Ststem for remotely deactivating sprinkler system

Abstract

The present invention provides for a system, apparatus, and method of deactivating irrigation system with a wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal. The irrigation system includes a control box coupled with a receiver for receiving the wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal. The signal is initiated in response to a drought condition. The received signal is decoded into degrees of severity of the drought. Under a severe drought condition, the irrigation system is deactivated by proper authority regardless of a user's intention. Under a drought condition that is not severe, the user may program the control box either to deactivate the irrigation system or to give control to a timer. In an embodiment of the present invention, under such condition, the user may partly deactivate the irrigation and partly give control to the timer.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A system for deactivation at least one irrigation system with a wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal comprising: 
 (a) at least one irrigation system having a control box; and    (b) a controller coupled to the control box having a Radio Frequency receiver for receiving the wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal.    
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the Radio Frequency signal is initiated in response to a drought condition.  
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the control box further includes a decoder for decoding a status in the Radio Frequency signal.  
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 3  wherein the status is one of a severe drought condition, drought condition, and normal condition.  
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 4  wherein the controller deactivates the irrigation system in response to the severe drought condition.  
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 4  wherein the controller is programmable to deactivate a part of the irrigation system in response to the drought condition.  
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the controller is programmable.  
     
     
         8 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the Radio Frequency receiver receives the signal in real time.  
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the Radio Frequency receiver receives the signal in a predefine period of time.  
     
     
         10 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the Radio Frequency receiver receives an amplitude modulated signal.  
     
     
         11 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the Radio Frequency receiver further includes a crystal.  
     
     
         12 . An irrigation apparatus, the apparatus comprising: 
 a first irrigation control box having a first controller for controlling water valves; and    a second irrigation control box having a second controller for controlling the water valves and a Radio Frequency receiver, 
 wherein first control lines from the first controller couple to the second irrigation controller;  
 wherein second control lines from the second controller couple to the water valves; and  
 wherein the second controller preempts the first irrigation controller.  
   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 12  wherein the second irrigation controller further comprising a decoder for decoding the status received from the Radio Frequency receiver.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 12  wherein the Radio Frequency receiver receives amplitude modulated signals.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 14  wherein the status is one of a severe drought condition, drought condition, and normal condition.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 15  wherein the second controller deactivates the water valves in response to the severe drought condition.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 12  wherein the second controller is programmable.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 12  wherein the apparatus further comprising a frequency tuner for receiving a unique frequency.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 18  wherein the frequency tuner includes a crystal.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 12  wherein the apparatus further comprising a descrambler for security.  
     
     
         21 . A method for deactivation at least one irrigation system with a wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal comprising: 
 installing a wide broadcast Radio Frequency receiver in the irrigation system;    receiving the wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal, wherein the wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal is initiated in response to a drought condition; and    decoding the wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal for drought status.    
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the drought status is selected from the group consisting of a severe drought condition, a drought condition, and a normal condition.  
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 22  further comprising, in response to a severe drought condition, deactivating the irrigation system.  
     
     
         24 . The method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal includes an amplitude modulation signal.  
     
     
         25 . A method for deactivation at least one irrigation system with a wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal comprising: 
 determining a drought status;    modulating the drought status wherein the drought status includes the wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal; and    transmitting the wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal to the irrigation system.    
     
     
         26 . The method as recited in  claim 25  wherein the drought status is selected from the group consisting of a severe drought condition, a drought condition, and a normal condition.  
     
     
         27 . The method as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal includes an amplitude modulation signal.