U.S. patent application number 14/518958 was filed with the patent office on 2015-02-05 for landscape irrigation management with automated water budget & seasonal adjust, and automated implementation of watering restrictions.
The applicant listed for this patent is George Alexanian. Invention is credited to George Alexanian.
Application Number | 20150039143 14/518958 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45934815 |
Filed Date | 2015-02-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150039143 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Alexanian; George |
February 5, 2015 |
LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT WITH AUTOMATED WATER BUDGET &
SEASONAL ADJUST, AND AUTOMATED IMPLEMENTATION OF WATERING
RESTRICTIONS
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and
apparatus for water conservation with landscape irrigation
controllers, plug-in and add-on devices, and centralized systems.
In embodiments of the invention, a water budget percentage is
determined by comparing current local geo-environmental data with
stored local geo-environmental data, and the preliminary irrigation
schedule or station run times are automatically modified based upon
that water budget percentage. Embodiments of the present invention
also provide for automation of mandated landscape watering
restrictions alone, or in various combinations with water budgeting
methods and apparatus.
Inventors: |
Alexanian; George; (Fresno,
CA) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Alexanian; George |
Fresno |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
45934815 |
Appl. No.: |
14/518958 |
Filed: |
October 20, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14027908 |
Sep 16, 2013 |
8874275 |
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14518958 |
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13276219 |
Oct 18, 2011 |
8538592 |
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14027908 |
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13519071 |
Jun 25, 2012 |
8885048 |
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13276219 |
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12011801 |
Jan 30, 2008 |
7962244 |
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13519071 |
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11879700 |
Jul 17, 2007 |
7844368 |
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12011801 |
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11336690 |
Jan 20, 2006 |
7266428 |
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11879700 |
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10824667 |
Apr 13, 2004 |
7058478 |
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11336690 |
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60465457 |
Apr 25, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
700/284 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G05B 2219/2625 20130101;
G06Q 30/0201 20130101; A01G 25/16 20130101; G05B 19/0426 20130101;
G06Q 40/12 20131203; G06Q 50/02 20130101; G05B 15/02 20130101; G05B
2219/23227 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/284 |
International
Class: |
A01G 25/16 20060101
A01G025/16; G06Q 30/02 20060101 G06Q030/02; G06Q 40/00 20060101
G06Q040/00; G05B 15/02 20060101 G05B015/02 |
Claims
1-260. (canceled)
261. A method of determining a current water budget percentage to
be used in irrigation comprising the steps of: a. providing
historical geo-environmental data for a location; b. providing
current environmental data for said location; c. comparing said
current environmental data to said historical geo-environmental
data to determine said current water budget percentage without
calculating current reference evapotranspiration.
262. The method of claim 261 wherein said historical
geo-environmental data is selected from the group of
evapotranspiration data, solar radiation data, precipitation data,
ambient temperature data, wind data, relative humidity data, soil
temperature data, soil moisture data or combinations thereof.
263. The method of claim 261 wherein said current environmental
data is selected from the group of ambient temperature,
precipitation, solar radiation, wind, relative humidity, soil
moisture, soil temperature, or combinations thereof.
264. The method of claim 261 wherein said water budget percentage
is determined according to one of the group of: within a
controller, in a plug-in module, in an add-on module, and from a
central location.
265. The method of claim 261 wherein said current reference
evapotranspiration data is calculated using one of the group of the
Pennman-Monteith equation and the Hargreaves equation.
266. The method of claim 261 comprising the additional step of
automatically modifying at least one irrigation schedule of a
controller using said percentage.
267. The method of claim 261 comprising the additional step of
automatically modifying at least one station run time of a
controller using said percentage.
268. The method of claim 261 wherein said current environmental
data is received from a temperature sensor.
269. An irrigation control unit comprising: a. a microprocessor; b.
at least one environmental sensor in communication with said
microprocessor; and c. programming in said microprocessor to
determine a water budget percentage without calculating current
reference evapotranspiration by comparing data from said at least
one environmental sensor to stored historical environmental data
within said microprocessor.
270. The irrigation control unit of claim 269 wherein said
environmental sensor is selected from the group of ambient
temperature, soil temperature, soil moisture, solar radiation,
wind, relative humidity, precipitation, and combinations
thereof.
271. The irrigation control unit of claim 269 wherein said stored
historical environmental data is selected from the group of ambient
temperature, precipitation, solar radiation, wind, relative
humidity, soil moisture, soil temperature, evapotranspiration, and
combinations thereof.
272. The irrigation control unit of claim 269 further comprising a
controller.
273. The irrigation control unit of claim 269 further comprising a
plug-in module in communication with a compatible controller.
274. The irrigation control unit of claim 269 further comprising a
module attached to at least one output of an irrigation
controller.
275. The irrigation control unit of claim 269 further comprising a
central irrigation system.
276. The irrigation control unit of claim 269 wherein power is
supplied by one of the group of AC, DC, battery, solar, and ambient
light.
277. A method of automating a water budget feature of a controller
comprising the step of periodically determining a water budget
percentage to be used by said controller by comparing current
environmental data for a location to stored historic
geo-environmental data for said location without calculating
current reference evapotranspiration data.
278. The method of claim 277 wherein said current environmental
data is selected from the group of ambient temperature, solar
radiation, relative humidity, wind, soil moisture, soil
temperature, precipitation, and combinations thereof.
279. The method of 277 wherein said historic geo-environmental data
is selected from the group of evapotranspiration, ambient
temperature, solar radiation, wind, precipitation, relative
humidity, soil moisture, soil temperature, and combinations
thereof.
280. The method of claim 277 wherein said water budget
determination is performed according to one of the group of: in
said controller, in a module in communication with said controller,
from a central location and communicated to said controller, and in
said controller wherein said controller is self-contained and
ground mounted.
Description
[0001] This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
14/027,908 filed on Sep. 16, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 13/276,219 filed on Oct. 18, 2011, now
U.S. Pat. No. 8,538,592, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 13/159,071 filed Jun. 13, 2011,
abandoned, which is a continuation in part of application Ser. No.
12/011,801 filed Jan. 30, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,962,244, which
is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 11/879,700 filed
on Jul. 17, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,844,368, which is a
continuation-in-part of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No.
11/336,690 filed on Jan. 20, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,266,428,
which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Utility patent application
Ser. No. 10/824,667 filed on Apr. 13, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No.
7,058,478, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application
No. 60/465,457 filed on Apr. 25, 2003, all of which are
incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to the management and
conservation of landscape irrigation water and more specifically,
to methods and apparatus for automatically adjusting irrigation
based upon changing environmental conditions, geographic locations
and/or government watering restriction regulations.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] Many regions of the United States lack sufficient water
resources to satisfy all of their competing agricultural, urban,
commercial and environmental needs. Landscape water conservation
has therefore become an important issue in the landscape irrigation
industry. One reason that landscape water is over-utilized is that
most consumers typically adjust their irrigation schedule an
average of three times per year, rather than on a daily or weekly
basis, regardless of changes in environmental conditions. The
relatively high cost of labor in many municipalities prohibits
frequent manual adjustments of such irrigation controllers. This
generally results in over-irrigation and runoff, particularly
during the off-seasons, oftentimes by as much as one to two hundred
percent. Certain municipalities or water districts limit landscape
irrigation to certain times of the day, certain days of the week,
or certain days of the month. However, these require manually
entered programming changes several times during the course of the
year, resulting in generally limited compliance and efficiency. The
Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) recently reported that only
7% of their customers were totally compliant year round. It is
therefore desirable to provide methods and apparatus for
automatically adjusting landscape irrigation based upon changing
environmental conditions, geographic locations and/or government
regulations.
[0006] There have been three primary approaches used to accomplish
the goal of conserving landscape irrigation water: (1) water
conservation through restricted watering schedules (such as
municipal or governmental watering restrictions); (2) soil moisture
sensing methods; and (3) climate-based irrigation systems and
methods using "smart" (self-adjusting) irrigation controllers.
[0007] Municipal watering restrictions have been used by
municipalities for about 30 years to both save water and address
the water load demand on pumping and infrastructure water delivery
capacities. These restrictions have heretofore been manually
entered into irrigation controllers and normally require manual
seasonal changes. The present inventor's U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,844,368
and 7,962,244 and published application No. 2011/0093123, which are
incorporated herein, discuss methods and apparatus for implementing
municipally restricted watering schedules. These restrictions can
be provided within an irrigation controller, through devices that
are plugged into a controller, through devices that are added onto
a controller, or through systems for centrally broadcasting
information to remote controllers, add-ons or plug-ins. Additional
embodiments for implementing restricted watering schedules are
disclosed herein.
[0008] Soil moisture sensing devices have been in available for
years, but have enjoyed only limited success. Such devices and
methods generally call for inserting moisture sensors into the soil
to measure the soil moisture content. Conventional soil moisture
sensors typically break either the common electrical line to the
valves, or break the electrical line for each individual valve.
Irrometer provides such soil moisture sensors. Newer soil moisture
sensing technologies have more recently been developed, such as by
Acclima and Baseline, and claim to be more accurate in measuring
plant water needs. Improved soil moisture technology may be
promising, but such devices and methods are often problematic due
to the location and number of sensors necessary, and the high costs
of installing and maintaining the sensors. Nevertheless, newer and
more accurate soil moisture sensing devices can provide useful data
for use by "smart" (self-adjusting) irrigation controllers with
which these newer sensors communicate, and related devices,
including embodiments of the present invention.
[0009] In terms of climatologically based smart controllers, a
number of irrigation controller manufacturers offer smart
irrigation controllers that calculate evapotranspiration, or "ET",
which is a representation of the amount of water needed by plants
to replace water lost through plant absorption and evaporation, and
is expressed in inches or millimeters of water per day.
Unfortunately, as described briefly below and in more detail in
predecessor U.S. Pat. No. 7,058,478 (which is incorporated herein
by this reference), because there are so many different methods of
calculating ET, and because so many different variables may be
taken into consideration in making ET calculations, any controller
or related device that actually performs ET calculations is likely
to generate erroneous or unpredictable results, which is not
desirable when trying to regulate landscape irrigation.
[0010] The United States Food and Agriculture Office (USFAO), in
its Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 24, entitled "Crop Water
Requirements," noted that "a large number of more or less empirical
methods have been developed over the last fifty years by numerous
scientists and specialists worldwide to estimate ET from different
climatic variables."
[0011] There are at least 15 different ET formulas. Each of these
formulas provides a different result for the reference ET (ETo). In
their paper entitled "Methods to Calculate Evapotranspiration:
Differences and Choices," Diego Cattaneo and Luke Upham published a
four-year analysis comparing four different recognized ETo
formulas--the Penman-Monteith formula, the Schwab formula, the
Penman formula, and the Penman program described in the previous
patents. The comparison revealed that the results from these four
recognized formulas sometimes varied by as much as seventy percent,
particularly with the most recognized Pennman-Monteith formula
discussed at length in the parent applications. (See the '478
patent col. 2, starting at line 56; and see the '428 and '368
patents, FIG. 8; and see FIG. 8 of the pending published
application 2011/0093123). The following U.S. patents, among
others, disclose various methods by which an irrigation controller
calculates or adjusts an irrigation schedule based upon historical,
distal, or local ETo: 4962522; 5208855; 5479339; 5696671; and
6298285. Unlike embodiments of the present invention, all of these
inventions either calculate ETo ("reference" ET) values from
weather stations or environmental sensors, or receive current
service based ET data from external sources, and use such ET
information to adjust and regulate irrigation. Several of these
existing inventions also utilize other data, such as a
precipitation sensor or a freeze sensor to shut down irrigation,
respectively, during rainy times or cold temperatures. None of
these prior inventions, however, actually perform an automated
water budget calculation. Conversely, embodiments of the present
invention do not themselves make any ET determinations or
calculations, and do not receive or transmit current ET data;
however, embodiments of the present invention may utilize or rely
on historical ET data in determining the water budget percentage
without making ET calculations within the embodiments. Such
external sources may be CIMIS ET databases, local sensors, cable
lines or broadcast stations. Such historical ET data was used to
develop FIG. 1 of the parent patents and the pending published
application 2011/0093123.
[0012] The main objection to using ET based controllers, add-ons
and plug-ins is that they either calculate ET or receive ET data in
order to determine the irrigation schedule and are far too complex
for the average user. A 2009 study sponsored by the California
Department of Water Resources (DWR) conducted by AquaCraft revealed
that of the 3112 ET based smart irrigation controllers used in the
California study, 47% used more water than the previous
conventional controllers at the same locations during the previous
year. The total resulting overall average landscape water saved was
a disappointing 6.3%. As a consequence, many irrigation controller
manufacturers such as Toro, Irritrol, Rain Bird, and Hunter have
recently gone away from calculated ET based systems and transmitted
ET based service fees, particularly for residential applications,
in favor of much simpler and less expensive approaches.
[0013] In addition to its user unfriendliness, a second shortcoming
of the calculated ET method is its dependence upon numerous
categories of local, real-time meteorological data and a variety of
landscape specific data such as the sprinkler precipitation rate,
crop coefficient factors, type of soil, slope, degree of shade,
etc. Data used for calculating current ET must be obtained by
separate sensors, each one installed in a particular location,
requiring an understanding of local environmental conditions and
meteorology. Such current data must be received and processed in
real-time, and any inaccurate, misinterpreted or misunderstood data
would result in inaccurate current ET calculations, leading to
potential deviations and inefficient irrigation. Historical ET,
however, averaged over time, is less susceptible to such
deviations.
