Irrigation controller and system integrating no-watering restrictions and an empirically-derived evapotranspiration local characteristic curve

• US 9,095,102 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2013
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bruce Allen Bragg, Connie Ruby Masters, Philip Andrew Kantor
• Original Assignee: Bruce Allen Bragg, Connie Ruby Masters, Philip Andrew Kantor
• Inventors: Masters, Connie Ruby, Kantor, Philip Andrew, Bragg, Bruce Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): AN, IG TAI
• Application Number:
  US14/030,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20140088770A1
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 239/1, 239/69, 700/17, 700/35, 700/284
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/06 Watering arrangements making use of perforated pipe-lines located in the soil
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/165 Cyclic operations, timing systems, timing valves, impulse operations
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering

Abstract

A convenient, water-saving and labor-saving FROG irrigation controller and system are provided, which determine the appropriate water budget and schedule for the property'"'"'s landscaping based on evapotranspiration data for the geographic area, regulation data (any mandated and voluntary watering restrictions), and property-specific data, with consideration given to reduction in watering days, increase in soil watering depth, and day of year. Once set, the FROG controller provides incremental adjustments over the course of the year; the homeowner no longer needs to re-set the watering program seasonally to comply with local mandated and voluntary watering restrictions. Compliance is automatic and obligatory, meeting the water saving goals of the local water authority. Optionally presented is a web-based wizard used to determine a customized water budget/schedule that is input into the FROG controller through a data storage unit or wireless input.

Claims

1. An irrigation controller for regulating water control valves corresponding to watering zones, comprising:

at least one property-specific data input device operable by a user to designate at least one initial watering day on which said irrigation controller will disburse water, to designate at least one initial start time for a particular one of said watering zones, and to designate at least one initial run-time duration for said at least one start time;

a housing;

a microcontroller housed within said housing and programmed with a microcontroller program that receives data, outputs data, receives said designated at least one initial watering day, receives said designated at least one initial start time, and receives said designated at least one initial run-time duration;

a data input system configured to allow data to be imported into said irrigation controller;

wherein said data input system comprises a data input receiver operable to receive evapotranspiration data and any regulation data;

wherein said evapotranspiration data are obtained from an evapotranspiration local characteristic curve for at least one locality;

wherein said any regulation data comprise local mandatory watering restrictions for said at least one locality;

wherein said evapotranspiration data and said any regulation data are accessible to said microcontroller program;

wherein said microcontroller program is configured to calculate a watering budget and watering schedule based on at least said evapotranspiration data, on said any regulation data, and on a minute-based representation of a total water volume;

wherein said representation of said total water volume is calculated by multiplying an initial number of watering days per period of time for a designated zone, by an initial number of watering events per day for said designated zone, and by a number of minutes per watering event for said designated zone; and

wherein said representation of said total water volume is allocated to a number of watering days of said period of time;

wherein said microcontroller program utilizes said watering schedule to control said water control valves;

at least one non-volatile memory storage medium configured to receive and to store data from said microcontroller;

a real-time clock operatively connected to said microcontroller.

2. The irrigation controller, as recited in claim 1, wherein said data input receiver comprises a wireless receiver.

3. The irrigation controller, as recited in claim 1, wherein said data input receiver comprises a data storage unit.

4. The irrigation controller, as recited in claim 1, further comprising an environmental sensor configured to sense at least one environmental factor, wherein said microcontroller program further bases said watering schedule on said sensor data.

5. The irrigation controller, as recited in claim 1, wherein:

said irrigation controller is programmed to allow a user-selectable voluntary no-watering day restriction; and

said microcontroller program prohibits watering on said voluntary no-watering day on an ongoing basis.

6. The irrigation controller, as recited in claim 1, wherein:

said data input system is configured to receive a customized watering schedule calculated through use of a web-based irrigation customization software application accessible to a user through an Internet website; and

said customized watering schedule is based on at least property data input by the user, on said evapotranspiration data, and on said any regulation data.

7. The irrigation controller, as recited in claim 6, wherein:

said data input receiver comprises a data storage unit reader; and

said data input system is configured to receive said customized watering schedule stored on a data storage unit.

8. The irrigation controller, as recited in claim 6, wherein:

said data input receiver comprises a wireless receiver; and

said data input system is configured to receive said customized watering schedule through said wireless receiver.

9. The irrigation controller, as recited in claim 1, wherein said microcontroller program is further configured to automatically shift said at least one initial start time received from said at least one property-specific data input device by creating an alternate zone start time that differs from said at least one initial start time.

10. The irrigation controller, as recited in claim 1, wherein:

said watering budget is calculated for a particular time period by determining the current day and multiplying an evapotranspiration factor, from said evapotranspiration local characteristic curve, associated with said current day or multiplying an average of evapotranspiration factors, from said evapotranspiration local characteristic curve, associated with a small range of days including said current day by said representation of said total water volume for said particular time period.

11. The irrigation controller, as recited in claim 1, wherein said watering schedule for said particular time period is calculated by dividing said representation of said total water volume for said particular time period by a number of allowed or desired watering days per said particular time period and by said initial number of watering events per day for said designated zone.

12. The irrigation controller, as recited in claim 1, wherein:

said watering budget for said particular time period is reduced by a watering depth factor; and

said watering depth factor is based on a reduction in water need due to increased depth of watering.

13. The irrigation controller, as recited in claim 1, wherein said watering budget is calculated for a particular time period by determining the current day and reducing said representation of said total water volume for said particular time period by a factor determined from said evapotranspiration data associated with said current day or with an average of said evapotranspiration data associated with a small range of days including said current day.

14. The irrigation controller, as recited in claim 1, wherein said representation of said total water volume comprises a representation of the peak summer maximum watering volume.

15. An irrigation controller system for regulating water control valves corresponding to watering zones, comprising:

at least one property-specific data input device operable by a user to designate at least one initial watering day on which said irrigation controller will disburse water, to designate at least one initial start time for a particular one of said watering zones, and to designate at least one initial run-time duration for said at least one start time;

a housing;

a microcontroller housed within said housing and programmed with a microcontroller program that receives data, outputs data, receives said designated at least one initial watering day, receives said designated at least one initial start time, and receives said designated at least one initial run-time duration;

a data input system configured to allow data to be imported into said irrigation controller;

wherein said data input system comprises a data input receiver operable to receive evapotranspiration data and any regulation data;

wherein said evapotranspiration data are obtained from an evapotranspiration local characteristic curve for at least one locality;

wherein said any regulation data comprise local mandatory watering restrictions for said at least one locality;

wherein said evapotranspiration data and said any regulation data are accessible to said microcontroller program;

wherein said microcontroller program is configured to calculate a watering budget and watering schedule based on at least said evapotranspiration data, on said any regulation data, and on a minute-based representation of a total water volume;

wherein said representation of said total water volume is calculated by multiplying an initial number of watering days per period of time for a designated zone, by an initial number of watering events per day for said designated zone, and by a number of minutes per watering event for said designated zone; and

wherein said representation of said total water volume is allocated to a number of watering days of said period of time;

a web-based irrigation customization software application accessible to a user through an Internet website;

wherein said customization software application is configured to calculate a watering budget and watering schedule based on at least property data input by the user, on said evapotranspiration data, and on said any regulation data;

wherein said data input system is configured to receive a customized watering schedule calculated through use of said web-based irrigation customization software application;

wherein said microcontroller program utilizes said watering schedule to control said water control valves;

at least one non-volatile memory storage medium configured to receive and to store data from said microcontroller; and

a real-time clock operatively connected to said microcontroller.

16. The irrigation controller system, as recited in claim 15, wherein said data input receiver comprises a wireless receiver.

17. The irrigation controller system, as recited in claim 15, wherein said data input receiver comprises a data storage unit.

18. The irrigation controller system, as recited in claim 15, wherein said microcontroller program is further configured to automatically shift said at least one initial start time by creating an alternate zone start time that differs from said at least one initial start time.

19. The irrigation controller system, as recited in claim 15, wherein said watering budget is calculated for a particular time period by reducing said representation of said total water volume for said particular time period by a factor determined from said evapotranspiration data associated with said current day or with an average of said evapotranspiration data associated with a small range of days including said current day.

20. The irrigation controller system, as recited in claim 15, wherein said representation of said total water volume comprises a representation of the peak summer maximum watering volume.