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`
`
`Case: IPR2018-01592
`Patent No.: 9,320,122
`
`EXHIBIT 1028
`
`PRIME WIRE & CABLE, INC.
`
` Petitioner,
`
`v.
`
`CANTIGNY LIGHTING
`CONTROL, LLC.
`
` Patent owner
`
`JASCO PRODUCTS, INC.
`
` Licensee
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`)
`)
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`

`

`(12) United States Patent
`Us 6,259,955 B1
`(10) Patent N0.:
`Brundisini et al.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Jul. 10, 2001
`
`US006259955B1
`
`(54) PROGRAMMABLE ELECTRONIC CONTROL
`UNIT FOR AUTOMATIC WATERING
`SYSTEMS
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Andrea Brundisini, Pordenone;
`Gianfranco Roman, Pasiano, both of
`(IT)
`
`(73) Assignee: Claber S.p.A., Fiume Veneto (IT)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. N0.: 09/150,674
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Sep. 10, 1998
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Sep. 15, 1997
`
`(IT)
`
`.............................................. MI97A2087
`
`Int. Cl.7 ..................................................... G053 11/01
`(51)
`(52) as C].
`................................ 700/15- 700/284' 239/69
`(58) Field of Search.
`..700/11, 14—18,
`700/284, 83—84 86,87239/69, 70; 137/624. 11,
`6242; 345/352, 353
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3/1992 Hopkins et al.
`.................... 137/78.3
`5,097,861
`........ 700/11
`5,262,936 * 11/1993 Faris et a1.
`
`
`.. 364/420
`5,293,554
`3/1994 Nicholson
`8/1994 Olson .......................... 239/63
`5,337,957 *
`
`
`8/1995 Woytowitz et a1. .......... 364/145
`5,444,611
`12/1995 Ericksen et a1. .............. 364/145
`5,479,338
`
`2/1997 Madden et al. ............... 364/145
`5,602,728
`.................... 700/17
`5,748,466 *
`5/1998 McGivern et al.
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`0741346
`
`11/1996 (EP) .
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—William Grant
`Assistant Examiner—Zoila Cabrera
`
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Jacobson Holman, PLLC
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Electronic control unit comprising an electronic circuit with
`a programmable processing unit and operating buttons to
`execute and to vary manually the programming of the
`processing unit and a display for the Visualization of the
`programming stages. The programmable processing unit is
`organized to individuate a programming menu that is sub-
`divided into a plurality of parts selectionable at will. Each
`part comprising at least one chapter. The chapter being
`formed of at least one setting page of at least one respective
`programming parameter, and in that each part of the menu
`is directly selectionable by pressure on at least one respec-
`tive operating button.
`
`4,760,547 *
`4,852,051 *
`
`7/1988 Duxbury .............................. 700/284
`7/1989 Mylne, III ............................ 700/284
`
`27 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`
`
`
`EXHIBIT 1028 Page 1 of 11
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`EXHIBIT 1028 Page 1 of 11
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`

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`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 10, 2001
`
`Sheet 1 0f5
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`US 6,259,955 B1
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`EXHIBIT 1028 Page 2 of 11
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`EXHIBIT 1028 Page 2 of 11
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 10, 2001
`
`Sheet 2 0f5
`
`US 6,259,955 B1
`
`106
`
`
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`EXHIBIT 1028 Page 3 of 11
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`EXHIBIT 1028 Page 3 of 11
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`

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`cm.5.8:
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`EXHIBIT 1028 Page 4 of 11
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`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 10, 2001
`
`Sheet 4 0f 5
`
`US 6,259,955 B1
`
`PART
`
`CHAPTER
`
`n. PAGES
`
`PAGES
`
`RUN TIMES
`START TIMES
`DAY SCHEDULE
`
`13 Watering time length Line l-Line 12, MV
`4
`Starting times
`8+1
`Sunday - Saturday, Cycle length/Current day
`
`RUN TIMES
`START TIMES
`DAY SCHEDULE
`
