Wireless irrigation control device and related method

• US 20050107924A1
• Filed: 08/20/2004
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Inventors: Mickels, Ronald Willard, Ensworth, Mark Murphy, Antonucci, Thomas Anthony, Bailey, David Franklin
• Granted Patent: US 7,359,769 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/167 Control by humidity of the soil itself or of devices simulating soil or of the atmosphere; Soil humidity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/22 Improving land use; Improving water use or availability; Controlling erosion

Abstract

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

Claims

1. A method for controlling a plurality of wireless irrigation control devices, the method comprising:

organizing a plurality of wireless irrigation control devices into one or more groups, at least one group comprising a plurality of wireless irrigation control devices;

receiving broadcast signals at each control device;

decoding the received broadcast signals and confirming that they apply to a group to which a particular irrigation control device belongs;

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

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

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein organizing a plurality of wireless irrigation control devices into one or more groups further comprises:

organizing a plurality of wireless irrigation control devices into a collection of nested groups; and

associating a particular passcode with each group in the collection of nested groups.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 and further comprising:

associating with each irrigation control device a receiver for each group to which the irrigation control device belongs.

4. A wireless irrigation control device, comprising:

a water flow control device;

a controller coupled to the water flow control device and capable of responding to and storing wireless transmitted control commands;

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

wherein the controller processes control commands directed to the water flow control device; and

wherein the control commands include a command to shut down portions of the controller'"'"'s operation according to a hibernation schedule, thereby reducing demand on the battery power supply.

5. A method for controlling a wireless irrigation control device, the method comprising:

receiving broadcast signals;

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

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

generating signals to control a water control device in accordance with the watering schedule;

shutting down portions of the wireless irrigation control device according to a hibernation schedule in response to a signal received and decoded in the decoding step.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

generating a signal to cause the water control device to irrigate in response to a signal received and decoded in the decoding step only if a battery associated with the wireless irrigation control device is in a predetermined charge condition.

7. A method for checking the power status of a power source for a wireless irrigation control device having an irrigation condition, the method comprising:

receiving broadcast signals through an antenna installed in the housing;

decoding the received broadcast signals;

receiving a broadcast signal to cause the water control device to set to the irrigation condition in response to the broadcast signal received and decoded in the decoding step only if the power status of the power source associated with the wireless irrigation control device is below a predetermined level.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

shutting down portions of the controller according to a hibernation schedule in response to a signal received and decoded in the decoding step.