Patent Application
20230225267
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The disclosure relates to watering devices and more particularly pertains to a new watering device for automatically irrigating a garden. The device includes a plurality of sensing units for sensing moisture content of soil. The device includes a controller module that is in wireless communication with each of the sensing units and a pump that is fluidly coupled to an irrigation system. The pump is in wireless communication with the controller module and the pump is turned on when the moisture content of the soil falls below a predetermined threshold.
The prior art relates to watering devices including a watering plant pot that includes a porous sensing element and a fluid reservoir integrated into a plant pot. The prior art discloses an above ground irrigation device. The prior art discloses a below ground irrigation device. The prior art discloses an automated irrigation device for automatically watering a flower pot. The prior art discloses an automated irrigation system that includes remote sensors, a control system and a multiple channel conduit for automatically irrigating a crop.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a plurality of sensing units and each of the sensing units has a probe which is insertable into soil in a garden to determine moisture content of the soil in the garden. The sensing units broadcast a sensing signal comprising moisture content of the soil in the garden. A controller module broadcasts an irrigation signal when the controller module receives a sensing signal from any of the sensing units which communicates a moisture level that is below the pre-determined moisture threshold. A pump unit is in remote communication with the controller module and the pump unit irrigates the soil in the garden when the controller module broadcasts the irrigation signal.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
Each of the sensing units 12 comprises a puck 18 that has a top surface 20, a bottom surface 22 and a peripheral surface 24 extending between the top surface 20 and the bottom surface 22. The probe 14 extends downwardly from the bottom surface 22 and the probe 14 has a distal end 26 with respect to the bottom surface 22. The distal end 26 tapers to a point to facilitate the distal end 26 to penetrate the soil 16 in the garden. Additionally, the probe 14 is comprised of an electrical conductive material to sense electrical conductivity of moisture in the soil 16 in the garden.
Each of the sensing units 12 includes a sensing control circuit 28 that is integrated into the puck 18 and the sensing control circuit 28 is electrically coupled to the probe 14. Each of the sensing units 12 includes a transmitter 30 is integrated into the puck 18. The transmitter 30 is electrically coupled to the sensing control circuit 28 and the transmitter 30 broadcasts the sensing signal. Furthermore, the transmitter 30 in each of the sensing units 12 may comprise a radio frequency transmitter 30 or the like.
Each of the sensing units 12 includes a sensing data port 32 that is recessed into the peripheral surface 24 of the puck 18 which can insertably receive a data cord 33. The sensing data port 32 is electrically coupled to the sensing control circuit 28 to facilitate operational parameters to be downloaded into the sensing control circuit 28. The sensing data port 32 may comprise a universal serial bus port or other similar type of data port and the data cord 33 may be universal serial bus cord or other similar type of data cord. Additionally, the data cord 33 may receive data from a personal computer or other similar type of electronic device that can download data.
Each of the sensing units 12 includes a sensing power supply 34 which is integrated into the puck 18, and the sensing power supply 34 is electrically coupled to the sensing control circuit 28. The sensing power supply 34 comprises a rechargeable battery 36 which is positioned within the puck 18, and the rechargeable battery 36 is electrically coupled to the sensing control circuit 28. The sensing power supply 34 includes a solar panel 38 that is coupled to the top surface 20 of the puck 18 such that the solar panel 38 is exposed to sunlight. The solar panel 38 is electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery 36 for charging the rechargeable battery 36.
A controller module 40 is provided and the controller module 40 is in remote communication with each of the sensing units 12. The controller module 40 stores a database comprising a pre-determined moisture threshold of soil 16 in the garden. The controller module 40 broadcasts an irrigation signal when the controller module 40 receives the sensing signal from any of the sensing units 12 which communicates a moisture level that is below the pre-determined moisture threshold. Furthermore, the controller module 40 broadcasts a stop irrigation signal when the controller module 40 receives the sensing signal from any of the sensing units 12 which communicates a moisture level that is above the pre-determined moisture threshold. In this way the moisture content of the soil 16 in the garden is continuously and automatically monitored.
The controller module 40 comprises a controller housing 42 that has a top wall 44 and an outer wall 46. A controller control circuit 48 is integrated into the controller housing 42 and the controller control circuit 48 includes an electronic memory 50. The electronic memory 50 stores a database comprising the pre-determined moisture content of the soil 16 in the garden. The pre-determined moisture content may be determined based on the type of soil 16 in the garden, the types of plants that will be grown in the garden, the geographic location of the garden and any other determining factors.
The controller module 40 includes a transceiver 52 that is integrated into the controller housing 42 and the transceiver 52 is electrically coupled to the controller control circuit 48. The transceiver 52 is in wireless communication with the transmitter 30 in each of the sensing units 12 such that the transceiver 52 receives the sensing signal from the transmitter 30 in each of the sensing units 12. Furthermore, the transceiver 52 broadcasts the irrigation signal when the controller control circuit 48 determines that the moisture level communicated in the sensing signal is below the pre-determined moisture content of the soil 16 in the garden. The transceiver 52 broadcasts the stop irrigation signal when the controller control circuit 48 determines that the moisture level communicated in the sensing signal is above the pre-determined moisture content of the soil 16 in the garden. Additionally, the transceiver 52 may comprise a radio frequency transceiver or the like.
The controller module 40 includes a plurality of control data ports 54 is provided and each of the control data ports 54 is recessed into the outer wall 46 of the controller housing 42. Each of the control data ports 54 insertably receives a data cord 33 for downloading data into the electronic memory 50. Each of the control data ports 54 may comprise a universal serial bus port or the like. The controller module 40 includes a controller power supply 58 that is integrated into the controller housing 42 and the controller power supply 58 is electrically coupled to the controller control circuit 48.
The controller power supply 58 comprises a rechargeable battery 60 which is positioned within the controller housing 42. The rechargeable battery 60 in the controller housing 42 is electrically coupled to the controller control circuit 48. The controller power supply 58 comprises a solar panel 62 that is coupled to the top wall 44 of the controller housing 42. The solar panel 62 on the controller housing 42 is electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery 60 in the controller housing 42 for charging the rechargeable battery 60 in the controller housing 42.
A pump unit 64 is provided and the pump unit 64 is fluidly coupled to a water source 66, such as a water tank, a garden hose, or other water source that would commonly be available at a residence. The pump unit 64 is fluidly coupled to an irrigation system 68 that is employed for irrigating the soil 16 in the garden. Additionally, the pump unit 64 is in remote communication with the controller module 40 such that the pump unit 64 receives the irrigation signal from the controller module 40. The pump unit 64 is turned on when the pump unit 64 receives the irrigation signal and the pump unit 64 pumps water from the water source 66 into the irrigation system 68. In this way the pump unit 64 irrigates the soil 16 in the garden.
The pump unit 64 comprises a pump housing 70 that has an upper wall 72 and an outside wall 74, and the outside wall 74 has a water inlet 76 extending into an interior of the pump housing 70. The outside wall 74 has a nutrient inlet 78 extending into the interior of the pump housing 70 and the outside wall 74 has an irrigation outlet 80 extending into the interior of the pump housing 70. The water inlet 76 is fluidly coupled to the water source 66, the nutrient inlet 78 is fluidly coupled to a nutrient source 82 and the irrigation outlet 80 is fluidly coupled to an input of the irrigation system 68. The nutrient source 82 may comprise a fluid tank filled with liquid fertilizer or other similar type of nutrient source.
The pump unit 64 includes a pump control circuit 84 that is positioned within the pump housing 70, and the pump control circuit 84 receives an on input and an off input. The pump unit 64 includes a receiver 86 that is integrated into the pump housing 70 and the receiver 86 is electrically coupled to the pump control circuit 84. The receiver 86 is in wireless communication with the transceiver 52, and the receiver 86 receives the irrigation signal from the transceiver 52 and the stop irrigation signal from the transceiver 52. The pump control circuit 84 receives the on input when the receiver 86 receives irrigation signal. Conversely, the pump control circuit 84 receives the off input when the receiver 86 receives the stop irrigation signal. The receiver 86 may comprise a radio frequency receiver or the like and the receiver 86 may have an operational frequency that is discretely assigned to the transceiver 52 such that the receiver 86 will not communicate with any wireless device aside from the transceiver 52.
The pump unit 64 includes a pump 88 that is positioned within the pump housing 70, and the pump 88 has an inlet 90 and an exhaust 92. The inlet 90 is fluidly coupled to each of the water inlet 76 and the nutrient inlet 78, and the exhaust 92 is fluidly coupled to the irrigation outlet 80. The pump 88 urges water from the water source 66 and nutrients from the nutrient source 82 outwardly through the exhaust 92 when the pump 88 is turned on. The pump 88 is electrically coupled to the pump control circuit 84 and the pump 88 is turned on when the pump control circuit 84 receives the on input. Conversely, the pump 88 is turned off when the pump control circuit 84 receives the off input. The pump 88 may comprise an electric fluid pump or other similar device.
The pump unit 64 includes a pump data port 94 that is recessed into the outside wall 74 of the pump housing 70 to insertably receive a data cord 33. The pump data port 94 is electrically coupled to the pump control circuit 84 for downloading data into the pump control circuit 84. The pump unit 64 includes a pump power supply 96 that is integrated into the pump housing 70 and the pump power supply 96 is electrically coupled to the pump control circuit 84. The pump power supply 96 comprises a rechargeable battery 98 that is positioned within the pump housing 70. The rechargeable battery 98 in the pump housing 70 is electrically coupled to the pump control circuit 84. The pump power supply 96 includes solar panel 100 that is coupled to the upper wall 72 of the pump housing 70. The solar panel 100 on the pump housing 70 is electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery 98 in the pump housing 70 for charging the rechargeable battery 98 in the pump housing 70.
In use, the pre-determined moisture content threshold is downloaded into the controller module 40 via the control data ports 54. Each of the sensing units 12 is positioned at a strategic location in the garden such that the probe 14 on each of the sensing units 12 penetrates the soil 16. The pump unit 64 is turned on when the sensing units 12 senses that the moisture content of the soil 16 falls below the pre-determined moisture content, and the pump is turned off when the sensing units 12 senses the moisture content of the soil 16 rises above the pre-determined moisture content. In this way the pump 88 automatically irrigates the soil 16 such that the soil 16 is continuously maintained at the pre-determined moisture content. Additionally, the sensing units 12 can be repositioned at any time in the soil 16 for monitoring different areas of the garden.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
