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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING IRRIGATION

  • US 20130190934A1
  • Filed: 02/11/2013
  • Published: 07/25/2013
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An irrigation controller, comprising:

  • a power system for providing electrical energy, comprisinga photovoltaic power module, anda power storage device operable to store electrical energy generated by said photovoltaic power module;

    a control system housed with said power system, the control system having an interface comprising one or more controls and configured to accept operational information, the control system comprisinga communication module;

    a timing component to provide a real-time clock time signal; and

    a computer programmed tooperate at least one irrigation flow device based at least in part on said operational information and said time signal, said computer further operable to monitor a voltage level of said power storage device,operate said communication module in an activated state when said monitored voltage level is at or above a communication module voltage threshold level, and operate said communication module in a deactivated state when said monitored voltage level is below the communication module voltage threshold level,perform an orderly shutdown of said control system when said monitored voltage level falls below a system shutdown threshold voltage, and perform a start up procedure of said control system when the control system is in a shutdown state and the monitored voltage level exceeds a system start threshold voltage, andoperate an irrigation program using operational information received from the communication module and provide information to the communication module;

    a boost module configured to receive electrical energy from the power storage system at a first voltage level and produce an output voltage at a second voltage level; and

    an actuation module comprising at least one capacitor, said actuation module configured to receive electrical energy from said boost module at the second voltage level to charge said at least one capacitor, said actuation module further configured to provide an output pulse to operate at least one irrigation control device connected to the irrigation controller;

    wherein the irrigation controller generates electrical energy by said photovoltaic device and stores the electrical energy in said power storage device to operate the irrigation controller, during programming of the irrigation controller, and to operate said communication module, independent of another power source.

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