Method and apparatus for controlling a sprinkler system

• US 8,019,482 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2010
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell International Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Sutardja, Sehat
• Primary Examiner(s): Masinick; Michael D
• Application Number:
  US12/855,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20100305765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 700/276, 700/282, 700/284, 239/63, 239/551, 239/562
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7043 Guards and shields

Abstract

A sprinkler system having a method and computer program comprises one or more sprinklers each comprising a sprinkler valve adapted to regulate an amount of fluid delivered by the sprinkler in response to a control signal; a master unit adapted to transmit digital data; and a sprinkler controller comprising a receiver adapted to receive a signal representing the digital data; a media access controller adapted to obtain the digital data from the signal; and a processor adapted to produce the control signal based on the digital data obtained by the media access controller; and an output circuit adapted to provide the control signal to the sprinklers.

Claims

1. A sprinkler system comprising:

a fluid supply; and

one or more sprinklers configured to deliver fluid from the fluid supply, wherein each sprinkler of the one or more sprinklers includes

a wireless interface configured to receive information over a wireless channel,

a processor configured to (i) generate a schedule for operating the sprinkler based on the information received by the wireless interface and (ii) generate a control signal for controlling the sprinkler based on the schedule, and

a valve configured to regulate an amount of the fluid delivered by the sprinkler in response to the control signal,

wherein each of the wireless interface, the processor, and the valve are fabricated as part of the sprinkler as a single unit.

2. The sprinkler system of claim 1, wherein the information comprises one or more of:

information regarding current weather conditions, information regarding forecasted weather conditions, or information regarding a status of the fluid supply.

3. The sprinkler system of claim 1, wherein each sprinkler of the one or more sprinklers is configured to operate independently of other sprinklers.

4. The sprinkler system of claim 1, wherein:

each sprinkler further comprises a sensor configured to detect a flow rate of the fluid delivered by the sprinkler; and

the processor is configured to generate the control signal further based on the flow rate of the fluid delivered by the sprinkler as detected by the sensor.

5. The sprinkler system of claim 1, wherein the wireless interface is implemented in accordance with one or more of the following wireless protocols:

IEEE 802.15, IEEE 802.11, or Bluetooth.

6. The sprinkler system of claim 1, wherein the wireless interface is an infrared interface.