Irrigation controller water management with temperature budgeting
First Claim
1. A method for operating an irrigation controller comprising the steps of:
- a. providing said controller with a preliminary irrigation schedule for a geographic location;
b. computing a water budget ratio by comparing current local geo-environmental data with stored non ET based local geo-environmental data; and
c. modifying said preliminary irrigation schedule based upon said ratio.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides methods for water conservation with AC, DC, or ambient light powered irrigation controllers without the use of complex ET (evapotranspiration) data or ET related service fees. Programming may consist of the operator entering a preliminary irrigation schedule, and entering the local zip code. The controller then periodically calculates a water budget by comparing current (non ET) local geo-environmental data with stored local geo-environmental data, and then modifies the preliminary schedule using the water budget. A number of embodiments are possible: in stand-alone controllers with a temperature sensor attached directly to the microprocessor within that controller, or as a centrally placed CBM (Central Broadcast Module) which calculates a water budget percentage which is transmitted to one or more field controllers by wired or wireless means. Alternately, a TBM (Temperature Budget Module) that is separate from the controller is connected between the controller outputs and the valves, or mounted at the valves themselves. The TBM calculates the water budget, monitors the controller outputs and shortens the duration times as calculated by the water budget ratio. Because of its flexible capabilities with stand alone AC, DC, solar, or ambient light powered controllers, as a centrally broadcast WBR in a wired or wireless configuration, or as an add-on to existing controllers or valves, its programming simplicity and close approximation to ET without its complications and cost, the present invention significantly reduces that cost, has the potential to save more water and minimize runoff than currently available ET methods.
122 Citations
65 Claims
-
1. A method for operating an irrigation controller comprising the steps of:
-
a. providing said controller with a preliminary irrigation schedule for a geographic location;
b. computing a water budget ratio by comparing current local geo-environmental data with stored non ET based local geo-environmental data; and
c. modifying said preliminary irrigation schedule based upon said ratio. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
7. A method for operating an irrigation controller comprising the steps of:
-
a. providing said controller with a preliminary irrigation schedule for a geographic location;
b. inputting a zip code for said geographic location;
c. computing a water budget ratio by comparing current local geo-environmental data with stored local geo-environmental data which does not include evapotranspiration data by 1. computing a standard temperature budget factor;
2. computing a periodic temperature budget factor; and
3. dividing said periodic temperature budget factor by said standard temperature budget factor; and
d. modifying said preliminary irrigation schedule based upon said ratio. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
18. A method for automatically operating an irrigation controller comprising the steps of:
-
a. providing said controller with a current date, a local zip code, and a preliminary irrigation schedule;
b. determining an approximate latitude and average summer high temperature based on the zip code;
c. computing a water budget ratio from current local geo-environmental data and stored local geo-environmental data comprising the steps of;
1. computing a standard temperature budget factor from said stored local geo-environmental data by multiplying the average summer high temperature by an extraterrestrial radiation value for a time frame of said average summer high temperature at said approximate latitude, 2. computing a periodic temperature budget factor by multiplying an actual recorded maximum temperature taken over a previous predetermined period by an extraterrestrial radiation value at said approximate latitude during said particular period, and 3. computing said water budget ratio by dividing said periodic temperature budget factor by said standard temperature budget factor; and
d. modifying said preliminary irrigation schedule based upon said ratio. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. An apparatus for automatically adjusting irrigation watering schedules, comprising:
-
a. a microprocessor with data storage and instructions for computing a water budget ratio using non ET geo-environmental data;
b. an input device in communication with said microprocessor;
c. at least one environmental sensor in communication with said microprocessor;
d. a power source for said microprocessor; and
e. at least one irrigation water control switch in communication with said microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. A method for operating an irrigation controller comprising the steps of:
-
a. providing said controller with a preliminary irrigation schedule;
b. providing said controller with a latitude and average high summer temperature using a global positioning system and stored historical data;
c. computing a water budget ratio by comparing current local geo-environmental data with stored local geo-environmental data wherein said data does not include evapotranspiration data; and
d. modifying said preliminary irrigation schedule based upon said ratio.
-
-
32. An apparatus for automatically adjusting irrigation watering schedules, comprising:
-
a. a microprocessor with data storage having instructions for computing a water budget ratio using current local geo-environmental data and stored local geo-environmental data;
b. an input device in communication with said microprocessor;
c. at least one temperature sensor in communication with said microprocessor;
d. a power source for said microprocessor; and
e. at least one irrigation water output control switch in communication with said microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
-
-
36. An irrigation controller comprising:
-
a. a microprocessor with data storage and programming to calculate a water budget;
b. a wireless input device in communication with said controller;
c. at least one environmental sensor in communication with said controller;
d. a power source for said controller; and
e. at least one water output control switch in communication with said microprocessor.
