Intelligent sprinkler irrigation system

• US 20060144957A1
• Filed: 12/02/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sterling Investments LC
• Original Assignee: Sterling Investments LC
• Inventors: Jacobsen, Stephen C., Smith, Fraser M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,590,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/69
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/021 with means for regulating the jet relative to the horizontal angular position of the nozzle, e.g. for spraying non circular areas by changing the elevation of the nozzle or by varying the nozzle flow-rate B05B3/0454 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/22 Improving land use; Improving water use or availability; Controlling erosion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7758 Pilot or servo controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86397 With independent valve controller

Abstract

The present invention features an intelligent sprinkler irrigation system for delivering fluid to an arbitrarily-shaped area in a precise manner. In general, the system comprises (a) a fluid source comprising a pressurized fluid; (b) at least one programmable sprinkler head fluidly connected to the fluid source; and (c) a computer system configured to control the sprinkler head to precisely deliver fluid according to a pre-determined sprinkler function. The computer system comprises a teach mode, wherein a plurality of drive parameters are learned and recorded. These drive parameters function to dictate the specific vector positioning of the sprinkler head during execution of the sprinkler component. The teach mode is further configured to learn and record a plurality of flow parameters, which function to control the fluid delivery component of the sprinkler head (e.g., the valve or nozzle), and more particularly, the manner in which the fluid is delivered or emitted from this component.

Claims

1. An intelligent sprinkler irrigation system for attachment to a pressurized fluid source for delivering fluid to an arbitrarily-shaped area, said system comprising:

at least one programmable sprinkler head fluidly connected to said fluid source, said sprinkler head comprising;

an inlet for receiving said fluid;

a valve component fluidly connected to said inlet for regulating emission of said pressurized fluid;

a multidirectional movement component configured to vector position said sprinkler head;

a computer system configured to control said sprinkler head according to a pre-determined sprinkler function said computer system comprising;

a teach mode, wherein a plurality of control parameters are learned and recorded to control said sprinkler head, said plurality of control parameters defining said pre-determined sprinkler function; and

an operation mode for executing said pre-determined sprinkler function to precisely deliver said fluid to at least a portion of said arbitrarily-shaped area.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said teach mode is configured to learn and record a plurality of drive parameters corresponding to at least a portion of said arbitrarily-shaped area that control said vector positioning of said sprinkler head by said movement component, said plurality of drive parameters defining, at least in part, said pre-determined sprinkler function

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said teach mode is further configured to learn and record a plurality of flow parameters, also corresponding to at least a portion of said arbitrarily-shaped area, that control said valve component and that further define, at least in part, said pre-determined sprinkler function.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said flow parameters define at least one of a fluid flow rate, a slope, a velocity, a volume, a direction, a pressure, a geometric fluid configuration and a discharge of said fluid as emitted from said valve.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said computer system comprises a mapping architecture for controlling and manipulating said teach mode and said operation mode, said mapping architecture operating a mapping program configured to display a visual map of said arbitrarily-shaped area and to provide for the ability to program and teach any programmable sprinkler heads operable therein.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising control means for controlling said computer system.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said control means resides in a location remote from said programmable sprinkler head and is operably connected to said computer.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said control means is a portable system operably connectable to said computer system.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for powering said computer system.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said computer system is contained within said programmable sprinkler head.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said computer system resides in a location remote from said sprinkler head.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said pre-determined sprinkler function comprises a fluid flow path that irrigates along a shape of said arbitrarily-shaped area.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said pre-determined sprinkler function comprises a fluid flow path that irrigates along a perimeter of said arbitrarily-shaped area.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said pre-determined sprinkler function comprises a fluid flow path that irrigates a pre-determined section within said arbitrarily-shaped area.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said pre-determined sprinkler function comprises a fluid flow path that irrigates a pre-determined point within said arbitrarily-shaped area.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said computer system is configured to control said sprinkler head and precisely deliver said fluid to at least a portion of said arbitrarily-shaped area according to a plurality of pre-determined sprinkler functions.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said plurality of pre-determined sprinkler functions are selectively operable with one another.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein said valve is configured to vector position within said sprinkler head, controlled by said computer.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein said valve component is a sleeve valve comprising:

an elongate body having an outer surface and including a lumen for receiving said fluid and an associated fluid pressure therein;

at least one opening formed through said outer surface and in fluid connection with said lumen; and

