U.S. patent application number 12/760356 was filed with the patent office on 2010-08-05 for irrigation controller with removable station modules.
Invention is credited to Peter M.F. Tam, Jonathan D. Williams.
Application Number | 20100198418 12/760356 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23210664 |
Filed Date | 2010-08-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100198418 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Williams; Jonathan D. ; et
al. |
August 5, 2010 |
Irrigation Controller With Removable Station Modules
Abstract
An irrigation controller includes a housing for enclosing a
microprocessor that stores and executes at least one watering
program. The microprocessor has a parallel output bus with a
plurality of pin sets for controlling a plurality of irrigation
stations. The connection between the controller and the irrigation
stations is through a plurality of station modules that are
removably coupled, in any desired number, to the various pin sets
on the output bus. The number of stations controlled is adjusted by
the number of modules connected to the output bus. The controller
housing has a pocket for holding a user's manual, which is
positioned between the controller housing and a mounting bracket
when the controller housing is installed on the mounting
bracket.
Inventors: |
Williams; Jonathan D.;
(Riverside, CA) ; Tam; Peter M.F.; (Irvine,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
INSKEEP INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GROUP, INC
2281 W. 190TH STREET, SUITE 200
TORRANCE
CA
90504
US
|
Family ID: |
23210664 |
Appl. No.: |
12/760356 |
Filed: |
April 14, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12023972 |
Jan 31, 2008 |
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12760356 |
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11282454 |
Nov 17, 2005 |
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12023972 |
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10887367 |
Jul 6, 2004 |
6996457 |
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11282454 |
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10198849 |
Jul 19, 2002 |
6772050 |
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10887367 |
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09400031 |
Sep 21, 1999 |
6459959 |
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10198849 |
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08904125 |
Jul 28, 1997 |
5956248 |
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09400031 |
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08312268 |
Sep 23, 1994 |
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08904125 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
700/284 ;
700/295 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G05B 2219/25314
20130101; G05B 2219/2625 20130101; G05B 2219/25328 20130101; A01G
25/16 20130101; G05B 19/042 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/284 ;
700/295 |
International
Class: |
G05D 7/06 20060101
G05D007/06; G06F 1/26 20060101 G06F001/26 |
Claims
1. An irrigation controller system comprising: a housing assembly;
a microprocessor disposed in said housing assembly and programmable
to run an irrigation schedule; a selection of station modules
independently connectable to said microprocessor; at least two of
said station modules in said selection being interchangeable with
one another; a plurality of slots disposed in said housing
assembly, each of said plurality of slots sized to receive a
station module; a routine disposed in said microprocessor for
sensing a presence or absence of a station module in each of said
plurality of slots; and, a routine disposed in said microprocessor
for programming said irrigation schedule based on said sensing of a
presence or absence of a station module in said plurality of
slots.
2. An irrigation controller system according to claim 1, further
comprising: an electrical interface located at one end of each of
said plurality of slots and connectable to one end a station
module; said electrical interface connected to a power source
suitable for energizing a solenoid connected to said station
module.
3. An irrigation controller system according to claim 1, further
comprising: a locking mechanism associated with each of said
plurality of slots for securing a station module in each of said
plurality of slots.
4. An irrigation controller system according to claim 3, wherein
said locking mechanism is a spring biasing member.
5. An irrigation controller system according to claim 1, further
comprising: a rain switch interface.
6. An irrigation controller system according to claim 1, further
comprising: a covering removably disposed on said housing assembly;
said covering sized to enclose said plurality of slots;
7. An irrigation controller system according to claim 6, wherein
said covering includes operational controls mounted thereon.
8. An irrigation controller system according to claim 1, further
comprising: an alignment member associated with each of said
plurality of slots for aligning a position of a station module in
each of said plurality of slots.
9. An irrigation controller system according to claim 8, further
comprising: a guide surface disposed on each of said at least two
station modules, said guide surface shaped to interact with said
alignment member.
10. An irrigation controller system according to claim 1, wherein
said at least two station modules each have a generally rectangular
base secured to a generally tapered top.
