Irrigation Controller Module Using Existing Wiring for Sensor Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing irrigation sensing and control systems require extensive rewiring for expanded control capabilities and sensor inputs, which is costly and labor-intensive, especially when installing new features like flow sensors and master valves.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a controller module and field module that utilize existing wiring to enable communication and control signals between the irrigation controller, zone valve, flow sensor, and master valve, expanding the communication capacity of the existing wiring without the need for extensive rewiring, using encoding and decoding techniques to accommodate additional sensor information and control outputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If extensive rewiring is performed to expand control capabilities and sensor inputs, then system functionality and control precision are improved, but installation cost and labor intensity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The existing two-wire irrigation system is designed to perform multiple functions: traditional valve control and new sensor input capabilities share the same communication infrastructure. The controller module and field module enable the wiring to carry both control signals and sensor data bidirectionally, making the system universal and eliminating the need for separate wiring for different functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication protocol uses variable parameters including data direction (input/output), data type (sensor reading/control signal), and encoding schemes to differentiate between traditional valve control and new sensor inputs. This parameter-based differentiation allows the same physical wiring to accommodate multiple function types without physical modification.
2Measurement precision
If extensive rewiring is performed to add sensor inputs, then measurement precision and system intelligence are improved, but labor intensity and installation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The communication module enables the existing irrigation wiring to serve dual purposes: traditional valve actuation and new sensor data transmission. This universality allows sensor inputs to be integrated without additional wiring, dramatically reducing installation time while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller module and field module act as intermediaries that translate sensor signals into the existing irrigation system's communication protocol. These intermediary devices enable precise sensor measurements to be integrated into the traditional system without requiring the sensors to be directly wired to the controller, simplifying installation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If new control features like flow sensors and master valves are added, then system functionality is improved, but system complexity and wiring requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a universal two-wire communication protocol that handles diverse control features (flow sensors, master valves, zone valves) through the same infrastructure. The controller module interprets different signal types and routing instructions to manage various devices, preventing wiring complexity from increasing with each new feature added.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments functionality into modular components: the controller module at the controller end, field modules at valve locations, and various sensors/valves. Each segment communicates through the shared two-wire system using standardized protocols, allowing new features to be added as independent modules without complicating the overall wiring architecture.
4Productivity
If encoding and decoding techniques are used to expand communication capacity, then communication efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller module and field module serve as intermediary devices that handle encoding and decoding operations. These intermediaries translate between the simple two-wire physical layer and the complex data protocols, isolating the complexity from the rest of the system while maintaining high communication capacity through efficient data packaging and error handling.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed embodiments of the invention include methods and systems for upgrading an existing irrigation system to increase its sensing and control capability without requiring extensive rewiring. A controller module is installed between an irrigation controller and a zone valve and physically proximate to the irrigation controller without disturbing most of the existing wiring between the irrigation controller and the zone valve. A field module is installed between the controller module and the zone valve without disturbing most of the existing wiring between the irrigation controller and the zone valve. The controller module and field module are the communicatively coupled primarily using the existing wiring. The controller module may encode commands transmitted to the field module and/or decode encoded data transmitted from the field module. The field module may encode data transmitted to the controller module and/or decode encoded commands transmitted from the controller module.