Irrigation Controller Integrating Mandated No-Watering Days, Voluntary No-Watering Days, and an Empirically-Derived Evapotranspiration Local Characteristic Curve
First Claim
1. An add-on irrigation controller for controlling water control valves for utilizing with an existing controller set with initial start times and initial run-time durations, comprising:
- a housing,a microcontroller housed within said housing and programmed with a microcontroller program operative to receive and transmit data and to control the operation of said add-on irrigation controller;
wherein said add-on irrigation controller is capable of determining said initial start times and said initial run-time durations from said existing controller;
wherein said add-on irrigation controller is preloaded with an evapotranspiration local characteristic curve for at least one locality and with local mandatory watering restrictions for said at least one locality;
wherein said evapotranspiration local characteristic curve and said local mandatory local mandatory watering restrictions are accessible to said microcontroller program; and
wherein said microcontroller program is configured to calculate a FROG watering schedule based on at least said evapotranspiration local characteristic curve, on said local mandatory watering restrictions, on said initial start times, and on said initial run-time durations; and
wherein said microcontroller program is capable of utilizing said FROG watering schedule to control said water control valves.at least one non-volatile memory configured to receive and to store data from said microcontroller; and
a real-time clock operatively connected to said microcontroller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A convenient, easy-to-use, water-saving, and labor-saving FROG smart irrigation controller is provided, which determines the appropriate water budget for the specific geographic region based on the preloaded ETo Local Characteristic Curve and preloaded mandated and voluntary watering restrictions for the specific geographic location, with consideration given to the reduction in watering days, the increase in soil watering depth, and the day of year. Once set, the FROG provides incremental adjustments over the course of the year; the homeowner no longer needs to re-set the watering program seasonally to comply with local mandated and voluntary watering restrictions. Compliance is automatic and obligatory, meeting the water saving goals of the local water authority.
81 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An add-on irrigation controller for controlling water control valves for utilizing with an existing controller set with initial start times and initial run-time durations, comprising:
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a housing, a microcontroller housed within said housing and programmed with a microcontroller program operative to receive and transmit data and to control the operation of said add-on irrigation controller;
wherein said add-on irrigation controller is capable of determining said initial start times and said initial run-time durations from said existing controller;
wherein said add-on irrigation controller is preloaded with an evapotranspiration local characteristic curve for at least one locality and with local mandatory watering restrictions for said at least one locality;
wherein said evapotranspiration local characteristic curve and said local mandatory local mandatory watering restrictions are accessible to said microcontroller program; and
wherein said microcontroller program is configured to calculate a FROG watering schedule based on at least said evapotranspiration local characteristic curve, on said local mandatory watering restrictions, on said initial start times, and on said initial run-time durations; and
wherein said microcontroller program is capable of utilizing said FROG watering schedule to control said water control valves.at least one non-volatile memory configured to receive and to store data from said microcontroller; and a real-time clock operatively connected to said microcontroller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An irrigation controller for regulating water control valves corresponding to watering zones, comprising:
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a microcontroller programmed with a microcontroller program for controlling the operation of said water control valves and configured to receive and transmit data; at least one non-volatile memory configured to receive and to store data from said microcontroller, wherein said at least one non-volatile memory is preloaded with at least one evapotranspiration local characteristic curve for at least one locality and with local mandatory watering restrictions for said at least one locality, and wherein said microcontroller program bases controlling the operation of said water control valves at least partially on said at least one evapotranspiration local characteristic curve for at least one locality and said local mandatory watering restrictions for said at least one locality; and a real-time clock operatively connected to said microcontroller. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for an add-on irrigation controller to control water control valves, comprising:
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preloading said add-on irrigation controller with at least one evapotranspiration local characteristic curve for at least one locality and with local mandatory watering restrictions for said at least one locality and with a microcontroller program configured to derive a FROG watering schedule; wiring said add-on irrigation controller in series between said water control valves and an existing controller set with initial start times and initial run-time durations; initiating learn mode in the add-on irrigation controller; learning, by said microcontroller program, said initial start times and said initial run-time durations; deriving, by said microcontroller program, said FROG watering schedule based on at least said initial start times and said initial run-time durations and on the integration of said at least one evapotranspiration local characteristic curve with said local mandatory watering restrictions. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification