Optimization of irrigation cycles
OwnerBenjamin Zurinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for the optimization of irrigation of an area by a plurality of successive adaptive irrigation cycles is disclosed. The method is implemented as a system including an irrigation water controller, a probe for sensing a wetting-front depth, a computerized irrigation cycler, and a computer program running on the cycler. For the first irrigation cycle, input parameters related to the soil and to the wetting front arrival are entered either by default or manually. Data collected during the first irrigation cycle is used for the adaptive optimization of the following irrigation cycles. The steps of the computer program and the wetting-front detection probe are described.
Claims28
A system for irrigation of an area by a plurality of successive adaptive irrigation cycles starting with a first irrigation cycle, the system comprising:
- an irrigation controller for initiating and stopping irrigation in response to signals,
- a probe having sensors for detecting arrival of a wetting front, the probe providing signals associated with the detected wetting front depth,
- a cycler comprising a processor, a memory and an I/O unit, the cycler being coupled to the irrigation controller for emitting signals thereto, and the cycler being coupled to the probe for emitting and for receiving signals therefrom,
- a computer program preloaded in the memory of the processor and running on the processor, the processor controlling adaptive irrigation and managing successive irrigation cycles, and the computer program comprising:
- a predetermined threshold limit ΔR, and
- a predetermined ratio G1 representing soil texture characteristics.
A probe for detecting an irrigation wetting-front depth, the probe operating in association with a processor commanding irrigation cycles started and ended by an irrigation controller, the probe comprising:
- a monolithic slender dielectric body having a generally smooth symmetrical external surface and a length defining a longitudinal axis, the body extremities consisting of a forward end having a tapered tip and of a rearward end having a head,
- a plurality of spaced apart parallel thin electrically conductive electrodes accommodated flush with and girdling the external surface of the probe in perpendicular to and in distribution along the longitudinal axis, and
- a circuitry embedded inside the body of the probe, the circuitry including a plurality of electrical leads at least equal in number to the plurality of conductive electrodes, the electrical leads being arranged adjacent the external surface, parallel to the longitudinal axis and in equally distant radial distribution relative thereto, the electrical leads being electrically coupled to the conductive electrodes and the circuitry being coupled to the processor, for the processor to sample the circuitry and derive a wetting-front depth across one pair of conductive electrodes selected out of the plurality of conductive electrodes.
A method for irrigation of an area by a plurality of successive adaptive irrigation cycles starting with a first irrigation cycle, the method comprising the steps of:
- initiating and stopping irrigation with an irrigation controller responsive to signals,
- detecting arrival of a wetting front with a probe having sensors, the probe providing signals associated with the detected wetting front depth,
- operating a cycler comprising a processor, a memory and an I/O unit, the cycler being coupled to the irrigation controller for emitting signals thereto, and the cycler being coupled to the probe for emitting and for receiving signals therefrom,
- running on the processor a computer program preloaded in the memory of the processor, the processor controlling adaptive irrigation and managing successive irrigation cycles, the computer program comprising:
- a predetermined threshold limit ΔR, and
- a predetermined ratio G1 representing soil texture characteristics.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.