Sprinkler controller which computes sprinkler cycles based on inputted data
First Claim
1. Apparatus for controlling an irrigation system having a plurality of irrigation zones each having applicator means and means for selectively providing water to said applicator means in response to a control signal, said apparatus comprising:
- data entry means for manually entering prior to irrigation data related to conditions in each of said zones with respect to the amount of water needed to be applied and the soil water infiltration rate;
processing means responsive to said data entry for performing the following functions;
(1) accepting said conditions entered prior to irrigation with said data entry means, (2) determining for each zone the number of cycles and the length of time in each cycle that said applicator means applies water so that (a) the amount of water applied during each cycle does not exceed the amount of water the soil can absorb during that cycle and (b) the total amount of water needed in that zone is applied, and (3) organizing said number of cycles and said length of time for all of said zones to create an application program; and
means responsive to said organizing function of said processing means for generating said control signals for said zones in accordance with the application program.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sprinkler system including a controller having a manual data entry device, a processor and a sprinkler controller. Data is entered through the data entry means relating to conditions in each of a number of zones in which sprinkling is to occur with respect to the amount of water needed to be applied to that zone and the soil water infiltration rate. Upon receiving this information, the processor determines for each zone the number of cycles and the length of time in each cycle that water is to be applied not only so that the amount of water applied during each cycle does not exceed the amount of water the soil can absorb during that cycle, but also so that the total amount of water needed by that zone is applied. The processor employs the number of cycles and the length of on time per cycle to organize the cycles for all of the zones, creating an application program. The application program is employed by the sprinkler controller to generate control signals for executing the application program on an automatic basis. An operator provides data concerning which days an application is desired, the type of soil in the area to be irrigated, the type of sprinkler for each zone, the water need of the vegetation in each zone and the desired start time. Then, the controller calculates the number of cycles for each zone per application and the length of time in each cycle the sprinkler is to be on.
157 Citations
56 Claims
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1. Apparatus for controlling an irrigation system having a plurality of irrigation zones each having applicator means and means for selectively providing water to said applicator means in response to a control signal, said apparatus comprising:
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data entry means for manually entering prior to irrigation data related to conditions in each of said zones with respect to the amount of water needed to be applied and the soil water infiltration rate; processing means responsive to said data entry for performing the following functions;
(1) accepting said conditions entered prior to irrigation with said data entry means, (2) determining for each zone the number of cycles and the length of time in each cycle that said applicator means applies water so that (a) the amount of water applied during each cycle does not exceed the amount of water the soil can absorb during that cycle and (b) the total amount of water needed in that zone is applied, and (3) organizing said number of cycles and said length of time for all of said zones to create an application program; andmeans responsive to said organizing function of said processing means for generating said control signals for said zones in accordance with the application program. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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2. Apparatus for controlling an irrigation system having a plurality of irrigation zones each having applicator means and means for selectively providing water to said applicator means in response to a control signal, said apparatus comprising:
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data entry means for manually entering prior to irrigation data related to condiitons in each of said zones including the soil water infiltration rate; processing means responsive to said data entry means for performing the following functions;
(1) accepting said conditions entered prior to irrigation with said data entry means, (2) determining for each zone the number of cycles and the length of time in each cycle that said applicator means applies water so that (a) the amount of water applied during each cycle does not exceed the amount of water the soil can absorb during that cycle and (b) the total amount of water needed in that zone is applied, and (3) organizing said number of cycles and said length of time for all of said zone to create and application program; andmeans responsive to said organizing function of said processing means for generating said control signals for said zones in accordance with the application program. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus for controlling an irrigation system having a plurality of irrigation zones each having applicator means and means for selectively providing water to said applicator means in response to a control signal, said apparatus comprising:
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data entry means for manually entering prior to irrigation data related to conditions in each of said zone; water volume entry means for manually entering data prior to irrigation related to the overall amount of water needed across all of said zones; processing means responsive to said data entry means and said water volume entry means for performing the following functions;
(1) accepting said conditions entered prior to irrigation with said data entry means and said overall amount of water entered prior to irrigation with said water volume entry means, (2) determining for each zone the number of cycles and the length of time in each cycle that said applicator means applies water so that (a) the amount of water applied during each cycle does not exceed the amount of water the soil can absorb during that cycel and (b) the total amount of water needed in that zone is applied, and (3) organizing said number of cycles and said length of time for all of said zones to create an application program; andmeans responsive to said organizing function of said processing means for generating said control signals for said zones in accordance with the application program. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. Apparatus for controlling an irrigation system having a plurality of irrigation zones each having applicator means and means for selectively providing water to said applicator means in response to a control signal, said apparatus comprising:
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data entry means for manually entering prior to irrigation data related to conditions in each of said zones; day entry means for manually entering prior to irrigation the days of the week on which irrigation is to occur; processing means responsive to said data entry means and said day entry means for performing the following functions;
(1) accepting said conditions entered prior to irrigation with said data entry means and said days entered prior to irrigation with said day entry means, (2) determining for each zone the number of cycles and the length of time in each cycle that said applicator means applies water during the selected days so that (a) the amount of water applied during each cycle does not exceed the amount of water the soil can absorb during that cycle, and (b) the total amount of water needed in that zone is applied during the selected days, and (3) organizing said number of cycles and said length of time for all of said zones to create an application program; andmeans responsive to said organizing function of said processing means for generating said control signals for said zones in accordance with the application program. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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12. Apparatus for controlling an irrigation system having a plurality of irrigation zones each having applicator means and means for selectively providing water to said applicator means in response to a control signal, said apparatus comprising:
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data entry means for manually entering prior to irrigation data related to conditions in each of said zones including the type of said applicator means being used in each of said zones; processing means responsive to said data entry means for performing the following functions;
(1) accepting said conditions entered prior to irrigation with said data entry means, (2) determining for each zone the number of cycles and the length of time in each cycle that said applicator means applies water so that (a) the amount of water applied during each cycle does not exceed the amount of water the soil can absorb during that cycle, given the type of applicator means being employed, and (b) the total amount of water needed in that zone is applied, given the type of applicator means being employed, and (3) organizing said number of cycles and said length of time for all of said zones to create an application program; andmeans responsive to said organizing function of said processing means for generating said control signals for said zones in accordance with the application program. - View Dependent Claims (15, 17)
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13. Apparatus for controlling an irrigation system having a plurality of irrigation zones each having applicator means and means for selectively providing water to said applicator means in response to a control signal, said apparatus comprising:
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data entry means for manually entering prior to irrigation data related to conditions in each of said zones including a general indication of the amount of water needed by vegetation in each of said zones; processing means responsive to said data entry means for performing the following functions;
(1) accepting said conditions entered prior to irrigation with said data entry means, (2) determining for each zone the number of cycles and the length of time in each cycle that said applicator means applies water so that (a) the amount of water applied during each cycle does not exceed the amount of water the soil can absorb during that cycle, and (b) the total amount of water needed in that zone, as determined in accordance with the vegetation needs, is applied, and (3) organizing said number of cycles and said length of time for all of said zones to create an application program; andmeans responsive to said organizing function of said processing means for generating said control signals for said zones in accordance with the application program. - View Dependent Claims (16, 18, 19, 20)
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21. Apparatus for controlling an irrigation system having a plurality of irrigation zones each having applicator means and means for selectively providing water to said applicator means in response to a control signal, said apparatus comprising:
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water volume entry means for manually entering prior to irrigation data related to the overall amount of water needed to be applied to all of said zones; day entry means for manually entering prior to irrigation data related to days on which irrigation is to occur; data entry means for manually entering prior to irrigation data related to conditions in each of said zones including the amount of water needed to be applied for vegetation in each of said zones, the soil water infiltration rate and the type of said applicator means employed in each of said zones; processing means, responsive to said water volume entry means, said day entry means and said data entry means for performing the following functions;
(1) accepting said data entered prior to irrigation with said water volume entry means, day entry means and data entry means, (2) determining for each zone, in accordance with all of the accepted data, the number of cycles and the length of time in each cycle that said applicator means applies water so that (a) the amount of water applied during each cycle does not exceed the amount of water the soil can absorb during that cycle and (b) the total amount of water needed in that zone is applied, and (3) organizing said number of cycles and said length of time for all of said zones to create an application program; andmeans responsive to said organizing function of said processing means for generating said control signals for said zones in accordance with the application program.
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28. An irrigation system comprising:
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a plurality of applicators disposed in a plurality of irrigation zones; a pump for providing water to said irrigation zones; valve means for providing water from said pump to said applicators in selected zones; and control means for determining for each zone the number of cycles and the lengh of time in each cycle that said applicator apply water and for actuating said pump and said valve means in responsive to said determination, said pump being energized a predetermined period of time before any of said valve means is opened to provide water having at least a predetermined pressure to a corresponding one of said zones prior to opening of said valve means.
