SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SMART IRRIGATION

• US 20120303168A1
• Filed: 11/21/2011
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Et Water Systems Inc. (JAIN Irrigation Systems Limited)
• Original Assignee: Et Water Systems Inc. (JAIN Irrigation Systems Limited)
• Inventors: Halahan, Patrick B., McIntyre, J. Patrick, Coopersmith, Mark, Puckett, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,948,921 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/165 Cyclic operations, timing systems, timing valves, impulse operations
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/167 Control by humidity of the soil itself or of devices simulating soil or of the atmosphere; Soil humidity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering

Abstract

A smart irrigation system for an irrigation controller associated with an irrigation site is described herein. The smart irrigation system comprises a central control system having a user interface and a smart scheduler. The central control system is configured to derive and send an irrigation schedule for the irrigation site. The smart scheduler comprises a data receiver, a processor, and a signal interface. The data receiver is configured to receive the irrigation schedule. The processor is configured to convert the irrigation schedule to a series of control signals that the irrigation controller recognizes. The signal interface is configured to connect to the irrigation controller and to send the series of control signals to the irrigation controller. The system uses weather data and irrigation site-specific information to automatically apply the optimal irrigation schedule. Users are able to remotely control the irrigation via networks such as Internet.

Claims

1. A smart irrigation system for an irrigation controller associated with an irrigation site, the smart irrigation system comprising:

a central control system having a user interface, the central control system being configured to receive a landscape information associated with the irrigation site, the landscape information being provided by a user via the user interface,

the central control system being further configured to receive an environmental information associated with the irrigation site,

the central control system being further configured to derive an irrigation schedule for the irrigation site based on the landscape information and the environmental information,

the central control system being further configured to send the irrigation schedule; and

a smart scheduler, the smart scheduler comprising;

a data receiver configured to receive the irrigation schedule,

a processor configured to convert the irrigation schedule to a series of control signals that the irrigation controller recognizes, and

a signal interface configured to connect to the irrigation controller and to send the series of control signals to the irrigation controller,

2. The smart irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the smart scheduler further comprises a power interface configured to receive an electric power from the irrigation controller.

3. The smart irrigation system of claim 2, wherein the power interface is further configured to convert a voltage of the electric power to an internal voltage that the smart scheduler runs at.

4. The smart irrigation system of claim 3, wherein the internal voltage is a DC voltage.

5. The smart irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the smart scheduler further comprises a power storage configured to provide power for the smart scheduler when the power interface does not receive the electric power from the irrigation controller.

6. The smart irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the smart scheduler further comprises a user control configured to allow the user to control and setup the smart scheduler.

7. The smart irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the smart scheduler further comprises a display configured to show a status or information associated with the smart scheduler.

8. The smart irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the data receiver comprises a modem selected from the group consisting of telephone modem, GPRS modem, WiFi modern, cell phone modern, satellite modem, and Short Messaging System (SMS) modem.

10. The smart irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the irritation schedule is sent to the smart scheduler via the Internet.

11. The smart irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the irritation schedule is sent to the smart scheduler via a telephone line.

12. The smart irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the irritation schedule is sent to the smart scheduler via a mobile phone network.

13. The smart irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the irritation schedule is sent to the smart scheduler via a combination of a mobile phone network and the Internet.

14. The smart irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the user interlace is a web interface.

15. The smart irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is a mobile phone application.

16. The smart irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the smart scheduler is further configured to connect to a rain sensor.

17. The smart irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the central control system is further configured to update the environmental information.

18. The smart irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the landscape information comprises information selected from the group consisting of soil type, slope information, plant type, age of plant, sun exposure, precipitation rate, distribution uniformity, root depth of plant, dripline diameter of plant, number of emitters per plant, flow rate of emitter, plant coefficient, seasonality of plants, and irrigation method.

19. The smart irrigation system of claim 18, wherein the dripline and emitter parameters comprises dripline diameter, number of emitters per plant and flow rate of emitter.

20. The smart irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the environmental information comprises information selected from the group consisting of evapotranspiration information, and weather information.

21. The smart irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the irrigation schedule comprises a restriction on the amount of water used.

22. The smart irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the irrigation schedule comprises a valve command.

23. The smart irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the smart scheduler is further configured to initiate a request for the central control system to send the irrigation schedule.

24. The smart irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the landscape information is accessible to the user via the user interface.

25. The smart irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the central control system is further configured to allow the user adjusting the landscape information via the user interface.

26. The smart irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the irrigation schedule is accessible to the user via the user interface.

27. The smart irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the central control system is further configured to allow the user adjusting the irrigation schedule via the user interface.

28. The smart irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the irrigation schedule is derived further based on station flow rates and maximum allowable system flow.

9. The smart irrigation system of cam wherein the irritation schedule is sent to the smart scheduler via a network.

29. A smart scheduler for an irrigation controller associated with an irrigation site, the smart scheduler comprising:

a data receiver configured to receive an irrigation schedule,

a processor configured to convert the irrigation schedule to a series of control signals that the irrigation controller recognizes, and

a signal interface configured to connect to the irrigation controller and to send the series of control signals to the irrigation controller.

30. The smart scheduler of claim 29, wherein the smart scheduler further comprises a power interface configured to receive an electric power from the irrigation controller.

31. The smart scheduler of claim 30, wherein the power interface is further configured to convert a voltage of the electric power to an internal voltage that the smart scheduler runs at.

