Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2~0~9
QUERY-RESPONSE USER P~OGR~ING
OF COMPLEX SE~UENCES
The present patent application is a continuation-in-
part of patent application U.S. Serial Number ~ filed
September 28, 1988 for a F~EXI~ PROGRAMM~BLE IR~IGATION
SYSTEM CO~TROLLER.
BACKGROUND OF T~E INVENTION
1.0 Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns electronic devices
having a man-machine interface for the display of information
and/or status and for the receipt of information and/or
control. The present invention more particularly concerns man-
machine interfaces where cost and physical size constraintslimit the display size to a few words or lines, and where, for
the same reasons, a full user keyboard is impractical.
2.0 Back~round of the Invention: Man-Machine Interfaces
The advent and widespread low-cost availability of
microprocessors and other powerful digital logic building
blocks has given rise to an astonishing array of products
exhibiting machine "intelligence". This machine "intelligence"
often takes the form of increased flexibility and
responsiveness to particular user dictates. The user must make
his/her dictates known to the machine through a man-machine
interface. The man-machine interface desirably permits
detailed user control of the machine.
If a machine is to be flexibly controlled by its user
at its user interface then an extensive sequence of commands
and/or data must typically be entered by the user into the
machine. This information entry must typically be in
accordance with rigorous procedures. The required exactitude
is difficult to achieve, especially to the extent that the
required entries are extensive, complex, or in~requently
performed.
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The goal of man-machine interface design is to permit
effective and efficient communication between man and machine,
considering the costs to both.
At one end of the spectrum of common interfaces between
men and "intelligent" (meaning variably flexibly controllable)
machines is the typical interface to a complex, multi-function,
digital watch. This interface is characterized by haviny a
very narrow information transfer bandwidth. The user must make
large amounts of data and control information known to the
watch through typically but a few pushbutton switches. A
problem exists with this interface in that large numbers of
people desiring to exercise the full functionality of a
complex, multi-function, digital watch cannot effectively do
so, or arè deterred from doing so.
At the other end of the spectrum of common man-machine
interfaces is the personal computer. Information is typically
entered into the computer by a keyboard or tablet (mouse). The
computer typically displays information, questions, and help
messages upon a video monitor. The informational bandwidth of
this interface is much wider than the informational bandwidth
of the user interface to a digital watch. This wider
informational bandwidth is required in order to support the
relatively more complex tasks that are commanded and
parameterized across the interface.
A notable characteristic of the man-machine interfaces
exhibiting a relatively wider informational bandwidth, such as
those of personal computers, is that the man can usually elicit
prompts, questions, and/or help messages from the machine.
This capability of the machine to guide the human in performing
necessary procedures to enter information is designed to reduce
the burden on the human, and to facilitate necessary
communication.
In the middle of the spectrum of common man-machine
interfaces exist a variety of relat-vely rudimentary interfaces
which, although elementary, must support the human control and
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parameterization of machines o~ considerable functional
complexity. Interfaces, and machines, in this middle range
include common household appliances like microwave ovens and
Video Cassette Recorders (VCR's).
A common strategy for implementing man-machine
interfaces in this middle range is to use a large number of
switches each of which is assigned to a particular datum, or
function. Typically, a small display is controlled by the
machine. A proliferation of dedicated switches costs money,
and occupies considerable room. Nonetheless, when an
appropriate multi-function display area shows at various times
either prompts or status, and when additional display area is
de~oted to printed instructions and catalogs, most users manage
to use this type of man-machine interface to good effect.
Sometimes, however, the control panels become crowded
with switches. The functions enabled become increasingly
arcane. The cross- compatibility between the user interfaces
of different products becomes nonexistent, ma~ing a user unable
to transfer his knowledge and experience from one product to
another.
Another problem occurs with man-machine interfaces if
the number of switches and/or the size of the display is
limited (i.e., the information bandwidth is constricted), or
if the co~plexity of the required control is high. This
problem is exemplified by the typical interface to a VCR. A
small display presents the VCR status and parameterization.
Because the VCR can be set to initiate and to conclude actions,
such as recording of television, at many different times, a
great number of similarly-appearing time datums are variously
n~ultiplexed into the small display. The user tends to lose
track of what times he~she has and has not specified, and also
of his/her progress in the intricate stepwise procedures for
selecting and setting a number of difrerent timed occurrences.
The programming is consequentl~ often erroneous. The userls
failure to have programmed the VCR as he/she desired or
:
expected typically goes unrecognized until improper results are
obtained. At this time recovery is often difficult or
impossible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention contemplates the user programming
of complex machine control and/or data sequences by haviny the
machine ask a hierarchy of questions and collect from the user
one response only: "OK/YES", meaning the affirmative. Three
other user responses -- NO, HELP, and STOP -- may optionally
be recognized by the machine. However, no other user response
other than OK/YES is ever mandated because the machine
autoscrolls its questions cyclically in endless loops in a
completely automated manner.
This automated presentation of alternatives ensures
that the user is exposed, in the form of hierchical questions,
to all acceptable directives and/or datums, one hierchical
level at a time, which may suitably be entered into the
machine. The user simply adopts one alternative on each
hierchical level by responding OX/YES to one question on that
level.
The machine then steps, in a completely logical manner,
to another series of questions upon the next level in the
hierarchy. At the conclusion of the several user responses the
machine may routinely have been programmed with control and/or
data that is, in the aggregate, complex.
In accordance with the invention the hierarchy of
questions asked by the machine is typically a hierchical tree
exhibiting several hierchical levels between a root level and
a leaf level. An OK/YES response to a question on one
hierchical level causes a branching to a related series of
questions upon the next hierchical level. Progress within the
hierchical tree from root level to leaf level thus requires
asking only such questions at each hierchical level as are
appropriate to previous branchings within the hierchical tree.
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This is obviously efficient because only precisely pertinent
questions are asked at each level of the hierchical tree.
ln accordance with the invention -the hierchical tree
of machine-posited questions is typicall~ not a binary tree.
Instead, several questions of equal stature are preferably
asked at each level, or rank, o~ the hierchical tree that
normally exhibits several hierchical levels between a roo-~
level and a leaf level. The number of related questions at
each level is normally not so many that the user is likely to
forget the first-asked questions before the last questions are
asked, and is typically approximately three to six. When the
user responds OK/YES to any question, meanin~ that the
question's premise is adopted by the user, then all questioning
on that hierchical level ends and the machine progresses to a
new series of questions upon a next hierchical level. The
~uestioning so proceeds in a hierarchy from root to branches
to twig to leaf levels, with one OK/YES response being accepted
to one of the typically several questions at each level of the
hierarchy.
When a question on the leaf hierchical level is
ultimately affirmatively responded to then the machine will
resume questioning at a higher hierchical level, including
commonly at the root level.
In accordance with the present invention an optional
NO switch -- which switch is not required to advance the menu
of questions which is autoscrolling -- is used to accelerate
the presentation of questions for so long as it is actuated.
One problem with an autoscrolled presentation of questions,
even hierchically organized questions, is that many questions
must occasionally be asked before a question to which the user
desires to respond affirmatively is asked. For e~ample, it is
distinctly not user-friendly for a user to wait to confirm an
hour of 11:00 p.m. in response to autoscrolled questions
regarding each of the twenty-four hours starting at 12
midnight. Meanwhile, each asked question must be held
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displayed with a latency time that is sufficient to permit the
user to make an affirmative response, should he or she so
desire~ This problem tends to make the autoscrolling slow and
the user bored, impatient, or frustrated. The present
invention addresses this problem with the N0 switch.
Depressing the N0 switch accelerates khe sequencing of
questions, normally by a considerable maryin that is
predetermined in advance in accordance with -the complexity of
the questions being asked. For example, complex questions
formed from words might be accelerated in presentation by
approximately 50% upon activating the N0 switch. For example,
simple questions involving successive numbers might be
accelerated 80%. When the N0 switch is released then the
cyclic autoscrolled presentation of questions continues at the
basic rate. It is, of course, not of any great consequence
that a question to which an affirmative response was desired
to be made should inadvertently be overrun by prolon~ed
depression of the N0 switch. This is because each series of
questions are presented in an endless loop, and any one
question will always come around to be asked again.
Despite the fact that all questions and their ordered
hierchical presentations are always as clear and logically
ordered as is possible, it is always possible that a user
cannot understand what a particular question is asking.
Therefore the present invention contemplates an optional HELP
switch~ Actuation of the HELP s~itch upon the presentation of
any question causes the display of an expanded explanation of
that question. After one or more autoscrolled help messages
the user may, by response to still another question, either
return to the main line of questioning or see the help messagPs
again (or sometimes see still further help messa~es).
Actuation of the ~ELP switch at some or all root mode
questions may typically result in help messages explaining the
operation of the interface of the present invention. Mainly,
the messages will explain that the user should attempt to
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answer the questions with the OK/YES switch.
The present invention further contemplates an optional
STOP switch. Actuation of the STOP switch never stops the
process of the machine, nor the autoscrolling of ~uestions in
the previously described "interactive" mode of machine
operation. To so do would be antithetical to the present
invention. (If desired a mere pause might be contemplated from
actuation of the STOP switch, or from a PAUSE switch.) The
STOP switch causes a retrenchment within the hierarchy of the
autoscrolled questioning to a level closer to the root level
than that hierchical level at which scrolling is presently
proceeding. The STOP switch overrides or cancels affirmative
responses made since this level closest to the root level was
previously entered, and "wipes the slate" of information
interchange either clean or partially clean. Successive
actuations of the STOP switch always eventually bring the
machine to the root level of the hierchical tree of questions.
Once "automatic" operation of the machine has commenced,
however, as the result of the previous user responses to
questions, then actuation of the "STOP" switch will serve to
halt this "automatic" operation. It does so by bringing the
machine back into the "interactive" mode of machine operation
with the root level ~uestions proceeding to autoscroll.
The major attributes of a man-machine interface in
accordance with the invention are susceptible of various
different combinations. Each man-machine interface in
accordance with the present invention will exhibit at least a
display within which a multiplicity of datums, preferably in
the form o~ ~uestions, may be successively individually
displayed. Each interface will also have an OK/YES switch or
equivalent by which a man may make his affirmation or adoption
of a currently-displayed datum known to the machine.
In one man-machine interface in accordance with the
invention the display displays the multiplicity of datums that
are particularly organized in a hierchical tree having a
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plurality of datums at each of a plurality of levels. An
autoscrolling control, typically a microprocessor, causes the
display means to automatically sequentially display one datum
at a time of the plurality of datums that are upon a one
hierchical level in an endless loop. In this interface the
OK~YES switch is manually actuable for causing (i) adoption and
use by the machine of a currently displayed one of the
multiplicity of datums, and (ii) the display means to display
a plurality of datums that are upon a next hierchical level to
the hierchical level.
In another man-machine interface in accordance with the
invention the display displays a multiplicity of datums one at
a time. An autoscrolling control causes the display means to
automaticàlly sequentially display the multiplicity of datums
one at a time. The OK/YES switch is manually actuable for
causing the machine to adopt and use a currently-displayed one
of the multiplicity of datums. Alternatively, a NO/NEXT switch
is manually actuable for causing the autoscrolling means to
cause the display means to automatically sequentially advance
the display of the plurality of datums more rapidly, one datum
at a time.
In still another man-machine interface in accordance
with the invention the display displays a multiplicity of
datums one at a time, and at other times a multiplicity of
messages that are associated with the multiplicity o~ datums
also one at a time. An autoscrolling control causes the
display means to automatically display each of multipllcity
of datums, or to alternatively display one of the multiplicity
of messages and of an associated one of the multiplicity of
datums, as the case may be. An OK/YES switch is manually
actuable for causing the machine to adopt and use a currently-
displayed one of the multiplicity of datums. A HELP switch is
manually actuable for causing the display means to display a
one of the multiplicity of messages that is associated with a
currently displayed one of the multiplicity of datums.
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Still another man machine interface in accordance with
the invention uses the No switch to also mean "next", and
thereby achieves advancement of the displayed datums without
benefit of autoscrolling.
5The man-machine interfaces and man-machine interfacing
methods in accordance with the invention are perceived to be
especially eficacious for control and parameterization o~
machines that require lengthy and logical, complex, control
sequences. A machine requiring this type of sequence typically
10requires an instruction manual, and is opposite from machines
requiring pure data entry such as, typically, telephones.
These and other aspects and attributes of the present
invention will become increasingly clear upon reference to the
following drawings and accompanying specification wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is the block diagram showing elements of an
irrigation system ha~ing an irrigation controller that is one
preferred embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the
20present invention;
Figure 2 is a pictorial diagram of the irrigation
controller in accordance with the present invention previously
:seen in Figure 1;
Figure 3, consisting of Figure 3a through 3h, is a
25schematic diagram of the preferred embodiment of the irrigation
controller in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 4 consisting of Figure 4a through 4d, is a block
diagram of a first, Ul, Application Specific Integrated Circuit
(ASIC) used in the preferred embodiment of an irrigation
30controller in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 5a is a simplified electrical schematic diagram
of the sampling capacitor array and switches used in ASIC Ul;
Figure 5b is a simplified electrical schematic diagram
of a sampling compaxator used in ASIC Ul;
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Figure 5c is a simplified electrical schematic diagram
of a step-up DC-to-DC converter used in the switching regulator
of ASIC U1;
Figure 6, consisting of figure 6a through 6~, is a
block diagram of a second, U2, Application Specif~c Inteyrated
Circuit (ASIC) used in the preferred embodiment of an
irrigation controller in accordance with the present invention.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
1.0 The Basic Principles of the Present Invention are
Explained bY Reference to the Control of a Microwave
Oven
The preferred embodiment of an apparatus in accordance
with the present invention is an irrigation controller. The
complex function of this irrigation controller, as hereinaf-ter
explained, serves as a demonstration of the power o-f the
approach of the present invention for query/response user
programming of sequences that are complex. However, it is not
necessary to consider the complexities of irrigation control
and irrigation controllers in order to understand the basic
principles of the present invention. It is sufficient to
discuss a simpler embodiment of the invention such as might be
used to control, for example, a microwave oven.
The user interface in accordance with the present
invention greatly simplifies operational control of an
intelligent machine because (i) the user is constantly
prompted by quPstions, and (ii) all command and data input may
be done with just one, and preferably with two keysO Because
of the simplicity of this interface, it has many potential
applications. Any device which needs to be programmed with
information, and which has a small display (no keyboard is
required) can potentially use the interface of the present
invention. The device is typically controlled by a
microprocessor. Examples of possible applications include home
appliances such as microwave ovens, and entertainment
electronics such as ~ideo Cassette Recorders (~CR's).
The key features of the new user interface and how it
might be applied to a microwave oven are as follows. All data
entry and review for the microwave oven is accomplished by
actuating two switches only, namely an affirmation/seleckion
or "OK/YES" switch, and a switch for causing -the acceleration
of the presentation of successive questions, or "NO" switch.
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A microwave oven might also beneficially use two
additional switches, namely "HELP" and "STOP" switches. The
"HELP" switch could elicit context sensitive help messages.
The "STOP" key could serve as a universal "exit" or nstop
current action" key. A microwave oven even op-timally also have
a fifth switch, a "START" switch, although this function could
easily be handled with a "Do you want to start now?" question.
There is a natural tendency for the user to
occasionally answer "NO" to questions posited. No harm is ever
done by a correct "NO" response. The most that will happen is
that the cyclic presentation of questions will immediately
advance, without waiting for a normal latency period. It
should be recognized that a "NO" response is never required to
reject the posited option, or to advance the course of the
machine's asking of questions.
The microwave oven's display initially cycles
continuously between the questions:
Do you want
to START now?
Do you want
to SET me?
Do you want
to ASX me?
.
Do you want
to STQP me?
until one question is answered O.K./YES. The display then
commences to autoscroll questions in the appropriate next
branch of the hierarchical tree of questions.
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The autoscrolling of the display datums, or questions,
is controlled by an autoscroller control circuit, typically a
microprocessor. The microprocessor typically simulates to its
own operating firmware program the occurrence of an e~ual
condition as would normally, in other man-machine interfaces,
be expected from manual actuation of a NO/NEXT switch. Such
actuations of a NO/NEXT switch would indicate "currently
displayed datum is not adopted, advance to next datum". In the
present interface these actuations are simulated, at a
predetermined rate, by firmware. The NO/NEXT switch assumes
a new function, now called NO (only) which serves to accelerate
the simulated actuations, and resultant presentation of datums.
The microwave user will always know all choices
possible because all questions will automatically self-advance
(after a pause to let the user accept or reject the question's
premise). Control options will cycle in a continuous loop
until the user selects one of the options by activating the
OK/YES switch. Under certain conditions, such as during a
cooking cycle, the control options could be limited so that,
for example, only the "STOP ME?" question might be displayed.
To remind the user that he~she must present OK/YES to select
an option, a microwave oven may present a blinking question
mark (?) or "OK" symbol displayed on screen along with each
option as the options are displayed one at a time.
A hierarchical tree for control and parameterization
of a microwave oven might be constructed, at least at initial
levels of the hierarchy, substantially as shown on Table 1.
The nodes of the hierarchy are not expressed as questions in
order to make the structure of the hierarchical tree more
visible. However, it should be understood that all nodes can
be, and are, preferably expressed as questions complete with
a question mark (or other identifying indicia).
In accordance with the invention the asked questions
may be global or speci~ic. A global question asks whether a
user desires to adopt a particular course of machine control.
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TABLE 1: HIERARCHY OF CONT.ROL FOR A MICROWAVE OVEN
START ME?
SET ME?
COOK?
BY TIME?
SET TIME (HOURS CYCLE)
SET TIME tMINUTES CYCLE)
SET LEVEL tLEVELS CYCLE)
BY TEMPERATURE?
SET TEMP tTEMPERATURES CYCLE)
SET LEVEL (LEVELS CYCLE)
BY "AUTO-COOK~'?
BAKE - PRESET PROGRAM ~1?
ROAST - PRESET PROGRAM #l?
SLO COOK - PRESET PROGRAM #l?
SIMMER - PRESET PROGRAM ~1?
~ (ETC~)
DEFROST?
TIMED DEFROST?
SET TIME tHOURS CYCLE)
SET TIME (MINUTES CYCLE)
SET LEVEL tLEVELS CYCLE)
PULSED DEFROST?
SET TIME (HOURS CYCLE)
SET TIME (MINUTES CYCLE)
SET LEVEL tLEVELS CYCLE)
TIMING?
SET CLOCK
SET HOUR OF DAY (HOURS CYCLE)
SET MINUTE OF HOUR (MINUTES CYCLE)
SET START TIME
SET HOUR OF DAY (HOURS CYCLE)
SET MINUTE OF HOUR (MINUTES CYCLE)
ASK ME?
DIRECTIONS?
ABOUT USING OVEN?
ABOUT TIMED COOKING?
ABOUT COOK TO TEMP?
ABOUT "AUTO-COOKING"?
ABOUT TIMED DEFROST?
ABOUT SETTING CLOCK?
COOKING HISTORY?
MONTHLY POWER USE?
OVEN SELF-TEST?
STOP ME?
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For example, "Do you want to start?", nDo you want to set me?/',
"Do you want to ask me?/', and /'Do you want to stop?" would
besuitable global questions for the control of a microwave
oven. Specific questions ask whether a user adopts a
particular datum for input to the machine. For example a
display that autoscrolls through times of 12:00 midnight?, 1:oO
a.m.?, 2:00 a.m.?, 3:00 a.m.?, etc. is asking the user to
select an hour which he/she desires to enter inta the machine.
All questions both global and specific are always explicit, and
never implicit.
Efficient recovery from inadvertent erroneous responses
can always be made. Although an erroneous response to a global
question may not be immediately subject to retraction,
intermediary levels in the hierarchy of questions occasionally
contain escape questions, as appropriate, which, when responded
to affirmatively, result in a reversion of the hierarchical
questioning to previous levels, and typically to the root
level.
In any case, the present invention further contemplates
user confirmation of his/her responses. Affirmative responses
to specific questions at the leaf level are particularly
subject to confirmation. This confirmatian is itself
occasionally in the form of an affirmation question followed
by a disaffirmation question. (If desired, these confirmation
questions can be considered to exist at the leaf level, and
prior specific questions can be considered to exist at the
twig, or branch level.) An affirmation question seeks
ratification of the prior responses. It autoscrolls to a
disaffirmation question asking if the answex now developed,
and/or the control branching previously undertaken because of
successive affirmative responses, is now disavowed.