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29. A method for controlling an irrigation system having a plurality of irrigation zones each having applicator means and means for selectively providing water to said applicator means in response to a control signal, said method comprising the steps of:
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manually entering with an input device prior to irrigation data related to conditions in each of said zones including the amount of water needed to be applied and the soil water infiltration rate; electronically determining for each zone the number of cycles and the length of time in each cycle that said applicator means applies water from said data manually entered prior to irrigation so that (a) the amount of water the soil can absorb during that cycle and (b) the total amount of water needed in that zone is applied; electronically organizing the number of cycles and said length of time for all of said zones to create an application program; and generating said control signals for said zones in accordance with the application program. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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30. A method for controlling an irrigation system having a plurality of irrigation zones each having applicator means and means for selectively providing water to said applicator means in response to a control signal, said method comprising the steps of:
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manually entering with an input device prior to irrigation data related to conditions in each of said zones including the soil water infiltration rate; electronically determining for each zone the number of cycles and the length of time in each cycle that said applicator means applies water from said data manually entered prior to irrigation so that (a) the amount of water applied during each cycle does not exceed the amount of water the soil can absorb during that cycle and (b) the total amount of water needed in that zone is applied; electronically organizing said number of cycles and said length of time for all of said zones to create an application program; and generating said control signals for said zones in accordance with the application program. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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37. A method for controlling an irrigation system having a plurality of irrigation zones each having applicator means and means for selectively providing water to said applicator means in response to a control signal, said method comprising the steps of:
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manually entering with an input device prior to irrigation data related to conditions in each of said zones; manually entering with an input device prior to irrigation data related to the overall amount of water needed across all of said zones; electronically determining for each zone the number of cycles and the length of time in each cycle that said applicator means applies water from said data manually entered prior to irrigation so that (a) the amount of water applied during each cycle does not exceed the amount of water the soil can absorb during that cycle and (b) the total amount of water needed in that zone is applied; electronically organizing said number of cycles and said length of time for all of said zones to create an application program; and generating said control signals for said zones in accordance with the application program. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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39. A method for controlling an irrigation system having a plurality of irrigation zones each having applicator means and means for selectively providing water to said applicator means in response to a control signal, said method comprising the steps of:
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manually entering with an input device prior to irrigation data related to conditions in each of said zones; manually entering with an input device prior to irrigation the days of the week on which irrigation is to occur; electronically determining for each zone the number of cycles and the length of time in each cycle that said applicator means applies water during the selected days from said data manually entered prior to irrigation so that (a) the amount of water applied during each cycle does not exceed the amount of water the soil can absorb during that cycle, and (b) the total amount of water needed in that zone is applied during the selected days; electronically organizing said number of cycles and said length of time for all of said zones to create an application program; and generating said control signals for said zones in accordance with the application program.
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40. A method for controlling an irrigation system having a plurality of irrigation zones each having applicator means and means for selectively providing water to said applicator means in response to a control signal, said method comprising the steps of:
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manually entering with an input device prior to irrigation data related to conditions in each of said zones including the type of said applicator means being used in each of said zones; electronically determining for each zone the number of cycles and the length of time in each cycle that said applicator means applies water from said data manually entered prior to irrigation so that (a) the amount of water applied during each cycle does not exceed the amount of water the soil can absorb during that cycle, given the type of applicator means being employed, and (b) the total amount of water needed in that zone is applied, given the type of applicator means being employed; electronically organizing said number of cycles and said length of time for all of said zones to create an application program; and generating said control signals for said zones in accordance with the application program.
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41. A method for controlling an irrigation system having a plurality of irrigation zones each having applicator means and means for selectively providing water to said applicator means in response to a control signal, said method comprising the steps of:
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manually entering with an input device prior to irrigation data related to conditions in each of said zones including a general indication of the amount of water needed by vegetation in each of said zones; electronically determining for each zone the number of cycles and the length of time in each cycle that said applicator means applies water from said data manually entered prior to irrigation so that (a) the amount of water applied during each cycle does not exceed the amount of water the soil can absorb during that sycle, and (b) the total amount of water needed in that zone, as determined in accordance with the vegetation needs, is applied; electronically organizing said number of cycles and said length of time for all of said zones to create an application program; and generating said control signals for said zones in accordance with the application program.
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49. A method for controlling an irrigation system having a plurality of irrigation zones each having applicator means and means for selectively providing water to said applicator means in response to a control signal, said method comprising the steps of:
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manually entering with an input device prior to irrigation data related to the overall amount of water needed to be applied to all of said zones; manually entering with an input device prior to irrigation data related to days on which irrigation is to occur; manually entering with an input device prior to irrigation data related to conditions in each of said zones including the amount of water needed to be applied for vegetation in each of said zones, the soil water infiltration rate and the type of said applicator means employed in each of said zones; electronically determining for each zone, in accordance with all of the accepted data, the number of cycles and the length of time in each cycle that said applicator means applies water from said data manually entered prior to irrigation so that (a) the amount of water applied during each cycle does not exceed the amount of water the soil can absorb during that cycle and (b) the total amount of water needed in that zone is applied; electronically organizing said number of cycles and said length of time for all of said zones to create an application program; and generating said control signals for said zones in accordance with the application program.
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56. A method of operating an irrigation system having a plurality of applicator means disposed in a plurality of irrigation zones, a pump for providing water to said irrigation zones, and valve means for providing water from said pump to selected zones, said method comprising the steps of:
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determining for each zone the number of cycles and the length of time in each cycle that said applicator means applies water; and actuating said pump and said valve means in response to said determination, said pump being energized a predetermined period of time before any of said valve means is opened to provide water having at least a predetermined pressure to a corresponding one of said zones prior to opening of said valve means.
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Specification