Multi-technology, short-range/long-range repeater for telemetry control of mechanized irrigation equipment

• US 20020105437A1
• Filed: 02/07/2001
• Published: 08/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Valmont Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Valmont Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Medinger, Charlie, Kreikemeier, Bruce, Malsam, Craig, Schulz, Marv, Pollak, Ron
• Application Number:
  US09/778,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20020105437A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.28
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/092 movable around a pivot centre
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering

Abstract

A multi-technology repeater collects a long-range signal from a wireless communication device and re-transmits the signal to one or more of the irrigation components of a mechanized irrigation system. The repeater receives the long-range signal and re-transmits the signal using short-range spread spectrum to the devices in the field. The repeater may also act as a long-range repeater and would re-transmit the signal using VHF to another long-range destination device.

Claims

1. In combination:

a mechanized irrigation system including irrigation components for irrigating a field;

a multi-technology repeater which collects a long-range signal from a wireless communication device and which re-transmits the signal to one or more of the irrigation components in the field.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said repeater is mounted on the irrigation system for movement therewith.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said irrigation system includes a span and wherein said repeater is mounted on said span.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said repeater is mounted on the highest point of said irrigation system.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said repeater re-transmits the signal to said irrigation component or components by wireless communication technology.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said irrigation system includes a pivot and telemetry controls mounted thereon;

said telemetry controls being connected to said one or more irrigation components by wireless communication technology.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said repeater also has long-range re-transmitting capabilities for re-transmitting the collected signal to another long-range destination device.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said repeater re-transmits the signal to the long-range destination device by VHF.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said one or more irrigation components includes a remote link which receives the re-transmitted signal from said repeater and controls the associated component in response thereto.

10. The combination of claim 1 wherein said repeater includes long-range transmit/receive telemetry technology.

11. The combination of claim 1 wherein said repeater includes short-range transmit/receive technology.

12. The combination of claim 10 wherein said repeater includes short-range transmit/receive technology.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein a remote link is associated with each of the irrigation components to be controlled and wherein the repeater re-transmits the signal to the remote link for controlling the operation of the associated irrigation component.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the signal is re-transmitted from the repeater to the remote link by wireless technology.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein each of the remote links are provided with short-range/transmit technology.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said repeater re-transmits the signal to the remote link or links by short-range telemetry.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein said repeater functions as a short-range repeater.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein said repeater functions as a long-range repeater.

13. The method of telemetrically controlling one or more components of a mechanized irrigation system, comprising the steps of:

providing a multi-technology repeater;

transmitting a long-range telemetry signal to the repeater;

and re-transmitting the telemetry signal received by the repeater to the component or components of the irrigation system for controlling the operation thereof.