`RUN TIMES
`START TIMES
`DAY SCHEDULE
`
`13
`4
`8+1
`
`13
`4
`8+1
`
`1
`SEMI-AUTO PR—A
`1
`SEMI-AUTO PR-B
`1
`SEMI-AUTO PR-C
`MANUAL STATION 13
`TEST
`1
`
`Watering time length Line l-Line 12, MV
`Starting times
`Sunday - Saturday, Cycle length/Current day
`
`Watering time length Line l-Line 12, MV
`Starting times
`Sunday - Saturday, Cycle length/Current day
`
`Enabled/Disabled
`Enabled/Disabled
`Enabled/Disabled
`
`It sets manual operating length/Enabled/Disabled
`It sets testing length/Enabled/Disabled
`
`It sets hours and minutes
`
`It sets year/It sets day and month
`It enables watering on even or odd days
`It sets sensor functions for Program A
`It sets sensor functions for Program B
`It sets sensor functions for Program C
`
`It sets budget function for Program A
`It sets budget function for Program B
`It sets budget function for Program C
`
`It sets a number of days of watering interruption
`
`Current time and day, active watering lines, short circuits
`Active watering lines Program A, Residual watering time
`Active watering lines Program B, Residual watering time
`Active watering lines Program C, Residual watering time
`
`1
`1.2-1
`1
`1
`
`11
`
`1
`
`Hn—‘y—n
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`F164
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`EXHIBIT 1028 Page 5 0111
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`PROGRAM A
`
`PROGRAM B
`
`PROGRAM C
`
`MANUAL
`
`SETTING
`
`BUDGET
`
`CURRENT TIME
`CALENDAR
`ODD/EVEN
`SENSOR PR-A
`SENSOR PR-B
`SENSOR PR-C
`
`BUDGET PR-A
`BUDGET PR-B
`BUDGET PR-C
`
`STOP
`
`DAYS OFF
`
`RUN/ACTIVITY
`
`CURRENT TIME
`ACTIVITY PR-A
`ACTIVITY PR-B
`ACTIVITY PR-C
`
`EXHIBIT 1028 Page 5 of 11
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`CmabmwbmmwH
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`EXHIBIT 1028 Page 6 of 11
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`

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`US 6,259,955 B1
`
`1
`PROGRAMMABLE ELECTRONIC CONTROL
`UNIT FOR AUTOMATIC WATERING
`SYSTEMS
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention refers to a programmable electronic
`control unit for automatic watering systems, preferably for
`watering systems with plural lines.
`For the maintenance of lawns, gardens, kitchen gardens
`and other cultivated spaces, the employment of automatic
`watering systems controlled by a programmable electronic
`control unit is increasingly widespread.
`The control unit can be either of a simple type capable to
`control one watering system, for instance with one single
`line, on the bases of watering programs pre-set by the
`producer, that the user can only select according to his/her
`own needs, or of a more complex type, both in terms of
`performance and number of lines, and to offer the user the
`possibility to program the control unit on his/her own.
`It is quite clear that in this latter case the easiness of
`programming becomes a primary need, such as to decisively
`influence the choice in the purchase of the control unit.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Object of the present invention has therefore been to
`realise a controlling electronic control unit for watering
`systems that would be easily and quickly programmed by
`the user.
`
`According to the invention, such object has been attained
`by means of an electronic control unit comprising an elec-
`tronic circuit with a programmable processing unit, operat-
`ing buttons to execute and to vary the programming of said
`processing unit and a display for the visualisation of the
`programming stages. The programmable processing unit is
`organized to individuate a programming menu that is sub-
`divided into a plurality of parts selectionable at will. Each
`part comprising at least one chapter. The said chapter being
`formed of at
`least one page of setting for at
`least one
`respective programming parameter, and in that each part of
`the menu is directly and independently selectionable by
`pressing on at least one respective operating button.
`The subdivision of the programming menu into several
`parts, each one directly and independently selectionable by
`means of at least one respective operating button, and of
`each part into one or more chapters makes the operation of
`the control unit programming extremely simple, allowing in
`addition to accede only to those programming functions that
`one wishes to set or to modify.