If the prior affirmative responses are disavowed, in
whole or in part, then the machine will revert to questioning
on a previous hierarchical level. When the hierarchy is deep,
and the levels many, the machine will typically revert to
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questioning at an intermediary branch, twig, or leaf level.
From these levels it is always possible to retrench still
further, and ultimately back to the root level questions. When
the hierarchy is shallow, and the levels few, the disavowal of
prior responses that results from an affirmative response to
the disaffirmation question typically results in reversion to
the root level questioning.
Certain attributes of the hierarchy shown in Table 1
are immediately observable. First, the number of levels in the
hierarchy that are entered during any one programming episode
varies with the response to certain questions. An affirmative
response to the "START?" or "STOP?N question is an end in of
itself, and does not normally cause progression further into
the hierarchy (forebearing the conduct of confirmation,
discussed below). For other responses, such as the setting of
cooking time, more extensive levels of the hierarchy are
entered.
Second, confirmation questioning twhich is only
implicit in Table 1) is performed or not performed as
appropriate. An a~firmative response to the nST~RT ME?" or
"STOP ME?" questions will typically not result in the conduct
o~ confirmation, and the microwave will typically immediately
respond by simply starting or stopping. Curiously, even as the
microwave oven does so start or stop the root level questions
will still cycle. This means the user does not derive feedbac~
to his affirmative response from the display which continues
to cycle. It is thus typical to turn on a light upon starting,
or turn off a light and sound a bell upon stopping in order to
provide feedback to the user that his command was accepted.
Next, it may be noted that some ~inal, or leaf level,
questions have to do with control, e.g. "Do you want directions
about timed cooking?'~. Meanwhile other leaf level questions
have to do with data, e.g. "Do you want timed cooking for O
hours O minutes?, Do you want timed cooking for 1 hours O
35 minutes?", etc. Control and data are both forms of
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information. The questioning method of the presen-t invention
permits the machine acceptance of both control and data by the
user's affirmative responses.
Next, it may be noted that the nature, and conduct, of
confirmation is not rigorous. Confirmation varies. Sometimes
the user is not offered the opportunity to confirm his
directives. Instead, the machine simply starts, or simply
stops, or simply commences to display help messages, all as the
user's affirmative response has directed. In other words the
user need not both make an affirmation, and subsequently affirm
his/her affirmation, just to start (or stop) the microwave.
The user need not press OK/YES twice to start (or stop).
Sometimes, however, the user will be offered the
opportunity to confirm his directives. For example, the user
will be posited a confirmation question such as "Time cook 1
hour 25 minutes, OK?". The VOK?" portion of the message means
"do you confirm".
When confirmation is offered then disavowal is usually
by the optional NO switch (if implemented), but may be by an
affirmative response to a disaffirmation question. This subtla
point deserves consideration. All control and data that is
entered into a machine by a man using the man-machine interface
in accordance with the present invention can be achieved solely
by selective affirmative responses to questions, each by
actuation of the OK/YES switch. The r~NO/~ switch is not
required. Confirmation could be by use only of the OK/YES
switch. In such a case the question /'Time Cook 1 hour 25
minutes, 0~?" would be followed by /'Reset time cook?/'. If the
previously entered time is desired to be disavowed then it is
obviously the second question that would be answered OK/YES.
A "NOn switch is, however, commonly used for
disaffirmation during confirmation questioning because
application of the fundamental principles of the present
invention need not be, is desired not to be, and is not
intended to transpire in a hidebound and iconoclastic manner.
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For example, consider the elective conduct of confirmation
~uestioning. Confirmation is typically not required after a
directive (e.g., ~START!~, nSTOP!") nor after simple selection
sequences (e.g., "Cook?", "Defrost?"). Confirmation is usually
required after related entries, such as time-of-day, that are
made piecemeal. The general "look and feel/' of the man-machine
interface to the user during confirmation is such that the user
seldom thinks about whether he is being asked about matters de
novo or is instead being asked to confirm his/her prior
lo responses. All communication proceeds normally, and naturally.
The same principles of flexibly maintaining smooth
communication are applicable to the machine treatment of
actuations of the optional No, HELP, or STOP switches.
Suppose a powe~ed-on microwave oven is cycling through its root
level questions (shown at the left most column of Figure 1) and
someone is pressing, and repressing, the optional "STOP"
switch. What is it likely that this person wants? Does the
person want to continually revert to the first root level
question "Do you want to START me?"? Of course not~ The
person, perhaps in a panic stricken state, is probably trying
to turn off the microwave. This turn-off would otherwise be
accomplished by an affirmative response (depressing the OK/YES
pushbutton switch) to the root level question nDo you want to
STOP me?". In accordance with the probable user intent, the
implementation of a man-machine interface in accordance with
the present invention is not hidebound in insisting that all
control and communication must invariably transpire through the
OK/~ES switch. Instead, the interface will generally respond
to each switch as is appropriate for the current progress of
questioning in the hierarchy of questions in consideration of
the operational state of the machine. For the example of
pressing the "STOP" switch on the microwave at its root
hierarchical level, the microwave oven will be turned offO The
user is not concerned with an analysis of the logic, and
logical consistency, of the machine function. To him or her
2~
-- 19 --
the machine response appears norm~l, and friendly.
The man-machine interface in accordance with the
present invention cannot be misdirected sufficiently so as
reach a communications impasse between man and machine. A
machine, in accordance with the present invention, that is
programmed to ask the hierarchy of questions simply considers,
for each question, what a user probably wants if he/she
activates any of the OK/YES, NO, HELP, or STOP switches while
that question is displayed. A program jump table is
constructed accordingly. All jumps are taken not to some
program location wherein the machine sits deadenly, waiting
for input from a user who doesn't or can't understand where the
machine is and what he/she must do next, but instead to a
program location that causes the cycling of questions. The
interface never, never goes "dead" or "dumb".
The ability of the man-machine interface in accordance
with the present invention to adroitly step up and down the
staircase levels of a hierarchical tree no matter what switch
is pushed is one reason why people who have never seen or
exercised the interface, and who commonly make many "mistakes"
in their attempts to use the interface, can nonetheless
accomplish satisfactory machine control and parameterization
by use of the interface.
The autoscrolled presentations of the hierarchically
organized questions and the optional help messages constitute
a sufficiently powerful form of man-machine interfaciny so as
to be, in many cases, self-teaching. A person who has never
sean a VCR, a microwave oven, an irrigation controller, or any
other machine employing a man-machine interface in accordance
with the present invention is anticipated to be able to attain
some success at communicating with the machine totally without
instruction. Hitherto challenging machine control and
parameterization exercises like setting the time-o~-day clock
on a VCR are anticipated to be extremely stralghtforward.
- : - .. , - . . . :. . :
- 20 -
2.0 Features and Benefits of the Preferred Embodiment of
Man-Machine Inter~ace in Accordance with the Present
Invention
The preferred embodiment o~ a man-machine interface in
accordance with the present invention is incorporaked in an
irrigation controller. This irrigation controller in
accordance with the present invention is light-energized with
a built-in incident light collector. It exhibits su~ficient
energy storage to drive a custom CMOS ultra-low-power
microcomputer with 32K RAM memory and to cycle up to eight (8)
ultra-low-power irrigation valves up to sixteen (16) times per
twenty-four (24) hour period. This provides complete
independence from any need for AC power, saving on energy and
installation costs and permitting the controller to be located
closer to the valves.
An easy to read two-line LCD display with automatic
prompting (~uestioning) in accordance with the present
invention is implemented. The user is guided through the
programming process with easy to understand two-line "prompts,"
thus substantially eliminating confusion, mistaXes, and
requirements to repeatedly reference printed or human
authority.
Two-button programming with "best guess" defaults is
used for all settings. All programming is done by answering
simple ~ue~tions with OK or NO answers in accordance with the
present invention. The controller automatically gives the user
"best guess" defaults where applicable.
An on-line help feature in accordance with the present
invention gives directions and information for each operational
mode and parameter insertion. These on-line help messages are
available at any time by pressing a ~IELP key.
The design is modular in that multiple 8-valve station
controller units can be integrated together. The individual
8-valve-station controller units can be networked together into
optionally radio-linked centrally conkrolled systems, or,
æ~
- - 21 -
alternatively, multiple unrelated controllers on various sites
can be centrally managed by optional multi-programming
equipment.
Each of the 8 sta-tions for a single controller unit can
be independently programmed within one of six dif~erent runtime
modes (Mini, Autosplit, Ration, ISC, One-Time, and Special.
This gives the Irri~ation Controller great programming
flexibility. Options for (i) simplified "Mini" setups, ~ii)
"Autosplit" setups with automatically programmed split cycles
lo and sequential non-overlapping operation, (iii) "Ration" setups
for odd/even (day of month) water rationing, (iv) "ISC" setups
with complete independence between stations, (v) "Special"
setup for lights, fountains, and pump-start relays, (vi)
periodic or one-time "Add-on Soak Cyclen setups, and (vii) for
multiple nAdd-on Syringe Cycle" setups are implemented.
Controller timing control of the irrigation valves is
from 1 minute to 240 minutes in one minute increments. Thus
one minute precision in starting or stopping irrigation is
combined with the ability to set watering durations of up to
4 hours for each start time. One-time or periodic "soak
cyclesn can have a duration of up to 8 hours.
A calendar is maintained based on nperpetual calendarn
data in permanent memory. Schedules may be established for
specific days or every nso manyn days. This permits flexible
day cycles for irrigation, and allows different stations to
operate on different day cycles.
up $o 128 automatic starts per day are enabled, thereby
meeting the most demanding applications.
The controller's split cycle capability permits
watering times to be split into up to 16 substantially equal
increments. This minimizes runoff and puddling by splitting
the programmed watering duration into shorter cycles each of
which is separated by a programmable minimum ItoffN time~
A System Budgeting Factor of 10 to 2Q0% acts to
determine the numbers of split cycles. The System (water)
- - , . .
,: . . . ~ - :
2~0~9
- 22 -
Budgeting Factor increases or decreases the number of split
cycles instead of acting as a total duration multiplier which
can lead to runoff and puddling. Monthly budgeting with pre-
set default values for each month is also available. This
allows an entire year's scheduling to be set up.
An Integrated Moisture Sensor conkrol wi~h programmable
nwet" and ndry" trigger levels is optionally implemented for
each valve station. This keeps the soil moisture level for
each valve within the optimal range for the growth of the type
of vegetation being watered by that valve, instead of merely
using the optional moisture sensors as switches to override
cycle starts.
Automatic sequential program generation permits
"Excluded Time Intervals". The controller automatically
generates a sequential matrix of start times for all active
valves and split irrigation cycles based on user input for
determined total watering durations by valve, either site
information selection or operator entered number of split
cycles, and on any user-defined "Excluded Time Intervals" when
no watering is desired.
For very simple applications a nMini" setup is
available. This simple setup mode is extremely easy to use,
and it is designed for applications where some of the more
sophisticated features of the controller are not needed.
All valve stations can be programmed totally
independent of one another in the "IS~" setup mode. This
allows in~ividual stations to be watered at different times on
different days, and it also allows several stations to be
runn:ing simultaneously for special applications where there are
no hydraulic pressure or supply limitations. Another option,
the "Special setup", can be used for control of non-valve
devices such as pumps, or lighting equipment.
One-time or periodic "Soakn cycles can be overlaid on
any regular watering program. This feature can be used for
watering in fertilizer, for periodically deep watering trees
2(~
~ 23 -
and shrubs in turf areas, and for periodica:lly leaching salts
in drip applications.
~ ultiple daily cooling or frost-wipe NS~ringen cycles
can be overlaid on any regular watering program for any pre-
programmed month(s) when needed. These cycles help preventwilting and scorchin~ of plant materials durin~ hot summer
months or damage from freezing or morning dew in cold weather
months.
Even and odd days can be automatically excluded as
watering days in the "Ration" setup mode. This allows for
odd/even water rationing schedules to be easily programmed
- where this is mandated by law.
A programmable "Delay Start" permits watering to be
suspended for up to 14 days during rainy weather, and at the
end of the programmed "Rain Delay" the re~ular watering
schedule will automatically resume.
A special "View Info" mode allows the user to review
all settings or to view an event report which displays the
controller history and current operational setup. This permits
the user to easily review the current controller settings or
to view a list of the last 128 events (watering cycles, program
changes, etc.) in chronological order starting from the
earliest event.
Built-in wire continuity and short testing, system
self-test and report functions are implemented. The user is
alerted if shorted or open valve wires exist, and the unit
performs a self-diagnostic test when requested.
A "Test Sequence" allows each valve to be operated in
se~uence for one to ten minutes. This allows the irrigation
system to be easily periodically tested. The STOP key lets the
; operator immediately stop the test sequence if broken
sprinklers or pipes are found.
Both valve stations and sensors can be operated
automatically, semi-automatically, or manually. In semi-
automatic mode, all or selected valves can be run once using
,~
: .. ~ , : - . ... . . ..
- : . . ::: ... . ,: : :
~` ~0~
- 2~ -
the "One-Time" setup. This allows the user to do a one-
time
soak for watering in ~ertilizer or new plantinys. The
controller then automatically reverts to the automatic "Run"
mode.
Three level access codes provide security and render
the controller useless if stolen. Separate codes for
gardeners, supervisors, and factory personnel insure that only
authorized individuals can change the controller settings, and
that code~ can be easily changed as operating personnel change.
2.1 Functions Performed by the Preferred Embodiment of an
Irriqation Controller In Accordance with the Present
Invention
The preferred embodiment of an irrigation controller
in accordance with the present invention (i) receives specified
information; ~ii) makes decisions and performs calculations
based on the specified information; (iii) typically displays
the decisions and results derived in order that such may be,
if desired, manually changed or modified; (iv) generates
irrigation schedules for one or more irrigation stations in
accordance with calculated results and (v) conducts irrigation
in accordance with the generated schedules.
Information may be specified to the controller by
manual data entry or by the download of information (and/or
firmware operating programs) through communication ports of the
controller.
The calculations are performed by a microprocessor,
embedded within one of the Application Specific Integrated
Circuits of the controller, that operates under control of
firmware instructions resident within any of ROM, ~M, and EE
memories of the controller.
2.1.1 Basic Function of Settinq Up an Irri~ation Schedule
The preferred embodiment of an irrigation controller
in acc~rdancQ with the present invention accepts high level
information regarding the irrigation site and equipment. This
: . . . : - . . ~ . . ~
- 25 -
high level information -typically concerns (i) soil type, (ii)
type of sprinkler or irrigation head, and (iii) terrain.
From these informational inputs a table lookup is
performed to determine (i) the maximum "on" time of an
individual irrigation watering time and (ii) the minimum "off/'
time between successive irrigation cycles. A typical table
with times in minutes is as follows:
Table 1. Lookup Table for /'Onr' and /'Off/' Times
of Irrigation Split Cycles
MAX ON
: HEAD LEVELHILLY LEVELHILLY LEVEL ~ILLY MIN OFF
TYPE SA~DSANDLOAM LOAM~LAYCLAYSANDLOAM CLAY
FLAT SPRAY 3 3 6 3 3 2 30 30 30
LAUN SPRAY 5 5 9 5 5 3 30 30 30
R~TOR 8 8 16 8 8 5 30 30 30
2 0 IMPACT 8 8 16 8 8 5 30 30 ~0
STREAM SPR 8 8 16 8 8 5 30 30 30
MICROSPRAY10 10 20 10 10 7 30 30 30
DRIP 30 30 60 30 30 30 30 30 30
(The maximum ON values in this lookup table were calculated by
dividing the maximum precipitation rate for each type of
sprinkler into the minimum percolation rate typical for each
type of soil, and multiplying by 60 to convert to minutes.
Since sandy soils require more frequent irrigation than loam
soils because of their low moisture holding capacity, the same
maximum ON values were used for sand as for clay even though
sand has a much higher percolation rate than clay. ~oam has
the proper balance of percolation rate and moisture holding
capacity, and thus the maximum ON times for loam are longer
than for either sand or clay. The minimum O~F times are based
on field observation.)
~0 The preferred embodiment of the irriyation controller
further receives, e.g., by manual data input, a specification
of the desired total irrigation time duration fox each station.
The controller calculates the number of irrigation cycles
within the irrigation schedule for that station as.
~5
# cycles = total irri~ation time duration
maximum non" time duration
For example, for a station irrigating hilly terrain, loam,
soil, with a microspray irrigation head the number of cycles
.: .
, , ~ ,: :. :: .:
, ,:: . : .
~001~
- 26 -
for a total irrigation watering time of 30 minutes is:
number of cyclesS~tlon n = 30 min = 3 cycles (of lo min each
10 min
The irrigation controller may optionally display the irrigation
cycle time and number of cycles. The number of cycles may be
fractional. In such cases the duration o~ the last cycle is
truncated, so that the total of all the split cycles always
exactly equals the duration entered by the user.
The preferred embodiment of the irrigation controller
then proceeds ~y use of (i) the minimum irrigation "off" time,
and (ii) the maximum irrigation "on" time that now becomes the
i duration of an optimal, normal, non-partial irrigation cycle
- (both quantities derived by table lookup) and (iii) the
calculated number of irrigation cycles, to generate the
irrigation schedules. The manner of this schedule generation
is to (i) allocate irrigation cycles for any one station as
'ronN times ~ollowed by "off" times until the calculated number
of irrigation cycles ensue, insofar as (ii~ the necessary and
prioritized scheduling of irrigation cycles for other stations
permits. These rules are best illustrated by example. If, for
example, station 1 is a sole station that should, in accordance
with the previous example of hilly terrain loam soil with a
microspray irrigation head, irrigate for 3 cycles of 10 minutes
each cycle separated by 30 minutes between cycles, an
irrigation schedule would be generated as follows:
.. . . . . ..
- 2~0~
- 27 -
Time Station #1 Station #2 . . . S-tation #8
12:00 mid. on off off
12:05
12:10 of~ - ~
12:15
12:20 - --
12:25
- 12:30
12:35
12:40
12:45
12:50 - - ~
12:55 on
1:00 am
1:05 Off
1: 10
1:15 - -
1:20
1:25
- 1.30
1:35
1:40 - - -
1:45
1:50 on
1:55 - - _
2:00 off
2:05
etc.
The last irrigation by station #1 was during the period 1:50
to 2:00 a.m. The cycle recommences the following day.
- :: ;.: - :- .,,, , :~.: ::: :-, .. , ~,
- ~6,~9
- 28 -
If station #2 is also enabled under the same circumstances the
combined irrigation schedules will be as follows:
.
Time Station #1 Station #2 . . .Station #3
12:00 mid.on off o~
12:05
12:10 off on
12:15
12:20 - o~f
12:25
12:30
12:35
12:40 - - ~
12:45
12:50
12:55 on
1:00 am
1:05 off on
1: 10 -- -- _
1:15 - off
1:20
1:25
1:30
1:35 - _ _
1:40 - - _
1:45
1:50 on
1:55 - - _
2:00 off on
2:05
etc.
The last irriyation was by station #2 was during the period
2:00 to 2:10 a.m. The cycles recommence the following day.
.,
~0
:
,
-- ~oo~
- 29 -
If the full eight stations are all enabled under the same
circumstances then the combined irrigation schedules will be
- as follows:
Time Station #1 Station ~2 . ~ .Station #8
12: 00 mid. on off off
lo 12:05 - - -
12:10 off on
12:15
12:20 - off
12:25
12:30 - - -
12:35
12:40
12:45 - - ~
12:50
12:55
1:00 am
1:05
1:10 - - on
1:15
1:20 on - off
1:25
1:30 of~ on
1:35 - _ _
1:40 - off
1:45 - - -
1:50
1:55
2:00
2:05
etc.
The last ~rrigation by station ~1 was during the period form
2:40 to 2:50 a.m. The last irrigation overall was by station
#8 during the period from 3:50 to 4:00 a.m. In total, eight
stations have irrigated for a total of 30 minutes each during
4 chronological hours.
The goal of the staggered staxts is to (i) operate one
irrigation station at a time with (ii) a minimum amount of dead
time on all stations consonant with (iii) operating each
station in accordance with its maximum "on" and minimum "offN
- 30 -
; times while (iv) prioritizing between stations in accordance
with their numbers. Each successive station is looked at in
turn to see if an irrigation cycle for that station will
properly fit within a window within the combined schedules, and
if so the cycle is scheduled and the station will water. Which
station's cycle to insert in an~ given window is determined by
(i) which station has had the longest wait for a t~rn to h~ve
an irrigation cycle, and if two stations have equal waits then
by (ii) the lowest numbered station first.