[0014] Due to the urgency arising from severe national drought and
environmental conditions, and the shortcomings of the various
present technologies, the irrigation industry is still, as it was
in 2003, researching alternative methods for water conservation and
prevention of unattended runoff. The Center for Irrigation
Technology in Fresno, Calif., along with other educational and
research institutions and water conservation agencies, is
conducting studies to determine the most effective water
conservation method. On the national level, the EPA is in the final
stages of implementing a "WaterSense" irrigation efficiency rating
program similar to the "EnergyStar" rating system currently in use
for equipment energy efficiency. The purpose of such an irrigation
efficiency rating program is to promote consumer awareness and
compliance as an alternative to mandated water conservation
measures which would severely and negatively impact the irrigation
industry, landscape aesthetics and the ecology. The main criteria
for WaterSense labeling is passing the SWAT test while producing at
least a 20% landscape water savings, and the capability to
incorporate restricted watering schedules. However, there is no
specification or means provided for any form of changes to automate
watering restrictions during the course of the year, nor the
ability to select from one or more set of watering restrictions,
including the incorporation of stages of drought.
[0015] It is clear from the foregoing discussion that the landscape
irrigation industry, in view of a politically and economically
sensitive, and urgent, water crisis, is pursuing highly scientific,
mathematical and/or technical approaches for resolving the problems
of wasted irrigation water and drought conditions. Unsurprisingly,
such approaches have met with limited success in a decade of use.
The EPA, United States Department of Energy (DOE), ecologists,
environmentalists, municipalities, water agencies, and research
institutions are all searching for new methods that provide
practical (as opposed to theoretical) irrigation
efficiency--methods that overcome the particular shortcomings of
the prior art.
[0016] Thus, there is an urgent need for irrigation systems that
conserve water and energy, and minimize negative impact upon the
environment, by automatically adjusting their schedules
periodically in response to meteorological and seasonal changes, as
well as complying with any governmentally-mandated watering
restrictions.
[0017] The problem of irrigation mismanagement, and the main hurdle
faced by the industry, can be simply summarized as follows: once a
system is properly designed and installed, most of the wasted
landscape irrigation water and runoff is caused by failing to
adjust irrigation based on daily, periodic, or seasonal weather
changes. Such inaction is usually caused by the complexity and
difficulty of determining the particular adjustment amounts. With
that in mind, correspondingly simple intuitive solutions would be
highly preferred over the existing highly theoretical and
technical, but impractical, state of the art in moisture sensing or
ET-based control systems.
[0018] It is therefore desirable to provide simple, user-intuitive,
and therefore readily acceptable water conservation approaches,
particularly for clearly understood automated methods of adjusting
and implementing irrigation schedules. It is further desirable to
provide methods and apparatus that do not necessarily rely upon
ground or air moisture sensing means, weather stations, or
performing ET calculations (either directly, or as a basis for
deriving watering times). It is further desirable to provide
methods and apparatus that minimize the margins and sources of
errors by minimizing the number of sensor inputs required by the
variables in whatever formula is used. It is further desirable to
provide methods and apparatus that utilize minimal local, real-time
meteorological data. It is further desirable that such methods and
apparatus be cost-efficient, affordable and usable by a large
number of people and entities within the different industries. It
is further desirable that such methods and apparatus be
understandable by the average consumer. It is further desirable
that such methods and apparatus be accomplished automatically,
without requiring regular manual adjustments by the operator of the
irrigation watering time settings or schedules. It is also
desirable to provide either as an alternative or in combination
automated implementation of governmental watering restrictions
along with simple automated water budget or seasonal adjust
functionality.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0019] The present invention automates the water budget or seasonal
adjust feature of irrigation controllers alone or in various
combinations with automated watering restrictions to conserve
landscape water. The result is a greatly simplified approximation
of evapotranspiration methods without the need to calculate
evapotranspiration within any of the preferred embodiments of the
present invention. The present invention provides numerous
automated methods and apparatus for smart water conservation and
management alone or in combination with automatic implementation of
governmental or other watering restrictions in controllers,
add-ons, plug-ins, central systems or other devices.
[0020] Embodiments of the smart irrigation methods and apparatus
described herein determine or calculate a water budget percentage
to be applied, for example, to a peak or summer irrigation
schedule, by comparing stored to current geo-environmental data,
and then apply the percentage to an irrigation schedule to adjust a
controller's station start times, run times, watering intervals, or
otherwise alter the controller's irrigation schedule. In
embodiments of the invention, governmental or other watering
restrictions for a particular location are automatically selected
and implemented, and automatically re-selected or updated for
automatic seasonal calendar changes. Both automatic water budgeting
and automatic implementation of restricted schedules may be
provided in many of the embodiments herein to accommodate for
available water supply and infrastructure pumping and delivery
limitations for a water district, municipality, or region. In some
embodiments restricted watering schedules may be automatically
implemented at some times during the year, but not implemented at
other times during the year, thereby allowing whatever smart
technology is present in the controller, add-on, plug-in, or
system, whether water budgeting, ET-based, soil moisture based, or
other, to adjust watering during those other times.
[0021] Various terms used in the present application are defined in
advance for clarity: [0022] 1. A "smart" weather or climate based
irrigation system is one that self-adjusts its watering schedule(s)
or station run time(s) periodically to adapt to current weather
conditions or other input. The use of water budget percentages is
an example of "smart" irrigation technology. ET and soil moisture
based technologies are other examples of smart controllers. [0023]
2. A "conventional" irrigation controller does not have smart
technology and may also be referred to as an existing controller.
[0024] 3. "Seasonal adjust" is a feature available in irrigation
controllers that allows the operator to manually set or change all
of the controller station run times globally by a percentage of the
original time settings so that each individual station run time
does not have to be separately changed. It is also convenient for
the homeowner or operator to not have to remember or record the
original station run times. Usually reverting the water budget to
100% will reset all station run times to their original settings.
[0025] 4. The term "water budget" or "water budget ratio" (WBR) is
a percentage of an original or preliminary watering station run
time. These terms are used numerous times in the parent patents.
The suffix "ratio" is sometimes used to clarify that this does not
refer to a budgeted volume or allotment of water. In this context,
"water budget", "water budget ratio" and "water budget percentage"
are often used synonymously. Embodiments of the present invention
similarly automate the "seasonal adjust" feature using a water
budget ratio--without actually determining or calculating ET--by
comparing current environmental data to stored environmental data
for the controller location, hence called geo-environmental data.
Any reference to the water budget ratio as being calculated or
determined is not to be inferred as to any specific equation,
algorithm or certain variables. The equations or algorithms used in
the exemplary water budgeting methods and apparatus of the present
invention are merely considered as one of the many methods and
apparatus available, but are not the only equations, algorithms,
variables or physical embodiments possible. An important aspect of
embodiments of the present invention is the automation of the water
budget and its use to adjust either the preliminary station run
times, start times or watering schedules (such as watering
intervals) as previously noted in the parent patents. [0026] 5. An
"irrigation schedule" refers to a controller's programmed schedule
of start times, watering days, and/or station durations (run
times). [0027] 6. A "restricted irrigation schedule" refers to
restricted, allowed, or not allowed watering days of the week, days
of the month, or times of the day, as set by a governmental entity
or other authority. Embodiments of the present invention automate
such restricted schedules. [0028] 7. Station "run times" are part
of an irrigation schedule. Hence varying station run times is
varying a specific part of varying an irrigation schedule. Varying,
modifying, or adjusting an irrigation schedule is more general,
hence broader, and may include varying station run times, start
times, watering days, or watering intervals, or any combination
thereof [0029] 8. "Stored" or "historical" geo-environmental data
may consist of ambient temperature, solar radiation, relative
humidity, wind, precipitation, ET, soil moisture or temperature
data, or combinations thereof. Historical or stored ET data is not
calculated or determined by or within any embodiments of the
present invention, but may be provided to, stored into, and used by
embodiments of the methods or apparatus of the present invention.
[0030] 9. One group of landscape water conservation methods and
apparatus of the present invention are called "temperature
budgeting" because in their simplest and preferred forms, these
embodiments only require current temperature sensor data and some
historical data to determine a water budget. [0031] 10. "Time of
Use" (TOU) is a term used by electric utilities starting in the
early 1990's for rewarding farmers who did not use their
agricultural pumps during peak hours of the day with significant
energy rate reductions. [0032] 11. A distinction is made between a
"plug-in" type of device, and an "add-on" device. Both are
technically add-ons because they are both added to existing
controllers, for example to make them smart and/or to comply with
watering restrictions. The "plug-in" version of an add-on generally
plugs into a controller so that it can communicate directly with
the microprocessor of the controller. Thus, a "plug-in" can only
communicate with certain models of a host controller. A simple
"add-on" is normally attached to one or more of the outputs of a
controller to interrupt or modify or adjust such outputs according
to its programming. [0033] 12. SWAT (Smart Water Application
Technology) is a testing protocol for smart irrigation controllers.
The EPA WaterSense labeling program and the Irrigation Industry
have accepted the SWAT test as the standard for verifying landscape
water conservation. [0034] 13. A central unit or module (CM) is a
unit that includes a microprocessor that is capable of determining
a water budget, and an output to send this information to one or
more remotely located controllers, plug-ins or add-ons. The output
may use a transmitter, wireless system, internet connection, or
other dissemination device. The remote units may or may not be
independently addressable by the CM. A CM may in turn be in
communication with one or more environmental sensors by wired or
wireless means. A CM may also send (governmentally) restricted
watering schedules. A typical CM may cover a local area such as a
school, park, apartment complex, shopping center or a cemetery; or
it may broadcast to an entire neighborhood, subdivision, city,
county or other geographic region. [0035] 14. "Historical ET data"
refers to evapotranspiration (ET) data for a geographic location
that has already been calculated according to one or more known ET
formulae. Such data may be used by embodiments of the present
invention, but no ET calculations are actually performed by any
embodiment of the present invention. [0036] 15. "Non ET" means that
ET is not calculated within any embodiment of the present
invention, nor is current ET received by any embodiment of the
present invention. Historical stored ET data is not calculated
within any of the embodiments, however its use is not excluded from
the preferred embodiments of the present invention, nor its parent
applications. FIG. 1 of the '478, '428, and the '368 patent and the
pending '839 application all show the potential use of historical
ET data to determine a water budget percentage. [0037] 16. Watering
"restrictions" are watering times of the day, days of the week, or
days of the month when landscape irrigation is allowed or not
allowed.
[0038] Embodiments of the present invention utilize one or more of
the following simple and effective automated implementations for
landscape water conservation: (1) automation of governmentally
restricted watering schedules; (2) automation of water budgeting
within a controller, a plug-in or an add-on using periodic water
budget ratios that are obtained without performing any ET
calculation within the embodiments; and/or (3) automation of both
governmental restrictions and water budgeting for maximum
flexibility to accommodate local water supply and infrastructure
needs. The latter may include automatically switching between smart
technology (including water budgeting or any other smart
technology) to restricted watering schedules during the course of
the year.
[0039] Automated Watering Restrictions
[0040] Municipally or governmentally mandated watering restrictions
have been around for decades in one form or another. For example,
certain odd or even home addresses can only water during even or
odd days of the month. Another example is that even addressed
residences can water on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while odd
addresses can water on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays. Also,
watering restrictions may limit irrigation to certain times of the
day to minimize evaporation. A specific example of watering
restrictions that is mandated by the Southern Nevada Water
Authority (SNWA) has been discussed at length in parent U.S. Pat.
Nos. 7,844,368 and 7,962,244 and shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b herein as
the SNWA (Southern Nevada Water Authority) "Drought Watering
Restrictions". However, as noted in these figures, allowed or not
allowed time and day restrictions change several times during the
course of each year to accommodate expected seasonal conditions,
thereby requiring local users to manually reprogram their
controllers to comply with these changes. It is to be appreciated
that watering restrictions are not necessarily limited to those
imposed by a municipality or governmental entity, and that any
restrictions imposed by any public or private authority are within
the scope of embodiments of the present invention.
[0041] The following are non-limiting examples of automation of
restricted watering schedules as provided in embodiments of the
present invention: [0042] 1. A schedule of governmentally or
otherwise restricted/allowed watering times entered by the user
into a controller. This schedule may be manually entered, received
over the internet, downloaded into the irrigation controller using
a USB port or a memory stick like device, or by YFI means, or
displayed on a screen so that the user merely has to select the
appropriate restrictions without having to enter any data on the
screen. The user then enters the geographic location of the
controller, (which may be automatically determined as part of the
input of the governmental restrictions) by entry of a zip code, or
the like. In many embodiments, once the geographic location is
entered or determined, the embodiment also automatically programs
the controller for smart watering using a water budgeting method.
The controller may then be placed in communication with at least
one environmental sensor to receive input used in performing
periodic WBR calculations. The user can then select whether he
wants to do automated water budgeting, restricted watering
schedules, or a combination of both. The programming in the
controller may then prevent watering on non-allowed days, and/or
adjust watering (adjust start times or run times) according to the
according to an applicable restricted watering schedule and/or
periodically determined WBR. [0043] 2. Governmental or other
watering restrictions may be programmed or downloaded into a
portable module, along with historical environmental data for a
geographic location. The module is then plugged into a host
controller providing it with the watering restrictions and/or
historical data for that location (such as temperature, solar
radiation, relative humidity, wind, historical ET, etc.). Either
the controller or the plug-in is placed in communication with at
least one environmental sensor to receive input used to perform
periodic WBR calculations. The user may then select either
automated watering restrictions, automated water budgeting, or
both. [0044] 3. Governmental or other watering restrictions could
be provided from a central unit that sends both watering
restrictions and/or the periodic (e.g. daily) water budget
percentage (WBR) to local controllers. The controllers then use the
data received to prevent watering and/or adjust their watering
schedules. [0045] 4. Governmental or other watering restrictions
are input or downloaded into a portable module, along with
historical environmental data for a geographic location. The module
is then attached to the output of a host controller and to at least
one environmental sensor to receive input used to perform periodic
WBR calculations. The user may then select either automated
watering restrictions, automated water budgeting, or both. The
module then cuts off irrigation when not allowed according to the
governmental restrictions and/or limits irrigation according to the
WBR.
[0046] Local water authorities recognize that water conservation
may be accomplished by imposing watering restrictions, or the use
of simple smart controllers as an alternative by offering rebates
and customer education programs. Currently, without automation of
either watering restrictions or smart technology, such authorities
rely on voluntary compliance with watering restrictions through
manual adjustment of irrigation controllers to account for daily or
seasonal changes. It is expected that automatic implementation of
these restrictions through embodiments of the present invention
will be more convenient for users, will result in greater
compliance, and will therefore greatly increase the conservation of
water.
[0047] One unique aspect of embodiments of the present invention is
the automation of the restricted watering schedules throughout the
year, and in some embodiments this feature is combined with smart
automated temperature budgeting or other smart technology to
satisfy the recently proposed EPA WaterSense requirements. These
automated features can be provided through embodiments within the
controller, supplied by a plug-in module, or by an add-on, with or
without temperature budgeting capability or some other ET or soil
moisture based technology. The SNWA recently completed a study of
357 devices and controllers that automated their watering
restrictions to improve customer compliance. The results indicate
nearly a 90% satisfaction from the users and a 13% overall
landscape water savings over a two year study period. This study
was undertaken because ET based controllers have not been effective
in terms of acceptance or reported water savings.
[0048] Time of use watering restrictions are sometimes referred to
as "allowed" watering times or inherently "not allowed" watering
times. Automation of watering restrictions are provided through
several embodiments of the present invention. Methods and apparatus
for automating watering restrictions combined with automating water
budgeting are disclosed within the present application in
embodiments that include without limitation controllers, add-ons,
plug-ins and central broadcast/receiver systems.
[0049] Automatic implementations of time of use restrictions
provided in the form of add-on devices are described in parent U.S.
Pat. No. 7,962,244 which is incorporated herein by this reference.
Pending application Ser. No. 13/159,071 which is also incorporated
herein by this reference discloses automation of such restrictions
within controllers. The abstract of the '244 patent provides:
"Embodiments of the invention also provide methods and apparatus
for updating the local watering restrictions and integrating the
present invention into existing controllers." Col. 7, lines 11-15
of the '244 patent provides: "In other embodiments, the watering
schedules of the local governmental authority may be incorporated
with a new controller (conventional or smart) without the need for
an external module to override the controller's programmed watering
schedules." In addition, FIG. 8 of the '244 patent shows a new
conventional or smart controller with time of use programming.
Automatic implementation of restricted watering schedules may also
be accomplished with a specific type of add-on called a plug-in.
This device is in communication with the existing controller
microprocessor and provides it with the restricted watering
schedules to be implemented by the controller.
[0050] Other embodiments of automated watering restrictions may be
implemented into a controller itself, as described in the '244
patent and in pending application Ser. No. 13/159,071, incorporated
herein. The embodiments of the irrigation controllers of the
present invention may be provided in a commercially available
device having the following components: a means for an operator to
enter data into the controller (such as a keyboard, touch screen,
dial, magnetic card readers, input port, internet connection or
remote device) and a microprocessor. In some embodiments, the input
and display of the controller may be used to input one or more
restricted watering schedules. In other embodiments the restricted
watering schedules may be downloaded into the controller add-on or
plug-in. A means may be provided for selecting from multiple
schedules such as without limitation: [0051] 1. Each restricted
watering schedule may be stored within the controller
microprocessor and represented numerically. The operator may
consult his owners' manual or go to a designated web site, enter
his water district or city and enter that numerical schedule into
the controller. The controller can then determine which internally
pre-programmed schedule to access and implement. [0052] 2.
Restricted watering schedules may be developed by accessing an
internet site where the allowed watering days, times of day,
seasonal changes, drought stages, even or odd street addresses, or
watering groups may be programmed onto the computer screen and
downloaded directly or through a portable device such as a flash
memory stick or the like, and entered into the controller, add-on
or plug-in. (See FIG. 15) In some embodiments of the invention,
restricted watering schedules may be sent from a central location
to remote controllers, add-ons or plug-ins either wirelessly or via
the internet. During the course of irrigation during the year, the
controller only allows irrigation to occur during the allowed
watering times of the day, day or the week, day of the month,
etc.
[0053] Other embodiments implementing restricted watering schedules
are provided by a central system, which may be local, city wide,
county wide, etc. Each controller may be given an address which the
central system uses to send the automated restricted watering
schedules to such controllers. Certain controllers, for example,
are addressed to water on certain days of the week, or certain
times of the day, or certain days of the month. Other controllers
are addressed to water on other days of the week, or at other
times, etc. In related embodiments, seasonal changes in watering
restrictions are also automatically implemented, and/or water
budgeting may also be automatically implemented.
[0054] Automated Seasonal Adjust or Water Budgeting.
[0055] As first set forth in parent U.S. Pat. No. 7,058,478 (col.
7, lines 31-38) and subsequent patents and pending applications,
preferred methods and apparatus for water budgeting rely on the
following universally understood concepts: (1) more water is
required to irrigate landscape or crops during periods of warmer
temperatures; (2) less water is required during periods of cooler
temperatures; (3) little or no water is required or desired below a
certain temperature, or during certain times of the year; (4)
little or no irrigation water is required while it is raining or
cold, and for a period thereafter.
[0056] In embodiments that use temperature budgeting within an
irrigation controller, the operator first attaches the controller
to an irrigation system. This can be done at any time of the year,
not merely during the summer months. In an example of preferred and
simple embodiments of methods and apparatus, the user installs a
temperature sensor or one or more additional sensors within the
target geographical area, and initiates its communication between
the sensor(s) and the controller. For example, an optional readily
available rain sensor may also be installed, and placed in
communication with the controller. The user then programs an
exemplary controller with an irrigation schedule (preferably the
summer or peak schedule) using personal experience, professional
assistance, with internet provided guidelines, or by other
means.
[0057] If not already present, the time and date are entered into
the exemplary controller. Then, the physical location of the
controller is entered, for example by providing the local zip code.
This compares to the more complicated need to provide ET based
controllers with information such as precipitation rates, soil
type, slope, crop coefficient factors, system efficiency, and
degree of shade or sun to calculate the preliminary irrigation
schedule, and multiple sensors or a weather station, or a monthly
service fee for ET data. The preferred temperature budgeting
methods and apparatus of the present invention do not use any form
of ET, while other embodiments discussed more fully below may use
historical ET.
[0058] Once the zip code or other geographic location information
is entered in these exemplary temperature budgeting embodiments, in
preferred embodiments, the controller then automatically determines
the extraterrestrial radiation factor (RA) for the standard date
and location from a look-up table stored within the controller. The
RA utilized by this invention must be distinguished from the solar
radiation value (Rn or Rs) provided by weather stations and
sensors, and utilized by ETo formulas. Specifically, RA is a
function of the angle at which the sun strikes the earth at various
times of the year at various latitudes, expressed as virtual
evaporation in units of milliliters of water (the same units of
measurement as ET) while solar radiation is a measure of the actual
intensity of sunlight at a particular time. In other embodiments,
the controller may look up other historical environmental data,
such as historical ET, and use it in a way that is similar to the
way RA is used.
[0059] It is to be appreciated that a primary object of water
budgeting is to obtain a ratio or percentage by which a controller
watering schedule may be adjusted. Thus, any suitable determination
or set of calculations that results in such a ratio is within the
scope of the present invention. By way of example, and without
limitation, in this temperature budgeting example, the controller
first automatically calculates a standard temperature budget factor
(STBF) using data provided by the operator (e.g., the July average
summer high temperature, and the latitude; or by the use of a zip
code or other location identifier that identifies the latitude and
historical average summer high temperature), and using any number
of relatively simple formulas utilizing this data. As described in
greater detail in the parent patents, one method of calculating the
STBF is to multiply the high summer temperature (either provided by
the operator or by the entered zip code) by an RA (the RA
determined by the particular geographic location of the controller,
and either the estimated date of the summer high temperature or the
average summer RA values for the particular geographic location).
The STBF is then stored for subsequent use in determining the water
budget ratio (WBR) percentage. It is to be appreciated that no ET
calculation is performed here, although in other embodiments,
historical ET data may be used instead of RA data.
[0060] In this non-limiting example, the controller may also obtain
the actual high temperature and RA for the particular current
period, the former from a temperature sensor and the latter from an
internal look-up table or other suitable source. Such periodic
(current) data is used to calculate the periodic temperature budget
factor (PTBF). The PTBF should be calculated utilizing the same
formula for calculating the STBF, but using currently available
data rather than the data initially provided by the operator. The
controller then computes the WBR by dividing the PTBF by the STBF.
This ratio is then used to adjust the preliminary irrigation
schedule or run times for that particular period. It is to be
appreciated that variations on these calculations of STBF and PTBF
are within the scope of the present invention, and/or other or
different calculations may be performed to obtain the desired water
budget ratio (percentage). It is also to be appreciated that no ET
calculation is performed in developing the water budget ratio.
[0061] Once the WBR has been determined, the preliminary irrigation
schedule may be multiplied by the WBR to obtain the modified
(actual) irrigation schedule. The controller then irrigates the
irrigation area pursuant to the modified irrigation schedule, as
described in greater detail herein (e.g., changing station run
times and/or start times and/or schedules). It is to be appreciated
that these particular examples of temperature budgeting embodiments
of the invention do not require, use or calculate any form of ET
information. However, other embodiments of the present invention
may use other historical data, including historical ET data,
without calculating ET within the embodiments of the present
invention, to determine the water budget percentage. The present
invention is not to be limited by any particular equation, nor any
variables used within any equation in determining the water budget
or water budget ratio
[0062] It is to be appreciated that temperature budgeting may also
be implemented in other embodiments of the present invention
including without limitation add-ons, plug-ins, central
(broadcasting) systems, and/or other similar systems.
[0063] Because embodiments of the present invention relationally
adjust an irrigation schedule, they are suitable for nearly all
conditions and locations. Embodiments of the present invention can
compensate for numerous characteristics and specifications of an
existing irrigation system, and unlike prior systems, these
embodiments do not require multiple complicated formulas or
variables. Embodiments of the present invention can also inherently
compensate for particular environmental conditions. For example,
they may be applied to the "cycle and soak" method commonly
utilized for sloped landscapes, since they increase or decrease the
initial irrigation schedule for the sloped landscape based upon the
WBR.
[0064] It is once again to be appreciated that the specific
algorithm and parameters used in determining the WBR while
performing temperature budgeting represent only some embodiments of
the invention. Other algorithms, equations, or parameters may be
used to calculate the WBR, as described more fully elsewhere
herein, and the appended claims are not to be limited to any
examples of calculating a water budget percentage.
[0065] The present methods and apparatus for adjusting an
irrigation schedule may be used year-round, and at any geographic
location. For example, in the northern hemisphere, the winter PTBF
will typically be much lower than the STBF, resulting in a much
lower WBR value. This in turn significantly decreases the
irrigation duration, which is consistent with the average
consumer's understanding that irrigation is not as necessary during
the winter months. When the operator inputs a minimum temperature
and utilizes the precipitation sensor, embodiments of the present
invention are able to completely cease irrigation during
unnecessary periods.
[0066] Alternative embodiments of an apparatus of the present
invention provide an add-on temperature budgeting or alternate
automated water budgeting module. This add-on module is placed
along the output path of an existing irrigation controller, so that
it intercepts and processes any signals from the controller to the
irrigation system. This module determines the WBR in the same
way(s) as in the above-described irrigation controller embodiments,
and permits the operator to add the features and functions of the
present invention described herein to any existing irrigation
controller without replacing the old controller entirely.
[0067] Other embodiments of an apparatus of the present invention
are implemented using a plug-in module provided with environmental
sensor data. The plug-in is also provided with historical data for
the selected geographic region. The plug-in then periodically
(preferably daily) calculates a water budget ratio using the
methodology described elsewhere herein. A microprocessor in the
plug-in module then communicates this periodic (e.g., daily) water
budget to the controller microprocessor which can easily access its
existing watering schedules and adjust the summer or preliminary
irrigation schedule station run times accordingly. This
communication with the host controller can be hard wired or
wireless. The environmental sensor(s) can be as simple as a
temperature sensor, or a combination of sensors such as without
limitation solar radiation, wind, soil moisture, relative humidity,
and temperature.
[0068] Power for the various embodiments described herein may be
from AC power, from a solar panel, batteries, or ambient light.
