Intelligent enviromental sensor for irrigation systems
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.
1. A regulator system for regulating the operation of an irrigation system, responsive to user programmed information, comprising:
a receiver portion capable of interrupting watering control signals from an irrigation controller;
a wireless transceiver located within said receiver portion for receiving temperature and rainfall data transmitted directly from a local wireless sensor unit;
an irrigation controller system interface externally exposed on said receiver portion for connecting said receiver portion with said irrigation controller;
a switch for bypassing the control signals from the receiver portion to the irrigation controller via the irrigation controller interface, for either permitting or prohibiting watering by the irrigation controller, and;
a user interface disposed on said receiver portion for modifying and displaying a user adjustable rainfall threshold for interrupting said irrigation controller and a user adjustable temperature threshold for interrupting said irrigation controller.
2. The regulator system of claim 1 wherein said user interface further comprises a signal strength indicator for displaying a wireless signal strength from said local wireless sensor unit.
3. The regulator system of claim 1 wherein said local wireless sensor unit comprises hygroscopic material that expands upon contact with moisture from water vapor, rain, snow, or ice.
4. The regulator system of claim 1 wherein said local wireless sensor unit comprises a temperature sensor.
5. The regulator system of claim 1 wherein said local wireless sensor unit further comprising a rainfall detection sensor which is capable of sensing whether rain is currently falling or a rate of rainfall, and which transmits control signals to the receiver.
6. The regulator system of claim 1 further comprising a rainfall detection sensor which is capable of sensing whether rain is currently falling.
7. The regulator system of claim 1 wherein said local wireless sensor unit further comprising a rainfall accumulation sensor which is capable of measuring a quantity of accumulated rainfall.
8. The regulator system of claim 1 wherein said user interface further comprises a battery indicator.
9. The regulator system of claim 1 wherein said user adjustable rainfall threshold is an amount of rainfall.
10. The regulator system of claim 1 wherein a rainfall accumulation sensor switch is disposed in a body of said local wireless sensor unit and is connected mechanically to a hygroscopic material and electrically to a sensor transmitter; said sensor transmitter being wirelessly connected to said receiver portion, said rainfall accumulation sensor switch being responsive to said hygroscopic material expanding a given amount indicative of a predetermined level of atmospheric precipitation, said rainfall accumulation sensor switch enabling said transmitter to transmit signals to said receiver unit indicative of an atmospheric precipitation condition.
11. The regulator system of claim 1 wherein the irrigation system interface is connected to the irrigation system by wiring.
12. The regulator system of claim 1 wherein the irrigation system interface is connected to the irrigation system by a radio frequency, infrared, or ultrasonic transmitter for wirelessly transmitting control signals to the irrigation system.
13. A regulator system for regulating the operation of an irrigation system, responsive to user programmed information, comprising
a receiver portion for interrupting an irrigation schedule of an irrigation controller;
a programmable logic controller disposed within said receiver portion;
a wireless transceiver within said receiver portion for receiving temperature and rainfall data directly from a local wireless sensor unit and further relaying that data to said programmable logic controller;
an irrigation controller interface for connecting said receiver portion with the irrigation controller;
a user interface on an outer portion of said receiver and coupled to said programmable logic controller for modifying and displaying a user rainfall threshold for interrupting said irrigation controller and a temperature threshold for interrupting said irrigation controller.
14. The regulator system of claim 13 wherein said user interface further comprises a signal strength indicator for displaying a wireless signal strength from said local wireless sensor unit.
15. The regulator system of claim 14 wherein said user interface further comprises a battery indicator.
16. The regulator system of claim 15 wherein said local wireless sensor unit comprises hygroscopic material that expands upon contact with moisture from water vapor, rain, snow, or ice.