32. The smart scheduler of claim 31, wherein the internal voltage is a DC voltage.

33. The smart scheduler of claim 29, wherein the smart scheduler further comprises a power storage configured to provide power for the smart scheduler when the power interface does not receive the electric power from the irrigation controller.

34. The smart scheduler of claim 29, wherein the smart scheduler further comprises a user control configured to allow the user to control and setup the smart scheduler.

35. The smart scheduler of claim 29, wherein the smart scheduler further comprises a display configured to show a status or information associated with the smart scheduler.

36. The smart scheduler of claim 29, wherein the data receiver comprises a modem selected from the group consisting of telephone modem, GPRS modem, WiFi modern, cell phone modern, satellite modem, and Short Messaging System (SMS) modem.

37. The smart scheduler of claim 29, wherein the irritation schedule is sent to the smart scheduler via a network.

38. The smart scheduler of claim 29, wherein the irritation schedule is sent to the smart scheduler via the Internet.

39. The smart scheduler of claim 29, wherein the irritation schedule is sent to the smart scheduler via a telephone line.

40. The smart scheduler of claim 29, wherein the irritation schedule is sent to the smart scheduler via a mobile phone network.

41. The smart scheduler of claim 29, wherein the irritation schedule is sent to the smart scheduler via a combination of a mobile phone network and the Internet.

42. The smart scheduler of claim 29, wherein the series of control signals is sent to the irrigation controller over time according to the irrigation schedule.

43. A smart irrigation system comprising the smart scheduler of claim 29, the smart irrigation system further comprising:

a central control system having a user interface, the central control system being configured to receive a landscape information associated with the irrigation site, the landscape information being provided by a user via the user interface,

the central control system being further configured to receive an environmental information associated the irrigation site,

the central control system being further configured to derive the irrigation schedule for the irrigation site based on the landscape information and the environmental information, and

the central control system being further configured to send the irrigation schedule.

44. A method of irrigate an irrigation site using an irrigation controller, the method comprising steps of:

receiving a landscape information associated with the irrigation site,

retrieving an environmental information associated with the irrigation site,

deriving an irrigation schedule for the irrigation site based on the landscape information and the environmental information,

converting the irrigation schedule to a series of control signals that the irrigation controller recognizes, and

controlling the irrigation controller to irrigate the irrigation site by sending the series of control signals to the irrigation controller.

45. A smart irrigation system for an irrigation site, the smart irrigation system comprising:

a central control system having a user interface, the user interface being configured to receive inputs from a user to remotely control the irrigation system;

the central control system being further configured to generate and send irrigation control data based on the inputs provided by the user; and

a smart controller, the smart controller comprising;

a data receiver configured to receive the irrigation control data,

a processor configured to convert the irrigation control data to a series of control signals, and

a control interface configured to be electrical coupled to a station switching circuit to control one or more irrigation station valves.

46. The smart irrigation system of claim 45, wherein the station switching circuit comprises one or more field wires leading to one or more irrigation station valves.

47. A smart irrigation system for remotely controlling an irrigation controller associated with an irrigation site, the smart irrigation system comprising:

a central control server hosting a user interface so that a user can remotely control the irrigation system by providing inputs via the user interface, wherein the user interface is accessible by an electronic device.

the central control server being configured to generate and send irrigation control data based on the inputs provided by the user; and

a smart scheduler, the smart scheduler comprising;

a data receiver configured to receive the irrigation control data,

a processor configured to convert the irrigation control data to a series of control signals that an irrigation controller recognizes, and

a signal interface configured to connect to the irrigation controller and to send the series of control signals to the irrigation controller.

48. The smart irrigation system of claim 47, wherein the electronic device is a computer, a mobile phone, a tablet, a personal digital assistant, or an electronic device having an Internet access.

49. The smart irrigation system of claim 47, wherein the user interface is a website, a computer application, or a mobile device app.

50. The smart irrigation system of claim 47, further comprising a flow sensor being configured to send a flow signal to the processor.

51. The smart irrigation system of claim 50, wherein the flow sensor is in proximity of a shut off valve.

52. The smart irrigation system of claim 50, wherein the flow sensor is in proximity of an irrigation station valve.

53. The smart irrigation system of claim 47, further comprising a rain gauge being configured to send a precipitation signal to the processor.

54. The smart irrigation system of claim 53, wherein the rain gauge is a tipping bucket rain gauge.

55. The smart irrigation system of claim 47, further comprising a solar power panel providing power to the smart scheduler.

56. The smart irrigation system of claim 47, further comprising:

means for uplink transmission.

57. The smart irrigation system of claim 56, wherein the means for uplink transmission is configured to transmit the data collected by the smart scheduler to the central control server.

58. The smart irrigation system of claim 47, wherein the smart scheduler further comprises a user control configured to allow the user to control and setup the smart scheduler.

59. The smart irrigation system of claim 58, wherein the user control is a knob configured to be rotated and pressed.

60. The smart irrigation system of claim 47, wherein the smart scheduler is configured to communicate with the irrigation controller in a two-way communication.

61. The smart irrigation system of claim 47, wherein the processor is further configured to receive information from the irrigation controller.

62. The smart irrigation system of claim 61, wherein the information comprising the number of stations being controlled by the irrigation controller.

63. The smart irrigation system of claim 47, wherein the central control server is further configured to receive a landscape information associated with the irrigation site, and the landscape information is provided by the user via the user interface.