System and method for use in controlling irrigation and compensating for rain
First Claim
1. A method for use in controlling irrigation, comprising:
- determining when an amount of rain received exceeds a first threshold;
pausing irrigation from a field station when the amount of rain exceeds the first threshold;
determining when the amount of rain received exceed a second threshold; and
stopping irrigation from the field station when the amount of rain exceeds the second threshold.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present embodiments provide methods and system for use in irrigating and controlling irrigation. In some embodiments, a method pauses irrigation at a field station when an amount of rain detected exceeds a first threshold, detects an indication of an amount of rain received after the pausing, resumes irrigation, and reduces a station runtime corresponding to the amount of the rain received after pausing. Some methods determine when an amount of rain received exceeds a first threshold and pause irrigation from a field station, and determine when the amount of rain received exceeds a second threshold and stop irrigation from the field station. Some embodiments provide systems that comprise a field station, a rain detector, and a controller that monitors detected rain and pauses irrigation when a first threshold of rain is detected and shuts down irrigation when a second threshold of rain is detected.
79 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for use in controlling irrigation, comprising:
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determining when an amount of rain received exceeds a first threshold;
pausing irrigation from a field station when the amount of rain exceeds the first threshold;
determining when the amount of rain received exceed a second threshold; and
stopping irrigation from the field station when the amount of rain exceeds the second threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for use in controlling irrigation, comprising:
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pausing irrigation at a field station when an amount of rain detected exceeds a first threshold;
detecting an indication of an amount of rain received after the pausing;
resuming irrigation at the field station; and
reducing a station runtime corresponding to the amount of the rain received after the pausing. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for use in controlling irrigation, comprising:
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a controller;
a field station coupled with the controller, wherein the controller activates the field station to irrigate;
a first switch coupled with the field station, where the first switch transitions when an amount of rain detected exceeds a first threshold causing the field station to pause the irrigating; and
a second switch coupled with the field station, where the second switch transitions when an amount of rain detected exceeds a second threshold causing the field station to stop the irrigating. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for use in irrigation, comprising:
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a controller;
a field station coupled with the controller such that the controller controls irrigation through the field station; and
a rain detector coupled with the controller such that the controller monitors an amount of rain detected through the rain detector;
wherein the controller pauses irrigation from the field station when a first threshold amount of rain is detected and shuts down irrigation from the field station when a second threshold amount of rain is detected. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for use in controlling irrigation, comprising:
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identifying a rain watch window of time wherein the rain watch window of time is a period of time before a current time in which rain received is relevant to a determination affecting current watering needs; and
resetting the rain watch window of time when rain is detected;
monitoring an amount of rain detected;
detecting that the rain has stopped;
activating the rain watch window of time when rain has stopped; and
clearing the monitored amount of rain detected when the rain watch window of time expires.
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Specification