Wireless Irrigation Adapter for Remote Multi-Site Schedule Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional irrigation controllers face complexity in managing irrigation schedules for large areas with varied plant life, soil types, and slopes, making it difficult to design and implement efficient irrigation systems.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an irrigation controller, a wireless adapter, and a network adapter that allows for remote monitoring and control through a distributed network, enabling the acquisition and transmission of status information, and the implementation of irrigation schedules across multiple sites, with features like predicted cost calculations and weather-based adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional program-based irrigation controllers are used to control irrigation schedules, then the basic irrigation function is achieved, but the system becomes increasingly complex as the irrigated area increases and variations in plant life, slope, and soil type increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a wireless adapter as an intermediary device that connects the irrigation controller to a remote server. This mediator handles the complexity of schedule management, weather data integration, and system monitoring remotely, allowing the local controller to remain simple while achieving high adaptability to various irrigation requirements through cloud-based processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual programming mechanisms with automated electronic systems. Instead of manually configuring complex irrigation schedules for different zones, plant types, and soil conditions, the system uses wireless communication, remote servers, and automated algorithms to dynamically manage irrigation based on real-time data, eliminating the need for complex local programming
2Ease of operation
If irrigation controllers are deployed across multiple sites with remote monitoring, then centralized management capability is improved, but network connectivity requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless adapter is designed as a universal device that can be deployed at multiple sites with identical functionality. It handles wireless communication, data transmission, and basic control operations in a standardized manner, allowing centralized management across diverse locations without requiring site-specific customization or complex network configurations at each endpoint
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments provide systems for use in controlling irrigation, comprising: an irrigation controller configured to couple with one or more valves at a site and to control activation and deactivation of the one or more valves in accordance with an irrigation schedule stored in the irrigation controller; a wireless adapter directly communicationally coupled through a direct wired connection with the irrigation controller; and a network adapter wirelessly coupled over a point-to-point wireless communication path with the wireless adapter, wherein the network adapter is configured to further couple through a direct wired connection with a local router configured to provide communication over a distributed network to a remote server; wherein the wireless adapter is configured to poll the irrigation controller to acquire and locally store status information; and the wireless adapter is configured to communicate, over the point-to-point wireless channel, the status information to the server.