IRRIGATION FIELD MODULE MATRIX CONFIGURED FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION WITH A CENTRAL CONTROL SERVER

• US 20090145974A1
• Filed: 04/25/2008
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Pipe And Fitting, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Loopback Labs LLC
• Inventors: Fekete, Daniel Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,883,027 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/11
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/12 responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus B05B12/082, B05B12/084 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

The invention is an irrigation field module matrix configured for wireless communication with a central control server. The central control server contains a database with relevant information regarding features, parameters, and characteristics of a particular irrigation system. This system utilizes proprietary irrigation software to control a plurality of field modules, at one or more remote locations, via a network bridge adapter. An irrigation system may comprise a single server, or multiple servers that may be configured so that control of the entire system is centralized, and control of one or multiple irrigation locations may be accomplished remotely by wirelessly accessing, monitoring and controlling a location'"'"'s field module matrix.

Claims

1. A field module matrix for enabling a server to control irrigation components, comprising:

a plurality of field modules, wherein one or more field modules comprises;

a circuitry configured for;

sending data pertaining to an irrigation area to a server,

receiving a control signal from said server, and

controlling one or more irrigation components based on said control signal;

a device interface for coupling said irrigation components to said circuitry; and

a power interface to supply power to said circuitry.

2. The field module matrix of claim 1, further comprising a wireless network adapter wirelessly coupled to said plurality of field modules for routing said data from said one or more field modules to said server and routing said control signal from said server to said one or more field modules, wherein said wireless network adapter translates between a protocol in use by said plurality of field modules and said server.

3. The field module matrix of claim 2, wherein said control signal further comprises an irrigation schedule generated by said server from said data.

4. The field module matrix of claim 3, wherein said server further comprises a user interface adapted to provide a user remote access to said server for remotely monitoring said plurality of field modules.

5. The field module matrix of claim 3, wherein said data pertaining to said irrigation area comprises a system status.

6. The field module matrix of claim 3, wherein said circuitry of said one or more field modules further comprises a management device for receiving, transmitting, and recording said irrigation schedule.

7. The field module matrix of claim 6, wherein said one or more field modules is adapted for single-hop and multi-hop communication.

8. The field module matrix of claim 7, wherein said irrigation components further comprise valves and pumps.

9. The field module matrix of claim 6, wherein said one or more field modules further comprise of sensors coupled to said circuitry.

10. A method for irrigation utilizing a field module matrix configured for wireless communication with a central control server, comprising the steps of:

placing a plurality of field modules on an irrigation area to create a field module matrix;

sending data pertaining to said irrigation area to a server;

receiving a control signal from said server; and

controlling one or more irrigation components based on said control signal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein sending said data to said server and receiving said control signal from said server further comprises communication via a wireless network adapter wirelessly coupled to said plurality of field modules for routing said data from said field module matrix to said server and routing said control signal from said server to said field module matrix.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said field module matrix is adapted for single-hop and multi-hop communication.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said server is configured for generating said control signal based on said data pertaining to said irrigation area.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein generating said control signal further comprises making determinations based on a hydraulic analysis of said data.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein generating said control signal further comprises making determinations based on an interpolation of sensor data gathered from said data.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein generating said control signal further comprises making determinations based on evapotranspiration data gathered from said data.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving said control signal further comprises receiving an irrigation schedule.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of storing said irrigation schedule in a storage library contained within a circuitry of said plurality of field modules.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of enabling communication between said field module matrix and a second server.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of enabling monitoring and control of said field module matrix utilizing a remote access interface for said server.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein said data pertaining to said irrigation area comprises a system status.

22. The field module matrix of claim 15, wherein said plurality of field modules further comprise of sensors coupled to said circuitry.

23. A field module matrix for enabling a server to control irrigation components, comprising:

a plurality of field modules, wherein one or more field modules is adapted for single-hop and multi-hop communication, said one or more field modules further comprising;

a circuitry including a management device for receiving, transmitting, and recording a control signal, said circuitry configured for;

sending data pertaining to an irrigation area to a server, wherein said server further comprises a user interface adapted to provide a user remote access to said server for remotely monitoring said plurality of field modules,

receiving said control signal from said server, wherein said control signal includes an irrigation schedule generated by said server from said data, and

controlling one or more irrigation components based on said control signal;

a device interface for coupling said irrigation components to said circuitry;

a power interface to supply power to said circuitry; and

a wireless network adapter wirelessly coupled to said plurality of field modules for routing said data from said one or more field modules to said server and routing said control signal from said server to said one or more field modules, wherein said wireless network adapter translates between a protocol in use by said plurality of field modules and said server.