Method and apparatus for programming a decoder-based irrigation controller
A method and programming chart having viewable indicia thereon for programming a decoder-based controller is disclosed. The programming chart comprises a specific portion comprising a station number area for one or more stations being controlled by a decoder-based irrigation controller, a decoder address area adapted to receive an entry indicating an address of a decoder being associated with each of the one or more stations and a plurality of other information areas for each of the one or more stations to receive information pertaining to each of the one or more stations. Furthermore, a method is provided for programming a decoder-based irrigation controller comprising associating a decoder unit with at least a first station, removing a decoder address indicator provided with the decoder unit and recording the decoder address indicator onto a programming chart onto an area designated for a decoder address associated with the first station.
1. A decoder-based irrigation controller comprising:
a microcontroller comprising a microprocessor and a memory;
a decoder interface coupled to the microcontroller, the decoder interface configured to encode control data onto a power signal to be applied to a multi-wire control path to which each of a plurality of decoder units will be coupled;
a user interface comprising a display coupled to the microcontroller; and
a first connector coupled to the microcontroller and configured to couple to an optical reader configured to read an optically readable pattern from one or more labels associated with each of the plurality of decoder units to be controlled by the decoder-based irrigation controller, wherein the first connector is further configured to couple signals from the optical reader to the microcontroller; wherein the input signals comprise, for each of the plurality of decoder units, one or both of a decoder address indicator corresponding to an address of a decoder unit and a station number indicator corresponding to a station number to be associated with the decoder unit;
wherein the microcontroller is configured to interpret the signals from the optical reader and store in the memory data corresponding to the address of each of the plurality of decoder units and the station number to be associated with each of the plurality of decoder units, wherein the memory stores a listing of the addresses of the plurality of decoder units and associated station numbers; and
wherein the microcontroller is configured to retrieve and display the address and station number for at least a portion of the plurality of decoder units on the display.
2. The decoder-based irrigation controller of claim 1 further comprising:
a cartridge configured to be removably connected to the decoder-based irrigation controller, wherein the cartridge comprises the microcontroller and the first connector.
3. The decoder-based irrigation controller of claim 2 further comprising:
a second connector coupled to a main microcontroller of the decoder-based irrigation controller, the second connector configured to allow connection of the cartridge to the main microcontroller.
4. The decoder-based irrigation controller of claim 1 further comprising:
a cartridge configured to be removably coupled to the microcontroller, wherein the cartridge comprises the first connector.
5. The decoder-based irrigation controller of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the decoder address indicator and the station number indicator comprise one of: a 2D barcode, a 3D barcode, and an optically readable pattern.
6. The decoder-based irrigation controller of claim 1 , wherein the decoder address indicator and the station number indicator are read from a programming chart.
7. The decoder-based irrigation controller of claim 1 , wherein the optical reader comprises a barcode reader.
8. The decoder-based irrigation controller of claim 1 , wherein microcontroller is further configured to perform one or more of programming the decoder-based irrigation controller and causing the decoder-based irrigation controller to enter a different mode of operation.
9. The decoder-based irrigation controller of claim 1 , wherein the optical reader is configured to read a printed pattern.