Automatic efficient irrigation threshold setting

• US 8,751,052 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2011
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Green Badge, LLC
• Original Assignee: Green Badge, LLC
• Inventors: Campbell, Jeffrey, Sohrabi, Kathy, Karmel, Clayton R., Magro, Carmen
• Primary Examiner(s): SHECHTMAN, SEAN P
• Application Number:
  US13/017,538
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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

Abstract

A method and system for monitoring the dynamic response of soil moisture and setting a threshold in relation to the field capacity of a soil area is disclosed herein. By measuring the dynamic response of soil moisture under wet soil conditions, one can determine a practical field capacity for the soil, in-situ, based solely on the soil moisture sensor output. Essentially, by looking at how the soil moisture level varies with time one can determine the field capacity.

Claims

1. A method for automatic irrigation threshold setting, the method comprising:

measuring a dynamic response of soil moisture of a soil area under a fully saturated environment;

setting a threshold for the soil area based on the measurements of the dynamic response;

monitoring the dynamic response of soil moisture over a predetermined time period;

wherein measuring the dynamic response is performed by a system comprising a plurality of wireless sub-soil sensors, an interrupter in communication with each of the plurality of wireless sub-soil sensors, wherein the interrupter comprises a housing, a microcontroller, a radiofrequency antenna, a memory, a display and a power supply;

wherein the interrupter suspends scheduled watering if the soil moisture is above the threshold;

wherein the interrupter continues monitoring the soil moisture level to determine if the soil moisture level has dropped below the threshold;

wherein the interrupter returns to scheduled watering once the soil moisture level is below the threshold;

wherein the interrupter can only interrupt a scheduled watering and not commence a scheduled watering.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the threshold is 70% to 80% of the field capacity of the soil area.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the soil area is a residential lawn.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the threshold is set to optimize water efficiency and plant growth.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the soil area is a golf course.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the soil area is a farm.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the soil area is a football field.