a sleeve slidably disposed about said outer surface and configured to displace across said opening to precisely regulate emission of said fluid through said opening, said sleeve and elongate body being operably related, such that forces necessary to displace said sleeve across said opening are substantially unaffected by said fluid pressure at said opening.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said computer controls the displacement of said sleeve across said opening, thus regulating said fluid emission.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein said programmable sprinkler head is fluidly connected to said fluid source via delivery means.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said delivery means comprises a conduit-type structure selected from the group consisting of a pipe, a pipe system, and a hose.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein said movement component is configured to vector position said valve, controlled by said computer.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein said movement component comprises:

a rotatable housing; and

an arm pivotally coupled to said housing and supporting said valve.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said housing rotates back and forth within a 360°

rotation.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein said valve and said arm travel about an arc between 0 and 180 degrees in relation to a pivot point of said arm.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein said sprinkler head is configured to oscillate between an open and closed position to selectively deliver a bolus of said fluid to a specifically defined location.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein said sprinkler head is configured to deliver said fluid in a steady, non-fractioned stream.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein said sprinkler head is configured to deliver said fluid in a fractioned stream.

30. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of programmable sprinkler heads controlled by said computer system, each one delivering fluid to at least a portion of said arbitrarily shaped area according to a pre-determined sprinkler function.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein said pre-determined sprinkler function comprises a fluid flow path capable of irrigating multiple levels within said arbitrarily-shaped area.

32. The system of claim 1, wherein said programmable sprinkler head further comprises a nozzle coupled to said valve component.

33. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor strategically located about said arbitrarily-shaped area for sensing one or more conditions about said arbitrarily-shaped area.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein said computer system further comprises a sensing/feedback component configured to receive and process data gathered by said sensor for the purpose of affecting said sprinkler function in a manner selected from the group consisting of modifying, delaying, and cancelling said sprinkler function.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein said sensing/feedback component further functions to compare said data against pre-defined condition parameters to determine how to affect said sprinkler function.

36. A programmable sprinkler head for use within an intelligent sprinkler irrigation system, said programmable sprinkler head comprising:

an inlet for receiving said fluid;

a valve component fluidly connected to said inlet for emitting said fluid;

a computer processor supported on said sprinkler head and configured to execute a pre-determined sprinkler function; and

a multidirectional movement component configured to support and vector position said valve according to the pre-determined sprinkler function to precisely deliver said fluid to at least a portion of an arbitrarily-shaped area.

37. A programmable sprinkler head for use within an intelligent sprinkler irrigation system, said programmable sprinkler head comprising:

an inlet for receiving said fluid from a fluid source;

a nozzle fluidly connected to said inlet for dictating a particular type of emission of said fluid;

a computer processor coupled to the sprinkler head and configured to execute a pre-determined sprinkler function; and

a multidirectional movement component configured to support and vector position said nozzle according to the pre-determined sprinkler function to precisely deliver said fluid to at least a portion of an arbitrarily-shaped area.

38. The programmable sprinkler head of claim 37, wherein said inlet is fluidly connected to a valve configured to regulate the fluid received by said programmable sprinkler head.

39. An intelligent sprinkler system comprising:

a programmable sprinkler head for use within an intelligent sprinkler irrigation system, said programmable sprinkler head comprising;

an inlet for receiving said fluid from a fluid source;

a fluid directory device fluidly connected to said inlet for dictating and delivering a particular type of emission of said fluid;

a computer processor coupled to the sprinkler head and configured to execute a pre-determined sprinkler function;

a multidirectional movement component configured to support and vector position said fluid directory device according to the pre-determined sprinkler function to precisely deliver said fluid to at least a portion of an arbitrarily-shaped area; and

at least one sensor strategically located about said arbitrarily-shaped area, said sensor being positioned to define one or more irrigation boundaries, and to communicate data to said computer process of said programmable sprinkler head for the purpose of defining sand sprinkler function.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein said programmable sprinkler head is configured to emit said fluid into said area along a flow path until said fluid emission contacts said sensor, said sensor detects said fluid emission and communicates corresponding data to said computer processor, wherein said computer processor processes said data to learn said boundary and to define a sprinkler function based on said data, said sprinkler head being configured to operate based on said sprinkler function.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein said fluid directory device is selected from the group consisting of a nozzle-type device and a sleeve valve-type device.

42. The system of claim 39, wherein said sensor is an optical sensor, and wherein said sprinkler head comprises an optical signal transceiver configured to output an optical signal to be received by said optical sensor and to receive said optical signal as returned by said optical sensor, all for the purpose of defining said sprinkler function.

43. The system of claim 39, wherein said sensor comprises a sensor cable configured to define an area for irrigation or non-irrigation.

53. The method of claim 43, further comprising varying said fluid delivery through the sprinkler head.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein said varying comprises varying at least one fluid flow characteristic selected from the group consisting of rate, volume, velocity, pressure, slope, direction, geometry and discharge.

44. A method for irrigating an arbitrarily-shaped area comprising:

identifying an area to be irrigated;

providing a fluid source configured to deliver a fluid under pressure;

generating, on a computer, an executable pre-determined sprinkler function for controlling fluid delivery from the fluid source;

providing a programmable sprinkler head having a vector positionable fluid delivery point for delivering said fluid according to the pre-determined sprinkler function;

connecting said programmable sprinkler head to said fluid source;

positioning said sprinkler head in a strategic position in relation to said area; and

operating said programmable sprinkler head to execute said pre-determined sprinkler function to precisely deliver said fluid to at least a portion of said arbitrarily-shaped area.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising teaching said programmable sprinkler head the pre-determined sprinkler function and recording the pre-determined sprinkler function for future processing.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said teaching comprises learning and recording a plurality of drive parameters, corresponding to at least a portion of said arbitrarily-shaped area, that control said vector positioning of said fluid delivery point and that define said pre-determined sprinkler function.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein said teaching comprises learning and recording a plurality of flow parameters, also corresponding to at least a portion of said arbitrarily-shaped area, that dictate said delivery of said fluid and that further define said pre-determined sprinkler function.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein said teaching comprises locating said fluid delivery point at a pre-determined orientation to define a drive parameter.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein said locating is repeated at other orientations to define said plurality of drive parameters.

50. The method of claim 47, wherein said flow parameters define at least one of a fluid flow rate, a slope, a velocity, a volume, a direction, a pressure, geometry and a discharge of said fluid as emitted from said valve.

51. The method of claim 47, wherein said teaching comprises locating said fluid delivery point at a pre-determined orientation to define a flow parameter.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein said locating is repeated at other orientations to define said plurality of flow parameters.

55. The method of claim 44, further comprising providing a computer system within said programmable sprinkler head.

56. The method of claim 44, wherein said positioning comprises positioning said programmable sprinkler head proximate said area.

57. The method of claim 44, wherein said positioning comprises positioning said programmable sprinkler head within said area.

58. The method of claims 47, wherein said teaching is repeated to define a plurality of pre-determined sprinkler functions.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein said operating selectively executes said plurality of pre-determined sprinkler functions.

60. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

sensing a condition about said arbitrarily-shaped area;

communicating data to said computer corresponding to said condition;

processing and comparing said data against pre-defined condition parameters; and

selecting from one of modifying, delaying, and cancelling said sprinkler function based on said data and said pre-defined condition parameters.

61. A method for teaching a programmable sprinkler head to deliver fluid according to a pre-determined sprinkler function, said method comprising:

obtaining a programmable sprinkler head configured to deliver a fluid;

identifying an area to be irrigated;

positioning said programmable sprinkler head in a strategic location in relation to said area;

activating a teach mode configured to electronically program said programmable sprinkler head; and

assigning a plurality of drive parameters to a plurality of particular vector positions of said sprinkler head, respectively, to define a pre-determined sprinkler function for precise irrigation of at least a portion of said arbitrarily-shaped area, said vector positions corresponding to respective pre-determined and identified locations within said arbitrarily-shaped area.

62. The method of claim 61, further comprising assigning a plurality of flow parameters to each of said vector positions, respectively, to coincide with said drive parameters and to further define said pre-determined sprinkler function, said flow parameters controlling said fluid delivery from said sprinkler head at each of said vector positions.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein said assigning comprises manipulating said sprinkler head through various vector positions so that an associated fluid flow therefrom physically traces at least a portion of said area, thereby assigning said drive and flow parameters.

64. The method of claim 61, further comprising repeating said steps to create and define a plurality of pre-determined sprinkler functions.

65. The method of claim 62, further comprising deactivating said teach mode and actuating said programmable sprinkler head to execute said pre-determined sprinkler function to precisely deliver said fluid to said area as directed by said drive and flow parameters.

