includes between one and ten pulses, and wherein the irrigation controller provides the series of addressing pulses subsequent to a sensor charging pulse. 
     
     
         14 . The irrigation control system of  claim 12 , wherein the series of addressing pulses each have a duration of less than one millisecond. 
     
     
         15 . The irrigation control system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one irrigation sensor comprises a first irrigation sensor and a second irrigation sensor, wherein the first irrigation sensor is associated with a first device identifier and the second irrigation device is associated with a second device identifier. 
     
     
         16 . The irrigation control system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one irrigation sensor further comprises a third irrigation sensor, wherein the third irrigation sensor is associated with a third device identifier. 
     
     
         17 . The irrigation control system of  claim 1 , wherein the control action includes one of raising an alarm signal, actuating a solenoid, deactuating a solenoid, delaying actuation of a solenoid, or adjusting an irrigation time. 
     
     
         18 . An irrigation control system, comprising:
 an irrigation controller configured to:
 generate a sensor charging signal, 
 generate address information that identifies irrigation sensors in communication with the irrigation controller, and 
 execute a control action based on a sensor signal received from an irrigation sensor; 
   a plurality of irrigation sensors each having a unique device identifier and configured to receive power from the sensor charging signal; and   a communication circuit consisting of a first wire and a second wire, the first and second wire electrically coupled to the irrigation controller, each of the plurality of irrigation sensors, and the valve actuator, wherein all communication between the irrigation controller, the plurality of irrigation sensors, and the valve actuator uses the first and second wire.   
     
     
         19 . The irrigation control system of  claim 18 , further comprising a valve actuator configured to receive valve control signals from the irrigation controller and open or close a valve based on the valve control signals, wherein the irrigation controller is further configured to generate the valve control signals to open and close the irrigation valve. 
     
     
         20 . The irrigation control system of  claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of sensors comprises:
 a sensor controller configured to receive address information from the irrigation controller and activate a sensor device if the address information indicates the identifier of the respective irrigation sensor; and   a sensor device configured to, when activated, provide a signal indicative of an irrigation condition to the irrigation controller.