U.S. patent application number 13/544901 was filed with the patent office on 2012-11-01 for wireless sprinkler control.
Invention is credited to Dale K. Hitt.
Application Number | 20120273587 13/544901 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35995226 |
Filed Date | 2012-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120273587 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hitt; Dale K. |
November 1, 2012 |
Wireless Sprinkler Control
Abstract
The present invention provides a system and method to control
the flow duration and the flow rate of each individual sprinkler
head wirelessly in each zone of an automatic sprinkler system. The
system comprises a plurality of sensors, preferably wireless, to
control the sprinkler heads, either directly or through a
controller. The system enables precise control over irrigation
times for the areas covered by each sprinkler head. The system also
enables each sprinkler head to control its on/off and duration
decisions based on receiving data from a sensor within an
irrigation zone of an automatic sprinkler system.
Inventors: |
Hitt; Dale K.; (San Jose,
CA) |
Family ID: |
35995226 |
Appl. No.: |
13/544901 |
Filed: |
July 9, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12860770 |
Aug 20, 2010 |
8215570 |
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13544901 |
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11220289 |
Sep 6, 2005 |
7789321 |
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12860770 |
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60607706 |
Sep 7, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
239/63 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01G 25/167
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
239/63 |
International
Class: |
B05B 12/08 20060101
B05B012/08 |
Claims
1. An automatic sprinkler system for providing irrigation to a soil
area, the system comprising a sprinkler head comprising a sensor
for sensing the soil conditions; wherein the sprinkler head
watering the soil based on the sensed data from the sensor.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application a continuation of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 12/860,770 filed Aug. 20, 2010, entitled Wireless
Sprinkler Control, issuing as U.S. Pat. No. 8,215,570 on Jul. 10,
2012, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/220,289 filed Sep. 6, 2005 entitled Wireless Sprinkler Control
(now U.S. Pat. No. 7,789,321 issued Sep. 7, 2010), which claims
priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/607,706 filed
Sep. 7, 2004 entitled Wireless Sprinkler Control, all of which are
hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention generally relates to a wireless sensor system
for environmental monitoring and specifically relates to the
control of a sprinkler system in an irrigation system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Irrigation systems have been used for applying water to the
vegetation. One common use of irrigation systems is for watering of
the lawn. Such systems include sprinklers distributed over the
area, underground water supply pipes to the sprinklers, and valves
to open and close the water supply pipes, and central timing
controller to operate the valves in accordance to a stored schedule
in the controller. The controller controls multiple valves with
each valve typically controls multiple sprinkler heads in a zone.
Most controllers send signals to open and close the valves at
designated intervals, typically calculated to provide a uniform and
maximum amount of water required for each zone. This scheme of
supplying water at a fixed amount throughout a large area can be
wasteful since the vegetation area is thus watered automatically
regardless of the changes in the need of water. Environmental
conditions, such as rain, sunlight, wind and cloud, temperature
change, humidity, soil moisture, or even a leakage sprinkler pipe
or sprinkler head, can also change the amount of water needed at
the time. It is thus beneficial to employ an irrigation system that
can take the environmental conditions into account to adjust the
amount of water accordingly. The system would provide a significant
saving in water, energy, and money to the users.
[0004] Control systems for automatic irrigation systems used for
landscape and agricultural maintenance are known. Most common types
of environmental monitoring and control for irrigation systems
incorporate a means of controlling the start time and duration of
watering cycles via a central timing controller. Often the
environmental control is through seasons such as watering more on
dry season and less on rainy season. In conventional control
system, the primary means for halting an automatic watering cycle
when certain environmental event occurs is by an operator manually
suspending the cycle at the irrigation controller. In most
situations this proves to be an ineffective means of conserving
resources due to the inconsistent and inefficient methods followed
by the operator. In fact, quite often the operator ignores the need
to suspend the watering cycle altogether, and in some cases
neglects to resume the watering cycle when required, leading to
both over-watered and under-watered landscaping. Operator
interruption is also less effective since the controller is
normally programmed to be operated at the very late evening or
early in the morning, where most people would be at rest.
