Closed loop control system, sensing apparatus and fluid application system for a precision irrigation device

• US 5,927,603 A
• Filed: 09/30/1997
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jr Simplot Company
• Original Assignee: Jr Simplot Company
• Inventors: McNabb, Gerald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): EVANS, ROBIN OCTAVIA
• Application Number:
  US08/941,863
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 239/63, 239/67, 239/69, 239/71, 239/74, 239/722, 239/723, 239/728, 239/DIG. 15
• US Class Current: 239/63
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/092 movable around a pivot centre
• 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: Y02A 40/22 Improving land use; Improving water use or availability; Controlling erosion

Abstract

An automatic irrigation system includes a movable irrigation device having a fluid delivery nozzle and a fluid manifold positioned along the mobile irrigation device and adapted to receive irrigation fluid from a supply source. The system includes a detector of moisture present within an agricultural field including an output on which signals representing the detected moisture level are placed. The system also includes an electronic storage device having an addressing and reproduction unit that can selectively address and reproduce a plurality of stored command signals. The system also includes first electronic circuitry coupled to the storage device and including an input for command control signals reproduced from the storage device. The electronic circuitry applies the reproduced command control signal to cause the detector to detect moisture from a plurality of different locations within an agricultural field. A second electronic circuitry compares the detected moisture level at each location within the agricultural field with the reproduced command control signals to ascertain whether the moisture level matches the moisture level indicated by the command control signals. One of the first and the second electronic circuitry produces signals for controlling the fluid nozzle in response to the feedback signal from the detector to impart a desired application of irrigation fluid to the agricultural field. Another embodiment includes a sprinkler for an irrigation system having a fluid nozzle and a fluid flow sensor for detecting fluid flow from the nozzle.

Claims

1. An automatic irrigation system comprising:

a movable irrigation device having a fluid delivery nozzle and a fluid manifold positioned along the movable irrigation device and adapted to receive irrigation fluid from a supply source;

a detector of moisture present within an agricultural field including an output on which signals representing detected moisture level are placed;

an electronic storage device having an addressing and reproduction unit that can selectively address and reproduce a plurality of stored command control signals;

first electronic circuitry coupled to the storage device and including an input for command control signals reproduced from the storage device, the electronic circuitry applying the reproduced command control signal to cause the detector to detect moisture from a plurality of different locations within an agricultural field; and

second electronic circuitry for comparing the detected moisture level at each location within the agricultural field with the reproduced command control signals to ascertain whether the moisture level matches the moisture level indicated by the command control signals;

one of the first and the second electronic circuitry producing signals for controlling the fluid nozzle in response to the feedback signal from the detector to impart a desired application of irrigation fluid to the agricultural field.

2. The automatic irrigation system of claim 1 wherein the first electronic circuitry comprises a computer having a processor and a memory.

3. The automatic irrigation system of claim 1 wherein the fluid manifold comprises an elongated feedline carried by the irrigation device for delivering fluent agricultural material to areas of interest within an agricultural field responsive to detected need.

4. The automatic irrigation system of claim 1 wherein the electronic storage device comprises a computer memory.

5. The automatic irrigation system of claim 1 wherein the detector comprises an in-ground sensor signal that is coupled with the first electronic circuitry.

6. The automatic irrigation system of claim 1 wherein the detector comprises a stationary, in-ground sensor, the system further comprising a movable sensor carried on the irrigation device.

7. The automatic irrigation system of claim 1 wherein the movable irrigation device comprises a center pivot irrigation device, and further comprising a supply source in the form of a stationary reservoir tank associated with a fixed pivot end of the center pivot irrigation device.

8. The automatic irrigation system of claim 7 further comprising a mobile fluid applicator carried by the irrigation device for movement radially of the irrigation device.

9. An apparatus for the automatic irrigation of a field comprising:

a movable irrigation device having a supply of fluent agricultural material, an elongated fluid flow conduit, and a delivery nozzle for distributing the fluent agricultural material to an agricultural field;

a sensor supported on the movable irrigation device and configurable to detect field conditions within areas of interest on the agricultural field;

a detector of moisture present within soil of the agricultural field and including an output on which signals representing detected soil moisture are placed; and

a controller coupled to the detector and the sensor and including electronic circuitry that applies the detected output from the detector and a detected field condition from the sensor to cause the fluid delivery nozzle to release the fluent agricultural material in response to detected needs on areas of interest of the agricultural field.

12. The automatic irrigation apparatus of claim 9 wherein the detector comprises at least one in-ground moisture sensor and the sensor comprises a field condition sensor carried by the irrigation device for movement over the field.

14. An automatic field irrigation apparatus, comprising:

a movable irrigation device having a delivery system for delivering a supply of fluent agricultural material to an agricultural field;

a sensor supported by the movable irrigation device and configured to detect field conditions within areas of interest on the agricultural field;

a detector of moisture associated with plants growing within the agricultural field and including an output on which signals representing the detected soil moisture are placed; and

a controller coupled to the detector and the sensor and including electronic circuitry that applies the detected output from the detector and the detected field conditions from the sensor to cause the fluid delivery system to release the fluent agricultural material in response to detected needs on areas of interest of the agricultural field.

10. The automatic irrigation apparatus of claim 19 wherein the controller comprises an agricultural irrigation computer.

11. The automatic irrigation apparatus of claim 19 wherein the electronic circuitry comprises memory.

13. The automatic irrigation apparatus of claim 22 wherein the field condition sensor detects field conditions indicative of soil moisture content, the controller operative to interpolate soil moisture content for areas of the field disposed from the in-ground moisture sensor by combining detected signals from the at least one in-ground moisture sensor and the movable field conditions sensor.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the sensor comprises an imaging camera configured to detect electromagnetic radiation comprising light emanating from plants present within the agricultural field.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the imaging camera is operative to measure electromagnetic frequencies, including one or more of ultraviolet, visible, and infrared frequencies.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the sensor is configured to detect electromagnetic radiation emanating from plants within the agricultural field, and wherein selected frequencies of the electromagnetic radiation indicate whether or not plants within the field are receiving excessive fluent agricultural nourishment.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the sensor is configured to detect electromagnetic radiation emanating from plants within the agricultural field, and wherein selected frequencies of the electromagnetic radiation indicate whether or not plants within the agricultural field are receiving sufficient fluent agricultural nourishment.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the selected frequencies indicate status levels of soil-based nutrients such as nitrogen.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the selected frequencies indicate relative health and/or performance of plants present within the agricultural field that are affected by disease or pests.

21. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the sensor is provided in physical association with one or more plants present within the agricultural field.

22. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the detector is an in-ground sensor buried in the ground at a selected location to monitor soil moisture content.

23. An automatic field irrigation apparatus, comprising:

a movable irrigation device operative to deliver a supply of fluent agricultural material to an agricultural field;

a sensor positioned within the agricultural field and configurable to detect field conditions within areas of interest on the agricultural field;

a detector associated with plants growing within the agricultural field and including an output on which signals representing a plant condition indicating the amount of moisture present in the plant are placed; and

electronic circuitry coupled to the detector and the sensor, configured to receive the output from the detector and a detected field condition from the sensor, and configured to cause the irrigation device to release the fluent agricultural material in response to detected needs on areas of interest of the agricultural field.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the sensor is physically associated with plants present within the agricultural field.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the movable irrigation device comprises a center pivot irrigation device.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 further comprising a mobile fluid applicator carried by the center pivot irrigation device and movable radially of the irrigation device.

27. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the sensor is operative to detect light emanating from plants within the agricultural field.