APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL MOISTURE CONTROL

• US 20160353679A1
• Filed: 06/02/2015
• Published: 12/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Earth Systems Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bryant Consultants Incorporated
• Inventors: Bryant, John
• Granted Patent: US 10,004,184 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: G01N 27/048 for determining moisture content of the material
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering

Abstract

A system and method for moisture control includes a computer, a probe controller connected to the computer, a set of probes connected to the probe controller, a sprinkler controller connected to the computer, and a set of sprinklers connected to the sprinkler controller. The set of probes are driven into the ground according to a predetermined set of positions. A set of high voltage currents is injected into the ground through the set of probes and measurements are taken. A three-dimensional resistivity model is generated from the measurements and is compared to a set of moisture requirements. A set of sprinkler commands is generated based on the three-dimensional resistivity model and the set of moisture requirements. If the three-dimensional resistivity model meets the set of moisture requirements, the set of sprinklers are activated in each of a set of sprinkler zones according the three-dimensional resistivity model where watering is needed.

Claims

1. A system for moisture control comprising:

a computer;

a probe controller connected to the computer;

a set of probes connected to the probe controller;

a set of data measured by the set of probes and the probe controller;

a three-dimensional resistivity model generated by the computer from the set of data; and

,

a set of sprinkler commands generated by the computer based on the three-dimensional resistivity model.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a network connected to the computer; and

,

a graphic user interface connected to the network.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a sprinkler controller connected to the computer;

a set of sprinklers connected to the sprinkler controller; and

,

a set of zones, each zone comprising a subset of the set of sprinklers, controlled by the set of sprinkler commands.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a set of moisture requirements stored by the computer;

wherein the set of sprinkler commands is based on the set of moisture requirements and the three-dimensional resistivity model.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of probes further comprises:

a reference probe connected to the probe controller; and

,

a set of measurement probes connected to the probe controller.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the probe controller further comprises:

a current source;

an ammeter connected to the current source; and

,

a volt meter connected to the current source.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the volt meter is connected to the reference probe and the set of measurement probes.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the current source is connected to the set of measurement probes and the ammeter is switchably connected to the set of measurement probes.

9. A method for controlling moisture comprising the steps of:

receiving a set of moisture requirements;

receiving a set of probe data;

generating a three-dimensional resistivity model from the set of probe data;

comparing the three-dimensional resistivity model to the set of moisture requirements; and

,

generating a set of sprinkler commands based on the three-dimensional resistivity model and the set of moisture requirements.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of receiving a set of probe data further comprises the steps of:

retrieving a set of probe configurations;

selecting a probe configuration from the set of probe configurations;

injecting a current based on the probe configuration; and

,

measuring a voltage based on the probe configuration.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of generating a three-dimensional resistivity model further comprises the steps of:

calculating a set of resistivity data from the set of probe data;

sorting the set of resistivity data to create a set of sorted resistivity data;

generating a set of first resistivity models from the set of sorted resistivity data;

generating a set of second resistivity models from the set of first resistivity models; and

,

combining the set of second resistivity models to generate the three-dimensional resistivity model.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of performing a spatial data analysis on each of the set of first resistivity models.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of calculating a set of resistivity data from the set of probe data further comprises the step of calculating a set of locations.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of sorting the set of resistivity data to create a set of sorted resistivity data further comprises the step of generating a set of resistivity values at each of the set of locations.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of activating a set of sprinklers based on the set of sprinkler commands.

16. A system for moisture control comprising:

a computer;

a set of sprinkler controllers connected to the computer;

a probe controller connected to the computer;

a set of probes connected to the probe controller;

the probe controller programmed to measure a set of probe data;

the computer programmed to;

receive a set of moisture requirements;

receive the set of probe data;

generate a three-dimensional resistivity model from the set of probe data;

compare the three-dimensional resistivity model to the set of moisture requirements;

generate a set of sprinkler commands based on the three-dimensional resistivity model and the set of moisture requirements; and

,

send the set of sprinkler commands to the set of sprinkler controllers.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the set of probes further comprises:

a reference probe switchably connected to the probe controller;

a set of measurement probes switchably connected to the probe controller; and

,

wherein the probe controller is further programmed to;

implement a probe configuration for the reference probe and the set of measurement probes;

inject a current based on the probe configuration; and

,

measure a voltage based on probe configuration.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the computer is further programmed to:

calculate a set of resistivity data from the set of probe data;

sort the set of resistivity data to create a set of sorted resistivity data;

generate a set of first resistivity models from the set of sorted resistivity data;

generate a set of second resistivity models from the set of first resistivity models; and

,

combine the set of second resistivity models to generate the three-dimensional resistivity model.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a set of sprinklers connected to the set of sprinkler controllers; and

,

a set of zones, each zone comprising a subset of the set of sprinklers, controlled by the set of sprinkler commands.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the set of commands further comprises a watering schedule based on a set of watering restrictions and a set of weather conditions.