IRRIGATION SYSTEM WITH ET BASED SEASONAL WATERING ADJUSTMENT AND SOIL MOISTURE SENSOR SHUTOFF

• US 20150112494A1
• Filed: 12/23/2014
• Published: 04/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hunter Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hunter Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Woytowitz, Peter J., Kremicki, Jeffery J., Shearin, Christopher M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,781,887 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/167 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: G05D 22/02 characterised by the use of electric means

Abstract

An irrigation system includes at least one environmental sensor, such as a solar radiation sensor that is installed on an irrigation site, and a soil moisture sensor that is also installed on the irrigation site. Programming allows an estimated ET value to be calculated based at least in part on the output signal of the environmental sensor. A pre-programmed watering schedule is automatically modified based on the estimated ET value to thereby conserve water while maintaining the health of plants on the irrigation site. The system automatically inhibits irrigation when an output signal of the soil moisture sensor indicates an amount of moisture in the soil is above a predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. An irrigation system comprising:

a stand alone weather station comprising at least one environmental sensor configured to detect an environmental condition of an irrigation site;

a soil moisture sensor configured to detect a level of soil moisture; and

an irrigation controller operatively in communication with the soil moisture sensor and the stand alone weather station, the irrigation controller configured to enable a user to enter a watering schedule including a run time and to manually adjust the run time by a percentage, the irrigation controller comprising a computer processor and a memory storing programming implemented by the computer processor, wherein the computer processor is configured to adjust the run time by the percentage, calculate an evapotranspiration (ET) value based at least in part on the environmental condition, automatically increase or decrease the percentage in response to the ET value, and automatically inhibit irrigation when the level of soil moisture is above a threshold.

2. The irrigation system of claim 1 further comprising a rain sensor configured to detect a rain event, and wherein the computer processor automatically inhibits the irrigation based at least in part on the rain event.

3. The irrigation system of claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor configured to detect a freeze event, and wherein the computer processor automatically inhibits the irrigation based at least in part on the freeze event.

4. The irrigation system of claim 1 wherein the irrigation controller is further configured to enable the user to enter a no water window, and the computer processor automatically inhibits the irrigation based at least in part on the no water window.

5. The irrigation system of claim 1 wherein the irrigation controller further comprises a plurality of switches operatively connected to the computer processor to turn a power signal ON and OFF to a plurality of valves that deliver water to a plurality of sprinklers such that during the run time, the computer processor operates ones of the plurality of switches to deliver water to ones of the sprinklers to irrigate the irrigation site.

6. The irrigation system of claim 1 wherein the watering schedule is modified on a global basis based at least in part on the ET value.

7. The irrigation system of claim 1 wherein the environmental condition comprises solar radiation and temperature of the irrigation site.

8. The irrigation system of claim 7 wherein the computer processor is further configured to calculate the ET value in response to the solar radiation, the temperature, and at least one constant.

9. The irrigation system of claim 8 wherein the at least one constant comprises a reference point.

10. The irrigation system of claim 9 wherein the irrigation controller is further configured to enable the user to modify the reference point.

11. An irrigation system comprising:

a first sensor configured to generate a first signal representative of an environmental condition;

a second sensor configured to generate a second signal representative of a soil moisture level; and

a computer processor operatively connected to a plurality of user inputs that enable a user to enter a watering schedule including a run time and to manually adjust the run time by a percentage, the computer processor further operatively connected to a memory storing the watering schedule and programming that is implemented by the computer processor;

the computer processor configured to adjust the run time by the percentage, calculate an evapotranspiration (ET) value based at least in part on the environmental condition, automatically increase or decrease the percentage in response to the ET value, and automatically inhibit irrigation when the soil moisture level is above a threshold.

12. The irrigation system of claim 11 further comprising a rain sensor configured to detect a rain event, and wherein the computer processor automatically inhibits the irrigation based at least in part on the rain event.

13. The irrigation system of claim 11 further comprising a temperature sensor configured to detect a near freeze event, and wherein the computer processor automatically inhibits the irrigation based at least in part on the near freeze event.

14. The irrigation system of claim 11 further comprising a plurality of switches operatively connected to the computer processor to turn a power signal ON and OFF to a plurality of valves that deliver water to a plurality of sprinklers such that during the run time, the computer processor operates ones of the plurality of switches to deliver water to ones of the sprinklers to irrigate the irrigation site.

15. The irrigation system of claim 11 wherein the environmental condition comprises solar radiation and temperature of the irrigation site.

16. A method of controlling a plurality of valves on an irrigation site, the method comprising:

receiving a first signal representative of an environmental condition on an irrigation site;

receiving a second signal representative of a soil moisture level;

receiving from a plurality of user inputs a watering schedule including a run time and a percentage by which to adjust the run time;

adjusting the run time by the percentage;

calculating an evapotranspiration (ET) value based at least in part on the environmental condition;

automatically increasing or decreasing the percentage in response to the ET value; and

automatically inhibiting irrigation when the soil moisture level is above a threshold.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising detecting a rain event and automatically inhibiting the irrigation based at least in part on the rain event.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising detecting a freeze event and automatically inhibiting the irrigation based at least in part on the freeze event.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising selectively turning a power signal ON during the run time to a plurality of valves that deliver water to a plurality of sprinklers such that such that during the run time, ones of the plurality of switches operate to deliver water to ones of the sprinklers to irrigate the irrigation site.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the environmental condition comprises solar radiation and temperature of the irrigation site.