Satellite Irrigation Controller

Abstract

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a satellite irrigation controller that allows a user to insert a input/output card into any position in any sequence and be recognized as an input card or an output card. When the correct card type is determined, the card is service according to its specified functionality. In another embodiment, the satellite irrigation controller includes firmware which allows a user to program a range of stations at one time. In yet another embodiment, the satellite irrigation controller provides three user input programs that reduce the amount of input data needed to program the irrigation cycle of an irrigation station.

1 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A method of detecting an I/O device of an irrigation controller comprising:
 providing said irrigation controller comprising a circuit board, a CPU connected to said circuit board, a memory connected to said circuit board and a plurality of communications ports connected to said circuit board;   accepting a communicative connection between a first I/O device and a first communications port of said plurality of communications ports;   detecting said first I/O device with said CPU;   accepting a non-sequential communicative connection between a second I/O device and a second communications port of said plurality of communications ports; said second communications port being non-sequentially positioned relative to said first communications port; and,   detecting said second I/O device with said CPU.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said first I/O device and said second I/O device are each selected from a group of an input device and an output device. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said first I/O device and said second I/O device are each selected from a group of an irrigation station control card and a sensor card. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said first communications port and said second communications port are located in non-adjacent positions within said irrigation controller. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising transmitting at least one of a first protocol and a second protocol from said CPU to said I/O device and determining a type of said I/O device based on a response from said transmitting of at least one of said first protocol and said second protocol. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said accepting said communicative connection between said a first I/O device and said a first communications port of said plurality of communications ports further comprises placing said first I/O device within an interior compartment of said irrigation controller. 
     
     
         42 . An irrigation controller comprising:
 a controller housing;   a circuit board disposed in said controller housing; said circuit board having a CPU and a memory; said CPU configured to execute an irrigation program; and;   a plurality of device connections on said circuit board in communication with said CPU;   wherein each of said connections is interchangeably connectable to any one of a plurality of I/O devices; and wherein each of said plurality of I/O devices can be coupled to any of said connections in a nonsequential order.   
     
     
         43 . The irrigation controller of  claim 42 , wherein said connections are ports. 
     
     
         44 . The irrigation controller of  claim 43 , wherein said I/O devices are removably secured within said irrigation controller. 
     
     
         45 . The irrigation controller of  claim 44 , wherein said I/O devices are each selected from a group of an input device and an output device. 
     
     
         46 . The irrigation controller of  claim 45 , wherein said input device includes a sensor device. 
     
     
         47 . The irrigation controller of  claim 45 , wherein said output device includes an irrigation station device. 
     
     
         48 . The irrigation controller of  claim 45 , further comprising at least four device positions; wherein said first I/O device can be coupled to any of said connections and wherein said second I/O device can be coupled to any of said connections. 
     
     
         49 . The irrigation controller of  claim 48 , wherein said first I/O device and said second I/O device are coupled to device positions in non-adjacent locations. 
     
     
         50 . A method of detecting a selectively removable I/O component of an irrigation controller comprising:
 providing an irrigation controller having a plurality of spaces to each accommodate said I/O component;   selecting a first I/O component from a plurality of interchangeable I/O components;   connecting said first I/O component to a first port in a first space;   selecting a second I/O component from said plurality of interchangeable I/O components;   successively connecting said second I/O component to a second port in a second space; said second space located in a nonadjacent position relative to said first I/O component;   communicating with said first I/O component and said second I/O component with a CPU;   wherein said CPU detects the presence of said first I/O component and said second I/O component.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said second space is nonsequentially positioned relative to said first space. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said plurality of interchangeable I/O components are input component or output component. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein said input component is a sensor card and wherein said output component is an irrigation station card. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein said CPU executes a first protocol and a second protocol for detecting said first I/O component and said second I/O component.