JP6847186B2 - Intelligent watering pump - Google Patents

Description

Exemplary embodiments generally relate to intelligent systems, and more specifically to systems for intelligent watering, including simple interfaces and components configured to facilitate operation.

Site maintenance maintenance work can include either lawn or horticultural growth promotion and lawn care or horticultural work related to care, or both lawn care and horticultural work, and hopefully these. Lawns or garden trees grow as a result of their efforts. Growth promotion usually involves taking routine care to ensure that the growing conditions are suitable for the growing plant and to provide the necessary care and growing work to further enhance growth. I have requested.

As technology has improved, various devices or sensors have been developed that can be employed to monitor different aspects of growth. Gardeners are therefore able to employ sensors or devices in specific locations to monitor and correct growth as needed. However, even though monitoring devices or sensors have been improved, gardeners are still often advanced to place or operate devices or sensors, or to place and operate devices or sensors. Need to do the manual work.

Some exemplary embodiments may therefore provide the ability to intelligently control or manage a large number of assets related to garden maintenance by assisting or including user terminals. As such, for example, sensor equipment and sprinkler equipment operations (with or without robot rover) can be remotely coordinated for efficient horticulture and lawn care using smart sprinkler pumps.

In an exemplary embodiment, a system for intelligent control or management of a large number of assets related to garden maintenance is provided. The system includes sensor devices that include one or more sensors located in a parcel of land, sprinklers that are located on the parcel and configured to selectively spray water in the parcel, and sensor devices and It may include a gateway configured to provide communication with the sprinkler. The watering equipment may include a watering pump, which is operably connected to the water source and the water line to alternate between connecting the water source to the water line and disconnecting the water source from the water line. Will be done. The watering pump further comprises a pump sensor assembly configured to detect environmental and operational parameters and a processing circuit configured to operate the watering pump based on the detected environmental and operational parameters. , Can be included.

In another exemplary embodiment, a watering pump is provided for intelligent control or management of garden maintenance. The watering pump can be operably connected to the water source and the water line in order to alternately connect the water source to the water line and disconnect the water source from the water line. The watering pump has a pump sensor assembly configured to detect environmental and operational parameters and a processing circuit configured to operate the watering pump based on the detected environmental and operational parameters. Further may be included.

Some exemplary embodiments may improve the operator's ability to maximize the beauty and productivity of the operator's garden and garden, but it is done in a user-friendly and intuitive way. ..

Although the present invention has been described in general terms in this way, it will be referred to below with reference to the accompanying drawings which are not necessarily drawn to scale.

The block diagram which shows the system which concerns on an exemplary embodiment. The block diagram which shows the arranged component of the system which concerns on an exemplary embodiment. The block diagram which shows the processing circuit which can be adopted as the arranged component which concerns on an exemplary embodiment. The block diagram which shows the processing circuit which can be adopted as the user terminal which concerns on an exemplary embodiment. The flow diagram which shows various operations concerning the control of the watering pump which concerns on an exemplary embodiment. The figure which shows the exemplary interface console or screen which can be generated in the user terminal which concerns on an exemplary embodiment. The figure which shows the exemplary interface console or screen which can be generated in the user terminal which concerns on an exemplary embodiment. The figure which shows the exemplary interface console or screen which can be generated in the user terminal which concerns on an exemplary embodiment. The figure which shows the exemplary interface console or screen which can be generated in the user terminal which concerns on an exemplary embodiment.

Some exemplary embodiments are described in their entirety below with reference to the accompanying drawings, and some, but not all, exemplary embodiments are shown. In fact, the examples described and described herein should not be construed as limiting the scope, applicability or configuration of this disclosure. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure meets applicable legal requirements. Similar reference symbols refer to similar elements throughout. Also, as used herein, the term "or" should be construed as a logical operator that brings true whenever one or more of its operators are true. In addition, the term "garden maintenance" is intended to relate to any outdoor site improvement or maintenance-related activity and should be specifically applied to activities that directly lead to grass, turf, or sod care. There is no. Thus, it should be understood that garden maintenance includes at least one of horticulture, lawn care, and combinations thereof and the equivalent thereof. As used herein, operable connections should be understood to relate to direct or indirect connections, in which case they are operably connected to each other. Allows functional interconnection of components.

An exemplary embodiment may provide an intelligent system that can potentially be in multiple locations in any garden situation (ie, one or both lawn and garden situations). It is intended to at least monitor, maintain, monitor, and maintain over a particular compartment in, allowing the operator to relay with equipment in the system in a flexible manner. Moreover, the equipment of the system should be able to harmonize the activities of the equipment, or the equipment should be adapted to the current situation or stimulus present in the environment of the equipment, or the activity of the equipment. Can be harmonized and the device can be configured to adapt to the current situation or stimulus present in the device's environment. In some cases, either or both of the operations and monitoring performed can be achieved with the help of intelligent watering pumps. In this regard, for example, intelligent watering pumps include a pump sensor assembly, a communication network that collects information about growth from sensor equipment for associating information with the area where the information was collected, and a network of other users. Can be used to provide intelligent and efficient watering of land plots. Therefore, the watering pump can have great flexibility for the operator to remotely control various components of the system and to program such components via processing circuits in each component. It can be adopted in a system including a relay mechanism for such a method. Programming can therefore be coordinated remotely, but at least part of the programming can also be stored locally so that the system can operate with or without a connection. In some cases, the connection mode of the system may utilize a home network component and a wide area network component (eg, the Internet), but an arranged component (eg, a component in a garden / garden, or , Components related to garden maintenance) and may include gateways configured to relay between home network / wide area network components. As mentioned above, the processing mode is such that some modes of garden maintenance can utilize remote assets or at least incorporate information available from abroad, while others can be managed locally. , Can be distributed between local and remote management components. In each case, the adaptability and ease of relaying and control is a characteristic of the system that is improved by adopting exemplary embodiments.

The system is therefore either a fixed asset or a mobile asset, or a fixed asset and a mobile asset, that collects data related to a particular segment of parcel that can accommodate different areas. The combination of these can be adopted. In particular, the system may employ intelligent watering pumps that are configured to be programmed to serve one or more such specific segments. A particular segment may have different types of plants within it, and thus may optimally have the desired different growth conditions associated with each one of the segments. The owner / operator may program an operation instruction to guide an arranged component (including an intelligent watering pump) for an operation in one or more specific segments, the specific segment being referred to as a "zone". Can be done. In some cases, it may be equipped with processing circuits to allow the user to define specific operating parameters and thus allow the system to operate according to such operating parameters and be adapted to the current situation. .. Given the availability of internet connectivity, in some cases the system associates the desired growth status with the identified plant species based on the stored information associated with each plant species from a database or online resource. Can be adopted for. Thus, each zone may have a corresponding growth condition parameter associated with it, and the user can see the growth condition parameter for various regions, thus, for the corresponding zone, a desired growth condition (eg, for example). , Moisture level, temperature, lighting level, pH, and at least one of them), the operation of system components may be programmed. In some cases, the schedule between the placed components can be prevented from colliding or organized to prevent damage to the components, inefficient use of resources, or efficiency-reducing actions. The placed components associated with the zone may provide the operator with at least one of reporting and alerting by the gateway to allow the operator to intervene in a particular situation, as well as the components. Can simply respond to the operator and notify the operator of the response by the gateway.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system 10 that can be used to accomplish the basic operations described above according to an exemplary embodiment. It should be understood that in the context of FIG. 1, certain tasks such as mowing, chemical spraying, visual surveillance, and at least one of their equivalents can be performed by a robot, the robot rover 15. Is. The robot rover 15 is shown by the dashed line in FIG. 1 because the system can operate without the robot rover 15. Robots and other equipment may also be engaged to perform certain other garden maintenance tasks such as scraping, fertilization, lighting, wildlife eviction, and at least one of their equivalents. it can.

Other operations such as lawn watering may be performed by at least one of the sprinkler / irrigation head and the watering pump that relays it. The sprinkler / irrigation head can be attached to the hose, and the sprinkler pump provides each sprinkler / irrigation head and a central intelligent controllable source for supplying water to at least one of the sprinkler / irrigation head and hose. It may provide a mechanism to control the on / off of watering at the irrigation head position. At least one of the hose, the sprinkler / irrigation head, and the watering pump may together form the watering device 20.

On the other hand, various sensors can be adopted. Such sensors are inserted into the soil to monitor the soil or to monitor other growth conditions (eg, lighting levels, moisture levels, pH, temperature, video or image data, etc.). Can be adopted. These sensors can therefore be understood to take various forms within the system 10. However, generally speaking, the sensor has connectivity to the system 10 to enhance the operation of the system components based on the information of at least one of the soil and growth conditions collected by the sensor. Can be done. Regardless of the particular configuration or placement paradigm, various sensors may represent the sensor device 30 as described above.

The sensor device 30 may communicate with the gateway 40 via a wired or wireless connection. Further, in some cases, one or more devices including the sprinkler 20 may also communicate with the gateway 40 via a wired or wireless connection. The gateway 40 may subsequently have a wired or wireless connection to the access site 45, which may be directly or indirectly connected to the user terminal 50. The access base 45 can be a router of the operator's home network. In some cases, the direct connection of the access base 45 to the user terminal 50 is at least one of short-range wireless communication methods (eg, Bluethoth®, WiFi® and equivalents). Can be provided by one). The indirect connection of the access base 45 to the user terminal 50 can occur via the network 60. The network 60 includes a local area network (LAN: registered trademark), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN) (for example, the Internet), a wireless personal area network (WPAN), and the like. , At least one data network. The data network puts a device (eg, an arranged component) into at least one of a device such as a processing element (eg, a personal computer, a server computer or the like), and a database such as a user terminal 50. Can connect. Communication between the network 60 and other devices of the system 10 can be achieved by either a wired or wireless communication mechanism and a corresponding communication protocol. As described above, for example, a part or all of at least one of the sensor of the sensor device 30, the sprinkler device 20, and the robot rover 15 is provided by at least one of wired and wireless communication means. It can be connected to the user terminal 50.

Further, although the robot rover 15 is shown separately in FIG. 1, it can be seen that the robot rover 15 can act as either a part of the sensor device 30 or a part of the sprinkler device 20. Should be understood. However, the ability of the robot rover 15 to act as part of the sensor device 30 or at least one part of the sprinkler 20 and the combination of the sensor device 30 and the sprinkler 20 or independently of them. The robot rover 15 is shown separately in FIG. 1 in consideration of the ability of the robot rover 15 to perform other tasks (for example, mowing).

The gateway 40 may be a conversion agent configured to relay with at least one of the arranged components by wired or wireless communication. In some embodiments, the gateway 40 may include a high performance antenna that allows the gateway 40 to wirelessly communicate with components arranged by an 868 MHz radio link (eg, a first radio link). However, other wireless links may be adopted in other cases. The first wireless link and the components connected by it can be part of a first network that extends outdoors (eg, a garden network), i.e., an arranged component network. The components inside the house or company and the components extending to the user terminal 50 and between the user terminal 50 may form a second network. Thus, the gateway 40 can be a conversion agent between the first network and the second network. The gateway 40 can be an aggregation point and a communication center for communicating on both networks.

As described above, the gateway 40 can be provided in the operator's house or another indoor environment, and in order to convert various commands from the operator to the gateway 40 (via the first wireless link). It is possible to wirelessly communicate with the arranged components and provide the commands to the access base 45 via a second wireless link. In an exemplary embodiment, wireless communication can be secured by adopting encryption or other security techniques. Gateway 40 may also provide secure cloud data storage through a connection to network 60 (eg, via access site 45). In some examples, the first and second radio links can be different radio links that employ at least one of different communication protocols and frequencies.

The gateway 40 may also provide the ability for each of the deployed components to be monitored, controlled, programmed, or relayed by the operator using the user terminal 50. In particular, in some cases, the user terminal 50 has a simple setup and easy-to-use relay for interaction with the gateway 40 (and the corresponding placed components reachable through the gateway 40). It may be configured to run a specially designed application (or app) that provides at least one of them. The user terminal 50 can therefore be a smartphone or other mobile terminal, or a laptop, PC, or other computing / communication device. Thus, the user terminal 50 is at least one of the gateway 40 and the arranged components in order to program, control, or interact with the arranged components as described in more detail below. It may include a processing circuit that can be relayed to one of the corresponding processing circuits.

The programming of the placed components, the interaction between the user terminal 50 and the gateway 40 to facilitate the control of the placed components, or the interaction with the placed components is for irrigation or It is possible to create an interactive, fully connectable garden system for controlling / adjusting mowing. The application that can be executed on the user terminal 50 may be configured to control at least one of the components arranged in real time or on a program basis. The resulting system can be a totally connected automatic garden system. Also, connecting to content on the Internet via network 60 may allow educational content to be integrated into the operation of the system, giving operators complete satisfaction with an improved interface and their horticultural experience. Provides more control and more for. For example, educational content may include a video exemplifying how to start, how to program, or how to solve a problem for any operation with respect to the components of the sprinkler 20. In an exemplary embodiment, the app operates as at least some watering equipment 20 in a first mode with a locally stored watering schedule and in a second mode of operation as an autonomous pressure pump. It can be used to program.

FIG. 2 shows a water movement path that can be implemented in connection with an exemplary embodiment. However, some of the components may be removed in a simple exemplary embodiment, and some components may be added to provide a more complex architecture in other exemplary embodiments. Should be understood. Therefore, the example of FIG. 2 is not provided to limit in relation to the components contained in the system, but merely provides examples of several components that may be included in one exemplary system. .. It should also be understood that although FIG. 2 shows a single water supply line, in other embodiments multiple water supply lines can be employed to service the plot or garden. Thus, exemplary embodiments can be implemented using any number of lines and separate and different water sources.

Here, with reference to FIG. 2, the water source 100 can be used to charge the water line 110 by the watering pump 120. In some exemplary embodiments, the water source 100 may include a heating element 101 for heating the water in the water source 100. Further, the water source 100 may include a level sensor 105 for detecting the water level in the water source 100. In some cases, the water source 100 may also supply water to the second water line by a second watering pump or by a watering pump 120. The water line 110 can be a flexible water hose or garden hose. The watering pump 120 may be one of the arranged components forming one component of the watering device 20 of FIG. The watering pump 120 may be operably connected to the water source 100 so that the water source 100 becomes a pressurized water supply source for the water line 110 when the watering pump 120 is operable. However, if the watering pump 120 is not operational, the water line 110 is substantially depressurized or has at least residual pressure remaining from the last operation of the watering pump 120. Therefore, it should be understood that the water source 100 is not a typical pressurized water source for homes or other structures. Alternatively, the water source 100 can typically be a reservoir or aquarium, or another unpressurized water source.

In an exemplary embodiment, one or more sprinklers (eg, first sprinkler 130 and second sprinkler 132) can receive water from the water line 110. The water line 110 may be selectively charged under the control of the watering pump 120 to provide water for spraying from the first sprinkler 130 and the second sprinklers 130, 132. Similarly, if used, the second water line is a sprinkler pump 120 or a second sprinkler to provide water for spraying from any additional sprinkler associated with the second water line. It can be selectively charged under the control of the pump. When the water line 110 is charged, the first sprinkler 130 and the second sprinkler 132 may be provided with pressurized water distributed through the watering pump 120 in response to its operation. The first sprinkler 130 and the second sprinkler 132 can typically be components that do not have any local intelligence. Alternatively, the first sprinkler 130 and the second sprinkler 132 may only be controllable by operating a watering pump 120 that turns the watering function on and off. However, the first sprinkler 130 and the second sprinkler 132 can, in some cases, have at least one of an internally provided intelligent component and a control mode.

One or more sensors (eg, first sensor 140 and second sensor 142) are also located at various locations within the compartment serviced by the sprinkler to detect or sense a situation in close proximity to the corresponding sensor. Can be provided. The first sensor 140 and the second sensor 142 can correspond to the first sprinkler 130 and the second sprinkler 132, respectively, and the application on the user terminal 50 is configured to consider such a correspondence. Obtained, thereby allowing the information received from each of the first sensor 140 or the second sensor 142 to be associated with an action that can be commanded to the sprinkler pump 120, based on that information, if necessary.

In some examples, some of the placed components may include a power supply 150 that is local to the corresponding one of the placed components. The power source 150 for each component can be a battery or battery pack, or a main power source. Each fed component of the arranged component may also include a communication circuit 160. The communication circuit 160 allows a processing circuit for controlling each component and the arranged component to communicate with the gateway 40 via a first wireless link (or by an alternative wired connection). Includes an antenna for. The robot rover 15 (if adopted) may also be an example of the arranged components, and thus the robot rover 15 may also include a power supply 150 and a communication circuit 160. However, it should be understood that various power and communication circuit components can have different dimensions, structures, and components.

The watering pump 120 can generally be operated under the control of a communication circuit 160 to separate the water source 100 from the water line 110 and operably connect the water source 100 to the water line 110, respectively. The watering pump 120 has operational information and capacity based on the operating mode, capacitance mode instructions received via the gateway 40, or stored or made accessible by the communication circuit 160 of the watering pump 120. It can be operated informed. The watering pump 120 may provide convenience for the operation of the system 10. The reason is, as described in more detail below, by selecting or executing the desired / programmed operating mode, capacity mode, by an app on the user terminal 50, or by a locally stored programming instruction. This is because the sprinkler pump 120 can be controlled from anywhere at any time.

In an exemplary embodiment, the communication circuit 160 may include a processing circuit 201 as shown in FIG. The processing circuit 201 may be configured to perform at least one of data processing, control function execution, and other processing and management services, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments, the processing circuit 201 may be embodied as a chip or chipset. In other words, processing circuit 201 is one or more physical packages (eg, chips) that include at least one of the materials, components, and wiring on a structural assembly (eg, baseboard). Can include. The structural assembly may provide at least one of physical strength, size savings, and limitation of electrical interaction for the component circuits contained on the structural assembly. The processing circuit 201 may therefore be configured in some cases to embody embodiments of the invention on a single chip or as a single "system on a chip". Thus, in some cases, a chip or chipset may constitute a means for performing one or more operations to provide the functionality described herein.

In an exemplary embodiment, processing circuit 201 may include one or more instances of processor 205 and memory 203 capable of communicating with or controlling device interface 207. As such, the processing circuit 201 is a circuit chip (eg, an integrated circuit) configured to perform the operations described herein (eg, hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software). Can be embodied as a chip). In some embodiments, the processing circuit 201 may communicate with at least one of the internal electronic components of the watering pump 120, the first sensor 140 or the second sensor 142, and the robot rover 15. It may allow communication with other external components.

The device interface 207 may include one or more relay mechanisms to allow communication with other devices via the gateway 40. In some cases, the device interface 207 can be any means, such as hardware, or a device or circuit embodied in either a combination of hardware and software. The means is configured to receive data from the gateway 40 and transmit the data to the gateway 40 by means of a device interface 207 capable of transmitting and receiving messages via the gateway 40. In some exemplary embodiments, the device interface 207 may provide an interface for communication with a component of the system 10 or the outside of the system 10 via the gateway 40. If the communication circuit 160 is for a sensor, the device interface 207 also obtains a sensor (eg, a temperature sensor) to acquire sensor data for communicating with another device (eg, sprinkler pumps). , PH sensor, optical sensor, humidity sensor and at least one of their equivalents). On the other hand, when the communication circuit 160 is for the watering pump 120, the device interface 207 provides an interface to other onboard components (eg, a user interface including a light and a main button as described below). obtain.

Processor 205 can be embodied in a number of different ways. For example, the processor 205 can be used as a variety of processing means, such as one or more microprocessors and other processing elements, coprocessors, controllers, or, for example, integrated circuits such as ASICs (application specific integrated circuits), FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays). It can be embodied as various other computers or processors, including circuits. In an exemplary embodiment, processor 205 may be configured to execute instructions stored in memory 203, or may be accessible to processor 205. As described above, regardless of whether the processor 205 is composed of hardware or a combination of hardware and software, the processor 205 is configured according to the hardware and software, while performing the operation according to the embodiment of the present invention. It may represent a possible entity (eg, physically embodied as a circuit in the form of processing circuit 201). Thus, for example, if the processor 205 is embodied as an ASIC, FPGA, or equivalent, the processor 205 is specifically configured hardware for performing the operations described herein. obtain. Alternatively, as another example, if the processor 205 is embodied as an execution unit of a software instruction, the instruction may specifically configure the processor 205 to perform the operations described herein. ..

In an exemplary embodiment, processor 205 (or processing circuit 201) can be embodied as including communication circuit 160 or controlling communication circuit 160. Thus, in some embodiments, the processor 205 (or processing circuit 201) directs the communication circuit 160 to execute an instruction or algorithm that constitutes the processor 205 (or processing circuit 201) accordingly. It can be said that the corresponding corresponding functions are performed to generate each of the operations described in relation to the communication circuit 160 (and the corresponding distributed component with which the communication circuit 160 is associated). As an example, the communication circuit 160 of the sensor detects environmental parameters (eg, sensor data) and sends the sensor data to the gateway 40 (and finally to the app on the user terminal 50) via the first wireless link. Alternatively, it may be configured to report to storage in the cloud via network 60) or to the sprinkler pump 120. In some cases, the sensor communication circuit 160 may have a previous set of sensor data (eg, the magnitude of the previous sensor measurement) and a current set of sensor data (eg, the magnitude of the latest sensor measurement). It may be configured to determine the difference between. The amount of difference can then be used to determine if the sensor reports the current set of sensor data. If the difference is small (eg, less than the threshold amount), the sensor does not have to report a new value. However, if the difference is large enough (eg, greater than the threshold amount), the sensor may report a new value. Thus, the sensor communication circuit 160 may be configured to perform power saving techniques for reporting sensor data. The sensor communication circuit 160 also determines whether to report sensor data separately (or based on the criteria described above) on a given schedule or in response to a particular activity or event. ) Can be configured. When a trigger event (eg, temporal or behavior-based trigger) occurs, the sensor communication circuit 160 can determine the current sensor data and decide whether to report the sensor data.

The communication circuit 160 of the watering pump 120 may be configured to receive instructions from the gateway 30 about the operating mode of the watering pump 120, as defined by the app or by locally stored programming. For example, the gateway 40 receives a command from the user by the user terminal 50 as to in which operation mode the watering pump 120 wants the user to operate (eg, controlling the on / off cycle of the pump). obtain. In some exemplary embodiments, the user-selectable operating mode of the watering pump 120 may include, but is not limited to, intelligent mode, schedule mode, or manual mode. When the intelligent mode is selected by the user, the watering pump 120 can operate independently based on the programmed trigger. In some cases, the trigger may be sensor data received from the first sensor 140 or the second sensor 142. For example, the communication circuit 160 of the watering pump 120 turns on the watering pump 120 when sensor data within a specific range or threshold is received, or when sensor data exceeding a specific range or threshold is received. Can be programmed to provide water. Thus, in some exemplary embodiments, if the sensor data indicates that the soil moisture is below a given threshold, the watering pump 120 will allow water to be pumped to the sprinkler. It may be configured to energize the watering pump 120.

When the schedule mode is selected by the user, the operator may select a schedule in which the watering pump 120 can operate. For example, the user may select a particular time or number of days for the watering pump 120 to operate. When the manual mode is selected by the user, the watering pump 120 may only operate on the user-selected options on the user terminal 50 that direct the operation of the watering pump 120. Therefore, the user may decide to water the lawn at any time and may instruct the user terminal 50 to operate the watering pump 120. In some cases, the user may select multiple operating modes at once. For example, the user may send instructions to the watering pump 120 via the gateway 40 with respect to the schedule for the watering pump 120 to operate. However, in addition to this provided schedule, the user may also instruct the watering pump 120 to operate in intelligent mode at the same time. For example, the user may define a trigger in which the watering pump 120 can operate. These triggers can include, but are not limited to, soil moisture below or above a given threshold. Thus, the watering pump 120 may be configured to operate on schedule while operating in response to a predefined trigger via communication circuit 160. Even if the user chooses to operate the watering pump 120 in both intelligent and scheduled modes, the user may select the manual operating mode to operate the watering pump 120 whenever the user desires. The user may select this manual mode without affecting the already programmed intelligent mode and scheduled mode.