-
-
37. A battery operated irrigation controller comprising:
-
a. a microprocessor with data storage and programming to calculate a water budget;
b. a wireless input device in communication with said controller;
c. at least one environmental sensor in communication with said controller; and
d. at least one water output control switch in communication with said microprocessor.
-
-
38. An irrigation controller comprising:
-
a. a global positioning system;
b. a microprocessor having a clock and data storage in communication with said global positioning system, said microprocessor having programming to calculate a water budget;
c. at least one environmental sensor in communication with said controller;
d. a power source; and
e. at least one water output control switch in communication with said controller.
-
-
39. A method for adjusting a controller irrigation schedule comprising the steps of:
-
a. producing a ratio by dividing (i) a measured high temperature for a current time period multiplied by a current extraterrestrial radiation factor by (ii) a stored summer high temperature multiplied by a stored extraterrestrial radiation factor; and
b. modifying said irrigation schedule by said ratio.
-
-
40. A battery powered controller comprising:
-
a. At least one battery;
b. A microprocessor with data storage and programming to calculate a water budget ratio; and
c. At least one water control switch.
-
-
41. A method of adjusting station run times in an irrigation controller by:
-
a. calculating a water budget ratio by comparing non-ET based current geo-environmental data with stored geo-environmental data; and
b. Adjusting said run times based upon said ratio. - View Dependent Claims (54)
-
-
42. A method of altering an irrigation schedule comprising the steps of:
-
a. calculating a water budget ratio for a geographic location by comparing non-ET based current geo-environmental data with stored geo-environmental data;
b. modifying said water budget ratio according to data from at least one environmental sensor; and
c. adjusting said irrigation scheduled according to said modified water budget ratio. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44)
-
-
45. A method of altering the watering cycles of at least one irrigation controller comprising the steps of:
-
a. providing a microprocessor at a remote location with historical non ET based geo-environmental data;
b. taking periodic current temperature readings;
c. calculating a water budget ratio using said microprocessor by comparing said historical data with current data;
d. transmitting said water budget ratio to said at least one irrigation controller. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47)
-
-
48. A central irrigation control comprising:
-
a. a microprocessor with data storage and programming to calculate a water budget ratio;
b. a power source for said microprocessor;
c. a temperature sensor in communication with said microprocessor;
d. a wireless transmitter in communication with said microprocessor for transmitting said water budget ratio to at least one remotely located irrigation control unit. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50)
-
-
51. An apparatus for affecting the watering times of a valve controller comprising:
-
a. a module connected to said irrigation controller, said module comprising;
1. a microprocessor having non ET based geo-environmental data, and having programming to calculate a water budget;
2. at least one input for electrical connection to a controller output;
3. at least one output for electrical connection to at least one irrigation valve; and
4. a power supply for said module; and
b. a temperature sensor in communication with said module. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53)
-
-
55. A method of affecting the duration of the watering cycles of an irrigation controller comprising the steps of:
-
a. connecting a module having local historical non-ET based geo-environmental data therein between said controller outputs and their corresponding valves;
b. providing said module with current temperature information;
c. calculating a water budget in said module by comparing said geo-environmental data with said temperature information;
d. changing the watering times of said irrigation cycles based upon said water budget.
-
-
56. A method of altering the duration of an irrigation cycle by:
-
a. providing data to a temperature budgeting module, said data selected from the group consisting of temperature, rain, wind, solar radiation, relative humidity and combinations thereof;
b. calculating a water budget in said module using said data; and
c. altering said irrigation cycle using said water budget.
-
-
57. A method of altering the operation of an irrigation system valve comprising the steps of:
-
a. connecting a module having local historical non-ET based geo-environmental data between a controller output and a solenoid of said valve;
b. providing said module with current temperature information;
c. calculating a water budget in said module by comparing said geo-environmental data with said temperature information; and
d. Changing the run time of said valve based upon said water budget calculation. - View Dependent Claims (58)
-
-
59. An apparatus for altering the operation of a valve consisting of:
-
A module attached between a controller output and the solenoid of said valve, said module comprising;
a. An input for connection to a controller output;
b. An output for connection to said solenoid;
c. A data input device;
d. A microprocessor with programming to calculate a water budget. e. A power source; and
f. A temperature sensor. - View Dependent Claims (60)
-
-
61. A method for adjusting the watering schedule of at least one remotely located irrigation controller comprising the steps of:
-
a. deploying a processing unit at a central location, said unit having programming to calculate a water budget ratio;
b. providing said processing unit with latitudinal information regarding the central location;
c. providing said processing unit with current temperature information;
d. calculating a water budget ratio;
e. providing the water budget ratio to said at least one controller; and
f. changing the duration of the watering schedule of said at least one controller based on said water budget ratio. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65)
-
Specification