11. An irrigation control system comprising: a base assembly; a
plurality of station modules, at least two of which being
interchangeable with each other; a microprocessor housed in said
base assembly; a plurality of slots disposed in said base assembly,
each of said plurality of slots shaped to receive one of said
plurality of station modules; an electrical interface associated
with each of said plurality of slots and connectable to a station
module; an electrical pathway providing an electrical connection
between said microprocessor and each electrical interface; a power
source disposed on said base assembly; said power source providing
energy to each electrical interface suitable for operating a
solenoid when said electrical interface is connected to a station
module.
12. An irrigation control system according to claim 11, further
comprising: a power source providing 24 VDC to each electrical
interface.
13. An irrigation control system according to claim 11, wherein
said electrical pathway is an electrical bus.
14. An irrigation control system according to claim 13, wherein
said electrical bus is a parallel output bus.
15. An irrigation control system according to claim 11, further
comprising: a routine disposed in said microprocessor for sensing a
presence or absence of a station module in said plurality of
slots.
16. An irrigation control system according to claim 15, further
comprising: a routine disposed in said microprocessor for
programming a watering schedule in said microprocessor based on
sensing a presence or absence of a station module in said plurality
of slots.
17. An irrigation control system according to claim 11, further
comprising: a locking mechanism associated with each of said
plurality of slots for securing a station module in each slot.
18. An irrigation control system according to claim 17, wherein
said locking mechanism is a spring biased locking mechanism.
19. An irrigation controller system comprising: a housing; a
collection of individual modules, each individual module
connectible to a plurality of watering stations; a plurality of
slots disposed in said housing, each of said slots shaped to
receive a portion of one of said individual modules; at least two
individual modules of said collection of individual modules being
interchangeable with each other; a microprocessor disposed in said
housing and having an electrical pathway to each of said plurality
of slots; said microprocessor having software with which to sense
an insertion of a module into any of said plurality of slots; said
microprocessor having software with which to program a watering
schedule based on said sensing of an insertion of a module into any
of said plurality of slots.
20. An irrigation controller system according to claim 19, further
comprising: a power source disposed in said housing for energizing
said watering stations; said power source providing energy to said
watering stations through said electrical pathway to each of said
plurality of slots.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to an irrigation controller for
controlling the operation of an irrigation system pursuant to a
watering schedule that may be programmed by the user. More
particularly, this invention relates to an irrigation controller
for controlling multiple irrigation stations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Irrigation controllers are known for controlling the
operation of an irrigation system in accordance with the passage of
time. Most controllers operate a plurality of watering stations and
will retain or store a watering program established by the user.
This program typically allows the user to pick what days the
sprinklers will operate, what time of day that irrigation will
begin, and how long each station will operate. Some controllers
allow multiple watering programs to be stored.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,262,936 discloses a microprocessor based
controller in which the controller base unit has drivers and
switches for controlling some number of irrigation stations that is
less than the maximum number that can be controlled. The station
handling ability of the controller can be expanded by plugging in
additional modules with each module having drivers and switches for
an additional number of stations. The modules when connected extend
and are part of a serial bus structure in the controller. The
modules known in this prior controller are quite large and when
connected to the base unit of the controller take up considerable
space exteriorly of the base unit, leading to problems in finding
sufficient space to receive them all and in attaching all of the
modules in a secure fashion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] This invention relates to an irrigation controller which
comprises a housing having microprocessor means for storing and
executing a watering program for controlling a plurality of
irrigation stations. The microprocessor means includes a parallel
output bus within the housing having a plurality of separate
station output pins for controlling the irrigation stations with
one station output pin used for controlling each station. At least
one module is removably plugged into at least one of the station
output pins on the output bus. The module has a terminal suited for
receiving an electrical lead wire extending to the irrigation
station, and further has driver and switch means for activating the
station as commanded by the base unit over the at least one station
output pin.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] This invention will be described in more detail in the
following Detailed Description, taken in conjunction with the
following drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like
elements throughout.
[0006] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an improved irrigation
controller according to this invention, particularly illustrating
the controller housing and front panel with its associated controls
and displays and having a portion of the controller broken away to
illustrate one of the removable station modules installed inside
the controller housing;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the controller shown in
FIG. 1, particularly illustrating the controller housing and its
attachment to a mounting bracket on which the controller housing is
removably installed;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the controller shown in FIG. 1,
particularly illustrating the controller housing and its mounting
bracket;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the controller shown in FIG.
