Landscape irrigation management with automated water budget and seasonal adjust, and automated implementation of watering restrictions

• US 8,874,275 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2013
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hunter Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: George Alexanian
• Inventors: Alexanian, George
• Primary Examiner(s): VON BUHR, MARIA N
• Application Number:
  US14/027,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20140081470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 700/284, 239 68- 70, 239/723, 137 781- 783, 13762411-62415, 137/624.21, 405/36, 405/37
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23227 Environment conditions affect execution of program
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/02 Agriculture; Fishing; Forestry; Mining

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and apparatus for water conservation with landscape irrigation controllers, plug-in and add-on devices, and centralized systems. In embodiments of the invention, a water budget percentage is determined by comparing current local geo-environmental data with stored local geo-environmental data, and the preliminary irrigation schedule or station run times are automatically modified based upon that water budget percentage. Embodiments of the present invention also provide for automation of mandated landscape watering restrictions alone, or in various combinations with water budgeting methods and apparatus.

Claims

1. An irrigation controller comprising:

a. self-adjusting technology and a calendar, wherein said self-adjusting technology is water budget percentage based, wherein a current water budget percentage is periodically determined by comparing current environmental sensor data to historical geo-environmental data without calculating current reference evapotranspiration;

b. at least one restricted watering schedule; and

c. programming in said controller for irrigating by alternating between said self-adjusting technology or a restricted watering schedule, one to the exclusion of the other, based on dates in said calendar.

2. An irrigation controller comprising:

a. a microprocessor having a calendar and self-adjusting technology that is water budget percentage based, wherein a current water budget percentage is periodically determined without calculating current reference evapotranspiration;

b. at least one restricted watering schedule provided to said microprocessor; and

c. said microprocessor being capable of operating by alternating between-said water budgeting technology or said restricted watering schedule, one to the exclusion of the other, based on said calendar.

3. An irrigation system comprising:

a. an irrigation controller mounted within an outdoor above ground mounted non-portable enclosure, a temperature sensor located near ground level within said enclosure in communication with said controller, and at least one additional sensor selected from the group of precipitation, solar radiation, relative humidity, wind, and combinations thereof in communication with said controller;

b. said controller programmed with self-adjusting technology, restricted watering schedules, and a calendar; and

c. dates programmed in said calendar according to which said controller operates using either said self-adjusting technology or said restricted watering schedules, one to the exclusion of the other.

4. A method of adjusting an irrigation schedule of a controller comprising the steps of:

a. determining a preliminary irrigation schedule without using current reference evapotranspiration data;

b. periodically determining a current water budget percentage; and

c. automatically adjusting said determined preliminary irrigation schedule using said current water budget percentage.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said determined preliminary irrigation schedule is a schedule for use during summer.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said determined preliminary irrigation schedule is a schedule for use during a time other than summer.

7. The method of claim 4 comprising the additional steps of:

a. providing a schedule of restricted watering times; and

b. providing dates to said controller when said determined preliminary irrigation schedule is to be restricted exclusively according to said restricted watering schedule, and other dates during the year when said determined preliminary irrigation schedule is to be exclusively adjusted by said current water budget percentage.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the dates during which the determined preliminary irrigation schedule is restricted exclusively according to said restricted watering schedule occur during the summer, and the dates during which the determined preliminary irrigation schedule is exclusively adjusted by said current water budget percentage occur during the rest of the year.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of adjusting said irrigation schedule comprises adjusting one of the group of a station run time, a station start time, a watering day, a watering interval, and combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 4 comprising the additional step of providing said controller with at least one environmental sensor selected from the group of:

an ambient air temperature sensor, solar radiation sensor, relative humidity sensor, wind sensor, soil moisture sensor, soil temperature sensor, precipitation sensor, and combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 4 comprising the additional steps of:

a. providing said controller with at least one restricted watering schedule;

b. providing said controller with a calendar programmed with dates during which said current water budget percentage or a restricted watering schedule is to be implemented, one to the exclusion of the other.

12. The method of claim 4 wherein said current water budget percentage is determined within said controller.

13. The method of claim 4 wherein said current water budget percentage is determined within a separate module in communication with said controller.

14. The method of claim 4 wherein said current water budget percentage is determined at a central location and transmitted to said controller.

15. The method of claim 4 wherein said controller is mounted according to one of the group of:

indoor wall mounted, outdoor wall mounted, outdoor post mounted, outdoor ground mounted, and outdoor below ground valve box located.

16. The method of claim 4 wherein said controller is powered by a member selected from the group of:

AC, DC, solar, battery, and ambient light.

17. The method of claim 4 wherein said current water budget percentage is determined in a module placed on at least one output of said controller.

18. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of determining said current water budget percentage is performed using data from at least one environmental sensor in comparison with historical geo-environmental data.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said at least one environmental sensor is selected from the group of ambient temperature, soil temperature, soil moisture, solar radiation, wind, relative humidity, precipitation, and combinations thereof.

