Irrigation controller

Abstract

An irrigation controller modifies sophisticated irrigation protocols using an extremely simple user control. In one aspect of a particularly preferred class of embodiments, the user control includes a simple “more/less” (increase/decrease) adjustment. In another aspect of preferred embodiments, the controller automatically determines appropriate irrigation amounts, start times, durations, and frequencies. Such automatic determination may advantageously be based in part on the more/less adjustment, and in part on an external signal, such as that transmitted by a radio transmitter.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An irrigation controller for controlling irrigation to an irrigation zone, comprising: 
 a parameter receiving mechanism which receives at least one irrigation parameter selected from the group consisting of water allotment, geographic location, temperature, evapo-transpiration amount, plant type, soil type, slope, drainage, and a predefined irrigation schedule; and    a microprocessor which utilizes the at least one irrigation parameter to completely determine a first irrigation schedule, including start times and durations.    
     
     
         2 . The irrigation controller of  claim 1  wherein the parameter receiving mechanism comprises a keypad.  
     
     
         3 . The irrigation controller of  claim 1  wherein the parameter receiving mechanism comprises a radio receiver.  
     
     
         4 . The irrigation controller of  claim 1  wherein the at least one irrigation parameter comprises water allotment.  
     
     
         5 . The irrigation controller of  claim 1  wherein the at least one irrigation parameter comprises geographical location and a second irrigation parameter selected from the group consisting of water allotment, temperature, evapo-transpiration rate, plant type, soil type, slope, drainage, and a predefined irrigation schedule.  
     
     
         6 . The irrigation controller of  claim 1  wherein the at least one irrigation parameter comprises geographical location and at least two additional irrigation parameters selected from the group consisting of water allotment, temperature, evapo-transpiration rate, plant type, soil type, slope, drainage, and a predefined irrigation schedule.  
     
     
         7 . The irrigation controller of  claim 1  wherein the at least one irrigation parameter comprises evapo-transpiration rate, and a second irrigation parameter selected from the group consisting of temperature, geographical location, plant type, soil type, slope, drainage, and a predefined irrigation schedule.  
     
     
         8 . The irrigation controller of  claim 1  wherein the at least one irrigation parameter comprises evapo-transpiration rate, and at least two additional irrigation parameters selected from the group consisting of geographical location, temperature, plant type, soil type, slope, drainage, and a predefined irrigation schedule.  
     
     
         9 . The irrigation controller of  claim 1  wherein the parameter receiving mechanism comprises: 
 at least one of a keypad and a radio receiver;  
 the at least one irrigation parameter comprises geographical location and a second irrigation parameter selected from the group consisting of temperature, evapo-transpiration rate, plant type, soil type, slope, drainage, and a predefined irrigation schedule, and  
 the microprocessor further determines at least in part a start time for said watering.  
 
     
     
         10 . The irrigation controller of any of claims  1 - 9  further comprising an adjustment receiving mechanism which receives a piece of adjustment information reflecting a determination of adequacy of the first irrigation schedule, and the microprocessor utilizing the adjustment information to determine a second irrigation schedule different from the first irrigation schedule.  
     
     
         11 . The irrigation controller of  claim 10  wherein the adjustment receiving mechanism comprises a more/less adjustment.  
     
     
         12 . The irrigation controller of  claim 10  further comprising a plurality of watering zones controlled by the controller, wherein the adjustment information is used to modify a relative amount of water dispensed to the watering zones without modifying the total amount of water dispensed to the watering zones.  
     
     
         13 . A method of controlling irrigation to a zone using an irrigation controller, comprising: 
 receiving a signal from a signal source, said signal being at least partially dependent upon a weather condition;    allowing the controller to control a watering valve for a substantial period of time according to a preliminary irrigation schedule based at least in part upon the signal;    visually examining the irrigated area to determine the effect of watering according to the preliminary irrigation schedule;    providing the irrigation controller with a more/less adjustment mechanism which only indirectly controls an amount of water provided to the irrigated area;    operating the more/less adjustment mechanism to modify the preliminary irrigation schedule to provide a modified schedule; and    allowing the controller to control the valve according to the modified schedule.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the controller controlling at least two irrigation zones, and wherein the step of operating the more/less adjustment mechanism to modify the preliminary irrigation schedule comprises operating the more/less adjustment mechanism to separately modify the preliminary irrigation schedule in each of the at least two irrigation zones.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of providing a more/less adjustment mechanism comprises providing a first button corresponding to increasing the amount of water provided to the irrigated area, and a second button corresponding to decreasing the amount of water provided to the irrigated area.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of providing a more/less adjustment mechanism comprises providing a slide control.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of providing a more/less adjustment mechanism comprises providing a rotating control knob.  
     
     
         18 . The methods of  claim 13  further comprising a plurality of watering zones controlled by the controller, wherein the more/less adjustment mechanism is used to modify a relative amount of water dispensed to the watering zones without modifying the total amount of water dispensed to the watering zones.  
     
     
         19 . A method of controlling irrigation to a plurality of zones using an irrigation controller, comprising: 
 providing the controller with water allotment information;    providing the controller with relative watering information for the plurality of zones;    providing a flow meter which provides flow information relating to flow of water to the plurality of zones;    using the controller to operate a plurality of watering valves to dispense water to the plurality of zones at least in part according to the water allotment information; the relative watering information, and the flow information.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising providing a more/less adjustment mechanism to modify the relative watering information.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising providing a more/less adjustment mechanism to modify the relative watering information without modifying a total amount of water dispensed to the watering zones.  
     
     
         22 . The method of any of claims  19 - 21  further comprising using the controller to determine a first irrigation schedule, including start times.