`Further scope of applicability of the present invention will
`become apparent from the detailed description given here-
`inafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed
`description and specific examples, while indicating pre-
`ferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of
`illustration only, since various changes and modifications
`within the spirit and scope of the invention will become
`apparent to those skilled.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The characteristics and the advantages of the present
`invention will be rendered more evident in the following
`detailed description of a possible embodiment
`thereof,
`which is illustrated as a non-limiting example in the
`enclosed drawings, in which:
`
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`2
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`FIG. 1 shows in a perspective View an embodiment of a
`control unit according to the invention;
`FIG. 2 shows a block scheme representative of the elec-
`tronic circuit of the control unit;
`FIG. 3 shows the set of symbols that appear on the control
`unit display in the course of the various programming stages
`of the same;
`FIG. 4 shows schematically the organisation of the control
`unit programing menu;
`FIG. 5 shows in a perspective View another embodiment
`of the control unit according to the invention.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`The control unit shown in FIG. 1 has a box casing 51 of
`an approximately parallelepiped shape,
`inside which an
`electronic circuitry is housed, that comprises, among others,
`an electronic circuit with a programmable processing unit,
`various input and output wires associated with a terminal
`board (not shown) and with a buffer battery. According to a
`variation, the box casing 51 can also serve as a housing for
`an electric transformer capable to reduce the input tension of
`the power of mains.
`On one upper face 53 of the box casing 51 operating
`buttons 54—61 are present. The buttons 54+56 are located
`substantially below a display 63, while the buttons 57+61
`are lined up on one side of the display 63. Hereinafter, the
`buttons 54+61 will be designated by using the nomenclature
`listed below (nomenclature that preferably corresponds to
`graphic indications that are inscribed on the face 53 beside
`the same buttons):
`button 54: “—”
`button 55: “ENTER”
`button 56: “+”
`button 57: “PROGRAM A”
`button 58: “PROGRAM B”
`button 59: “PROGRAM C”
`button 60: “SETTING”
`button 61: “MANUAL”
`
`The display 63 is destined to the visualisation of a series
`of symbols, that are indicative of the programming stage
`under course, as well as of the current time and of other set
`functions that will be illustrated, together with the meaning
`of the various symbols illustrated as a whole in FIG. 3,
`further on in this description.
`A transparent lid 50 is hinge coupled to the box casing 51
`in order to be overlapped to the upper face 53 of the box
`casing itself as a protection for the operating buttons and of
`the display, and at the same time to be opened as shown in
`FIG. 1 at the time of programming.
`FIG. 2 shows a possible scheme of functional blocks of
`the electronic circuit of the control unit,
`that comprises
`essentially a programmable processing unit with micropro-
`cessor 62 controlled by operating buttons 54+61 and con-
`trolling in turn the display 63. In addition, the processing
`unit 62 is controlled by a pair of predisposition selectors 100
`(not shown in FIG. 1) that provide for the selection of the
`number of outputs to control (for example 6 or 8 or 10 or 12)
`and for the selection of the input frequency (for example 50
`Hz or 60 Hz), and it receives a low tension alternated power
`supply (for example, 24 VAC)
`from a transformer 68
`through which a synchronism circuit 101 is piloted. The
`transformer 68, or as an alternative a buffer battery 102,
`provides also for the supply of the electronic circuitry 103
`necessary for the generation of the tensions required for the
`
`EXHIBIT 1028 Page 7 of 11
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`3
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`4
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`US 6,259,955 B1
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`operation of the electronic components, among which is the
`processing unit 62.
`The processing unit 62 also provides for the control of a
`pilot circuit 66 for the electro-valves 104 controlling the
`various lines of the watering system supplied by the trans-
`former 68. A circuit of short circuit detection 105 individu-
`
`ates and turns off the line possibly interested by the short
`circuit.
`
`The processing unit is also connected with a sensor 106.
`The processing unit 62 is organized in such a way as to
`individuate a programming menu realised as a book subdi-
`vided into several part. Each part being in turn subdivided
`into several chapters selectionable at will, each chapter
`being formed by several pages that are explorable and
`programmable in a sequence.
`More precisely, with reference to FIG. 4, a first part of the
`menu PROGRAM A refers to a first watering program A, a
`second part of the menu PROGRAM B refers to a second
`watering program B, a third part of the menu PROGRAM C
`refers to a third watering program C. A fourth part of the
`menu MANUAL refers to a functions of manual activation,
`of testing, of semi-automatic operation according to pro-
`grams A, B and C. Afifth part of the menu SETTING refers
`to functions of setting of the current time, year, month, day
`of the setting of watering only on even or odd days, and of
`the setting of the functions of the sensor 106. AsiXth part of
`the menu BUDGET refers to functions of increase or
`
`decrease percentage variation of set watering times (function
`that will become more clear further on). Aseventh part of the
`menu STOP refers to a function of arrest of the watering, for
`example in case of rain. Finally, an eighth part of the menu
`RUN/ACTIVITY refers to functions of visualisation of
`information about the state of the activities under course as
`
`current time and day, residual watering times etc., on the
`display 63.
