Automatically adjusting irrigation controller
First Claim
1. An irrigation control unit comprising:
- a memory storing historical values of a plurality of variables used at least in part in calculating plant water requirements;
at least one input adapted to receive signals corresponding to current values of one or more of the plurality of variables;
a processor coupled to the at least one input and the memory, the processor adapted to determine the plant water requirements at least in part using, for each of the plurality of variables on a variable by variable basis, a current value in the event the current value is available and at least in part using, for each of the plurality of variables, a stored historical value in the event the current value is not available.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and devices are provided to automatically determine plant water requirements and adjust irrigation in order to make efficient use of water. In one implementation, an irrigation control unit comprises a memory storing historical values of a plurality of variables used at least in part in calculating plant water requirements, and at least one input adapted to receive signals corresponding to current values of one or more of the plurality of variables. The unit also comprises a processor coupled to the at least one input and the memory, the processor adapted to determine the plant water requirements at least in part using, for each of the plurality of variables, a current value in the event the current value is available and at least in part using, for each of the plurality of variables, a stored historical value in the event the current value is not available.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An irrigation control unit comprising:
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a memory storing historical values of a plurality of variables used at least in part in calculating plant water requirements; at least one input adapted to receive signals corresponding to current values of one or more of the plurality of variables; a processor coupled to the at least one input and the memory, the processor adapted to determine the plant water requirements at least in part using, for each of the plurality of variables on a variable by variable basis, a current value in the event the current value is available and at least in part using, for each of the plurality of variables, a stored historical value in the event the current value is not available. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A processor implemented method for use in irrigation control comprising:
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determining, using the processor, for each of a plurality of variables used at least in part to determine plant water requirements, whether a current value is available; and determining, using the processor, the plant water requirements at least in part using, for each of the plurality of variables on a variable by variable basis, the current value in the event the current value is available and at least in part using, for each of the plurality of variables, a stored historical value in the event the current value is not available. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An irrigation control unit comprising:
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means for determining, using a processor, for each of a plurality of variables used at least in part to determine plant water requirements, whether a current value is available; and means for determining, using the processor, the plant water requirements at least in part using, for each of the plurality of variables on a variable by variable basis, the current value in the event the current value is available and at least in part using, for each of the plurality of variables, a stored historical value in the event the current value is not available.
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30. An irrigation control unit comprising:
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a memory storing a set of historical values of a plurality of variables used at least in part in calculating plant water requirements, the set specific to a geographic region, wherein the plurality of variables comprises two or more parameters selected from a group consisting of;
temperature, solar radiation, humidity, wind speed and an amount of rainfall, wherein the historical values are stored in the memory prior to the irrigation control unit being sold;a user interface adapted to receive a user input indicating a location of the irrigation control unit; at least one input adapted to receive signals corresponding to current values of one or more of the plurality of variables for a first geographic region corresponding to the location of the irrigation control unit; a processor coupled to the at least one input and the memory, the processor adapted to; select, based on the user input, the set of the historical values of the plurality of variables; and determine the plant water requirements based on a determination of an evapotranspiration (ET) value at least in part using, for each of the plurality of variables on a variable by variable basis, a current value in the event the current value is available and at least in part using, for each of the plurality of variables, a stored historical value in the event the current value is not available, and wherein the processor is adapted to determine the plant water requirements at least in part using the current value for at least one of the plurality of variables and the stored historical value for at least one of the plurality of variables; and at least one sensor coupled to the at least one input and selected from a group consisting of;
a temperature sensor, a solar radiation sensor, a humidity sensor, a wind speed and a rainfall sensor.
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Specification