Furthermore, the communication circuit 160 of the watering pump 120 may be configured to receive instructions from the user (via the gateway 40) about the capacitance mode of the watering pump 120. Therefore, the gateway 40 not only determines in which operating mode the watering pump 120 the user desires to operate (eg, on / off cycle control), but also when the capacitance mode defines the pump speed and output pressure. The user terminal 50 may also receive instructions from the user as to in which capacity mode the watering pump 120 should be operated. The capacity modes of the watering pump 120 that may be selectable by the user include, but are limited to, 1) fine drip mode, 2) low volume mode, 3) saving mode, 4) automatic mode, or 5) garden mode. Not done. The fine drip mode may supply a small amount of water, for example, with a gentle drip or trickle pressure. The user may select a fine drip mode for irrigating or watering flowers or plants. The low volume mode may be suitable when only a small area is irrigated or sprinkled. The saving mode ensures that the watering pump 120 does not work while the shower, washing machine, dishwasher, or the like is operating in the house associated with the parcel, and in the home. It can be ensured that sufficient water pressure is maintained with both the watering pump 120. In the automatic mode, the communication circuit 160 of the watering pump 120 determines an appropriate amount of water to be supplied by the watering pump 120 based on the sensor data received from the first sensor 140 or the second sensor 142. Can be made possible. The garden mode may be selected when the garden, lawn, or flowerbed is desired to be completely soaked and full pump or line pressure is desired.

In some cases, the capacity mode may be selectable based on a particular area of lawn or plot. Furthermore, some of the capacitance modes may be selectable at the same time. For example, the user may choose by the user terminal 50 that the garden mode should be adopted for zone 1 of the parcel at 8:00 am on Saturday. For the sprayable period for Zone 1, the user may also select the saving mode as well as the garden mode. Therefore, if the washing machine is operating at 8:00 am on Saturday morning, the communication circuit 160 will be in garden mode until a washing machine outage is detected or a preset time delay elapses. It may be configured to delay the operation of the sprinkler pump 120. In another case, the user may be warned by the user terminal 50 that the garden mode has not been performed because it has been detected that the washing machine is in operation. Upon receiving this warning, the user may disable the saving mode and enter the garden mode. Also, in some cases, the user may choose when the garden mode should be rescheduled.

In a further exemplary embodiment, the communication circuit 160 of the watering pump 120 may also receive sensor data from the water source 100 by the level sensor 105. For example, if the water source 100 is a water reservoir / aquarium, the water reservoir / aquarium may have a level sensor 105 that detects the water level in the water reservoir / aquarium. Based on the detected water level, the watering pump 120 may be programmed to adjust the volume mode or mode of operation accordingly to ensure that a sufficient water supply is maintained in the reservoir / tank. .. For example, if the user chooses that garden mode should be used for Zone 1 every Monday to Friday at 8:00 am, the watering pump 120 is based on the data received from the water reservoir / tank water level sensor 105. It may be possible to determine that there will not be sufficient water supply to carry out the programmed schedule. Therefore, the communication circuit 160 may be configured to automatically adjust the schedule programmed to match the detected water level. In some cases, the user may be alerted or alerted by the user terminal 50 in order for the user to adjust the schedule accordingly for insufficient water volumes. For example, the communication circuit 160 of the watering pump 120 has only 50% of the water required for the operating mode or capacity mode selected by the user in the water tank / reservoir based on the data received from the level sensor 105. Can be determined. Therefore, the communication circuit 160 may automatically modify the operation of the sprinkler pump 120 to supply 50% less water than was intended to be supplied under the selected operating mode or capacitance mode. However, in other cases, the communication circuit 160 is configured to warn the user that there is not enough water to operate the watering pump 120 according to the selected operating mode or capacitance mode. Can be done. The user may then be able to choose how he wishes to modify the programming of the watering pump 120. For example, the user may be offered the option of reducing the amount of water planned to be supplied by the selected operating mode or volume mode by 50%, or in some cases the detected water level in the aquarium / reservoir. It may be possible for the user to modify the selected operation or volume to fit within the capacity of.

In some exemplary embodiments, the last received instruction regarding the operational or capacitive mode from the user may be stored locally in memory 203 of communication circuit 160. Therefore, if the communication circuit 160 is disconnected from the gateway 40, the communication circuit 160 may continue to adopt the last received instruction regarding the operating mode or the capacitive mode. In another exemplary embodiment, if the communication circuit 160 is disconnected from the gateway 40 or disconnected for longer than a preset time, then the communication circuit 160 is disconnected from the selected operating mode or capacitance. It may be configured to invalidate the last instruction received from the user regarding the mode and switch to the default setting. In some cases, the default setting may be intelligent operation mode or automatic capacity mode. Therefore, the communication circuit 160 determines an appropriate time for watering and an appropriate amount of water supplied by the watering pump 120 based on the sensor data received from the first sensor 140 or the second sensor 142. It will be. In any case, the default settings or the last received instruction (and any program related thereto) is stored locally in the communication circuit 160 so that the watering pump 120 operates regardless of the connection to the network 60. be able to.

The communication circuit 160 of the robot rover 15 may be configured to control the travel and operation of the robot rover 15. Further, the communication circuit 160 of the robot rover 15 allows the gateway 40 to participate in the modification of the operation schedule of the robot rover 15, or performs real-time control of various operations of the robot rover 15. Alternatively, it may be possible to allow the user to participate in modifying the schedule of operations of the robot rover 15 and to perform real-time control of various operations of the robot rover 15. In an exemplary embodiment, the app on the user terminal 50 adjusts the programmed watering schedule and the mowing schedule, or avoids collisions between the programmed watering schedule and the mowing schedule, or the programmed watering. It can be adopted to coordinate schedules and mowing schedules, and to avoid conflicts between programmed watering schedules and mowing schedules. Additional or alternative, when the operator modifies the operating mode of the watering pump 120, or manually controls one or more components, the app on user terminal 50 may perform scheduled or current operations. A warning can be provided to indicate that the proposed change to the mode can be problematic, or it can be prevented from making such a change. Thus, for example, when the robot rover 15 cuts grass in a region where the sensor indicates a low soil moisture value that triggers the operation of the watering pump 120, for example, by programming the watering pump 120, the robot rover 15 A warning may be provided indicating that the operation should be changed or that the operation of the watering pump 120 may be delayed.

In an exemplary embodiment, the electronically arranged component (eg, a component having a power supply 150) is further provided with a local manipulator 211 (eg, a button, knob or other control device). ) Can be included. In some cases, the local manipulator 211 may be provided to allow local manual setting of one or more characteristics of the watering pump 120. Thus, for example, the local actuator 211 can be used to determine at least one of pump output pressure, speed, capacitance mode, operating mode, and equivalents thereof. The local actuator 211 may trigger different functions by programming the processing circuit 201 for at least one of the corresponding different situations and operating methods. For example, certain operation of the local manipulator 211 may shift the corresponding device into pairing mode. Upon entering pairing mode, the device may be detectable by at least one of the gateway 40 and the other device for a given time. The app on the user terminal 50 can be used to detect a device in pairing mode, and when detected, the app can also use the device (eg, a first network of networks of arranged components). ) Can be used to pair with another device. The gateway 40 and the communication circuit 160 of the corresponding device may then be able to communicate with each other via a first wireless link, either continuously, event-driven, or on a schedule basis. Thus, for example, the first sensor 140 may be configured to provide sensor data to the watering pump 120 (eg, via the gateway 40). In some cases, the first sensor 140 may be paired with the watering pump 120 by a setup procedure and then communicate on schedule or based on activity-driven or event-driven. In some cases, a simple replacement or insertion of the battery to power on the device may be an additional or alternative way to enter pairing mode.

In some cases, a particular defined operation (or operation pattern) of the local actuator 211 may restore the device to factory settings. Therefore, the contents of the memory 203 may be erased or reset to the initial settings or initial state. Other features may be provided additionally or as an alternative. Also, some devices may have additional buttons or operable members.

Communication between the gateway 40 and the sensor or watering pump 120 can occur for pairing and to facilitate the operational activity in which the system 10 is finally configured. Thus, for example, the operator may use the app on the user terminal 50 to connect to the gateway 40 and, as described above, was placed as an option for interaction with the placed components. You may be provided with one or more control consoles or interface screens that provide at least one of the options for programming components. In some cases, system initialization can be facilitated by placing individual placed components (either in sequence or at the same time) in pairing mode. The arranged components are then discoverable via the first wireless link and can be added to the first network. When added to the first network, the placed components are considered to be at least one of the assets of the interactable / programmable first network and their equivalents. The arranged components can then be paired with each other and can be configured in at least one of individual functional performance and cooperative functional performance.