`The aforementioned various parts of the menu will be
`now described in detail,
`together with the control unit
`programming procedure.
`In general, starting from a condition of programming
`standby or,
`in case of modification, from a condition of
`normal operation in which the display 63 visualises only the
`current time and day through segment numeric symbols 71
`and one of the numeric indicators from 1 to 7 of FIG. 3, in
`order to accede to one part of the programming menu it is
`sufficient to press the relative button 57+61 (for the parts
`PROGRAM A, PROGRAM B, PROGRAM C, MANUAL,
`SETTING) or the simultaneous combination of buttons 54
`and 55 for the BUDGET part, 55 and 56 for the STOP part,
`54 and 56 for the RUN/ACTIVITY part. Normally, when
`one accedes to a part of the programming menu, the current
`chapter is the fist one in the list of chapters in the relative
`part; in order to select a different chapter within that part, it
`is necessary to repeatedly press the button, or the simulta-
`neous combination of buttons, which allowed to accede to
`the relative part of the menu. At each pressure on the
`aforementioned button or on the aforementioned combina-
`
`tion of buttons one advances by one chapter within that part.
`Similarly, when one selects a chapter within a part,
`the
`current page is the first one in the list in the pages of the
`relative chapter. This is visualised by the lighting of the
`arrow shaped cursor 73 over the symbol “1” on the display.
`In order to select a different page it is necessary to press
`buttons 54 or 56 (“—” or “+”) repeatedly. At each pressure on
`the button or
`“—” of the button “+” one advances or
`
`respectively or moves back by one page within the chapter;
`the current page number is indicated by the arrow shaped
`cursor 73 that moves accordingly over the symbols “2”, “3”
`
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`etc. Once the desired page has been selected, in order to
`modify the programming parameter associated with it it is
`necessary to press the button 55 (“ENTER”): on the display
`the symbol “OK” will appear, and by pressing the buttons 54
`“—”) or 56 (“+”) it is possible to modify the value of the
`parameter until the desirable value is reached; at this point
`the value being set is operating. By pressing the button 55
`again one exits the stage of modification of the parameters.
`It should be noted that it is not possible to select a part of the
`programming menu while in the process of modifying any
`one programming parameter, that is while the symbol “OK”
`is visualised on the display.
`The first three parts of the menu, each one referring to a
`respective watering program A, B or C, each comprise three
`chapters,
`respectively relative to watering time (“RUN
`TIMES”), to the starting instant of the watering (“START
`TIMES”) and to the days of the week in which the relative
`watering program must be activated (“DAY SCHEDULE”).
`By pressing the button 57 one accedes to the part PRO-
`GRAM A. The current chapter is the one called RUN
`TIMES, and this is visualised on the display by the lighting
`of the sandglass symbol 72. This chapter comprises thirteen
`pages,
`the first twelve of which are associated with the
`twelve watering lines and the thirteenth associated with a
`control line of a main valve (“master valve”) or of a pump.
`The page that is current when one accedes to the chapter
`RUN TIMES is the first one, associated with the first
`watering line. In order to select a different watering line it is
`necessary to pass to a different page of the chapter by
`pressing the button 54 or the button 56. Once the desirable
`watering line, or
`the line devoted to the master valve
`(symbol “MV” on the display), has been selected, in order
`to set or to modify the watering time for such line, or to
`enable or not
`the master valve,
`the button 55 must be
`pressed: the symbol “OK” lightens, and through the buttons
`54 and 55 it is possible to set the desirable watering time; by
`pressing again the button 55 one eXits the setting stage of the
`watering time for the line being selected. The same opera-
`tion can be repeated for all the remaining watering lines, by
`selecting the relative pages.
`By pressing again the button 57 one passes on to the
`second chapter of the part PROGRAM A, that is the chapter
`START TIMES. This chapter comprises four pages, each
`one relating to a respective starting time of watering of the
`various lines for the watering program A. When one accedes
`to this chapter the symbol visualised on the display is the
`alarm clock 75. Once more, by means of the buttons 54 and
`56 it is possible to scroll the pages of this chapter. Once the
`desirable chapter has been reached, in order to modify the
`time of the watering start one must press the button 55,
`modify the value by means of the buttons 54 and 65, and
`press again the button 55 in order to eXit the setting stage.
