MULTI-ZONE SPRINKLER SYSTEM WITH MOISTURE SENSORS AND CONFIGURABLE SPRAY PATTERN

• US 20080223950A1
• Filed: 03/19/2008
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Kates
• Inventors: Kates, Lawrence
• Granted Patent: US 7,658,336 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/63
• 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: Y02A 40/22 Improving land use; Improving water use or availability; Controlling erosion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 239/01 Pattern sprinkler
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 239/15 Sprinkler systems with controls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/189 Soil moisture sensing

Abstract

An irrigation system comprises sprinkler heads with an electrically configurable spray pattern, moisture sensors, and a controller. Based upon input signals from the moisture sensors, the controller dynamically configures the spray pattern of the sprinkler head to allow more water to fall on areas that need to be watered and less water to fall on areas that do not require additional water. The irrigation system can additionally comprise fire sensors. Based upon input from the fire sensors, the controller activates the sprinklers.

Claims

1. A sprinkler system comprising:

a rotating sprinkler head having a configurable spray pattern, wherein said sprinkler head is configured to rotate through an arc;

a first moisture sensor provided in a zone watered by said sprinkler head, said first moisture sensor associated with a first portion of the arc and configured to collect first moisture data;

a second moisture sensor provided in the zone, said second moisture sensor associated with a second portion of the arc and configured to collect second moisture data; and

a controller configured to obtain the moisture data and configure the spray pattern of the sprinkler head based on the moisture data, wherein the controller is configured to configure the spray pattern at least in part by controlling the rate of rotation of said sprinkler head, wherein the controller is configured to control a rate of rotation of the sprinkler head based at least in part on said first and second moisture data.

2. The sprinkler system of claim 1, wherein the sprinkler head further comprises an actuator, wherein the spray pattern is controlled by controlling an actuator.

3. The sprinkler system of claim 1, wherein the sprinkler head further comprises an actuator, wherein the state of the actuator determines rate of rotation of the sprinkler head.

4. The sprinkler system of claim 3, wherein the controller determines the state of the actuator.