Patent classifications
G05B2219/2625
Irrigation controller and associated methods
An irrigation controller is disclosed together with associated methods and computer program products. User input specifying a requested start time may be received. A total desired watering time may be calculated. A total permissible watering time may be calculated. The start time may be moved back relative to the requested start time in response to determining that the total permissible watering time is less than the total desired watering time.
System and method for monitoring and controlling a fire suppression system
A system to mitigate false trips of a valve that supplies water to a piping system in a fire suppression system includes at least one edge device, a control circuit, and at least one user device. The at least one edge device monitors a parameter corresponding to at least one of a corrosion, a presence of water, a differential pressure across the valve, and a temperature in the piping system of the fire suppression system. The control circuit includes one or more processors and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the control circuit to receive an indication of the parameter monitored by the at least one edge device, predict whether a valve tripping event is expected to occur based on the received indication, and in response to predicting that the valve tripping event is expected to occur, provide the prediction that the valve tripping event can occur for remedial action. The at least one user device presents display data regarding the prediction.
SPRINKLER CONTROLLER WITH DIAL POSITION FOR EACH FUNCTION AND PROGRAM CONTENT DISPLAY POSITION
A controller for use in an irrigation system includes a selector, an indicator associated with the selector for identifying parameters selected to be set for use in controlling the irrigation system, indicia positioned on a top surface of the controller which cooperate with the selector to indicate the parameter being selected and
a display for displaying information regarding the selected parameters; wherein the indicator includes a program display position for displaying information regarding all parameters related to a selected program of operation of the controller.
OCCUPANCY SENSING AND BUILDING CONTROL USING MOBILE DEVICES
Apparatus, systems and methods for ascertaining the occupancy of a building are presented. The building is divided into one or more control zones which correspond to physical areas of the building associated with controllable modules, such as HVAC units, lighting, irrigation, or other environmental features such as fountains, music, video, and the like. Zone parameters define how zone devices shall react to the number of occupants located in the particular zone. A building control system detects individual mobile devices in and around the building, and determines the locations of each device by using trilateration and/or location services. The identified mobile devices act as proxies for building occupants. The locations of these devices are correlated with the locations of the zones in the building, and the building control system then adjusts the operating parameters of the zone based on the number of devices present in the zone.
INTELLIGENT GARDENING SYSTEM AND EXTERNAL DEVICE COMMUNICATING THEREWITH
The present invention relates to an intelligent gardening system, for monitoring and controlling gardening apparatuses in a gardening area, including: multiple sensors that collect environmental information of the gardening area; one or more gardening apparatuses that perform gardening work according to a control instruction; and a control center that generates the control instruction based on the environmental information; wherein the sensors, the gardening apparatuses and the control center communicate with each other to form an Internet of Things.
Expandable irrigation controller
Described herein are several embodiments relating to irrigation controllers. In many implementations, the irrigation controllers include a housing and a removable plug-in device. The housing includes a control portion comprising a first microcontroller configured to execute stored irrigation programs. The housing includes an interface connector port and driver circuitry configured to actuate irrigation valves based on control signals received from the first microcontroller. The removable plug-in device removably coupled to the interface connector port and comprising a second microcontroller and a wireless modem configured to communicate with a wireless network. The second microcontroller configured to send and receive data communications to and from the first microcontroller, such that the first microcontroller and the second microcontroller function together during use of the irrigation controller, wherein the removable plug-in device does not include any driver circuitry configured to actuate any irrigation valves based on any control signals received from the first microcontroller.
Irrigation management
A system and method for providing irrigation management services is disclosed. The system may include a plurality of controllers, where each controller controls application of water by an irrigation system associated with the controller. A central computer that is remote from each of the controllers may be configured to implement an irrigation management plan that is individualized to each location and based, at least in part, upon one or more characteristics of the location as determined by an on-site visit. The irrigation manager may guarantee that the system will provide a return on investment within a predefined period of time. The system may also detect faults in the irrigation systems using water usage data from the controllers and diagnose the faults. A technician may be notified and dispatched to repair the faults.
LANDSCAPER INTEGRATION
A system and method for providing landscaping integration into a watering system or water management system. The system may include a processor with programmable landscape events or pre-programmed landscape events. A user may select or enter in landscape events to manipulate a watering or irrigation schedule based on the landscape event. The system may also be pre-programmed to a landscape event based on recurring or scheduled events to alter watering or irrigation. A landscaper may access a system on an electronic device that may be linked to a cloud based platform for managing the system or systems to allow for alteration and manipulation of watering and irrigation times and durations based on landscape events.
Wireless irrigation control
Some embodiments provide methods and systems of controlling irrigation. Some of these systems comprise: a connector of a controller interface (CI) coupled with an irrigation controller, wherein the connector is configured to receive a valve activation signal activated by the irrigation controller; a user interface of the CI; a processor of the CI configured to obtain valve transceiver (VT) programming with VT programming being received from inputs through the user interface, determine a station identifier, and identify as defined in the VT programming a remote valve associated with the station identifier and controlled by a remote VT; and a wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit a wireless activation signal configured to be wirelessly received by the VT controlling the valve associated by the VT programming with the station identifier such that the VT is configured to control an actuator to actuate the valve.
TURF MAINTENANCE SYSTEM AND METHODS
A turf maintenance system acquires data from one or more turf systems, generates a dashboard display screen to display the data acquired from the one or more turf systems, and schedules tasks for completing a turf maintenance job based on the acquired data.