IP Library Granted Patent US 8,733,155
Granted Patent B2
US 8,733,155 · App. 13/212,933 · Granted May 27, 2014

Sprinkler sensing device

Inventors: Jason Lester Hill (Capistrano Beach, CA); Thomas H. Runge (Manasquan, NJ); Alex Korol (Diamond Bar, CA)
Assignee: The Toro Company
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,733,155
App. No.
13/212,933
Granted
May 27, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention is directed to an irrigation sprinkler sensor for sensing if a sprinkler riser has elevated, if water is flowing through the sprinkler riser, if the sprinkler is rotating, or if a sprinkler valve has properly closed.

Claims (27)

1. A sprinkler sensor device comprising:

a sensor selected from a group of: an acoustic sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a water sensor, a pressure sensor and a turbine;

a transmitter configured for communicating with an irrigation controller;

a control circuit connected to said sensor and said transmitter; said control circuit configured to receive sensor data from said sensor and determine a riser position of a sprinkler riser.

2. The sprinkler of claim 1 , wherein said sensor is said acoustic sensor.

3. The sprinkler of claim 2 , wherein said acoustic sensor comprises two microphones.

4. The sprinkler of claim 1 , wherein said sensor is said accelerometer.

5. The sprinkler of claim 1 , wherein said sensor is said gyroscope.

6. The sprinkler of claim 1 , wherein said sensor is said lie water sensor.

7. The sprinkler of claim 1 , wherein said sensor is said pressure sensor.

8. The sprinkler of claim 1 , wherein said sensor is said turbine.

9. The sprinkler of claim 1 , wherein said sensor comprises an enclosure configured to mount on an underside of a sprinkler flange.

10. The sprinkler of claim 1 , wherein said control circuit directs said transmitter to communicate riser position data to said irrigation controller.

11. The sprinkler of claim 1 , wherein said control circuit is configured to determine an elevation and rotational position of said sprinkler riser.

12. A sprinkler sensor device comprising:

a sensor selected from a group of: an acoustic sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a water sensor, a pressure sensor and a turbine;

a microcontroller connected to said sensor; said microcontroller programmed to receive sensor data from said sensor and determine a riser position of a sprinkler riser.

13. The sprinkler of claim 12 , wherein said microcontroller is connected to a communication device configured to communicate with a central irrigation server.

14. The sprinkler of claim 12 , wherein said sensor comprises said acoustic sensor.

15. The sprinkler of claim 14 , wherein said microcontroller is configured to detect a predetermined sound level threshold.

16. The sprinkler of claim 14 , wherein said microcontroller is configured to monitor a predetermined sound level range.

17. The sprinkler of claim 12 , wherein said sensor comprises two microphones.

18. A sprinkler sensor device comprising:

an acoustic sensor;

a microcontroller connected to said acoustic sensor; said microcontroller programmed to receive sound data from said acoustic sensor and determine a riser position of a sprinkler riser based on a predetermined sound threshold.

19. The sprinkler of claim 18 , wherein said acoustic sensor comprises two microphones.

20. The sprinkler of claim 18 , wherein said microcontroller is configured to determine an elevation and rotational position of said sprinkler riser.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 19, 2011
From: HILL, JASON LESTER; RUNGE, THOMAS H.; KOROL, ALEX
To: THE TORO COMPANY
Reel/Frame 026926/0447 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61375747 · Aug 20, 2010
Related Publication 20120043395A1 · Feb 23, 2012