Intelligent environmental sensor for irrigation systems
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
A01G-025/16
G05B-019/05
출원번호
US-0513141
(2014-10-13)
등록번호
US-10123493
(2018-11-13)
발명자
/ 주소
Runge, Thomas A.
Downie, Bruce M.
출원인 / 주소
The Toro Company
대리인 / 주소
Inskeep IP Group, Inc.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
41
초록▼
The invention provides a regulator system for regulating the operation of an irrigation system which is responsive to user programmed information. It has a control element for issuing watering control signals to an irrigation system, having at least one of (i) a duration programming device for progr
The invention provides a regulator system for regulating the operation of an irrigation system which is responsive to user programmed information. It has a control element for issuing watering control signals to an irrigation system, having at least one of (i) a duration programming device for programming a minimum amount of time and a maximum amount of time for the suspension of watering by the irrigation system, and (ii) a user adjustable temperature programming device for programming a minimum allowed temperature for initiating a watering period by the irrigation system. It further has an irrigation system interface for connecting said control element with the irrigation system. It also has a switch for conveying the control signals from the control element to the irrigation system via the irrigation system interface, for either permitting or prohibiting watering by the irrigation system, responsive to the control signals generated by and received from the control element.
대표청구항▼
1. A system for regulating an irrigation system comprising: a sensor unit configured for operation at a remote location comprising: a wireless transmitter that wirelessly transmits data; and,a sensor assembly that is responsive to contact with rain, said sensor assembly including a hygroscopic senso
1. A system for regulating an irrigation system comprising: a sensor unit configured for operation at a remote location comprising: a wireless transmitter that wirelessly transmits data; and,a sensor assembly that is responsive to contact with rain, said sensor assembly including a hygroscopic sensor; and;a control module configured for operation local to an irrigation controller, comprising: a wireless communication unit that wirelessly receives said data wirelessly transmitted by said sensor unit;a module control circuit in communication with said wireless communication unit and being connectable to said irrigation controller to interrupt an irrigation schedule;a user interface in communication with said module control circuitry and having a bypass switch that bypasses interruption of said irrigation schedule by said module control circuit;wherein said sensor unit generates a quick reacting rainfall signal and an accumulation rainfall signal, andwherein said sensor unit and said control module are operable to rapidly interrupt said irrigation schedule upon initiation of rain based on said quick reacting rainfall signal and maintain interruption of said irrigation schedule based on said accumulation rainfall signal when said hygroscopic sensor exceeds a user-determined threshold of rain absorbed by said hygroscopic sensor. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said user interface further comprises a signal strength indicator having a plurality of indication elements arranged in a horizontal pattern for indicating a strength of a wireless signal transmitted from said wireless transmitter of said sensor unit. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein said user interface further comprises a battery indicator that indicates when a battery of said sensor unit reaches a predetermined level. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor unit further comprises a temperature sensor and wherein said user interface displays a user-adjustable, temperature threshold for interrupting said irrigation schedule of said irrigation controller. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor assembly comprises a plurality of vertically stacked, hygroscopic discs. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor assembly comprises a first hygroscopic sensor and a second hygroscopic sensor. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor assembly comprises a quick reacting rainfall detector and an accumulation type rainfall detector. 8. A system for regulating an irrigation system comprising: a wireless control element configured for operation at a remote location comprising: a wireless transmitter that wirelessly transmits data; and,a sensor assembly that is configured to measure multiple, different amounts of rain without user adjustment, and including a hygroscopic sensor;a control module configured for operation local to an irrigation controller and being directly connected to said irrigation controller, comprising: a wireless communication unit that wirelessly receives said data wirelessly transmitted by said wireless control element;a module control circuit in communication with said wireless communication unit;a user interface in communication with said module control circuitry;wherein said sensor unit and said control module are connectable to said irrigation controller and rapidly interrupt an irrigation schedule executed by said irrigation controller upon initiation of rain based on a quick reacting rainfall signal generated by said sensor unit, and wherein said sensor unit and said control module maintain interruption of said irrigation schedule until said sensor unit stops generating an accumulation rainfall signal communicating that a current measurement of said hygroscopic sensor is less than a predetermined interruption threshold of said hygroscopic sensor. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein said hygroscopic sensor assembly comprises a plurality of vertically stacked, hygroscopic discs. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein said user interface further comprises a signal strength indicator having a plurality of indication elements arranged in a horizontal pattern for indicating a strength of a wireless signal transmitted from said wireless transmitter of said wireless control element. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein said user interface further comprises a battery indicator that indicates when a battery of said wireless control element reaches a predetermined level. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein said wireless control element further comprises a temperature sensor and wherein said user interface displays a user-adjustable, temperature threshold for interrupting said irrigation schedule of said irrigation controller. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein said sensor assembly comprises a quick reacting rainfall detector and an accumulation type rainfall detector. 14. The system of claim 12, wherein said hygroscopic sensor comprises a first hygroscopic sensor and a second hygroscopic sensor. 15. A system for regulating an irrigation system comprising: a sensor unit configured for operation at a remote location comprising: a hygroscopic sensor assembly capable of providing a plurality of different rain measurement values; and,a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit sensor data from said hygroscopic sensor assembly indicating a current rain measurement value; anda control module configured for operation local to an irrigation controller, comprising: a wireless communication unit that wirelessly receives said data wirelessly transmitted by said sensor unit;a module control circuit in communication with said wireless communication unit;a user interface in communication with said module control circuitry and being connectable to said irrigation controller to interrupt an irrigation schedule;wherein said sensor unit generates a quick reacting rainfall signal and an accumulation rainfall signal; and,wherein said sensor unit and said control module are further operable to rapidly interrupt said irrigation schedule upon initiation of rain based on said quick reacting rainfall signal and maintain interruption of said irrigation schedule based on said accumulation rainfall signal when said hygroscopic sensor exceeds a user-determined threshold of rain absorbed by said hygroscopic sensor. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein said hygroscopic sensor assembly comprises a plurality of vertically stacked, hygroscopic discs. 17. The system of claim 15, wherein said hygroscopic sensor assembly comprises a first hygroscopic sensor and a second hygroscopic sensor. 18. The system of claim 15, wherein said hygroscopic sensor assembly comprises a quick reacting rainfall detector and an accumulation type rainfall detector.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (41)
Mark Arnold (2485 Malibu Rd. Bellmore NY 11710), Automatic irrigation water conservation controller.
Klinefelter, Paul A.; Coppola, Barbara A.; Gardner, Craig S.; Warren, Jr., Philip H., Quick shut-off extended range hygroscopic rain sensor for irrigation systems.
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