WO2002023299A1

WO2002023299A1 - Irrigation controller with operator convenience features

Info

Publication number: WO2002023299A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/025143
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kirk Buhler; Tony Givargis
Original assignee: Aqua Conservation Systems, Inc.
Priority date: 2000-09-13
Filing date: 2000-09-13
Publication date: 2002-03-21
Also published as: AU2000275794A1

Abstract

The present invention provides an irrigation controller (200) with at least one of several operator convenience features. One operator convenience feature selects for temporary execution as a group of the current pre-programmed irrigation schedule (300, 301, 302) and another pre-programmed irrigation schedule (300, 301, 302) that is not otherwise programmed to execute together with the current pre-programmed irrigation schedule. Another operator convenience feature includes a simple irrigation controller inputs (230, 231, 232) that add additional watering time to a current irrigation program. The additional watering time may include a single water application to each zone (310, 311, 312), multiple water applications (320, 321) to each zone (310, 311, 312) or single applications to some zones (311, 312) and multiple applications to other zones (310). A third operator convenience feature is that from any of several settings other than off, the irrigation controller automatically returns to the current irrigation program. Preferably the current irrigation program is at least partly derived from ETo data.

Description

IRRIGATION CONTROLLER WITH OPERATOR CONVENIENCE FEATURES

Field of the Invention

The field of the invention is irrigation controllers.

Background of the Invention

Many irrigation systems have been developed that automatically control the application of water to landscapes. These irrigation systems can range from simple systems that vary irrigation on a timed control basis to very complex systems that vary irrigation based on climatic and geographic conditions. This climatic and geographic data is received by or inputted into the irrigation controller, which then processes this data to control the distribution of water to the landscape in an efficient manner.

Regardless of complexity, there maybe times when additional watering of the landscape is required over and above that which would be applied during the preprogrammed irrigation schedules. With either a simple or a complex irrigation system, additional watering of the landscape is generally accomplished using a simple input that results in the irrigation controller executing the application of a complete additional regular irrigation schedule. Alternatively, a user can often run a single station as opposed to running an entire irrigation schedule. A problem arises, however, when a user wants to run some, but not all stations of an irrigation schedule. Presently, that must be accomplished by running one of the desired stations, waiting until that station is completed, and then run another station. The result is operator inefficiency, and possible operator error.

Another situation results from irrigation controllers operating operate complex schedules that include multiple applications (often indicated on the controller panel as schedules 1 and 2, or A and B). A primary reason for applying multiple irrigation applications is to reduce runoff of water from the landscape. Runoff may occur when high irrigation rates are applied to the landscape during extremely dry weather, when there is slow infiltration of water into the soil (soils with a high clay content), and/or when there are slopes. Therefore, during a given irrigation schedule the controller may effect watering of all the stations, but with some stations initially applying only half of the water required for good plant growth. Then, after the first portion of the schedule is completed the irrigation controller executes the second portion of the schedule, in which only those stations that had applied half of what was required will apply the second half. In that manner the entire landscape obtains adequate water for good plant growth. A problem arises with many controllers, however, because when they are set to apply an additional irrigation schedule that consists of two applications, they only apply the first half of the irrigation schedule and not the second half. Therefore, some areas of the landscape will only receive half of the water that they should be receiving.

Yet another problem sometimes arises when watering is completed. If the irrigation controller was modified in some manner, it may need to be manually reset so that it executes the regular irrigation schedule again. If a user forgets to reset the irrigation controller, the lawn or other irrigated area may not be watered for several days until the irrigation user sees brown spots or wilted plant material, and then resets the irrigation controller to execute the regular irrigation schedule again.

The irrigation user may not only forget to reset the controller after an additional irrigation schedule is applied but may also forget to reset the irrigation controller when he/she makes other changes to the. settings of their controller. With most controllers, when the irrigation user changes the controller from the normal run mode, the controller must be manually reset to the normal run mode for it to execute the regular irrigation program again.

What is needed is an irrigation controller having one or more convenience features that overcome at least some of these problems, whether group execution, additional watering time, or automatic return.

Summary of the Invention

Apparatus and methods are provided in which an irrigation controller includes or more operator convenience features including: (a) a first mechanism that selects for temporary execution as a group the current pre-programmed irrigation schedule and another pre-programmed irrigation schedule that is not otherwise programmed to execute together with the current pre-programmed irrigation schedule; (b) a second mechanism that temporarily executes an additional watering time to the current irrigation program schedule without altering the current irrigation schedule, where the additional watering time comprises at least two applications to a single zone (c) a third mechanism that effects an automatic return to the current irrigation program from a plurality of irrigation controller settings other than an offsetting.

The first mechanism may advantageously select from more than three possible permutations of the irrigation schedules.

The second mechanism may advantageously include and an additional watering time that comprises an initial irrigation program that was inputted in the irrigation controller when the irrigation controller was installed. Alternatively, the additional watering time may include only a portion of the initial irrigation program. In still other embodiments, the additional watering time may include includes either a single water application to each of a plurality of watering zones, or multiple applications to each of a plurality of watering zones

The third mechanism may advantageously include automatic return from an additional watering time setting, or a fixed duration test for a plurality of watering stations.

Preferred controllers and methods use at least one irrigation program that is at least partly derived from ETo data.

Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description that describes a preferred embodiment of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic of an irrigation controller according to an aspect of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a block diagram of an irrigation system according to an aspect of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a block diagram of an irrigation controller executing irrigation schedules according to an aspect of the present invention.

Detailed Description i Figure 1 an irrigation controller 200 generally includes a microprocessor 220, an on-board memory 210, manual input devices 230 through 232 (buttons and/or knobs) that include a device for adding a day of watering, an input/output (I/O) circuitry 221 connected in a conventional manner, a display screen 250, electrical connectors 260 which are connected to a plurality of irrigation stations 270 and a power supply 280, a rain detection device 291, a flow sensor 292, a pressure sensor 293 and a temperature sensor 294. Each of these components by itself is well known in the electronic industry, with the exception of the programming of the microprocessor in accordance with the functionality set forth herein. There are hundreds of suitable chips that can be used for this purpose. At the present, experimental versions have been made using a generic Intel 80C54 chip, and it is contemplated that such a chip would be satisfactory for production models.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the controller has one or more common communication internal bus(es). The bus can use a common or custom protocol to communicate between devices. There are several suitable communication protocols, which can be used for this purpose. At present, experimental versions have been made using an I C serial data communication, and it is contemplated that this communication method would be satisfactory for production models. This bus is used for internal data transfer to and from the EEPROM memory, and is used for communication with peripheral devices and measurement equipment including but not limited to water flow sensors, water pressure sensors, and temperature sensors.

In Figure 2 a single irrigation controller 200 operates two irrigation stations 400. It will be understood that these stations 400 are indicative of any two or more irrigation stations, and are not to be interpreted as limiting the number or configuration of stations. Structure and operation of the irrigation controller is preferably as described elsewhere herein except as to the operation of the add a day button. Among other things, the irrigation controller 200 operates solenoids (not shown), which open the station valves 350 to allow irrigation water to be distributed to the various irrigation stations 400 and thereby irrigate the landscape through one or more (four are shown for each irrigation station but it may be any number) irrigation sprinkler heads 360.

When the irrigation controller is initially installed an irrigation program is programmed into the controller, and is stored in the memory. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the initial irrigation program is modified during the year to execute an irrigation of the landscape that meets the water requirements of the landscape plants with a minimum waste of water. Preferably the current programmed irrigation applications are at least partly derived from environmental transpiration (ETo) data that will generally result in the irrigation applications closely approximating the watering needs of the landscape plants with a minimum waste of water. However, there will still be times that additional water may have to be added due to extremely dry conditions, malfunction of the irrigation controller, etc.

If additional water has to be added to the landscape, it can be accomplished by a simple pressing of one or two buttons 230 and/or 231 on the irrigation controller 200. Preferably the irrigation controller 200 will then execute the application of the initial irrigation program that is stored in the memory. However, it is contemplated that sometimes only a portion, such as 90% of the initial irrigation program will be applied or it may even be something other than the initial irrigation program that is applied as the additional watering. The initial irrigation program preferably includes a complete application by all irrigation stations 400 operated by the irrigation controller 200. The initial irrigation program may result in each irrigation station 400 making a single water application to each zone, each irrigation station 400 making multiple water applications to each zone, or some irrigation stations 400 making single applications to some zones and other irrigation stations 400 making multiple applications to other zones.

hi Figure 3 an irrigation controller executes a current irrigation schedule that results in irrigating of the landscape. Prior art irrigation controllers will generally execute Schedule A 300 when the irrigation controller is set to apply additional water to the landscape. Zone B 311 and Zone C 312 would receive the full irrigation amount. However, Zone A 310 would receive only one third of the full irrigation amount since only the 1^st run time 320 would be applied. Depending on when the prior art irrigation controller is set to apply the additional water application will determine which irrigation schedule will be applied. No prior art irrigation controller is known that will execute all irrigation schedules when an additional water application is made to the landscape. However, an irrigation controller, according to the present invention, would execute Schedule A 300, Schedule B 301, and Schedule C 302 when the controller is set to apply additional water to the landscape. This would result in Zone A 310 receiving a full irrigation amount since the 1^st run time 320, the 2^nd run time 321, and the 3^rd run time 322 would be applied to the landscape. Zone B 311 and Zone C 312 would also both receive the full irrigation amount. After the additional water is applied to the landscape the irrigation controller 200 is programmed to automatically return to the current irrigation program. The "return to current" function also occurs from any other mode besides "off. Thus, "return to current" can occur from a two minute or other test setting, a schedule modifying mode, or any other setting other than the off setting.

Thus, specific embodiments and applications of methods and apparatus of the present invention have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. An irrigation controller that executes a current pre-programmed irrigation schedule, and has at least one operator convenience feature selected from the group consisting of: (a) a first mechanism that selects for temporary execution as a group the current preprogrammed irrigation schedule and another pre-programmed irrigation schedule that is not otherwise programmed to execute together with the current pre-programmed irrigation schedule; (b) a second mechanism that temporarily executes an additional watering time to the current irrigation program schedule without altering the current irrigation schedule, where the additional watering time comprises at least two applications to a single zone; (c) a third mechanism that effects an automatic return to the current irrigation program from a plurality of irrigation controller settings other than an off setting.

2. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein the convenience feature is the first mechanism.

3. The irrigation controller of claim 1 , wherein the first mechanism selects from more than three possible permutations of the irrigation schedules.

4. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein the convenience feature is the second mechanism.

5. The irrigation controller of claim 4, wherein the additional watering time is an initial irrigation program that was inputted in the irrigation controller when the irrigation controller was installed.

6. The irrigation controller of claim 5, wherein the additional watering time is a portion of the initial irrigation program.

7. The irrigation controller of claim 4, wherein the additional watering time includes a single water application to each of a plurality of watering zones.

8. The irrigation controller of claim 4, wherein the additional watering time includes multiple water applications to each of a plurality of watering zones

9. The irrigation controller of claim 4, wherein the additional watering time includes a single watering application to a first of a plurality of watering zones, and a different watering application to another of the plurality of watering zones.

10. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein the convenience feature is the third mechanism.

11. The irrigation controller of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of irrigation controller settings comprises an additional watering time setting.

12. The irrigation controller of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of irrigation controller settings comprises a fixed duration test for a plurality of watering stations.

13. The irrigation controller of claim 12, wherein the current irrigation program is at least partly derived from ETo data.

14. The irrigation controller of claim 12, wherein the current irrigation program is at least partly derived from ETo data.

15. The irrigation controller of claim 12, wherein the current irrigation program is at least partly derived from ETo data.

16. The irrigation controller of claim 12, comprising at least two of the first, second, and third mechanisms.

17. The irrigation controller of claim 12, comprising all three of the first, second, and third mechanisms. AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 05 February 2001 (05.02.01); original claims 1-12 amended; claims 13-17 cancelled (2 pages)]

1. An irrigation controller that is programmed to execute a default irrigation schedule, and to automatically return to executing the default irrigation schedule after a preset period of time in which at least one of: (a) the controller is set in a non-run mode and (b) the controller is executing a temporary schedule.

2. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is set to the non-run mode during the preset period of time.

3. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is executing the temporary schedule during the preset period of time.

4. The irrigation controller of claim 3, wherein the temporary schedule provides a higher frequency of irrigation than the default schedule.

5. The irrigation controller of claim 4, wherein the temporary schedule executes concurrently with the default irrigation schedule.

6. The irrigation controller of claim 4, wherein the temporary schedule provides a greater amount of irrigation to a single irrigation zone than the default schedule.

7. The irrigation controller of claim 4, wherein the temporary schedule provides a greater amount of irrigation to a plurality of irrigation zones than the default schedule.

8. The irrigation controller of claim 3, wherein the temporary schedule provides at least one run time different from the default schedule.

9. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein the temporary schedule includes a higher frequency of irrigation and at least one run time different from the default schedule.

10. The irrigation controller of claim 1, further comprising a mechanism that executes a fixed duration test mode.

11. The irrigation controller of claim 1 , wherein the default irrigation schedule is at least partly derived from ETo data. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein the temporary irrigation schedule is at least partly derived from ETo data.