Adaptive irrigation control

• US 8,682,493 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2010
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Green Badge, LLC
• Original Assignee: Green Badge, LLC
• Inventors: Campbell, Jeffrey, Karmel, Clayton R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jarrett, Ryan
• Application Number:
  US12/697,283
• Time in Patent Office: 1,514 Days
• Field of Search: 700/284, 239/63
• US Class Current: 700/284
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/189 Soil moisture sensing

Abstract

An adaptive irrigation interrupter is disclosed herein. The adaptive irrigation interrupter preferably comprises a housing and a processor. The processor is preferably configured to create a plurality of profiles of moisture levels and behaviors. Each profile has a minimum moisture level, a maximum moisture level, and a mechanism for mid-flow cutoff for a watering cycle of a predetermined length to control the irrigation.

Claims

1. A method for adaptive irrigation control, the method comprising:

obtaining a plurality of real-time soil measurements from a plurality of wireless sub-surface sensors at least three inches below the surface, the plurality of real-time soil measurements comprising a real-time soil moisture value, a real-time soil temperature value, a real-time soil salinity value and a real-time moisture percolation value;

monitoring at an adaptive wireless irrigation interrupter a plurality of watering schedules for a set period of time established by an irrigation controller for a land area without end-user intervention wherein the adaptive wireless irrigation interrupter is in wireless communication with each of the plurality of wireless sub-surface sensors concerning at least the real-time soil measurements in a particular soil area; and

adjusting a scheduled irrigation based on the plurality of real-time soil measurements and at least one of seasonal, weather, climate and soil conditions;

wherein the adaptive wireless irrigation interrupter generates a two dimensional map, with a soil dielectric constant on one axis and a soil conductivity on the other axis, for received power for all antenna configurations from a wireless sub-surface sensor of the plurality of wireless sub-surface sensors, wherein the map is downloaded on a regular schedule to the wireless sub-surface sensor of the plurality of wireless sub-surface sensors and the wireless sub-surface sensor reviews the map for the antenna configuration that provides the highest received power at the adaptive wireless irrigation interrupter for the current conditions.

2. A method for adaptive irrigation control, the method comprising:

obtaining a plurality of real-time soil measurements from a plurality of wireless sub-surface sensors positioned at least three inches below the surface, the plurality of real-time soil measurements comprising a real-time soil moisture value, a real-time soil temperature value, a real-time soil salinity value and a real-time moisture percolation value;

monitoring at an adaptive wireless irrigation interrupter a plurality of watering schedules established by an irrigation controller for a land area without end-user intervention, the monitoring occurring for at least a two week period, wherein the adaptive wireless irrigation interrupter is in wireless communication with each of the plurality of wireless sub-surface sensors concerning at least the real-time soil measurements in a particular soil area; and

adjusting without end-user intervention a scheduled irrigation based on the plurality of real-time soil measurements, a profile for the land area having a minimum moisture level and a maximum moisture level, and at least one of seasonal, weather, climate and soil conditions;

wherein the adaptive wireless irrigation interrupter generates a two dimensional map, with a soil dielectric constant on one axis and a soil conductivity on the other axis, for received power for all antenna configurations from a wireless sub-surface sensor of the plurality of wireless sub-surface sensors, wherein the map is downloaded on a regular schedule to the wireless sub-surface sensor of the plurality of wireless sub-surface sensors and the wireless sub-surface sensor reviews the map for the antenna configuration that provides the highest received power at the adaptive wireless irrigation interrupter for the current conditions.