2.1.2 Exclusionary Periods
The preferred embodiment of an irrigation controller
: in accordance with the present invention accepts the
specification, normally by user input, of one or more exclusion
time intervals during which irrigation is not to transpire from
any station~ The specification is normally in the form of
interval start and stop times, which are the corresponding
times that irrigation is stopped and permissively restarted.
The scheduling of irrigation cycles simply works around these
one or more exclusion time intervals. An irrigation cycle may
start before an exclusion interval, be suspended (of~) during
the exclusion interval, and resume to completion after the
exclusion interval. This in es~ence adds an extra split
watering cycle.
2.1.3 Budqetinq of Irriqation
- 25 The preferred embodiment of an irrigation controller
in accordance with the present invention accepts specification
of a budget factor. The controller uses this budget factor to
calculate a new, budgeted, total irrigation time duration as
budgeted total irrigation time duration =
budget factor x total irrigation time duration
For example, if the budget factor is 200% and a station's total
irrigation time is 1 hour, then
budgeted total irrigation time duration = 200% x 1 hour
= 2 hours
.: . , . , ~ :
- 31 -
The controller then proceeds to calculate a budgeted number of
irrigation cycles in consideration o the maximum Uon" time
derived from the table lookup as
budgeted number of cycles
= budgeted total irriqation time duration
maximum "on" time duration
For example, for the hilly terrain loam soil irrigated with a
microspray irrigation head:
budgeted number of cycles = 2 hours
10 minutes
- 15
= 12 cycles
This should be compared to the 6 cycles during which irrigation
would normally transpire. The creation of irrigation schedules
for the adjusted (budgeted) number of irrigation cycles
transpires normally. There is also a Monthly Budget feature
that allows a different budget to be set for each month of the
year. Defaults are provided for each month.
2.1.4 Deep Soak CYcles
The preferred embodiment of an irrigation controller
in accordance with the present invention accepts programming
of a deep soak cycle for a selected station that overrides,
supplants, and substitutes for all normal irrigation that might
otherwise normally be scheduled for the station upon a
particular day.
The ti) time duration, (ii) first occurrence, and ~iii)
periodicity days of the soak cycle are specified to the
irrigation controller. The soak duration can be automatically
calculated from site information, or user entered. For
example, a particular, station might be programmed to conduct
a 1 hour soak cycle every 30 days from a set day. Upon the set
day, and each 30 days thereafter, the composite irrigation
schedules will be routinely computed in a normal manner as if
the particular station had only one irrigation period of
; 40~ duration 1 hour. All other irrigation cycles at other stations
2~t)0~:~9
- 32 -
may be shifted in time-of-day but will otherwise proceed
normall~. Any base irrigation cycles that fall on a soak day
for any particular station are skipped. Syringe cycles, if
programmed, can fall on a soak day (see below).
2.1.5 Syringe CYcles
~ yringe cycles are implemented in the preferre~
embodiment of an irrigation controller in accordance with the
present invention as a separate schedule, automatically
generated, that is (i) prioritized above the normal irrigation
schedules. Syringe cycles are programmed in common for all
stations based on one (only) set of input information for all
parameters, except the syringe cycle duration. (They are not,
however, conducted simultaneously.)
The controller accepts specification of the (i) syringe
cycle duration by station, (ii) start time of the first
station's (i.e., station #l) initial syringe cycle occurrence,
(iii) start time of the first station's final syringe cycle
occurrence, (iv) periodicity of the syringe cycles in the
defined time interval, and, (v) active months during which
syringe cycles are to be performed. The controller schedules
syringe cycles of the indicated duration sta~ting at the
initial start time for station #1 followed by station ~2
continuing up to station #8. After the proscribed time
interval the syringe cycles repeat, and so continue until the
last sequence of eight cycles upon the eight stations. This
schedule is enabled only for the designated months.
For example, 1 minute duration syringe cycles might be
specified to occur every two hours during a syringe period
starting at 10:00 a.m. and ending with a 6:00 p.m. start time.
Eight minutes of syringes would transpire, one minute per
station, from lO:oO to 10:0~ a.m. Another series would
transpire from 12:00 noon to 12:09 p.m. The final series would
be from 6:00 to 6:09 p.m. Each of these series would suspend
any other irrigation cycle otherwise in progress. Each
suspended cycle will conclude to its full scheduled duration
- . ?`
- 33 -
at the end of the current series of syringe cycles.
2 2 Overview of the Preferred Embodiment of an Irriqation
.
Controller
The preferred em~odiment of an irrigation controller
- 5 in accordance with the present invention uses ~ight Energized
Irrigation Technology (LEIT~). It can operate w~th the amount
of incident light available in northern latitudes on a worst-
case cloudy winter's day without needing any of the batteries,
external solar panels, or the A.C. power connections required
for traditional controllers~ It is also extremely flexible and
versatile in its operation.
A diagrammatic view of the preferred embodiment o~ the
controller, with its cover plate removed and operator's panel
area exposed, is shown in Figure lo Controller 1 is typically
atiached to post 2. An array of photovoltaic devices 10 (not
shown) is located under transparent lid 11 to case 12.
Various electrical connectors are presented. A valve
connector block 13 permits electricaI connection by wires (not
shown) to up to eight (8) electrically actuated valves. A
control key socket 14 accepts a pluggable POWERKEY~ power
source (not shown), being a 9 vdc battery suitably packaged so
as to plug into socket 14. A digital accessory connector 15
permits communication connection to a multiprogramming unit
(not shown) that may upload and download programs into the
controller 1 (among other alternative ways of programming
controller 1). The connector 15 is a standard type, and may,
under firmware control within controller 1, interface to
further devices. A sensor connector block 16 permits
connection of up to eight (8) optional soil moisture sensors
or other sensing devices. These soil moisture sensors, and the
control proceeding therefrom, are not taught within this
specification for being unimportant to the present invention.
A control panel 20 contains a liquid cystal display
(LCD) 21 for showing information, questions, and directives.
The control panel 20 also contains pushbutton switches 22-25.
,; -
'
:
- 2~Q(;!l:~
- 34 -
A STOP switch 22 stops the present controller 1 operation and
turns off any valves previously turned on. A HELP switch 23
causes the controller 1 to display more information and/or
instructions, keyed to the current operation or displayed
questions, in LCD 21. The ~O switch 24 and the OK switch 25
are used to answer controller-presente~ questions about the
installation and the parameters of irrigation (e.g., the
watering schedule) and to enable selectable readout o~
controller stored data.
The controller 1 is controlled in its operation by
firmware running on a special Application Specific Integrated
Circuit (ASIC) that includes a microprocessor. The explanation
of the controller 1 hardware is contained in major sections 3-
5 of this specification. The firmware executed by controller
1 is attached as Appendix A to this specification. This major
section 2 deals with the user interface to controller 1, and
serves to show its many unique aspects in accordance with the
present invention.
The term "programmingN used throughout this
specification includes actions performed at the operator
interface to the controller 1 -- actions normally but not
necessarily performed in the field -- by which the controller
1 is parameterized and directed in its programmed operation.
The firmware itself is, of course, also "programmed". In some
cases the act of "programming" at the operator's panel will
a~ter the flow, as well as the parameters used, within the
firmware; thus constituting a for~m of nprogramming" at the
process control level. The word "programming" is used to refer
to the total compendium of operator~programmer interface to,
and control of, irrigation controller 1. The word includes
actions more exactingly thought of as parameterization
(typically done in the field), as well as actions more
exactingly thought of as coding (typically done in the factory
or depot).
?
- : , . ~
- 35 -
2.3 Talkinq to the Irrigation Controller
The key features of the user interace to the
irrigation controller in accordance with the present invention
are as follows:
2.3.1 All Data Entry and Review is Accomplished by Usinq Only
Two Keys
These two keys are labeled "OKN and nNOn. Two other
supplemental keys are present on the control panel for the LEIT
Irrigation Controllers. These keys are the "HELP" and nSTOPn
keys. The nHELPn key provides context sensitive help messages,
and the "STOPN key serves as the universal nexitn or "stop
current actionn key.
2.3.2 The User is Prompted
T~e user is always prompted with what to do next,
either in the form of questions that allow the user to make OK
(yes) or NO decisions, or self-advancing menus and data entry
screens. For example:
¦ DO YOU WANT ¦ ¦ OX ¦---> Set up syringes.
SYRINGES?
NO ---> Don't set up syringes.
A complete listing of the different messages that are, at
times, displayed by the irrigation controller in accordance
with the present invention is attached to the present
specification as Appendix B~
2.3.3 The User Always Knows His/Her Choices
The user always knows all the choices possible because
all menus and number entry screens automaticlaly self-advance
(after a pause to let the user accept or reject the default
value). Menu options cycle in a continuous loop until the user
selects one of the options by pressing the OK key. To remind
the user that he must press OK to select an option, there is
a blinkinq ~ symbol displayed on screen along with each option
as the options are displayed one at a time.
. . ......... .
,,
~o~q ~
- 36 -
Likewise, when numbers are to be entered, the numbers
cycle in a continuous loop, so the user always knows the entire
range of possible numbers. All number entry and menu selection
can be done with one key, since the user can enter a number or
make a menu selection just by waiting ~or the appropriate
number or menu item to appear on the display, and then pressing
OK. A blinking underline (_) acts as a cursor to tell ~he user
which number is being entered when multiple sets of numbers are
displayed on the same screen. For example:
.
Stn ~1 Syringe
Duration = 1 m Automatic
Advance ---> Changes the number
Stn #l Syringe Automatic
Duration = 2m Advance ---> Changes th~ number
¦ Stn #l Syringe
Duration = 3m x ¦ OK 1---> Station ~1 is set to
syringe for 3 minutes.
2.3.4 The Display May be Accelerated
Advanced users do not need to wait for the appropriate
menu item or number to appear on the display, since the NO key
doubles as an advance key. Pressing the NO key once advances
the menu or number entry screen to the next menu item or
number. Holding the NO key down causes the automatic advancing
action to speed up, so that the user can get to the desired
menu item or number more quickly. For example:
CHOOSE ONE tOK) OK ---> Select ENTER SETUP from
ENTER SETUP? K list of options.
NO ---> Don't select SETUP, but
go to next option.
After the user advances the display by pressing the UNO" key
55 tor waits for it to automatically advance), the display reads:
,: . :,
~,., - : ; :
- -
za~
- 37 -
¦ CHOOSE ONE ~OK) ¦ ¦ OK ¦ ---> Select RUN form list
~UN STATIONS? g of options.
__ NO ---> Don't select RUN, but
go to next optlon.
2.3.5 Each EntrY Is Confirmed or Reiected
After each entry is made by pressing the OK key, the
user is given a chance to either confirm or reject the entry
by the use of confirm screens. These confirm screens show the
information that was just entered, followed by a blinking k
character. Pressing the OK key confirms the entry, whereas
pressing the NO key rejects it and allows the user to go back
to the data entry screen to change the entry. ~or example:
~ Stn #1 Waterlng OK ---> Confirms a setting
Duration=oh+lom x of Oh+lOm.
NO ---> Rejects setting; lets
user change it as
desired.
After entering the new setting, users again get a confirming
screen to let them accept or reject the new setting.
2.3.6 RePetitive Information May Be Copied
When repetitive information is being entered, the user
interface allows information to be copied to greatly reduce the
required number of keystrokes. For example, if Station #1 is
set to water on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (with Tuesday,
Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday as off days), the user gets the
following question:
Use SAME setting OK ---> IJse station #l setting
~O for Station #2? for Stn #2.
NO ---> Don't use same setting;
enter new one for Stn
#2.
This saves a loss of time in re-entering the information for
each station. If the user wants to change the setting, he/she
just presses NO and the controller will automatically go back
to the appropriate data entry screen for Station #2. If the
- 38 -
user copies the setting to the next station in error, however,
then he/she can yo back and change the settiny. This is
because the user automatically gets a confirm screen a~ter
copying the settings to the next station.
2.3.7 The STOP and HELP Keys
Besides the OK and NO keys, there is a HELP key for
getting instructions ~rom the controller, and a STOP key ~or
stopping whatever the controller is doing.
2.3.7.1 Usinq the HELP key
The user may press the HELP key at any time to ask the
controller for more information about what to do next. When
$he user is finished reading the message, he/she will be asked
if he/she wants to NRepeat the message?" Pressing NO removes
the help message and returns to what was previously displayed.
See Figure 1 for the location of the keys.
2.3.7.2 Usinq the STOP key
Whenever the POWERKEY~ power source is inserted, the
STOP key will stop whatever the controller is doing, no matter
which mode it is in at the time. All the controller keys,
including the STOP key, are inactive whenever the controller
is actually running ~or idling) by itself with the POWERKEY~
power source removed, that is, in either the AUTOMATIC, SEMI-
AUTO~TIC or STAY IDLE/OFF modes.
If the user is entering or retrieving in~ormation in
one of the set up modes, STOP will also cancel any scheduling
entries the user has made and return the user to the main
option list (CHOOSE ONE (OK)) screen. This is not the normal
way to exit a mode, and should be used only when necessary.
Normally, the user will use the STOP key only if he/she changes
his/her mind and wants to start completely over agaln.
'', . ' ' ~' ,',
OQl~l9
_ 39 -
3.0 Controller Functions
The operation of the irrigation controller is organized
into four main groups of functions called l'Modes". These Modes
are ENTER SETUP, RUN STATIONS, STAY IDLE/OFF, and VIEW INFO.
Table 2 shows the the functions of these four Modes. Each of
these modes is further organized into sub-modes.
The controller can only be operating in one Mode at a
time. For example, if the user wants to enter a new setup,
then the controller cannot be running stations manually at the
same time.
3.1 1 Usin~ the Menus
- In order to use one of the Modes, the user starts at
the nMain Menun Screen (which reads "CHOOSE ONE (OK)n) and
selects one of the Modes by using the NO and OK keys as
described earlier. If the Mode has several functions, the user
selects one of the functions in the same way. For example, in
RUN STATIONS Mode the user selects whether he/she wants to use
Automatic Run, Semi-Auto Run, or Manual Run. When the user is
finished using the Mode, the controller will ask "EXIT now?"
and if the user presses OK the "main menu" screen will be
displayed again.
There are 4 main options used in setting up and running
the controller. These options are chosen from a self-advancing
list by pressing the OK key. The STOP key always abandons the
current screen and returns to the "Main Menu".
A brief description of the 4 Main-Functions or Modes
- of the Controller follows:
- The first mode is ENTER SETUP. This mode lets the user
enter SCHEDULES or ALTERNATE SCHEDULES to tell the controller
when and how to run each valve or station. The ENTER SETUP
mode also lets the user set up the SYSTEM to fit his/her site
and specific application.
The second mode is RUN STATIONS. It lets the user run
stations in 3 ways: AUTOMATIC, SEMI-AUTOMATIC, and MANUAL.
The AUTOMATIC RUN mode is the normal way to turn valves on and
2~ 9
~ 40 -
Table 2. Funtional Mode Specification
~ - ' NOTE: Removing POUER~EY po~er source
j INSERT POUER KEY j anytime before SELECT FUNCTION will continue
Current Function ~e.g., Automatic or Semi-Auto)
I ~ , NOTE: STOP KEY inactive from time POUERKEY
1 0 I DIRECTIONS? ~OPTIOHAL) I po~er source inserted until after SECRET
CODES are entered. ~henever STOP KEY is
active, it al~ays turns off any valves that
~ are on, and returns to CNOOSE ONE ~OK)
I SELF TEST (OPTIONAL) I option list.
l I _ I
L _, , I
SECRET CODE? ~OPTIONAL) I ¦ STOP KEY
I I
ISTOP CURRENT RUN? j ~ STOP ALL VALvES
L
2 5 I -~
I CHOOSE ONE ~OK)
T
3 O
~ _ ~ 1
i VIEU ENTER RUN STAY
I INFO SETUP? STATIONS? IDLE~OFF~
3 5
i
¦ See SET ~ I j SETUP AUTOMATIC SEMI MANU~
I Directions¦ SCHEDULES I ALT I SYSTEM ¦ RUN ¦ ¦ AUTO RUN
i See l ! SCIHED. ! _
History
i~ L_ j 3~
See I Mini I I Mini I I Enter I Start l Start Semi-¦ ~ Test
Run Totals I Autosplit Autosplit System I Automatic Autom~itic Sequence
Ration Ration Settings Uatering: Uatering
Do Self ISC ISC Or One Operate
Test One-Time One-Time Test & Basic Time Soak Valves
5 0 I : Special I Special ~ I Identify I I Setup + I l l
E~it No~ l I I Uires I I optional I ¦Then go to I I Read
add-ons ! ~ TOMATIC ¦
- - , , , - . . , ,, ,,~,,
~o~
- 41 -
off as scheduled in the SET SCHEDULES mode. The SEMI-AUTO RUN
mode lets the user do an immediate one-time soak or a normal
watering cycle before reverting to the AUTOMATIC RUN mode. The
MANUAL RUN mode allows the user to operate valves one at a time
or a defined TEST SEQUENCE, and it lets the user take moisture
sensor readings.
The third mode is STAY IDLE/OFF. No watering will
occur if the user chooses "STAY IDLE/OFF". The controller will
keep all the usex's setups but none of them will be run.
The fourth mode is VIEW INFO. The VIEW INFO mode lets
the user SEE HISTORY events by date, SEE DIRECTIONS, SEE RUN
TOTALS or DO a system SELF TEST.
Before the user can begin watering, the user needs to
complete both the SETUP SYSTEM and SET SCHEDULES modes. The
user then chooses RUN STATIONS, followed by either AUTOMATIC
RUN, SE~I-AUTO RUN, or MANUAL RUN.
3.1.2 Initializinq the Irrigation Controller
The user opens the POWERKEY~ power source by removing
its screws. The user snaps in a fresh 9V battery (alkaline
type) and reassembles the POWERKEY~ power source. The user
unlocks and opens the controller's front cover and inserts the
POWERKEY~ power source by gently pressing it into the socket
located at the lower left of the controller. Since the
internal light energy storage capacitor may not be fully
charged, the controller may need a few moments of charging from
the battery in the POWERKEY~ power source. Once initially
charged, the system will operate from skylight energy alone,
rain or shine, day and night, all year-round. Plugging the
POWERKEY~ power source into the controller supplies extra
energy to run the controller for communicating with the user.
During this communication the display is constant enabled and
the front panel is lighted for night time convenience.
While the unit is charging, the following message
flashes intermittently:
, :
Z~119
- 42 -
¦ Charging
Please wait...
.
When charging is completed, the display will then show:
r Press OK when
most readable
The contrast of the display will chan~e once a second.
The user should press the OK key when the display is the most
readable. The different contrast levels are numbered ~rom 1
to 5 for convenience.
25 3.1.3 SYstem Self Test
When the controller is accessed with the POWERKEY~
power source, the controller asks the user if he wants to
perform a self-test. The test includes checking valves and
sensors, and looking for broken or shorted wires.
The controller then displays the results of the test,
the current date and time, and its present status. See the
program listing of the Appendix for a description of status
messages.
3.1.4 Optional Secret Codes
If an optional Secret code has been assigned, then a
Secret code number must be entered in order to use the
controller. The display reads:
ENTER SECRET
CODE = 000000
~5
The user should enter the six digits by using the NO and OK key
as described earlier. The irrigation controller will check to
50 see if the entry matches the code that was entered during the
Secret Code Set Up. The controller gives two chances at
entering the correct code. After that, it will not respond to
`'`
- 43 -
any key presses for 10 minutes.
3.1.5 Optional Instruction Screens
The irrigation controller in accordance with the
present invention has a built~in instruction manual that gives
the user brief explanations of the keys and the controller
operating modes. The 2-line instruction screens automatically
change at a rate that is comfortable for reading. The first
two screens present a Welcome Message and let the user decide
whether or not he/she wants to view the instructions:
Welcome to the
Controller
Want Directions~
(Press OK or NO)
Once the user has started the automatic scrolling display of
the built-in instruction screens, he or she can stop the
process merely by pressing the STOP key.
3.2 How to Set Up The Irriqation Controller
3.2.1 Set Up Sequence
First time set up for the controller requires four
steps:
1) Set the time and date,
2) Assign a Secret code (optional),
3) Enter Watering Schedule, and
4) Wire and assign stations for all valves and
sensors.
Steps 1, 2, and 4 are done using the SETUP SYSTEM sub-
mode, and step 3 is done using the SET SCHEDULES sub-mode.
Note that step 4 must be done in the field with the controller
connected to its valves. Steps 1-3 may be done prior to field
installation, but care must be taken to ensure an adequate
light supply for the controller while it is waiting to be
installed.
- . . i .
Z~3(~
- 44 -
3.2.2 Setup System
The user should select the SETUP SYSTEM sub-mode from
the ENTER SETUP Selection Screen. There are seven choices in
this mode:
SETUP SYSTEM : SETUP SYSTEM :
Set Time/Date? K OR Setup Sensors? R
SETUP SYSTEM : SETUP SYSTEM :
Set site Info? K OR Set User codes? K
SETUP SYSTEM : SETUP SYSTEM :
350 Do Wire check? x OR EXit Now? R
I SETUP SYSTEM : l
L Setup Stations? OK ¦
The user should press NO (or let the controller automatically
advance) to switch between the screens and OK to select the
operation shown on the screen.
3.2.2.1 Time Set UP
The user should select Set Time/Date from the SETUP
SYSTEM menu to see or set ths present time and date setting for
the controller's internal clock. The display shows the current
time and date:
Time is 10:00 am
FRI MAY 6,'88?
The user should verify the time by pressing OK. To change the
time, the user presses NO and the display will show:
~"
~)0~19
- ~5 -
Time : 10:00 am
_ then
10 r Time : lo:OO am
I I then
¦ Time : 10:32 am
MON then
¦ Time : 10:32 am
FRI JAN then
Time : 10:32 am
FRI MAY _1 then
_ ~ :
Time : 10:32 am
FRI MAY 12,'88 then
¦ Time : 10:32 am
FRI MAY 12,'88~.
_ .
55 The user should enter the six settings: hours, minutes, day of
the week, month, date, and year The user should then press
OK to confirm that the time and date are correct.
3.2.2.2 Set Site Info
Set Site Info lets the user enter information about the
terrain, soil type, and sprinkler types being used for each
station at the site being irrigated. This information is used
by the controller to automatically calculate split ON times and
soak durations.
The first screen reads:
~`
,
. .
- . " : ' : .: , ':.
:: . . , . ~ . . ;
.
~0~
- 46 -
¦ Stn 1: Level sand,
~ at sprays? R ¦
If this is incorrect for the particular site in question, the
user presses NO and the screen changes to read:
Stn 1: Site Info
level sand? R
The soil type and terrain automatically advance (level sand,
hilly sand, level loam, hilly loam, level clay, and hilly clay)
and when the appropriate choice is displayed the user presses
OX.
The next screen reads:
I Stn 1: Site Inf
¦ Flat sprays? R
The sprinkler, types also automatically advance (flat sprays,
lawn sprays, rotor heads, impact heads, stream sprays,
microsprays, and drip emitters).
Again the user presses OK when the correct information
for the station in question is displayed. The last screen for
each station is a confirming screen:
Stn 1: Hi1ly loam
lawn sprays? R
_
3.2.2.3 Setup Stations
The user should employ this SETUP SYSTEM function to
tell the controller which wires reprPsent which station
numbers. Unlike conventional controllers which have terminal
strips that must be wired with station number 1 attached to the
.
,
, .
- 47 -
top terminal and station number 8 attached to -the bottom one,
the user can attach pairs of valve wires to the terminal strip
of the irrigation controller in accordance with the present
invention in any order that is convenient. The user can then
assign station numbers to the wires as described below in the
section on "Wire Checking".
3.3 Wire Checkinq
After a jacketed pair of wires has been run from each
valve and sensor back to the controller, the user should select
Do ~ire Check from the SETUP SYST~M menu. Checking of the
val~e wiring and sensor wiring are done separately.
3.3.1 Do Wire Check
The controller will check each valve wire and show its
findings on the display:
Valves: VsVVVsoo
starting at top
The V sign means the valve was installed correctly, s means the
wire is shorted, and o means that there is nothing connected
to that valve position. The valve positions start at the top
of the connector. Looking at the connector, the display above
means:
V 1st position, Valve wired OK
s 2nd position, Wires shorted
V 3rd position, Valve wired OK
V 4th position, Valve wired OK
V 5th position, Valve wired OK
s 6th position, Wires shorted
o 7th position, Not connected to valve
o 8th position, Not connected to valve
The user will not be able to assign station numbers to valves
with shorted wires. If the user wants to ignore the short for
! now, then he/she should remove the shorted pair from the
connector. The re~air can be made and the number assigned
- . ~
- ~o~
- 48 -
laterO Alternatively, it may be recognized that the user may
intentionally create shorted valve wire pairs at the valve end,
and the controller ma~ be programmed to recognize removal of
these shorts, exposing either a connected valve or open wire
(station).
Valve positions showing no connection may be unused,
or may indicate a broken wire. The controller does not know
whether the user is simply not using all eight valves, or if
the wiring is faulty. The user will need to decide if any
action is called for in those cases.
The display is constantly being updated. As a faulty
wire is repaired, the display will change to show a good
connection. When all positions that have valves are reading
"V", the user should then press the OK key. The user may of
course press STOP at any time to abandon wire checking.
3.3.2 Assi~n Station Numbers
Setup Station allows the user to`assign station numbers
to the valve positions. The first display reads:
View Current
Station IDs?
The default ID is:
Current ID (from
TO?): 12345678 x
., .
The next screen reads:
_
Enter new
Station IDs?
~5 _
;~ If the user wants to change the station ID numbers, he~she
presses OK. The next screen reads:
oo~
- 49 -
_ _
5 stations
wired: ID all 5?
- The controller display now reads:
Stn #s: --------
Unplug #l to ID!
The actual station identification is done by visiting each
valve location. The user should unplug the waterproof
connector from the valve that he wants to be station #l and
then after 2 seconds plug it in again. Unplugging and
replugging the wires at the valve will cause the controller to
automatically assign station #l to the pair of wires that is
currently connected to that valve. The display shows valve
numbers as the user assigns them~ For example, if the pair of
wires that come from the valve that the user wants to be
station #1 are physically located in the third position down
from the top on the valve wire terminal strip in the controller
housing, then the display would read:
Stn #s: --l----
Unplug #2 to ID!
_
The user should now unplug and replug the waterproof connector
from the valve that he/she wants to be station ~2. The user
should repeat this process until all the stations with wires
attached have been assigned. During this process, the display
shows the stations that have been assigned (indicated by
numbers), along with those that are still unassigned (indicated
by "-" signs):
, . . . , , ~ , . .. .
2~001 ~
- 50 -
Stn #s: 35142---
SAVE new ID ~.
When all valves with wires attached have been assigned
numbers, the user is asked if he wants to /'SAVE new ID?" If
no wires are attached to one or more of the terminal strips (or
lS if there are wires attached, but there is a break in one of the
wires causing an Nopen" condition), the controller will
automatically assume that the user does not want to assign
station numbers to the open terminals. If the user later adds
wires (or repairs "open" wires, then he/she can go back into
the SYSTEM SET UP mode and assign valve numbers to them.
After assigning numbers to all the valves connected to
the controller, the user can then check the operation of the
valves manually by using the MANUAL MODE.
3.4 How to Enter Waterinq Schedules
3.4.1 Schedule Set Up Types
There are five possible Watering Programs or Schedule
Set Ups that can be used when programming the irrigation
controller in accordance with the present invention. Each of
these setups, in turn, has a REGULAR and an ALTERNATE version,
so that the user can experiment with different programs without
losing his/her original programs. This gives the user
unparalleled scheduling flexibility.
The ALTERNATE Watering Set Ups can be used to program
an alternate watering schedule for special situations such as
plant establishment periods, or for setting up alternate trial
schedules without having to alter the regular set ups for the
controller. Functionally the Alternate Set Ups are identical
to the regular set ups, and all the settings available in the
regular set ups are available in the alternate set ups as well.
Of the five types of set ups, three of them are Basic
Watering Setups that can be run by themselves. The last two
- 51 -
are Optional Add-On Setups that can be run in combination with
any one of the basic setups, but cannot be run by themselves.
The choices for Basic Watering Setups appear on the screen in
the following order:
SET SCHEDULES: SET SCHEDULES:
Use Mini? K OR Use Autosplit?
~ SET SCHEDULES.
¦ Use Ration? R ¦
The two choices for Optional Add-On Setups are:
235 ¦ SET SCHEDULES: ¦ ¦ SET SCHEDULES:
¦ Use One-Time? x ¦ OR ¦ Use Special? x ¦
When the user first selects SET SCHEDULES or SET ALT
SCHED., the controller will show all six set up types in the
above order. The user should select the BASIC SETUP that
he/she wants to use for scheduling his/her irrigation system.
If the user wants to program any OPTIONAL ADD-ON SETUPS
to take advantage of the controllers unique ONE-TIME soak and
SPECIAL cycle features, then he/she should enter BASIC SETUP
first, then come back to the SET SCHEDULES or ALT SCHED. mode
and choose the appropriate ADD-ON SETUP ~i.e., ONE-TIME, or
SPECIAL).
3.4.1.1 The MINI Set Up
The user should select the MINI SETUP if his/her
irrigation installation needs only the basic watering
requirements of:
* What time to start watering
* How long to water
* How often to water
,, '
~0~1~
- 52 -
I~ the MINI SETUP is selected then only one start time
is available for each valve. After the start time for the
first valve has been set, the start times for each of the other
valves will be sequential. The MINI SETUP is very simple and
easy to enter into the controller, but some of the more
sophisticated features of the controller like split cycles are
not available if this setup mode is chosen.
If the user wants to use split watering times, odd/even
rationing syringe cycles, periodic soak cycles, or if the user
wants independent control of each individual station, then the
user should select one of the other three basic setups.
Table 3 is a Watering Chart that the user can use for
recording the information needed for the MINI Set Up.
Answering the questions on the chart and then entering them
into the controller with the SET SCHEDULES Mode will help the
user to get a better overall picture of what he/she is doing
until he/she gets accustomed to the controller's self-prompting
data entry screens. The Watering Chart will also be useful for
keeping records of how a controller(s~ is (are) programmed.
3.4.1.2 The AUTOSPLIT Set UP
The AUTOSPLIT Set Up will meet the user's needs for most
watering situations. The user can use this setup to program
multiple watering cycles by automatically splitting the total
(100%) watering duration (1 minute to 4 hours) that he/she sets
into a number of short "Split Cycles" for erosion control and
better water penetration. The controller automatically
inserts the optimum length of each split ON cycle (ranging from
1 minute to 60 minutes), and the minimum length of time that
the water is to remain OFF before the next split ON cycle Por
that station (ranging from 0 minute to 60 minutes. These
maximum ON and minimum OFF times are determined from a built-
in lookup table (Table 1 of Section 2.1.4.1) that has values
calculated from the site information (soil type, sprinkler
type, and terrain) entered in SETUP SYSTEM. The user can
modify these maximum ON and minimum OFF times if desired.
- 53 -
Sample I~MI~I SET UP~ Wat~ring Chart
B) Water Cycle:
Water on specific days of the week? NO _
Water every "so many" days? YES
. _, _
VALVE #1 VALVE ~8
SETTINGS SETTINGS
15100% Watering Dur. ~ 100% Watering Dur:
= O hrs t 20 min. = 4 hrs + 00 min.
Watering Day Cycle Watering Day Cycle
20= Every 2 days = Every 10 days
~OR} (OR}
Watering Day Cycle Watering Day Cycle
25= M W F = Saturday
Every: Every:
1 wee~ 2 weeXs
30Start Time Start Time
= 5:30 am = Sequential
Table 3.
. ,
With the AUTOSPLIT SETUP each station can be programmed
with different splits, and even different watering day cycles.
However, all valve stations will always operate sequentially
to insure that each valve has sufficient pressure to operate
at maximum efficiency. The user need only choose one start
- time for the first active station and the contrcller
automatically calculates sequential start times for all the
other active valves for each split ON time.
Normally valves will turn on one after another, except
for days when only a few valves are active and the user has
, , .: :
. : ." : :~:
~ ~v~
- 54 -
programmed a Minimum OFF time that is longer than the total
duration of the active valves. In such cases, the next ON time
will be delayed until that particular valve has been off for
at least the Minimum OFF time. For days when most of the
valves are active, the length of time between split ON times
for any one valve is usually greater than the Minimum OFF Time,
so that there are no delays between stations. Of course, i~
the user wants multiple repeat ON times without any delays
between starts, then he/she can always set the Minimum OFF time
to zero.
In cases where there are certain times during the day
wh~n the user does not want any watering to occur, the
AUTOSPLIT Set Up allows the user to enter an nExcluded Timen
period during which no watering will occur. Thus, if the user
is irrigating a park where there is pedestrian traffic from
7:00 am to 6:00 pm, he/she could designate this time period as
an Excluded Time, and any watering cycles that were not
completed before 7:00 am would automatically be stopped at 7:00
am and resumed again at 6:00 pm. A sample "AUTOSPLIT SETUP"
watering chart is contained in the following Table 4.
The user can also specify Syringe Cycles for one or
more valves with the AUTOSPLIT Set Up. Syringe Cycles can be
set up for summer cooling in hot desert areas, and for frost
protection in cold winter areas. If the user chooses to use
the Syringe Cycle feature, the controller will ask the user to
specify the months in which he/she wants syringe cycles to
occur. Whenever Syringe cycles are active, they will run every
day in the months that the user has specified. The user can
specify a separate duration (of 1-15 minutes for each selected
valve) for Syringe Cycles, and the user can also specify the
time period during the day when syringes are to occur, along
with the time between Syringe Cycles. Syringe cycles can be
programmed to occur during Excluded Times, if the user so
desires. If a basic watering time for another valve occurs
when a Syringe Cycle is scheduled, then the regular watering
.. .
~30~1~g
- 55 -
A* Water Cycle:
Water on specific days of the week~ NO
Water e~ery "so many" days YES
_ _
STATION #1 SETTINGS ..... STATION #8 SETTINGS
100% Duration: 100~ Duration:
0 hr: 20 min 1 hr: 00 min
Split ON Time Split ON Time
0 hr: 5 min . 0 hr: 15 min
Split OFF Time Split OFF Time
0 hr: 30 min 0 hr: 30 min
Day Cycle Day Cycle
= Every 2 days = Every 10 days
Excluded Period Exc.luded Period
FROM: 7:30 am FROM: 7:30 am
TO: 5:30 pm TO: 5:30 pm
Start Time Start Time
= 3:00 am = Sequential
. . _
VALVE #1 VALVE #8
SYRINGE TIMES SYRINGE TIMES
Syr. Months: Syr. Months:
JJAS JJAS
Syr. Duration: Syr. Duration:
5 min 5 min
Syringe Period: Syringe Period:
FROM: 10:00 am FROM: 10:00 am
TO: 5:00 pm TO: 5:00 pm
Time between~ Time between:
lh+OOm lh+OOm
.
VALVE #1 VALVE #8
: SOAK TIMES SOAK TIMES
Soak Duration: Soak Duration:
0 hr: 40 min 2 hr: 0 min
.~ Every: 14 days _ _ Ev==y~ ;0 a~
Table 4. Sample "AUTOSPLIT SETUP" Watering Chart
;
- 56 -
will be temporarily interrupted to complete the Syringe Cycle
and then the remainder of the regular watering for the
interrupted valve will be completed. This insures that the
Syringe Cycles will always occur exactly when the user wants
them without changing the total duration of any of the basic
watering cycles.
The user can also specify Soak Cycles for one or more
valve stations with the AUTOSPLIT Set Up. Soak Cycles can be
used for watering in fertilizer, for periodically leaching
salts in drip applications, and for providing extra cycles for
deep watering trees and shrubs. Soak Cycles ignore soil
sensing and the Budgeting Factor, and they use the same split
criteria (maximum On, and minimum OFF times) as the basic
AUTOSPLIT Set Up. The controller automatically calculates the
soak duration needed to water to a depth of two to three feet
based on the entered site information. The lookup table used
in the preferred embodiment of the controller is given in Table
5. If the user should program a Soak Cycle for a particular
valve that occurs on the same day as one of the basic watering
cycles for that valve, then the Soak Cycle automatically
overrides the basic watering cycle on that day. This feature
insures that the user will not miss a needed deep Soak Cycle
because he/she inadvertently programmed that cycle at a time
that happens to overlap a normal basic watering cycle.
The AUTOSPLIT Set Up allows the user to review the
settings that he/she has entered. The controller will tell the
user when he/she has finished entering the required
information, and then it will ask the user if he/she wants to
review any settings. Answering NO will skip the entire
settings review process. Answering OK will give the user a
series of questions to answer. Each question will allow the
user to review one group of settings. There are questions for
reviewing the Basic Set Up (100% Watering Duration, Number of
Split Cycles, the Split ON and OFF settings, the Watering Day
Cycle, and the Start Time and Excluded Times), the Syringe Set
.~
''
~0~
-
- 57 -
Table 5. Soak ~uration Lookup Table
SOIL SPRINKLER # OF SOAK SOAK # OFSOAK SOAK
TYPE TYPE PRECIP MAX ON SPLITSDURATION DEPTH MAX ONSPLITSDURATIOU DEPTH
(IN/HR~ (MINS) ~MINS) (INS) (MINS) (MIUS) tINS~
Sand Flat Spray3.0 3 7 21 38 3 7 Zl 38
Sand Lawn Spray2.0 S 7 35 42 5 7 35 42
1 0 Sand Rotor Head1.2 8 7 56 41 8 7 56 41
Sand Impact Head 1.2 8 ~ 56 41 8 7 56 41
Sand Stream Spray 1.2 8 7 56 41 8 7 56 41
Sand Microspray0.9 10 7 70 38 10 7 70 38
Sand Drip Emitter 0.3 30 7 210 38 30 7 210 38
Loam Flat Spray3.0 6 6 36 38 3 12 36 38
Loam La~n Spray2.0 9 6 54 38 S 12 60 42
Loam Rotor Head1.2 16 6 96 40 8 12 96 40
Loam Iwpact Head 1.2 16 6 96 40 8 12 96 40
2 0 Loam Stream Spray 1.2 16 6 96 40 8 12 96 40
Loam Hicrospray0.9 20 6 120 38 10 12 120 38
Loam Drip Emitter 0.3 60 6 360 38 30 12 360 38
Clay Flat Spray~ 3.0 3 16 48 36 2 16 32 24
2 5 C~ay La~n Spray2.0 5 16 80 41 3 16 48 24
C~ay Rotor Head1.2 8 16128 39 S 16 80 24
Clay Impact Head 1.2 8 16 128 39 5 16 80 24
Clay Stream Spray 1.2 8 16 128 39 5 16 80 24
Clay Microspray0.9 10 16160 36 7 16 112 26
3 0 Clay Drip Emitter 0.3 30 16 480 36 30 16 480 36
Up, and the Soak Set Up for all active stations.
When the user is finished with the Settings Review, the
user is asked if he/she wants to "Review All ON Times?" Just
as with khe Settings Review, answering NO here will skip the
entire ON Times Review process. Answering OK will give the
user a few questions to answer relating to the day that he/she
wants to review, and the budget factor (normally 100%) that
he/she would like to use for his/her review. Once the user has
answered these questions then he/she will be able to review the
ending time for the day and every split (or unsplit) ON time
during the selected day for each active station. This will
allow the user to know in advance exactly when each station
will turn on, and it will also tell the user the duration for
each ON time, the type of ON time (Basic Watering Cycle = ON,
Syringe Cycle = SYR, or Soak Cycle = SOAK), and the Split Cycle
Number (for example, ON #2 of 4). Because the controller
- , ~ , ;
. - .
- 58 -
automatically prompts the user with all the right questions,
it is easy to use these considerable capabilities.
3.4.1.3 The RATION Set Up
The RATION SETUP can be used in cases where there is
mandatory "odd/even" water rationing in effect in the user's
area. This setup is similar to the AUTOSPLTT SET UP, except
that it allows the user to specify whether he/she wants
watering to occur on "odd" or "evenN days of the month. The
controller automatically keeps track of the dates for each
different month that the RATION SETUP is in effect, and only
allows watering on either "odd/' or "even" watering days as
appropriate. In this setup the user can specify the interval
between watering days with the obvious limitation that the time
between watering days must always be divisable by two to avoid
disrupting the odd/even pattern. In other words, the user can
specify watering ever other day, every fourth day, every tenth
day, etc., but the user cannot water every third day, every
seventh day, etc. All of the other features of the AUTOSPLIT
SET UP are available in the RATION SETUP as well. Split
Watering Cycles, Excluded Times, Syringe Cycles, Periodic Soak
Cycles, and Soil Sensors can all be used in the RATION SETUP.