[0069] Optional features may also be incorporated into embodiments
of the present invention. For example, the operator may specify a
minimum irrigation temperature. This insures that the irrigation
schedule is not activated when the temperature is near or below a
certain point, such as freezing temperature. Such a minimum
temperature requirement serves two primary purposes--first, to
conserve water, and second, to protect the safety of vehicles and
pedestrians traveling through the irrigation zone during freezing
temperatures. A second optional feature permits the operator to
further adjust the irrigation schedule according to the particular
circumstances and/or limitations, such as the water delivery method
utilized by the irrigation system, the specifications of the
system, or the type of plants being watered. This allows the
operator to fine-tune the irrigation schedule based upon personal
experience, observations or unusual field situations. A third
optional feature is to provide a commonly available precipitation
sensor in communication with the embodiment of the invention,
either directly or indirectly as a separate unit (e.g., through a
physical hard-wired connection, a wireless connection or radio
transmission; or as a component built into an irrigation
controller), so that the embodiment may detect, for example, the
occurrence of rainfall and suppress the irrigation schedule during
the affected periods. The particular effect of current or recent
precipitation upon the irrigation schedule may be determined by the
operator. For example, the operator may cause the embodiment to
suppress the irrigation schedule if precipitation occurred within
the previous twenty-four hours, or only if precipitation is
occurring at the particular moment of irrigation. Additionally,
direct input into the controller, plug-in or add-on microprocessor
may allow for adjustment of the irrigation delay period depending
upon the amount of rainfall or the intensity of rainfall. A
hygroscopic rain switch or a "tipping bucket" type of rain sensor
may be provided by wired or wireless means in addition to one or
more environmental sensors. The rain delay irrigation shutdown may
be adjustable within the controller, add-on or plug-in depending
upon the duration of the rainfall, amount of precipitation, or
intensity of the precipitation.
[0070] As an alternative to water budgeting based on temperature
sensor information, other methods and apparatus contemplated by the
present invention to conserve landscape irrigation water may
utilize soil moisture sensors to automate the water budget feature.
Soil moisture sensors that merely break the line to one or more
valves are not within scope of the present invention. However,
newer soil moisture sensors may be used instead of (or in
combination with) temperature or other environmental sensors in
embodiments of the present invention to provide data used to
calculate WBR and adjust the station run times or irrigation
schedules. As with other embodiments, a water budget percentage is
determined in these embodiments by comparing current
geo-environmental data (e.g., data received from a soil sensor) to
stored geo-environmental data without determining or calculating
ET.
[0071] For example, assuming that soil moisture sensors are
installed remotely in a landscaped area, these sensors could
provide data such as soil temperature or soil moisture data from a
certain location. This data is current or real time
geo-environmental data. Historic data consisting of soil moisture
and soil temperature data is stored within the controller. A
minimum and maximum root zone watering threshold is established
within the controller microprocessor. When the historic
geo-environmental data is compared to current geo-environmental
data, a percentage of the previously set station watering run time
may be required to replenish the root zone for that location to
reach the maximum threshold level.
[0072] It is therefore an objective of the present invention to
provide simple and straightforward methods and apparatus for
irrigation water conservation, that are naturally intuitive such
that they may be used by a wide variety of people or entities in
different circumstances encompassing automated implementation of
water budgeting and automated implementation of governmentally
restricted watering schedules.
[0073] It is another objective of the present invention to offer a
choice of automated smart water budgeting or automated watering
restrictions, or both, with the additional ability to select from
one or more such automated restricted schedules.
[0074] It is another objective of the present invention to provide
methods and apparatus for conserving water by automatically
adjusting irrigation schedules in response to varying climatic
conditions.
[0075] It is another objective of the present invention to provide
a methods and apparatus that utilize greatly simplified local,
real-time meteorological data to make calculations used to adjust
irrigation schedules.
[0076] It is another objective of the present invention to provide
methods and apparatus that minimize the margins and sources of
error within automatically and climatically adjusted irrigation
schedules by limiting the number of variables and relationships
necessary to calculate and adjust the schedules.
[0077] It is another objective of the present invention to provide
methods and apparatus that may be embodied into any irrigation
controller that are inexpensive to manufacture, install, operate
and maintain.
[0078] It is another objective of the present invention to provide
automated methods and apparatus for water conservation and
management and implementation of governmental or other watering
restrictions.
[0079] Additional objects of the present invention shall be
apparent from the detailed description and claims herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0080] FIG. 1A is an analytical comparison of evapotranspiration
(ET) and temperature budget percentage values for certain
geographical areas of California over a five year period, beginning
in 1997. This comparison is also shown as FIG. 1 in parent U.S.
Pat. Nos. 7,058,478; 7,266,428; 7,844,368 and of published pending
application Ser. No. 12/955,839 from which this application claims
priority.
[0081] FIG. 1B shows a variety of ET-based historic bell curves for
various locations identified by zip codes.
[0082] FIG. 2 shows the published extraterrestrial radiation factor
chart for various latitudes. This chart is also shown as FIG. 6 in
parent U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,058,478; 7,266,428; 7,844,368; and of
published pending application Ser. No. 12/955,839 from which this
application claims priority.
[0083] FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a
smart irrigation controller. This diagram is very similar to FIG. 2
in parent U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,058,478; 7,266,428; and 7,844,368 from
which this application claims priority.
[0084] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a preferred
method of temperature budgeting within the controller of FIG. 3. A
similar diagram is also shown as FIG. 4 in parent U.S. Pat. Nos.
7,266,428 and 7,844,368 from which this application claims
priority.
[0085] FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C show the SWAT results of two
controllers and one add-on device using temperature budgeting.
[0086] FIGS. 6A and 6B show an example of seasonally restricted
watering schedule as specified by the SNWA.
[0087] FIG. 7 shows the block diagram of an embodiment of an add-on
to an existing controller to make it smart or to enforce compliance
with restricted watering schedules. This embodiment is also shown
in FIG. 19C of the U.S. Pat. No. 7,844,368.
[0088] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a plug-in to
an existing controller to make it smart or enforce compliance with
restricted watering schedules.
[0089] FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C are block diagrams of embodiments of a
central broadcasting system that may provide a water budget
percentage and/or restricted watering schedules to remote
irrigation controllers, plug-ins or add-ons.
[0090] FIG. 10A is a flow chart of a smart or conventional
controller used with an embodiment of an add-on with automated
seasonal watering restrictions.
[0091] FIG. 10B is a flow chart of a smart or conventional
controller used with an embodiment of a plug-in with automated
seasonal watering restrictions.
[0092] FIG. 11A is a flow chart of a conventional controller in
communication with an add-on embodiment of the present invention
that is capable of controlling dual use of watering restrictions
and smart technology in the add-on.
[0093] FIG. 11B is a flow chart of a smart controller embodiment of
the present invention that is capable of controlling dual use of
watering restrictions and smart technology that may be ET based or
water budget percentage based.
[0094] FIG. 12 is an exemplary flow chart depicting alternate
implementations using water budgets including adjusting station run
times daily, the accumulation method, and the adjustment of
watering intervals, as previously depicted in FIG. 4A of U.S. Pat.
No. 7,844,368.
[0095] FIGS. 13A and 13B show two embodiments of an add-on that
learns the controller station run times and modifies the outputs of
the controller accordingly.
[0096] FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment of a self-contained
irrigation controller in an outdoor pedestal showing internal
temperature and rain sensors.
[0097] FIG. 15 is an example of a computer screen that may be used
to select, program, and implement automated watering restrictions,
including alternating between smart use and restricted watering
use.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0098] Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters
designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,
and referring particularly to the chart of FIG. 1, it is seen that
this chart compares the monthly ET percentage values obtained using
the Penman-Monteith formula (currently favored by the USFAO and
CIMIS) with the ratios (percentages) obtained utilizing a
temperature budgeting formula of a preferred embodiment described
herein. Such comparison was made over a period of five years at
twenty-five environmentally-diverse locations within the State of
California. Both formulas used the same CIMIS data. For the
Penman-Monteith formula, the published historical monthly ETo was
divided by the historical summer ETo. The monthly temperature
budget factors obtained by the present invention were similarly
divided by the summer temperature factor. The ETo ratio is then
compared to the WBR for relative accuracy. As indicated by FIG. 1,
the values obtained using a formula of an embodiment of the present
invention closely approximate the Penman-Monteith, generally more
so than the other ET formulas such as those referenced in the
Catteano and Upham study. This indicates that the temperature
budgeting embodiments of the present invention are comparable to
the other ET formulas, since a simple to understand method of the
present invention is ninety-five percent as accurate or better than
a more complicated ET calculation.
[0099] FIG. 1A also illustrates that historical ET percentage
calculations closely approximate temperature budgeting percentage
calculations of embodiments of the present invention, demonstrating
that historical ET may be reliably used in determining water budget
ratios in embodiments of the present invention. In particular, and
without limitation, historical ET may be used in a manner similar
to the STBF, and/or historical ET may be used in calculating the
STBF, and/or historical ET may be used in calculating the WBR. It
is not necessary, nor is it part of any embodiment of the present
invention, to actually perform calculations resulting in ET values;
instead, it is to be appreciated that previously-calculated
historic ET values may be used in some embodiments of the present
invention.
[0100] Furthermore, the present invention is advantageous over the
Penman-Monteith, or any other ET, formula in that it reaches
similar irrigation time values or irrigation schedules without
relying upon the numerous variables and relationships of ET theory,
or a subsequent calculation of irrigation time settings as
described in the parent applications.
[0101] Another advantage of the present invention over the
Penman-Monteith formula, or any other ET formula, is in terms of
hardware costs. Specifically, in at least one alternative
embodiment, the only new hardware required is a temperature
sensor--an existing irrigation controller, assuming that it
satisfies certain minimum system requirements (such as the
availability of an input port for the temperature sensor,
sufficient memory to store the RA lookup table, and the ability to
receive the software instructions for the present invention), may
otherwise be used. This controller may be AC, DC, solar, or
battery-powered.
[0102] FIG. 1B shows historical percentage (WBR) curves for various
zip code selected locations in the U.S. As expected, Hawaii has the
flattest WBR bell curve because of its year round relatively low
range of high temperatures.
[0103] FIG. 2 is a published (prior art) listing of
extraterrestrial radiation expressed in equivalent evaporation.
This Ra chart is used with one of the preferred embodiments that
does not require the use of historical ET. Alternative embodiments
may use historical ET instead of Ra because historical ET is as
simple to implement in the determination of the water budget ratio.
When historical ET is used, it can effectively be substituted for
the Ra factor because both the Ra and ET use the same units of
measurement, which are millimeters of water per day. In both cases,
a percentage or ratio is determined by comparing stored to current
geo-environmental data.
[0104] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a typical irrigation controller
with one or more external environmental sensors, an optional
external precipitation sensor, a microprocessor with data storage,
and a power supply. The external temperature, soil, solar
radiation, wind, relative humidity or other sensors are provided by
wired or wireless means as current or real time sensor data. These
sensors are in communication with the controller
[0105] FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram for the exemplary controller of
FIG. 3 which is depicted as a smart controller using an embodiment
of temperature budgeting. In this non-limiting example, the
operator installs the irrigation controller and connects it to one
or more irrigation valves (step 30). The temperature sensor or any
other sensor (rain, wind, solar radiation, soil moisture, soil
temperature, relative humidity or combinations thereof) are placed
in communication with the controller microprocessor by wired or
wireless means (32 and 33). The operator configures the irrigation
controller (e.g., programs the summer or peak irrigation schedule)
by first entering the date and time (41). In preferred embodiments,
the operator then enters the local zip code (43b) which may
automatically provide latitude, the Ra factors, and the historic
temperature data, or alternately historic July or peak ET data as
shown in item 43c, or monthly, weekly, or daily alternate historic
and stored geo-environmental data (item 43d).
[0106] In step 44 of FIG. 4, the operator enters the preliminary
(e.g., summer) irrigation schedule from personal experience,
professional assistance, or with internet or other guidance. If a
minimum irrigation temperature is desired, that is entered in step
45. The microprocessor then determines the water budget ratio or
percentage (71b) and adjusts the preliminary irrigation schedule
according to the determined water budget ratio. Additional sensors
(71a) may be used to determine whether or not to stop irrigation
(81, 82) based on recent precipitation, rain, etc. The controller
then activates the valves with station run times modified or
adjusted according to the water budget ratio if the minimum
irrigation temperature is exceeded and there is no precipitation. A
similar water budget determination may be made using historic
average ET compared to historic monthly ET, and adjusted according
to the current temperature compared to the expected historic
temperature for that day.
[0107] As with the other embodiments, multiple watering
restrictions could be programmed within the controller and selected
by zip code, region, municipality, or water district designation.
These restrictions may then be varied automatically by embodiments
of the invention at various times of the year, but typically
seasonally (but not necessarily based upon the calendar seasons)
because of the wide diversity of the locations such as dry deserts,
the humid South East, the coast, mountains, northern colder states,
etc. In particular, automatic implementation of watering
restrictions may be used in conjunction with automatic
implementation water budgeting in numerous embodiments of the
present invention. In some of those embodiments, watering is
prevented according to an applicable restricted schedule and then,
when allowed, watering is limited (the controller's watering
schedule is modified) by a water budget ratio. In other
embodiments, watering start times or watering days are moved to
comply with the applicable watering restrictions, and watering is
then limited by a water budget ratio. In other embodiments, during
some times of the year, watering may be prevented or start times
moved (as above) according to the applicable watering restrictions
without any watering limitations when watering is allowed; but
during other times of the year, the watering restrictions are not
used, and watering is instead limited according to whatever "smart"
irrigation technology is in place, which may or may not use water
budget ratios.
[0108] FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C show the results of three products that use
preferred temperature budgeting tested under the SWAT protocol.
FIG. 5a is for the Smart Clock and shows an average deviation of
0.2% from the Pennman-Monteith standard landscape
evapotranspiration root zone water content. FIG. 5B is for a
battery powered smart controller with a self contained temperature
sensor which shows an average deviation of 1% from the standard
root zone ET based watering needs. FIG. 5C is for the Universal
Smart Module, an add-on device that determines water budgeting and
modifies the output of any AC powered controller based on that
water budget percentage. In all three products, virtually no
irrigation deficit was noted. These results confirm the analytical
study of FIG. 1A that the water budget determination method closely
approximates ET without its complications.
[0109] FIGS. 6A and 6B are the "Drought Watering Restrictions"
imposed by the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA). The entire
area of Southern Nevada is divided into six landscape water zones
A-F. Each zone can water on different days, which vary depending
upon the season. In addition, depending upon the season, only
certain times of the day are allowed watering times. For example in
FIG. 6A, watering group B can water Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Saturdays during the spring or fall, but only on Tuesdays in the
winter. During the summer, all groups may water every day, but
irrigation is prohibited as noted in FIG. 6b during the summer
between 11 am and 7 pm. The SNWA seasons are defined as March 1 to
April 30 for spring, May 1 to August 31 for summer, September 1 to
October 31 for fall, and November 1 to the end of February for
winter. Note that these seasonal changes to not match calendar
seasons.
[0110] As heretofore prescribed, the operator would need to
manually modify the controller watering days or times of the day to
comply with these seasonal requirements. This fact is the main
reason why total compliance in the SNWA region was only 8%
historically and resulted in many fines for those who did not
change their schedules manually by seasons.
[0111] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of an add-on device or module
attached to the common electrical line from the controller to one
or more valves. The controller which may be smart or conventional
is programmed with its summer or peak irrigation schedule,
including its station run times. The preliminary schedule can be
determined by any means available such as from personal experience,
web site assistance, with or without the use of historical data
which may include stored ET data, or by professional
assistance.
[0112] The cutoff switch is internal to this embodiment of an
add-on and breaks the common line to inhibit irrigation when
watering is not allowed. In addition, or alternatively, this or
other add-on devices can also be programmed to make the existing
irrigation controller smart either by learning the summer or peak
watering run times and modifying them during other times of the
year, or accumulating the daily water budgets until a threshold is
reached and then allow the existing controller to irrigate its
summer schedule. The result of accumulation would be to increase
the watering interval of days during the cooler times of the year.
Thus, this exemplary add-on can be a time of use restricted
watering scheduler, a water budget determinator for daily station
run time adjustments, or a watering schedule changer if used in the
accumulation mode, or any combination thereof. In many of these
applications, the wiring is identical as shown in FIG. 7.
[0113] For example, if the controller is located in the SNWA area,
the location may be designated as watering group "B" as shown in
FIG. 6A. Without regard to the watering restrictions, the
controller is programmed to start an irrigation cycle every day.
The start time is set for 7:00 am, and the station run times are
set for a summer schedule having a duration of 8 minutes for a
particular station. If the current date is Sep. 16, 2011, the
programming of this exemplary module as a TOU unit could be:
[0114] Entering the date and time as Sep. 16, 2011 and 4:00 pm.
[0115] The watering group is entered as "B" during the course of
programming the module. According to the 2011 calendar, September
16 is a Friday. According to the SNWA (FIG. 6A), Group B can only
water on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Therefore, group B is
not allowed to water on Friday September 16. In this case, a cutoff
switch in the module, such as that shown in FIG. 7 is open all day
starting at midnight, and does not allow irrigation to occur at 7
am or at any other time during that day when the controller
attempts to irrigate.
[0116] Now let us assume that the exemplary add-on is an embodiment
that works as an accumulation smart add-on. In this case, the
controller is still programmed with its summer irrigation schedule
with start times, watering days, and station durations (run times).
The module is connected to the output in the same way as the TOU
device. In this case, however, one or more sensors (122) are
provided to the module which communicates environmental data to the
module microprocessor. These sensors could be temperature, rain,
solar radiation, wind, relative humidity or any combination
thereof. Location information (such as the zip code) is entered and
the microprocessor selects from its internal data storage of
historical environmental data for that location. Such data may once
again be temperature, solar radiation, wind relative humidity, soil
moisture, soil temperature, historic ET data, etc. Periodically,
(preferably once a day at midnight), the microprocessor determines
the water budget ratio (percentage) by comparing stored
geo-environmental data to current geo-environmental data from the
sensor (such as today's high temperature). For this exemplary
accumulation embodiment, a minimum threshold level is entered or
established. The module will not allow irrigation until that
threshold is met or exceeded. This threshold may be defined by the
user, and could be anywhere up to 100% (depending on such things as
soil and landscape vegetation type, to insure that an adequate
amount irrigation run time is provided to allow for deep root
penetration. Water budget percentages are calculated each day, and
accumulated day after day until the threshold is reached. On the
day (or day after) the threshold is reached, watering is then
allowed to occur. For example, if it is during the cooler time of
the year, such as December in the Northern Hemisphere, the daily
accumulation may only be 14% for the first day, and perhaps 16% the
next day, and so on. If the threshold is set for 100%, at this rate
it may take six days before irrigation is allowed.
[0117] In related embodiments, if automatic time of use
restrictions are also incorporated into the module, and the
threshold is reached on a non-watering day, irrigation is prevented
until an allowed day is reached. This procedure is very similar to
the accumulation method of FIG. 12, except that this is done in an
add-on instead of within a controller.
[0118] Some advantages of this type of add-on are: [0119] 1. The
module is compatible with any module or size of AC powered
irrigation controllers. It is even compatible with a DC powered
controller with a minor change to the hardware (such as that shown
in FIG. 19B of the '368 patent). [0120] 2. Since the module will
work with any controller, the operator (homeowner, landscape
maintenance contractor, apartment manager, etc.) keeps his existing
controller that he is familiar with. [0121] 3. The cost of the
add-on is less than a new smart controller. [0122] 4. Only one
model of module needs to be inventoried or learned for universal
use. [0123] 5. The module can make any existing controller smart or
make any existing controller, smart or conventional, comply with
watering restrictions. [0124] 6. The module will save more water
because of its simplicity and increased use and compliance.
[0125] FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a smart plug-in of a time of
use watering restriction device in direct communication with an
existing controller microprocessor. In this case, the plug-in is
still an add-on in that it is added to an existing controller to
make it smart, but this type of module can communicate with the
controller's microprocessor. This exemplary plug-in module may be
provided with one or more environmental sensors, and possibly a
rain sensor. The plug-in has internal historic geo-environmental
data which may consist of ambient or soil temperature, solar
radiation, wind, relative humidity, or historical ET for that
location. In addition, it may perform a daily water budget or
seasonal adjust determination which is then communicated to the
controller directly. The existing controller then adjusts its
station run times accordingly if the daily water budget method is
used. If accumulation is used, the plug-in or controller is
programmed with the desired threshold and the controller initiates
irrigation when the threshold is reached or exceeded.
[0126] In addition to smart technology, watering restrictions could
be entered into the plug-in or downloaded into it through the
internet, by wireless means, by means of a small data storage
device loaded with one or more watering restriction schedules, or
by other means. Entering the zip code or a numbered location may
allow the module to select the specific municipal watering
restrictions appropriate to that location. A WI-FI communication
link could also provide this allowed/not allowed watering data.
Power for the plug-in could be provided from the controller, or the
plug-in could be battery powered. Once again, the environmental
sensor data could be provided by wired or wireless means.
[0127] Again, the specific equation or parameters or types and
combinations of sensors, or whether they are wired or wireless does
not alter the smart invention, which is to alter the watering
schedule of a controller by determining a water budget percentage
by comparing current to historical geo-environmental data, and use
that water budget to vary the station run times or adjust the
irrigation schedule.
[0128] In terms of restricted watering schedules, the preferred
method of this invention is to provide one or more restricted
watering schedules, select the appropriate one if more than one is
provided, and modify the controller irrigation to match the allowed
watering days of the week, days of the month, or the times of the
day, to include the seasonal automation of those schedules. This
may be done by simply preventing irrigation on days/times when not
allowed according to the applicable restricted schedule, or by
modifying station start times so that irrigation occurs on dates or
times when allowed according to the schedule. In related
embodiments that also include water budgeting, once an allowed
watering time (or start time) is reached, the watering may be
limited (e.g., shorten station run times) according to the water
budget percentage.
[0129] FIG. 9A shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a
centralized system. Such a central unit may be designed to cover a
park, school, apartment complex, or the like, sending the water
budget or watering restrictions, or both, to remotely located
controllers such as in FIG. 9A, or to a plug-in of FIG. 9B, or to
an add-on of FIG. 9C. Such remotely located units may be addressed
as a single group, multiple groups, or individually by the central
unit. Normally, the communication is by wireless means (broadcast),
although the central unit may communicate to the controllers,
add-ons or plug-ins over the internet, or by other suitable means.
Alternately, the central system may consist of a city wide central
irrigation system sending to all three embodiments. As in the other
embodiments, the water budget percentage and/or automated watering
restrictions can be sent.
[0130] It is to be appreciated that the various steps and parts of
the methods and apparatus of the present invention may be
distributed in different permutations and combinations between the
central unit and the receiving units (controllers, add-ons or
plug-ins). For example, and without limitation, in some
embodiments, the central unit may generate the water budget
percentages and send them to the receiving units for
implementation. In other embodiments, the central unit may simply
provide current environmental data to the receiving units which
themselves generate and then implement the water budget
percentages. In other embodiments, the central unit may receive
several sets of watering restrictions (e.g., different restrictions
being applicable at different seasons of the year), and the central
unit decides which restrictions are currently in effect and sends
those to the receiving units; in other embodiments the central unit
sends all of the restriction sets to the receiving units which
themselves determine which one is currently applicable. In some
embodiments, water budget percentages may be accumulated in the
central unit; in other embodiments, those percentages may be
accumulated in the receiving units. In very simple embodiments, the
central unit may perform numerous functions and simply send a "ok
to water" or "not ok to water" signal (or a "start watering"/"stop
watering" signal) to the receiving units. The central unit may also
separately address individual receiving units. It is to be
appreciated that these are only examples of how the steps and
apparatus of embodiments of the present invention may be divided up
between the central unit and the receiving units.
[0131] FIG. 10A is a flow chart of an embodiment of an add-on used
with a smart or conventional controller, with TOU restrictions in
the add-on. The controller may be programmed either conventionally
or with the smart technology of choice, which may be with a
temperature budgeting method of the present invention, or some
other smart technology such as internal ET calculations or provided
with ET data. The add-on embodiment is attached to an output of the
controller to allow it to break the common line with its cut off
switch such as that shown in FIG. 7. The add-on is programmed with
historical geo-environmental data from location information (such
as a zip code or latitude and longitude, or by environmental
region). The programming of the add-on can be done manually, over
the internet, or from a computer from which a memory device can
transfer such historic data.
[0132] In addition, multiple restricted watering schedules may be
pre-programmed into the exemplary add-on from which the restricted
(TOU) schedule may be selected based on entering a zip code or
other location data. The selected restricted schedule also provides
the seasonal changes mandated by that municipality or water
district. The add-on will then automate the changes to the allowed
watering times of day, days of the week, or days of the month.
[0133] In some embodiments, once the smart or conventional
controller determines it is time to irrigate, 24 VAC (or pulsed 12
VDC) is applied to the valves to energize in an attempt to
irrigate. If it is not an allowed watering day or time of day, the
cutoff switch is open. On an allowed watering day, the cutoff
switch is closed, allowing irrigation to occur.
[0134] For DC applications, a diode may be placed in the circuit as
shown in FIG. 19B of the '368 patent which is biased to only allow
the closing of a valve and does not allow opening when the cutoff
switch contact is open.
[0135] Referring to FIG. 10B, the controller may again be smart or
conventional. In this exemplary embodiment, a plug-in is literally
plugged into the controller to communicate with its microprocessor.
Plug-ins can only communicate with compatible models of controllers
and are therefore not universal, whereas an add-on that breaks the
common line is compatible with virtually any controller. The
plug-in is provided with or pre-programmed with one or more
restricted watering schedules. Entering a location identifier (such
as a zip code) selects the restricted schedule appropriate for that
location. Entering date and time allows an applicable one of
several schedules to be selected. The restricted schedule will
often contain seasonal variations to its restricted watering
schedule as noted in the SNWA FIGS. 6A and 6B.
[0136] Once the plug-in is programmed, it communicates the selected
restricted watering schedule to the controller. The plug-in in
effect becomes a governor of the irrigation controller. If the
controller is smart, it may withhold activating the valves until an
allowed watering day or time of day arrives; if not, the plug-in
itself may prevent irrigation until such time.
[0137] FIG. 11A demonstrates the dual use of smart technology and
watering restriction schedules, not at the same time, but during
certain periods of the year. A conventional (e.g. not "smart")
controller is programmed with an irrigation schedule appropriate to
the landscape, and is provided with one or more irrigation shut
down sensors. An add-on is attached to its output(s) which has a
microprocessor that communicates with one or more environmental
sensors, and has been provided with water restrictions programming.
An output cutoff switch is provided within the module to allow
irrigation when the switch is closed. The microprocessor in the
add-on also has a calendar which can be programmed with dates
during which smart technology is to be implemented, and other dates
when restricted schedules are to be implemented.
[0138] In the exemplary dual use embodiment of FIG. 11A, if the
calendar indicates that restricted watering schedules are
appropriate for that day or period during the year, the add-on
microprocessor uses the applicable restricted watering schedule to
determine if it is an allowed watering day. If not, the switch
contact within the add-on stays open (preventing irrigation) and
the microprocessor waits until an allowed watering time of day, day
of the week, or day of the month arrives before closing the
contact. During the allowed watering time, the switch contact
closes, allowing the controller to irrigate according to its
irrigation schedule.
[0139] However, in this exemplary embodiment, the calendar may
indicate that instead of restricted watering schedules, smart
technology is to be implemented, which can be real-time ET-based,
historical ET-based, water budget based, ground moisture sensor
based, etc. The flow chart of FIG. 11A illustrates the use of smart
technology that is water budget based. The two methods of water
budgeting are daily water budgeting, which allows a percentage of
the summer station run times typically on a daily basis, or the
accumulation method. If the daily water budget is used, the add-on
may have learned the summer run times of the controller by
monitoring the outputs. At the appropriate percentage of irrigating
a station matching the daily water budget percentage, the contact
opens thereby shortening each station run time. If the accumulation
method is used, the module microprocessor determines if the
accumulated daily water budget percentages have reached the
threshold level. If they have not, the percentages continue to
accumulate until the threshold level is reached, then irrigation is
allowed. If the threshold has been reached, irrigation is allowed.
Of course, as in other embodiments, irrigation may be suspended
from input from any of the irrigation shut down sensors such as a
rain sensor, freeze sensor, or wind sensor.
[0140] FIG. 11B is a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment
illustrating the dual use of smart irrigation or restricted
watering schedules depending upon the time of the year or calendar
dates. A smart controller is provided which may be ET based,
historical ET based, water budget percentage based, soil moisture
based, etc. The smart technology of the controller is not limited
to the water budget methods of the present invention, but may
receive, for example and without limitation, wireless real time ET
data (current ET data is not used by any embodiment of the present
invention), environmental sensor data from which ET.sub.0 may be
determined or calculated (ET is not calculated by any embodiment of
the present invention), or soil moisture sensor data. The flow
chart specifically shows ET-based and water budget percentage flow
charts.
[0141] Regardless of the smart technology present, in this
exemplary embodiment if the calendar shows that watering
restrictions are appropriate for that day or time period of the
year instead of the available smart technology, the controller
microprocessor determines if it is an allowed day of the week, time
or day, or day of the month. If it is, then the controller
irrigates on that day. If not, it waits until an allowed time, then
allows irrigation.
[0142] However, in this exemplary embodiment, if the smart
technology within the smart controller is ET-based (which smart
technology itself is not within the scope of this invention),
illustrated on the left path of FIG. 11B, the calendar is checked
to see whether the current date is appropriated for ET-based smart
irrigation, or subject to restricted watering schedules. If
ET-based smart technology is appropriate for that day, the
controller determines if the ET has accumulated to a set threshold.
If it has reached that threshold, irrigation occurs according to
the prescribed smart ET calculations. If the threshold has not been
reached, the controller waits until it is reached, then
irrigates.
[0143] Alternatively, in this exemplary embodiment, if the smart
technology in the controller is water budget percentage based
(which smart technology is within the scope of this invention), two
paths are available, illustrated on the center and right paths of
FIG. 11B. Using the center path of daily water budgeting
percentages, the calendar is first checked to see whether the
current date is appropriated for water budgeting smart irrigation,
or subject to restricted watering schedules. If water budgeting
smart technology is appropriate for that day, irrigation is allowed
according to the water budget percentage for that day.
[0144] In a variation of the water budgeting embodiment, if the
smart technology is water budgeting with accumulation (right path
of FIG. 11B), once again the calendar is checked to determine if it
is appropriate for smart technology or restricted schedules. If
water budgeting smart technology is appropriated for that day, and
accumulation water budgeting smart technology is used, the water
budget accumulation is checked to see if it has reached the
threshold. If it has, irrigation is permitted. If it has not, the
controller waits until the accumulation reaches the threshold, then
irrigation takes place.
[0145] It is to be appreciated that in alternative embodiments not
illustrated in FIGS. 11A-B, the use of automatic watering
restrictions and automatic smart technology may be combined. For
example, and without limitation, if a daily water budget percentage
is determined for a particular day, but watering is restricted (not
allowed) on that day during the hours of 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.,
embodiments of the present invention may automatically change the
watering start time to an allowed time (e.g. after 6:00 p.m.), and
at that time also cause the watering run time(s) to be adjusted
according to the daily percentage.
[0146] In alternative embodiments of FIG. 11B, a plug-in with the
restricted watering schedule and calendar could be used to
communicate with the smart controller.
[0147] In the flow chart of FIG. 11B, a third branch could be
provided if the smart technology is soil moisture sensor based. In
that case, the smart technology (default program) would be based on
a soil moisture indication which would be used at certain times of
the year, while at other times of the year, watering restrictions
may be imposed.
[0148] FIG. 12 is an exemplary flow chart from FIG. 4A of the '368
patent depicting alternative implementations of a water budget
(station run times, accumulation, and watering intervals). If these
implementations are used in an irrigation controller, it is first
programmed with its preliminary irrigation schedule and the
schedule of allowed watering times (e.g., municipal watering
restrictions). If the method of daily water budget calculations is
selected, the water budget calculation is determined in the
controller and adjusts the preliminary station run times, and
checks to see if it is an allowed watering day. If not, it waits
until an allowed watering day is reached. Alternatively, if
watering is set to begin at a time that is not allowed on a
watering day, the controller may automatically change the station
start times until a time when watering is allowed on that day.
[0149] In the accumulation mode, the controller is again programmed
with its preliminary irrigation schedule and the schedule of
allowed watering times restrictions. A water budget is determined
periodically with or without using historical ET. If the water
budget does not exceed the set threshold, it continues to
accumulate until the threshold is reached or exceeded. When the
threshold is reached, the schedule of allowed watering times is
consulted and if watering is allowed, the controller initiates
watering. If not, it waits until allowed, or changes the start
time(s) until an allowed time.
[0150] In another mode, the determined water budget projects the
watering interval and initiates irrigation based on this projected
interval and the allowed watering times.
[0151] FIGS. 13A and 13B represent exemplary embodiments of add-on
modules (the letters "TBM" in the figures refer to "temperature
budgeting module") that monitor the outputs of an existing
controller in two ways. In FIG. 13A, each 24 VAC station output
from the controller is monitored and the summer or preliminary
station run times are learned by the module. Upon subsequent
operation of the learned station, the valve operation is limited by
the water budget determined for that day by the module. For example
if the preliminary station run time for station 2 was twelve
minutes, and the water budget for that day is 20%, the module would
allow this station to run for 2.4 minutes before it is cut off.
[0152] In the version of FIG. 13B, each station is still monitored
by the add-on, but instead of each station being individually
controlled, control is affected by breaking the common line to all
stations. This may result in certain stations coming on or off if
two or more stations are being operated simultaneously. The
advantage of the first version is independent station control,
while the advantage of the second is simpler module circuitry and
cost.
[0153] FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment of a self-contained
irrigation controller mounted in a pedestal. This can be a
stand-alone AC powered controller, a DC or solar or ambient light
powered controller, or part of a remotely located controller as
part of a central system. The innovative matter is that the smart
controller is self-contained. The sensor required in some water
budgeting embodiments is provided nearby and communicates with the
controller microprocessor and associated data storage device, if
needed. Placing the temperature sensor near ground level provides a
close approximation of ambient temperature reading. An optional
internal rain sensor may provide shut down in case of
precipitation, and the temperature sensor can also provide shutdown
in case of near freezing temperature. In use, the operator programs
the controller as any other conventional system. The water
budgeting technology is either incorporated into the controller
microprocessor, or communicated to the controller from a plug-in,
or broadcast to it from a central location. Depending upon the
method used (e.g. daily or accumulated water budgets), the
controller irrigates accordingly. If restricted water schedules are
also incorporated, this self-contained controller responds in the
same manner as other embodiments where such restrictions are
automatically implemented. As an option, this self-contained
controller may not even require external AC power. It can be
battery powered, solar powered, or ambient light powered to make it
totally self-contained. If desired, additional sensor data can be
provide to further modify the water budget, through additional
sensors associated with the controller, or broadcast to it by
wireless means.
[0154] FIG. 15 illustrates an exemplary computer screen from which
a custom restricted watering schedule can be developed and provided
to a controller, add-on plug-in, or other device to allow for
automated seasonal watering restriction changes. This screen can
also be programmed to provide for alternating between smart
watering or restricted watering. This type of programming could be
done on the computer, or directly in a smart controller, add-on or
plug-in or other device. By way of example only, and without
limitation, and referring particularly to the exemplary embodiment
of FIG. 15, restricted watering and/or alternate smart/restricted
schedules may be implemented as follows: [0155] 1. A small
programming memory device can be provided with the controller,
add-on, plug-in or other device with a USB connector. [0156] 2. If
the restricted watering schedule is not pre-programmed into the
controller, add-on, plug-in, or other device, the user is
instructed to access a site on a PC or MAC that displays a computer
screen, such the exemplary screen shown in FIG. 15. [0157] 3. The
user clicks on the "MODIFY" button and begins to enter his
restricted schedule. He identifies the water district or
municipality and if his designated watering group (if any) is an
even or odd street address or any other watering group. If the
computer recognizes the water district, the screen could fill
itself in completely automatically. [0158] 4. If the entered water
district is not in the site data base, the user can then complete
his own schedule by entering the information required such as the
seasonal dates and the allowed watering times of the day for the
different seasons. [0159] 5. Once the screen is either
automatically filled out or manually programmed by the user, the
user clicks on the "DONE" button to save the information. [0160] 6.
If alternating use of smart or restricted watering is to be
implemented, the bottom section of the computer screen is filled
out as well. This provides dates during the year when smart
technology is automatically implemented by zip code or location,
and the dates during the year when restricted schedules are to be
implemented. [0161] 7. The small data storage device is plugged
into one of the computer's USB ports or other data access port.
[0162] 8. The user then clicks on the "DOWNLOAD" button. [0163] 9.
When the download has been completed and confirmed, "DOWNLOAD
VERIFIED" shows on the screen. [0164] 10. The programming device is
removed from the computer and plugged into the controller, add-on,
plug-in or other device. [0165] 11. In some embodiments, the host
device acknowledges receipt of the information by indicating
"SCHEDULE ENTERED" or the like. [0166] 12. The controller, plug-in,
add-on or other device will then allow irrigation according to the
restricted water schedule dual restricted/smart use. [0167] 13. If
the restricted schedule changes, the small plug in memory device
can be re-programmed on the PC or MAC by clicking on the "MODIFY"
button which will allow changes to the original program.
[0168] It is to be appreciated that the above scenario is by way of
example, and that the input/updating of restricted watering
schedules into a controller, add-on, plug-in or other device may be
accomplished in numerous other ways, including manually,
wirelessly, via computer download, over the internet, etc. For
example, and without limitation, the following additional or
alternative means of implementing restricted watering schedules
and/or dual or alternating smart/restricted schedules are listed
below:
[0169] Some alternatives to using PC programming include, without
limitation, providing the restricted watering schedules with the
use of a cell phone, iPhone, iPad, notebook, notepad, laptop
computer or other electronic communication device. An application
made for the input of restricted watering schedule data could be
made for use with these mobile devices as well. An example could be
a user accessing said application with an iPhone and entering a
restricted water schedule or alternating use. The user could then
send this information wirelessly to the controller, add-on, or
plug-in device to allow implementation of such restricted watering
schedule automatically.
[0170] Other examples include without limitation, a user accessing
software designed to obtain restricted watering data. The user
could input the restricted watering data into his desktop, laptop,
iPad, iPhone, notebook computer, or other similar device. Next he
would send this data to his controller wirelessly, through a USB
connection, or another means to his controller, add-on, or plug-in
device.
[0171] Other examples include without limitation, a web site
designed to gather restricted watering schedules. A user could
input his restricted watering data from his laptop or notebook
computer, cell phone, iPhone, iPad, etc. based on his local
watering rules. The information could then be transmitted
wirelessly or through a USB connection to a controller, add-on, or
plug-in device. It is to be appreciated that the above examples are
a non-exhaustive list of potential computerized transmission means
by which restricted watering schedules or other data may be
provided to embodiments of central units, controllers, add-ons
and/or plug-ins of the present invention.
[0172] In other embodiments, the controller, add-on, plug-in or
other device may be used as an alternating device between smart
technology and watering restrictions. By way of example, and
without limitation, such additional implementation could be
accomplished as follows: [0173] 1. Enter the local zip code if
water budgeting is used; [0174] 2. Enter the month and day that
smart watering is to start and end; [0175] 3. Enter the month and
day that restricted watering is to start and end.
[0176] One reason to allow the device to alternate between
automatic watering restrictions and smart technology is to make it
possible to use smart technology during certain times of the year
(with no watering restrictions), and use watering restrictions
alone during the rest of the year. Similarly, some locations may
require smart technology during certain times of the year with no
restrictions during others. These embodiments also allow for
automatically selecting the appropriate restricted water schedule
for that time frame (e.g., the "winter" schedule of FIG. 6A during
November-February, the "spring/fall" schedule during March-April
and September-October, and the "summer" schedule during
May-August). These embodiments also allow the local water district,
municipality or other authority to change or update their
restricted schedules, which may be downloaded into an embodiment of
the present invention to assure compliance. These methods can be
utilized to program a controller, add-on, plug-in or other device.
Similar additional means of water conservation methods using cell
phones, iPhones, iPads and the like as previously disclosed in the
description of FIG. 15 also apply in these embodiments without
limitation.
[0177] It is to be appreciated that these steps, or similar ones,
may also be used to instruct a controller, add-on or plug-in to
automatically choose between a selected restricted watering
schedule and smart technology.
NON-LIMITING EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
Example 1
Use of Temperature Budgeting within a Controller, without the Use
of any Form of ET
[0178] The following example is provided for illustrative purposes
only and without limiting the appended claims. This example assumes
that the operator has already determined the preliminary irrigation
schedule using any number of commonly available methods, such as
personal experience, or from the system designer.