`By pressing again the button 57 one accedes to the third
`chapter DAY SCHEDULE of the part PROGRAM A. The
`symbol of calendar pages 77 will be visualised on the
`display. This chapter comprises eight pages plus a sub-page.
`The first seven pages each refer to a day of the week, while
`the eighth one refers to the activation of the daily cyclic
`programming. In order to select one of the eight pages one
`proceeds according to what described above, by means of
`the buttons 54 and 56. By selecting one of the seven pages
`of the chapter and by pressing the button 55, it is possible to
`enable/disable the watering of the day of the week that such
`page refers to. If as an alternative one wishes to enable the
`function of cyclic daily watering, that allows to water one
`day every “n” of days with n settable from 1 to 12, it is
`necessary to select the eighth page. Automatically the sub-
`
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`5
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`6
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`US 6,259,955 B1
`
`page is then also selected which allows to specify which one
`will be the day of the beginning of the cycle.
`For the setting of the other two watering programs B and
`C one proceeds in a totally analogous way.
`In order to allow the user an easier and quicker verifica-
`tion and check of the parameters being set for the three
`watering programs, when one is inside a certain page of a
`certain chapter of one of the first three parts of the menu, for
`example part PROGRAM A, one accedes directly to the
`corresponding chapter and to the corresponding page of the
`other two parts PROGRAM B and PROGRAM C by press-
`ing respectively the buttons 58 or 59, in such a way that the
`user can easily check and verify the parameters being set for
`the different watering programs.
`The fourth part of the menu indicated in FIG. 4 with
`MANUAL is accessible by means of pressing the button 61
`and it comprises five chapters. The first
`three chapters,
`SEMI-AUTO PR-A, SEMI-AUTO PR-B, SEMI-AUTO
`PR-C, each composed of one single page, consent to activate
`immediately if disabled or to disable if enabled the watering
`program A, B, and C respectively. This is obtained, after
`having accessed to this part of the menu as described above,
`and having selected the desirable chapter always by means
`of pressure on the button 61 by pressing the button 55
`(ENTER). The access to this part of the menu causes the
`lighting of the hand symbol 76 on the display, while the
`current chapter is indicated by the lighting of the relative
`symbol A, B or C on the display. The fourth chapter
`identified as MANUAL STATION consists of thirteen
`
`pages, the first twelve relating to the twelve watering lines
`and the thirteenth one relating to the master valve. This
`chapter allows the opening of one of the twelve electro-
`valves associated with the twelve watering lines for a
`determined time with the master valve enabled or not. The
`
`selection of this chapter is made according to the described
`procedures, by means the repeated pressure on button 61,
`and the selection of the desirable page within the chapter,
`associated with the watering line that one wants to control or
`with the master valve, is accomplished through the repeated
`pressure on the two buttons 54 and 56; the indication of the
`current page on the display is obtained by means of the
`arrow shaped cursor 73. Once the current page has been
`selected, at a first pressure on the button 55 (ENTER) one
`accedes to the setting of the desirable time, at a second
`pressure on the button 55 (ENTER) the electro-Valve opens,
`if this was closed, and it closes if it was open. The fifth
`chapter of this part, called TEST, comprises one single page
`and it allows to get the control unit in condition to run a test
`on the system, by activating all the lines in a sequence for
`a variable length of time that is settable by the user. The
`selection of this chapter is still accomplished by means of
`the repeated pressure on button 61. Once one gets to this
`chapter, a first pressure on button 55 (ENTER) allows to set
`the desirable time length, while a second pressure on button
`55 starts the testing. In case the test had been activated, at the
`first pressure on button 55 it would immediately be disabled.
`The fifth part of the menu, indicated by SETTING in FIG.
