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US 12,295,295 B2Granted
Weather override irrigation control systems and methods
AssigneeRain Bird Corporation
InventorsJorge A. Marsano, Joseph G. Porrazzo, John E. Price, Hari Reddy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In some embodiments, provide an irrigation sensor system, comprising: a rain funnel comprising an upper opening and at least one wall tapering from the upper opening to a lower aperture; and a tipping bucket positioned to receive water falling from the lower aperture while the tipping bucket is positioned such that a central longitudinal axis of the tipping bucket is not aligned with an axis extending through the lower aperture of the funnel.
Claims21
An irrigation interruption system, comprising:
- a sensor system comprising a sensor control circuit, a rain sensor and a temperature sensor, wherein the rain sensor comprises a tipping bucket;
- an override controller interface system separate from and communicatively coupled with the sensor system, and comprising an interface control circuit;
- and
- an irrigation controller separate from the sensor system and the controller interface system, and comprising an irrigation control circuit, a set of activator output couplers enabling coupling with remote irrigation valves, and memory coupled with the irrigation control circuit;
- wherein the sensor system further comprises a funnel comprising a lower aperture, an upper opening and at least one wall tapering from the upper opening toward the lower aperture;
- wherein the tipping bucket is positioned such that a central longitudinal axis of the tipping bucket is not aligned with the lower aperture and offset from an axis extending through the lower aperture of the funnel;
- the tipping bucket comprises a first rain bucket, a second rain bucket positioned adjacent the first rain bucket and an extended wall extending between the first and second rain buckets, wherein the extended wall alternately aligns, in response to a tipping of the tipping bucket, a first face of the extended wall and a second face of the extended wall with the lower aperture, wherein the first face extends from the first rain bucket and the second face extends from the second rain bucket;
- a bucket holder, wherein the tipping bucket is pivotably secured with the bucket holder providing transitions of the tipping bucket between a first position with the first face of the extended wall aligned with the lower aperture and a second position with the second face of the extended wall aligned with the lower aperture;
- and
- a trigger secured relative to the extended wall and transitioning between a first station when the tipping bucket is in the first position, and a second station when the tipping bucket is in the second position;
- a trigger detector positioned relative to the trigger and activating in response to the trigger passing within a threshold distance of the trigger detector and output tip signals;
- and
- a communication transceiver;
- wherein the sensor control circuit is communicatively coupled with the trigger detector and the transceiver, wherein the sensor control circuit receives the tip signals and causes transmissions by the transceiver of rain signals.
11 more elements
An irrigation interruption system, comprising:
- a sensor system comprising a sensor control circuit, a rain sensor and a temperature sensor, wherein the rain sensor comprises a tipping bucket;
- an override controller interface system separate from and communicatively coupled with the sensor system, and comprising an interface control circuit;
- and
- an irrigation controller separate from the sensor system and the controller interface system, and comprising an irrigation control circuit, a set of activator output couplers enabling coupling with remote irrigation valves, and memory coupled with the irrigation control circuit;
- wherein the sensor system further comprises a funnel comprising an upper opening and at least one wall tapering from the upper opening toward a lower aperture;
- wherein the tipping bucket is positioned such that a central longitudinal axis of the tipping bucket is not aligned with the lower aperture and offset from an axis extending through the lower aperture of the funnel;
- and
- wherein the sensor system comprises a funnel housing pivotably coupled with a central housing, wherein the funnel housing rotatably pivots relative to the central housing between at least a closed position and an open position, and provides access to an interior of the sensor system including at least the tipping bucket in the open position and encloses the tipping bucket in the closed position.
5 more elements
An irrigation interruption system, comprising:
- a sensor system comprising a sensor control circuit, a rain sensor and a temperature sensor;
- an override controller interface system separate from and communicatively coupled with the sensor system, and comprising an interface control circuit;
- a funnel comprising an upper opening and at least one wall tapering from the upper opening toward a lower aperture;
- and
- an irrigation controller separate from the sensor system and the controller interface system, and comprising an irrigation control circuit, a set of activator output couplers enabling coupling with remote irrigation valves, and memory coupled with the irrigation control circuit:
- wherein the rain sensor comprises a tipping bucket comprising a first rain bucket, a second rain bucket positioned adjacent the first rain bucket and an extended wall extending between the first and second rain buckets, wherein the extended wall alternately aligns, in response to a tipping of the tipping bucket, a first face of the extended wall and a second face of the extended wall with the lower aperture, wherein the first face extends from the first rain bucket and the second face extends from the second rain bucket;
- and
- a drip extension extending from the lower aperture, wherein an end of the drip extension is positioned within a threshold vertical separation distance (Y) from upper edges of opposing side walls of the tipping bucket, wherein the threshold vertical separation distance is proportional to a lateral distance (X) between the end of the drip extension and the upper edge of a first side wall of the opposing side walls and a threshold tilt angle from vertical, wherein the threshold vertical separation distance is perpendicular to the lateral distance.
5 more elements
An irrigation interruption system, comprising:
- a sensor system comprising a sensor control circuit, a rain sensor and a temperature sensor, wherein the rain sensor comprises a tipping bucket;
- an override controller interface system separate from and communicatively coupled with the sensor system, and comprising an interface control circuit;
- and
- an irrigation controller separate from the sensor system and the controller interface system, and comprising an irrigation control circuit, a set of activator output couplers enabling coupling with remote irrigation valves, and memory coupled with the irrigation control circuit;
- wherein the sensor system further comprises a funnel comprising an upper opening and at least one wall tapering from the upper opening toward a lower aperture;
- wherein the tipping bucket is positioned such that a central longitudinal axis of the tipping bucket is not aligned with the lower aperture and offset from an axis extending through the lower aperture of the funnel;
- and
- wherein the interface control circuit receives rain signals and temperature sensor data from the sensor system, determines when a summation of accumulated water over a first threshold period of time is greater than a defined first accumulated water threshold, interrupts activation of the irrigation valves when the summation of accumulated water is greater than the first accumulated water threshold, identifies when a defined first resume irrigation threshold time period has expired since a last of the rain signals is received, and removes the interruption of the activation of the irrigation valves allowing further activation of the irrigation valves by the irrigation controller.
5 more elements
An irrigation interruption system, comprising:
- a sensor system comprising a sensor control circuit, a rain sensor and a temperature sensor, wherein the rain sensor comprises a tipping bucket;
- an override controller interface system separate from and communicatively coupled with the sensor system, and comprising an interface control circuit;
- and
- an irrigation controller separate from the sensor system and the controller interface system, and comprising an irrigation control circuit, a set of activator output couplers enabling coupling with remote irrigation valves, and memory coupled with the irrigation control circuit;
- wherein the sensor system further comprises a funnel comprising an upper opening and at least one wall tapering from the upper opening toward a lower aperture;
- wherein the tipping bucket is positioned such that a central longitudinal axis of the tipping bucket is not aligned with the lower aperture and offset from an axis extending through the lower aperture of the funnel;
- and
- wherein the interface control circuit in removing an interruption of activation of the valves applies a first resume irrigation threshold period of time, from a set of multiple resume irrigation threshold periods, as a function of a total amount of accumulation of rain detected and a duration of the accumulation.
5 more elements
An irrigation interruption system, comprising:
- a sensor system comprising a sensor control circuit, a rain sensor and a temperature sensor, wherein the rain sensor comprises a tipping bucket;
- an override controller interface system separate from and communicatively coupled with the sensor system, and comprising an interface control circuit;
- and
- an irrigation controller separate from the sensor system and the controller interface system, and comprising an irrigation control circuit, a set of activator output couplers enabling coupling with remote irrigation valves, and memory coupled with the irrigation control circuit;
- wherein the sensor system further comprises a funnel comprising an upper opening and at least one wall tapering from the upper opening toward a lower aperture;
- wherein the tipping bucket is positioned such that a central longitudinal axis of the tipping bucket is not aligned with the lower aperture and offset from an axis extending through the lower aperture of the funnel;
- wherein the interface control circuit receives rain signals and temperature sensor data from the sensor system, determines when a summation of accumulated rain over a first threshold period of time is greater than a defined first accumulated rain threshold, interrupts activation of the valves when the summation of accumulated rain is greater than the first accumulated rain threshold, identifies when the first resume irrigation threshold time period has expired since a last of the rain signals is received, and removes the interruption of the activation of the valves;
- and
- the rain sensor further comprises a first wireless transceiver coupled with the sensor control circuit wherein the sensor control circuit causes wireless transmission of the rain signals and the temperature sensor data by the first wireless transceiver, and the controller interface system comprises a second wireless transceiver communicatively coupled with the interface control circuit, wherein the controller interface system wirelessly receives, through the second wireless transceiver, the rain signals and the temperature sensor data.
