Irrigation unit having a control system and a data storage unit

• US 7,458,521 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2004
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Norman Ivans
• Original Assignee: Norman Ivans
• Inventors: Ivans, Norman
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Dinh Q
• Application Number:
  US10/978,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20060091245A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,494 Days
• Field of Search: 239/63, 239/64, 239/69, 239/70, 239/71, 239/73, 239/1, 239/203, 239/200, 239/67, 137/78.3, 700/284
• US Class Current: 239/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/189 Soil moisture sensing

Abstract

An irrigation unit (20) for irrigating an area (12) with a fluid (19) from a fluid source (18) includes a housing (200), a nozzle (220), one or more electronic components (221), and a unit control system (240). The nozzle (220) is directly or indirectly secured to the housing (200) and the nozzle (220) is in fluid communication with the fluid source (18) so that fluid (19) from the fluid source (18) is transferred to the nozzle (220). The unit control system (240) can include an electronic processor (240B) and/or an electronic storage device (240C). The unit control system (240) is in electrical communication with the electronic components (221). The unit control system (240) can process and/or store electronic data generated by one or more electronic components (221). Further, the unit control system (240) can precisely control one or more electronic components (221).

Claims

1. An irrigation unit for irrigating an irrigation region with a fluid from a fluid source, the irrigation unit comprising:

a housing that is at least partially fixed within the irrigation region;

a nozzle that is selectively positioned within 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 unit control system that is retained by the housing, unit control system having a processor that includes an algorithm, the unit control system using the algorithm to control irrigation of the irrigation region.

2. The irrigation unit of claim 1 wherein the algorithm is based at least partially on information gathered by the irrigation unit.

3. The irrigation unit of claim 1 wherein the algorithm is based at least partially on information regarding the irrigation region.

4. The irrigation unit of claim 1 wherein the Algorithm is based at least partially on a change of conditions within the irrigation region.

5. The irrigation unit of claim 1 wherein the algorithm is based at least partially on information gathered by the irrigation unit over time.

6. The irrigation unit of claim 1 wherein the unit control system uses the algorithm to adjust an irrigation sequence of the irrigation region.

7. The irrigation unit of claim 1 wherein the unit control system uses the algorithm to adjust a quantity of fluid applied to the irrigation region.

8. The irrigation unit of claim 1 wherein the unit control system uses the algorithm to adjust a fluid pressure during irrigation of the irrigation region.

9. The irrigation unit of claim 1 wherein the algorithm is based at least partially on a color of vegetation present in the irrigation regional.

10. The irrigation unit of claim 1 wherein the algorithm is based at least on one or more weather conditions.

11. The irrigation unit of claim 1 wherein the unit control system controls adjustment of an angle of the nozzle relative to the irrigation region.

12. The irrigation unit of claim 1 wherein the unit control system is directly secured to the housing.

13. A method for irrigating an irrigation region with a fluid from a fluid source, the method comprising the steps of:

securing at least a portion of a housing within the irrigation region;

transferring fluid from the fluid source to a nozzle so that the nozzle is in fluid communication with the fluid source, the nozzle being selectively positioned within the housing; and

controlling irrigation of the irrigation region using an algorithm included in a processor of a unit control system that is retained by the housing.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of controlling includes basing the algorithm at least partially on information gathered by the irrigation unit.

15. A method for claim 13 wherein the step of controlling includes basing the algorithm at least partially on information regarding the irrigation region.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of controlling includes basing the algorithm at least partially on a change of conditions within the irrigation region.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of controlling includes basing the algorithm at least partially on information gathered by the irrigation unit over time.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of controlling includes the unit control system using the algorithm to adjust an irrigation sequence of the irrigation region.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of controlling includes the unit control system using the algorithm to adjust a quantity of fluid applied to the irrigation region.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of controlling includes the unit control system using the algorithm to adjust a fluid pressure during irrigation of the irrigation region.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of controlling includes basing the algorithm at least partially on a color of vegetation present in the irrigation region.

22. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of controlling includes basing the algorithm at least partially on one or more weather conditions.

23. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of controlling includes the unit control system controlling adjustment of an angle of the nozzle relative to the irrigation region.

24. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of controlling includes directly securing the unit control system to the housing.