3.4.1.4 The ONE-TIME Set Up
This simple add-on set up is used for Semi-Automatic
Watering and for setting up One-Time Soak cycles for watering
in fertilizer or new landscape plantings. Basically with this
set up all the user does is enter Durations and Split Cycles
- for each station and (optional) Excluded Times. The user can
either enter normal durations like he/she would for the
Autosplit Set Up, or he/she can enter automatically calculated
extra long durations (with split cycles for runof~ control) for
a One-Time Deep Soak cycle. The user does not need to enter
a start time for this set up. To use the ONE-~IME Set Up the
user goes into the Semi-Automatic Mode and enters the basic set
up that he/she wants to use. The controller does the One-Time
Watering or Deep Soak Cycle when the user removes the POWERKEY~
,
Zl30~
- 59 -
power source as instructed on screen, and then reverts to the
basic set up that the user has selected.
3.4.1.5 The SPECIAL Set Up
This add-on setup is for special situations, e.g.,
lights, fountains, pumps, or for running more than one station
at a time. Only stations that have been assigned as SPECIAL
in SETUP SYSTEM can be used for the SPECIAL Set Up. Thus, if
the user wants to run lights, fountains, or pumps via an
optional pump start relay unit, the user needs to complete
SETUP SYSTEM before using the SPECIAL setup. Stations that
have been assigned as valves in SETUP SYSTEM are skipped in the
SPECIAL setup. Conversely, stations assigned as SPECIAL in
SETUP SYSTEM are skipped in the Mini, Autosplit, Monthly, One-
Time and Ration setups. Each station used with the SPECIAL Set
Up can be programmed to operate multiple times on scheduled
days, and more than one station can operate simultaneously.
3.5 Step-by-Step SETUP SCHEDULES Instructions
After selecting SET SCHEDULES the user sets up the
valves in one of the following five ways:
1) Using the r'MINI SETUP" Watering Set Up, or
2) Using the "AUTOSPLIT SETUP" Watering Set Up, or
3) Using the "RATION SETUP" Watering Set Up, or
4) Using the "ONE-TIME SETUPn Watering Set Up, or
5) Using the "SPECIAL SETUP" Watering Set Up
The user need only to sel~ct and enter information for
the set ups that are needed for a particular application or job
site. If the user needs to enter information for several
different types of setups, then he/she must select the
appropriate setups one at a time from the SET SCHEDULES menu.
If the user wants to add another setup at a later time, then
he/she simply selects the setup(s) that he/she wants to add and
enters the appropriate information. The user can enter
information into all of the setups and still run whichever
setup is needed at any particular time when the controller is
in RUN STATIONS Mode.
~01
- 60 -
Each of the five types of Set Ups has a regular and an
alternate version. For example, the user can enter both an
AUTOSPLIT and an ALTERNATE AUTOSPLIT setup, run the ALTERNATE
AUTOSPLIT Set Up for a three month plant establishment period,
and then switch to running the regular AUTOSPLIT Set Up.
Likewise, the user can determine whether or not to actually use
ADD-ON ONE-TIME or SPECIAL Set Ups at the time that the user
puts the controller into the SEMI-AUTOMATIC or AUTOMATIC RUN
Mode. Just because the user chooses a One-Time or a Special
Set Up, he or she does not necessarily have to use these setups
if site conditions do not require their use at any particular
time. The user can turn them "on" and "off" in the SEMI-
AUTOMATIC or AUTOMATI~ RUN Modes.
The "Mini" and "Autosplit" Valve Setups are next
described in detail.
3.5.1 "MINI" Valve Set U~
If the user chooses MINI from the Set Schedules Menu
(list of choices) then the display will show the following
autoscrolling list of choices:
¦ Mini Setup: ¦ ¦ Mini Setup:
¦ Review setup ? I OR I Modify setup ?
_ _ _
Mini Setup: Mini Setup:
Do New Setup ? OR EXIT now ?
The actual display will depend upon whether or not the user has
previously entered a MINI Set Up, i.e., if no Mini Setup exists
the Review Setup and Modify Setup options are sklpped. The N0
key is used ~o switch back and forth between these screens (if
necessary). "Do new setup" is selected by pressing OK.
The user next performs the set up for the valves
themselves. The user is required to set up each active valve
station by entering three settings for each station:
HOW LONG to water ~100~ Watering Duration)
.:
~ ~6~1 ~
HOW OFTEN to water (Watering Day Cycle), and
WHEN to start watering(Watering Start Tlme for first
active station)
The user is first asked to set the 100~ WATERING
DURATION in hours and minutes for Valve Station 1. The display
now reads:
¦ Stn #1 Watering
I Duration=_Oh~ Om
The user must now enter the desired watering duration
in hours and minutes. The duration that the user enters should
be the length of time that the user wants to water under normal
circumstances, that is, with a Water Budgeting Factor of 100%.
If the user later changes the Water Budgeting Factor when
he/she goes into the AUTOMATIC or SEMI-AUTO mode, the 100%
duration entered here will be increased or decreased by the
Water Budgeting Factor (BF). Thus, a`BF of 140% will increase
the duration by 40~, while a BF of 60% will decrease it by 40%.
The user can select watering dùrations from 1 minute
up to a maximum of 4 hours by integral minutes. The NO key is
used to set or change the hours setting first. The numbers
automatically advance every 0.6 second after a 1 second delay.
; 30 After the user accepts the hours setting by pressing OK, the
minutes setting is changed in the same way. For example, if
the user wants to water for 1 hour and 20 minutes the display
should read:
Ml 100~ Watering
Duration=lh~2Om ~
If the user enters a duration of Oh+Om, the controller will
ask:
-~ 2~0~L~I~
- 62 -
¦ NO Watering for
I Station #1 R ¦
After the user confirms the minutes for Station 1 by
pressing OK, he/she is asked:
Use SAME setting
for STATION #2 ?
If the user presses OK, the controller automatically displays
a confirming screen for Station 2 with the duration that he/she
entered for Station 1. If the user wants to use a different
duration for Station 2, the user should press NO to get a new
entry screen for setting Station 2 hours and minutes.
This pattern is repeated for all eight valves. Each
time the user is asked if he/she wants to use the same setting
for the next station, and each time the user can either accept
or change this setting.
When 100% Watering Durations have been entered for all
the active valve stations, the controller asks the user to
enter the appropriate Watering Day Cycle or each station. How
the user sets the Watering Day Cycle depends upon whether the
user selects a Specific Days or an Every "So ManyN Days cycle:
M* Water Cycle : M* Water Cycle :
450 Specific,days ? OR So Many" days ?
The display will show the currently selected watering
cycle. There are two types of watering cycles. If the user
does not want the choice displayed, he or she then presses "NO"
or waits 2 seconds and then the other choice will be displayed.
The user presses "OK" to select the Water Cycle he or she wants
to use.
:, . .
. ` .. . .. : .
- 63 -
In most cases watering every nSO many" days (for
example, every 3 days) givas the most consistent moisture
levels for plants. However, in some cases it is necessary to
avoid watering on certain days of the week. In those cases,
the user should choose a Specific Days Water Cycle (for
example, Monday-Wednesday-Friday). The Water Cycle that is
choosen will apply to all the active valves ~or the MINI SETUP.
The user cannot mix Specific Days and nsO ManyU Days Water
Cycles.
If the "specific days" method was chosen, then the
display reads:
.
Stn 1 ON: --~
ON days: MON ~ x .
After a delay the MON~ automatically changes to TUE? and the
days continue to advance automatically. The user needs only
to press OK for the days on which he/she wants to water. The
controller automatically assumes NO watering is wanted if the
NO key or automatic advance is used. If the user presses OK
for Monday, the display reads:
Stn 1 ON: M------
ON days: TUE ~. ~
The day(s) selected is (are) determined by its (their) place
on the top line of the display. For e~ample, the first T
represents Tuesday, but the second T represents Thursday. Also
the first S represents Saturday, and the second S represents
Sunday. When all the days have been entered, the user is asked
to confirm (or reject) the day settin~s. For example, if
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday is entered, the display reads:
..
. ' ' ` ' ~ ~
- 64 -
,
stn 1 100%= Oh+20m
Every M-W-F-- ~
In the specific case that only one day is selected, the
controller asks if the user wants to water on that day every
week, every other week, etc. The display reads:
¦ Stn 1 100%= Oh+20m ¦
Every 1 wk
The user can select a one to nine week repeat cycle
interval. This, in essence, allows the user to water every 7,
14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, or 63 days on a specific day of the
week.
If the /'Specific Days/' method was not chosen, the
display shows the "Every So Many Days" cycle:
Stn 1 1~0~= Oh+20m
Every 1 days
As usual, the user must use the "No" key (or let the
numbers automatically advance) to change the setting and the
nOK~ key to select the desired one. "~very 1 days" means
every day, '~Every 2 days" means every other day, etc. The user
can select watering day cycles from every day to every 90 days
in one day increments.
~fter setting the watering day cycle for Station #1,
the user is asked "Use SAME setting for Station #2?n The user
can either do this or change the setting as desired. Thus, the
user can water every day for Station #2 even thouyh Station #1
waters every three days.
After setting the Day Cycle, the user is asked if
he/she wants an Excluded Period, and is then asked for a Start
Time for the controller generated watering sequence. Excluded
:,
- z~ g
- 65 -
Periods are a feature of the irrigation controller in
accordance with the present invention. They permit a user to
specify when NO watering is to occur. The user is first asked
if he/she wants an Excluded Period:
_
Do you want an
Excluded Period?
15 If the user presses No, all other questions on Excluded Periods
are skipped. If the user does want an Excluded Period, he/she
is then first asked to define the start time for the period:
Excluded Period:
_2:Midn
The user should actuate the NO key (or let the numbers
automatically advance) to set the beginning or "~xcluded FROM
3Q Time" for his/her excluded time Nwindow.n As the user ~or the
controller) advances the hour, the am and pm indicator also
changes. The user should he sure that the hour reads "am" if
he/she wants the Excluded Time Interval to start in the morning
(am), or else "pm" if the user wants it to be in the afternoon
or evening (pm). When the user has set the correct am/pm hour,
he/she should then press OK and set the minutes after the hour
for the NExcluded FROM" Time. The user is next asked to ente~
the ending or "Excluded TO Time" for his/her excluded time
"window":
. . . . _
Excluded Period:
lO:OOam-10: am
The "Excluded TO" time can never be before the
"Excluded FROM" time, so the default value for the "Excluded
TO" time is always the same as the "Excluded FROMn time. The
, : . ... , :
- 66 -
user employs the NO key (or lets the numbers automatically
advance) to set the "Excluded TO" time to meet his/her special
needs. For example, if the user was irrigating a public park
or golf course where no watering was wanted during times when
people were likely to be playing on the turf areas, then khe
user might set an Excluded Time Interval FROM 7:00am TO 7:00pm.
The user is next asked to enter the Start Time for the
Mini setup. The display shows:
Start Time each
ON day = 12:Midn
The default Start Time is always 12:Midnight, since
this is the earliest possible hour that the controller can
start watering. The user should change the hours by pressing
the r'NO" key until the hour desired (for example, 6:pm) is
displayed (or let the controller automatically advance the
hour), and then press "OK." The am/pm setting automatically
changes as the user changes the hours, and Midnight and Noon
are indicated for easy identification. If the user selects
either Midnight or Noon as a Start Time, then the display
changes to read:
Start Time each
ON day=12:00am For midnight; OR
Start Time each
ON day - 12:00pm For noon
The user should change the minutes setting if desired by
pressing the "NOn key (or letting the numbers auto-scroll~
until the time wanted is displayed (for example, 6:15 pm), and
then press "OK." The display then reads:
- 67 -
. _ _ __ _
Start Time each
ON day = 6:15pm
Because the controller automatically calculates the start-times
for all the other valves, the Mini valve set up is now
complete. The valves will always operate sequentially without
overlap even if the user later sets the Water Budgeting Factor
up to its maximum of 200~.
The display now reads:
Mini setup:
SAVING new setup
After a 2 second delay the following auto-scrolling
menu appears:
~ Mini Setup:¦ ¦ Mini Setup:
I Review Setup? K ¦ OR ¦ Modify Setup?
¦ Mini Setup:¦ ¦ Mini Setup:
¦ Do New Setup? K ¦ OR ¦ EXIT now? R ¦
If the user selects "Review Setup" from the menu, he/she can
view, but not change, some or all of the current settings.
"Modify Setup" also allows the user to step through some or all
of the settings, but pressing NO when in modify mode allows the
user to go back and change the currently displayed setting.
If the user elects to review the settings, the display
will read:
¦ Review
I Basic setup ?
- 68 -
The user should confirm that he/she wants to review the
basic setup by pressing "OK. n The display will then show the
100% Watering Durations, split cycle criteria and Watering Day
Cycles for each of the valves in turn. Each screen has a
blinking /r~n character at the end, to remind the user that
he/she needs to press OK to see the next screen. Depending on
whether the "Specific Days" or nsO Many" Days mode is selected,
thè display format will vary as shown below:
¦ Stn 1 100%=lh+20m ¦ for specific days with multiple
L every M-W-F-S ~ ¦ days per week selected
OR
¦ S~tn 1 100%=lh+20m ¦ for specific days with only one day
¦ on Mon @2wks ~ I selected, where @2 wks = every 2 wks
OR
Stn l 100%=lh+20m
Every 2 days ~ for "so many" days mode
The user should press nOK" to review the settings for
the next valve station. The user should keep pressing "OK" to
view the settings for all the active valves. Pressing "NO"
while in this "review" mode will allow the user to jump to the
next review item. For example, pressing nNO" when reviewing
durations, jumps to the day cycle review screens. The user
cannot change any settings in the review mode. To change
settings the user needs to select Modify Setup or Do New Setup
to start the MINI setup over again. Modify Setup works like
Review Setup, except that each item has a blinking "?", and
pressing nNOn allows the user to go back and change the
displayed setting.
The user is next asked if he/she wants to review the
controller generated start time sequence for all the active
valve stations:
- :,
z~
- - 69 -
Review daily
schedule ?
If the user wants to skip this start time review, then
he/she should press "NO". The user will then be returned ko
the Review/Modify/Do Mew Setup/EXIT now screen. If the user
decides to proceed with reviewing the daily schedule, then
he/she will be asked the following question:
Water Budget
to use = 100% ?
The user should press "OK" to confirm a Budget Factor
of 100%, or use the nNO" key to change the Budget Factor to the
desired value. The Budget Factor can range from 10~ to 200%
in 10~ increments. The user is next asked to set which day
he/she would like to review. If the controller is in "So Many"
Days mode, the screen reads:
Review for where day #l is today, day #2 is
Day = #l tomorrow, etc.
whereas in "Specific Days" mode the screen reads:
Review for
Day = MON
In either case, the user should select the appropriate
day number or name by pressing the "NO" key, and then hitting
"OK" to confirm his/her selection. In the "So Many~ Days mode,
the controller will always water on day #1. For example, if
the user has set up his/her program for every other day (every
2 days), day numbers l, 3, 5, etc. will be active watering
~ , : .
- 70 -
days, while no watering will occur on day numbers 2, 4, 6, etc.
Likewise, for every third day watering (every 3 days), day
numbers 1, 4, 7, etc. will be active watering days, and no
watering will occur on the days between these active watering
days (i.e., day numbers 2, 3, 5, 6, etc.).
In the case of "Specific Days" the user is then asked
an additional question:
Review MON
for week = #1
Suppose that the user has set up his/her schedule for
watering on Monday every other week. The controller will
always water the first week, so the active watering weeks will
be week #1 and week #3, while no watering will occur for week
#2 and week #~.
After the user has set the budget and day for review,
he/she will get the following message screen:
Press OK to see
ending time OR
35 When the user presses OK, the following screen is displayed:
¦ Watering ends
at 6:17 pm ~
After pressing OK again, the following screen appears:
Press OK for to
see each ON time x
. .. : ~:
- 71 -
The user should press nOK" and the Start Time for the
first active valve will be displayed as follows:
I Stn 1 ON l of 1 -
lh+2Om ~ 6:15pm x
The user should Press "OK" again and the controller
generated start time for station ~2 will be displayed:
Stn 2 ON #l of 1 =
oh+15m Q 7,:35pm R
~ The user should keep pressing "OK" to view the start 5
times for all the other valve stations. When the review is
finished the display reads:
,
Mini setup:
Review setup ? R
.
The user should press nOK" to start the review process over
again.
3.5.2 AUTOSPLIT VALVE SET UP
This station setup is called AUTOSPLIT because the 100%
watering durations that the user sets are split into shorter
'repeat cycles whose length is automatically determined based
upon user entered information about the site. The controller
automatically calculates the next available start time for each
successive station and for each additional split watering
cycle, starting at'the start time that the user specifies and
automatically skipping over any specified "excluded time" when
'; no watering is desired. This automatic sequential start time
generation allows the user to get maximum utilization of the
time available for irrigation, and it prevents hydraulic
problems that could occur if several station run times were to
'. .
:: :
- 72 -
overlap.
Besides Split Watering Cycles and excluded watering
- times, this setup has many other powerful features. The user
can set a different watering day cycle for every valve skation
if he/she so desires, can program multiple syringe cycles for
any station for any desired months of the year, can program
periodic deep soak cycles for any station, a~d with optional
soil sensors can program Nsoak" and "dry" limits for integrated
soil moisture sensing.
10With all these powerful features, the AUTOSPLIT setup
is still easy to program because tha controller prompts the
user with all the right questions, and gives him or her the
best guess "default" answers for all the questions. Help is
available every step of the way merely by pressing the HELP
key. After the user has entered all the information, he~she
can then review all the settings that were entered and can also
review the repeat start times for all the valve stations that
the controller automatically calculates.
If the user wants to experiment with making changes to
the AUTOSPLIT setup without losing his or her original setup,
there is even an A~TERNATE AUTOSPLIT setup available. The
"AUTOSP~IT" and nALTERNATE AUTOSPLIT" SETUPS are done in
exactly the same way.
Before proceeding with entering the schedule by station
the user should consider what he/she wants each station to
accomplish, and what kind of plants i~ will be watering. A
station represents a valve and a moisture sensor, if sensors
are being used. If the user assigns station numbers ~as is
suggested in Setup System) according to the desired types of
watering schedules for the different types o~ plant materials,
then entering these different types of schedules becomes much
easier. That is because the controller asks the user if he/she
wants to use the same setting for the next station. This
allows information entered for one station to be copied to the
next station. If stations with similar types of schedules are
- 73 -
grouped together by station number, this makes it much easier
for the user to enter the necessary information.
For example, assume that stations 1 through 5 are turf
stations that the user wants to water on Monday, Wednesday, and
Friday, and stations 6 through 8 are shrub sta~ions thak ~he
user wants to water on Saturday every other week. Once the
user enters the 100% Duration and the Watering Days Cycle ~or
Station #1, the displayed 100% Durations and Watering Days will
initially be the same for Stations 2 through 6, and the start
times for Stations 2 through 6 will be sequential. Thus, the
default Start Time for Station #2 will be the ending time for
Station #1, etc. When the user changes to a different Watering
- Day Cycle for Station #6 (instead of accepting the default
cycle from`Station #1), the Start Time that the user enters for
the AUTOSPLIT setup automatically becomes the start time for
the first active station on the new Watering Day Cycle ti.e.,
Station #6), and the automatically generated start times for
Stations 7 and 8 are sequential from this start time.
The information needed to set up the stations is
summariæed in the Autosplit Watering Chart ~Table 6). For most
of the items on the Watering Chart, the stations are set up one
after another, following the Watering Chart horizontally from
row to row. When questions pertaining to each item have been
answered for all eight stations, the controller moves down to
the next row in the Watering Chart. However, where several
different items are related, the related questions are all
asked for the first station and then the same series of
questions is repeated for each subsequent station in turn.
The first item that needs to be set for each station
is the 100% WATERING DURATION. The display screen for Station
#1 reads:
Stn 1 100% Watering
Duration= Oh+ Om
~01~
- 74 -
The user should set the total length of time in hours
and minutes that he/she wants Station #l to run for each
irrigation day. The user should keep in mind that each start
time can be split into shorter "splitn watering times for
erosion and runoff control.
