System and method for smart irrigation

• US 9,414,552 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2015
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Et Water Systems Inc. (JAIN Irrigation Systems Limited)
• Original Assignee: Et Water Systems Inc. (JAIN Irrigation Systems Limited)
• Inventors: Halahan, Patrick B., McIntyre, J. Patrick, Coopersmith, Mark, Puckett, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Masinick, Michael D
• Application Number:
  US14/612,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20150313098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 700/284
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: 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: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering

Abstract

A smart irrigation system for an irrigation controller associated with an irrigation site is described herein. The smart irrigation system comprises a central control system having a user interface and a smart scheduler. The central control system is configured to receive a landscape information associated with the irrigation site. The landscape information is provided by a user via the user interface. The central control system is further configured to receive an environmental information associated with the irrigation site. The central control system is further configured to derive an irrigation schedule for the irrigation site based on the landscape information and the environmental information. The central control system being further configured to send the irrigation schedule. The smart scheduler comprises a data receiver, a processor, and a signal interface. The data receiver is configured to receive the irrigation schedule. The processor is configured to convert the irrigation schedule to a series of control signals that the irrigation controller recognizes. The signal interface is configured to connect to the irrigation controller and to send the series of control signals to the irrigation controller. The system uses weather data and irrigation site-specific information to automatically apply the optimal irrigation schedule. Users are able to remotely control the irrigation via networks such as Internet.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of controlling irrigation at an irrigation site using a smart controller converter, the smart controller converter including a wireless data receiver, a display, a user input device, one or more processors, and a signal interface, the smart controller converter coupled to a host irrigation controller via the signal interface, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, via the wireless data receiver, a landscape information associated with the irrigation site;

receiving, via the wireless data receiver, an environmental information associated with the irrigation site;

deriving, by the one or more processors, an irrigation schedule for the irrigation site based on the landscape information and the environmental information;

presenting, via the display, a list of a plurality of different types of host irrigation controllers;

receiving, via the user input device, a selection of a specific type of host irrigation controller from the list of the plurality of different types of host irrigation controllers;

converting, by the one or more processors, the irrigation schedule into a series of control signals that are recognizable by the selected specific type of host irrigation controller; and

transmitting, via the signal interface, the series of control signals to the host irrigation controller.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving, via the wireless data receiver, sensor data from one or more sensors located at the irrigation site; and

updating, by the one or more processors, the irrigation schedule based on the received sensor data.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving, via the wireless data receiver, a user input command; and

updating, by the one or more processors, the irrigation schedule based on the received user input command.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the user input command is received from a wireless mobile device.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the series of control signals recognizable by the selected specific type of host irrigation controller are configured to open and close valves at one or more irrigation stations associated with the host irrigation controller.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the host irrigation controller is coupled to one or more flow sensors located at the valves of the one or more irrigation stations, the method further comprising the steps of:

receiving, via the signal interface, flow data form the one or more flow sensors; and

updating, by the one or more processors, the irrigation schedule based on the received flow sensor data.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the smart controller converter further includes a power interface, the smart controller converter coupled to the host irrigation controller via the power interface, the method further comprising the step of:

receiving, via the power interface, electrical power from the host irrigation controller.

8. A system for controlling irrigation at an irrigation site using a host irrigation controller, the system comprising:

means for receiving a landscape information associated with the irrigation site;

means for receiving an environmental information associated with the irrigation site;

means for deriving an irrigation schedule for the irrigation site based on the landscape information and the environmental information;

means for presenting a list of a plurality of different types of host irrigation controllers;

means for receiving a selection of a specific type of host irrigation controller from the list of the plurality of different types of host irrigation controllers;

means for converting the irrigation schedule into a series of control signals that are recognizable by the selected specific type of host irrigation controller; and

means for transmitting the series of control signals to the host irrigation controller.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

means for receiving sensor data from one or more sensors located at the irrigation site; and

means for updating the irrigation schedule based on the received sensor data.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

means for receiving a user input command from a wireless mobile device; and

means for updating, by the one or more processors, the irrigation schedule based on the received user input command.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

means for receiving flow sensor data from one or more flow sensors located at valves of one or more irrigation stations; and

means for updating the irrigation schedule based on the received flow sensor data.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

means for receiving electrical power from the host irrigation controller.

13. A system for controlling irrigation at an irrigation site using a host irrigation controller, the system comprising:

a wireless data receiver;

a display;

a user input device;

a signal interface configured to be coupled to the host irrigation controller;

one or more processors; and

one or more memory units, the one or more memory units having stored thereon instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to;

receive, via the wireless data receiver, a landscape information associated with the irrigation site;

receive, via the wireless data receiver, an environmental information associated with the irrigation site;

derive, by the one or more processors, an irrigation schedule for the irrigation site based on the landscape information and the environmental information;

present, via the display, a list of a plurality of different types of host irrigation controllers;

receive, via the user input device, a selection of a specific type of host irrigation controller from the list of the plurality of different types of host irrigation controllers;

convert, by the one or more processors, the irrigation schedule into a series of control signals that are recognizable by the selected specific type of host irrigation controller; and

transmit, via the signal interface, the series of control signals to the host irrigation controller.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more memory units have further instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to further:

receive, via the wireless data receiver, sensor data from one or more sensors located at the irrigation site; and

update the irrigation schedule based on the received sensor data.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more memory units have further instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to further:

receive, via the wireless data receiver, a user input command from a wireless mobile device; and

update the irrigation schedule based on the received user input command.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more memory units have further instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to further:

receive, via the signal interface, flow data from one or more flow sensors located at valves of one or more irrigation stations; and

update the irrigation schedule based on the received flow sensor data.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a power interface configured to be coupled to the host irrigation controller and receive power from the host irrigation controller.