1 with the controller housing in place on its mounting bracket;
[0010] FIG. 5 is an exploded, rear elevational view of the
controller shown in FIG. 1, particularly illustrating the
controller housing detached from the mounting bracket and the
pocket provided on the back of the controller housing for holding a
user manual for the controller;
[0011] FIG. 6 is an enlarged front elevational view of one of the
station modules of the controller with the module shown installed
in the controller of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 7-7 of
FIG. 6, particularly illustrating how the station module is
installed in the controller of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 8 is a partial front elevational view of the controller
shown in FIG. 1, with the terminal strip cover being removed to
show two station modules for controlling four irrigation stations
and the rain sensor, 24 V AC and pump and common outputs contained
on the terminal strip; and
[0014] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of one of the station modules
used in the controller of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] This invention relates to an irrigation controller 2 for
controlling the operation of an irrigation system in a timed
manner. More specifically, controller 2 allows the user to select
or input at least one watering program comprising the following
parameters of irrigation system operation: [0016] which days the
sprinklers will operate in a particular 7 day window (i.e. a
calendar sequence) or the interval between successive operational
days up to a maximum interval of 7 days (i.e. an interval
sequence), the operational days being known as "active days";
[0017] when the sprinklers come on during the active days, known as
the "start times", with up to four start times being selectable;
and [0018] how long the sprinklers will run after each start, known
as the "run times".
[0019] Controller 2 is adapted to control a plurality of separate
watering "stations" in the irrigation system. Each station
comprises one or more sprinklers grouped together to operate
simultaneously off the same irrigation valve V. Each irrigation
valve V includes an actuator, such as an electrical solenoid S,
which is operated by a control signal from controller 2 to turn
valve V on.
[0020] Controller 2 of this invention can be easily adapted to
control different numbers of stations up to a total of eight
stations. A four station controller 2 is illustrated in this
application. Referring to FIG. 8, the four stations are illustrated
by the four separate irrigation valves V1, V2, V3 and V4 wired to
controller 2. There will be six irrigation valves V1-V6 wired to
controller 2 in a six station controller, eight valves V1-V8 in an
eight station controller, and so on. While eight is the maximum
number of stations that can be controlled by controller 2 shown
herein, the maximum number of stations can obviously be adjusted to
a larger number if so desired.
[0021] For each watering program stored in controller 2, a run time
may be set individually for each separate station, i.e. different
stations may have different run times depending on operator
preference. However, the selections of active days and start times
apply to all stations as a group within each watering program.
Thus, when an active day and start time is reached when executing a
particular watering program, controller 2 will operate the
irrigation system by sequencing through the stations and operating
each station for the run time which has been set for that station
on that particular program. Sequential operation of the stations is
preferred to decrease the demands on the water delivery capacity of
the irrigation system.
[0022] Controller 2 incorporates a microprocessor (not shown) of
any suitable design which comprises a timing, memory, logic and
control means. The microprocessor monitors the passage of time and
executes whatever watering program has been input and selected by
the user for execution. Operational flexibility is achieved by
allowing controller 2 to store and execute multiple watering
programs so that a different combination of active days, start
times, and run times can be stored in different programs if so
desired. The microprocessor can also permanently store a default
watering program for use if the user fails to input a customized
watering program or programs of the user's own design.
[0023] Typical irrigation controllers based on the use of
microprocessors are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,262,936 and
5,272,620, owned by the assignee of this application. These patents
are hereby incorporated by reference.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 1, the electronic components of controller
2, including the microprocessor, are contained within a housing 4
of any suitable design. As will be described in more detail
hereafter, housing 4 may be mounted on a wall 5 using a mounting
bracket 6. Housing 4 includes a front panel 8 having various
operational controls which may be manipulated by the user to
activate control functions of controller 2 or to input information
into controller 2. In addition, controller 2 includes a display
device 10 for displaying information to the user.
[0025] The operational controls of controller 2 include a rotary
knob or dial 12 for selecting various ones of the programmable
parameters that can be input and stored in a watering program, and
various push button controls identified generally as 14. Push
button controls 14 include "up/down" or "plus/minus" keys 14a, 14b
for incrementing or decrementing the value of a particular
parameter when programming the controller, an "enter" key 14c for
accepting a particular value of a parameter and for proceeding to
the next step in the programming sequence, and an "escape" key 14d
to start over during programming. Thus, by rotating dial 12 to a
particular position corresponding to a particular parameter that
can be input, the user can then manipulate controls 14 to input and
store values for the selected parameter while observing in display
device 10 the values as they are being input for that parameter
through the operation of controls 14.