The irrigation controller permits the user to set a
100% Duration anywhere from 1 minute to 4 hours. If the user
sets the BUDGETING FACTOR to anything other than 100% when the
controller is in the RUN or SEMI-AUTO mode, then the loO~
Duration set here will automatically be multiplied by the
Budgeting Factor. Depending on whether the Budgeting Factor
is greater than or less than 100%, it can increase or decrease
the actual total duration for each station. Thus, with a 100%
Duration setting of 40 minutes, the actual total duration would
-be 60 minutes ~ith a Budgeting Factor of 150~ or 20 minutes
with a Budgeting Factor of 50%.
Even though the total watering duration is increased
when the user increases the Budgeting Factor, there is no
danger of runoff or erosion with the controller in accordance
with the present invention because individual Split Watering
Cycles will never be longer than the maximum ON time that the
user designates (see below). When the user increases the
Budgeting Factor, then more Split ON Times will occur, each
separated by the minimum OFF time that the user has spacified
(see below). Likewise, when the user decreases the Budgeting
Factor, then fewer Split ON Times will occur but each Split ON
Time will never be longer than the maximum Split ON Time that
the user has designated (although the last Split ON Time may
be shorter than the maximum ON time if the 100~ Duration does
not split into an even number of Split Watering Cycles).
The user should also be aware that by use of soil
sensors the actual total run time for any given station may be
shorter than the 100% Duration that is set. The soil sensors
; can terminate a watering cycle in the middle, or eliminate a
split start time completely, if there is adequate moisture in
: ~" . . ~
- 75 -
the soil.
After the user has set the 100% Duration for Station
#1, he/she will be asked:
I Use SAME setting
¦ for Station #2 ~ l
Pressing NO allows the user to change the setting, and
pressing OK takes the user to the confirm screen for Station
~2:
Stn 2 lOO~ Watering
Duration = lh+5m x
After the 100% Duration settings have been entered for
all eight stations, the next display deals with SPLIT WATERING
CYCLES and reads:
¦ Press x to spllt
I using site info x ¦
This screen is for information only, since splits are
mandatory. Split cycles divide the lOO~ Watering Duration
split into several shorter watering cycles. The Split Watering
feature is useful for newly seeded areas, slopes, or anywhere
heavy soils exist to reduce runoff and erosion. If the user
~5 presses NO, a help message automatically appears that explains
splits and how they work. After OK is pressed the next screen
reads:
I Stn 1: View
Site info
.
2(3Q~
- 76 -
This allows the user to view (but not to change) the
site information (terrain and soil type, and sprinkler type)
entered in Setup System. A typical site info screen might be:
_
Stn 1: hilly loam~
lo lawn sprays ~
If the user presses OK (or NO) in response to this question,
the display jumps to the next screen:
¦ Using site info
to auto-split...
This screen tells the user that the controller is going to use
the site information to automatically enter the best maximum
ON, minimum OFF, and number of splits for the current station.
A typical example for the next screen is:
¦ Stn 1: 5 splits
¦ @ 3m ON, 3 Om OFF K ¦
If the user presses OK, the automatically generated split
criteria are confirmed. If the user wants to change these
settings, he/she can press NO. This allows the user to
directly change first the maximum ON time, then the minimum OFF
time, followed by a new confirming screen. The sequence of
screens for this direct modification process is as follows:
¦ Stn 1 100% = OH+15m ¦ ¦ Stn 1 100% = Oh=15m
¦ @ _3m ON, 30m OFF ¦ ¦ @ 5m ON, 30m OFF
Stn 1: 3 splits
Q 5m ON, 3Om OFF R
- 77 -
Each Split ON Time can range from 1 minute to 60
minutes (for drip applications), and it is not necessary for
the Split ON Time to divide evenly into the 100~ Duration that
the user has set. If the Split ON Time does not divide evenly
into the 100% Duration, the controller automatically shortens
the length of the last Split ON Time. For example, if the
user's 100% Duration were set at 1 hour + 5 minutes (65
minutes) and if the user entered a value of 10 minutes for the
Split ON Time, then the controller would run six ten minute
Split ON Times and then the last ON time would only be S
minutes. The automatically entered Split ON Times for various
combinations of soil, terain, and sprinklers built into the
controller are as shown in previous Table 1 of Section 2.1.4.1.
The split criteria confirming screen tells the user how
many Split ~atering Cycles the controller will perform with the
100~ Watering Duration and Split ON Time that has been entered.
If the user wants to change the number of watering cycles,
he/she can do so by pressing NO. The user will be taken back
to the screen for directly entering the Split ON Time, and _he
user can decrease the number of Split' Watering Cycles by
increasing the Split ON Time, or the user can increase the
number of split cycles by decreasing the Split ON Time. For
example, if the 100% Duration was 1 hour + 5 minutes (65
minutes) and the user changed the Split ON Time from 10 minutes
to 5 minutes, then 13 Split Watering Cycles would result
instead of 7. If the displayed number of split ONs is
acceptable,; the user then presses OK.
The Split OFF Time is the minimum time between Split
ON Times. The user should set the Minimum OFF Time for long
enough to allow the water from the Split ON Times to soak into
the soil. Usually the pre-set value of 30 minutes is adequate,
but the Minimum OFF can be set anywhere from 0 to 60 minutes.
The`Watering Day Cycle is set up next. Like in the
Mini setup the user is first asked whether to use "Specific
DaysN or "So Many Daysn. If the "Specific Daysn method was
chosen, then the display reads:
- :,;:~ :
Z~
- 78 -
¦ Stn 1 ON: ------- ¦
On days: MON ~ OR
The user should press the keys to select which days to turn on
for station 1:
¦ NO ¦ Make the displayed day an OFF day and move
~ to the next day
OK ¦ Make the displayed day a watering day and
' move to the next day
Just as with the MINI setup, the day selected is
determined by its place on the display. For example, the first
T represents Tuesday, but the second T represents Thursday.
Thus, M--T-S would designate Monday, Thursday, and Saturday
as the desired watering days. Also, like with the Mini setup,
the days automatically advance, so that the user only needs to
use the OK key.
In the specific case that only one day is selected, the
controller then asks the user if it is wanted to water on that
day every week, every other week, etc. The display reads:
¦ Stn 1 ON: M------
MON every 1 wks
The user can select a one to nine week repeat cycle.
This in essence allows the user to water every 7, 14, 21, or
28, 35, 42, 49, 56, or 63 days on a specific day of the week.
If the "Specific Days/' method was not chosen, the
display shows the /'Every So Many Days" cycle:
Stn l 100%= lh+ 5m
Every 1 Days
- 50 _
zaoo~s
79
The user should select how many days are wanted between
watering days for station l. "Every 1 daysr' means every day,
nEvery 2 days" means every other day, etc. Watering day cycles
can be anywhere from 1 to 90 days in increments o* 1 day.
After setting the Day Cycle, the user is asked if
he/she wants an Excluded Period, and is then asked for a Start
Time for the controller generated watering sequence. Excluded
Periods are a feature of the irrigation controller in
accordance with the present invention. They permit a user to
specify when NO watering is to occur. The user is first asked
if he/she wants an-Excluded Period:
¦ Do you want an
¦ Excluded Period~
If the user presses NO, all other questions on Excluded
Intervals are skipped. If the user does want an Excluded
Period, he/she is then first asked to define the start time for
the period:
¦ Excluded Period: ¦
12:Midn
The user should actuate the NO key (or let the numbers
automatically advance) to set the beginning or "Excluded FROM
Time" for his/her`excluded time "window." As the user (or the
controller) advances the hour, the am and pm indicator also
changes. The user should be sure that the hour reads "am" if
he/she wants the Excluded Time Interval to start in the morning
(am), or else "pm" if the user wants it to be in the afternoon
or evening (pm). ~hen the user has set the correct am/pm hour,
he/she should then press OK and set the minutes after the hour
for the "Excluded FROM" Time. The user is next asked to enter
the ending or "Excluded TO Time" for your excluded time
~o~o~
- 80 -
"window":
¦ Excluded Period:
10:00am-10: am
The "Excluded TO" time can never be before the
"Excluded FROM" time, so the default value for the "Excluded
TO" time is always the same as the "Excluded FROM" time. The
user employs the NO key (or lets the numbers automaticall~
advance) to set the "Excluded TO" time to meet his/her special
needs. For example, if the user was irrigating a public park
or golf course where no watering was wanted during times when
people were likely to be playing on the turf areas, then the
user might set an Excluded Time Interval FROM 7:00am TO 7:00pm.
The next screen lets the user enter the Start Time for
the AUTOSPLIT automatically generated watering sequence. All
the user needs to do is enter one Start Time, and the
controller automatically calculates the start times for all
stations for each Split ON Time, taking into account Excluded
Times, and Minimum OFF times.
Start Time each
ON day = 12:Midn
The earliest Start Time that the user can set for the
day's watering is at 12:Midnight, so the controller
automatically gives this time as the default Start Time. The
maximum amount of time available for watering each day is 23
hours and 59 minutes. Accordinglyj if long 100~ or Soak (see
below) Watering Durations or a long Excluded Period (which
decreases the amount of available time for watering) have been
set, the user must set the Start Time early enough to complete
the day's watering before 11:59pm. If the user sets the Start
Time too late, then an error message will result when the setup
is completed. If the user wants to water only in the middle
.' . : ~ ,: .: .' ~, -
, . . . . , .. ,: i
- - ' ,"' .' : ~',,,- . .
2~
- 81 -
of the night, then the Start Time should be set at 12:Midnight
and a long excluded time SUChA as FROM 3:00 am TO 10:00 pm would
be set. What results is watering from midnight to 3:00 am with
the rest of the daily watering being finished from 10:00 pm
until all the split ON times have been completed. This
accomplishes the same thing as watering from 10:00 pm on one
day until 3:00 am on the next (which is something that you
cannot do with the controller because it treats each 24 hour
entity starting at 12:00 midnight as a separate day).
After setting the Start Time for the basic watering
schedule, the user is next asked if he/she wants Optional
Syringe Cycles:
¦ Do you want
Syringe Cycles ?
The user may set multiple Syringe Cycles with 1-15 minutes per
cycle and with the ability to specify which part of the day and
which months of the year that syringing is to occur. Thus, the
user is able to set cooling syringes for desert areas to
automatically syringe for say 5 minutes every hour from 9:00
am until 6:00 pm every day during the hot months of July,
August, and September.
The controller further performs optional Soak Cycles.
The question is asked:
~ .
Do you want
a Soak Cycle ?
The user may set up periodic Soak Cycles for deep watering
trees in lawns, leaching salts in drip applications, etc.
These Soak Cycles will permit the user to program durations of
up to 8 hours per valve with repeat cycles ranging from once
a week to once every 63 days (in Specific Days mode) or from
1 day to 90 days (in "so Many Days" mode). The user is able
.
; . - .: ,-: , ..
2~00~9
- 82 -
to program different Soak cycles for each different valve
station. The first screen reads:
¦ Stn 1: Do Soak?
(100%=Oh+15m)
- Like with split cycles, the soak duration is automatically
calculated based on the user entered site info.
15The following screen tells the user that this is going
to occur:
, _
Use site info
to calculate x
If the user presses NO, a HELP message explains further what
the controller is doing. Pressing OK gives the user the
following typical screen:
Stn l SOAK=2h~8m
with 16 8m ONs x
If the user does not like the controller calcula-ted soak
duration, he/she can press NO and then modify the hours and
minutes as desired.
After the Syringe and Soak Cycle information has been
entered (or skipped if the user does not want to use these
features), all the information that the controller needs to
automatically calculate the AUTOSPLIT watering schedule will
have been entered. If the user's set up is good, that tS/ if
the user has not made any errors such as programming more hours
than are available in a day, etc.), the display reads:
, .. . ...
,
-` 2(~ 3
- 83 -
Autosplit setup:
SAVING new setup
10 The Review Set/Modify Setup/Do New Setup/Exit Now auto-
scrolling menu screen now appears. Pressing OK when the screen
reads "Review Setup?" permits the user to enter the Review
Settings mode which permits viewing some or all of the
information that was entered in a systematic way. Pressing NO
here skips all the ~uestions and display screens dealing with
Reviewing Settings. If the user presses OK, then he/she is
first asked if he/she wants to "Review Basic Setup?"
3.5.3 Review Basic Setu~
¦ Review
¦ Basic Setup ?
If the user presses OK, 100~ Duration for Station #l
is shown.
Stn #l Watering
Duration=Oh+5m ~
The user should press OK to see the Duration setting
for Station #2, etc. If the user does not want to continue
reviewing these settings or if the user wants to go forward and
look at the next group of settings, for example, split cycle
criteria, then the ùser should press NO and the controller will
jump forward to the next block of settings.
When the user has finished reviewing the Duration
settings, the Split Cycle Criteria that have been entered will
be shown next (by station~.
19
- 84 -
¦ Stn 1: 2 Splits
I ~ 3m ON, 3Om OFF K ¦
After the user finishes reviewing the split maximum ON's and
minimum OFF's for each station, the watering day cycles are
reviewed.
Stn l 100% = Oh+5m
every 2 days x for nsO many days" mode
OR
Stn 1 100%=Oh-~5m
on M-W-F-- ~ for "specific days" mode
Next the Start Time and Excluded Period that have been entered
are shown:
I Excluded Period:
¦ none entered o
Start Time each
ON day=12:00am y
Since the start and excluded times apply to all 8
stations, these review screens appear only once (i.e., it is
not repeated for each of the 8 valve stations).
Display screens are also available to view the Syringe
and Soak setups.
After all the settings have been reviewed (or after the
user presses NO for the Review Settings question), it is
permitted to review all the controller generated start times
for any day that the user chooses to review. The user will get
a screen that reads:
. "
~ ~, . . ... . .
2(~ 19
- 85 -
Review
daily schedule ?
If the user does not want to review all the ON times,
he/she should then press NO and the controller will revert back
to the Review Setup?/Modify Setup?/Do New Setup?/Exit Now?
autoscrolling screen. If the user presses OK, then he/she will
have to answer several more questions before it is possible to
actually start reviewing the ON times for each valve station.
The first question is:
¦ Water Budget
I to use = 100%
The user should press the NO key to set the Budget
Factor for this review anywhere from 10% to 200% in 10~
increments, or should press OK to accept the default Budget of
100%. The Budget Factor does NOT affect syringe and soak
watering times; it only affects the basic watering program.
The user can review the ON times at any budget that is wanted.
Changing this setting, however, has NO effect on the Budget
Factor that is actually used when the controller is running.
The user may set the actual run-time Budget Factor when the
user next causes the controller to enter the AUTO~TIC RUN or
SEMI-AUTO RUN Mode.
The user should next tell the controller which day the
user would like to review. In "So Many" Days mode, the display
reads:
¦ Review for
Day = # 1
~5
sO
The user should remember that in "So Many" Days mode,
- watering always occurs on Day #l whether the day cycle is set
2~Q0119
- 86 -
to every day or every 30 days. For every other day watering
schedules, days 1, 3, 5, etc. will be watering days and days
2, 4, 6, etc. will be noff" days when no watering occurs.
For Specific Days Mode, the display reads:
Review for
Day = SAT
:.
Once the user has picked the specific day that he/she
wants to review, the user is then asked for the week that
he/she wants to view:
¦ Review Sat
I for Week = #
The user should select either week 1, 2, 3, etc., up
to 9 for review. The user should remember that he/she can
program watering on Saturday every other week if so desired,
so that in weeks 1 and 3 watering would occur on Saturday,
while in weeks 2 and 4 no watering would occur in this example.
With the optional Syringe and Soak features, the user
; is able to review Syringe and Soak ON Times if Syringes or
Soaks are scheduled for the day being reviewed.
Once the user has answered these preliminary questions,
the user will get the following message screen:
_ I
Press OK to see
ending time ~
After viewing the ending time for the day, the next screen
reads:
_ _ ,
Press OK for
each ON Time
'~:
- 87 -
The user should press OK in order to display the first
ON Time for station #l (if station #l is an active valve) for
the day selected (if any ON times exist). Pressing OK again
will display the first ON Time for station #2, etc. All the
Split ON Times for all the active valve stations will be
sequentially displayed until all the ON Times for the day have
been displayed or until the user presses STOP to stop the
review process (or NO to get back to the Review Setup?/Modify
Setup?/Do New Setup?/EXIT now? menu screen).
The display screen for reviewing the generated sequence
of ON times tells the user the station number, the split cycle
number, the watering duration for that particular split ON, and
the actual time that the station in question comes on.
Generated starts are also differentiated as to whether they are
a basic watering Split ON Time, a Soak Cycle Split ON Time, or
a Syringe ON Time by the first line of the display:
¦ Stn 1 ON 1 of 7
~ Oh+lOm QlO:OOam ~ ¦
2~
For Basic Watering Split ON Times; OR
¦ Stn 1 SOAKl of 13
1 Oh+lOm ~lO:OOam x For Soak Cycle Split ON Times; OR
Stn 1 Syr l of 10
Oh+ 5m ~12:30pm ~ For Syringe ON Times.
Pressing NO at any time during this review process
takes the user back to the Review Setup?/Modify Setup?/Do New
Setup?/E~it Now~ autoscrolling menu screen (where the user can
press OK to start the generated sequence review over again for
a different day or for a different Budget Factor). This review
process will permit the user to view everything in advance, so
.. . ... ..
~2~V~
- 88 -
the user always knows exaotly what the controller is going to
do on any given day. Of course, the user can skip this review
process completely just by answering NO to the first question.
If the user selects Modify Setup instead of Review
Setup, he/she can selectively change settings by stepping
through a similar sequence of screens. Pressing OK confirms
the displayed setting, and pressing NO takes the user back to
the original data entry screen.
3.6 How to Automatically Run the Controller
3.6.1 Automatic Run Mode
After finishing SET SCHEDULES, the user should select
the RUN STATIONS mode, then he/she should choose AUTOMATIC RUN
from the autoscrolling menu. The display then reads:
Do you want to
delay watering?
Pressing OK allows the user to set a day of from 1 to 14 days
before automatic watering actually beginsO This is useful as
a "rain delay" when the user wants to not run the controller
during a rainy period, but then wants it to resume automatic
operation without having to visit the controller again. The
next screen reads:
~ Delay watering
I for _1 days
The rain delay can be set for anywhere from l to 14 days. The
next screen reads:
¦ View Active
¦ Station #s ? ¦
If the user presses OK, the following screen is displayed: -
2a~
- 89 -
¦ Using: 12345678
Is this OK ?
If the user wants to disable one or more stations,he
should press NO and the display will change to read:
Using: ~
Use Stn 1 ?
The user should press OK if he/she wants to use station #1, or
No if he/she does do not want to use this station. If the user
presses OK, the display reads:
¦ Using: 1-------
Use Stn # 2 ?
Note that there is now a "l" instead of a "-/' for station #1,
indicating that this station is now active. After a delay the
station number automatically advances to Stn $2, and a /'-" is
automatically inserted on the top line. Thus, the user needs
only press OK for the stations that he/she wants enabled. The
user should repeat this process until all the desired valves
are turned on (number displayed) or off ("-" sign displayed)
as desired. When the user has made his/her entry for station
#8, the display will read something like:
¦ Using: 1-345678
¦ Is This OK ?
The user should press OK to confirm that he/she indeed wants
station 2 disabled, or NO if he/she wants to go back and change
his/her settings.
- ~o~
The user should use this Enable/Disable set up to tell
the controller which valve stations that he/she wants to be
active (enabled). The controller comes pre-set with all the
stations active. A user's installation, however, may require
less than eight valve stations or the user may need to
inactivate (disable) one or more of the stations while he/she
repairs his/her irrigation system. In such cases, the user can
temporarily inactivate one or more valves. Any disabled valves
will be skipped when the controller is actually running, and
any previously scheduled watering times for the inactivated
valves will be skipped.
After the enable/disable setup has been completed (or
skipped if the default is accepted), the user is asked to
choose which previously entered schedule setup that he/she
wants to run. The next screen reads:
_
AUTOMATIC RUN:
Mini Setup ? x
The second line of the displays automatically advances after
a delay, and the user needs to press OK when the appropriate
setup is displayed. The last choice on the autoscrolling menu
is "EXIT now?", and the user can select this option if he/she
decides not to start the automatic run until later. After the
setup is chosen, the next screen reads:
Water Budget
to use = 100%
The user needs to either accept the default value for the water
budget, or select a new value anywhere from 10% to 200% in
increments of 10%. The next screen reads:
. ~
Zt~
-- 91 --
_
To water, take
Power Key out!
