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US 9,297,839 B2Granted
Automatic detection of expansion component irrigation controller
AssigneeSkydrop Holdings, LLC
InventorMatt Romney
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosure extends to apparatuses, methods, systems, and computer program products for generating and optimizing irrigation protocols. The disclosure also extends to a system and method for detecting an expansion module in an irrigation system in accordance with the disclosed methods, systems, and computer program products for optimizing water usage in growing plants for yard and crops.
Claims45
A method for detecting an expansion module in an irrigation system comprising:
- powering on an irrigation system having operable irrigation components that are in electronic communication with an irrigation controller;
- wherein the irrigation controller comprises:
- a control unit;
- an added expansion module, wherein the expansion module adds additional functions to the irrigation controller and is configured to be disposed in a stacked configuration;
- and
- an irrigation adaptor, wherein the adaptor is configured to actuate the operable irrigation components that operate according to instructions issued from the control unit;
- wherein the irrigation controller is configured for use as a component of a computer network;
- retrieving a baseline configuration from computer memory;
- sensing a deviation from the baseline configuration wherein the deviation is generated by the added expansion module;
- identifying at least a first added expansion module responsible for the deviation from the baseline;
- retrieving component information regarding the first added expansion module from a component database;
- prompting a user for setup input through a user interface wherein a user prompt comprises the component information regarding the first added expansion module retrieved from the component database;
- and
- generating a new irrigation protocol having instructions for the added expansion module.
11 more elements
A system for detecting an expansion module in an irrigation system comprising:
- an irrigation system comprising plumbing and an irrigation controller, wherein the irrigation system comprises operable irrigation components that are in electronic communication with the irrigation controller;
- an irrigation server connected to the irrigation controller over a computer network, wherein the irrigation controller receives an irrigation protocol from the irrigation server over the computer network, wherein the irrigation controller is configured for use as a component of the computer network;
- wherein the irrigation controller comprises:
- a control unit;
- an expansion module, wherein the expansion module adds additional functions to the irrigation controller and is configured to be disposed in a stacked configuration;
- and
- an irrigation adaptor, wherein the adaptor is configured to actuate the operable irrigation components that operate according to instructions issued from the control unit;
- wherein the control unit comprises:
- a housing substantially enclosing a circuit board;
- a control unit electronic connector providing electronic communication between the circuit board and the irrigation adaptor;
- an electronic display within the housing;
- and
- a user input;
- wherein the control unit is configured to be stacked onto the irrigation adaptor, such that the control unit electronic connector of the control unit mates with a corresponding electronic connector of the irrigation adaptor;
- a baseline configuration that is stored in computer memory, wherein a deviation from the baseline configuration is sensed when the expansion module is attached to the system, wherein the deviation is generated by the expansion module.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.