[0179] Assume for the purpose of this example that an irrigation
controller embodying the present invention is to be installed in
Fresno, Calif., at 10:15 a.m. on Feb. 15, 2004. However, this
method can be used anywhere in the world. The zip code is a
convenient way in the U.S. and that is why it is used. The operator
installs the controller and enters the current time, date, month
and year. If he is outside the U.S., he enters the expected average
summer high temperature and the latitude. As an example, assume
that somewhere in Southern Europe, the average July high
temperature is 98.degree. F. in July, and the latitude is
37.degree. N. The temperature budgeting setup screen would then
appear as follows: [0180] Current Time/Date: 10:15 AM, Feb. 15,
2010 [0181] Average July High Temperature: 98.degree. F. [0182]
Latitude of this Location: 37.degree. N
[0183] The controller immediately determines from its internal
look-up table that the average summer RA factor at this particular
latitude in July is 16.7. The controller then calculates the STBF
to be 16.7.times.98=1636.6. Finally, he enters an irrigation
schedule for his first irrigation station, which for this example
is six (6) minutes of watering time three times a day.
[0184] Assume that the date is now November 2. The recorded high
temperature for the previous period (twenty-four hours herein) was
52.degree. F. The controller lookup table indicates that the RA on
this particular day is 7.7. This means that the PTBF is 400 (the
temperature of 52.degree. F., multiplied by the RA of 7.7).
Dividing the PTBF by the STBF provides a WBR value of approximately
0.244, or 24.4%. The irrigation duration for this particular period
will be decreased to approximately 1.5 minutes of water (the 6
minute initial irrigation schedule, multiplied by the WBR value of
0.244=1.46 minutes of water), thrice per day.
[0185] The operator could also program the controller to suspend
irrigation if the temperature at the beginning of an irrigation
cycle is below the specified minimum temperature, or (if a
precipitation sensor is included) if precipitation exists during,
or before, an irrigation cycle. For example, assume that
precipitation exists during the second watering irrigation time
above. The precipitation sensor detects the existence of such
precipitation, and communicates such existence to the controller,
causing the controller to cancel the previously scheduled second
watering duration of 1.5 minutes. Further assume that the minimum
temperature is set at 35.degree. F. Further assume that, at the
beginning of the third irrigation time above, the current
temperature was 34.degree. F. This would cause the controller to
cancel the previously scheduled third watering duration of 1.5
minutes.
[0186] As an even more user friendly alternative, the zip code or
location specific historic environmental data and date and time is
provided within the controller, add-on or plug-in.
[0187] This simple, intuitive, cost-effective, user-friendly
approach encourages significantly higher long-term consumer
participation, making it possible to save most of the wasted
landscape water and subsequent runoff, which in California would be
over one million acre feet. The additional infrastructure and
environmental benefits of this water conservation have previously
been enumerated by the EPA, as described herein.
Example 2
Use of Stored Historical ET in Determining the Water Budget
Percentage without Calculating ET within the Embodiments
[0188] The historical ET data shown in FIG. 1A is the same as FIG.
1 of parent U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,058,478, 7,266,428, 7,844,368 and of
pending application Ser. No. 12/955,839 from which this application
claims priority. While no ET calculation is performed by any
embodiment of the present invention, stored historical ET data can
nevertheless be used in embodiments of the present invention in
determining the water budget percentage (WBR). It is to be
appreciated that historical ET is only used--not calculated--by any
of the embodiments herein. Stored historic geo-environmental data
could consist of monthly, weekly, or daily ET data and temperature
data for a given geographic location, and may be identified, for
example, by the zip code or latitude and longitude, etc.
[0189] The following example of determining a water budget
percentage using historic ET is provided for illustrative purposes
only and without limiting the appended claims. Assume that the
historic ET data for a specified location (determined by a zip code
or other location designation) is an ET of 14.0 inches for July,
and the historic ET for the month of September is 10.8 inches.
Assume that the historic July average high temperature is
97.degree. F., and that the temperature for a particular day in
September is 84.degree. F. The water budget percentage for that day
in September, using historical ET, would be determined by
multiplying the current (September) high temperature times historic
ET for the current month, divided by the average high temperature
for July times historic average ET for July, as follows:
(84.times.10.8)/(97.times.14.0)=66.7%.
[0190] By way of comparison, determining the water budget
percentage using temperature budgeting would need the Ra factors
for July and September, which are 16.7 and 12.8 respectively. So
the comparative calculation would be:
(84.times.12.8)/(97.times.16.7)=66.4%.
[0191] This example shows that the difference between the
calculated water budget percentages is insignificant (66.7%-66.4%),
such that either calculation may be used to reach a useful result
without the need to calculate ET. The determined water budget
percentage is then used to either adjust the run times periodically
(e.g., daily) by the calculated percentage, or adjust the
irrigation schedule by accumulating the percentage until a minimum
threshold is reached. While historic monthly average ET data is
used in this example, weekly or daily ET historic data may also be
used.
[0192] As can be seen in this example, historic ET may be
substituted for the equivalent ET expressed as the Ra factor.
However, the methods of determining the water budget ratio or
percentage is not to be limited by this or any specific equation.
The water budget ratio is determined by comparing current
geo-environmental sensor data to stored geo-environmental data and
using it to adjust the irrigation schedule, or run times without
calculating ET within the embodiments. The determined or calculated
periodic water budget can also be applied daily to adjust the
station run times or accumulated until a threshold level is reached
to adjust the watering interval. While this example uses monthly
historic ET, weekly or daily ET may also be used for specific days
of the month for a specific location.
[0193] As noted previously, some embodiments do not require any
form of ET. However, the use of historic ET, for example, as a
substitute for Ra (the equivalent evaporation), is a viable
alternative as illustrated in FIG. 1 of each of the parent patents
and as noted by the SWAT results of FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, and the above
comparison. The temperature budgeting methods (which may include
historic ET) provide extremely reliable watering adjustment tools
without all the ET variables nor any need to calculate ET within
the embodiments of the present invention. FIGS. 5A-5C represent two
irrigation controllers and an add-on, all using the preferred
temperature budgeting method. The use of historical ET as an
alternate method may appropriately still be called "temperature
budgeting" because it only requires a minimum of one current sensor
(temperature) data with the substitution of historic ET for the
equivalent evapotranspiration (Ra).
[0194] As with other embodiments, once the water budget is
determined, it can then be used to automate the existing manual
water budget feature of a controller, or determined externally and
communicated to a controller microprocessor by means of a plug-in
type of add-on. Alternately, an add-on that attaches to the output
of any controller can accumulate the water budget percentages and
allow watering when a threshold is reached. A minimum of at least
one environmental sensor is required (preferably temperature)
although additional sensors such as a rain, wind, solar radiation,
soil moisture, soil temperature, and relative humidity sensors may
also be provided to allow for more exact calculations if needed.
The current or real time sensor data may be provided by wired or
wireless means.
[0195] Similar calculations can be performed using one of the
stored historical ET curves as shown in FIG. 1a which are zip code
specific, although similar ET historical curves may be used
regionally.
[0196] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the stored
historic ET method does not necessarily require the use of the Ra
because Ra is already expressed as an equivalent evaporation as
noted at the top of FIG. 2 in the same units of measurement as ET,
in this case millimeters of water. Peak historic ET data is used
for that zip code location and a daily, weekly, or monthly historic
ET value is used along with historic temperature data and current
temperature data in an equation similar to the above example to
determine or calculate the water budget.
[0197] To re-emphasize, a water budget percentage is determined or
calculated without calculating ET even if the stored data from
which the percentage is determined may consists of historic ET
data. The resulting water budget is then used to either adjust the
irrigation schedule, watering interval, or station run times
accordingly.
Example 3
Determining a Water Budget Percentage Using Soil Moisture
Sensors
[0198] The following example of determining a water budget
percentage using soil moisture sensors is provided for illustrative
purposes only and without limiting the appended claims. In soil
moisture sensing applications, a similar (but not identical
algorithm) may be used. For example, historic soil temperature and
moisture data can be provided to an irrigation or soil moisture
sensing controller. Current soil temperature and moisture data is
then provided on a real time basis from soil sensors and compared
to the historic data for that location for that time or day of the
year. A water budgeting percentage can therefore be calculated by
comparing the current soil moisture and temperature data to
historic soil moisture and temperature data for that location,
which are considered geo-environmental data. This calculation
yields a percentage which can then provide the amount of irrigation
needed to replenish the root zone to a pre-determined level. More
specifically, if the minimum root zone dry level is set to 20%
moisture, and the maximum is set to 90%, the comparison of current
to real time sensor data to historical data may say to activate the
station run time by 70% of the summer run time to fill the root
zone to the 90% level.
Example 4
Using a Plug-in Device to Determine and Implement a Water Budget
Percentage
[0199] The following example is provided for illustrative purposes
only and without limiting the appended claims. An existing (non
smart) irrigation controller is provided with an input port to its
microprocessor. A plug-in device is attached in communication with
that microprocessor through the input port. One or more
environmental sensors provide current or real time weather data to
that plug-in by wired or wireless means. Those sensors may consist
of ambient temperature, solar radiation, wind, relative humidity,
precipitation, soil moisture, soil temperature, or combinations
thereof. The plug-in module either is pre-programmed with local
historical environmental data accessed by means of a location
identifier (such as a zip code or latitude and longitude, or
regionally), or such historical data is input. That historical
(stored) data may consist of temperature, solar radiation, wind,
relative humidity, or precipitation, or historic ET, soil moisture,
soil temperature, or combinations thereof. Periodically, the
sensors provide environmental data to the plug-in module. That real
time data is compared to the stored geo-environmental data and a
water budget is determined according to one of the methods outlined
herein. This water budget is communicated to the host existing
controller microprocessor which then either adjusts the set summer
run times or the preliminary schedule according to the determined
water budget percentage on a daily basis or an interval determined
by accumulation.
Example 5
Using the Accumulation Method in a Controller, Add-on or
Plug-in
[0200] The following example is provided for illustrative purposes
only and without limiting the appended claims. An irrigation
controller is programmed with a preliminary irrigation schedule
using personal experience, internet based guidelines, with
professional assistance or the like. A zip code or other location
data is entered into the controller, add-on or plug-in from which
historic data for that location is obtained such as latitude,
temperature, ET, relative humidity, wind, precipitation, soil
moisture, soil temperature, or combinations thereof. One or more
environmental sensors are placed in communication with the
controller, add-on or plug-in to provide current or real time data.
The real time data is compared to the stored historic data to
determine a periodic (preferably daily) water budget percentage.
The controller, add-on or plug-in is programmed to accumulate the
periodic percentages until a threshold is reached. For example, an
accumulated percentage of at least 40% may be required before
irrigation takes place. A minimum threshold percentage assures
adequate penetration of the root zone. If a plug-in is used, the
determined water budget percentages are communicated to the
controller which may have been programmed with the minimum
threshold.
[0201] In the case of an add-on, the existing irrigation controller
is programmed with its preliminary or summer irrigation schedule
and programmed to irrigate on given days. The add-on is mounted
near the controller and has an internal cut off switch that is
capable of breaking the common line. The add-on can be provided
with a locator means such as a zip code which identifies the
historical environmental data for that location, such as
temperature, historic ET, relative humidity, solar radiation, wind,
soil, or combinations thereof. One or more environmental sensors
provide real time data to the add-on. The add-on periodically
(preferably daily) determines the water budget. As a device that
breaks the common line, the add-on could accumulate the daily water
budget percentages until the threshold is reached, which may be for
example 100% of the summer run times, at which time the common line
is closed to allow irrigation to occur. On that day, the controller
is allowed to run its summer irrigation schedule, assuming it is
also an allowed watering day.
[0202] As an accumulation example, if it were November, the daily
determined percentage may be 22% on a given day. No irrigation will
be allowed that day. It may take 5 days or more during the cooler
times of the year for the water budget accumulation to reach the
100% threshold. So the add-on will break the common line and
prevent the controller from irrigating an average of four out of
every five days in this example. If a restricted watering schedule
is also imposed into the add-on simultaneously, the module will
withhold irrigation until both the threshold is reached and an
allowed watering day/time is reached. In this case, the module will
continue accumulating the daily water budget percentages until an
allowed watering day is reached. Most commonly, however, the add-on
or plug-in or controller will either be used as a smart device, or
as a TOU unit, not both together. The circumstances of the
availability of water, and infrastructure capabilities will
generally dictate which method is best for that municipality or
water district.
Example 6
An Automated Restricted Watering Schedule in a Smart or
Conventional Controller
[0203] The following example is provided for illustrative purposes
only and without limiting the appended claims. A conventional or
smart irrigation controller is located in a municipality which
restricts irrigations to certain times of the day, or certain days
of the week, or certain days of the month, depending on the street
even or odd address or some other group designation. Municipal
landscape watering restrictions have been common for decades, but
always required manual initial setting and manual adjustment for
seasonal changes. There are two novel approaches presented here and
by the parent patents regarding automated watering restrictions.
The first is the pre-programming of multiple restricted watering
schedules within the controller from which one can be selected by,
for example, entering a location identifier such as the name of the
water district or town, by zip code, or latitude/longitude. This
eliminates the need to program the entire restricted schedule
manually into the controller, only the location. The second novelty
is that once the schedule is selected, upon input of the date/time,
the controller is capable of automatically adjusting the allowed
watering days and times seasonally without the need for human
intervention. As seen in FIG. 6B, the SNWA defines their seasons to
be seasonally manually changed as follows: "Adjust your watering
clock seasonally: Sept 1, Nov 1, March 1, and May 1". In addition,
the allowed watering times also vary during the course of the year.
For example, no irrigation is allowed from May 1 until October 1,
from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The present invention would automate this
requirement.
