Irrigation controller and system integrating no-watering restrictions and an empirically-derived evapotranspiration local characteristic curve
First Claim
1. An irrigation controller for regulating at least one water control valve corresponding to a watering zone, comprising:
- an irrigation controller comprising;
a housing;
a microcontroller housed within said housing and programmed with a microcontroller program that receives data;
a data input system configured to allow data to be imported into said irrigation controller;
wherein said data input system comprises a data input receiver operable to receive a customized watering budget/schedule;
at least one non-volatile memory storage medium configured to receive and to store data from said microcontroller; and
a real-time clock operatively connected to said microcontroller;
a customer-accessible processor providing an irrigation customization software application;
wherein said customer-accessible processor performs the steps of;
(1.) receiving input property-specific data;
(2.) accessing evapotranspiration data for at least one locality;
(3.) accessing any mandatory watering restriction regulation data; and
(4.) calculating said customized watering budget/schedule for at least one designated watering zone for distribution over a specified time period based on using a minute-based representation of a total water volume and by allocating said total water volume or allocating a reduced total water volume to be distributed within said specified time period for said designated watering zone;
wherein said customized watering budget/schedule is based on at least said input property-specific data, on said evapotranspiration data, and on said any regulation data;
wherein said customized watering budget/schedule allocates said minute-based representation of a total water volume into a particular number of watering days per said specified time period for said designated watering zone, into a particular number of watering events per each of said watering days for said designated watering zone, and into a particular number of minutes per said watering event for said designated watering zone;
wherein said microcontroller is electrically connected to said at least one water control valve associated with said designated watering zone; and
wherein said microcontroller electrically opens and closes said at least one water control valves based on said customized watering budget/schedule for said designated zone.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A convenient, water-saving and labor-saving FROG irrigation controller and system are provided, which determine the appropriate water budget and schedule for the property'"'"'s landscaping based on evapotranspiration data for the geographic area, regulation data (any mandated and voluntary watering restrictions), and property-specific data, with consideration given to reduction in watering days, increase in soil watering depth, and day of year. Once set, the FROG controller provides incremental adjustments over the course of the year; the homeowner no longer needs to re-set the watering program seasonally to comply with local mandated and voluntary watering restrictions. Compliance is automatic and obligatory, meeting the water saving goals of the local water authority. Optionally presented is a web-based wizard used to determine a customized water budget/schedule that is input into the FROG controller through a data storage unit or wireless input.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An irrigation controller for regulating at least one water control valve corresponding to a watering zone, comprising:
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an irrigation controller comprising; a housing; a microcontroller housed within said housing and programmed with a microcontroller program that receives data; a data input system configured to allow data to be imported into said irrigation controller;
wherein said data input system comprises a data input receiver operable to receive a customized watering budget/schedule;at least one non-volatile memory storage medium configured to receive and to store data from said microcontroller; and a real-time clock operatively connected to said microcontroller; a customer-accessible processor providing an irrigation customization software application; wherein said customer-accessible processor performs the steps of;
(1.) receiving input property-specific data;
(2.) accessing evapotranspiration data for at least one locality;
(3.) accessing any mandatory watering restriction regulation data; and
(4.) calculating said customized watering budget/schedule for at least one designated watering zone for distribution over a specified time period based on using a minute-based representation of a total water volume and by allocating said total water volume or allocating a reduced total water volume to be distributed within said specified time period for said designated watering zone;wherein said customized watering budget/schedule is based on at least said input property-specific data, on said evapotranspiration data, and on said any regulation data;
wherein said customized watering budget/schedule allocates said minute-based representation of a total water volume into a particular number of watering days per said specified time period for said designated watering zone, into a particular number of watering events per each of said watering days for said designated watering zone, and into a particular number of minutes per said watering event for said designated watering zone;wherein said microcontroller is electrically connected to said at least one water control valve associated with said designated watering zone; and wherein said microcontroller electrically opens and closes said at least one water control valves based on said customized watering budget/schedule for said designated zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification