WIRELESS MOISTURE PROBE, RECEIVING CONTROLLER AND IRRIGATION CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20090177330A1
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Carl L.C. Kah Jr
• Original Assignee: Carl L.C. Kah Jr
• Inventors: Kah, Carl L.C. JR.
• Application Number:
  US12/340,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20090177330A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/284
• 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: G01F 23/266 measuring circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/268 mounting arrangements of probes
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/048 Monitoring; Safety
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering

Abstract

A control system for controlling at least one irrigation station in an irrigation system in accordance with an embodiment of the present application includes a moisture probe operable to gather moisture information regarding moisture present in soil at the irrigation station and to periodically transmit the moisture information wirelessly and a controller operable to receive the moisture information and operable to provide control signals to control the irrigation station based on the moisture information to maintain a desired moisture level at the water station.

Claims

1. A control system for controlling at least one irrigation station in an irrigation system comprising:

a moisture probe operable to gather moisture information regarding moisture present in soil at the irrigation station and to periodically transmit the moisture information wirelessly; and

a controller operable to receive the moisture information and operable to provide control signals to control the irrigation station based on the moisture information to maintain a desired moisture level at the water station.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the moisture probe further comprises:

at least one electrode structured for insertion into the soil to a predetermined depth;

measurement circuitry connected to the electrode and operable to provide a measurement signal indicative of a moisture level in the soil;

a transceiver operable to periodically transmit the measurement signal as the moisture information.

3. The control system of claim 2, wherein the measurement signal is based on a capacitive impedance of the at least one electrode.

4. The control system of claim 3, wherein the controller utilizes the moisture information to determine a precipitation rate provided at the irrigation station.

5. The control system of claim 4, wherein the controller utilizes the moisture information to determine an evaporation and transpiration loss rate for the irrigation station.

6. The control system of claim 5, wherein the precipitation rate and evaporation and transpiration loss rate are utilized by the controller to modify a run time for a sprinkler of the irrigation station required to maintain the desired moisture level at the irrigation station.

7. The control system of claim 6, wherein the desired moisture level is based on moisture information provided by the moisture probe after a predetermined period of time has passed after the sprinkler of the irrigation zone has been activated for watering.

8. The control system of claim 7, wherein the predetermined period of time is set such that water soaks into the soil after watering.

9. The control system of claim 8, wherein the controller further comprises a mode switch operable to select a mode of operation for the controller.

10. The control system of claim 9, wherein a bypass mode is selectable using the mode switch to bypass the moisture information provided by the moisture probe.

11. The control system of claim 10, wherein a weather mode is selectable using the mode switch to utilize weather information to modify run times of a sprinkler in the irrigation zone.

12. The control system of claim 11, wherein the controller further comprises a display device operable to display information to the user.

13. The control system of claim 12, wherein the display shows the moisture information provided by the moisture probe to the user.

14. The control system of claim 13, further comprising an input device operable to enter selection information used to control the irrigation zone.

15. A method of controlling an irrigation zone of an irrigation system comprising:

providing a moisture probe;

gathering moisture information regarding a moisture level of the soil around the moisture probe

periodically transmitting the moisture information wirelessly;

receiving the moisture information at a controller; and

providing control signals from the controller to the irrigation zone to control a sprinkler thereof based on the moisture information.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the control signals set an on time for the sprinkler based on the moisture information to maintain a desired moisture percentage in the soil at the moisture probe.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of providing control signals further comprises:

receiving first moisture information prior to watering;

controlling the sprinkler to water in the irrigation zone;

receiving second moisture information after watering;

determining a precipitation rate of the sprinkler based on the difference between the first moisture information and the second moisture information.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of providing control signals further comprises:

receiving first loss moisture information after watering;

waiting a predetermined period of time;

receiving second loss moisture information after the predetermined period of time;

determining an evaporation and transpiration loss rate at the irrigation zone based on the first loss moisture information, predetermined time and the second loss moisture information.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein an on time of the sprinkler indicated by the control signals is set based on the precipitation rate and the evaporation and transpiration loss rate.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising displaying the moisture information on a display device of the controller.