IRRIGATION FLOW SENSOR
First Claim
1. A wireless flow sensor device comprising:
- a battery configured to store and provide electrical energy to power the wireless flow sensor device;
an ultrasonic flow sensor configured to perform flow measurements to determine a rate of water flow in an irrigation system;
a radio configured to transmit flow measurement reports to a base station; and
a sensor controller configured to control timing of flow measurements and flow measurement reports.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosure extends to apparatuses, methods, systems, and computer program products for optimizing water usage in irrigation. The disclosure also extends to apparatuses, methods, systems, and computer program implemented products for sensing the flow of water in an irrigation system. The disclosure presents embodiments of improved control units for optimizing water use and additional environmental conditions by optimizing water usage through flow detection. A wireless flow sensor device includes a battery, an ultrasonic flow sensor, a radio, and a sensor controller. The battery is configured to store and provide electrical energy to power the wireless flow sensor device. The ultrasonic flow sensor is configured to perform flow measurements to determine a rate of water flow in an irrigation system. The radio is configured to transmit flow measurement reports to a base station. The sensor controller is configured to control timing of flow measurements and flow measurement reports.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A wireless flow sensor device comprising:
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a battery configured to store and provide electrical energy to power the wireless flow sensor device; an ultrasonic flow sensor configured to perform flow measurements to determine a rate of water flow in an irrigation system; a radio configured to transmit flow measurement reports to a base station; and a sensor controller configured to control timing of flow measurements and flow measurement reports. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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5. The wireless flow sensor of claim 5, wherein the water-proof housing comprises a shape configured to attach the wireless flow sensor devices to a pipe or tube.
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10. An irrigation system comprising:
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an irrigation controller comprising a first radio; and a wireless flow sensor device comprising; a battery configured to store and provide electrical energy to power the wireless flow sensor device; an ultrasonic flow sensor configured to perform flow measurements to determine a rate of water flow in an irrigation system; a second radio configured to transmit flow measurement reports to the irrigation controller; and a sensor controller configured to control timing of flow measurements and flow measurement reports. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for reducing power consumption in a water flow sensor, the method comprising:
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providing electrical energy to power a wireless flow sensor device using a battery; performing flow measurements using an ultrasonic flow sensor to determine a rate of water flow in an irrigation system; transmitting flow measurement reports to a base station using a radio; and controlling timing of flow measurements and controlling timing of flow measurement reports using a sensor controller. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification