Rainfall prediction and compensation in irrigation control
First Claim
1. A method of controlling irrigation, the method comprising:
- obtaining a barometric pressure (BP) profile corresponding to changes in BP over a period of time and corresponding to a location where irrigation is to be controlled;
determining a dew point factor (DPF) profile as a function of changes in temperature and relative humidity over the period of time and corresponding to the location where irrigation is to be controlled;
making a determination that a rain event is likely to occur as a function of both the BP profile and the DPF profile; and
generating, based on the determination that the rain event is likely to occur, a control signal configured to cause one or both of current and scheduled irrigation to be limited;
wherein the step of making the determination that the rain event is likely comprises;
identifying a slope of the BP profile over the period of time;
identifying a slope of the DPF profile over the period of time; and
determination that the rain event is likely to occur as a function of the slope of the BP profile and the slope of the DPF profile; and
generating a correction factor in response to determining the rain event is likely, wherein the correction factor is proportional to at least one of the slope of the BP profile or the slope of the DPF profile and the correction factor is configured to be applied in adjusting irrigation runtimes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Some embodiments provide methods of controlling irrigation, comprising: obtaining a barometric pressure (BP) profile corresponding to changes in BP over a period of time and corresponding to a location where irrigation is to be controlled; determining a dew point factor (DPF) profile as a function of changes in temperature and relative humidity over the period of time and corresponding to the location where irrigation is to be controlled; making a determination that a rain event is likely to occur as a function of both the BP profile and the DPF profile; and generating, based on the determination that the rain event is likely to occur, a control signal configured to cause one or both of current and scheduled irrigation to be limited.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of controlling irrigation, the method comprising:
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obtaining a barometric pressure (BP) profile corresponding to changes in BP over a period of time and corresponding to a location where irrigation is to be controlled; determining a dew point factor (DPF) profile as a function of changes in temperature and relative humidity over the period of time and corresponding to the location where irrigation is to be controlled; making a determination that a rain event is likely to occur as a function of both the BP profile and the DPF profile; and generating, based on the determination that the rain event is likely to occur, a control signal configured to cause one or both of current and scheduled irrigation to be limited; wherein the step of making the determination that the rain event is likely comprises; identifying a slope of the BP profile over the period of time; identifying a slope of the DPF profile over the period of time; and determination that the rain event is likely to occur as a function of the slope of the BP profile and the slope of the DPF profile; and generating a correction factor in response to determining the rain event is likely, wherein the correction factor is proportional to at least one of the slope of the BP profile or the slope of the DPF profile and the correction factor is configured to be applied in adjusting irrigation runtimes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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15. A method of controlling irrigation, the method comprising:
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obtaining a barometric pressure (BP) profile corresponding to changes in BP over a period of time and corresponding to a location where irrigation is to be controlled; determining a dew point factor (DPF) profile as a function of changes in temperature and relative humidity over the period of time and corresponding to the location where irrigation is to be controlled; making a determination that a rain event is likely to occur as a function of both the BP profile and the DPF profile; and generating, based on the determination that the rain event is likely to occur, a control signal to adjust one or both of current and scheduled irrigation to be limited; wherein the step of making the determination that the rain event is likely comprises; identifying a slope of the BP profile over the period of time; identifying a slope of the DPF profile over the period of time; and determination that the rain event is likely to occur as a function of the slope of the BP profile and the slope of the DPF profile; and wherein the step of making the determination that the rain event is likely to occur comprises; identifying that at least one of the slope of the BP profile or the slope of the DPF profile is decreasing at a rate that has a predetermined relationship with a first threshold, and the other of the slope of the BP profile and the slope of the DPF profile is not increasing at a rate that has a predetermined relationship with a second threshold.
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24. A system of controlling irrigation, comprising:
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a processor; a memory coupled with the processor and storing program code that when implemented by the processor causes the processor to; obtain a barometric pressure (BP) profile corresponding to a change in BP over a period of time and corresponding to a location where irrigation is to be controlled; determine a dew point factor (DPF) profile proportional to changes in temperature and relative humidity over the period of time and corresponding to the location where irrigation is to be controlled; determine that a rain event is likely to occur as a function of both the current BP profile and the current DPF profile comprising identifying a slope of the BP profile over the period of time, identifying a slope of the DPF profile over the period of time, and determining that the rain event is likely to occur as a function of the slope of the BP profile and the slope of the DPF profile; generate a correction factor in response to determining the rain event is likely, wherein the correction factor is proportional to at least one of the slope of the BP profile or the slope of the DPF profile and the correction factor is configured to be applied in adjusting irrigation runtimes; and generate a control signal configured to cause one or both of current and scheduled irrigation to be limited based on the determination that the rain event is likely to occur. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification