Irrigation zone time control

• US 8,104,993 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2009
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digital Sun, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Digital Sun, Inc.
• Inventors: Hitt, Dale K., Heaton, Kurtis G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lagman, Frederic L
• Application Number:
  US12/634,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20100152909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 405/36, 405/37, 73/73, 700/284
• US Class Current: 405/37
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/167 Control by humidity of the soil itself or of devices simulating soil or of the atmosphere; Soil humidity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/24 Earth materials G01N33/42 takes precedence

Abstract

A wireless sensor probe for use in environmental monitoring and control includes a separable probe body and sensor mast. The probe body includes a void configured to house the sensor mast including one or more sensor devices for sensing a soil property surrounding the probe body when the probe body is inserted partially into the ground. The probe body includes a probe top part for encapsulating the probe body and the sensor mast. The sensor mast is inserted into the probe body to form the sensor probe. In another embodiment, a wireless sensor probe includes a housing containing one or more sensor devices. The probe further includes a collar situated near a top portion of the housing being used to anchor the housing to the top of the ground and a gasket formed on the outside perimeter of the housing for securing the housing in the ground.

Claims

1. A method of controlling irrigation comprising:

monitoring “

on” and

“

off”

watering signals with a secondary control system that is externally connected to an irrigation controller;

said watering signals being transmitted to each zone of an existing multi-zone irrigation controller over one or more valve control wires;

receiving with said secondary control system a wireless signal representative of at least one irrigation parameter currently existing at a site to be watered;

interrupting an “

on”

watering signal for a particular zone on said one or more valve control wires with said secondary control system based upon an evaluation of said at least one irrigation parameter from said wireless signal.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one irrigation parameter is soil moisture.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein receiving a wireless signal comprises receiving a wireless signal for each of a plurality of wireless soil moisture sensors distributed on said site to be watered.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of wireless soil moisture sensors corresponds to zones of said multi-zone irrigation controller.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein monitoring the “

on” and

“

off”

watering signals includes learning the duration of watering time for each zone of said multi-zone irrigation controller.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein monitoring the “

on” and

“

off”

watering signals includes sensing an electrical change on a “

common”

line of said one or more valve control wires.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein sensing an electrical change includes sensing transitions of either current or voltage on said “

common”

line.

8. A control system for adjusting an irrigation schedule of an irrigation controller comprising:

a sensing device configured to monitor a watering command signal of said irrigation controller communicated on one or more valve control wires;

a receiving device configured to receive at least one wireless signal representative of at least one irrigation parameter currently existing at a site to be watered;

an interruption device configured to interrupt said watering command signal communicated on said one or more valve control wires based on an evaluation of said at least one irrigation parameter from said wireless signal;

wherein said control system is externally connectable to said one or more valve control wires of said irrigation controller.

9. A control system according to claim 8, wherein said sensing device is a sensing circuit.

10. A control system according to claim 8, wherein said receiving device is a relay controller.

11. A control system according to claim 8, wherein said interruption device is a relay.

12. A control system according to claim 8, wherein said sensing device is configured to be coupled to a common line of said irrigation controller.

13. A control system according to claim 8, wherein said sensing device is configured to learn the start time of each watering command signal of said irrigation controller.

14. A control system according to claim 8, wherein said irrigation parameter is soil moisture.

15. An irrigation system comprising:

a multi-zone irrigation controller;

a zone timing control system configured for external connection with said irrigation controller via one or more valve control wires;

said zone timing control system comprising;

a sensing circuit configured to monitor a watering command signal of said irrigation controller;

a receiver configured to receive at least one wireless signal representative of at least one irrigation parameter currently existing at a site to be watered;

an interrupter configured to interrupt said watering command signal based on an evaluation of said at least one irrigation parameter from said wireless signal.

16. An irrigation system according to claim 15, wherein said zone timing control system is configured for connection to a common line of said irrigation controller.

17. An irrigation system according to claim 15, wherein said zone timing control system further comprises a processor for learning watering start times for zones of said irrigation controller.

18. An irrigation system according to claim 15, further comprising a plurality of wireless sensors networked at said site to be watered, said plurality of wireless sensors providing said at least one wireless signal to said receiver.

19. An irrigation system according to claim 18, wherein said plurality of wireless sensors is comprised of wireless soil moisture sensors.

20. An irrigation system according to claim 15, wherein said interrupter is a relay.