# US 2017/0282199 A1 · Valve detection device and operating method thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0282199 A1 - Document ID: US20170282199A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/476,462 - Filed: 2017-03-31 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-01 - Assignees: Aeon Matrix Inc. - Applicants: Aeon Matrix Inc. - Inventors: Ming-Je TSAI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170282199A1 ## CPC - F16K 37/0041: {for measuring valve parameters (F16K37/0033 takes precedence)} - F16K 31/0675: {Electromagnet aspects, e.g. electric supply therefor} - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} ## Abstract A valve operating method for a sprinkler system with a plurality of electrical valves is disclosed. The method includes the following steps: receiving a user generated query signal; generating a first set of the control signals to a driving circuit of the plurality of electrical valves of the sprinkler system in response to the query signal; generating a detection signal successive to the first set of the control signals; orderly sending the detection signal to the plurality of solenoid valves; and sensing a voltage level of a sensing terminal of the driving circuit, and obtaining a sensing result accordingly. A first sub-circuit of the driving circuit is disabled in response to the first set of the control signals. The valve control device include electronic parts to implement the above-mentioned steps is also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An operating method of a valve control device, wherein the valve control device comprises a driving circuit and the driving circuit comprises a plurality of solenoid valve terminals and a sensing terminal, said operating method comprising: sending a first set of the control signals to the driving circuit; sending a detection signal; sensing a voltage level at the sensing terminal when the detection signal is sent to one of the solenoid valve terminals and obtaining a sensing result accordingly; and repeating the step of sensing the voltage level until all the sensing results of the solenoid valve terminals are obtained, wherein a first sub-circuit of the driving circuit is disabled in response to the first set of the control signals. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The operating method of claim 1, further comprising a step of: sending a second set of the control signals to the driving circuit; wherein a second sub-circuit of the driving circuit is disabled in response to the second set of the control signals. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The operating method of claim 2, further comprising steps of: selectively sending a driving signal to one of the plurality of solenoid valve terminals according to the sensing results; and repeating the step of sending the driving signal until all the sensing results are processed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The operating method of claim 2, wherein the first sub-circuit of the driving circuit and the second sub-circuit of the driving circuit are mutually exclusive. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The operating method of claim 4, wherein the first sub-circuit of the driving circuit and the second sub-circuit of the driving circuit are circuitry-wise identical. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The operating method of claim 4, wherein the first sub-circuit of the driving circuit and the second sub-circuit of the driving circuit are two H-bridge circuits. ### Claim 7 A valve control device, comprising: a driving circuit, comprising: a plurality of solenoid valve terminals which are configured to connect to a plurality of solenoid valves; a sensing terminal; a switch having at least one input terminal and a plurality of output terminals which are electronically coupled to the plurality of solenoid valve terminals, respectively, wherein the switch connects the at least one input terminal with one of the plurality of output terminals according to a switch signal; a first sub-circuit electronically coupled to the at least one input terminal of the switch; and a second sub-circuit electronically coupled to the at least one input terminal of the switch; a microcontroller unit electronically coupled to the driving circuit, sending a first set of the control signals to the driving circuit and sending a detection signal; and a microprocessor electronically coupled to the driving circuit and the microcontroller unit, repeatedly sensing a voltage level at the sensing terminal when the detection signal is sent to one of the solenoid valve terminals and obtaining a sensing result accordingly until all the sensing results of the solenoid valve terminals are obtained, and sending the switch signal to the switch, wherein the first sub-circuit is disabled in response to the first set of the control signals. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The valve control device of claim 7, wherein the microcontroller unit sends a second set of the control signals to the driving circuit, and the second sub-circuit of the driving circuit is disabled in response to the second set of the control signals. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The valve control device of claim 8, wherein the microcontroller unit sends a driving signal to the driving circuit, the microprocessor sends the switch signal to the switch according to the sensing results, and the driving circuit selectively relays the driving signal to one of the plurality of solenoid valve terminals according to the switch signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The valve control device of claim 8, the first sub-circuit of the driving circuit and the second sub-circuit of the driving circuit are mutually exclusive. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The valve control device of claim 10, wherein the first sub-circuit of the driving circuit and the second sub-circuit of the driving circuit are circuitry-wise identical. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The valve control device of claim 10, wherein the first sub-circuit of the driving circuit and the second sub-circuit of the driving circuit are two H-bridge circuits. ### Claim 13 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program, causing a valve control device to perform a valve control process, wherein the valve control device comprises a driving circuit and the driving circuit comprises a plurality of solenoid valve terminals and a sensing terminal, said valve control process comprising: sending a first set of the control signals to the driving circuit; sending a detection signal; sensing a voltage level at the sensing terminal when the detection signal is sent to one of the solenoid valve terminals and obtaining a sensing result accordingly; and repeating the step of sensing the voltage level until all the sensing results of the solenoid valve terminals are obtained, wherein a first sub-circuit of the driving circuit is disabled in response to the first set of the control signals. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the valve control process further comprises a step of: sending a second set of the control signals to the driving circuit; wherein a second sub-circuit of the driving circuit is disabled in response to the second set of the control signals. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the valve control process further comprises steps of: selectively sending a driving signal to one of the plurality of solenoid valve terminals according to the corresponding sensing result; and repeating the step of sending the driving signal until all the sensing results are processed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the first sub-circuit of the driving circuit and the second sub-circuit of the driving circuit are mutually exclusive. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the first sub-circuit of the driving circuit and the second sub-circuit of the driving circuit are circuitry-wise identical. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the first sub-circuit of the driving circuit and the second sub-circuit of the driving circuit are two H-bridge circuits.