Smart water timer

• US 7,810,515 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2008
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Melnor Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Melnor Incorporated
• Inventors: Drury, David, McDonald, Randy, Brass, Stephen, Duong, Ha Van, Michael, Vicky Ann, Nies, Juergen
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNES-BULLOCK, CRYSTAL JOY
• Application Number:
  US12/046,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20080255708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 700/275, 700282-284, 702/188, 340/500, 340/531, 340/539.1, 340/539.3, 340/539.22, 340/539.26, 340/540, 340/601, 340/602, 324/663, 324/664, 324/658, 239/63, 239/64, 239/67, 239/69, 239/70, 239/723, 251/129.01, 251/129.04, 137 781- 783, 137/624.11, 137/624.18
• US Class Current: 137/78.3
• 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: Y10T 137/189 Soil moisture sensing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 Programmer or timer

Abstract

A smart water timer which includes a water timer, a receiving unit connected to the water timer, and a moisture sensing unit which is in wireless communication with the receiving unit. The smart water timer can sense when the moisture level in the soil is too moist (based on a user setting) and turn off a water supply to a sprinkler as a result A soil moisture sensing unit is placed in the soil in the area to be watered. The soil moisture sensing unit uses a moisture sensing probe and wirelessly transmits a data signal to the receiver, which is connected to the water timer, indicating whether or not the water timer should be permitted to open a water valve.

Claims

1. A smart water timer system for controlling an amount of water delivered to a lawn, said smart water timer system comprising:

a controller for opening and closing a water valve,

a receiving unit in communication with the controller, and

a moisture sensing unit in wireless communication with the receiving unit;

wherein

the moisture sensing unit comprises a selection means for a user to select a desired soil moisture range,

wherein said controller is a water timer and said water valve is positioned inside said water timer.

2. The smart water timer system according to claim 1, wherein the moisture sensing unit measures a soil moisture content and transmits a message to the receiving unit at predetermined time intervals.

3. The smart water timer system according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit sends a message to the controller instructing the controller to turn off or remain off.

4. The smart water timer system according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of moisture sensing units are used with the controller such that the plurality of moisture sensing units corresponds to a plurality of output valves.

5. The smart water timer system according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit and the controller are modular units.

6. The smart water timer system according to claim 1, said smart water timer system further comprising a lawn watering device operably connected to the controller.

7. The smart water timer system according to claim 1, wherein the moisture sensing unit measures a soil moisture content of a soil and transmits a data message to the receiving unit indicating whether or not the controller should be allowed to turn on a lawn watering device.

8. The smart water timer system according to claim 7, wherein the data message is only one bit.

9. The smart water timer system according to claim 1, wherein the moisture sensing unit comprises a capacitive soil moisture sensor.

10. The smart water timer system according to claim 1, wherein the controller has a plurality of output valves.

11. A method of using a smart water timer system for controlling the amount of water delivered to a lawn, said smart water timer system comprising:

a controller for opening and closing a water valve, wherein said controller is a water timer and said water valve is positioned inside said water timer

a receiving unit in communication with the controller, and

a moisture sensing unit in wireless communication with the receiving unit;

wherein said moisture sensing unit comprises a selection means for a user to select a desired soil moisture range,

wherein said method comprising the steps of;

setting a desired soil moisture range on a soil moisture sensor; and

placing the soil moisture sensor in the area to be sensed, wherein

the soil moisture sensor wirelessly transmits a data signal to a receiver, and

the receiver relays a message to a water timer indicating whether or not the water timer should turn off or remain off.

12. A soil moisture sensing unit comprising:

a housing;

a soil moisture sensor in communication with a soil;

a transmitter in communication with the soil moisture sensor; and

an adjustment mechanism to select a desired soil moisture range of the soil, the adjustment mechanism in communication with the soil moisture sensor, wherein

the transmitter sends a signal every 15 seconds after the sensor is turned on.

13. The soil moisture sensing unit according to claim 12, wherein the housing comprises:

a bottom portion comprising the soil moisture sensor; and

an upper portion comprising the transmitter and the adjustment mechanism.

14. The soil moisture sensing unit according to claim 12, wherein the soil moisture sensing unit compares input data from the soil moisture sensor with input data from the adjustment mechanism and determines whether or not the soil is above the desired soil moisture range selected.

15. The soil moisture sensing unit according to claim 12 wherein the transmitter transmits a data message indicating that a soil moisture is more or less than a maximum of the desired soil moisture range selected with the adjustment mechanism.

16. The soil moisture sensing unit according to claim 12, wherein the soil moisture sensor is a capacitance probe.

17. The soil moisture sensing unit according to claim 16, wherein the capacitance probe comprises traces formed on a printed wire board.

18. The soil moisture sensing unit according to claim 16, wherein the capacitance probe comprises electrodes positioned generally horizontal to the soil.

19. The soil moisture sensing unit according to claim 12 wherein the adjustment mechanism is a rotary switch.