[0026] The type of watering program stored in controller 2, namely
the number and nature of the parameters that can be set and stored
in a watering program and then executed by controller 2, can
obviously be varied. In addition, the nature of the operational
controls 12, 14 used to input the watering program or access the
features of controller 2 can also obviously be changed. This
invention relates to other features of controller 2, to be
described in detail hereafter, that can be used generally on any
irrigation controller that controls a plurality of stations,
without being limited to controller 2 as shown herein.
[0027] A lower portion of controller 2 houses an input/output
terminal area, identified generally as 16, behind an easily
removable access strip or panel 18. Panel 18 is configured to snap
onto and off of controller housing 4 using known tab and slot
connections. Terminal area 16 includes space for three, terminal
blocks 20a, 20b, and 20c which are hardwired into place. In
addition, terminal area 16 includes space for up to four,
two-station modules 22a, 22b, etc. that are used to connect
controller 2 to the irrigation stations comprising valves V.
Station modules 22 are generally identical to one another and are
easily removable from controller 2--modules 22 simply plug into
controller 2 and can be easily unplugged from controller 2 in a
manner to be described shortly.
[0028] Terminal blocks 20 and station modules 22 each have two
snap-in wire terminals 24a, 24b therein for receiving two
connecting wires. Such terminals are well known in the electrical
connection art. They each have a pivotal lever 26 that may be
rotated 90.degree. from an open position (where lever 26 is
vertical and the wire may be inserted into the terminal) to a
generally closed position (where lever 26 is horizontal and the
wire is clamped or retained in the terminal). The use of such
snap-in wire terminals is preferred as it eases the task of
connecting the necessary wires to controller 2. Other quick
coupling devices could be used, or conventional screw type
terminals could be used, in place of snap-in terminals 24a,
24b.
[0029] The nature of the wires that are connected to the various
terminal blocks 20 and station modules 22 will vary. For example,
the first terminal block 20a connects to the two lead wires of a
rain switch (not shown) which determines if it is raining and
allows controller 2 to cease operation in the case of rain. A
typical rain switch of the type which may be connected to terminal
block 20a is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,083, which is hereby
incorporated by reference. An on/off switch 28 can be mounted in
terminal area 16 immediately above terminal block 20a for the rain
switch. In the off position of switch 28, the rain switch input is
ignored by controller 2 such that the detection of rain will not
affect the operation of controller 2 or the irrigation system.
[0030] The second terminal block 20b is used for the convenient
connection of an external electrical transformer 30 used to provide
AC power to controller 2. Transformer 30 will be wired or plugged
into a standard AC power source such as 120V AC power, and will
provide 24V AC power to controller 2. Ultimately, such 24V AC power
will be used to activate solenoids S on irrigation valves V.
Additionally, such power can be routed through one of the terminals
in terminal block 20c to activate a solenoid S on a master valve or
a relay on an irrigation pump. This is required in irrigation
systems where a source of pressurized water is not continually
present upstream of valves V, but is provided only when irrigation
is to take place. In this event, either a master valve supplying
valves V must first be opened, or a pump started, to ensure supply
of pressurized water to valves V.
[0031] The third terminal block 20c as noted above uses one of the
snap-in terminals, namely terminal 24a, as a master valve or pump
relay output for supplying 24V AC power from controller 2 to these
components. The other terminal 24b in terminal block 20c is used as
a common wire connection COM to ground. Thus, all of the common
wires for all of the irrigation valves V may be spliced together,
as shown in FIG. 8, and connected to ground using the common wire
terminal 24b in terminal block 20c. In addition, when operating a
master valve or pump, the common wire for such master valve or pump
may also be spliced into and connected to the common wire
connection COM leading to common wire terminal 24b.
[0032] Station modules 22 are used to allow controller 2 to control
a desired number of stations determined by the number of modules 22
that are installed. Each module 22 has two snap-in terminals 24a,
24b for controlling two stations, with each terminal being
connected to the non-common wire lead from a solenoid S. A module
22 could be used to control only one station if only of the snap-in
wire terminals 24a, 24b is connected to a single solenoid. However,
if both terminals are being utilized, then each module 22 will
control two stations, i.e. two of the irrigation valves V. See FIG.
8.
[0033] Controller 2 is provided with means for accepting up to a
predetermined maximum number of modules 22 to control up to a
predetermined maximum number of stations V. There is space in
controller 2 for accepting up to four modules 22 side-by-side in
terminal area 16, thus allowing up to eight stations to be
controlled. If one module 22 is installed, then up to two stations
can be controlled, with two modules 22 up to four stations can be
controlled, and so on. FIG. 8 illustrates a configuration having
two modules installed controlling four stations represented by the
four irrigation valves V1-V4.
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, each station module 22
includes a casing 32 having a generally rectangular base 34 secured
to a tapered top 36. Base 34 and top 36 may be separable to allow a
printed circuit board to be inserted into module 22 during
manufacture, with base 34 and top 36 then being snapped together
and held as a unit by suitable connectors 38. One end of module 22
includes the two snap-in wire terminals 24a, 24b representing the
output end of module 22. The other or input end of module 22 has a
plug connection for allowing module 22 to be plugged into one set
40 of four output pins 42 on a parallel output bus in controller 2.
In each set 40 of pins 42, one pin is assigned to control one of
the terminals 24a and 24b, respectively, another pin is a ground
connection, and the remaining pin is a 5V power input to module 22.
See FIG. 9. Thus, when module 22 is in place and is plugged into
the parallel output bus, controller 2 will activate the stations
connected to module 22 as called for by the watering program being
executed by controller 2.
[0035] Terminal area 16 of controller 2 is provided with four slots
44 in which modules 22 are slidably received, with one slot 44
being provided for each module 22. Each slot 44 is formed by the
upper aligned surfaces 48 of a plurality of spaced vertical walls
50 in terminal area 16, such surfaces 48 defining a plane against
which the bottom of module 22 may be engaged. Each slot 44 further
has two spaced overhanging lips 52 on either side thereof which are
spaced from one another and are elevated above the upper aligned
surfaces 48 of walls 50. Lips 52 are suited to slidably engage with
a plurality of guide tabs 54 that jut out from the sides of modules
22 to guide modules 22 in slots 44.
[0036] As shown most clearly in FIG. 7, to insert a module 22 into
one of the slots 44 in terminal area 16, module 22 is positioned as
shown in phantom above slot 44 and with guide tabs 54 on modules 22
being located in the gaps between the spaced lips 52. Module 22 is
then dropped downwardly until the bottom thereof rests on the upper
aligned surfaces 48 of vertical walls 50. Module 22 is then pushed
inwardly in slot 44 relative to the parallel output bus until the
pin set 50 on the bus plugs into the connector provided therefor in
the input end of module 22 as shown in solid lines in FIG. 7. In
this position, guide tabs 54 on module 22 have slid beneath lips 52
on the sides of slots 44.
[0037] The top of each module is provided with means forming a
spring biased latch. More specifically, this latch is provided by a
section 60 of the top wall of module 22 that is cut away along its
sides and rear but is joined to module 22 at the front, in effect
being supported in the manner of a cantilever. This section 60 will
have a natural outward biasing force which tends to keep this
section 60 aligned with the remaining portions of the top wall of
module 22. The rear of section 60 is provided with an upwardly
protruding hook 62. Hook 62 is adapted to engage against the rear
side of a vertical wall 64 that overlies the inner end of slot
44.
[0038] As module 22 is slid into place in a slot 44 (after it has
been dropped into place in slot 44 with guide tabs 54 ready to be
pushed beneath lips 52), hook 62 will be cammed down beneath wall
64 with the cut away top wall section 60 deflecting down as
necessary to allow this movement. When hook 62 clears wall 64 as
module 22 plugs into the pin set 40 on output bus, the cut away
section 60 of the top wall 5 5 will spring back upwardly to its
normal untensioned state where it is generally aligned with the
remainder of the top wall. Thus, hook 62 and cut away section 60 of
the top module wall form, in effect, a spring biased latch for
firmly locking module 22 in place in slot 44.
