Wireless irrigation control device and related method

• US 20030120393A1
• Filed: 12/20/2001
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Inventors: Kass, Leon Paul, Ensworth, Mark Murphy, Bailey, David Franklin, Mickels, Ronald Willard
• Granted Patent: US 6,782,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering

Abstract

An irrigation control device (12) with a controller (14), antenna (16), power supply (70) and battery charging device (72), such as a solar array, all contained within a housing, such as a rotor body (90). The controller (14) receives signals through the antenna (16). The controller (14) updates one or more watering schedules stored in a memory module (32), based on the received signals, and generates control signals to execute a watering schedule. The battery charging device (72) recharges the power supply (70) and the irrigation control device requires no external electrical connections for power or control. Control signals are generated in a central controller (18) remote from the rotor (12), and are preferably transmitted to the rotor antenna (16) through a commercial paging or other type of public broadcast network (20, 22, 24).

Claims

1. A wireless irrigation control device, comprising:

a water flow control device;

a controller coupled to the waterflow control device and including a housing, an antenna integrated into the housing and capable of receiving radio-frequency (RF) signals, a microcontroller contained within the housing and coupled to receive and process signals from the antenna, and a memory module for storing watering schedules established or modified by signals received through the antenna; and

a battery power supply also contained within the housing, to supply power to the microcontroller and to the water control device.

2. A wireless irrigation control device as defined in claim 1, and further comprising:

a battery charge generator integrated into the controller housing and coupled to the battery power supply.

3. A wireless irrigation control device as defined in claim 2, wherein the battery charge generator includes an array of solar cells.

4. A wireless irrigation control device as defined in claim 1, and further comprising:

a magnetic proximity switch installed in the controller housing and coupled to the microcontroller.

5. A wireless irrigation control device as defined in claim 4, wherein the magnetic proximity switch is configured to perform at least one function from the group consisting of:

resetting the microcontroller, initiating a desired irrigation program sequence, and initiating a secured irrigation program sequence to allow system initialization.

6. A wireless irrigation control device as defined in claim 1, wherein the water flow control device is selected from the group consisting of a rotor, a valve and a pump.

7. A wireless irrigation control device, comprising:

a water flow control device;

a controller coupled to the water flow control device and including a housing, an antenna integrated into the housing and capable of receiving radio-frequency (RF) signals, a microcontroller contained within the housing and coupled to receive and process signals from the antenna, and a memory module for storing watering schedules established or modified by signals received through the antenna; and

a battery power supply also contained within the housing, to supply power to the microcontroller and to the water control device;

and wherein the controller has RF reception capability to process both short-range signals transmitted from a location near the irrigation control device and longer-range signals transmitted through a broadcast system.

8. A wireless irrigation control device as defined in claim 7, wherein the controller receives short-range and longer-range RF signals through separate receivers operating in parallel at different frequencies.

9. A wireless irrigation control device as defined in claim 7, wherein the controller receives short-range and longer-range RF signals through a single receiver employing time-division multiplexing.

10. A wireless irrigation control device, comprising:

a water flow control device;

a controller coupled to the waterflow control device and including a housing, an antenna integrated into the housing and capable of receiving radio-frequency (RF) signals, a microcontroller contained within the housing and coupled to receive and process signals from the antenna, and a memory module for storing watering schedules established or modified by signals received through the antenna; and

a battery power supply also contained within the housing, to supply power to the microcontroller and to the water control device;

and wherein the microcontroller includes means for processing received signals indicative of real-time control commands directed to the water flow control device.

11. A wireless irrigation control device as defined in claim 10, wherein the means for processing received signals includes means for scheduling ON and OFF times for the water flow control device.

12. A wireless irrigation control device as defined in claim 10, wherein the means for processing received signals includes means for setting a real-time clock based on the received signals.

13. A wireless irrigation control device as defined in claim 12, wherein the means for setting a real-time clock makes adjustment for latency of transmission through a public broadcasting system.

14. A wireless irrigation control device as defined in claim 10, wherein the means for processing received signals includes means for adjusting irrigation control commands and sequences for the waterflow control device.

15. A wireless irrigation control device, comprising:

a water flow control device;

a controller coupled to the water flow control device and including a housing, an antenna integrated into the housing and capable of receiving radio-frequency (RF) signals, a microcontroller contained within the housing and coupled to receive and process signals from the antenna, and a memory module for storing watering schedules established or modified by signals received through the antenna;

a battery power supply also contained within the housing, to supply power to the microcontroller and to the water control device; and

a visual status indicator coupled to the controller and integrated into the housing.

16. A wireless irrigation control device as defined in claim 15, wherein the visual status indicator is indicative of at least one of the conditions selected from the group comprising:

battery condition, receipt of a control signal by the antenna, and a fault condition detected in the controller.

17. A method for controlling a wireless irrigation control device contained in a controller housing, the method comprising:

receiving broadcast signals through an antenna installed in the housing;

decoding the received broadcast signals and confirming that they apply to this particular irrigation control device;

based on data received through the antenna from time to time, and decoded in the preceding step, storing and updating at least one watering schedule in a memory module; and

based on the stored watering schedule, generating signals to control a water control device in accordance with the watering schedule.

18. A method as defined in claim 17, and further comprising:

recharging, as needed, a battery housed in the rotor body, using a batter charging generator integrated into the rotor body.

19. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein the step of generating signals to control a water control device are directed to a device selected from the group comprising:

a rotor, a valve and a pump.

20. A method as defined in claim 17, and further comprising:

configuring the controller by transmitting signals to it through a magnetic proximity switch.

21. A method as defined in claim 17, and further comprising:

configuring the controller by transmitting signals to it from a handheld transmitter.

22. A method as defined in claim 17, and further comprising:

verifying that command signals have been transmitted to the wireless irrigation control device by receiving the same signals in a verification receiver.

23. A method as defined in claim 22, and further comprising:

determining a transmission latency time from the verifying step; and

transmitting a clock adjustment signal to the wireless irrigation control device, to compensate for the determined latency time.

24. A method as defined in claim 17, and further comprising:

displaying a condition of the controller in a display device associated with the controller.

25. A method as defined in claim 24, wherein the step of displaying a condition includes displaying a condition selected from the group consisting of:

battery condition, receiver status, and fault condition.