Wireless Extension to an Irrigation Control System and Related Methods

Abstract

Several embodiments provide wireless extensions to an irrigation controller system and related methods of use, as well as other improvements to irrigation control equipment. In one implementation, an irrigation control system includes a transmitter unit including a controller and having a connector to be coupled to an irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors. The controller is configured to receive an indication that the irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station, and is also configured to cause the transmitter unit to transmit a wireless activation signal responsive to the indication. A receiver unit is coupled to an actuator coupled to an actuatable device, such as an irrigation valve, the actuator configured to actuate the irrigation valve to control the flow of water therethrough. The receiver unit receives the wireless activation signal and in response, causes the actuator to actuate the actuatable device.

1 . A wireless adapter system for use with an existing hard-wired irrigation system, the hard-wired irrigation system including sprinkler valves with associated wires and a controller that outputs at least a first set of control signals on the wires so as to activate the sprinkler valves, the adapter system comprising: 
 a wireless transmitter that is coupled to one or more control wires of the hard-wired irrigation system such that the wireless transmitter receives the first set of control signals from the sprinkler controller and the wireless transmitter, in response to receiving the first set of control signals, periodically sends a first wireless signal, so as to enable an irrigation solenoid valve; and    a wireless receiver coupled to the an irrigation solenoid valve, wherein the wireless receiver, in response to receiving the first wireless signal, activates the irrigation solenoid valve and wherein the wireless receiver is adapted to de-activate the irrigation solenoid valve if the first periodic wireless signal is not detected during a pre-determined time interval to thereby reduce the likelihood of the irrigation solenoid valve over-watering.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless receiver includes a timer that is re-set to a first time interval upon receiving a periodic first wireless signal and if the timer times thought the first time interval, the wireless receiver disables the irrigation solenoid valve.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless receiver is battery operated and the wireless receiver operates in a sleep state and an awake state.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless receiver translates the first wireless signal into a second format signal that is adapted to control the valve.  
   
   
       5 . A method of controlling an irrigation system, the irrigation system comprising an irrigation solenoid valve electrically coupled to a wireless receiver and an irrigation controller electrically coupled to a wireless adapter, the method comprising: 
 transmitting a control signal from the wireless adapter, the control signal being representative of a signal received from the irrigation controller indicating that the irrigation solenoid valve should be activated;    receiving the control signal at the wireless transmitter;    in response to receiving the control signal, activating the irrigation solenoid valve; and    de-activating the irrigation solenoid valve if the control signal is not again received during a predetermined time interval after a prior reception of the control signal, thereby reducing a likelihood of the irrigation solenoid valve over-watering.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the control signal is periodically transmitted.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined time interval is longer than about 17 seconds.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising resetting the predetermined time interval upon each periodic reception of the control signal at the wireless transmitter.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising deactivating the irrigation solenoid valve in response to receiving a control signal indicating that the irrigation solenoid valve should be deactivated  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the wireless receiver alternates between a listen mode and a sleep mode, wherein in the sleep mode the wireless receiver draws less power than in the listen mode.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the sleep mode comprises a time period that is more than about 3 times the time period of the listen mode.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the control signal is transmitted no more than about 25% of the time.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein, the irrigation solenoid valve allows water to pass through the irrigation solenoid valve when activated.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the control signal is transmitted for less than about 10 seconds.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the predetermined time interval is more than about 1 minute.  
   
   
       16 . A wireless receiver coupled to a irrigation solenoid valve, the wireless receiver comprising: 
 means for activating the irrigation solenoid valve in response to receiving a wireless control signal indicating a desired state of the irrigation solenoid valve;    means for deactivating the irrigation solenoid valve if the wireless control signal is not again detected during a pre-determined time interval after being initially received by the activating means.    
   
   
       17 . The wireless receiver of  claim 16 , wherein the means for activating comprises: 
 a decode module for receiving the wireless control signal;    a clock configured to generate electrical signals indicative of a sleep mode and a listen mode, wherein during the sleep mode, at least the decode module enters a very low power mode;    a latch module for maintaining the desired state received in the wireless control signal for a predetermined time, wherein the predetermined time is longer than a duration of the listen mode;    an output module for outputting an electrical signal to the irrigation valve in accordance with the desired state stored in the latch module for the predetermined time.    
   
   
       18 . The wireless receiver of  claim 17 , wherein the predetermined time is longer than about three listen modes and sleep modes.  
   
   
       19 . The wireless receiver of  claim 17 , wherein the low power mode comprises disabling the decoder.  
   
   
       20 . The wireless receiver of  claim 17 , wherein the clock comprises an asynchronous clock.  
   
   
       21 . A method of retrofitting a hard-wired irrigation system for wireless communication, wherein the hard-wired irrigation system comprises an irrigation controller, that is adapted, to be electrically coupled to a irrigation solenoid valve by a physical wire, the irrigation controller being adapted to output control signals to the irrigation solenoid valve via the physical wire, the method comprising: 
 coupling a wireless adapter to outputs of the irrigation controller so that the wireless adapter receives the control signals;    coupling a wireless receiver to the control wires of the irrigation solenoid valve;    inducing the wireless adapter to transmit a transformed version of the received control signals wherein, in response to receiving the transformed version of the control signal, the wireless receiver activates the irrigation solenoid for a predetermined time period.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the irrigation controller comprises at least one of: a sprinkler timer, a personal computer, a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), a manual or automatic switch, an Air Conditioning Thermostat, a SPA or Pool timer, a commercially available control device and a sequencer.