[0039] To remove any particular module from its slot 44, the user
simply presses down on the cut away section 60 of the top wall to
disengage hook 62 from behind wall 64, and then pulls slightly
outwardly on module 22 to clear guide tabs 54 from beneath lips 54
and to unplug module 22 from the output bus. Module 22 is then
simply lifted up out of slot 44. Thus, the actions required to
remove a module 22 are the reverse of those used to install module
22.
[0040] The electronic circuitry for activating the solenoid S on
the valves V is contained on the printed circuit board that is
carried within each module 22. Referring to FIG. 9, this circuitry
comprises a transistor driver 70 for activating a TRIAC switching
device 72. Each terminal 24a, 24b is connected to its own
transistor/TRIAC combination 70/72. Thus, when controller 2
determines that a particular valve V should be opened, it does so
by activating the appropriate transistor 70 to close the
appropriate TRIAC 74, thus activating the solenoid of the
appropriate valve.
[0041] The use of plug in, removable station modules 22 for serving
as the connection to the irrigation stations allows controller 2 to
have great versatility. If only a four station controller is
needed, only two modules 22 need be used. Thus, the user can tailor
controller 2 to control precisely only those numbers of stations
that are required for a particular irrigation system. In addition,
modules 22 are all conveniently located within, and protected by,
housing 4 of controller 2. Thus, controller 2 is compact and not
unduly bulky. The bottom of controller housing 4 includes various
ports or openings 80 for routing wires to and from terminal area 16
for connection to terminal blocks 20 or station modules 22. See
FIG. 4.
[0042] The Applicants have found that controller 2 will have great
resistance to lightning strikes that may induce surge currents on
the station wires. In previous controllers, the energy from such a
strike will often be conducted back to controller 2 along the wires
connecting controller 2 to the particular station affected by the
strike. Since these wires are usually connected directly to a
terminal strip that is hardwired to the main printed circuit board
of controller 2, i.e. to the circuit board having the
microprocessor controller, this energy could often damage many of
the controller's components, including the microprocessor.
[0043] However, with modules 22 of the present invention,
Applicants have found that much of the energy from a lightning
strike will be absorbed by the electronic circuitry within module
22 without damaging the main printed circuit board in controller 2.
Thus, while module 22 itself may be destroyed by the lightning
strike, it is a simple matter to replace this module with a new
one. This is an easy and inexpensive task compared to the cost of
repairing or replacing the main circuit board of the entire
controller 2.
[0044] Turning now to the mechanical mounting of controller 2 on
the wall, the mounting bracket 6 includes a planar surface 82 that
may be screwed or in some other way fixed to the wall. A pocket
receiving space 83 is formed on this mounting bracket 82 which is
bounded by two spaced side walls 84, by a bottom wall 86 and by the
planar surface 82 of bracket 6. This space 83 has a predetermined
depth determined by the depth of side walls 84. Each side wall 84
has an outwardly protruding tab 88 on the front side thereof spaced
away from planar surface 82 by an appropriate distance.
[0045] The rear surface of controller 2 housing has a bayonet type
slot structure 90 for receiving tabs 88 on mounting bracket 6.
Basically, each tab 88 is initially received into an open
rectangular portion 92 of slot 90, and controller housing 4 can
then be slid down relative to mounting bracket 6 until tabs 88 are
received behind wall portions 94 of slot 90. Thus, controller
housing 4 can be removably attached to wall 5 using mounting
bracket 6, and can be slid onto and off of mounting bracket 6 at
will.
[0046] The rear surface of controller housing 4 includes a
rearwardly protruding pocket 96 for holding a user's or operator's
manual 98. The depth and size of pocket 96 is sufficient to allow
pocket 96 to be received in the pocket receiving space 83 provided
on bracket 6 between side walls 84. Thus, when controller housing 4
is in place on mounting bracket 6, the space 83 between housing 4
and the planar surface 82 of mounting bracket 6 is used to
conveniently store the user's manual 98. See the phantom line
illustration in FIG. 2.
[0047] It is a great advantage to have the user's manual located in
a readily accessible manner on controller 2 housing. The user need
not go look for the manual in some remote space when some question
arises as to the programming or operation of controller 2. In
addition, the manual storage is done in an out-of-the way,
unobtrusive location, thus enhancing the probability that it will
be used for this purpose.
[0048] Various modifications of this invention will be apparent to
those skilled in the art. Thus, the scope of this invention is to
be limited only by the appended claims.
* * * * *