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Intelligent irrigation rain sensor

  • US 7,966,153 B2
  • Filed: 04/24/2008
  • Issued: 06/21/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An intelligent irrigation rain sensor comprising:

  • a rain sensor unit for capturing and interacting with rainwater, said rain sensor unit comprising;

    rain catcher reservoir having an open upper end for catching rain, an interior volume for holding rainwater and a metering orifice at a lower end of the interior volume for metering rainwater from the interior volume as individual water droplets;

    a droplet detector comprising a pair of detection electrodes and disposed below the metering orifice for interacting with the individual water droplets metered from the rain catcher reservoir;

    a rainfall threshold adjustment interface for adjusting the predetermined rain threshold count as an amount of rainfall; and

    a dry timer for comparing a time period subsequent to a communication of a rain signal to irrigation controller with a predetermined drying time period and for initiating the communication of a dry signal to the irrigation controller;

    a sensor control unit for monitoring the rain sensor unit and communicating with irrigation controller, said sensor control unit comprises;

    a detection control coupled to the droplet detector for sensing interactions between water droplets and the droplet detector, by sensing a change in an electrical property at the detection electrodes, and for generating a water droplet detection indication; and

    a transfer-event manager for recognizing a transfer event and for initiating the communication of the rain signal to the irrigation controller, wherein the transfer event is based on a comparison of a water droplet detection indication count from the counter and a predetermined rain threshold count; and

    a counter coupled to the detection control for receiving water droplet detection indications and counting the water droplet detection indications; and

    a media port for communicating a rain signal to irrigation controller.

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