6 more elements
An irrigation interruption system, comprising:
- a sensor system comprising a sensor control circuit, a rain sensor and a temperature sensor, wherein the rain sensor comprises a tipping bucket;
- an override controller interface system separate from and communicatively coupled with the sensor system, and comprising an interface control circuit;
- and
- an irrigation controller separate from the sensor system and the controller interface system, and comprising an irrigation control circuit, a set of activator output couplers enabling coupling with remote irrigation valves, and memory coupled with the irrigation control circuit:
- wherein the sensor system further comprises:
- a diaphragm positioned under the rain sensor between the rain sensor and the temperature sensor, when the sensor system is in a first orientation, wherein the temperature sensor is positioned below the rain sensor;
- and
- a set of louvres positioned, when the sensor system is positioned in the first orientation, below a level of the rain sensor and about the temperature sensor, and one or more louvres of the set of louvres taper down at an angle relative to and outward from a central axis of the sensor system allowing airflow from an exterior of the sensor system to an interior area about the temperature sensor;
- and
- wherein the diaphragm directs water, released in response to a tipping of the tipping bucket caused by an accumulation water, away from the temperature sensor and out of the sensor system.
7 more elements
An irrigation interruption system, comprising:
- a sensor system comprising a sensor control circuit, a rain sensor and a temperature sensor, wherein the rain sensor comprises a tipping bucket;
- an override controller interface system separate from and communicatively coupled with the sensor system, and comprising an interface control circuit;
- and
- an irrigation controller separate from the sensor system and the controller interface system, and comprising an irrigation control circuit, a set of activator output couplers enabling coupling with remote irrigation valves, and memory coupled with the irrigation control circuit;
- wherein the sensor system further comprises a funnel comprising an upper opening and at least one wall tapering from the upper opening toward a lower aperture;
- wherein the tipping bucket is positioned such that a central longitudinal axis of the tipping bucket is not aligned with the lower aperture and offset from an axis extending through the lower aperture of the funnel;
- and
- wherein the rain sensor further comprises a first wireless transceiver coupled with the sensor control circuit wherein the sensor control circuit causes transmission, by the first wireless transceiver, of rain signals and temperature sensor data.
5 more elements
An irrigation interruption system, comprising:
- a sensor system comprising a sensor control circuit, a rain sensor and a temperature sensor, wherein the rain sensor comprises a tipping bucket;
- an override controller interface system separate from and communicatively coupled with the sensor system, and comprising an interface control circuit;
- and
- an irrigation controller separate from the sensor system and the controller interface system, and comprising an irrigation control circuit, a set of activator output couplers enabling coupling with remote irrigation valves, and memory coupled with the irrigation control circuit;
- wherein the sensor system further comprises a funnel comprising an upper opening and at least one wall tapering from the upper opening toward a lower aperture;
- wherein the tipping bucket is positioned such that a central longitudinal axis of the tipping bucket is not aligned with the lower aperture and offset from an axis extending through the lower aperture of the funnel;
- and
- wherein the temperature sensor is positioned below the tipping bucket and vertically aligned with at least a portion of the tipping bucket;
- and
- a protection diaphragm positioned between the tipping bucket and the temperature sensor, and comprising a water disbursement plate and a plurality of drain apertures, wherein the water disbursement plate extends over the temperature sensor and to the plurality of drain apertures and the water disbursement plate and is positioned causing draining of water, released by the tipping bucket in response to a tipping of the tipping bucket, through one or more of the plurality of drain apertures away from the temperature sensor;
- and
- a communication transceiver;
- wherein the sensor control circuit is communicatively coupled with the temperature sensor and the communication transceiver, and wherein the sensor control circuit receives temperature data and causes transmission, by the communications transceiver, of the temperature data.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.