66. A computer program product for use within an intelligent sprinkler irrigation system, said computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing a programmable sprinkler head to deliver fluid according to a pre-determined sprinkler function, said computer readable program code means comprising;

computer readable program code means for causing a computer to receive a series of input signals within a teaching mode that correspond to a particular fluid flow path to be followed when irrigating at least a portion of said area;

computer readable program code means for causing said computer to process said input signals to establish a pre-determined sprinkler function and to store said pre-determined sprinkler function on a memory storage device;

computer readable program code means for causing said computer to communicate said pre-determined sprinkler function to a programmable sprinkler head; and

computer readable program code means for causing said computer to actuate said programmable sprinkler head to precisely deliver a fluid to at least a portion of said area according to said pre-determined sprinkler function.

67. The computer program product of claim 66, wherein said input signals comprise one or more drive parameters.

68. The computer program product of claim 66, wherein said input signals comprise one or more flow parameters.

69. A program storage device tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer system to perform the steps within a method for irrigating an arbitrarily-shaped area, said method comprising:

receiving a series of input signals within a teaching mode that correspond to a particular fluid flow path to be followed when irrigating at least a portion of said area;

processing said input signals to establish a pre-determined sprinkler function;

storing said pre-determined sprinkler function on a memory storage device for selective retrieval;

communicating said pre-determined sprinkler function to a programmable sprinkler head; and

actuating said programmable sprinkler head to precisely deliver a fluid to at least a portion of said area according to said pre-determined sprinkler function.

70. The program storage device of claim 69, wherein said input signals comprise one or more drive parameters.

71. The program storage device of claim 69, wherein said input signals comprise one or more flow parameters.

72. The program storage device of claim 69, wherein said actuating comprises vector positioning a fluid delivery point to deliver said fluid according to said pre-determined sprinkler function.

73. The program storage device of claim 69, further comprising selectively varying at least one of the slope, velocity, volume, pressure, direction, geometry and discharge of said fluid delivery to deliver said fluid according to said pre-determined sprinkler function.

74. A method in a computer system for irrigating an arbitrarily-shaped area, said method comprising:

controlling a teach mode, wherein a programmable sprinkler is taught a pre-determined sprinkler function corresponding to an identified area;

storing said pre-determined sprinkler function on a memory storage device; and

controlling said programmable sprinkler to precisely deliver a fluid to said area according to said pre-determined sprinkler function.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein said controlling said programmable sprinkler comprises vector positioning a fluid delivery point to deliver said fluid according to said pre-determined sprinkler function.

76. The method of claim 74, wherein said controlling said programmable sprinkler comprises selectively varying at least one of the slope, velocity, volume, pressure, direction, geometry and discharge of said fluid delivery to deliver said fluid according to said pre-determined sprinkler function.

77. A computer system for irrigating an arbitrarily-shaped area, said computer system comprising:

at least one programmable sprinkler head configured for fluid connection to a fluid source, said sprinkler head comprising;

an inlet for receiving said fluid;

a fluid delivery point;

a multidirectional movement component configured to support said fluid delivery point;

a learning component that learns and stores a pre-determined sprinkler function corresponding to a particular identified area to be irrigated;

a positioning component that vector positions said fluid delivery point during execution of said pre-determined sprinkler function; and

a fluid delivery component that controls the delivery of said fluid during execution of said pre-determined sprinkler function.

78. The computer system of claim 77, further comprising a switching component for selectively switching between a plurality of stored pre-determined sprinkler functions.

79. The computer system of claim 77, wherein said fluid delivery component controls and varies at least one of the slope, velocity, volume, pressure, direction, geometry and discharge of said fluid delivery to deliver said fluid according to said pre-determined sprinkler function.

80. An intelligent sprinkler irrigation system for attachment to a pressurized fluid source for delivering fluid to an arbitrarily-shaped area, said system comprising:

at least one sprinkler head fluidly connected to said fluid source, said sprinkler head comprising;

an inlet for receiving said fluid;

a valve component fluidly connected to said inlet for regulating emission of said pressurized fluid;

a multidirectional movement component configured to vector position said sprinkler head; and

at least one deflector strategically positioned from said sprinkler head, said deflector configured to redirect said fluid as delivered by said sprinkler head upon impact with said deflector.

81. A method for irrigating an arbitrarily shaped area comprising:

obtaining a sprinkler head configured to emit a fluid from a fluid source;

positioning at least one deflector at a strategic location within said arbitrarily shaped area and away from said sprinkler head, said deflector configured to redirect said fluid upon impact; and

operating said sprinkler head to direct said fluid toward and impact said deflector.