Evapotranspiration unit for re-programming an irrigation controller
First Claim
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1. An evapotranspiration (ET) unit, comprising:
- a box-like enclosure;
a processor mounted in the box-like enclosure;
a first communication link for enabling communication between the processor and a plurality of environmental sensors each capable of generating a signal representing an actual component of ET data;
a plurality of manually actuable controls mounted in the box-like enclosure and operably connected to the processor for inputting further ET-related information selected from the group consisting of plant type, soil condition, growth stage and sprinkler precipitation rate;
programming that enables the processor to calculate changes to a set of watering schedules of a predetermined watering program of a separate irrigation controller based on the actual ET data and the ET-related information, the changes including increases and decreases in the frequency and/or length of ON times for selected ones of a plurality of stations; and
a second communication link for enabling communication between the processor and the irrigation controller for communicating the changes to the irrigation controller.
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Abstract
An evapotranspiration (ET) unit includes a first communication link, a processor and a second communication link. The first communication link receives actual ET data from a plurality of environmental sensors. The processor calculates changes to a set of watering schedules of a predetermined watering program of a separate irrigation controller based on the actual ET data. The changes can increase or decrease the frequency and/or length of ON times for selected stations. The second communication link transmits the changes to the irrigation controller.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An evapotranspiration (ET) unit, comprising:
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a box-like enclosure; a processor mounted in the box-like enclosure; a first communication link for enabling communication between the processor and a plurality of environmental sensors each capable of generating a signal representing an actual component of ET data; a plurality of manually actuable controls mounted in the box-like enclosure and operably connected to the processor for inputting further ET-related information selected from the group consisting of plant type, soil condition, growth stage and sprinkler precipitation rate; programming that enables the processor to calculate changes to a set of watering schedules of a predetermined watering program of a separate irrigation controller based on the actual ET data and the ET-related information, the changes including increases and decreases in the frequency and/or length of ON times for selected ones of a plurality of stations; and a second communication link for enabling communication between the processor and the irrigation controller for communicating the changes to the irrigation controller. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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2. An evapotranspiration (ET) unit, comprising:
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a box-like enclosure; a processor associated with the box-like enclosure; a first communication link for enabling communication between the processor and a plurality of environmental sensors each capable of generating a signal representing an actual component of ET data; a plurality of manually actuable controls mounted in the box-like enclosure and operably connected to the processor for inputting further ET-related information selected from the group consisting of plant type, soil condition, growth stage and sprinkler precipitation rate; programming that enables the processor to calculate optimum watering schedules based on the actual ET data and the ET-related information; and a second communication link for enabling communication between the processor and a separate irrigation controller that allows the processor to re-program the irrigation controller and turn a plurality of stations ON and OFF through the irrigation controller in accordance with the optimum watering schedules.
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3. A method of optimizing the watering schedules of an irrigation controller to conserve water usage while ensuring that turf and/or other landscaping being watered are kept healthy and green, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a plurality of environmental sensors on an irrigation site that generate output signals representative of components of actual evapotranspiration (ET) data; b) calculating, in a compact self-contained ET unit located on the same irrigation site as the environmental sensors, changes to a set of watering schedules of a predetermined watering program of a single irrigation controller also located on the same irrigation site as the environmental sensors and the ET unit, and wherein the changes to the set of watering schedules; i) are calculated based upon the output signals of the plurality of environmental sensors, and ii) include increases and decreases in the frequency and/or length of ON times for selected ones of a plurality of stations; and c) communicating the changes from the ET unit to the irrigation controller which otherwise lacks the capability of directly receiving the output signals or the ET data to enable the changes to be calculated. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13)
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14. An evapotranspiration (ET) unit, comprising:
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a box-like enclosure; a processor associated with the box-like enclosure; a first communication link for enabling communication between the processor and a plurality of environmental sensors each capable of generating a signal representing an actual component of ET data; a plurality of manually actuable controls mounted in the box-like enclosure and operably connected to the processor for inputting further ET-related information selected from the group consisting of plant type, soil condition, growth stage and sprinkler precipitation rate; programming that enables the processor to calculate optimum watering schedules based on the actual ET data and the ET-related information; and a second communication link for enabling communication between the processor and a separate irrigation controller that allows the processor to re-program the irrigation controller so that the irrigation controller can turn a plurality of stations ON and OFF in accordance with the optimum watering schedules.
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15. An evapotranspiration (ET) unit, comprising:
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an enclosure; a processor associated with the enclosure; a first communication link for enabling communication between the processor and a plurality of environmental sensors each capable of generating a signal representing an actual component of ET data; a plurality of manually actuable controls mounted on the enclosure and operably connected to the processor for inputting further ET-related information; programming that enables the processor to calculate changes to a set of watering schedules of a predetermined watering program of a separate irrigation controller based on the actual ET data and the ET-related information, the changes including increases and decreases in the frequency and/or length of ON times for selected ones of a plurality of stations; and a second communication link for enabling communication between the processor and the irrigation controller for communicating the changes to the irrigation controller. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification