IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0022425
(2011-02-07)
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등록번호 |
US-8554380
(2013-10-08)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
- National Diversified Sales, Inc.
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
2 |
초록
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A weather based irrigation controller has a thermometer that provides a temperature signal to the controller and a rain gauge that provides a rainfall signal to the controller, for adjusting irrigation schedules. A default mode is initiated when either sensor fails, and introduces an adjustment to t
A weather based irrigation controller has a thermometer that provides a temperature signal to the controller and a rain gauge that provides a rainfall signal to the controller, for adjusting irrigation schedules. A default mode is initiated when either sensor fails, and introduces an adjustment to the maximum irrigation duration based on historical stored data.
대표청구항
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1. A controller for controlling an irrigation schedule in an irrigation system, the irrigation system including a plurality of sprinkler heads connected via a plurality of conduits to a water source, the controller comprising: a rain gauge configured to transmit to the controller a signal representi
1. A controller for controlling an irrigation schedule in an irrigation system, the irrigation system including a plurality of sprinkler heads connected via a plurality of conduits to a water source, the controller comprising: a rain gauge configured to transmit to the controller a signal representing a recent rainfall amount;a thermometer configured to transmit to the controller a signal representing a prevailing temperature value;an input means for permitting a user to enter irrigation parameters into the controller, wherein the parameters include:a Maximum Irrigation Duration;an identifier for identifying a sector in which the irrigation system is located;the current date;a database that includes stored information relating to historical meteorological conditions associated with each of a plurality of sectors located within a geographical area, the information including, for each sector:a historical period-average evapotranspiration rate for a plurality of periods over the duration of a year,a historical average solar radiation level for each month over the duration of a year;a solar radiation for the month of average summer high temperature;an average summer high temperature;wherein, a microprocessor is configured to calculate and apply an amount of time to suspend the next irrigation event due to rainfall, the amount of time being based on measured inches of rainfall divided by the historical period-average evapotranspiration rate for the current period;further wherein the microprocessor is configured to calculate and apply a Next Irrigation Duration being equal to the Maximum Irrigation Duration multiplied by a ratio based on the product of the historical average solar radiation level for the current month and the previous day's measured high temperature, divided by the product of the solar radiation for the month of average summer high temperature and the average summer high temperature; andwherein the microprocessor is configured to respond to a failure in receipt of a signal from at least one of the rain gauge or the thermometer by calculating and applying an Actual Irrigation Duration rather than a Next Irrigation Duration, the Actual Irrigation Duration being equal to the Maximum Irrigation Duration multiplied by a ratio, defined as a Period Reduction Factor, based on the historical period-average evapotranspiration rate for the current period divided by a maximum period-average evapotranspiration rate that occurs in the course of a year. 2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the sector identifier is a zip code. 3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is configured to sequentially recalculate the Actual Irrigation Duration in a new period by applying the historical period-average evapotranspiration rate associated with the new period, and causing the irrigation system to irrigate for the Actual Irrigation Duration during a new current period. 4. The controller of claim 1, wherein the Period Reduction Factor is based on a period that is a month. 5. The controller of claim 1, wherein the Period Reduction Factor is based on a period that is a week. 6. The controller of claim 1, wherein the Period Reduction Factor is based on a period that is a day. 7. A method of controlling an irrigation schedule by an irrigation system that includes a plurality of sprinkler heads connected via a plurality of conduits to a water source, the method comprising: compiling a database that includes information relating to historical evapo-transpiration rates for a plurality of sectors located within a geographical area;deriving, from the information, Period Reduction Factors applicable over a year for each sector, wherein the Period Reduction Factors are based on a historical period-average evapotranspiration rate for each period of the year for a sector, divided by a maximum period-average evapotranspiration rate that occurs in a year for that sector, whereby the database has an array of information in which each sector in a geographical area has, associated with it, a plurality of Period Reduction Factors, one Period Reduction Factor for each period of the year;entering irrigation parameters into a controller, wherein the parameters include:a Maximum Irrigation Duration;an identifier for identifying the sector in which the irrigation system is situated; andthe current date;transmitting from a thermometer to the controller a signal reflecting a prevailing temperature value;checking whether the signal is received by the controller;if the signal is received by the controller, then:multiplying the Maximum Irrigation Duration by a temperature ratio, thereby computing a Next Irrigation Duration, wherein the temperature ratio is based on the product of a historical average solar radiation level for the current month and the previous day's high temperature, divided by the product of a solar radiation for the month of average summer high temperature and the average summer high temperature;causing the irrigation system to irrigate for the Next Irrigation Duration at a next irrigation operation;if the signal is not received by the controller, then:adjusting the Maximum Irrigation Duration by multiplying the Maximum Irrigation Duration by a Period Reduction Factor for the current period associated with the sector that has been identified by a user, thereby obtaining an Actual Irrigation Duration for the current period for the identified sector; andcausing the irrigation system to irrigate for the Actual Irrigation Duration during the current period. 8. The method of claim 7, further including: transmitting from a rain gauge to the controller a signal reflecting an amount of rain that has fallen;calculating, at historically prevailing rates of evapotranspiration, an amount of time required for the amount of rainfall to evaporate;suspending irrigation operations for at least the amount of time. 9. The method of claim 7, wherein entering a sector identifier into the controller includes entering a zip code. 10. The method of claim 7 wherein the period associated with the Period Reduction Factor is one month. 11. The method of claim 7 wherein the period associated with the Period Reduction Factor is one week. 12. The method of claim 7, wherein the period associated with the Period Reduction Factor is one day. 13. The method of claim 10, wherein adjusting the Maximum Irrigation Duration includes sequentially recalculating the Actual Irrigation Duration in a new period by applying the historical period-average evapotranspiration rate associated the each new period, and causing the irrigation system to irrigate for the Actual Irrigation Duration during a new current period. 14. A method of controlling an irrigation schedule by an irrigation system that includes a plurality of sprinkler heads connected via a plurality of conduits to a water source, the method comprising: compiling a database that includes information relating to historical evapo-transpiration rates for a plurality of sectors located within a geographical area;deriving, from the information, Period Reduction Factors applicable over a year for each sector, wherein the Period Reduction Factors are based on a historical period-average evapotranspiration rate for each period of the year for a sector, divided by a maximum period-average evapotranspiration rate that occurs in a year for that sector, whereby the database has an array of information in which each sector in a geographical area has, associated with it, a plurality of Period Reduction Factors, one Period Reduction Factor for each period of the year;entering irrigation parameters into a controller, wherein the parameters include:a Maximum Irrigation Duration;an identifier for identifying the sector in which the irrigation system is situated; andthe current date;transmitting from a rain gauge to the controller a signal reflecting an amount of rain that has fallen;checking whether the signal is received by the controller;if the signal is received by the controller, then:calculating and applying an amount of time to suspend a next irrigation event due to rainfall, the amount of time being based on measured inches of rainfall divided by the historical period-average evapotranspiration rate for the current period;causing the irrigation system to suspend the next irrigation event for the amount of time;if the signal is not received by the controller, then:adjusting the Maximum Irrigation Duration by multiplying the Maximum Irrigation Duration by a Period Reduction Factor for the current period associated with the sector that has been identified by a user, thereby obtaining an Actual Irrigation Duration for the current period for the identified sector; andcausing the irrigation system to irrigate for the Actual Irrigation Duration during the current period. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein entering a sector identifier into the controller includes entering a zip code. 16. The method of claim 14 wherein the period associated with the Period Reduction Factor is one month. 17. The method of claim 14 wherein the period associated with the Period Reduction Factor is one week. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the period associated with the Period Reduction Factor is one day. 19. The method of claim 14, wherein adjusting the Maximum Irrigation Duration includes sequentially recalculating the Actual Irrigation Duration in a new period by applying the historical period-average evapotranspiration rate associated with the new period, and causing the irrigation system to irrigate for the Actual Irrigation Duration during a new current period.
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