In an exemplary embodiment, the watering pump 120 may be paired with another second watering pump, the robot rover 15, and at least one of the first sensors 140. When the watering pump 120 is paired and connected to the first sensor 140, the operator is offered an option (eg, by the app) to select the desired operating or capacitance mode of the watering pump 120. Can have. When the intelligent operating mode is selected by the user, the watering pump 120 may therefore be instructed with respect to a particular stimulus that may be received from the first sensor 140 to trigger the operation of the watering pump 120. However, as mentioned above, the watering pump 120 schedules or triggers (eg, for example) the watering pump 120 to "ping" the first sensor 140 to initiate communication to receive sensor data, or to encourage communication (eg,). It can be provided (in memory 203). The watering pump 120 can be turned on or off based on the sensor data received (eg, whether a particular threshold parameter has been achieved).

When the watering pump 120 is paired and connected to the robot rover 15, automatic scheduling adjustment can be achieved at least with respect to ensuring that mowing and watering are not done in the same area at the same time. The app on the user terminal 50 may ensure that it is not possible to schedule mowing (or vice versa) during watering. However, given that the operator can control at least one of the watering pump 120 and the robot rover 15 to initiate the operation, the app on the user terminal 50 may further control the watering pump or robot in real time. Any attempt to initiate the operation of the rover 15 can be prevented when the other is operating in the same area.

When the watering pump 120 is paired and connected to another watering pump, the watering schedule, i.e., operation can be adjusted to control or prevent underpressure or excessive drainage of the water source 100. .. For example, if the watering pumps are connected to the same water source, the water supply may be inadequate to effectively charge both the water line 110 and the second water line at the same time. Therefore, by allowing a plurality of watering pumps to communicate with each other, one operation is communicated to the other (eg, via a gateway 40) so that the water source 100 and its supply of water can be effectively managed. obtain.

Thus, the arranged components of various exemplary embodiments can adapt to different situations or conditions. Further, the adaptive properties of the arranged components can be provided as described above as a programmable mechanism by which the operator can use the user terminal 50 to program modes, adjustable parameters, relationships or responses. In the context of some examples, the programmable mechanism is remotely programmable via the gateway 40 (ie, programmable from at least one of the app and the user terminal 50 that is remote from the programmed components). Should be understood. In another example, the adaptive properties of the placed components may be provided as a default mechanism. Therefore, the adaptability of the placed components depends on connectivity for remote programming (eg, connectivity dependence), or exists when there is no connection or when it responds to a disconnection. Or it can be either connectivity-independent (eg, default programming) that is set.

In some embodiments, the battery power level can be communicated to the gateway 40, and the signal strength value associated with the communication of at least one of the sensor and the watering pump can also be determined at the gateway 40. This information may be provided (along with sensor data) to the app on the user terminal 50 to warn the operator if the battery power is low or the signal strength is low. At least one of battery replacement and sensor rearrangement can then be performed to improve the situation. As mentioned above, in some cases, the sensor may respond adaptively to its surroundings to trigger a report. In an exemplary embodiment, the watering pump 120 may attempt to ping the first sensor 140 via the gateway 40 to trigger the reporting of sensor data. However, the first sensor 140 may be configured (eg, via communication circuit 160) to determine the amount of change in the required parameters before determining whether to respond to the ping. In some embodiments, it may require at least a certain amount or percentage (eg, 5%) change before the first sensor 140 reports sensor data by wireless transmission. Wireless transmission consumes more power than internal operation (for example, to determine the amount of change and current sensor data), thus saving some transmission cycles when there is little data change. Thereby, the battery life can be substantially extended. If the ping is sent and no response is received, the last value received may be replaced and communicated to the operator (eg, by the app).

The operator can turn on / off or activate at least one of the watering pump and the sensor by transmitting a command from the user terminal 50 through the gateway 40. For example, the activation message is to check if the devices are still responsive and active, or to request specific data from such components in real time, or to request specific data from such components, or such components. Can be used to initiate an action in. Further, in some cases, the operator may transmit a start-up signal or a setup signal to cause the corresponding device to emit a beacon for at least a preset amount of time (eg, 3 minutes). During this time, the device can be positioned and the operator can check the app to see the value of the signal strength detected through the gateway 40. The operator can therefore position the device in real time to ensure that the position where the device is currently located is a good position in terms of its ability to communicate with the gateway 40.

In some embodiments, the one or more arranged components may further include a frost warning function. In particular, it should be understood that freezing of water in the watering pump body can make the watering pump fragile, as the watering pump can typically have some residual water in it. Thus, the communication circuit 160 of one or more components (particularly the watering pump) may be configured to identify potential frost situations that could damage the watering pump or other watering equipment 20. In some embodiments, the watering pump 120 (and at least one of the sensors) should be avoided from damage when the temperature reaches a preset threshold distance from the freezing point (eg, 5 ° C or 10 ° F). A warning may be issued (eg, by an app on the user terminal 50) to alert the operator to that effect. The preset threshold value may be a factory setting or may be set by an operator. However, in any case, the ability to identify the current temperature situation to warn the operator of possible frost events is such that the placed component adapts to at least one of its surroundings and the situation. Another example of how it can be configured to be targeted (either by the operating program or by default).

In a further exemplary embodiment, the water source 100 (or watering pump 120 in some cases) may include a heating element 101 configured to heat the water to a temperature programmed by the user. For example, if a frost event is detected, the heating element 101 may heat the water to avoid freezing the components of the watering pump 120 or the water source 100. Also, for flowers or plants that require water at a particular temperature to enhance growth conditions, the heating element 101 may be configured to heat the water to a desired temperature programmed by the user.

Another example of the adaptability of the placed components relates to the inability to connect to the first network or the disconnection to the first network. For example, the last received operating or capacity mode can be maintained in the cloud, user terminal 50, or elsewhere, but in some cases the current operating or capacity mode (or at least one of them). Part) can be stored locally in the sprinkler pump. For example, the memory 203 may be configured to record at least the last watering schedule information adopted. Thus, if power is lost at gateway 40, or at another system component that makes it impossible to connect, the watering pump 120 stores at least information indicating its last watering schedule. Can be done. Thus, for example, if the watering pump 120 operates at 1300 and shuts down at 1305, if the network 60 connection for determining the watering schedule cannot be achieved, or if the connection is lost, the watering pump 120 previously Watering will be continued in the operation mode and capacity mode provided in. In some cases, if the communication circuit 160 of the watering pump 120 determines that the connection has been lost longer than the preset time interval, the communication circuit 160 disables the previously provided operating mode, capacitance mode. It can be configured to operate with the default settings as described above.

In a further exemplary embodiment, the arranged component communication circuit 160 may be able to determine the usage and uptime of each arranged component. For example, the communication circuit 160 may be configured to monitor and calculate the operating time of the watering pump 120 and the amount of water used thereby. Thus, the communication circuit 160 may be able to determine the amount of water used over a particular time interval, such as time, day, week, month or months (ie, seasons). These calculations may be provided to the user by the user terminal 50. Based on the calculations, the communication circuit 160 may determine the average operating time and usage of the watering pump 120 over a preset time interval. Using these calculated average uptime and usage values, the communication circuit 160 may be configured to monitor any further usage and uptime of any of the watering pumps 120. When the uptime or usage exceeds the average uptime and usage value, the communication circuit 160 is configured to send a warning to the user terminal 50 via the gateway 40 to indicate status detection of an abnormal situation. obtain.

A further example of the adaptability of the placed component relates to the ability of the placed component's communication circuit to determine the recommended maintenance interval for the placed component. For example, using the average operating time and usage of the watering pump 120 over a preset period calculated as described above, the communication circuit 160 of the watering pump 120 calculates the recommended maintenance interval of the watering pump 120. It can be possible. This recommended maintenance interval may be displayed on the user terminal. In some exemplary embodiments, the user may be able to disable this recommended maintenance interval. The user may be able to choose how he or she wants to calculate the maintenance interval (ie, after a particular time period or a particular calculated usage). In that case, the communication circuit 160 may be configured to warn the user when time has passed or when a specified usage has occurred. In addition, the user may be able to enter when the last maintenance was performed on the watering pump 120. By inputting the last maintenance performed, the communication circuit 160 may be configured to reset the maintenance interval and recalculate according to the above.

In some exemplary embodiments, the arranged component communication circuit 160 may be further configured to send a message to the user that the operation of the arranged component has begun. In other cases, the communication circuit 160 may be configured to send a message if the arranged component fails during operation or if an error occurs during operation. For example, if the communication circuit 160 detects a decrease in water pressure or a significant increase in flow rate, the communication circuit 160 may be configured to determine, for example, that the hose has ruptured. When such an event occurs, an error message or warning will be sent to the user by the user terminal 50.

If a failure or error occurs during the operation of the component in which it is located, the user terminal 50 may have the option of the user sending feedback to the manufacturer or supplier about the error or failure. In a further exemplary embodiment, the user terminal 50 is arranged by the manufacturer or supplier in response to receiving a request from the user for a failure or error in the placed component, or in response to receiving feedback. It may be configured to allow remote access to other components.

In one exemplary embodiment, the communication circuit 160 of the watering pump 120 may be specifically configured to receive data from the pump sensor assembly 155 of the watering pump 120 (see FIG. 2). The data received from the pump sensor assembly 155 may depend on the type of sensor employed in the sprinkler pump 120, however, the data may include environmental and operational parameters. Environmental parameters may include the temperature, quality, pH, or content of chalk or minerals or fertilizers of the water received in the sprinkler pump 120. Operating parameters can include, but are not limited to, flow rate, water volume and pump operating time. The data detected by the pump sensor assembly 155 may be made available to the user by the user terminal 50. In some cases, the user may have selected a threshold or range for pump sensor assembly data. For example, the user may have already entered by the user terminal 50 that the fertilizer content of water is within a certain range. Based on this input by the user, the communication circuit 160 may be configured to receive data from the pump sensor assembly 155 regarding the fertilizer content of the detected water. If the fertilizer content is above or below the threshold set by the user, the communication circuit 160 will automatically adjust the fertilizer provided to the water (as described in more detail below) or the user. Can be configured to warn the user that the fertilizer can be adjusted accordingly. For example, the water source 100 may include a fertilizer pump 103 (see FIG. 2) for distributing fertilizer into the water. Therefore, if the fertilizer content of the detected water is above or below a threshold set by the user, the communication circuit 160 directs the fertilizer pump 103 of the water source 100 to distribute the fertilizer according to its excess or deficiency. Can be configured to modify.

In some exemplary embodiments, the communication circuit 160 of the watering pump 120 may be further configured to detect an indicator of the required amount for filling a watering container such as a watering can. When the watering can is within a preset area of the watering pump 120, the communication circuit 160 is required to read an indicator of the amount of water to be distributed to the watering can (eg, RFID tag or other coding information) from the watering can. Can be configured in. For example, if the sprinkler can is programmed to contain 2 gallons of water, the communication circuit 160 may receive an instruction to fill the sprinkler can with 2 gallons of water. However, in some cases, the sprinkler can may not be completely empty and simply needs to be refilled. Therefore, the sprinkler can include a level sensor that detects and measures the water level or amount in the sprinkler can. This measured water level or amount can be read via the communication circuit 160 of the watering pump 120. Based on the reading, the communication circuit 160 determines that the sprinkler only needs to receive one gallon to fill the sprinkler can.

The watering pump 120 described above may take different physical forms. However, an exemplary structure for embodying the watering pump 120 can be a reciprocating pump or a rotary pump. Thus, for example, the watering pump 120 may include a centrifugal pump with an impeller. The watering pump 120 may include a housing body and a first faucet adapter. In some cases, the first faucet adapter may be configured to relay with the faucet of a pressurized water system (eg, water source 100). In another exemplary embodiment, the watering pump 120 may also include a second faucet adapter that may be configured to relay with the faucet of the water vessel system. However, in a further exemplary embodiment in which the watering pump 120 includes both a first faucet adapter and a second faucet adapter, the first faucet adapter may be configured to relay to a fresh water source, the first. The faucet adapter of 2 may be configured to relay with water having a fertilizer additive (as described below). In some cases, the sprinkler assembly may be integrated into the housing body 200 of the watering pump 120. The sprinkler assembly may be operable in a manner similar to that described herein. However, other pump structures can also be adopted.

In some cases, the watering pump 120 may also include a pump sensor assembly 155 as described above. The pump sensor assembly 155 may include a sensor for detecting and measuring both environmental and operating factors. Environmental factors can include, but are not limited to, water temperature, pH, mineral content, total dissolved solids or chalk content sensors. Operating factors may include, but are not limited to, flow rate, water volume, or pump operating time.

In some exemplary embodiments, the watering pump 120 may include a filter for removing some of the solids or minerals from the water. In some cases, the filter may include a filter sensor. The filter sensor may be configured to detect the stage of the filter. For example, if the filter is almost clogged, the sensor may be configured to detect a clogged situation.

As mentioned above, the arranged components (eg, the watering pump 120) can be largely controlled by the user by the user terminal 50. As described above, the user terminal 50 can be a mobile device (eg, a smartphone) or a fixed terminal (eg, a PC). However, the user terminal 50 can also be at least one other device of tablets, laptops and their equivalents. In either case, the user terminal 50 may be configured to provide a simple and intuitive interface that allows the operator to control the operation of the system 10. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a part of the components of the user terminal 50 that can configure the user terminal to provide an application for controlling the system 10.

As shown in FIG. 4, the user terminal 50 may resemble at least one of the forms and functions of the processing circuit 201, the processor 205, the memory 203, and the device interface 207 described above, the processing circuit 310. , The processor 312, the memory 314, and the device interface 320. The particular structure, form, and dimensions of such components can vary. However, the details of these components will not be described in detail again, as the general functions may be similar. Instead, it should be understood that these components are generally similar, except for specific composition, content and structural changes. As shown in FIG. 4, the user terminal 50 may further include a user interface 330 and an operation manager 340.

The user interface 330 (if implemented) receives instructions for user input in the user interface 330 or provides the user with an audible output, a visual output, a mechanical output, or other output. Alternatively, it may receive instructions for user input in the user interface 330 and communicate with a processing circuit 310 that provides the user with an audible output, a visual output, a mechanical output, or another output. Thus, the user interface 330 may include, for example, a display (eg, a touch screen display), one or more buttons or keys (eg, a function button or keyboard), and other input or output mechanisms (eg, a microphone, etc.). It may include at least one of a mouse, a speaker, a cursor, a joystick, a light, and at least one of their equivalents). The user interface 330 responds to various trigger conditions detected (eg, by the sensor device 30 or other components) to give the user or operator at least one of a warning, an alarm, and a notification. Can be configured to provide. For example, the watering pump 120 may include a sensor that detects when the watering pump 120 is damaged, tampered with or stolen. Stimuli associated with system failure, equipment damage or tampering, equipment theft and other components can also be defined as triggers for the generation of at least one of warnings, alarms, and notifications. In some cases, the user interface 330 depends on the uptime or usage of the watering pump 120 being out of the recommended range, or depending on the system components having scheduled or operational conflicts. It may be configured to generate at least one of such warnings, alerts, and notifications. Notifications may also be provided for at least one of the general situation, the current state, and the equivalent. At least one of the warnings, alarms, and notifications may be generated by light, sound, visual display, or other device that is connected to or may be part of Operation Manager 340. In some cases, notifications may be provided by text message or email. Furthermore, the user interface 330 may be configured to allow the user to outsource the operation of the system to a second user over a preset period of time. For example, if the user is on vacation or out of town, the second user may be granted permission to control the system through the user interface of the second user.

In an exemplary embodiment, the processing circuit 310 is configured to perform at least one of data processing, control function execution, and other processing and management services according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. obtain. As described above, it will be understood that the processing circuit 310 may be configured to control the operation manager 340 or may be embodied as the operation manager 340. The operation manager 340 receives the sensor information from at least one of the sensor device 30 and the sprinkler device 20, and provides the information to be provided to the owner / operator and the sensor device 30 and the sprinkler device 20. It may be configured to make a decision regarding at least one of the instructions to be made. The processing circuit 310 may, in some cases, process the status information received from the sensor device 30 and compare the status information with the growth status parameters stored in memory 314 for a given zone.