`4, is accessible by means of pressure on button 60 and it
`comprises six chapters, that can still be scrolled by means of
`button 60. The first chapter, identified as CURRENT TIME,
`comprises only one page and it allows to set the time. To this
`purpose, by pressing the button 55 the symbol “OK” appears
`and the symbol 71 shows the current memorised time; by
`pressing the buttons 54 and 56 it is possible to modify the
`currently memorised time. The second chapter, identified as
`CALENDAR, comprises one page and a sub-page and it
`allows to set the current year, and day and month; to this
`
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`purpose, after having selected the chapter, it is necessary to
`press the button 55; on the display the symbol “OK” appears
`and the symbol 71 shows the year currently memorised; by
`means of the buttons 54 and 56 it is possible to modify the
`year; the pressure on the button 55 allows to accede to the
`sub-page that allows, by means of the buttons 54 and 56, to
`modify the day and the month; and the pressure on button 55
`causes the exit from the setting stage. The third chapter,
`identified as ODD/EVEN comprises one single page that
`allows the even and odd programming,
`that
`takes into
`account also the leap year. By pressing the button 55 one
`accedes to the page and by means of the buttons 54 and 56
`it
`is possible to select one of three possible conditions:
`watering during odd days (on the display four figures “1”
`will appear), watering during even days (on the display four
`figures “2” will appear) and OFF (to indicate that
`the
`function odd/even days is not enabled). It should be noted
`that the enabling of the function odd/even days automati-
`cally excludes the previously described weekly and cyclic
`programming. The third, fourth and fifth chapter of this part
`of the menu, respectively identified with SENSOR PR-A,
`SENSOR PR-B and SENSOR PR-C, to which one accedes
`as usual by means of repeated pressure on button 60, allow
`to associate the sensor 106 respectively with program A,
`with program B or with program C. Each one of the chapters
`comprises one page, that is selected by means of pressure on
`the button 55, and within which it is possible to set one
`among four operating modes of the sensor: start, stop,
`feeding to the next watering line, getting the watering
`system into a state of standby if for example a possible
`reservoir from which the water comes is detected as being
`empty.
`The sixth part of the programming menu BUDGET, to
`which one accedes by means of the simultaneous pressure
`on buttons 54 (“—”) and 55 (“ENTER”), comprises three
`chapters,
`respectively identified with BUDGET PR-A,
`BUDGET PR-B and BUDGET PR-C, each one formed by
`one page, that allow to vary proportionally the watering
`times that have been set for the watering programs A, B and
`C, respectively, from 100% to 150% (increase) or to 10%
`(decrease). The selection of the chapter within the part is still
`attained by the repeated pressure on the combination of
`buttons 54 and 55. Once one gets to the current chapter, in
`order to accede to the respective programming page one
`presses the button 55 (ENTER), and through the buttons 54
`and 56 the desirable percentage is set. On the display the
`“%” symbol 78 and the indicative number of the currently
`set percentage are visualised. By pressing again the button
`55 one exits the setting stage. It should be noted that when
`in one of the first three parts of the menu PROGRAM A,
`PROGRAM B, PROGRAM C, by pressing simultaneously
`the buttons 54 and 55 it is possible to enter directly the
`percentage variation mode of the watering times of the
`program of provenience.
`The seventh part of the programming menu, indicated
`with STOP,
`is accessible by means of the simultaneous
`pressure on the combination of buttons 55 (ENTER) and 56
`(“+”) and it comprises one single chapter called DAYS OFF,
`itself comprising one single page. By pressing the button 55
`one enters the programming page, in which by means of the
`buttons 54 and 56 it is possible to set for how many days, in
`a number that is variable from 1 to 15, one wishes to inhibit
`the watering, for example because of rain. Bu pressing again
`the button 55 one exits the setting stage.
`Finally, the eight part RUN/ACTIVITY of the program-
`ming menu, to which one accedes by means of the simul-
`taneous pressure on the combination of buttons 54 and 56
`
`EXHIBIT 1028 Page 9 of 11
`
`EXHIBIT 1028 Page 9 of 11
`
`

`

`US 6,259,955 B1
`
`cc
`
`2’
`
`and “+”) is composed of four chapters, each one
`—
`comprising a single page. This part does not refer to a real
`programming mode of the control unit, but it allows to
`visualise some information about the state of the same on the
`
`display. As usual the chapters are scrollable by means of the
`repeated pressure on buttons 54 and 56. The first chapter,
`called CURRENT TIME, allows the visualisation on the
`display of the current time and of the current day or of the
`symbols relative to all the available stations, in case of active
`stations,
`indicated in turn by the presence of the arrow
`shaped cursor 73. The stations possibly afflicted by short
`circuit are visualised by means of flashing of the relative
`symbol, and of the symbol 79. The second, the third and the
`fourth chapters of this part,
`identified respectively by
`ACTIVITY PR-A, ACTIVITY PR-B and ACTIVITY PR-C,
`allow the visualisation of the watering lines currently
`enabled on behalf of the program A, B or C, respectively, as
`well as the residual watering time before turn off
`The above described control unit can be embodied in a
`
`slightly modified form, still according to the main principles
`of the present invention.