The user then needs only to remove the POWERKEYW power source
to begin automatic watering. The controller will now run with
the chosen watering setup in it, and valves will turn on the
- next time a start time occurs.
3.7 How to Manuallv Run the Controller
3.7.1 Manual Mode
The user should select MANUAL Mode to turn the valves
on or off independent of the timer, to run a timed Test
Sequence for checXing the irrigation system, or to read the
soil moisture sensors.
There are four choices in ~UAL Mode:
.
MANUAL RUN: MANUAL RUN: ¦
Run stations? x OR Run Test Seq? K ¦
MANUAL RUN: I I MANUAL R~N:
¦ Read sensors? K ¦ OR ¦ EXIT Now o
The user should press OK to select the operation shown on the
screen, or NO to switch between screens. If STOP is pressed,
then all valves will be turned OFF, and the main "CHOOSE ONE
(OK)" function select screen will be displayed.
3~7.1.1 Manual Valve Operation
Select "Run Stations" from the ~NUAL RUN Mode to
manually operate the valves. The display reads:
Stn #: ~ ~~~~
Turn ~1 ON ~ where - = off and number = on
- :: . : : , ~,
z~
- 92 -
The status of all the valves is shown on the first line of the
display. The valves are shown in order; the valve number
displayed means the valve is on, and - means the valve is off.
The second line of the display shows the condition of
any one valve. In the example above, the user can press OK to
turn valve #l ON, or NO to leave it OFF. If the user presses
OK, the display changes to read:
Stn #~
Turn #1 OFF ?
Pressing OK again, station #1 turns OFF and the display changes
to read:
:
Stn #: --------
Go to Stn #2 ?
If the user again presses OK, the display changes to read:
Stn #~
Turn #2 ON ?
If the user presses NO, the display changes to read:
¦ Stn #: --------
4 5 ¦ Go to Stn #3 ? ¦
If the user doesn't press OK or NO, the display auto-scrolls
after a pause between three different screens: :
F5 ¦ Stn #~ Stn #~
¦ Turn #2 ON? ¦ OR ¦ Go to Stn #3 ?
- 2(~(~Ql~
- 93 -
Stn #: --------
EXIT now ?
If a valve is already on, the first menu choice is:
¦ Stn #: -2------
Turn #2 OFF ?
Pressing OK will shut if off, while pressing NO or letting the
menu auto-scroll will allow the user to move on to station 3
with station 2 still running.
Once a valve is manually turned on, it will stay on
until the user either 1) turns it off as described above, 2)
presses the STQP key, or 3) removes the POWERKEY~ power source.
Normally, the user should only use the second and third ways
of manually turning a valve off in emergencies. Pressing the
STOP key in Manual Mode takes the user back to the main
function select menu screen.
When the user has finished turning ON and OFF stations
in M~NUAL RUN, the menu choice "EXIT now" is chosen. If any
stations are still on when the user chooses to exit, the
following screen is displayed:
All stations ON
Turning OFF now
45 3.8 How to Review System HistorY With View Info Mode
3.8.1 Reviewing System History
The user may review the performance of the controller
by enkering VIFW INFO mode and selecting See History. The
controller stores the last 128 significant events in
50 chronological order, ending with the most recent event. An
event can be a valve start, a status event, or a programming
event. The user must press OK to see the next screen, or STOP
.
,
.. .
211~t~Q~
- 94 -
to end the history review.
The data stored from each valve start is displayed as
follows:
~ _
Stn 1: lO:OOam
Oh+15m ~
The history shows the station number, the starting
time, and the actual ON time used.
: 40
. :
:: .: : ..
- - . : ~ . ,:: : : :
119
- 95 -
4.0 Functional Description of the U1 ASIC Device
The block diagram of Figure 4 shows the overall
architecture of the first, U1, Application Specific Integrated
Circuit (ASIC) used within the preferred embodiment of the
irrigation controller in accordance with the present inven-tion.
The detail function of ASIC U1 is essentially unimportant ~or
the purposes of the present invention, and is included within
this specification only for purposes of completeness. The
photovoltaic module (PVM, shown in Figure 3a), SUPERCAPS C1 and
C2 (shown in Figure 3a) and ASIC U1 (shown in Figure 3a) may
be considered to simply be the implementation of a special form
of a light-energized power supply. The general implementation
of an a.c. or battery source power supply is, of course,
routine in the electrical arts.
The Ul ASIC device is u~ed to generate a 5 volt power
supply using power from a photovoltaic modult or battery.
Power is stored by charging very large supercapacitors
("SUPERCAPS") to 10.8 volts. The stored energy is then used
for operation during dark periods. Because the energy stored
in the SUPERCAPS = 1/2 CVc~p2, the run time duration of the
controller during conditions of darkness is greatly affected
by how closely the maximum charge voltage can be brought to the
maximum tolerable voltage for the SUPERCAP components.
Therefore, to increase the dark run time, the "SUPERCAPS" are
very carefully monitored, so that they may be charged to a
maximum value without being over-charged.
The U1 ASIC device is designed to use minimal power
while providing five ~5) functions:
First, it monitors SUPERCAP voltages and shunts the
charging current if they are over-charged. The monitoring
holds this voltage to within +/- 1.75~.
Second, it provides a 5 volt +/-2.5%, 0-65 mA output
voltage to power other electronics.
Third, it provides status signals indicating the
condition of the power supply.
2~C`C~ 9
- 96 -
Fourth, it provides a 2 kHz, 30 us pulse for use as a
time base.
Fifth, it steps up a 9 volt battery to 17 volts to
charge the SUPERCAPS and provide current during programming of
S other electronics. (Power consumption is less of a concern in
this mode.)
Sampling capacitors are used to monitor the various
capacitor and power supply voltages, allowing the use of onl~
one comparator to conserve current. CrSi 100 kQ/ resistors are
used to minimize analog currents.
The voltage reference is trimmed using on-chip metal
fuses.
There are 3 potential 'most positive' voltages and two
potential 'most negative' voltages, making substrate
connections difficult. This is handled by using bipolar
junction isolation that employs the isolated n- regions as
separate CMOS substrates. This allows the CMOS circuitry to
operate from several supplies, any one of which could be at the
highest potential at different times.
The logic generally runs from VSSl (OV) to VDD2 (O-
5V), level shifting where required. Analog references run from
VSSl to VDDl (0-llV). Switching regulator components run from
vSs2 (-.7 to +5.5 V) to VBAT (0 to 15 V). The upper shunt
transistor is connected to a voltage which can range from 0 to
VDDl +0.7V.
4.1 VREFl Voltage Reference. The VREFl circuit X4 is a
voltage reference for monitoring supercaps, system low, and
system very low. The circuit requires no op-amps, reducing
offset error. NMOS transistors at collectors of non bandgap
transistors are used to eliminate early voltage effects. The
circuit has a buffered output which multiplies the bandgap
voltage and is trimmed to 1.50 volts. This trimming is with
on-chip metal fuses. The trim range is approximately 1.5 ~
0.1 volts with minimum steps of 3 mV. .~n extra +/-1 LSB is
provided in case original trim is incorrect. The circuit
: . : .-- , :~ ,~, ~
., .
2(~C(~ ~L9
- 97 -
temperature coefficient is 60 ppm/C typical, 150 ppm/C worst
case.
4.2 IBIAS & XTAL BIAS Bias Current Generator. The IBIAS
& XTAL BIAS circuit X1 generates 20 nA bias currents for other
cells, and 100nA bias (voltage) for xtal oscillator. It
generates buffered 2 Vth voltage "VLOW" used to run the xtal
oscillator and high-order dividers at low current. CrSi and
p-resistors are combined to match TC of Vbe. The bias varies
approximately +/- 28% over all parameters.
4.3 XTAL OSC & HIGH ORDER DIVIDERS. The XTAL & 2 kHz
DIVIDERS circuit X2 generates a clock for capacitor switch
sequencing. It uses a low current oscillator (C~SCl from TCJ)
running from the second Vth supply voltage called VLOW.
Internal trim capacitors are added to the crystal pins and are
metal mask trimmable. Dividers to 2 kHz run from VLOW, then
are level shifted to VSS1, VDD2 (0 to 5V). This avoids level
shifting at 32 kHz, conserving current.
Circuit input PULSE receives a 2 kHz 30 microsecond
pulse used for on and off chip timing. Circuit input NSTROBE
receives a 2 kHz, 15 us negative pulse occurring 60 us after
PULSE and is used for on chip timing. The level shifters use
approx. 30 nA each at 2 kHz.
4.4 SAMPLING SWITCH DECODE. The SS DECODE circuit X3 is
clocked by input PULSE. A one-shot is used to effectively
generate a non-overlapped clock for the switch output signals.
All switch signals are disabled (by inputs E and NE) for 0.6
to 4 us after each clock.
Switch sequencing samples the upper supercap, lower
supercap, system low, and system very low in that order.
Inputs NSC1, NSC2, NSSL, NSSVL define which voltage is being
sampled. Each voltage is sampled once every 7.8 ms.
Input NCMP_CLK is the comparator clock. Input NCMP_ON
powers down the comparator during unused periods.
4.5 SAMPLING CAP ARRAY & SWITCHES. The CAP ARRAY &
SWITCHES circuit X5 contains sampling capacitors that are
~.
, . ,, , .~,. -, -. , , ", ~ -
- 98 -
basically unit sizes. Due to the variety of voltages sampled,
fractions of units are required. Poly etch tolerance can cause
approximately 0.2% ratio error.
Inputs S1, S2, S3, S~ and S9 require signals level
shifted above VSS2 (the normal logic level is VSS1, VDD2).
Inputs S1, S2, S3, S8, S9 must save bodies tied ~o VSS1 & VDD1.
All other switches may be tied to VSS1, VD~2. Note that this
includes p-channel bodies, since they are isolated from the
substrate in this process.
Sampling occurs such that the node OUT should remain
at the reference voltage level if the sampled voltage is at its
exact trip point. This avoids parasitic capacitance effects
at this high-impedance node.
100 mV of hysteresis is added to the SL and SVL tests
by switching between two slightly different capacitor values.
A simplified electrical schematic of the CAP ARRAY &
SWITCHES circuit X5 illustrating its function is shown in
Figure 5a. In operation, VOUT = V~F if VS~LE C1 = V~F ' C2-
4.6 SAMPLING COMPARATOR. The SCOMP circuit X7 compares20 output from the capacitor array to the reference voltage. It
is inherently offset compensated. It's response time is less
than 25us.
A simplified electrical schematic of the SCOMP circuit
X7 illustrating its function is shown in Figure 5~. Phase 1
shorts the n-channel so that its gate voltage mo~es to the
voltage where it carries exactly the current source current.
The input capacitor is shoxted to VREF and stores the
difference between this gate voltage and VREF. Phase 2 opens
the n-channel and connects the capacitor to the input voltage.
If the input voltage is different from the reference, the gate
is forced higher or lower, pulling the output of the current
source down or allowing the current source to pull up.
4.7 COMPARATOR DATA LATCHES. The COMP DL circuit Xll
stores the output of the comparator in the latch corresponding
to the voltage being tested. It is cloc~ed by input NSTROBE.
- ~ :: : .:
" , . . . ~ ;:
Z~Ol~
_ 99 _
4.8 WAIT TIMERS. The WT TIMER circuit X12 is used as a
"timed hysteresis" when the SUPERCAP voltages are sampled.
When near the trip voltage, the capacitors will tend
to be above the trip voltage when charging, and immediately
fall below the trip voltage when the charging current is
shunted away. This is due to approximately 7Q internal
resistance in the SUPERCAPS.
The SUPERCAPS are sampled every 7.8 ms, and under the
above conditions would alternate charginy/discharging at a 50%
lQ duty cycle. A typical charge current of 20 mA would average
10 m~, while a typical load current is 12 mA continuous,
resulting in a net energy loss. This would result in the
capacitor charging to less than its maximum value by the
internal I-R drop.
To avoid this situation, the comparator data latch is
disabled for 3x7.8ms after it comes out of a shunt mode. This
results in a 3:1 charge to shunt ratio, ensuring that the net
charge current is positive.
~.9 SHUNT TRANSISTORS. The SHUNT TRANSISTORS X10 shunt up
to 70 mA away from the SUPERCAP when the maixmum voltage is
exceeded. The SHUNT TRANSISTORS X10 have a resistance of
approximately 3.5 n.
4.10 SWITCHING REGULATOR. The SWITCHING REGULATOR circuit
X9 provides 17 volts from a 9 volt battery. The inductor
shorting transistor of the circuit is off-chip (the IC is not
required to handle the 17 volts).
Output NBP signals the VDD2, VSSl logic when a battery
is attached to the BAT, VSS2 terminals.
A simplified electrical schematic of a step-up DC-to-
DC Converter circuit used in SWITCHING REGULATOR circuit X9 andillustrating its function is shown in Figure 5c. When switch
S is closed the battery voltage is applied across the inductor
L. Charging current flows through the inductor, building up
a magnetic field, increasing as the switch is held closed.
While the switch is closed, the diode D is reverse biased (open
Zl~ 9
-- 100 --
circuit) and current is supplied to the load by the capacitor
C. Until the switch is opened the inductor current will
increase linearly to a maximum value determined by the battery
voltage, inductor value, and the amount of time the switch is
held closed (IPEAK = V~AT/L X TON)' When the switch is opened,
the magnetic field collapses, and the energy stored in the
magnetic field is converted into a discharge current which
flows through the inductor in the same direction as the
charging current. Because there is no path for current to flow
through the switch, the current must flow through the diode to
supply the load and charye the output capacitor.
If the switch is opened and closed repeatedly, at a
rate much greater than the time constant of the output RC, then
a constant`DC voltage will be produced at the output.
4.10.1 SWITCHING REGULATOR BIAS. The internal bias of
SWITCHING REGULATOR circuit X9 is used only for biasing
switching regulator components. The bias is provided by a
Standard 5 uA bias cell type A54020. Its absolute value is not
critical.
4.10.2 VREF2. The SWITCHING REGULATOR circuit X9 has an
internal reference for monitoring switching regulator output
voltage. The reference is provided by a standard cell
reference type A53000 that is modified to use CrSi.
The reference circuit is chosen to keep non collectors
at positive voltage. (Switching regulator can have voltages
below the substrate voltage VSS1.)
The value and temperature coefficient of the circuit
are not critical, and trim is not required.
4.10.3 RC OSC. The SWITCHING REGULATOR circuit X9 has an
internal clock for switching the regulator at approx. 25 kHz.
The clock is divided from 50 kHz to give a 50% duty cycle. It
employs a standard cell reference type A55010 that is modified
for CrSi. An approximate 150 kn external resistor is required.
4.10.4 SWITCHING REGULATOR COMPARATO~. The SWITCHING
REGULATOR circuit X9 has a comparator that uses positive
- . - ,:, :~ ,, ~ ... :;, , .
2~0(3:1~9
-- 101 --
feedback for an improved response time of 3.5 us maximum.
4.11 VREG. The 5V REGULATOR circuit X6 provides a 5 volt
+/- 2.5% regulated output for external electronics as well as
VDD2 for internal logic. An external NPN is used to avoid
thermal effects on the IC.
4.12 LOW VOLTAGE RESET. The LOW RESET circuit X8 resets the
entire UI ASIC. The power supply can ~under various light
conditions) take minutes to hours for power up, which
eliminates normal power-on-reset circuits. This circuit must
ensure that all outputs are valid until the analog circuits are
operational.
The output holds all latches in reset until the bias,
reference, and regulator circuits are all running at levels
acceptable for operation.
4.13 Preferred Technoloqy for the Ul ASIC
The Ul ASIC is suitably implemented in BIPOLAR-CMOS
technology available from several semiconductor foundaries.
It is typically implemented in the BI-CMOS process of Micro-
Rel Division of Medtronic, Inc., 2343 W. 10th Place, Tempe,
Arizona 85281.
253~1C~
- 102 -
5.0 FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION OF THE U2 ASIC DEVICE
The block diagram of Figure 6, consisting of Figure 6a
through Figure 6f, shows the overall architecture of the
second, U2, Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) used
within the preferred embodiment of the irrigation controller
in accordance with the present invention.
The U2 ASIC device is concerned with calculation,
command, and control. It is primarily digital in operation,
and may be considered to be a specialized microprocessor with
substantial analog as well as digital I/O capabilities. The
diagram of the U2 ASIC device shows the detailed
interconnection of the various functional blocks.
5.1 U2 ASIC Device Architecture
5.1.1 Microprocessor. The central microprocessor Y31 of the
U2 ASIC device is a NCR 65CX02 macrocell. It employs an 8-bit
datapath structure controlled by an internal programmable logic
array (PLA) using 8-bit instructions and having a 16-bit
addressing capability. Importantly, all circuitry internal to
the microprocessor is completely static and complementary so
that the clock signal may be frozen and only leakage current
will be consumed. It has a clock speed of 455 KHz and a 2.2
microsecond cycle time.
The microprocessor Y31 executes the instruction
repertoire of commercially available micorprocessor type 6S02.
The mnemonic codes for the instructions of this repertoire,
such mnemonic codes as appear with the firmware program listing
attached as Appendix A to this specification, are commonly
recognized mnemonics, and a complete description of the
microprocessor type 6502 instruction repertoire, are contained,
among numerous other places, in the book "6502 Assembly
Language Programmingn by Lance A. Leventhal, published in 1979
by Osborne~McGraw Hill, 630 Bancroft ~ay, BerXeley, California
94710. It will be recognized that, consonant with the modest
computational requirements of an irrigation controller, the
relatively simple 6502 microprocessor macrocell is not the sole
- 103 -
type that could be employed, and that many microprocessors
including types commonly incorporated in ASICs are suitable for
use within the irrigation controller in accordance with the
present invention.
The firmware instructions executed by micorprocessor
Y31 occupy memory addresses in accordance with the ~ollowing
memory map table:
00-3F I/O Parts
40-7FFF RAM Memory U5 (shown in Figure 3h)
8000-FFFF ROM Memory U4 (shown in Figure 3f)
The operand fields ~f the firmware instructions are
interpretable in accordance with the following memory map
table: `
00 0 Microprocessor power off
01 0 RTC counter clear
02 0 A/D power, 1=on, O=off
03 0 A/D interface, 1=enable, O=disable
04 0 LCD power, l=on, O=off
05 0 LCD interface, 1=enable, O=disable .
06 0 Valve select byte
bits 0-2 - valve #, + side
bits 3-5 - valve #, ~ side
bit 6 - polarity, O=normal,
l=reversed 07 0 Valve enable, l=on, O=off
08 0 TIMER hi byte latch
09 0 TIMER lo byte latch
OA O TIMER control, 1=on, O=o~f
OB O RTC, 1=10 seconds, 0=1 minute
OC O Serial clock `
OD O TIMER load
OE O Write serial data out
OF O Serial output ready
I RTC counter hi byte
ll I RTC counter lo byte
12 I Status register 1
bit O - O=external battery present
bit l - l--watchdog ti~eout
bit 2 - O=system power low
bit 3 - O=system power very low
bit 4 - O=RTC pulse
bit 5 - l=battery low or caps
charging
bit 6 - l=serial data link present
bit 7 - O=serial data link ready
` ' '- . ~ '~ ' : -
.,
`- 2~
- 104 -
13 I Status register 2
bit O - Switch 1, 1=pressed STOP
bit 1 - Switch 2
bit 2 - Switch 3
bit 3 - Switch 4 HELP
bit 4 - Switch 5 NO
bit 5 - Switch 6 OK
bit 6 -
bit 7 - 0=A/D end of conversion
14 I Read serial data in
I Read A/D converter
16 I Load serial shi~t register
17 I Clear input ready latch
18 I LCD busy flag & address counter (RS=0)
bit 7 - l=busy
O LCD instruction register (RS=0)
19 I LCD read data (RS=1)
- O LCD write data (RS=l~
lA O LCD contrast select (0-7)
lB O Clear watchdog timer
lC O Clock RTC counter
lD I/O EEPROM
lE O Coil test drivers
lF O Sensor test drivers
O Start A/D channel 0, sensor 1
21 O Start A/D channel 1, sensor 2
22 O Start A/D channel 2, sensor 3
23 O Start A/D channel 3, sensor 4
24 O Start A/D channel 4, sensor 5
O Start A/D channel 5, sensor 6
. 26 O Start A/D channel 6, sensor 7
. 27 O Start A/D channel 7, sensor 8
28 O Start A/D channel 8, valve 1
:' 29 O Start A/D channel 9, valve 2
2A O Start A/D channel 10, valve 3
` 2B Q Start A/D channel 11, valve 4
2C O Start A/D channel 12, valve 5
2D O Start A/D channel 13, valve 6 :~
2E ~ Start A/D channel 14, valve 7
2F O Start A/D channal 15, valve 8
30-3F
40-FF Zero page variables, pointers, and tables
100-lFF Stack
200-3FF Program variables
4S 8000 ROM start
FFFA-FFFB NMI vector
FFFC-FFFD RESET vector
FFFE-FFFF IRQ vector
:
.
