Decoder systems and methods for irrigation control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11771024-B2
Application number	US-202217578754-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 19, 2022
Priority date	May 26, 2015
Publication date	Oct 3, 2023
Grant date	Oct 3, 2023

Abstract

An irrigation system comprises an irrigation controller that receives user input and provides a power signal and command and message data to an encoder. The encoder encodes the command and message data onto the power signal to provide a data encoded power waveform that is sent over a two-wire path. The irrigation system further comprises one or more decoders in communication with the two-wire path to receive the data encoded power waveform and one or more irrigation valves in communication with the one or more decoders. The data encoded power waveform provides power to the decoders and the decoders decode the command and message data from the data encoded power waveform to control the irrigation valves according to the user input.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A landscape system to selectively power and activate devices along a two-wire communication network using data encoded power waveforms, the landscape system comprising:
a landscape controller comprising:
a first processor configured to generate a control signal responsive to a sensor signal and user information, the control signal having a first state and a second state; and
a first power supply configured to receive an input power signal, provide an AC power signal, and output the data encoded power waveforms, wherein the AC power signal is approximately sinusoidal, the first power supply communicating with the first processor to receive the control signal, pass the AC power signal approximately in-phase when the control signal is in the first state and shift a phase of the AC power signal approximately by 180 degrees when the control signal is in the second state, the first power supply outputting the approximately in-phase AC power signal on the two-wire communication network when the control signal is in the first state and outputting the phase-shifted AC power signal on the two-wire communication network when the control signal is in the second state; and

a local area network module configured to communicate with a local area network and the landscape controller, the local area network module comprising:
a sensor interface configured to receive sensor data from at least one sensor and provide sensor information responsive to the sensor data;
a local area network interface configured to communicate with a user input device over the local area network to receive the user information, wherein the user input device is configured to accept user input from a user and output the user information responsive to the user input;
a second processor configured to communicate with the sensor interface to receive the sensor information and to communicate with the local area network interface to receive the user information, the second processor configured to generate the sensor signal responsive to the sensor information; and
a controller interface configured to communicate the sensor signal and the user information to the landscape controller.

2. The landscape system of claim 1 , wherein the local area network module further comprises memory configured to store the sensor data.

3. The landscape system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor information comprises one or more of flow rate, rain event, temperature, solar radiation, wind speed, relative humidity, motion, voltage, current, and soil moisture.

4. The landscape system of claim 1 , wherein the landscape controller includes the local area network module.

5. The landscape system of claim 1 , wherein the local area network module further comprises a connector that is configured to connect to a cable which connects to the local area network.

6. The landscape system of claim 1 , wherein the local area network interface is an Ethernet interface and the local area network module is configured to communicate with the local area network using an Ethernet protocol.

7. The landscape system of claim 1 , wherein the local area network module further is configured to connect to the local area network using Wi-Fi.

8. The landscape system of claim 1 , wherein the landscape controller is configured to control sprinkler valves and/or lighting fixtures.

9. A local area network module for a landscape system that selectively powers and activates devices along a two-wire communication network using data encoded power waveforms, the local area network module comprising:
a sensor interface configured to receive sensor data from at least one sensor and provide sensor information responsive to the sensor data;
a local area network interface configured to communicate with a user input device over a local area network, wherein the user input device is configured to accept user input from a user and output user information responsive to the user input;
a processor configured to communicate with the sensor interface to receive the sensor information and to communicate with the local area network interface to receive the user information, the processor configured to generate a sensor signal responsive to the sensor information; and
a controller interface configured to communicate with the processor to receive the sensor signal and the user information, the controller interface further configured to communicate the sensor signal and the user information to a landscape controller;
wherein the landscape controller is configured to generate a control signal responsive to the sensor signal and the user information, the control signal having a first state and a second state, the landscape controller further configured to provide an AC power signal that is approximately sinusoidal and output the data encoded power waveform, wherein the landscape controller passes the AC power signal approximately in-phase when the control signal is in the first state and shifts a phase of the AC power signal by approximately 180 degrees when the control signal is in the second state, the landscape controller further configured to output the approximately in-phase AC power signal on the two-wire communication network when the control signal is in the first state and output the phase-shifted AC power signal on the two-wire communication network when the control signal is in the second state.

10. The local area network module of claim 9 further comprising memory configured to store the sensor data.

11. The local area network module of claim 9 , wherein the sensor information comprises one or more of flow rate, rain event, temperature, solar radiation, wind speed, relative humidity, motion, voltage, current, and soil moisture.

12. The local area network module of claim 9 , wherein the landscape controller includes the local area network module.

13. The local area network module of claim 9 further comprising a connector that is configured to connect to a cable which connects to the local area network.

14. The local area network module of claim 9 , wherein the local area network interface is an Ethernet interface.

15. The local area network module of claim 9 , wherein the local area network interface further is configured to connect to the local area network using Wi-Fi.

16. The local area network module of claim 9 , wherein the landscape controller is configured to control sprinkler valves and/or lighting fixtures.

17. A method to selectively power and activate landscape devices along a two-wire communication network using data encoded power waveforms, the method comprising:
receiving sensor data from at least one sensor and providing sensor information responsive to the sensor data;
receiving, over a local area network, user information responsive to user input from a user;
generating a sensor signal responsive to the sensor information;
generating a control signal responsive to the sensor signal and user information, the control signal having a first state and a second state;
providing an AC power signal that is approximately sinusoidal;
generating the data encoded power waveforms by passing the AC power signal approximately in-phase when the control signal is in the first state and shifting a phase of the AC power signal approximately by 180 degrees when the control signal is in the second state; and
outputting the approximately in-phase AC power signal on the two-wire communication network when the control signal is in the first state and outputting the phase-shifted AC power signal on the two-wire communication network when the control signal is in the

Assignees

• Hunter Industries

Inventors

• Woytowitz Peter John

Classifications

• A01G25/162

  Sequential operation · CPC title

• G05B19/0423 Primary

  Input/output · CPC title

• A01G25/165 Primary

  Cyclic operations, timing systems, timing valves, impulse operations · CPC title

• A01G25/02

  Watering arrangements located above the soil which make use of perforated pipe-lines or pipe-lines with dispensing fittings, e.g. for drip irrigation · CPC title

• G05F1/12

  wherein the variable actually regulated by the final control device is AC (G05F1/625 takes precedence) · CPC title