System and method for systematically irrigating subregions of an irrigation region
First Claim
1. A method for irrigating an irrigation region with an irrigation unit of an irrigation system, the irrigation unit including a nozzle and a housing that selectively retains the nozzle, the housing being at least partially fixed relative to the irrigation region, the method comprising the steps of:
- subdividing the irrigation region into a plurality of subregions that are positioned to be irrigated by the irrigation unit;
establishing a sequence for irrigating the subregions with the irrigation unit, the sequence being based on irrigation requirements for the irrigation region; and
directing a fluid to one or more of the subregions using the irrigation unit based on the sequence.
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Abstract
A method for irrigating an irrigation region (30) with an irrigation unit (20) includes the steps of subdividing the irrigation region (30) into a plurality of subregions (34), establishing a sequence for irrigating the subregions (34) based on irrigation requirements for the irrigation region (30), and directing a fluid (19) to one or more of the subregions (30) using the irrigation unit (20) based on the sequence. The irrigation regions (30) can be rectangular, square, or hexagonal, and can each have non-overlapping rectangular, square or triangular, similarly-sized subregions (34). The irrigation requirements can include the color of the subregions (34), the elevation of one subregion (34) relative to another subregion (34) and/or other physical conditions. The sequence can be established entirely within a housing (200) of the irrigation unit (20). The irrigation unit (20) can direct differing amounts of fluid (19) per unit of area to the subregions (34) and/or can direct the fluid (19) to one subregion (34) at a time.
84 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A method for irrigating an irrigation region with an irrigation unit of an irrigation system, the irrigation unit including a nozzle and a housing that selectively retains the nozzle, the housing being at least partially fixed relative to the irrigation region, the method comprising the steps of:
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subdividing the irrigation region into a plurality of subregions that are positioned to be irrigated by the irrigation unit; establishing a sequence for irrigating the subregions with the irrigation unit, the sequence being based on irrigation requirements for the irrigation region; and directing a fluid to one or more of the subregions using the irrigation unit based on the sequence. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for irrigating an irrigation region with an irrigation unit of an irrigation system, the irrigation unit including a nozzle and a housing that selectively retains the nozzle, the housing being at least partially fixed relative to the irrigation region, the method comprising the steps of:
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subdividing the irrigation region into a plurality of subregions that do not overlap, the subregions having approximately the same shape and size, the subregions being positioned to be irrigated with irrigation fluid through the nozzle; using a control system positioned at least partially within a housing of the irrigation unit to establish a sequence for irrigating the subregions based on irrigation requirements for the irrigation region, the irrigation requirements including one of (i) the color of at least a portion of each subregion, (ii) the location of each subregion within the irrigation region, and (iii) the physical features located within each subregion; and directing a fluid to one or more of the subregions using the irrigation unit based on the sequence, the amount of fluid that is directed being determined at least in part on one or more of the irrigation requirements for the irrigation region, the fluid being directed to one subregion at a time. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An irrigation unit for irrigating an irrigation region with a fluid from a fluid source, the irrigation unit comprising:
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a housing that is at least partially fixed relative to the irrigation region; a nozzle that is selectively retained by the housing, the nozzle being in fluid communication with the fluid source so that fluid from the fluid source is transferred to the nozzle; and a control system that subdivides the irrigation region into a plurality of subregions that are positioned to be irrigated by the fluid through the nozzle, the control system controlling the position of the nozzle to selectively direct fluid through the nozzle to one or more of the plurality of subregions within the irrigation region in a sequence that is determined by the control system. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification