Irrigation System with ET Based Seasonal Watering Adjustment

• US 20110238228A1
• Filed: 06/03/2011
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hunter Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hunter Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Shearin, Christopher M., Woytowitz, Peter J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,600,569 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering

Abstract

An ET based irrigation system includes a stand alone irrigation controller with a seasonal adjust feature and a stand alone weather station including at least one environmental sensor. The ET based irrigation system further includes a stand alone ET unit operatively connected to the irrigation controller and the weather station. The ET unit includes programming configured to calculate an estimated ET value using a signal from the environmental sensor and to automatically modify a watering schedule of the irrigation controller through the seasonal adjust feature based on the estimated ET value to thereby conserve water while maintaining plant health.

Claims

1. An ET based irrigation system, comprising:

a stand alone irrigation controller with a seasonal adjust feature;

a stand alone weather station including at least one environmental sensor; and

a stand alone ET unit operatively in communication with the irrigation controller and the weather station including programming configured to calculate an estimated ET value using a signal from the environmental sensor and to automatically modify a watering schedule of the irrigation controller through the seasonal adjust feature based on the estimated ET value.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the programming of the ET unit provides the capability for automatically modifying the watering schedule through the seasonal adjust feature based on the estimated ET value as increased or decreased by the user through an inputted overall watering adjustment.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the programming of the ET unit provides the capability for entering a no-water window that automatically overrides the watering schedule.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the programming of the ET unit provides the capability for automatically shutting down any watering otherwise scheduled based on a detected event.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the weather station includes a solar radiation sensor, a temperature sensor and a rain sensor and the estimated ET value is calculated using signals from the solar radiation sensor and the temperature sensor and a plurality of pre-programmed constants.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the ET unit is operatively connected to the weather station through a wireless communications link.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the ET unit is configured to receive power from the irrigation controller.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the weather station includes a solar radiation sensor, a temperature sensor and a rain sensor and the estimated ET value is calculated using signals from the solar radiation sensor and the temperature sensor and a plurality of pre-programmed constants and where data entered by a user determines at least one constant of a given site.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the ET unit modifies the watering schedule of the irrigation controller through a data port of the irrigation controller.

10. The system of claim 2 wherein the ET unit includes a pair of manually actuable controls configured to enable a user to input the overall watering adjustment by selectively increasing and decreasing an estimated maximum ET setting that is a constant used in calculating the estimated ET value.

11. An ET based irrigation system, comprising:

an interface that enables a user to select and/or enter a watering schedule and to input an overall watering adjustment;

a memory for storing the watering schedule;

at least one sensor for generating a signal representative of an environmental condition;

a processor capable of calculating an estimated ET value based at least in part on the signal from the sensor; and

a program executable by the processor to enable the processor to generate commands for selectively turning a plurality of valves ON and OFF in accordance with the watering schedule, the program including a seasonal adjust feature that provides the capability for automatically modifying the watering schedule based on the estimated ET value to thereby conserve water while maintaining plant health and further, wherein the program provides the capability for automatically modifying the watering schedule through the seasonal adjust feature based on the estimated ET value as increased or decreased by the user through the inputted overall watering adjustment.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the program calculates the estimated ET based on the signal from the environmental sensor and a plurality of pre-programmed constants and where data entered by a user determines at least one constant of a given site.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the program calculates the estimated ET based on the signal from the environmental sensor and a plurality of pre-programmed constants.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the interface includes a pair of manually actuable switches for selectively increasing and decreasing the estimated ET value.

12. (canceled)

16. A method of controlling a plurality of valves on an irrigation site, comprising the steps of:

selecting and/or creating a watering schedule;

storing the watering schedule;

generating a signal representative of an environmental condition on an irrigation site;

calculating an estimated ET value based at least in part on the signal;

selectively turning a plurality of valves located on the irrigation site ON and OFF in accordance with the watering schedule; and

automatically modifying the watering schedule based on the estimated ET value using a seasonal adjust algorithm to thereby conserve water while maintaining the health of plants on the irrigation site.

17. The method of claim 16 and further comprising the step of inputting an overall watering adjustment and automatically modifying the watering schedule through the seasonal adjust algorithm based on the estimated ET value as increased or decreased by the inputted overall watering adjustment.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the estimated ET value is calculated based on the signal and a plurality of predetermined constants.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the estimated ET value is calculated based on signals generated by a solar radiation sensor and a temperature sensor located on the irrigation site, and a plurality of predetermined constants.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein data based on the signals generated by the sensors is transmitted wirelessly across the irrigation site.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the estimated ET value is calculated based on the signal and a plurality of predetermined constants and where data entered by the user determines at least one constant of a given site.

22. The method of claim 16 wherein the estimated ET value is calculated based on signals generated by a solar radiation sensor and a temperature sensor located on the irrigation site, and a plurality of predetermined constants and where data entered by the user determines at least one constant of a given site.

23-42. -42. (canceled)