Water Timer and Method

Abstract

A water timer user interface has display areas for display of water timer status information, including watering zone and watering duration indicators, user input areas, and a touch-sensitive screen. At least one of the display areas may display a graphical representation of the watering duration indicators for the watering zone identifiers. All of the display and input areas may be single-function areas and may be simultaneously visible to and accessible by a user. The display areas may simultaneously display both graphical and numeric representations of the watering duration indicators. An ambient temperature sensor may be used to sense the ambient temperature and humidity and provide corresponding signals to the controller to permit the controller to modify the amount of water supplied.

1 . A water timer of the type comprising a user interface, a controller coupled to the user interface and programmed to provide control signals for controlling a plurality of flow control devices, each flow control device capable of controlling the passage of water from a water source to a watering zone, the improvement comprising: 
 an ambient temperature sensor operably coupled to the controller to sense an ambient temperature and provide an ambient temperature signal to the controller;    an ambient humidity sensor operably coupled to the controller to sense an ambient humidity and provide an ambient humidity signal to the controller; and    the controller programmed to: 
 store a base temperature and a base humidity;  
 calculate an increase or a decrease in a watering amount according to any differences between the base and ambient temperatures and humidities; and  
 modify the control signals, thereby modifying the amount of water supplied, according to said calculated differences.  
   
   
   
       2 . A water timer according to  claim 1  wherein the controller is programmed to decrease the watering amount according to an amount the ambient humidity is greater than the base humidity, or to increase the watering amount according to an amount the ambient humidity is less than the base humidity.  
   
   
       3 . A water timer according to  claim 1  wherein the controller is programmed to decrease the watering amount according to an amount the ambient temperature is less than the base temperature and to increase the watering amount according to an amount the ambient temperature is greater than the base humidity, respectively.  
   
   
       4 . A water timer according to  claim 3  wherein the humidity is expressed as a percentage from 0 to 100%, and wherein said amount is equal to X times the percentage that the ambient humidity, expressed as a percentage, is less than or greater than the base humidity.  
   
   
       5 . A water timer according to  claim 4  wherein X ranges from about 1 to 4 and wherein the amount is about 1% to 10% per degree Fahrenheit difference between the base an ambient temperatures.  
   
   
       6 . A method for automatically adjusting the amount of water supplied by a water timer, the water timer of the type comprising a user interface, a controller coupled to the user interface and programmed to provide control signals for controlling a plurality of flow control devices, each flow control device capable of controlling the passage of water from a water source to a watering zone, the method comprising: 
 sensing a base ambient temperature and providing a base ambient temperature signal to the controller;    sensing a base ambient humidity and providing a base ambient humidity signal to the controller;    subsequently sensing a current ambient temperature and providing a current ambient temperature signal to the controller;    subsequently sensing a current ambient humidity and providing a current ambient humidity signal to the controller; and    modifying control signals, thereby modifying watering amounts, according to the base and current ambient temperature signals and the base and current ambient humidity signals.    
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein the base ambient temperature and humidity sensing steps are carried out at a chosen time of day on a chosen day and the subsequently sensing steps are carried out on at least one day following the chosen day at a time corresponding to said chosen time of day.  
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 7  further comprising selecting the time corresponding to the chosen time of day to be the same time of day.  
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein: 
 the humidity is expressed as a percentage from 0 to 100%; and    the control signals modifying step: 
 decreases the watering amount according to an amount equal to X times the percentage that the ambient humidity is greater than the base humidity;  
 increases the watering amount according to an amount equal to Y times the percentage that the ambient humidity is less than the base humidity;  
 decreases the watering amount according to an amount L the ambient temperature is less than the base temperature; and  
 increases the watering amount according to an amount G the ambient temperature is greater than the base temperature.  
   
   
   
       10 . The method according to a  9  wherein the control signals modifying step is carried out with X and Y each ranging from about 1 to 4 and wherein the amounts L and G are each about 1% to 10% per degree Fahrenheit difference between the base an ambient temperatures.