Multi-zone sprinkler system with moisture sensors and configurable spray pattern
View Patent ↗An irrigation system comprises sprinkler heads with an electrically configurable spray pattern, moisture sensors, and a controller. Based upon input signals from the moisture sensors, the controller dynamically configures the spray pattern of the sprinkler head to allow more water to fall on areas that need to be watered and less water to fall on areas that do not require additional water. The irrigation system can additionally comprise fire sensors. Based upon input from the fire sensors, the controller activates the sprinklers.
1. A sprinkler system comprising:
a rotating sprinkler head having a configurable spray pattern, wherein said sprinkler head is configured to rotate through an arc;
a first moisture sensor provided in a zone watered by said sprinkler head, said first moisture sensor associated with a first portion of the arc and configured to collect moisture data in the zone;
a second moisture sensor provided in the zone, said second moisture sensor associated with a second portion of the arc and configured to collect moisture data in the zone; and
a controller configured to obtain the moisture data and configure the spray pattern of the sprinkler head based on the moisture data, wherein the controller is configured to configure the spray pattern at least in part by controlling the rate of rotation of said sprinkler head, wherein the controller is configured to reduce the rate of rotation of the sprinkler head when the sprinkler head is passing through said first portion of the arc that the moisture data indicate to be less moist and to increase the rate of rotation of the sprinkler head when the sprinkler head is passing through said second portion of the arc that the moisture data indicate to be more moist.
2. The sprinkler system of claim 1 , wherein the sprinkler head further comprises an actuator, wherein the spray pattern is controlled by controlling the actuator.
3. The sprinkler system of claim 1 , wherein the sprinkler head further comprises an actuator, wherein the state of the actuator determines rate of rotation of the sprinkler head.
4. The sprinkler system of claim 2 , wherein the controller determines the state of the actuator.
5. The sprinkler system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more fire sensors.
6. The sprinkler system of claim 1 , wherein the controller obtains the moisture data through a wireless transmission link.
7. The sprinkler system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is electrically connected to the moisture sensors.
8. The sprinkler system of claim 1 wherein the controller comprises a zone controller, the zone controller configured to receive said moisture data and provide the moisture data to a central controller.
9. The sprinkler system of claim 1 , wherein said sprinkler head comprises said controller.
10. The sprinkler system of claim 1 , wherein said controller comprises a zone controller that controls a plurality of sprinkler heads.
11. A sprinkler system comprising:
means for collecting moisture data in pattern areas associated with a rotating sprinkler head, said pattern areas further associated with different portions of an arc; and
means for automatically configurable spray pattern associated with the sprinkler head based on the moisture data by reducing the rate of rotation of said sprinkler head when the sprinkler head is passing through portions of the arc that the moisture data indicate to be less moist and means for increasing the rate of rotation of said sprinkler head when the sprinkler head is passing through portions of the arc that the moisture data indicate to be more moist.
12. A method of watering comprising:
obtaining moisture data from a plurality of moisture sensors associated with a rotating sprinkler head and further associated with different portions of an arc; and
automatically configuring a configurable spray pattern associated with the sprinkler head based on the moisture data wherein the spray pattern is automatically configured at least in part by reducing the rate of rotation of the sprinkler head when the sprinkler head is passing through portions of the arc that the moisture data indicate to be less moist and increasing the rate of rotation of the sprinkler head when the sprinkler head is passing through portions of the arc that the moisture data indicate to be more moist.
13. A sprinkler comprising:
means for obtaining moisture data from a plurality of moisture sensors associated with a rotating sprinkler head and further associated with different portions of an arc; and
means for dynamically configuring a configurable spray pattern associated with the sprinkler head based on the moisture data by reducing the rate of rotation of said sprinkler head when the sprinkler head is passing through portions of the arc that the moisture data indicate to be less moist and means for increasing the rate of rotation of said sprinkler head when the sprinkler head is passing through portions of the arc that the moisture data indicate to be more moist.
14. A sprinkler system comprising:
a rotating sprinkler head having a configurable spray pattern, wherein said sprinkler head is configured to rotate through an arc;
a plurality of moisture sensors provided in a zone watered by said sprinkler head, each of said moisture sensors associated with at least one portion of said arc, said moisture sensors configured to collect moisture data in the zone; and
a controller configured to obtain the moisture data and configure the spray pattern of the sprinkler head based on the moisture data, wherein the controller is configured to configure the spray pattern at least in part by controlling the rate of rotation of said sprinkler head, wherein the controller is configured to reduce the rate of rotation of the sprinkler head when the sprinkler head is passing through portions of the arc that the moisture data indicate to be less moist and to increase the rate of rotation of said sprinkler head when the sprinkler head is passing through portions of the arc that the moisture data indicate to be more moist.
15. The sprinkler system of claim 14 , wherein the sprinkler head further comprises an actuator, wherein the spray pattern is controlled by controlling the actuator.
16. The sprinkler system of claim 14 , wherein the sprinkler head further comprises an actuator, wherein the state of the actuator determines rate of rotation of the sprinkler head.
17. The sprinkler system of claim 15 , wherein the controller determines the state of the actuator.
18. The sprinkler system of claim 14 , further comprising one or more fire sensors.
19. The sprinkler system of claim 14 , wherein the controller obtains the moisture data through a wireless transmission link.
20. The sprinkler system of claim 14 , wherein the controller is electrically connected to the moisture sensors.
21. The sprinkler system of claim 14 , wherein the controller comprises a zone controller, the zone controller configured to receive said moisture data and provide the moisture data to a central controller.
22. The sprinkler system of claim 14 , wherein said sprinkler head comprises said controller.
23. The sprinkler system of claim 14 , wherein said controller comprises a zone controller that controls a plurality of sprinkler heads.