Automatic control method and system for irrigation

• US 20030230638A1
• Filed: 05/22/2003
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Florida (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of Florida (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Dukes, Michael D., Cornejo, Camilo, Miller, Larry Wayne, Nogueira, Luis Carlos, Scholberg, Johan M., Haman, Dorota Zofia
• Granted Patent: US 6,978,794 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/200
• 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: G05D 22/02 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/189 Soil moisture sensing

Abstract

A controlled irrigation system can include a control device for determining whether to irrigate soil and at least one irrigation structure having an actuator for controlling water flow. The actuator can be communicably coupled to the control device for delivering water to irrigate a region. The controlled irrigation system further can include at least one time domain reflectometry sensor (“TDRS”) located in the soil and communicably coupled to the control device for measuring soil moisture where the control device determines whether to irrigate the soil based on data from the at least one TDRS. Additionally, a method for controlling an irrigation system can include providing multiple TDRS'"'"'s having probes, distributing each TDRS at a different soil depth, measuring soil moisture content, and irrigating soil based on the measuring step.

Claims

1. A controlled irrigation system comprising:

a control device for determining whether to irrigate soil;

at least one irrigation structure having an actuator for controlling water flow, said actuator being communicably coupled to said control device for delivering water to irrigate a region;

at least one time domain reflectometry sensor (“

TDRS”

) located in the soil and communicably coupled to said control device for measuring soil moisture; and

wherein said control device determines whether to irrigate the soil based on data from said at least one TDRS.

2. The controlled irrigation system according to claim 1, wherein said actuator includes a solenoid valve.

3. The controlled irrigation system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one irrigation structure is at least one of a surface irrigation structure, a sprinkler irrigation structure, and a subsurface drip irrigation structure.

4. The controlled irrigation system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one TDRS includes a plurality of TDRS'"'"'s located in the soil.

5. The controlled irrigation system according to claim 4, wherein each said TDRS is located at a different soil depth.

6. The controlled irrigation system according to claim 1, further comprising a data store for storing records of data from said at least one TDRS, wherein said data store is communicably coupled to said at least one TDRS and said control device.

7. The controlled irrigation system according to claim 1, further comprising a multiplexer communicably coupled to said at least one TDRS.

8. The controlled irrigation system according to claim 1, further comprising a data logger communicably coupled to said at least one TDRS and said control device for providing a communications interface between said at least one TDRS and said control device.

9. The controlled irrigation system according to claim 1, wherein said control device is a computing device.

10. The controlled irrigation system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one TDRS includes probes, wherein said probes are orientated substantially parallel to the surface of the soil.

11. A method for controlling an irrigation system, comprising the steps of:

providing multiple time domain reflectometry sensors (“

TDRS”

) having probes;

distributing each TDRS at a different soil depth;

measuring soil moisture content; and

irrigating soil based upon said measuring step.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of orientating the probes of at least one of the TDRS'"'"'s so that the probes are substantially parallel with a surface of the soil.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of storing soil moisture content measurements.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of producing a measure of representative soil moisture content from multiple TDRS measurements.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said irrigating step is based on the measure of representative soil moisture content.

16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of setting soil moisture content threshold levels.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of comparing measurement values with the soil moisture content threshold levels.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said irrigating step is based on a comparison of measurement values with the soil moisture content threshold levels.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein said irrigating step is further based on time.