AUTOMATED LANDSCAPE WATERING RESTRICTIONS

• US 20110301767A1
• Filed: 06/13/2011
• Published: 12/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: George Alexanian
• Original Assignee: George Alexanian
• Inventors: Alexanian, George
• Application Number:
  US13/159,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20110301767A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering

Abstract

Many water districts, municipalities and other governmental authorities have implemented local irrigation and watering restrictions to conserve water. These watering restrictions generally change from season to season, with different schedules being effective at different time periods during the year. Embodiments of the present invention provide for automatic implementation of these seasonal or periodic watering restrictions to prevent watering when it is not allowed, and include the capability of updating the currently implemented restrictions according to the date or time of year. Embodiments of the present invention may be provided in controllers, in modules that are added on to existing controllers, or in modules that are plugged into existing controllers with or without smart technology. Other embodiments provide for broadcast of the watering restrictions and/or signals that are received and implemented by controllers, add-ons or plug-ins of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of automatically regulating the times that irrigation is allowed by an irrigation controller operating at least one valve comprising the steps of:

a. said controller with a schedule of allowed watering times established by a government authority; and

b. Said controller enabling said valves to allow irrigation at times when allowed by said schedule.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional step of periodically varying said schedule of allowed watering times.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional step of seasonally varying said schedule of allowed watering times.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein an environmental sensor is provided, and comprising the additional step of disabling said valves based upon current input from said environmental sensor.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said environmental sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

soil, precipitation, temperature, humidity, wind or combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of schedules of allowed watering times are programmed into said controller, and said method further comprises the step of selecting one of said schedules.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said controller further comprises programming for smart watering, and said method further comprises the step of adjusting periodic watering according to said smart programming.

8. An irrigation system comprising:

a. An irrigation controller with a power supply and a microprocessor;

b. At least one schedule of not allowed watering times provided to said microprocessor;

c. At least one output from said controller in communication with at least one valve;

d. Said microprocessor having programming that is capable of automatically preventing output to said valves when irrigation is not allowed according to said schedule.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of schedules of not allowed watering times wherein said microprocessor has programming to automatically select and implement one of said schedules according to date and time.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the programming in said microprocessor is capable of periodically varying said schedule of not allowed watering times.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the programming in said microprocessor is capable of seasonally varying said schedule of not allowed watering times.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein said power supply is selected from the group consisting of:

AC, DC, battery, solar, or ambient light powered.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein said at least one schedule is provided by one of the group of:

manual entry, wireless transmission, pre-programming, internet download, USB computer connection, or memory stick.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein said controller further comprises programming for smart watering.

15. The system of claim 8 further comprising an environmental sensor in communication with said microprocessor, wherein said microprocessor has programming to prevent irrigation based upon input from said sensor.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said environmental sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

soil, precipitation, temperature, humidity, wind or combinations thereof.

17. An irrigation system comprising:

a. An irrigation controller including a microprocessor;

b. A separate plug-in module in communication with said microprocessor;

c. Said plug-in module having its own microprocessor capable of accepting at least one schedule of municipally restricted watering times;

d. Said plug-in module being capable of causing said controller to prevent irrigation when not allowed according to said at least one restricted schedule.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising a plurality of schedules of municipally restricted watering times wherein said plug-in microprocessor has programming to automatically select and implement one of said schedules according to date and time.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the programming in said plug-in microprocessor is capable of periodically varying said schedule of not allowed watering times.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the programming in said plug-in microprocessor is capable of seasonally varying said schedule of not allowed watering times.

21. The system of claim 17 wherein said module communicates by wired or wireless means.

22. The system of claim 17 wherein said controller microprocessor further comprises programming for smart watering.

23. The system of claim 17 further comprising at least one environmental sensor in communication with said plug-in microprocessor, wherein said plug-in microprocessor has programming to prevent irrigation based upon input from said sensor.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said environmental sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

soil, precipitation, temperature, humidity, wind or combinations thereof.

25. An irrigation system comprising:

a. At least one irrigation controller, each controller having a power supply, a microprocessor, and at least one associated valve;

b. A remotely located central broadcasting unit capable of communicating with said at least one controller;

c. Said central broadcasting unit being capable of accepting at least one schedule of allowed watering times provided by a government authority;

d. Said broadcasting unit broadcasting to said at least one controller whether watering is allowed or not allowed according to said at least one schedule of allowed watering times;

e. Said at least one controller preventing irrigation when not allowed, and allowing irrigation when allowed, according to said broadcast.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein said power supply is selected from the group consisting of:

AC, DC, battery, solar, or ambient light powered.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein said broadcasting unit further comprises programming for smart watering.

28. The system of claim 25 wherein said at least one controller further comprises programming for smart watering.

29. The system of claim 25 further comprising at least one environmental sensor.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said environmental sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

soil, precipitation, temperature, humidity, wind or combinations thereof.

31. A method of automatically regulating the times that irrigation is provided by a controller comprising the steps of:

a. providing programming in the controller for disabling power to its associated at least one valve;

b. providing the controller with a schedule of restricted watering times established by a government authority; and

c. said programming automatically disabling power to said at least one valve at times when watering is not allowed according to said restricted schedule.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein a plurality of schedules of not allowed watering times established by a government authority are programmed into said controller, and said method further comprises the step of selecting one of said schedules.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein said controller is provided with an input for receiving updated restricted watering times.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein said controller is powered by one of the group consisting of AC, DC, solar, ambient light, and combinations thereof.

35. The method of claim 31 wherein an environmental sensor is provided, and comprising the additional step of disabling said at least one valve based upon current input from said environmental sensor.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein said environmental sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

soil, precipitation, temperature, humidity, wind or combinations thereof.

