Simple automatic sprinkler assistant

• US 20100127094A1
• Filed: 11/21/2008
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vuong Binh Hong
• Original Assignee: Vuong Binh Hong
• Inventors: Hong, Vuong Binh
• Application Number:
  US12/313,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20100127094A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/70
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/165 Cyclic operations, timing systems, timing valves, impulse operations

Abstract

The simple automatic sprinkler assistant is an apparatus to help the regular sprinkler timer to become a simple, fully automatic and zero maintenance sprinkler control system. The simple automatic sprinkler assistant combines with the regular sprinkler timer will automatically stop the sprinklers from watering when the air Relative Humidity (RH) is above certain target RH such as 70% RH. The simple automatic sprinkler assistant is connected in series and between the regular sprinkler timer and the valves. If it rains, when the Relative Humidity is above the target RH such as 70% RH, the simple automatic sprinkler assistant stops the sprinkler valves from watering the lawn.

Claims

1. ) A sprinkler circuit:

a relative humidity responsive circuit assists the regular sprinkler control timer by stopping the sprinkler valves from watering when the Relative Humidity (RH) is above certain target RH such as 70% RH.

2. ) The sprinkler circuit of claim 1, wherein the rectifier circuit generates 5 Volts source from the 24 Volt AC source supplied to the regular control timer.

3. ) The sprinkler circuit of claim 2, wherein one 0.7 Volts rectifier diode, one 2 Watts, 180 Ohms resistor, one 470 micro Farad, 16 Volts capacitor, and one 5.1 Volts Zener diode or a 5 Volts voltage regulators to convert the 24 Volt AC into 5 Volt DC source

4. ) The sprinkler circuit of claim 1, wherein the circuitry comprises of a relative humidity sensor chip, one timer such as 555 or equivalent timer, one retriggerable monostable multivibrators, one D flip flop, one NPN transistor, one solid state relay or equivalent and several resistors and capacitors.

5. ) The sprinkler circuit of claim 1, wherein the first timer generates wave form with frequency varies accordingly to the capacitance of the relative humidity sensor chip which reflects the temperature and moisture of the surrounding environment.

6. ) The sprinkler circuit of claim 1, wherein the wave form connects to the input of the retriggerable monostable multivibrators which is biased with one capacitor and one resistor to generate a wave form which width is equal to the pulse width of the 555 timer in the condition that the RH sensor at the target RH such as target RH.

7. ) The sprinkler circuit of claim 1, wherein the output of the one retriggerable monostable multivibrators is either constant or pulses. If the air RH is equal or below the target RH, the output is constant. On the other hand, if the air RH is above the target RH, the output is pulses.

8. ) The sprinkler circuit of claim 1, wherein the output of the one retriggerable monostable multivibrators connects to the input of another one retriggerable monostable multivibrators. The Q output of the second one retriggerable monostable multivibrators is ether high or low. It is high when the input is pulses and low when the input is constant.

9. ) The sprinkler circuit of claim 1, wherein the output of the second one retriggerable monostable multivibrators connects to the clock input of the D flip flop. The data input of the D flip flop is connected to 5 Volts. When the output of the second one retriggerable monostable multivibrators changes from low to high, the /Q output of the D flip flop changes states from high to low.

10. ) The sprinkler circuit of claim 1, wherein the /Q output of the D flip flop through a resistor connects to the base of a NPN transistor which collector connects to the solid state relay and the emitter connects to ground. The solid state relay turns on when the /Q output of the D flip flop is high and the solid state relay turns off when the /Q output of the D flip flop is low.

11. ) The sprinkler circuit of claim 1, wherein the solid state relay connects or disconnects the common conductor from the regular sprinkler timer to the common port of the valves. When the air RH is equal or below the target RH, the solid state relay connects the common port of the timer to the valves. And when the air RH is above the target RH, the solid state relay disconnects the common conductor from the timer to the valves and thus stops the sprinklers from watering the lawn or grass.