Universal remote terminal unit and method for tracking the position of self-propelled irrigation systems
First Claim
1. In a pivot irrigation system wherein a control circuit controls movement of the pivot irrigation system, the improvement comprising:
- a universal remote terminal unit independent of and not interfacing with said control circuit, said universal remote terminal unit comprising;
a global positioning satellite receiver mounted within a self-contained housing, said self-contained housing mounted to an outer moving portion of said pivot irrigation system, said global positioning satellite receiver including an antenna mounted on said self-contained housing, said global positioning satellite receiver generating output data signals indicative of the location coordinates of the universal remote terminal unit which over a series of timed readings is indicative of the movement of the pivot irrigation system;
a microprocessor in said self-contained housing and connected to receive said output signals from said global positioning satellite receiver, said microprocessor processing the output data signals to determine whether the pivot irrigation system is moving or not moving and preparing status data indicative of a movement change;
telemetry in said self-contained housing and connected to said microprocessor, said telemetry sending the status data from the microprocessor over a wireless communication path so as to alert an operator of an operational change in the movement of the irrigation system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A universal remote monitoring system and method for irrigation systems having a self-contained remote terminal unit mounted at an outer portion of the irrigation system which is independent of the irrigation system control. The unit includes a global positioning system for producing coordinate data, a computer for processing the coordinate data into operational data, and a transmitter for delivering the operational data to a communications satellite. The satellite relays the operational data through a communications network into a remote service computer which generates information messages to mobile operator devices informing the operator of movement status and other operational information.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. In a pivot irrigation system wherein a control circuit controls movement of the pivot irrigation system, the improvement comprising:
a universal remote terminal unit independent of and not interfacing with said control circuit, said universal remote terminal unit comprising; a global positioning satellite receiver mounted within a self-contained housing, said self-contained housing mounted to an outer moving portion of said pivot irrigation system, said global positioning satellite receiver including an antenna mounted on said self-contained housing, said global positioning satellite receiver generating output data signals indicative of the location coordinates of the universal remote terminal unit which over a series of timed readings is indicative of the movement of the pivot irrigation system; a microprocessor in said self-contained housing and connected to receive said output signals from said global positioning satellite receiver, said microprocessor processing the output data signals to determine whether the pivot irrigation system is moving or not moving and preparing status data indicative of a movement change; telemetry in said self-contained housing and connected to said microprocessor, said telemetry sending the status data from the microprocessor over a wireless communication path so as to alert an operator of an operational change in the movement of the irrigation system. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of monitoring field movement of a pivot irrigation system independently of a control circuit located on the pivot irrigation system, the control circuit at least controlling field movement of the pivot irrigation system, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating coordinate data at predetermined time intervals in a global positioning system receiver located in a self-contained unit independent of and not interfacing with the control circuit on an outer moving portion of the pivot irrigation system; determining operational data based on the generated coordinate data in a computer located in the self-contained unit independent of the control circuit and not interfaced with the control circuit when movement of the pivot irrigation system changes; delivering the operational data from the self-contained unit independent of the control circuit and not interfaced with the control circuit to a communications network and into a service computer, the service computer remotely located from said pivot irrigation system; generating in the remote service computer at least one type of information message on movement change based on the delivered operational data; and receiving the generated information message on movement change in at least one mobile operator device. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification