U.S. patent application number 11/496112 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-01 for sprinkler controller with dial position for each function and program content display position.
Invention is credited to Carl L.C. JR. Kah.
Application Number | 20070027558 11/496112 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37695377 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070027558 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kah; Carl L.C. JR. |
February 1, 2007 |
Sprinkler controller with dial position for each function and
program content display position
Abstract
A controller for use in an irrigation system includes a
selector, an indicator associated with the selector for identifying
parameters selected to be set for use in controlling the irrigation
system, indicia positioned on a top surface of the controller which
cooperate with the selector to indicate the parameter being
selected and a display for displaying information regarding the
selected parameters; wherein the indicator includes a program
display position for displaying information regarding all
parameters related to a selected program of operation of the
controller.
Inventors: |
Kah; Carl L.C. JR.; (North
Palm Beach, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OSTROLENK FABER GERB & SOFFEN
1180 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK
NY
100368403
US
|
Family ID: |
37695377 |
Appl. No.: |
11/496112 |
Filed: |
July 31, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60704222 |
Jul 29, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
700/16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G05B 2219/2625 20130101;
A01G 25/16 20130101; G05B 2219/23167 20130101; G05B 2219/23165
20130101; G05B 19/0423 20130101; G05B 2219/23058 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/016 |
International
Class: |
G05B 11/01 20060101
G05B011/01 |
Claims
1. A controller for use in an irrigation system comprises: a
selector; an indicator associated with the selector for identifying
parameters selected to be set for use in controlling the irrigation
system; indicia positioned on a top surface of the controller which
cooperate with the selector to indicate the parameter being
selected; and a display for displaying information regarding the
selected parameters; wherein the indicator includes a program
display position for displaying information regarding all
parameters related to a selected program of operation of the
controller.
2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the parameters include day of
the week, watering start time, sprinkler station number, current
date and current time.
3. The controller of claim 2, wherein the selected program of
operation indicates at least one day of the week, at least one
start time and at least one sprinkler station number to be
activated by the controller in accordance with the selected program
of operation.
4. The controller of claim 3, wherein the selected program of
operation is one of a plurality of programs of operation executable
by the controller.
5. The controller of claim 4, further comprising a switch operable
to select the selected program of operation from the plurality of
programs of operation.
6. The controller of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of
buttons operable to input information into the controller.
7. The controller of claim 6, wherein the plurality of buttons are
operable to set specific values for the selected parameter.
8. The controller of claim 7, further comprising a rain sensor
switch operable to enable a rain switch input to the
controller.
9. The controller of claim 1, wherein the selector is a rotary
switch and the associated indicator is a dial.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims benefit of and priority to
U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/704,222 entitled
SPRINKLER CONTROLLER WITH DIAL POSITION FOR EACH FUNCTION AND
PROGRAM CONTENT DISPLAY POSITION filed Jul. 29, 2005, the entire
contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a controller for use in
controlling an irrigation system. More particularly, the present
invention relates to a controller which includes an option of
displaying all information regarding a program of operation for the
controller at one time on a display of the controller.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ART
[0003] Controllers for use in irrigation systems are well known in
the art. One common controller includes a dial used to set various
parameters to program the controller as desired by the user. These
dials typically include positions for selecting each of the
sprinklers in the irrigation system, the days of the week, just odd
days, just even days, watering start times, and other parameters,
if desired. Typically, a display is included on the controller to
view the selections made and any other information. However, in
these conventional controllers when reviewing the programs it is
necessary to step through switch positions to view the selections
made and the overall program. Thus, in the existing controller, if
a user wants to confirm or later find what a particular program is
running, the user must step through each position of the rotary
switch to determine if that station runs etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
controller for an irrigation system that avoids the problems noted
above.
[0005] A controller for use in an irrigation system in accordance
with an embodiment of the present application includes a selector,
an indicator associated with the selector for identifying
parameters selected to be set for use in controlling the irrigation
system, indicia positioned on a top surface of the controller which
cooperate with the selector to indicate the parameter being
selected and a display for displaying information regarding the
selected parameters; wherein the indicator includes a program
display position for displaying information regarding all
parameters related to a selected program of operation of the
controller.
[0006] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following description of the invention
which refers to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates the controller face of a controller in
accordance with an embodiment of the present application.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0008] A controller 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. The controller 1
preferably includes a selector 2, such as a rotary switch and dial
illustrated in FIG. 1, for selecting the various parameters
controlled by the controller. While the selector 2 is embodied as a
rotary switch and dial in FIG. 1, any appropriate selector may be
used. As illustrated, the selector 2 includes positions to set the
days of the week, start times, only even days, only odd days, an
off position and an auto position similar to a conventional
controller. In addition a switch 4 is provided to enable or disable
an input form a rain sensor, as desired. The use of rain sensors in
conjunction with controllers for irrigation systems is well known
and thus need not be described in further detail herein.
[0009] A second switch 6 is preferably included to select a program
for controlling the irrigation system. As illustrated, the switch 6
allows the selection of one of three pre-programmed watering
schedules or programs, A, B, and C, however, it should be
understood that fewer or more programs may be used and the switch 6
may be modified accordingly. For example, a rotary switch and dial
could be used.
[0010] The controller 1 also includes three buttons, 8a, 8b, and 8c
which are used to input instructions into the controller 1,
preferably in conjunction with the selector 2 and switches 4 and 6
as is well known in the art. Typically, the buttons 8A, 8B, 8C are
used to set specific values for the parameters selected using the
selector 2.
[0011] The controller 1 of the present application also includes a
program display position indicated in FIG. 1 by the words "Display
Program Contents". When the selector 2 is in this position, the
controller 1 will display on the display panel 10 all of the
information regarding a selected program. For example, as
illustrated, the switch 6 indicates that program C has been
selected. The display 10 illustrates the days of the week, the
times of day and the valves that are activated by the controller in
accordance with program C. Thus, a user can easily see what
parameters are set for program C without the need to scroll through
each parameter separately as is common in conventional
controller.
[0012] The controller of FIG. 1 also preferably includes a
microprocessor (not shown) that executes the programs that are set
in the controller and is connected to the selector 2, the switches
4, 6 and the buttons 8A, 8B, 8C to accept instructions for
execution by the controller. The microprocessor is also connected
to the display 10 to control the display of information thereon. A
memory (not shown) is typically connected to or integrated with the
microprocessor and may be used to store the programs A, B and C,
and any other desired information. The use of such microprocessors
and memory is well known in the art and thus need not be described
in further detail herein.
[0013] Although the present invention has been described in
relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations
and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those
skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present
invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but
only by the appended claims.
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