Wireless environmental sensor system

• US 6,452,499 B1
• Filed: 10/06/1999
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Original Assignee: Bruce Martin Downie, Michael Henry Runge, Thomas Henry Runge
• Inventors: Downie, Bruce Martin, Runge, Michael Henry, Runge, Thomas Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): LA, ANH V
• Application Number:
  US09/413,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20020060631A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 340/601, 340/602, 340/539, 340/618, 239/67, 239/63, 239/65, 137/78.2, 137/392
• US Class Current: 340/601
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/00 Meteorology
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1866 For controlling soil irrigation

Abstract

An environmental sensor system that communicates sensor data to a receiving unit using wireless means such as a radio frequency signal. The receiving unit interfaces with a controllable system, possibly affecting its operation. This arrangement allows one or more sensor and transmitter units to be remotely mounted at a distance from the receiver, without regard to installation complications that often result with a hardwired type units. In the preferred embodiment, an irrigation system is interfaced wirelessly with an environmental sensor such as a rain sensor. The rain sensor is contemplated such that in the event of sufficient rainfall, a wireless signal is transmitted to the receiver unit, which in turn interfaces with an irrigation controller resulting in the cessation of watering cycles until the sensor system provides another wireless directive to resume watering.

Claims

1. An atmospheric precipitation sensor system for deactivating the timed preprogrammed watering cycle of an irrigation system, regardless of the level of moisture in the soil, said irrigation system including a controller responsive to control information for affecting the operation of the associated irrigation system, said atmospheric sensor system comprising:

a nonelectrical sensor designed for sensing atmospheric precipitation, said sensor being mounted above ground, said sensor including hygroscopic material that expands upon contact with moisture from water vapor, rain, snow, or ice;

a radio frequency, infrared, or ultrasonic transmitter for wirelessly transmitting signals;

an electrical switch connected mechanically to said hygroscopic material, and electrically to said transmitter, said switch being responsive to said hygroscopic material expanding a given amount indicative of a predetermined level of atmospheric precipitation, for enabling said transmitter to transmit signals indicative of said predetermined level of atmospheric precipitation being attained;

a remotely located receiver receptive of said wireless signals from said transmitter, for converting the signals into electrical control information, for application to said controller of said irrigation system for affecting timed preprogrammed operation of said irrigation system, said controller being responsive to the presence of said electrical control information for terminating any present or programmed future operation of said irrigation system, said controller being further responsive to the termination of said electrical control information for resuming timed preprogrammed operation of said irrigation system.

2. The atmospheric precipitation sensor system of claim 1, further including a plurality of sensor selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, a light sensor, a pressure sensor, a wind sensor, and combinations thereof.

3. The atmospheric precipitation sensor system of claim 1, wherein said transmitter includes at least one energy source, and said at least one energy source is selected from the group consisting of electric power, battery power, solar energy, light energy, hygroscopic expansion energy, wind energy, temperature dependent expansion energy, and combinations thereof.

4. The atmospheric precipitation sensor system of claim 1, wherein said wirelessly transmitted signals further contain operational data of said sensor system.

5. The atmospheric precipitation sensor system of claim 1, further comprising a bypass switch which allows the current state of the non-electrical sensor to be ignored.

6. The atmospheric precipitation sensor system of claim 5 wherein the bypass switch is automatically resetting.

7. The atmospheric precipitation sensor system of claim 1 comprising receiver control circuitry and wherein the receiver and receiver control circuitry are integrally housed within the controller.

8. A sensor system for an irrigation system having a timed preprogrammed watering cycle controller, said sensor system comprising:

a sensor for sensing at least one atmospheric environmental condition selected from the group consisting of atmospheric precipitation regardless of the level of moisture in the soil, atmospheric ambient temperature, wind strength, or combinations thereof, said sensor being mounted above ground;

a radio frequency, infrared, or ultrasonic transmitter for wirelessly transmitting signals;

means for connecting said sensor to said transmitter, said transmitter being responsive to sensing conditions of said sensor, for transmitting signals indicative of the same;

a remotely located receiver responsive to signals from said transmitter for producing electrical control information;

a means for interfacing said receiver to said irrigation system, whereby said irrigation system'"'"'s timed preprogrammed watering cycle controller is deactivated by occurrence of conditions sensed by said sensor conveyed by the presence of said electrical control information, for deactivating present or future watering cycles.