Irrigation control system

Abstract

An irrigation control system for land comprising: (a) at least one meter to measure one or more wheather conditions in a first area; (b) at least one monitor to (i) examine rainfall data derived from a radar scanning at least the first area according to pre-determined criteria and (ii) to extract data which is representative of the scanned rainfall in a subarea of the first area; (c) a store to store the extracted data; and (d) a controller connected directly or indirectly to the meter and the monitor and to the store, to calculate a moisture content value for the subarea and a predetermined moisture content value for the sub-area, and to regulate the irrigation in a sub-area.

1 - 15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . An irrigation control system for land comprising: 
 a monitor that examines rainfall data derived from a radar scanning at least a first area and generates information representative of the rainfall in said first area; and    a controller connected to the monitor to regulate the irrigation of said area in accordance with said information.    
   
   
       17 . The irrigation control system of  claim 16  further comprising a weather station disposed in said first area and generating indication signals indicative of weather conditions in said area; wherein said controller receives said weather signals and controls said irrigation in response to said weather conditions.  
   
   
       18 . The irrigation control system of  claim 17  wherein said weather station measures ambient temperature.  
   
   
       19 . The irrigation control system of  claim 17  wherein said weather station measures solar radiation intensity.  
   
   
       20 . The irrigation control system of  claim 16  further comprising a local switch in said first-area to initiate or prevent irrigation in response to signals from the controller.  
   
   
       21 . The irrigation control system of  claim 20  wherein the local switch in said first area activates or de-activates a local controller for initiating or preventing the irrigation, in response to signals from the controller.  
   
   
       22 . An irrigation system comprising: 
 a monitor receiving information from a radar unit and generating from said information rainfall data indicative of the amount of rain falling in an area;    an irrigation apparatus including water delivery means and a controller receiving said rainfall data and controlling said water delivery means in accordance with said rainfall data.    
   
   
       23 . The irrigation system of  claim 22  further comprising a weather station monitoring a weather condition in said area and generating weather data indicative of said weather condition in said area.  
   
   
       24 . The irrigation system of  claim 23  wherein said weather station monitors temperature in said area.  
   
   
       25 . The irrigation system of  claim 23  wherein said weather station monitors solar radiation.  
   
   
       26 . The irrigation system of  claim 22  wherein said irrigation apparatus operates in one of a fail wet and fail dry mode.  
   
   
       27 . A method of irrigating an area comprising the steps of: 
 monitoring rain fall remotely from said area;    generating rainfall data indicative of said rainfall; and    controlling delivery of water to said area in accordance with said rainfall data.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising monitoring a weather condition in said area and further controlling said delivery in accordance with said weather condition.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein said weather condition is temperature.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein said weather condition is solar radiation.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising determining an irrigation characteristic of said area.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein said irrigation characteristic is soil moisture content.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32  further comprising calculating said soil moisture content based on said rainfall data.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising calculating said moisture content based on the soil type of said area.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 32  further comprising comparing said soil moisture content to a threshold level, and initiating irrigation if said soil moisture content is below said threshold level.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 27  wherein said rainfall is obtained from a scanning radar installation.