: ,' '
~'.
'r:
2~ L9
- 105 -
5.1.2 Drivers. The coil drivers Y20 work in pairs to supply
relatively large bidirectional current pulses to operate
electromagnetically actuated valves. Only one pair of coil
drivers is active at a time, as specified by the contents of
the data bus. Additionally, the output (coil) drivers have the
capability to sink a regulated current for testing and
programming purposes.
5.1.3 Timer. The timer Y26 consists of two 8-bit latches on
the data bus and a 16-bit down counker which is clocked at 2
kHz. Loading of the counter and latches is under the control
of the processor. When the counter reaches zero, a processor
interrupt is generated.
5.1.4 ADC. The Analog-to-digital converter Y43 receives
signals from external sensors and from the valves, a total of
16 channels in all, which are converted to digital informa-tion
and placed on the data bus. The selection of the channel to
be digitized is made on the basis of the contents of the
address bus. The converted data is expressed as an eight-bit
fraction. For the eight channels originating at the sensors
and for the eight channels originating at the coils, this
fraction is the ratio of the input voltage to the full power
supply. All 16 ADC inputs may be pull~d to ground through a
poly resistor and an n-channel switch which together constitute
a nominal 330 ohm resistance. The resistors associated with
the eight channels originating at the sensors are enabled
individually (as determined ~y the contents of the data bus)
upon command of the processor. The performance specifications
of the Analog-to-digital (A/D) Converter are as follows:
a. Resolution/Accuracy - 8 bits + one-half LSB for
VIN = l~Vd)
- 8 bits + one LSB for
VIN = 1/2 (Vd)
b. Conversion Time - 8 x n where n = 8 or 9
fosc
depending upon whether the
conversion is full scale or
.~ ~
;. ~' .: - ` ~ ,,
2~
- 106 -
hal~ scale.
c. Operating Current 3 mA maximum
d. Analog Reference - Digital Supply Voltage (Vd)
e. Analog Inputs (Vin) - Each input voltaye is ratio-
metric with the digital
supply voltage ~Vd) where:
Vin for full scale = 1/2(Vd) for A/D channels 1
through 8
Vin for full scale = l(Vd) for A/D channels 9
through 16
5.1.5 Clock/Calendar. This clock/calendar Y22 provides
several timing functions. It generates a 2 second timing tick
at 10 second or 1 minute intervals.
It keeps watch on the status of the programmer battery
by generating a "Battery Low" status bit if either of two
"Supercap Shunt" signals are absent for more than 64 second
during programming activity.
~t counts up to 65535 ticks while the processor is in
a low voltage shutdown mode so as to provide calendar memory.
The calendar contents may be placed on the data bus.
It maintains a 128 second dead-man timer which can
; generate a hardware reset if the processor fails.
5.1.6 Switch Reqister. The switch register Y2 acts as an
interface between six external configuration switches and the
data bus. An additional input is the end-of-conversion signal
from the analog-to-digital converter.
5.1.7 Status Re~ister. The status register Y3 makes the
following internal flags available to the processor as data on
the data bus: Battery Present, Dead-man timeoutA System Low,
System Very Low, Real Time Clock Tick, Battery Low, Serial Data
Link Present, and External Ready.
5.1.8 Serial Data Link. The serial data link Y1 provides
high speed synchronous two-way communication between the device
and a remote data transceiver. Data is loaded or retrieved via
the data bus under control of the processor. Transmission of
~.
- , - - - ., .. , .. . .. . . :
26~0~
- 107 -
serial data is also directly controlled by the processor.
5.1.9 Ready. These circuits Y23 provide handshaking between
the processor and an external device (such as a serial data
link) through the status register and data bus.
5.1.10 Wakeup. The wakeup circuit Y27, upon stimulation by
either the Serial Data Link Present or the clock/calendar time-
tic or the Battery Present signals, starts the main system
oscillator and then after a 500 microsecond delay, removes the
system reset. Upon stimulation by the System Very Low signal
or by the processor, the wakeup circuit immediately causes the
system to be reset. The dead-man timeout signal will cause a
30 microsecond reset pulse to occur at two second intervals
until the processor resets it.
5.1.11 Main Oscillator. The main oscillator Y25 uses an
external capacitor and a charge-discharge scheme to produce a
high-speed clock for the processor. This oscillator can be
shut down to conserve power. It will restart immediately upon
command. The frequency of oscillations is determined by the
size of the external capacitor. The relationship between
capacitor size and frequency, as well as the fre~uency
stability over changes in operating environment, may be
tailored in consideration of the operational environment within
which the irrigation controller is used.
5.1.12 LCD Interface. The LCD interface Y29 consists of a
latch on the data bus and the control circuitry needed to
operate an external liquid crystal display and the DAC~ The
LCD interface can be configured to function as the 6502 Data
I/O port. The interface is configured in this way only during
a special test mode. Under processor control, a flip flop is
set which alters the internal logic paths so that the LCD bus
will be configured as a 6502 Data I/O port. This special test
feature allows the 6502 to be tested independently of the
peripheral logic.
5.1.13 DAC. The four bit digital-to-analog converter Y32
provides a voltage, as specified by the contents o~ the data
. .
2~
- 108 -
bus, through the LCD interface for contrast control of the
external liquid crystal display.
The performance specification of the DAC are as
follows:
a. Resolution: 4 bits
b. Accuracy : ~ 1/2 LSB for all voltage steps
c. Vout = n(0.147) where O ~ n ~ 15
d. Io (min) = 500 uA sink for Vout = OV + 50 mV
e. Vo (max) = ~ 50 mV for Io = 500 uA for the DAC
setting D3 = D2 = Dl = DO = O
5.1.14 Address Decodinq. The address decoder circuit Y38
uniquely maps all internal functions into page zero of the
processor's memory space. The decoder produces timing and
control signals for these internal circuits as well as for
reading and writing of external memory.
5.1.15 Power Switching. The power switch circuit Y28 controls
the power for the external ROM and display as well as the
internal analog functions in order to conserve power and to
permit the irrigation controller to enter a "sleep" mode.
5.1.16 Resistor Control. The resistor control circuit U42
permits reconfiguration of the sensor and coil interfaces to
enable communication upon each of the A~D channel lines so that
integrity of both valve coils and moisture elements may be
self-tested. This is accomplished by selectively switching a
low value resistor between-the channel signal line and ground.
5.2 U2 ASIC Input/Output Description
5.2.1 CD0 - CD15 - Coil Driver OutPuts. These pins operate
in pairs, one pair at a time, when driving the coils of the
electromagnetically actuated valves. One pin of the pair goes
high while the other goes low in order to provide bidirectional
current. Inactive coil driver pairs assume a high impedance
state~ When the coil is deenergized the driver circuitry must
absorb the energy of the collapsing field. CD8 - CD15 also
function as analog inputs to the ADC. These pins have the
additional capability of sinking a regulated current ~or
.
2~
- 109 -
testing and programming purposes.
5.2.2 ADC0 - ADC15 Analoq Inputs to the ADC. These pins
provide information from the coils and sensors whose integrity
the processor must evaluate. ADC8 - ADC15 are shared with the
8 valve lines CD8 - CD15. ADC0 - ADC7 are shared with ~he 8
sensor lines. All these 166 lines have the capability of
sinking a regulated current for testing purposes.
5.2.3 SL - System Low. An active low input indicates that
the condition of the power supply is such that further
operation will soon be impossible. The processor, upon
receiving this signal, will immediately turn o~f all valves in
anticipation of approaching shutdown.
5 2 4 SVL - SYstem Verv Low. An active low signal indicates
.
that the condition of the power supply is such that further
operation is impossible. Upon receiving this signal the
processor will immediately go into hibernation. After
approximately 100 milliseconds, a hardware system reset will
occur independently of the processor.
5.2.5 SH0. SH1 - Supercap Shunt Si~nals. If either of these
signals persists in the high state for longer than 64 seconds,
a Battery Low status will be generated.
5 2 6 BPR - Batter~ Present. An active low signal indicates
.
that a battery is connected to the power supply so that the
processor may run continuously.
5.2.7 Sl - S6 - Switch In~uts. Active high inputs with
internal pulldowns go directly to the switch register.
5.2.8 A0 - A14 - Address Outputs. The external RAM and ROM
are addressed by these pins. A0 - A7 in conjunction with ALE
also functions as D0 - D7.
5.2.9 D0 - D7 - Bidirectional Data Bus. The external RAM and
ROM use these lines for transferring data to and from the
device. The lower address bits are multiplexed with the data
on these lines in conjunction with the ALE signal.
- -, . -.
- . . ...
Z~0~
-- 110 --
5.2.10 ALE - Address Latch Enable. When this signal is high,
data transfers may take place on the D0 - D7 pins. When -this
signal is low, these same pins are used as A0 - A7 outputs.
5.2.11 RDYIN - Ready In~ut. This signal appears as one of the
bits of the status register. RDYIN provides handshaking
protocol from a distant serial data link. A low-to-high
transition of this signal sets the Serial Data Link Present
status bit low. The signal is provided with an internal
pulldown.
5.2.12 RDYOUT - Ready Output. This signal passes the contents
of data bus bit zero out of the device under control of the
processor to provide handshaking protocol to a distant serial
data link.
5.2.13 CEROM - ROM Chip Enable. This signal is used to enable
the outputs of the external ROM onto the D0 - D7 pins.
5.2.14 LCD0 - LCD7 - Liquid Crystal Data. These bidirectional
signals transfer data to and from the external liquid crystal
display. They are provided with internal pulldowns.
5.2.15 LCDE~ - LCD Enable. This output signal enables the
external liquid crystal display. This output signal can be
made to exhibit high impedance with an internal pulldown.
5.2.16 LCDRS - LCD Reqister Select. This output signal
informs the external LCD module that either data or command
appears on the data inputs. This output signal can be made
high impedance with an internal pulldown.
5.2.17 LCDRD - LCD Read. This output signal controls the
direction of data flow to or from the external liquid crystal
display. This output signal can be made to exhibit high
impedance with an internal pulldown.
5.2.18 VLCD - Analoq OutPut From the DAC to the External
Liquid Crystal Display. This analog output signal is used to
control the dlsplay contrast.
5.2.19 VL - Switched Power to the External Liquid Cryskal
. ~hen this signal is switched on it provides current
from the device power input VDD. When it is switched off, it
L9 :-
-- 111 -- ,
sinks current into the device power return VSS.
5.2.20 VA - Switched Power to the External Sensors. When this
signal is switched on, it provides current from the device
power input VDD. When it is switched off, it sinks current
into the device power return VSS.
5.2.21 VP - Switched Power to the External ROM. When this
signal is switched on, it provides current from the device
power input VDD. When it is switched of-f, it sinks current
into the device power return VSS.
5.2.22 Serial Clock - Clock Input/Output for Serial Data
Transfer. When driven by the device ~or outward data
transmission, this signal alternatively assumes a low impedance
high state and a low impedance low state. If the low state
persists for more than 20 to 40 nanoseconds then the signal
remains at a high impedance with an internal pulldown. In this
last state, the pin may be driven by an external source for
inward data transfer (reception). The clocks ~enerated by this
pin may have a rate of up to 32,000 Hertz. This pin may be
loaded with up to 300 picofarads capacitance.
5.2.23 Serial Data - Data Input/Output for Serial Data
Transfer. When driven by the device for outward data
transmission, this signal assumes a low impedance state
whenever the Serial Clock is high, and then, if the clock low
state persists for more than 20 to 40 nanoseconds, a high
impedance with an internal pulldown. In this last state, the
pin may be driven by an external source for inward data
transfer (reception). The data generated by this pin may have
a rate of up to 32,000 bits per second. This pin may be loaded
with up to 300 picofarads.
5.2.24 C01 C02 - Capacitor Connections. Provides a
connection for a capacitor whose value determines the frequency
of the Main Oscillator.
5.2.25 READ (WRITENOT) - R/W Siqnal From the Processor.
Indicates whether a memory read or memory write cycle is in
progress.
2(~0C~1~9
-- 112 --
5 . 2 . 26 P~12 - Proces~or Clock. This signal is high during the
active portion of the processor's operation. When low, the
processor i~ precharging its internal busses. This siqnal must
logically combine with Read and the appropriate address decode
to create the control signals to apply to external memory.
5.2.27 CSE2 - EEPROM Chip Select. This signal is used in
conjunction with READ and PH12 for external EEPROM operations.
5.2.28 RSTB - Yrocessor Reset. This active-low signal
indicates that the processor is shut down and may be used to
initialize external circuitry to the correct state for
processor startup.
5.2.29 PAGE0 - Page Zero. This pin goes high when the address
bus is in address area 0040H through 7FFFH inclusiveO
5.2.30 VDD - Device positive supply.
5.2.31 VSS - Device negative supply.
5.2.32 CK - Real-Time Clock Input for Clock Calendar Timer.
The frequency is nominally 2Khz with a 30u second high-going
pulse.
5.2.33 SPSEL. When SPSEL = 1, the chip requires a 32Khz time
base on the CK input. When SPSEL = 0, the chip requires a 2Khz
time base on the CK input.
5.3 ASIC U2 Power Supplv Requirements
Parameter Symbol Min Max Uhits
Power supply VDD A 4~5 5.5 V
All circuitry active
_
Power Supply VDD B 2.00 5.5 V
Real time clock, interrupt, and battery low detection circuitry
operative. All other circuits are at a static, defined logic
level (therefore, not being clocked).
Active Supply Current Ia 6.0 mA
VDD = 5.5v, 2Khz Real time clock running, main oscillator
running, processor, ADC, LCD interface logic running (only),
DAC running, coil drivers in high-impedance state, external
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interface circuitry to EEPROM, ROM and RAM is active, however,
the active current of the EEPROM, ROM and RAM is not included.
._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Quiescent Supply Current Iq 1.5 uA
VDD = 5.5v, Real time clock running, main oscillator stopped,
processor stopped, coil drivers in high-impedance state, ADC,
LCD, DAC are all powered off. External EEPRO~ and ROM are
powered off. External RAM is at a static, defined logic level
(therefore, not being clocked). The quiescent current of the
RAM is not included in Iq.
5.4 ASIC U2 Signal Pin Reguirements
Unless otherwise stated, the following characteristics
apply over the applica~le operating power supply range as
specified above. All pins are protected against electrostatic
discharge.
Parameter ~Y~k~lMin Max Unit
Capacitance of Inputs Ci 10 pF
Capacitance of Outputs Co 10 pF
Capacitance of Tristate Ct 10 pF
Input Leakage Current Iil -1 +1 uA
Tristate Leakage CurrentItl -1 ~1 uA
Passive Pulldown CurrentIpd -1 -30 uA
(@ Vih = VDD)
Active Pulldown CurrentIrpd -4 -12 mA
(@ Vi = 2.5v~
VA VL VP
Parameter SymbolMin Max Unit
Output High Voltage Voh VDD-0.3 VDD~0.3 V
Output Low Voltage Vol -0.3 ~0.4 V
Output High Current Ioh -6.0 mA
(@ Voh = VDD-0.3V)
Output Low Current Iol 6.0 n~
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VLCD
Parameter SymbolMin Max Unit
Output Voltage Range Volcd0.0 2.2 V
Output Current Ioled~0.5 mA
(@ Vol = 0.05V)
Coil Driver Pins
Parameter SymbolMin Max Unit
Input Voltage Range See ADC8 - ADC15 below
Output Pair Drop Vdr0.0 1.0 V
(@ I = 45mA, Vdd = 4.5v)
ADC0 - ADC15
Parameter Symbol Min Max Unit
Input resistance Rin10Meg Ohm
Input Voltage Range Vina-0.0 VDD V
C01, C02
Parameter Symbol Min Max Unit
Output High Voltage Voh0.5VDD+0.3 V
Output Low Voltage Vol -0.3 0.4 V
Output High Current Ioh -4.0 -12.0 mA
(@ Voh = 2.5V)
Output Low Current Iol 4.0 mA
(@ Vol = 0.4V)
All Other Pins
Parameter SymbolMin Max Unit .
Input High Voltage Vih2.0VDD-~0.3 V
Input Low Voltage Vil-0.3 0.8 V
Output High Voltage Voh VDD-0.5 VDD~0.3 V
Output Low Voltage Vol -0.3 +0.4 V
Output High Current Ioh -2.0 mA
(@ Voh - VDD-0.5V)
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output Low current Iol 4.0 mA
(@ Vol = 4.0V)
5.5 ASIC U2 Mechanical Characteristics
5.5.1 Packaqe Requirements. The device is packaged in an 84-
pin plastic leaded chip carrier. The package life exceeds 20
years.
5.5.2 Environmental Requirements The limits below represent
the environmental limits to which the device will ordinarily
be subjected.
Ratin~ Value Unit
Storage Temperature -40 to ~85 deg C
Operating Temperature -10 to +70 deg C
1ead Temperature 250 deg C
(4 min soldering)
Humidity 85/85 deg C/percents
5.6 Preferred Technoloqy for Implementation of the U2 ASIC
The preferred embodiment of ASIC U2 is preferably
implemented in the CMOS technology of NCR Corporation, Dayton,
Ohio. This technology, and the design rules and standard cells
therein, is discussed in the "NCR ASIC Data ~ook" for ~anuary
1987. The equivalent technologies of other manufacturers will
be realized to be equally suitable. It will be understood that
the irrigation system of Figure 2 could also ~e implemented
using standard integrated circuit and microprocessor components
in combination with a control program corresponding to that of
attachment A. Such a system could be used alternately to
implement the present method.
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6.0 Variations and Adaptations of the Invention
Although the present invention has been taught in the
context of electrical circuits that are fairly sophisticated
for employing both a predominantly digital ASIC (ASIC IJ2), it
should be understood that the functionality of the preferred
embodiment of an irrigation controller in accordance with the
present invention is readily realizable by diverse alternative
designs. In particular, the core microprocessor of the
preferred embodiment of the invention is 100% compatible with
industry standard type 6502. All firmware appended to this
specification will execute on a 6502 microprocessor, and is
readily convertible to alternative microinstruction repertoires
executing on alternative microprocessors. The circuits by
which data is manualiy input to the microprocessor and
displayed, and the control of irrigation valves, are, in the
preferred em~odiment of the invention, powered and sequenced
to states of activity in a highly unique manner. Nonetheless,
it will be recognized that alternative implementations of these
circuits, particularly as consume higher power and/or operate
at higher or continuous duty cycles, are readily realizable by
a practitioner of the electrical design arts. Accordingly, the
present invention should be considered in terms of the
functions that it performs, and not solely in terms of any
particular embodiment for realizing these functions.
2S Considering these functions performed, the present
invention will be recognized to be embodied in methods and in
an apparatus for controlling irrigation at one or more watering
stations. In accordance with the invention irrigation
parameters selected from one or more of; soil type, irrigation
head type, terrain type, total irrigation time per watering
station, exclusionary periods, water budgeting information,
deep soak cycles, and syringe cycles preentered into an
irrigation controller. A maximum on time for an individual
irrigation cycle and a minimum off time between irrigation
cycles are determined in response to and as a function of
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selected ones of the entered irrigation parameters. The
irrigation cycles for each watering station are scheduled in
accordance with and as a function of at least some o~ the
- entered irrigation parameters as well as the determined on and
off times. ~ach watering station is controlled in accordance
with its respective scheduled irrigation cycles.
In accordance with these and other aspects and
attributes of the present invention, the invention should be
determined by the scope of the following claims, only, and not
solely in accordance with those particular embodiments within
which the invention has been taught.
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