[0204] Automation of the water restriction features were proposed
in the '244 patent preceded by its provisional applications. In a
recent study by the SNWA, the use of an automated water restriction
device reported the following compliance to the restrictions shown
in FIGS. 6A and 6B: During the fall, an increase from 8% to 41%,
from 11% to 41% in the winter, and from 15% to 31% in the spring.
The total water savings from manual compliance to automated
compliance yielded a savings of 13% for the three seasons reported.
No report was made during the summer months. It can be assumed that
automated non watering from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the summer
would have added to the savings. This compares favorably to the
AquaCraft study referred to previously of 6.3% water savings from
conventional to smart ET based controllers, particularly in view of
the fact that the SNWA already had a degree of compliance before
the study with the automation.
[0205] Advantages of Having Both Smart Technology and Automated
Restricted Water Schedules Capability within a Controller, Add-on
or Plug-in
[0206] Various water districts or municipalities have different
existing water related considerations and conditions: [0207] 1.
Some areas may have plentiful stored water, but limited pumping and
delivery capability. This limitation could result in ineffective
delivered water pressure, decreasing irrigation efficiency and
increasing the watering times to account for this deficiency. At
the same time, increased watering could lead to runoff pollution,
and over watering in certain landscape zones leading to diseases.
[0208] 2. In areas where the infrastructure is currently adequate,
rapidly increasing housing and population would reduce the ability
of the existing infrastructure to handle future needs, leading to
significant investment in infrastructure upgrading needs. [0209] 3.
Some areas have an adequate infrastructure, but limited water
supply from drought or limited water storage capacity. [0210] 4.
Some areas have both a strained infrastructure and a limited water
supply.
[0211] If the water supply is adequate, the intent is to reduce the
load on the infrastructure. This can be accomplished by regulating
the allowed watering days of the week or days of the month with
even or odd address designations, and limiting the times of the day
to limit landscape water use to off-peak water demand times of the
day. In general, the intent is to distribute landscape irrigation
to reduce the water demand load.
[0212] If the infrastructure is adequate but water is limited,
either watering restrictions may be implemented or smart
irrigation. Unfortunately, as observed herein, ET based controllers
have gained limited acceptance, and even when used, have delivered
disappointing water savings.
[0213] If the community or water district has both limited water
supply and inadequate infrastructure, severely limiting landscape
watering may be the only option primarily by restricted watering
schedules. This was the case with the SNWA which tried to encourage
the use of smart controllers with rebates, with very limited
success. That is why they are now considering automated watering
schedules based upon their recent study.
[0214] The ability to provide both smart water budget automation
and automated restricted watering schedules provides considerable
flexibility to a water district that may wish to begin with
restricted schedules to satisfy infrastructure limitations, or to
convert from watering limitations to smart technology (water
budgeting) because a simpler more economical automated technology
in a controller, add-on or plug-in will provide the greatest
landscape water savings, depending upon the water conditions of the
municipality.
Example 7
A Controller, Add-on or Plug with Both Temperature Budgeting
Technology and Automated Time of Use for Restricted, Allowed, or
not Allowed Watering Times
[0215] The following example is provided for illustrative purposes
only and without limiting the appended claims. A controller is
programmed with its preliminary irrigation schedule. If a zip code
is entered, the controller, add-on or plug in may automatically
determine where it is located, and then gain access to historical
geo-environmental data for that location. The unit then determines
a periodic water budget, which may be used daily or by the
accumulated method, with or without stored historical ET. One or
more restricted watering schedules are made available to the unit,
and may be selected by the user or determined according to user
entry (zip code, date/time). The schedule appropriate for that
location could be selected by entering a location designator from a
list provided in the owner's manual, from an internet site, etc. An
applicable restricted scheduled is then automatically selected by
the unit. Based upon these restrictions, the unit would only
irrigate or be allowed to irrigate based upon the selected schedule
which could be time of day, day of the week, or day of the month
dependent. In other embodiments, the local municipality may have
different restrictions depending upon the time of the year, and the
unit would select and/or change to different restrictions when
applicable at different times. In embodiments using automatic water
budgeting and automatic watering restrictions, the controller or
add-on would automatically adjust its preliminary schedule
according to the periodic water budget, and allow watering only on
the allowed watering times of the day or watering days of the week
or days of the month, accordingly. In embodiments using automatic
water budgeting and automatic accumulation with watering
restrictions, the controller or add-on would accumulate water
budgets until a threshold is reached, and then allow watering only
at the next allowed watering time of the day, or day of the
week.
[0216] It is to be appreciated that one way embodiments of the
present invention may comply with restricted watering schedules is
to change station start times to begin at times when watering is
allowed. For example, the start time may be set for 7:30 a.m., but
local watering restrictions prohibit watering after 7:00 a.m. on
the day watering is scheduled; in such a situation, instead of
prohibiting watering altogether that day, embodiments of the
invention may change the station start time to 6:00 when watering
is allowed. The watering may be cut off at 7:00 a.m. when the
restrictions go into effect.
[0217] Some embodiments illustrated in this example include: [0218]
1. Automated selection of one of multiple pre-programmed restricted
watering schedules. [0219] 2. Automated seasonal change in watering
restrictions. [0220] 3. The use of embodiments 1 or 2 in
combination with a temperature budgeting method within a
controller, add-on or plug-in. [0221] 4. The combination of 1 or 2
with any smart irrigation based controller, including ET based
controllers. [0222] 5. An add-on that learns the summer run times
and uses temperature budgeting to modify the run times daily [0223]
6. An add-on, plug-in, or controller that can operate as a smart
controller during certain times of the year, and as a restricted
schedule controller during other times of the year, for example
during the summer months when watering may not be allowed during
certain times of the day as in the SNWA area.
Example 8
A Self-Contained Smart Controller
[0224] The following example is provided for illustrative purposes
only and without limiting the appended claims. An irrigation
controller is located in an outdoor pedestal as shown in FIG. 14.
The housing may be metal or some form of plastic. The controller is
programmed with a summer irrigation schedule. In a preferred
embodiment, only a temperature sensor is required. This sensor is
placed within the pedestal at a location where it most closely
approximates the ambient temperature (preferably at ground level).
A rain sensor may be optionally be built into the controller
pedestal, as shown in FIG. 14. The smart technology of choice
and/or restricted watering schedules are implemented within the
controller microprocessor. The controller then irrigates according
to its smart technology and/or the restricted watering schedules.
If only the restricted watering schedules are used, the temperature
sensor can be used as a freeze control device to shut down
irrigation before the temperature reaches freezing. The rain sensor
can shut down irrigation when there is a sufficient amount of
precipitation. To make the controller totally self-contained and
self powered, it may be solar, ambient light, or battery
powered.
Example 9
An Add-on that Learns the Station Run Times and Adjusts Irrigation
Accordingly
[0225] The following example is provided for illustrative purposes
only and without limiting the appended claims. A conventional
controller is provided. An add-on module is provided that monitors
the 24 VAC outputs of the conventional controllers and "learns"
their run times. See FIGS. 13A and 13B. These figures disclose two
embodiments, depicted as TBMs (temperature budgeting modules). The
exemplary version of FIG. 13A monitors and learns each station run
time, and on the subsequent times, cuts off each output
independently according to the water budget determined for that day
by means of multiple cutoff switches, one for each station. If the
learned station run time for station 1 was 8 minutes, and today's
water budget is 25%, the module would allow valve 1 to come on for
2 minutes then cut it off.
[0226] The second exemplary version is depicted in FIG. 13B. Here,
each station is still monitored and the run time learned, but the
wires to each valve are in parallel with the TBM wires. The common
line is broken in this case to all the valves at once, instead of
each individual station line. Once again, the module learns the run
times, and on subsequent station activations cuts off each station
operation, based on the water budget, by cutting off the common
line.
[0227] The advantage of the first version is that each station can
be operated independently. However, additional electronic circuitry
and one output switch is required with each station, which adds
cost and size to the module. The second version is less
complicated, but if more than one station is operated at a time,
stations will need to go on and off according to the breaking of
the common line to satisfy the full water budge percentage.
Example 10
Central Unit Sending Data to Remote Controller(s), Add-on(s) or
Plug-in(s)
[0228] The following example is provided for illustrative purposes
only and without limiting the appended claims. A centrally located
unit is provided with a microprocessor and a means for sending out
data, such as, without limitation, a transmitter and antenna (for
broadcasting), a wireless network link, an internet communication
link (wired or wireless), or even hard-wired communications. One or
more receiving units (which may themselves be controllers, add-ons
and/or plug-ins) are provided as shown in FIGS. 9A-9C. The
receiving units are in communication with the central unit and may
have, without limitation, radio/wireless receivers, internet
connections, hard wired links, etc. In different embodiments, the
central unit may address the receiving units as a group or
individually.
[0229] The various steps and apparatus of embodiments of the
present invention may be divided between the central unit and the
receiving units in a multitude of combinations. Turning first to
implementation of water budgeting, for example, and without
limitation, in some embodiments, the central unit may generate the
water budget percentages and send them to the receiving units for
implementation. In other embodiments, the central unit may simply
provide current environmental data to the receiving units which
themselves generate and then implement the water budget
percentages. In other embodiments the receiving units may have
their own environmental sensor(s) and not require anything from the
central unit to generate water budget percentages. In some
embodiments, water budget percentages may be accumulated in the
central unit; in other embodiments, those percentages may be
accumulated in the receiving units. Each of these water
budgeting examples may or may not be combined with automatic
implementation of restricted watering schedules.
[0230] Turning to automatic implementation of restricted watering
schedules, for example, and without limitation, in some
embodiments, the central unit may receive several sets of watering
restrictions (e.g., different restrictions being applicable at
different seasons of the year), and the central unit decides which
restrictions are currently in effect and sends those to the
receiving units. In other embodiments, the central unit sends all
of the restriction sets to the receiving units which themselves
determine which one is currently applicable.
[0231] In very simple embodiments, the central unit may perform
numerous functions and simply send a "ok to water" or "not ok to
water" signal (or a "start watering"/"stop watering" signal) to the
receiving units. It is to be appreciated that these are only some
examples of how the steps and apparatus of embodiments of the
present invention may be divided up between the central unit and
the receiving units.
[0232] Typical Instructions for Automated Selection, Programming,
and Implementation of Restricted Watering Schedules in a Smart or
Conventional Controller, Add-on or Plug-in:
[0233] It is important to note that the following exemplary
procedure for automatically selecting, programming, and seasonally
changing restricted watering schedules is without limitation to the
claims herein.
[0234] STEP 1: Some restricted watering schedules are
pre-programmed into your controller, add-on or plug-in. Go to that
function on your device and enter your zip code to determine if
your restricted schedule is pre-programmed. If it appears, enter it
to enable it.
[0235] STEP 2: Enter your group designation if applicable (even,
odd, group designation, etc. . . . ) and your drought stage if
specified.
[0236] STEP 3: If your allowed watering schedule is not available,
access the designated site on your computer.
[0237] STEP 4: Enter your zip code on that screen and your schedule
will appear. Enter your designated watering group and drought stage
if applicable.
[0238] STEP 5: If your restricted schedule has changed, you may
manually update the schedule on the screen and click on the
"UPDATE" button.
[0239] STEP 6: Insert your programming device into one of the
computer's USB ports and click on the "DOWNLOAD" button.
[0240] STEP 7: Remove the programming device and plug it into the
host controller, add-on or plug-in module. The schedule or updated
schedule will automatically be implemented, including seasonal
changes as specified by the water district or municipality.
[0241] Dual Use of Water Budgeting or any Smart Technology
(Including ET Based or any Other Smart Technology or Soil Moisture
Sensing Method) and Restricted Watering Schedules
[0242] Assume that in the SNWA area, it would be beneficial to
minimize evaporation during the summer months. As noted in FIG. 6B,
from May 1 until October 1, no watering is allowed daily from 11
a.m. to 7 p.m. An embodiment of an add-on, plug-in, controller or
other device could be programmed as follows to maximize irrigation
efficiency: [0243] 1. If the combination of any smart water
technology and watering restrictions is in a controller, it may be
programmed to operate as a smart controller in the fall, winter,
and spring months. However, during the summer, since it is likely
that most days in the Southern Nevada climate would require nearly
100% irrigation which would save little or no water, this
controller embodiment automatically switches to the watering
restrictions mode (TOU) to prohibit irrigation, for example, from
11 a.m. to 7 p.m. to minimize evaporation. [0244] 2. If the
combination of smart water technology and watering restrictions is
in a plug-in embodiment, the irrigation schedule determined by
smart technology (of the present invention or otherwise) is
communicated to the controller during the fall, winter, and spring,
and automatically replaced with the limited allowed watering times
of the day during the summer. [0245] 3. If the combination of smart
technology is in an add-on embodiment, the add-on would
automatically allow irrigation when either the accumulated
percentages or the ET have reached their threshold during the fall,
winter, and spring, then automatically convert to the watering
restrictions during the summer by opening the contact (preventing
irrigation) from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. [0246] 4. If the
combination is done as a central system embodiment, the embodiment
automatically switches from smart technology during fall, winter,
and spring to time of use during the summer.
[0247] The ability to have both smart technology and time of use
capability in one controller, add-on or plug-in as well as a
central system offers a wide range of capabilities to suit the
region's conditions of water availability and infrastructure
capabilities.
[0248] It is to be understood that variations and modifications of
the embodiments of the present invention may be made without
departing from the scope thereof. In particular, the scope of the
invention includes embodiments having different combinations of the
features and elements disclosed herein. It is also to be understood
that the present invention is not to be limited by any of the
particular embodiments, examples, illustrations, equations, or
specific variables disclosed herein, but only in accordance with
the appended claims when read in light of the foregoing
specification.
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