[0005] It is because of this unreliable and inconvenient manual
method that environmental sensors were developed that allow for an
automatic interruption of the controller due to an environmental
condition. The use of sensors for irrigation systems has proven to
be an effective and economical method of conserving water, energy,
and money.
[0006] Existing automatic sprinkler controllers for residential and
commercial applications are typically wired so that a central
controller provides drive signals to each valve in the system to
supply water to the sprinkler heads supplied by the valve. Thus,
all sprinkler heads connected to a valve emit water at a fixed rate
when the valve is turned on. The duration that the valve is turned
on determines the amount of water applied to the area covered by
each sprinkler head. The irrigation system can be divided into
multiple zones for watering. Each zone may contain one valve, or
many valves. Each valve is connected to multiple sprinkler heads.
When a valve is activated, all the sprinklers connected to the
valve will emit water at a fixed rate and in the same time
duration.
[0007] The amount of water needed for different zone, or areas of
the irrigation system is different, based on the location and the
geography of the area. The moisture level, the amount of sunlight
received at each zone, can be different from each other. The amount
of water needed and correspondingly the valve on duration required
for the sprinkler heads may be different in the zones. For example,
one half of a zone may be in the sunny area while the other is
covered by a deep shade. In this case, the sunny section of the
zone will require more water than the shaded section of the zone.
This is often addressed by using sprinkler heads that have
different (but fixed) flow rates. The heads for the sunny section
could have 0.2 gallon per minute flow rate and the heads for the
shady section could have 0.1 gallon per minute flow rate. Another
way is to have different zones with the same flow rate but with
different timing. However, this does not accommodate changes over
time like changes in shading or plan materials.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention provides a system and method to
control the flow duration and the flow rate of each individual
sprinkler head wirelessly in each zone of an automatic sprinkler
system. The system comprises a plurality of sensors, preferably
wireless, to control the sprinkler heads, either directly or
through a controller. The system enables precise control over
irrigation times for the areas covered by each sprinkler head. The
system also enables each sprinkler head to control its on/off and
duration decisions based on receiving data from a sensor within an
irrigation zone of an automatic sprinkler system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a zone with one sensor and
multiple sprinklers.
[0010] FIG. 2A shows an embodiment of the present invention where a
microchip controller is located in the sprinkler head.
[0011] FIG. 2B shows an embodiment of the present invention where a
microchip controller is located in the sensor.
[0012] FIG. 2C shows an embodiment of the present invention where
the sensor is integrated into the sprinkler head.
[0013] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention where a
central controller is located separately from the sensor and the
sprinkler head.
[0014] FIG. 4A shows an embodiment of the present invention where
the sensor communicates directly to all sprinkler heads.
[0015] FIG. 4B shows an embodiment of the present invention where
the sensor communicates to one central sprinkler head, which then
transfers the command to other sprinkler heads.
[0016] FIG. 4C shows an embodiment of the present invention where
the sensor communicates to a central controller, which then
transfers the command to all sprinkler heads.
[0017] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the present invention where
the sensors communicate to one central sensor, which then transfers
the command to the sprinkler heads.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The present invention provides a system and method to
control the flow duration and the flow rate of each individual
sprinkler head wirelessly in each zone of an automatic sprinkler
system. The system comprises a plurality of sensors, wire or
wireless, to control the sprinkler heads, either directly or
through a controller. The system enables precise control over
irrigation times for the areas covered by each sprinkler head. The
system also enables each sprinkler head to control its on/off and
duration decisions based on receiving data from a sensor within an
irrigation zone of an automatic sprinkler system.