In an exemplary embodiment, the memory 314 is associated with information, data, applications, instructions, or the like, which allows the operation manager 340 to perform various functions according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. It can be configured to store the equivalent. For example, memory 314 can be configured to buffer input data for processing by processor 312. In addition or alternatives, memory 314 can be configured to store instructions for execution by processor 312. As yet another alternative, memory 314 may include one or more databases capable of storing various data sets in response to input from the sensor network. Among those stored in memory 314, a plurality of applications may be stored for execution by processor 312 to perform functions associated with each application. In some cases, the application may include an application for generating a control console for providing options to control the system. In some cases, the application is an application for receiving information about component activity / status, environmental parameters, operating or capacity mode, device pairing, and at least one of their equivalents. Also, or alternative, may be included. The information allows the operation manager 340 to define a response to the information (eg, based on predefined programming or user input). Information / parameters can be entered by the operator, received from placed components, or extracted from a database or source accessible over the Internet based on the entry of plant vegetation identities within a given zone. Or can be obtained. The operation manager 340 can therefore not only provide a relay mechanism for controlling the operation of the watering pump 120, but the operation manager 340 can be embodied in the network 60. In the case where the operation manager 340 is embodied in a network, the operation manager 340 may be configured to extract information / parameters from a plurality of users across a preset area such as a state or country. Information / parameters may include data extracted from the arranged components of multiple users. For example, water shortages can be detected in the user's area based on data extracted from several user's placed components. Therefore, if the user chooses to be aware of water shortages in his area, the operation manager 340 may be configured not to allow the user to select programming options that may require large amounts of water.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of an operation that can be facilitated by the operation manager 340 according to an exemplary embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the watering pump can be initially off, but the user terminal 50 can provide instructions for the operator to initiate the operation of FIG. 5 control console (or set of controls). Console) can be presented. Instructions may be provided in operation 400 to turn on the watering pump 120 (ie, by manual mode selection). In response, in operation 401, a signal relating to the capacitance mode may be received. When the pump is turned on and a capacitance mode signal is received, in operation 403 a determination may be made as to whether there is sufficient water capacity to perform the capacitance mode. If not sufficient, the user may be prompted to change the volume mode selection to stay within the detected volume of water. When the selection to ensure sufficient water capacity is made, in operation 402, a determination is made as to whether the robot rover 15 is operating in the area (or in all). When the robot rover 15 is in operation, an alarm may be issued to the user interface 330 of the user terminal 50 in the operation 404. At operation 406, the operator can then determine whether to allow the watering pump 120 to operate. If the operator decides not to operate the watering pump 120, the flow returns to the initial state. If the operator decides to enable the operation of the watering pump 120 for the time being (eg, disabling or ignoring the alarm), in operation 408 the operator may be prompted to enter the operating period of the watering pump 120. Note that the operator may also have the option of canceling to return to the initial state instead of entering the period at this time.

When the period is input, in operation 410, the user terminal 50 may issue an activation signal to the watering pump 120 to instruct the operation. The watering pump 120 may remain in the operating state until the watering pump 120 can be stopped or the period for the flow to return to the initial state expires. However, at operation 412, the operator can also interrupt the command to manually stop the watering pump. Then, in operation 414, it may be determined whether the manual stop is before or overlaps with the scheduled start time. If this manual stop (off-schedule) specifies an end time that is before the next scheduled start time, then in operation 416 the schedule is maintained and in operation 420 the watering pump 120 is stopped so that the flow is scheduled. It is possible to return to the initial state so that it can be operated again according to the above. However, if the manual stop corresponds to the scheduled start time, the schedule is skipped in operation 418 and the watering pump 120 is stopped in operation 420, whereby the operation is ready again when the next scheduled operation time arrives. The flow can return to the initial state as it is done. On the other hand, in the operation 422, when the scheduled operation time arrives from the initial state, the watering pump 120 may operate at the corresponding time in the operation 410, respond to the lapse of the period in the operation 424, and the watering pump 120 may be stopped. Similarly, in operation 426, when the operation is triggered by the sensor data from the initial state, the watering pump 120 operates in operation 410, and after a preset period in operation 424 elapses, or in operation 428, the condition. Can be stopped if is cleared. The operator can also manually operate or stop the watering pump 120 by operating a local button or knob on the watering pump 120. When a manual (local) operation is performed, the above-mentioned operation is executed as it is, and the opening maintenance time (or the next programmed opening) can be again controlled by the schedule information input to the operation manager 340.

In some cases, the watering pump 120 may include a restricted user interface in the form of a main button (or knob) and light assembly provided on its front panel. The light assembly may include three LEDs, which can represent red, green and yellow by lighting or blinking. LEDs can be useful to provide status information associated with an attempt to pair a watering pump with another device, battery status, pump status and at least one of their equivalents.

In an exemplary embodiment, the user interface 330 of the user terminal 50 is first controlled to add equipment to the first network so that they are discovered via the gateway 40 and recognized by the operation manager 340. Can be adopted to provide console options. When the pairing mode is initiated for the watering pump 120 (eg, by inserting the battery into the arranged components, by pressing the reset button, or by selecting an option on the user terminal 50), The watering pump 120 is discovered via the gateway 40 so that the information representing the discovered watering pump 120 can be displayed in the user interface 330, and the gateway 40 user-operates the identification information of the discovered watering pump 120. Can communicate with manager 340. A determination of whether pairing is possible is then made. The user interface 330 of the user terminal 50 may also provide an indicator of detection of the watering pump 120, or may provide an alternative. If the gateway 40 cannot find the watering pump 120, it may generate an LED illumination output.

If the gateway 40 is discovered and can be paired with a watering pump, the LED illumination output in pairing mode can be converted to a signal intensity indicator. Similar instructions can be provided again at the user terminal 50.

FIG. 6 includes FIGS. 6A-6D and shows some examples of interface screens or control consoles that may be provided by the operation manager 340 in some embodiments. FIG. 8A shows a basic start screen showing the home page 600 of the application. The app may display the general watering pump data section 610, which may display the uptime and usage data associated with the watering pump 120. In some cases, the app may also display device status information 620. The status information 620 of the device may indicate each device of the first network, along with status information corresponding to, for example, battery status, operating mode, operating status, and at least one of their equivalents. In an exemplary embodiment, options may also be provided in the box 630 to add new equipment. In some cases, options may be provided in Box 640 for entrusted operations of the system to a second user.

In some cases, selecting the watering pump data section 610 (ie, individual sensors) may provide various individual or aggregated screens showing the status of each sensor. FIG. 6B shows an exemplary pump status screen 650 that can be accessed in response to the selection of pump data section 610. In some embodiments, the pump status screen 650 may include a current pump data section 660 that may display current pump data. Historical pump data section 670 may also be provided to show historical data over a given time interval (which may be user selectable). The configuration adjustment option 680 may also be provided to allow the operator to select various pump settings. Pump settings may relate to selecting at least one of operating or capacitive modes, pairing activity, signal strength, battery level and equivalent.

FIG. 6C shows an exemplary device status screen 700 that can be accessed in response to the current selection of pump data 660. In some embodiments, selecting the current pump data will result in a graphical representation of the water usage for the day in section 720. In section 740, the user may select a statistical option to obtain a detailed breakdown of water usage associated with that day.

FIG. 6D shows an exemplary device status screen 750 that can be accessed in response to a selection of historical pump data 670. In some embodiments, a graph representation of last week's water usage appears, for example, in section 770 when selecting historical pump data. In section 790, the user may select a statistical option to obtain a detailed breakdown of water usage associated with the week. At selection 800, the user may select a data range option to define the exact range in which historical pump data should be collected. Therefore, if the user wants to see last month's data usage, the user can adjust the range of days accordingly.

Embodiments of the present invention can therefore be implemented using one or more devices, such as those shown in FIGS. 1-6. Thus, the system of the exemplary embodiment is configured to include a sensor device that includes one or more sensors located in a parcel of land and that are located in the parcel and selectively water the parcel. It may include a sprinkler and a sensor device and a gateway configured to provide communication with the sprinkler. The sprinkler may include a water source and a sprinkler pump operably connected to the water line to alternate between connecting the water source to the water line and separating the water source from the water line. In an exemplary embodiment, the watering pump comprises two water inlets (eg, an inlet for fresh water and an inlet for reservoir water, or an inlet for normal water and an inlet for water containing fertilizer). obtain. The sprinkler pump further includes a pump sensor assembly configured to detect environmental and operating parameters, as well as a processing circuit configured to operate the pump based on the detected environmental and operating parameters. obtain. In some embodiments, the watering pump may be configured to turn on or off for a preset time interval. Alternatively or additionally, the watering pump may have a sensor for recognizing possible theft or tampering. Alternatively or additionally, the watering pump may be configured to read a code or tip on the watering can that allows the watering pump to fill the watering can with a preset amount of water. In some embodiments, the watering pump may have a housing that includes a water sprinkler (eg, a contour cultivation sprinkler).

