Battery-Powered Decoder for Wireless Irrigation Valve Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Two-wire irrigation systems are complex and prone to issues like damaged or cut wires, requiring significant training and skill for installation and troubleshooting, leading to inefficiencies and losses in plant material and profit.
Innovation Solution
An irrigation sprinkler body cover with an integrated battery-powered decoder that enables wireless communication over long distances using LoRaWAN technology, allowing controllers to communicate with battery-powered decoders and control DC latching solenoid valves remotely.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If two-wire irrigation systems are used to reduce wire usage and material costs, then material and labor costs are reduced, but the system becomes complex and susceptible to damaged or cut wires
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wiring system with a wireless communication system. The controller and decoders communicate via wireless signals (e.g., radio frequency) instead of physical wire connections, eliminating the need for complex two-wire infrastructure while maintaining system functionality. This substitution resolves the contradiction by removing wire usage entirely while simplifying the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces wireless communication signals as an intermediary medium between the controller and decoders. Instead of relying on physical wire paths that are prone to damage, the system uses electromagnetic waves to transmit control signals, thereby eliminating wire-related complexity and vulnerability while preserving the daisy-chain topology benefits.
2Ease of manufacture
If two-wire irrigation systems are installed to reduce material costs, then material and labor costs are reduced, but installation and troubleshooting require significant training and skill
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical wiring installation with simple wireless device deployment. Installers only need to position the controller and decoders without splicing wires or configuring complex electrical connections, dramatically reducing the skill level required while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simple, standalone wireless decoder units that can be independently deployed and replaced if needed. These self-contained devices eliminate the need for skilled electrical work during installation and maintenance, allowing even novice installers to successfully implement the irrigation system.
3Reliability
If traditional wired irrigation systems are used, then communication between controller and decoders is reliable, but wire damage renders valves inoperable until the system is fixed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the vulnerable mechanical wire connection system with a wireless communication system. This substitution eliminates the risk of wire damage entirely, ensuring continuous reliable communication between controller and decoders, and maintaining system productivity without interruption from wiring issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent anticipates wire damage issues by completely eliminating wires from the system architecture. By designing a wireless solution from the outset, the system is inherently protected against the harmful effect of wire cutting or damage, ensuring continuous operational reliability without requiring reactive repairs.
4Ease of operation
If wireless communication is implemented to simplify installation and reduce wire damage risks, then ease of installation improves, but new technology complexity may arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses off-the-shelf, commercially available wireless communication modules and devices that come with pre-integrated protocols and interfaces. These standardized components eliminate the need for custom wireless system design and reduce technical complexity, allowing installers to deploy the system using simple plug-and-play procedures without requiring specialized wireless communication expertise.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus comprising an irrigation sprinkler body cover with an integrated battery-powered decoder is disclosed. A method of retrofitting existing irrigation systems to wirelessly communicate with one or more of the present apparatus is also disclosed. Concerning the present method, an irrigation controller provides message data to a gateway regarding the control of irrigation valves. The gateway contains configurable encoder software that encodes and then wirelessly transmits the message data, for example via long-range radio hardware at 902-928 MHz frequency. The encoded data is received by a present apparatus to which the message is addressed. The apparatus decodes the message data and subsequently provides a power signal via wire to one or more proximally-located DC latching solenoid valves to control the irrigation valves according to the user input.