[0019] The wireless sensor in each area of influence of each
sprinkler head in a zone communicates wirelessly to the sprinkler
head associates with its area of influence to provide the data
required determining the amount of water to apply. The sprinkler
head could send commands to a central controller to request a
minimum duration for the controller to power its zone on the next
watering cycle or just inform the controller of the current
settings/requirements so that the controller can determine the
time. The sprinkler valve can run completely autonomously without a
central controller. The sensor or the sprinkler head can determine
the start time and stop time for the duration, the water flow rate,
based on the data from the sensor. Sprinkler valves can send
coordination commands to other sprinkler valves to prevent two or
more valves to be on simultaneously to reduce the water pressure.
User input to the valves can be provided through wireless nodes
that possess a user interface.
[0020] The system is equipped with sprinkler heads, and sensors in
each zone of an automatic sprinkler system. The system is divided
into different zones. Each zone ideally would have similar
moisture, humidity, sunlight, and plant characteristics. Each zone
may have a single or multiple sensors and sprinkler heads. FIG. 1
illustrates a single zone with one sensor and multiple sprinkler
heads covering the area of the zone. The moisture sensor can detect
light, soil temperature, humidity, moisture level, and the
fertilizing content in the soil. The sensor can receive and
transmit signals wirelessly to other wireless devices, such as
other sensors, sprinkler heads, and the central controller. The
sprinkler head is equipped with a wireless transceiver or a
wireless receiver. The wireless transceiver receives data and/or
commands from sensors and/or a central controller and/or other
sprinkler heads and/or other wireless network nodes. The wireless
sprinkler head can interpret the data/commands from the wireless
network to determine how long to let water flow and/or the flow
rate for the sprinkler head.
[0021] The present invention also describes a distributed watering
system for an automatic sprinkler system. Instead of the central
controller making decision on when to turn on and off the water
flow, and sending the signals to the valve heads and the zones, the
decision is distributed to each single zone with its sensors and
sprinkler heads. The components in each zone will decide on the
length of the on duration, and the water flow rate, for the zone,
based on the data input from the sensors. The decision can be from
the sensors and transmitted to the corresponding sprinkler heads in
the zone. The decision can be from selected sprinkler heads that
receive the data from the sensors, and determine the duration time
and flow rate, and then transmit the decision to other sprinkler
heads in its group or zone. The decision can also be from each
sprinkler head that receives the data from the sensors, and
determine its own duration time and flow rate.
[0022] In one embodiment of the invention, each zone in the
irrigation system comprises pairs of one sprinkler head and one
sensor. Each sensor detects the moisture level, humidity, sunlight
level, etc. and sends the data signals to its corresponding
sprinkler head. The sensor can be connected to the sprinkler head
by an electrical wire to transmit the signal. Preferably, the
sensor is equipped with a wireless transmitter, and the sprinkler
head a wireless receiver, to allow the signal to be sent
wirelessly, as shown in FIG. 2A. The sprinkler head will use the
data to determine the amount of water required in its area, by
controlling the on duration and the water flow rate. In this
embodiment, the sprinkler head is equipped with a microchip that is
capable of determining the duration time and flow rate based on the
input data from the sensor. The sensor is position relatively close
to the sprinkler head, that short range low power wireless
transmitter and receiver can be used. Alternatively, the microchip
can be included in the sensor instead of the sprinkler head, as
shown in FIG. 2B. In this case, the sensor will determine the
amount of water needed in its area, and sends the commands to the
sprinkler head with the appropriate duration time and flow rate. In
both cases, the sensor is position as close to the sprinkler head
as possible so that the sprinkler head can respond to the condition
of the soil around the sensor as much as possible. In a preferred
embodiment, the sprinkler head and the sensor are combined into one
unit as shown in FIG. 2C, thus eliminating the need for long
electrical connection between the sprinkler head and the sensor or
the need for wireless transmitter and receiver. The sensor can send
coordination commands to other sensors to coordinate a sequential
watering process, to prevent two or more sprinkler heads to be on
simultaneously to reduce the water pressure in the line.
