Automated farming system

• US 5,651,500 A
• Filed: 12/28/1995
• Issued: 07/29/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David Patterson, Green, David
• Original Assignee: David Patterson, Green, David
• Inventors: Green, David, Patterson, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Douglas, Lisa Ann
• Application Number:
  US08/579,939
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 239/67, 239/69, 239/70, 239/72, 239/73, 239/155, 239/726, 239/723, 180/165, 180/167, 324/427, 320/48
• US Class Current: 239/69
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering

Abstract

A system and method for operating various farming devices at a location remote from the device. A hand-held radio transmitter is programmed to transmit Dual Tone Multiple Frequency tones in specific patterns so as to communicate directions to a controller located at the power plant of the farming device. The controller is formed by a companion microprocessor which is used to receive and decode and also encode and transmit Dual Tone Multiple Frequency tones, and a primary microprocessor which is used to monitor decoded Dual Tone Multiple Frequency tones and then control the power plant and transmission of the farming device. Directions transmitted from the hand-held radio transceiver to the controller can, in various embodiments of the present invention, direct such functions as, for example, moving of an irrigation wheel-line, turning off and on the engine of the wheel-line, starting and stopping pumps of a pump system, monitoring the moisture levels in soils.

Claims

1. A remotely controlled moveable wheel-line irrigation apparatus comprising;

a conduit, removably coupled to and in fluid communication with a water source;

a plurality of drive wheels spaced at regular intervals, the plurality of drive wheels supporting the conduit for transporting the moveable wheel-line irrigation apparatus;

a motor coupled to one or more of the plurality of drive wheels, with a battery electrically connected to the motor for providing power to start the motor;

a plurality of sprinklers, mounted on, and in fluid communication with, the conduit;

receiving means coupled to one or more of the plurality of drive wheels and implementing directions such that operation of the moveable wheel-line apparatus can be controlled from a location remote from the moveable wheel-line apparatus;

transmitting means for monitoring and directing the operation of the moveable wheel-line apparatus from a remote location; and

monitoring means for remotely monitoring the charge levels of the battery.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for recharging the battery by the power plant in response to instructions from the operator through the transmitting means.

3. An apparatus for remotely controlling a moveable wheel-line irrigation device comprising:

a. receiving means integrated into a power plant of the moveable wheel-line irrigation device for receiving and implementing directions sent in radio linked Dual Tone Multiple Frequency tones such that operation of the moveable wheel-line irrigation device can be controlled;

b. transmitting means for transmitting directions to the receiving means from a remote location by means of transmission and reception of radio linked Dual Tone Multiple Frequency tones;

c. sensor means on the wheel-line irrigation device for monitoring the distance traveled by the wheel-line irrigation device;

d. means in conjunction with the receiving and transmitting means for relaying by radio linked Dual Tone Multiple Frequency tones the distance traveled by the wheel-line irrigation device to an operator at a remote location; and

e. a power plant located on the wheel-line irrigation device and a battery located on the wheel-line irrigation device for providing power to the power plant and receiving means, the charge level of the battery being capable of being monitored remotely by an operator with the transmitting means, the battery being rechargeable by the power plant in response to instructions from the operator through the transmitting means.

4. A sprinkling wheel-line apparatus which can be remotely controlled comprising:

a. a power plant located on the sprinkling wheel-line apparatus;

b. a transmitting means linked through radio for transmitting directions through Dual Tone Multiple Frequency tones to the sprinkling wheel-line apparatus;

c. receiving means, integrated into the power plant of the moveable irrigation device for receiving and implementing directions sent in Dual Tone Multiple Frequency tones, the receiving means having a microprocessor programmed to monitor the directions transmitted by the transmitting means and control the power plant of the wheel-line device such that the operation of the wheel-line device can be remotely controlled, the microprocessor automatically stopping the forward motion of the wheel-line system after the microprocessor determines the the wheel-line irrigation device has traveled a predetermined maximum distance;

d. sensor means for monitoring the distance traveled by the wheel-line irrigation device;

e. means in conjunction with the receiving and transmitting means for relaying by radio linked Dual Tone Multiple Frequency tones the distance traveled by the wheel-line irrigation device to an operator; and

f. a battery located on the wheel-line device to provide power to the power plant and receiving means of the wheel-line device, the charge level of the battery being capable of being monitored remotely by an operator with the transmitting means, the battery being rechargeable by the power plant in response to instructions from the operator through the transmitting means.