37. An irrigation controller for automatically regulating output to comply with local watering schedules comprising:

a. a power supply;

b. a microprocessor capable of receiving a local restricted watering schedule of a government authority; and

c. at least one switch for disabling power to at least one valve connected to said controller.

38. An apparatus for automatically regulating the output of an irrigation controller to at least one valve to comply with local watering schedules comprising:

a. a module internal to said controller comprising a microprocessor in communication with an internal switch for disabling power to said at least one valve, said microprocessor capable of receiving a plurality of schedules of allowed watering times established by a government authority, and programming to automatically activate said internal switch at times when watering is not allowed according to said schedules; and

b. a means for selecting one of said plurality of schedules.

39. A method for governing allowed irrigation watering times comprising the steps of:

a. programming a controller with local watering restrictions from a government authority; and

b. said controller automatically disabling an output to at least one irrigation valve in compliance with said watering restrictions.

40. A method of providing watering restrictions from a first location to at least one landscape irrigation controller at a second location comprising the steps of:

a. providing a wireless receiver to said at least one controller;

b. wirelessly transmitting watering restrictions from said first location to said receiver; and

c. said at least one controller regulating output to at least one valve based upon said watering restrictions.

41. An apparatus for regulating the output of an irrigation controller to at least one valve to comply with local watering schedules comprising a microprocessor inside said controller in communication with an internal cutoff switch, a receiver in communication with said microprocessor for wirelessly receiving at least one schedule of allowed watering times established by a government authority, and programming in said microprocessor to activate said internal switch at times when watering is not allowed according to said schedule.

42. An apparatus for regulating the output of an irrigation controller to at least one valve to comply with local restricted watering schedules comprising a receiver in said controller in communication with an internal microprocessor for wirelessly receiving said restricted watering schedules, and programming in said microprocessor to disable watering when watering is not allowed according to said local watering schedules.

43. A method of implementing watering restrictions established by a government authority comprising the steps of:

a. programming a plurality of controllers with said watering restrictions;

b. providing said controllers to persons located within a geographic area where such restrictions apply;

c. installing said controllers and connecting them to at least one valve; and

d. said controllers automatically disabling said at least one valve at times when watering is not allowed according to said restrictions.

44. A module for automatically regulating the output of an irrigation controller to comply with local watering schedules comprising:

a. a power supply;

b. a microprocessor capable of receiving a local watering schedule of a government-authority; and

c. at least one output cutoff switch located on an output line between said controller and at least one valve.

45. An apparatus for automatically regulating the output of an irrigation controller to at least one valve to comply with local watering schedules comprising:

a. a module comprising a microprocessor in communication with a cutoff switch, said microprocessor capable of receiving a plurality of schedules of allowed watering times established by a government authority and containing programming to automatically activate said cutoff switch at times when watering is not allowed according to said schedules;

b. a first electrical line for connection between said cutoff switch and a common electrical output of said controller;

c. a second electrical line for connection between said cutoff switch and a common electrical line leading to said at least one valve; and

d. a means for selecting one of said plurality of schedules.

46. An apparatus for automatically regulating the output of an irrigation controller to comply with local watering schedules comprising:

a. a module that may be plugged into an existing controller;

b. a microprocessor in said module, said microprocessor having programming that is capable of receiving a schedule of watering restrictions and communicating with said controller.

47. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein said controller comprises programming for receiving said restricted watering schedule from said plug in module, and for preventing watering when not allowed according to said restricted schedule.

48. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the programming in said module is further capable of selecting an applicable schedule of watering restrictions based on time of year.

49. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the programming in said module is further capable of causing said controller to stop irrigation.

50. An apparatus for automatically regulating the output of an irrigation controller to at least one valve to comply with local watering restrictions comprising a module that may be plugged into an existing controller, said module comprising a microprocessor having programming that is capable of receiving a plurality of schedules of allowed watering times established by a government authority, selecting one of said schedules that is applicable based on current date and time, and communicating said schedule to said controller.

51. The apparatus of claim 50 wherein said controller comprises programming for receiving said restricted watering schedule from said plug in module, and for preventing watering when not allowed according to said restricted schedule.

52. An irrigation system comprising:

a. at least one irrigation controller, each such controller having a power supply, a microprocessor, and at least one associated valve;

b. at least one module that is plugged into said at least one controller, said module including a wireless receiver;

c. a microprocessor in said module, said microprocessor having programming that is capable of receiving data through said receiver, and communicating with said at least one controller; and

d. said at least one controller having programming to prevent irrigation when not allowed according to input from said module.

53. The system of claim 52 wherein said central broadcasting unit is capable of accepting at least one schedule of allowed watering times provided by a government authority and broadcasting said schedule to said at least one module;

and wherein said module microprocessor is capable of implementing said schedule and communicating not allowed watering times to said controller.

54. The system of claim 52 wherein said central broadcasting unit is capable of accepting at least one schedule of allowed watering times provided by a government authority, determining whether watering is allowed, and broadcasting to said at least one plug in module whether watering is allowed or not allowed according to said at least one schedule.

55. The system of claim 52 wherein said central broadcasting unit is capable of accepting at least one schedule of allowed watering times provided by a government authority, determining a periodic water budget, and broadcasting said schedule and water budget to said at least one module;

and wherein said module microprocessor is capable of implementing said schedule and water budget, and communicating not allowed watering times to said controller.

56. The system of claim 52 wherein said central broadcasting unit is capable of accepting at least one schedule of allowed watering times provided by a government authority, determining whether watering is allowed, determining a periodic water budget, and broadcasting said periodic water budget to said at least one plug in module along with whether watering is allowed or not allowed according to said at least one schedule.