20. An irrigation controller comprising:

a. a preliminary irrigation schedule determined without using current reference evapotranspiration data; and

b. programming to periodically automatically determine a current water budget percentage to adjust said preliminary irrigation schedule.

21. The controller of claim 20 wherein said current water budget percentage is determined by comparing current data from at least one environmental sensor to stored historic geo-environmental data.

22. The controller of claim 21 wherein said current data is selected from the group of ambient temperature, precipitation, solar radiation, wind, relative humidity, soil moisture, soil temperature, and combinations thereof.

23. The controller of claim 21 wherein said stored historic geo-environmental data is selected from the group of reference evapotranspiration, ambient temperature, solar radiation, precipitation, wind, relative humidity, soil moisture, soil temperature, and combinations thereof.

24. The controller of claim 20 wherein power is provided by one of the group of battery, ambient light, solar panel, and AC.

25. The controller of claim 20 wherein said determined preliminary irrigation schedule is a schedule for use during a time other than summer.

26. The controller of claim 20 wherein said determined preliminary irrigation schedule is a schedule for use during summer.

27. The controller of claim 20 further comprising calendar dates during which said determined preliminary irrigation schedule is exclusively adjusted according to said current water budget percentage, and other calendar dates during which said determined preliminary irrigation schedule is not adjusted but is exclusively enabled according to programmed allowed watering days.

28. The controller of claim 27 wherein the determined preliminary irrigation schedule is enabled according to said allowed watering days exclusively during summer and said determined preliminary irrigation schedule is adjusted based on said periodically determined current water budget percentage during the rest of the year.

29. An irrigation system comprising:

a. An irrigation controller having a preliminary irrigation schedule determined without using current reference evapotranspiration data;

b. A module in communication with said controller;

c. Said module capable of periodically determining a current water budget percentage and communicating it to said controller to periodically adjust said preliminary irrigation schedule.

30. The irrigation system of claim 29 further comprising at least one environmental sensor in communication with said module.

31. The irrigation system of claim 30 wherein said at least one environmental sensor is selected from the group of ambient temperature, precipitation, solar radiation, relative humidity, wind, soil moisture, soil temperature, and combinations thereof.

32. The irrigation system of claim 30 wherein communication between said at least one environmental sensor and said module is provided by wired or wireless means.

33. The irrigation system of claim 29 wherein said at least one environmental sensor is located within or upon an outdoor ground mounted controller housing.

34. The irrigation system of claim 29 wherein said current water budget percentage is determined by comparing stored historic geo-environmental data to current sensor data.

35. The irrigation system of claim 34 wherein said stored historic geo-environmental data is selected from the group of evapotranspiration, ambient temperature, wind, relative humidity, soil moisture, soil temperature, precipitation, extraterrestrial radiation, solar radiation, and combinations thereof.

36. The irrigation system of claim 29 further comprising a central control with a calendar programmed with dates in communication with said module when said current water budget percentage or watering restrictions are enabled, one to the exclusion of the other.

37. The irrigation system of claim 29 wherein said adjustment to said irrigation schedule is selected from the group of adjusting a station run time, adjusting a watering interval, adjusting a watering day, adjusting a start time, and combinations thereof.

38. An irrigation system comprising:

a. a centrally located control;

b. at least one environmental sensor in communication with said control;

c. at least one remotely mounted irrigation controller having a preliminary irrigation schedule determined without using current reference evapotranspiration data;

d. said central control being capable of periodically determining a current water budget percentage and communicating it to said at least one remote controller;

e. said at least one remote controller being capable of adjusting said preliminary irrigation schedule according to said communicated water budget percentage.

39. The irrigation system of claim 38 further comprising at least one irrigation shutdown sensor in communication with said central control selected from the group of precipitation, wind, freeze, and combinations thereof.

40. The irrigation system of claim 38 wherein said at least one environmental sensor is selected from the group of ambient temperature, solar radiation, wind, relative humidity, precipitation, and combinations thereof.

41. The irrigation system of claim 38 wherein the adjustment to said preliminary irrigation schedule of said at least one remote controller is selected from adjusting one of the group of:

station run times, start times, watering days, watering intervals, and combinations thereof according to said periodically communicated water budget percentage.

42. The irrigation system of claim 38 wherein said control is a central broadcasting module.

43. The irrigation system of claim 38 wherein said central control is a computer.

44. The irrigation system of claim 38 wherein said at least one environmental sensor is in wired or wireless communication with said control.

45. The irrigation system of claim 38 wherein said remote controllers are powered by one of the group of AC, DC, solar, ambient light, battery, and combinations thereof.

46. The irrigation system of claim 38 further comprising calendar dates during which either said water budget percentage is implemented or a restricted watering schedule is implemented on said at least one remote controller, one to the exclusion of the other.

47. A water budget based self-adjusting irrigation controller comprising a microprocessor programmed with a water budget percentage threshold, a preliminary irrigation schedule derived without using current reference evapotranspiration data, and programming capable of periodically determining current water budget percentages and accumulating said percentages until said threshold is reached before allowing irrigation to take place.