`According to such an embodiment the buttons 59, 60 and
`61 of FIG. 1 are eliminated and the remaining buttons are
`properly repositioned as illustrated in Fig.5.
`On the operational point of View the control unit of FIG.
`5 distinguishes from the preceding one in that it does not
`include the PROGRAM C program actuated by the button
`59 of the control unit of FIG. 1.
`
`The SETTING function is actuated by pressing the button
`58 five seconds: one entered the function, the same button 58
`operates in the same way as the button 60 of FIG. 1.
`The MANUAL function is obtained by pressing the
`buttons 54 and 56 simultaneously.
`There is provided an EXIT function which is actuated by
`pressing the buttons 57 and 58 simultaneously.
`There is not provided a SENSOR function as that instead
`present in the control unit of FIG.1 .
`The BUDGET function has an increase of 25% and goes
`from 0% (OFF) to 200%.
`There is finally provided a function which allows to save
`the programming data in an internal non-volatile memory:
`such an operation is carried out by actuating the EXIT
`function,
`that
`is by pressing the buttons 57 and 58
`simultaneously, for 10 seconds. In case of simultaneous
`absence of mains and cell voltage, the saved program is
`automatically restored when the inconvenience ceases.
`What is claimed is:
`
`1. An electronic control unit for watering lines, compris-
`ing:
`an electronic circuit with a programmable processing unit,
`operating buttons for programming said processing
`unit;
`a display for Visualization of programming steps;
`said programmable processing unit provided with a pro-
`gramming menu divided into a plurality of selectable
`parts;
`said selectable parts including watering program parts
`corresponding to respective independent watering pro-
`grams;
`
`each said watering program part including a plurality of
`selectable chapters corresponding to respective pro-
`grammable watering functions of a watering program;
`each of said selectable chapters including a plurality of
`selectable pages corresponding to respective program-
`mable parameters of a watering function of the water-
`ing program;
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`8
`
`said operating buttons including a plurality of first buttons
`for selecting said watering program parts and for mov-
`ing sequentially through the chapters of said selectable
`watering program part to select one of said selectable
`chapters, a plurality of second buttons for moving fore
`and back through the pages of the selectable chapter to
`select one of said plurality of selectable pages of the
`selectable chapter, and a third button for entering and
`exiting from said selected page, said second buttons
`being also operable for increasing and decreasing the
`parameters of the selected page.
`2. The electronic control unit according to claim 1,
`wherein each program part
`includes a first chapter for
`watering run time selection, a second chapter for watering
`start time selection and a third chapter for watering day
`schedule selection.
`
`3. The electronic control unit according to claim 2,
`wherein said first chapter includes a plurality of pages
`including watering run time parameters for respective water-
`ing lines.
`4. The electronic control unit according to claim 2,
`wherein said second chapter includes a plurality of pages
`including watering start time parameters for said watering
`lines.
`
`5. The electronic control unit according to claim 2,
`wherein said third chapter includes a number of pages with
`watering enable/disable parameters for said watering lines,
`said number being equal to the number of days in a week.
`6. The electronic control unit according to claim 5,
`wherein said third chapter includes a further page for actu-
`ating a daily cyclic watering program for said watering lines.
`7. The electronic control unit according to claim 1,
`wherein said selectable parts include a manual watering part
`and said operating buttons include a fourth button for
`selecting said manual watering part.
`8. The electronic control unit according to claim 7,
`wherein said manual watering part includes a plurality of
`selectable chapters which are selectable by operation of said
`first button.
`
`9. The electronic control unit according to claim 8,
`wherein said selectable chapters include first chapters com-
`posed of one page for enabling/disabling a respective water-
`ing program by operation of said third button.
`10. The electronic control unit according to claim 8,
`wherein said selectable chapters further include a second
`chapter composed of a number of selectable pages for
`setting watering parameters of respective valves for control-
`ling the watering lines, said selectable pages being select-
`able by operation of said second buttons and said watering
`parameters being set by operation of said third button.
`11. The electronic control unit according to claim 8,
`wh