Decoder systems and methods for irrigation control
AssigneeHunter Industries, Inc.
InventorPeter John Woytowitz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims20
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.
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.
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 second state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.