Irrigation control system
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Accused Products
Abstract
An irrigation control system and method for controlling irrigation based on weather data. Weather data such as wind, temperature, solar radiation, humidity, and rainfall, may be collected at one or more weather stations for a region. The weather data may be compiled on a computer and transmitted to a paging broadcast service. The weather data may then be transmitted by the paging broadcast service to controller interfaces associated with irrigation systems throughout the region. The controller interfaces may adjust irrigation controllers associated with the irrigation systems based on the weather data such that the proper amount of water is applied. This allows the water to be used more efficiently and the health of the landscape to be improved.
151 Citations
80 Claims
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1-50. -50. (canceled)
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51. A system for interfacing with an irrigation controller to improve an irrigation output, said irrigation controller capable of receiving a control signal in at least one mode chosen from the group comprising ET pulsed, ET enable, ET trigger, rain pulse, weather interrupt and direct data transfer, said system comprising:
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a first interface means for selecting at least one control signal output mode, said at least one control signal output mode being selected to correspond to the at least one mode in which the irrigation controller is designed to receive the control signal;
a second interface means for transmitting the control signal in the at least one control signal output mode to the irrigation controller; and
said irrigation controller improving said irrigation output based upon said control signal. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. An apparatus for interfacing with an irrigation controller to improve irrigation output, said apparatus having an antenna coupled thereto, said antenna receiving data over the airwaves, the apparatus comprising:
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a power supply;
a first interface means for receiving user input; and
a second interface means for relaying a control signal to the irrigation controller, said control signal derived at least partially from said data, said second interface means capable of relaying the control signal to the irrigation controller in at least two of the following modes;
ET pulsed, ET enable, ET trigger, rain pulse, weather interrupt and direct data transfer. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
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65-1. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein the second interface means being capable of relaying the control signal to the irrigation controller in at least five of the following modes:
- ET pulsed, ET enable, ET trigger, rain pulse, weather interrupt and direct data transfer.
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74. An apparatus for interfacing with an irrigation controller to improve irrigation output, said apparatus having an antenna coupled thereto, said antenna receiving data over the airwaves, the apparatus comprising:
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a power supply;
a first interface means for receiving user input; and
a second interface means for relaying a control signal to the irrigation controller, said control signal derived at least partially from said data, said second interface means capable of relaying the control signal to the irrigation controller in at least two of the following modes;
ET pulsed, ET enable, ET trigger, and direct data transfer. - View Dependent Claims (75, 76)
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77. An apparatus for interfacing with an irrigation controller to improve irrigation output, said apparatus having an antenna coupled thereto, said antenna receiving data over the airwaves, the apparatus comprising:
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a power supply;
a first interface means for receiving user input; and
a second interface means for relaying a control signal to the irrigation controller, said control signal derived at least partially from said data, said second interface means capable of relaying the control signal to the irrigation controller in at least two of the following modes;
(a) generating a momentary switch closure on a wire coupled to the irrigation controller for each predetermined amount of evapotranspiration, said irrigation controller basing a decision to irrigate on said momentary switch closure, (b) interrupting a common wire thereby preventing irrigation by the irrigation controller until a predetermined evapotranspiration threshold is reached, (c) tripping a relay to signal the irrigation controller through a wire that irrigation is needed when a predetermined evapotranspiration threshold is reached, and (d) allowing the irrigation controller to directly access the data or an evapotranspiration value calculated from said data thereby allowing the irrigation controller to determine when to irrigate. - View Dependent Claims (78, 79)
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80. A method for interfacing with an irrigation controller to improve an irrigation output, said irrigation controller designed to receive a control signal in at least one mode chosen from the group comprising ET pulsed, ET enable, ET trigger, rain pulse, weather interrupt and direct data transfer, said method comprising the steps of:
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selecting at least one control signal output mode, said at least one control signal output mode being selected to correspond to the at least one mode in which the irrigation controller is designed to receive the control signal;
transmitting the control signal in the control signal output mode to the irrigation controller;
improving said irrigation output based upon said control signal.
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Specification