48. The controller of claim 47 wherein said microprocessor is further programmed with at least one restricted watering schedule and a calendar with dates during which either said water budget based self-adjusting irrigation is implemented or a restricted watering schedule is implemented, one to the exclusion of the other.

49. A method of affecting irrigation using an irrigation controller comprising the steps of:

a. providing a schedule of restricted watering times not derived using current reference evapotranspiration data to said controller in communication with at least one irrigation valve; and

b. said controller disabling said at least one valve at times during said restricted watering times.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein said restricted watering times are provided in a module, and wherein said module provides said restricted watering times to said controller.

51. The method of claim 49 comprising the additional steps of:

a. programming self-adjusting technology into said controller;

b. providing a calendar to said controller with dates during which either said restricted watering times or said self-adjusting technology is to be enabled, one to the exclusion of the other; and

c. said controller adjusting irrigation based on what is enabled according to said dates.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein said self-adjusting technology is water budget percentage based.

53. A method of affecting irrigation using an irrigation controller comprising the steps of:

a. providing self-adjusting technology and at least one schedule of restricted watering times not derived using current reference evapotranspiration data in a module in communication with said controller;

b. providing said module with a calendar having dates during which either said self-adjusting technology or said restricted watering times are specified; and

c. said module instructing said controller to alternate between either said self-adjusting technology or said restricted watering times based on said calendar dates, one to the exclusion of the other.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein said self-adjusting technology is water budget percentage based.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein a current water budget percentage is periodically determined by comparing current environmental data to historic geo-environmental data for a location.

56. An irrigation system at a location comprising:

a. a centrally located control in communication with at least one environmental sensor;

b. at least one remotely mounted irrigation controller having a preliminary irrigation schedule determined without using current reference evapotranspiration data;

c. said central control being capable of periodically determining a current water budget percentage and communicating it to said at least one remote controller; and

d. said at least one remote controller being capable of adjusting said preliminary irrigation schedule according to said communicated water budget percentage.

57. The irrigation system of claim 56 wherein said current water budget percentage is determined by comparing current environmental sensor data to historic geo-environmental data for said location.

58. A method of adjusting an irrigation schedule of a controller comprising the steps of:

a. determining an irrigation schedule without using current reference evapotranspiration data;

b. periodically determining a current water budget percentage; and

c. automatically periodically adjusting the determined irrigation schedule using said current water budget percentage.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein said current water budget percentage is determined within said controller.

60. The method of claim 58 wherein said current water budget percentage is determined within a module in communication with said controller.

61. The method of claim 58 wherein said current water budget percentage is determined in a module that breaks a common line to at least one irrigation valve of said controller.

62. The method of claim 58 comprising the additional steps of:

a. providing a schedule of restricted watering times to said controller; and

b. providing dates to said controller when said irrigation schedule is to be restricted exclusively according to said restricted watering schedule, and other dates when said preliminary irrigation schedule is to be exclusively adjusted by said current water budget percentage.

63. The method of claim 62 wherein the dates during which the preliminary irrigation schedule is restricted exclusively according to said restricted watering schedule occur during the summer, and the dates during which the preliminary irrigation schedule is exclusively adjusted by said current water budget percentage occur during the rest of the year.

64. An irrigation system comprising:

a. a controller having a preliminary irrigation schedule determined without using current reference evapotranspiration data; and

b. programming to automatically periodically determine a current water budget percentage to periodically adjust said irrigation schedule.

65. The irrigation system of claim 64 further comprising calendar dates during which said preliminary irrigation schedule is exclusively adjusted according to said current water budget percentage, and other calendar dates during which said preliminary irrigation schedule is not adjusted but is exclusively enabled according to programmed allowed watering days.

66. The irrigation system of claim 64 wherein said current water budget percentage is determined within said controller.

67. The irrigation system of claim 64 wherein said current water budget percentage is determined within a module in communication with said controller.

68. The irrigation system of claim 64 wherein said current water budget percentage is determined in a module that breaks a common line to at least one irrigation valve of said controller.

69. The irrigation system of claim 64 wherein said current water budget percentage is determined by a central system in communication with said controller.

70. A method of affecting irrigation using an irrigation controller comprising the steps of:

a. providing a schedule of allowed watering times to said controller wherein said schedule is determined by location and not derived using current reference evapotranspiration data;

b. periodically determining a current water budget percentage;

c. adjusting an irrigation schedule of said controller according to said current water budget percentage; and

d. said controller operating according to said adjusted irrigation schedule when allowed according to said schedule of allowed watering times.

71. The method of claim 70 wherein said current water budget percentage is partially determined by current environmental sensor data for said location.

72. The method of claim 71 wherein said current water budget percentage is determined by comparing said current environmental sensor data to historical environmental data for said location.

73. The method of claim 72 wherein said current water budget percentage is determined in one of the group of a plug-in, an add-on, and a central location, and wherein said percentage is communicated to said controller.