IRRIGATION CONTROLLER WATER MANAGEMENT WITH TEMPERATURE BUDGETING

• US 20120072037A1
• Filed: 10/14/2011
• Published: 03/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hunter Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: George Alexanian
• Inventors: Alexanian, George
• Granted Patent: US 8,401,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/10 in agriculture

Abstract

The present invention provides methods for water conservation with irrigation controllers based upon the ambient temperature and extraterrestrial radiation of a particular geographical area. It receives a preliminary irrigation schedule from the operator and computes a water budget ratio by comparing current local geo-environmental data with stored local geo-environmental data, then modifying the preliminary irrigation schedule based upon that ratio. The present invention utilizes fewer variables, is less complex, and is much easier to install and maintain than the current evapotranspiration-based controllers.

Claims

1. A method for modifying an irrigation schedule of a controller comprising the steps of:

a. automatically producing a water budget percentage without calculating evapotranspiration, and

b. automatically modifying at least one irrigation schedule of said controller using said percentage.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional step of providing said controller with a preliminary irrigation schedule.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of modifying said irrigation schedule comprises changing at least one station run time according to said water budget percentage.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of producing a water budget percentage comprises comparing current geo-environmental data for a location with stored geo-environmental data for the location.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said stored geo-environmental data comprises historic evapotranspiration data.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said current geo-environmental data is received from at least one environmental sensor.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said at least one environmental sensor is selected from the group of:

ambient temperature, soil temperature, soil moisture, solar radiation, wind, relative humidity, and combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional steps of providing at least one irrigation shut down sensor, and preventing watering according to input from said at least one shut down sensor.

9. A method for automatically operating an irrigation controller comprising the steps of:

a. providing said controller with a preliminary irrigation schedule for a geographic location;

b. computing a water budget ratio by comparing current local geo-environmental data with stored local geo-environmental data for said location without calculating evapotranspiration; and

c. modifying said preliminary irrigation schedule based upon said ratio.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said current local geo-environmental data is provided by at least one environmental sensor.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said at least one environmental sensor is selected from the group of:

ambient temperature, solar radiation, wind, relative humidity, soil temperature, soil moisture, and combinations thereof.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said data is provided by wired or wireless means.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein said stored local geo-environmental data comprises historic evapotranspiration data.

14. The method of claim 9 comprising the additional steps of providing at least one irrigation shut down sensor, and preventing watering according to input from said at least one shut down sensor.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of modifying said irrigation schedule comprises changing one or more station run times according to said water budget percentage.

16. An apparatus for automatically adjusting irrigation watering schedules comprising:

a. a microprocessor having instructions for determining a water budget ratio using current environmental data and stored local geo-environmental data without calculating evapotranspiration; and

b. at least one environmental sensor in communication with said microprocessor for providing current environmental data.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said microprocessor is provided in an irrigation controller.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said microprocessor is provided in a module that is plugged into an irrigation controller.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said microprocessor is provided in a module that is placed on an output line between an irrigation controller and at least one valve.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said stored geo-environmental data comprises historic evapotranspiration data.

21. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said current environmental sensor is selected from the group of:

ambient temperature, soil temperature, soil moisture, solar radiation, wind, relative humidity, and combinations thereof.

22. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the communication between said microprocessor and said at least one environmental sensor is by one of wired or wireless communication.

23. A method of modifying an irrigation schedule of a controller having a microprocessor comprising the steps of:

a. providing said controller microprocessor with a preliminary irrigation schedule;

b. plugging a module into said controller in communication with said controller microprocessor;

c. providing at least one environmental sensor in communication with said module;

d. said module automatically producing a water budget percentage without calculating evapotranspiration;

f. said module automatically causing said controller microprocessor to modify said preliminary irrigation schedule based upon said water budget percentage.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said step of modifying said irrigation schedule comprises adjusting at least one station run time.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein said step of producing a water budget percentage comprises comparing current geo-environmental data to stored geo-environmental data.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said stored geo-environmental data comprises historic evapotranspiration data.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein said at least one environmental sensor is selected from the group of:

ambient temperature, soil temperature, soil moisture, solar radiation, wind, relative humidity, and combinations thereof.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein said at least one sensor communicates by wired or wireless means.