[0023] In another embodiment of the invention, the sensor sends the
data to a central controller through electrical wire, or preferably
wirelessly, as shown in FIG. 3. The central controller then
determines the amount of water to apply and sends the commands to
each sprinkler head to adjust the duration time and flow rate
individually. Alternatively, the central controller could send the
same command to all the sprinkler heads in the zone for a
particular on duration time that is the maximum required of all the
sprinkler heads/sensors determined from all the sensor data from
the zone. The central controller also can send coordination
commands to sprinkler heads to coordinate the sequential watering
process.
[0024] In another embodiment of the invention, each zone in the
irrigation system comprises one sensor and multiple sprinkler
heads. The sprinkler heads are capable of covering a larger area
that has similar soil, humidity, sunlight, and etc.
characteristics. Similar to the previous embodiment, the sensor
detects the moisture level, humidity, sunlight level, etc. and
sends the data signals to the sprinkler heads. The sensor can be
connected to the sprinkler heads by electrical wires, or preferably
by wireless devices, as shown in FIG. 4A. The sprinkler heads will
use the data to determine the amount of water required, by
controlling the on duration and the water flow rate. In this
embodiment, each sprinkler head is equipped with a microchip that
is capable of determining the duration time and flow rate based on
the input data from the sensor. In another embodiment, only one
sprinkler head in the group/zone can receive the data from the
sensor, and has a microchip to determine the amount the water
needed for the zone and thus the duration time and flow rate. This
sprinkler then transmits the duration time and flow rate to the
rest of the sprinkler heads. This is illustrated in FIG. 4B. In
this scenario, only one sprinkler head is equipped with a
microchip, and the wireless transmitter and receiver. All the other
sprinkler heads are equipped only with a wireless receiver.
Alternatively, the sensor can send the signal to all the sprinkler
heads through a central controller. FIG. 4C shows another
embodiment of the invention. The sensor can be communicated with
the central controller by an electrical wire, or preferably
wirelessly. The central controller then sends the duration time and
flow rate commands to all the sprinkler heads in the zone, through
electrical wires or preferable wirelessly. All the sprinkler heads
in this scenario are equipped with the receivers or wireless
receivers.
[0025] In another embodiment of the invention, the zone can
comprise a group of sensors as shown in FIG. 5. The sensors can
send the data to one "smart" sensor to determine the amount of
water to apply. This sensor can interpret the input data from all
the sensors, and turn on the sprinklers in the zone to a particular
time that is the maximum of all the durations required by the
sensors. Alternatively, the group of sensors in the zone may send
the data to a central controller that would interpret the data and
send the commands to all the sprinkler heads.
[0026] In another embodiment of the invention, the wireless sensor
nodes and the wireless sprinkler head nodes can provide an
illustrative map of the locations of all the sensors and sprinkler
heads in each zone and in the irrigation system. The wireless
sensor nodes and the wireless sprinkler head nodes send the signals
to a central controller. The central controller uses the location
information to establish the linkage between the wireless sprinkler
heads and zones and the wireless sensors. The central controller
has a graphical map to illustrate the locations of all the wireless
sensors and sprinkler heads in a map of the irrigation system.
[0027] The wireless sprinkler heads have similar design to the
existing sprinkler heads. The existing sprinkler heads in an
irrigation system can be removed, and the wireless sprinkler heads
screwed on to replace the removed heads. An adapter is available to
match the wireless sprinkler heads to the non-standard heads.
[0028] The wireless sprinkler heads and sensors are preferably
powered by battery, solar power, or an electric generator that
converts the flow of water through the sprinkler head to
electricity. The wireless sprinkler heads and the sensors could
also be powered from electrical wires connected to the sprinkler or
the controller.
[0029] The wireless connection is any of the typical available
wireless communication such as Bluetooth, radio frequency
transmission, infrared transmission, or microwave transmission. The
wireless communication can be encoded to prevent interference
between different wireless irrigation systems.
* * * * *