ADDITION OF NEW IRRIGATION ZONE AND OPERABLE COMPONENTS WITHIN AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM

• US 20150032273A1
• Filed: 07/01/2014
• Published: 01/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Skydrop Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Skydrop, LLC
• Inventors: Romney, Matt, Endrizzi, Clark
• Application Number:
  US14/321,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20150032273A1
• 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: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23406 Programmer device, portable, handheld detachable programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25056 Automatic configuration of monitoring, control system as function of operator input, events
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25085 Several function expansion units for master, main unit, universal system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25103 Detect during start, number of modules, groups, sub groups
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25297 Identify controlled element, valve, and read characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25322 Stackthrough modules, modules are stacked, no need for backplane
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32126 Hyperlink, access to program modules and to hardware modules in www, web server, browser
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0635 by action on throttling means G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence

Abstract

The disclosure extends to apparatuses, methods, systems, and computer program products for generating and optimizing irrigation protocols. The disclosure extends to a stacked controller comprising a control unit and irrigation adaptor in accordance with the disclosed methods, systems, and computer program products for optimizing water usage in growing plants for yard and crops.

Claims

1. A method for adding additional zones in an irrigation system comprising:

powering on an irrigation system having operable irrigation components that are in electronic communication with an irrigation controller;

wherein the irrigation controller is configured for use as a component of a computer network, said irrigation controller comprising a control unit and an irrigation adapter wherein the adapter is configured to actuate operable irrigation components that operate according to instructions issued from the control unit;

retrieving a baseline configuration from computer memory;

sensing a deviation from the baseline configuration;

identifying at least a first additional operable component responsible for the deviation from the baseline;

retrieving component information regarding the first additional operable component from a component database wherein the first operable component operates to irrigate a first additional zone; and

prompting a user for setup input through a user interface wherein a user prompt comprises the component information regarding the first operable component retrieved from the component database.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating the sensing deviation from a baseline for a plurality of additional operable components.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein sensing the additional operable irrigation components comprises sensing a current draw.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing the first additional operable irrigation components comprises sensing a current draw.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the base line configuration is a set of current draw values of a baseline configuration of previously attached operable components.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising retrieving a look-up table from memory and identifying a norm of operation of a plurality of additional attached operable components.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the norm of operation comprises current usage values.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the norm of operation comprises flow values corresponding to operation of additional operable components.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising suggesting a group of identified operable components for selection by a user through the user interface.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the operable component is a solenoid.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the operable component is a sensor.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the operable component is an expansion module.

13. The method claim 1, wherein developing the irrigation protocol comprises communication with a supporting irrigation protocol server.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface is a presented over an internet as a web interface.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is prompted via mobile device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is prompted via a display within the control unit.