Data processing: measuring – calibrating – or testing – Measurement system in a specific environment – Earth science
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-22
2003-09-09
Barlow, John (Department: 2862)
Data processing: measuring, calibrating, or testing
Measurement system in a specific environment
Earth science
C702S188000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06618673
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the irrigation of areas and in particular to cycles of irrigation start and cessation for optimizing irrigation efficiency.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a previous U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,831, hereafter '831, incorporated herewith in whole by reference, the inventor B. Zur described an irrigation control method and apparatus. Many other patents refer to irrigation automation but only '831 implements wetting front depth detection. However, time proved that the implementation disclosed by Zur was more of academic value but less valuable for use in the field.
The advance of the wetting front curves referred to in '831 as
FIGS. 1 and 2
, and the formula for the ratio of Z
I
over Z
F
, including parameters such as water contents, velocity and rate of water application, are not straightforward enough for practical use.
Furthermore, the apparatus for measuring the progress of the wetting front, shown in '831 as
FIGS. 3 and 4
, is better classified as laboratory equipment, not suited for rough field life. The many parts including rather fragile hydrophilic porous elements, assembled on a single thin bolt, are not sturdy enough to comply with heavy-duty outdoors requirements.
It is therefore desirable to provide a user with a simple push-button method and sturdy reliable equipment for easy start and automatic operation.
It is therefore necessary to provide a method for efficient use of irrigation water, and to implement a wetting-front depth probe for use with such irrigation method. Furthermore, it is also beneficial to implement the method for use with large irrigation systems for water saving purposes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for the efficient use of irrigation water and to disclose the implementation of such a method for the realization of a probe for the detection of a wetting-front depth and for the implementation of large irrigation systems.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a system for irrigation of an area by a plurality of successive adaptive irrigation cycles starting with a first irrigation cycle, the system comprising:
an irrigation controller for initiating and stopping irrigation in response to signals,
a probe having sensors for detecting arrival of a wetting front, the probe providing signals associated with the detected wetting front depth,
a cycler comprising a processor, a memory and an I/O unit, the cycler being coupled to the irrigation controller for emitting signals thereto, and the cycler being coupled to the probe for emitting and for receiving signals therefrom,
a computer program preloaded in the memory of the processor and running on the processor, the processor controlling adaptive irrigation and managing successive irrigation cycles, and the computer program comprising:
a predetermined threshold limit &Dgr;R, and
a predetermined ratio G
1
representing soil texture characteristics.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system wherein the computer program further comprises:
a first initial wetting front depth value Z
I1
to initiate and stop the first irrigation cycle, and
a procedure for beginning the first adaptive irrigation cycle to be followed by a plurality of successive adapted irrigation cycles.
It is another object of the present invention to provide system wherein both the predetermined threshold limit &Dgr;R and the ratio G
1
are selected, in combination, from the group consisting of preset default values and of user-selected inputs.
It is moreover an object of the present invention to provide a system wherein the computer program further comprises:
a first set of instructions for performing preliminary setup for the first irrigation cycle, and
a second set of instructions for initiating irrigation, for tracking a wetting front depth and for stopping irrigation.
It is furthermore an object of the present invention to provide a system wherein the computer program comprises:
a third set of instructions for deriving information from a preceding irrigation cycle and for adapting instructions for application to a next irrigation cycle, and
a fourth set of instructions for beginning the next irrigation cycle and returning to the second set of instructions.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a system wherein the first set of instructions further comprises a first initial wetting front depth instruction for the first irrigation cycle i=1, for calculating a first initial wetting front depth ZIi , to stop irrigation, by the equation ZIi=Gi*ZFi, where ZF is a final wetting front depth input value selected for optimal irrigation.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a system wherein the second set of instructions further comprises:
an irrigation start instruction sent by the processor to the irrigation controller for commanding the irrigation controller to start an irrigation cycle,
a tracking instruction for tracking the wetting front depth by deriving wetting front depth signals from the probe,
a detection instruction for detecting a depth signal received by the processor from the probe, the depth signal indicating arrival of the wetting front to the initial depth of irrigation, and
an irrigation stop instruction sent by the processor to the irrigation controller, the stop signal for commanding the irrigation controller to stop irrigation of an irrigation cycle.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a system wherein the third set of instructions comprises:
a drainage pause instruction commanding an irrigation pause for a duration relative at least to the soil texture ratio G
i
adapted by the irrigation cycle,
an actual depth Z
F
instruction commanding the processor to derive from the probe an actual derived drainage depth Z
F
of the wetting front,
a comparison instruction for commanding the processor to compare an actually derived drainage depth of the wetting front Z
F
with the selected final drainage wetting front depth value Z
Fi
,
a recalculation instruction for calculating an adapted initial wetting front depth Z
Ii
, if the actual derived depth of the wetting front Z
F
differs for more than a predetermined margin from the final drainage depth Z
F1
, the recalculation instruction adapting the soil texture ratio G
i
and the initial depth of irrigation Z
Ii
for a next irrigation cycle, and
a continue instruction for the third set of instructions to continue to the fourth set of instructions when the actual derived depth of the wetting front Z
F
does not differ for more than a predetermined margin from the final drainage depth Z
F1
.
It is also another object of the present invention to provide a system wherein the fourth set of instructions comprises:
a dwell instruction commanding the processor to dwell between successive irrigation cycles, the dwell lasting for a duration relative to at least the adapted ratio G, and
an increment instruction commanding the cycler to raise the irrigation cycle number by one and to return to the second set of instructions for starting a next irrigation cycle.
It is also a further object of the present invention to provide a probe for detecting an irrigation wetting-front depth, the probe operating in association with a processor commanding irrigation cycles started and ended by an irrigation controller, the probe comprising:
a monolithic slender dielectric body having a generally smooth symmetrical external surface and a length defining a longitudinal axis, the body extremities consisting of a forward end having a tapered tip and of a rearward end having a head,
a plurality of spaced apart parallel thin electrically conductive electrodes accommodated flush with and girdling the external surface of the probe in perpendicular to and in distribution along the longitudinal axis, and
a circuitry embedded inside the body of the probe, the circuitry including a plurality of electrical leads at least equal in number to the plurality of condu
Barlow John
Frishauf Holtz Goodman & Chick P.C.
Taylor Victor J.
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