Sensor device for interrupting irrigation

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided herein for permitting or interrupting irrigation using sensor equipment. In one embodiment, a method for controlling irrigation comprising the steps of: generating an indication representing the amount of rain fall at a sensor unit; transmitting a signal comprising at least the indication from the sensor unit to an interface unit, wherein the interface unit is adapted to cause an interruption of programmed watering schedules of an irrigation controller; receiving the signal at the interface unit; determining, based at least on the indication from the signal, whether irrigation should be interrupted; and generating an interrupt command to interrupt irrigation.

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 . 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.   
     
     
         13 . The regulator system of  claim 12  wherein said user interface further comprises a signal strength indicator for displaying a wireless signal strength from said local wireless sensor unit. 
     
     
         14 . The regulator system of  claim 13  wherein said user interface further comprises a battery indicator. 
     
     
         15 . The regulator system of  claim 14  wherein said local wireless sensor unit comprises hygroscopic material that expands upon contact with moisture from water vapor, rain, snow, or ice. 
     
     
         16 . A system for regulating an irrigation system comprising:
 a sensor assembly configured for operation at a remote location, comprising:
 a first sensor measuring an accumulation of precipitation; 
 a second sensor measuring temperature; 
 a wireless transmitter configured for wirelessly transmitting data; and 
 a sensor assembly control circuit in communication with said first sensor, said second sensor and said wireless transmitter; 
   a control module configured for operation local to said irrigation controller, comprising:
 a receiver configured to wirelessly communicate with said wireless transmitter of said sensor assembly; 
 a module control circuit in communication with said receiver; and 
 a user interface in communication with said module control circuitry; 
   wherein said control module is connected to said irrigation system to selectively interrupt an irrigation schedule based on sensing of a threshold environmental parameter by at least one of said first and second sensor; and,   wherein a setting of said threshold environmental parameter is selectively adjustable on said user interface of said control module.   
     
     
         17 . The regulator system of  claim 16 , wherein said user interface further comprises a signal strength indicator depicting strength of a wireless signal between said wireless transmitter of said sensor assembly and said control module. 
     
     
         18 . The regulator system of  claim 17 , wherein said user interface further comprises a battery strength indicator. 
     
     
         19 . The regulator system of  claim 16 , wherein said user interface further comprises a digital indicator configured to display said threshold environmental parameter. 
     
     
         20 . The regulator system of  claim 17 , wherein said threshold environmental parameter is a user-determinable temperature value. 
     
     
         21 . The regulator system of  claim 17 , wherein said threshold environmental parameter is rainfall accumulation. 
     
     
         22 . The regulator system of  claim 16 , wherein said threshold environmental parameter corresponds to a user-determinable temperature value. 
     
     
         23 . The regulator system of  claim 16 , wherein said threshold environmental parameter corresponds to a rainfall accumulation. 
     
     
         24 . A system for regulating an irrigation system comprising:
 a control element configured for operation at a remote location, comprising:
 hygroscopic material positioned to contact environmental precipitation; 
 a signal generator generating a signal correlating to expansion of said hygroscopic material as caused by contact of said environmental precipitation with said hygroscopic material; 
 a temperature sensor; 
 a wireless transmitter; and 
 a control circuit in communication with said signal generator, said temperature sensor and said wireless transmitter; 
 said control circuit configured to broadcast environmental precipitation data and temperature data via said wireless transmitter; 
   an irrigation system interface configured for operation local to said irrigation controller, comprising:
 a receiver in wireless communication with said wireless transmitter of said control element; 
 an interface control circuit in communication with said receiver; and 
 a user interface in communication with said interface control circuit; 
   wherein said irrigation system interface is connectable to said irrigation system to selectively interrupt an irrigation schedule based on sensing of at least one of said environmental precipitation and said temperature and a comparing same to at least one user-adjustable threshold value.   
     
     
         25 . The regulator of  claim 20  wherein said user interface further comprises a digital indicator configured to display said at least one user-adjustable threshold value. 
     
     
         26 . The regulator of  claim 20 , wherein said at least one user-adjustable threshold value is a temperature value. 
     
     
         27 . The regulator of  claim 20 , wherein said at least one user-adjustable threshold value is related to a rainfall amount. 
     
     
         28 . The regulator of  claim 26  further comprising a second user-adjustable threshold value relating to a rainfall amount. 
     
     
         29 . The regulator of  claim 20 , wherein said user interface further comprises a wireless signal strength indicator. 
     
     
         30 . The regulator of  claim 29 , wherein said user interface further comprises a wireless signal strength indicator. 
     
     
         31 . The regulator of  claim 20 , wherein said user interface further comprises a battery strength indicator. 
     
     
         32 . The regulator of  claim 30 , wherein said user interface further comprises a battery strength indicator. 
     
     
         33 . The regulator of  claim 24  wherein said user interface further comprises a digital indicator configured to display said at least one user-adjustable threshold value. 
     
     
         34 . The regulator of  claim 24 , wherein said at least one user-adjustable threshold value is a temperature value. 
     
     
         35 . The regulator of  claim 24 , wherein said at least one user-adjustable threshold value comprises a rainfall amount. 
     
     
         36 . The regulator of  claim 34  further comprising a second user-adjustable threshold value comprises a rainfall amount. 
     
     
         37 . The regulator of  claim 24 , wherein said user interface further comprises a wireless signal strength indicator. 
     
     
         38 . The regulator of  claim 24 , wherein said user interface further comprises a battery strength indicator. 
     
     
         39 . A system for interrupting a function of an irrigation system comprising:
 a control device configured for operation at a remote location, comprising:
 a housing; 
 hygroscopic material disposed in said housing and exposed to environmental precipitation; 
 a signal generating element associated with said hygroscopic material generating an output corresponding to expansion of said hygroscopic material; 
 a temperature sensor; 
 a wireless transmitter; and 
 a control circuit in communication with said signal generating element, said temperature sensor and said wireless transmitter; 
 said control circuit arranged to communicate precipitation data and temperature data via said wireless transmitter; 
   an irrigation system interface configured for operation local to said irrigation controller, comprising:
 a receiver configured to wirelessly communicate with said wireless transmitter of said control device; 
 an irrigation control circuit in communication with said receiver; and 
 a user interface in communication with said irrigation control circuit; 
 said irrigation control circuit having a routine generating an irrigation system interrupt signal based upon a comparison of at least one of said precipitation data and said temperature data with a predetermined environmental parameter, said predetermined environmental parameter being adjustable on said user interface. 
   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein said housing further comprises a top compartment and a bottom compartment; and wherein said hygroscopic material is disposed in said top compartment and said signal generating element and said wireless transmitter are disposed in said bottom compartment. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein said user interface further comprises a temperature display comprised of a display of said predetermined environmental parameter in the form of a temperature value. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein said user interface further comprises a rainfall interrupt display comprised of a display of said predetermined environmental parameter in the form of a rainfall value. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein said rainfall value is a rainfall accumulation value. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein said user interface further comprises a temperature display comprised of a display of said predetermined environmental parameter corresponds to a temperature value. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein said user interface further comprises a rainfall interrupt display comprised of a display of said predetermined environmental parameter corresponds to a rainfall value. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein said rainfall value corresponds to a rainfall accumulation value. 
     
     
         47 . A system for interrupting 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 selectively operable to cause the interrupting of the watering control signals from the irrigation controller via the irrigation controller system 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.   
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 47  wherein said user interface further comprises a signal strength indicator for displaying a wireless signal strength. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 47  wherein said local wireless sensor unit comprises hygroscopic material that expands upon contact with moisture from water vapor, rain, snow, or ice. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 47  wherein said local wireless sensor unit comprises a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 47  wherein said local wireless sensor unit further comprising a sensor which is capable of sensing whether rain is currently falling or a rate of rainfall, and which transmits control signals to the receiver. 
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 47  further comprising a sensor which is capable of sensing whether rain is currently falling. 
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 47  wherein said local wireless sensor unit further comprising a sensor which is capable of measuring a quantity of accumulated rainfall. 
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 47  wherein said user interface further comprises a battery indicator. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 47  wherein said user adjustable rainfall threshold is an amount of rainfall. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 47  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. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 47  wherein the irrigation controller system interface is connected to the irrigation system by wiring.