Smart Irrigation Assistant
First Claim
1. ) The Smart Irrigation Assistant (SIA) adaptor combined with the standard sprinkler timer automatically controls the amount of watering time according to the air Relative Humidity (RH) in the irrigated area. Instead of watering the total time set on the standard sprinkler timer, the SIA divides the total time into window(s) of equal time. Within each window, as the relative humidity increases, the watering time for the zone being controlled is shortened. The remainder of the time of the window is used to allow the water that has been delivered to soak into the ground. If the relative humidity exceeds 90%, the watering time is reduced to zero. The SIA is connected to each of the control valves attached to the standard sprinkler timer and in series with common return wire that connects to each valve. The SIA breaks the connection on the common circuit to the valves in order to stop the flow of water to the zone being controlled. The SIA is powered by the voltage supplied to the valves. The SIA comprises the followings:
- A 24 Volt AC to 5 Volt DC power circuitry.Circuitry generates a periodic waveform which the frequency is dependent upon the capacitance of the relative humidity sensor.A processor to measure the pulse width or the frequency of the waveform and to determine the amount of watering time and soaking time based upon the derived relative humidity of the air.A control module to turn on and off the irrigation valves for each zone.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The Smart Irrigation Assistant (SIA) adaptor works in conjunction with an existing standard sprinkler timer to automatically modify the amount of water that is delivered to each zone based on the relative humidity. Provisions are also made for having the water delivered in intervals within the maximum time set on the standard sprinkler timer. This allows time for the water to soak into the ground before the remainder of the water allocated for that zone is applied. The SIA is powered from the existing standard sprinkler timer. It is connected to each of the wires that control the irrigating valves and it is connected in series with the common (ground) wire that goes to all valves. The SIA breaks the connection on the common circuit to the valves in order to stop the flow of water to the active zone.
-
Citations
10 Claims
-
1. ) The Smart Irrigation Assistant (SIA) adaptor combined with the standard sprinkler timer automatically controls the amount of watering time according to the air Relative Humidity (RH) in the irrigated area. Instead of watering the total time set on the standard sprinkler timer, the SIA divides the total time into window(s) of equal time. Within each window, as the relative humidity increases, the watering time for the zone being controlled is shortened. The remainder of the time of the window is used to allow the water that has been delivered to soak into the ground. If the relative humidity exceeds 90%, the watering time is reduced to zero. The SIA is connected to each of the control valves attached to the standard sprinkler timer and in series with common return wire that connects to each valve. The SIA breaks the connection on the common circuit to the valves in order to stop the flow of water to the zone being controlled. The SIA is powered by the voltage supplied to the valves. The SIA comprises the followings:
-
A 24 Volt AC to 5 Volt DC power circuitry. Circuitry generates a periodic waveform which the frequency is dependent upon the capacitance of the relative humidity sensor. A processor to measure the pulse width or the frequency of the waveform and to determine the amount of watering time and soaking time based upon the derived relative humidity of the air. A control module to turn on and off the irrigation valves for each zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
Specification