Irrigation controller
First Claim
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1. A method of controlling irrigation to a first irrigated zone, comprising:
- providing an irrigation controller having a default irrigation schedule having a plurality of watering durations;
receiving a signal from a signal source, said signal being at least partially dependent upon a weather condition;
allowing the controller to control a watering valve for a substantial period of time according to the default irrigation schedule;
visually examining the first irrigated zone to determine the effect of watering according to the default irrigation schedule;
modifying the default irrigation schedule at least in part based upon the signal, and an algorithm executed by the controller without a user expressly instructing the controller when and how to change the watering duration;
providing the irrigation controller with a more/less adjustment mechanism that indirectly modifies an amount of water provided to the first irrigated zone relative to other zones irrigated by the controller;
the user operating the more/less adjustment mechanism to modify the default irrigation schedule to provide a modified schedule; and
allowing the controller to control the valve according to the modified schedule.
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Abstract
An irrigation controller modifies sophisticated irrigation protocols using an extremely simple user control. In one aspect of a particularly preferred class of embodiments, the user control includes a simple "more/less" (increase/decrease) adjustment. In another aspect of preferred embodiments, the controller automatically determines appropriate irrigation amounts, start times, durations, and frequencies. Such automatic determination may advantageously be based in part on the more/less adjustment, and in part on an external signal, such as that transmitted by a radio transmitter.
79 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of controlling irrigation to a first irrigated zone, comprising:
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providing an irrigation controller having a default irrigation schedule having a plurality of watering durations; receiving a signal from a signal source, said signal being at least partially dependent upon a weather condition; allowing the controller to control a watering valve for a substantial period of time according to the default irrigation schedule; visually examining the first irrigated zone to determine the effect of watering according to the default irrigation schedule; modifying the default irrigation schedule at least in part based upon the signal, and an algorithm executed by the controller without a user expressly instructing the controller when and how to change the watering duration; providing the irrigation controller with a more/less adjustment mechanism that indirectly modifies an amount of water provided to the first irrigated zone relative to other zones irrigated by the controller; the user operating the more/less adjustment mechanism to modify the default irrigation schedule to provide a modified schedule; and allowing the controller to control the valve according to the modified schedule. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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7. An irrigation controller, comprising:
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a parameter receiving mechanism that automatically receives at least one environmental parameter selected from the group consisting of air temperature, wind, solar radiation, and humidity; a microprocessor that controls a first irrigation schedule having a plurality of irrigation durations defining a first set of watering intervals executed independently from the environmental parameter; wherein the first irrigation schedule is a default irrigation schedule; and wherein the parameter modifies the first irrigation schedule to a second irrigation schedule having another plurality of irrigation durations defining a second set of watering intervals executed independently from the environmental parameter.
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Specification