In an exemplary embodiment, the gateway comprises a first network that includes at least a sprinkler and a sensor device and a second network that allows the user terminal to wirelessly communicate with the gateway. In a further exemplary embodiment, the operating parameter may include any one of water volume, pump operating time, or flow rate. Events such as hose rupture can be recognized by detecting water volume, pump operating time, or flow rate. Environmental parameters can include any one of water temperature, pH, chalk content, mineral content, or total dissolved solids. Water turbidity can also be detected by detecting the total dissolved solids, chalk content, or mineral content of water. Alternatively or additionally, by detecting the water temperature, the watering pump may be able to warn the user of a frozen state to prevent damage to the watering pump.

The watering pump may further include a filter for removing solids, chalk, or minerals from the water. The filter may include a sensor for detecting a clogged state of the filter. Alternatively or additionally, the watering pump may further include a heating element, the heating element heating the water to a preset temperature, depending on the temperature of the water received from the water source below a preset threshold. It is configured to do. In another exemplary embodiment, the water source may include a heating element and the heating element is configured to heat the water to a preset temperature in response to a temperature of the water that is below a preset threshold. ..

The treatment circuit may also be configured to determine the recommended maintenance interval for the watering pump. Alternatively or additionally, the maintenance interval may be based on a preset period of time, water volume, or pump uptime. In other cases, the maintenance interval can be a calculated interval based on the last maintenance entered by the user. In a further exemplary embodiment, the maintenance interval may be based on the time interval or water volume entered by the first user. The processing circuit may also be configured to detect loss of connection with a gateway or sensor and associated time. In the case of disconnection, the processing circuit of the watering pump may be configured to store all operating modes, capacitance modes, or any other information received from the user by the user terminal.

In some cases, the water source may include a level sensor that detects the amount of water in the water source. The water source can be a water tank / reservoir, and the amount of water in the water tank / reservoir detected by the level sensor calculates how much water can be used by the sprinkler pump 120 when performing the operation mode, capacity mode. Can be used to In addition, the amount of water detected by the level sensor can be used to adopt an efficient watering schedule for the amount of water in the aquarium / reservoir. Alternatively or additionally, the water source may include a fertilizer pump that allows the user to distribute the desired amount of fertilizer to the water. Alternatively or additionally, the watering pump may include a knob that allows a preset amount of water to be distributed from the water source. Alternatively or additionally, the watering pump may pressurize the water in the water source, and the watering pump may have a motor with variable speed.

The processing circuit is further configured to receive an operation mode instruction from the gateway, determine the operation mode of the watering pump based on the operation mode instruction received from the gateway, and instruct the watering pump to operate according to the operation mode. obtain. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the processing circuit further receives a capacity mode instruction from the gateway, water source sensor data indicating the amount of water in the water source, and capacity mode instructions and water source sensor data from the gateway. Based on this, it is determined whether or not the sprinkler pump can operate according to the capacity mode instruction received, and if the processing circuit determines that the sprinkler pump can operate, watering is performed to operate according to the capacity mode instruction. It can be configured to direct the pump. In some exemplary embodiments, the user terminal may include an interface that displays the status of the watering pump. In a further exemplary embodiment, the user terminal may include an interface for displaying the amount of water used by the watering pump.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions described herein come to mind to those skilled in the art in which these inventions are involved, while benefiting from the teachings presented in the aforementioned description and related drawings. There will be. Therefore, it is understood that the present invention should not be limited to the specified embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included in the appended claims. Should be. Also, the aforementioned description and related drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments in the context of certain exemplary combinations of elements and / or functions, although different combinations of elements and / or functions are attached. It should be understood that alternative embodiments can be provided without departing from the claims. In this regard, for example, different combinations of elements and / or functions other than those explicitly described above may also be described as part of the appended claims. Where benefits, benefits or solutions to a problem are described herein, such benefits, benefits and / or solutions are not necessarily all exemplary embodiments, but some exemplary. It should be understood that it may be applicable to various embodiments. Therefore, any benefit, benefit or solution described herein should not be considered material, necessary or essential to any embodiment or what is claimed herein. Although certain terms have been adopted herein, they are used only in a general and descriptive sense, not for limited purposes.

Claims (21)

A sensor device (30), including one or more sensors (140, 142), provided in a parcel of land.
A watering device (20) provided in the compartment and configured to selectively spray water in the compartment.
With the user terminal (50)
A gateway (40) configured to communicate with the sensor device (30), the watering device (20), and the user terminal (50).
In the system (10) equipped with
The water sprinkler (20) alternately connects the water source (100) to the water line (110) and disconnects the water source (100) from the water line (110). ) And the sprinkler pump (120) operably connected to the water line (110).
A pump sensor assembly (155) configured to detect environmental and operational parameters, and
A communication circuit (160) that includes an antenna that allows the watering pump (120) to communicate with the gateway (40).
With
The communication circuit (160) is configured to monitor and calculate the operating time of the watering pump (120) and the amount of water used thereby (10). The system (10) of claim 1, wherein the communication circuit (160) is configured to determine the amount of water used over a particular time interval. The system (10) of claim 2, wherein the particular time interval is hours, days, weeks, months or months. The communication circuit (160) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the communication circuit (160) is configured to determine the average operating time and usage of the watering pump (120) over a preset time interval. System (10). The communication circuit (160) is configured to notify the user of the operation time of the watering pump (120) and the calculation result of the water consumption by the user terminal (50). The system (10) according to the first paragraph. The user terminal (50) is configured to be able to provide a plurality of interface screens (600,650; 700,750), and the status of the watering pump (120) and the amount of water used by the watering pump (120). The system (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising an interface (330) for displaying at least one of the above. The plurality of interface screens (600,650; 700,750) further include a device status screen (700), which section (720) displays a graph of water usage for the day. The system (10) according to claim 6, which includes. The device status screen (700) includes a section (740) configured to allow the user to select a statistical option to obtain a detailed breakdown of water usage associated with the day. 7. The system (10) according to 7. The plurality of interface screens (600, 650; 700, 750) include a pump status screen (650) and a device status screen (750).
The pump status screen (650) includes a historical pump data section (670) configured to show historical data over a given time interval.
The device status screen (750) is configured to be accessible in response to the selection of the history pump data section (670) and is configured to display a graph of last week's water usage (770). The system (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the system (10) includes. The device status screen (750) further includes a section (790) configured to allow the user to select statistical options to obtain a detailed breakdown of water usage associated with the week. Item 9 (10). The gateway (40) wirelessly communicates with the gateway (40) by the user terminal (50) and a first network including at least the watering device (20) and the sensor device (30). The system (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, which comprises a second network that enables it. The water source (100) and the water line (110) are used to alternately connect the water source (100) to the water line (110) and disconnect the water source (100) from the water line (110). ) And a sprinkler pump (120) that is operably connected to
A pump sensor assembly (155) configured to detect environmental and operational parameters, and
A communication circuit (160) including an antenna for allowing the watering pump (120) to communicate with the gateway (40).
With
The communication circuit (160) is configured to monitor and calculate the operating time of the watering pump (120) and the amount of water used thereby, the watering pump (120). The watering pump (120) of claim 12, wherein the communication circuit (160) is configured to determine the amount of water used over a particular time interval. The watering pump (120) of claim 13, wherein the particular time interval is hours, days, weeks, months or months. The communication circuit (160) according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the communication circuit (160) is configured to determine the average operating time and usage of the watering pump (120) over a preset time interval. Watering pump (120). The communication circuit (160) is configured to notify the user of the calculation result of the operating time of the sprinkler pump (120) and the amount of water used thereby by the user terminal (50), according to any one of claims 12 to 15. The sprinkler pump (120) according to one item. The user terminal (50) is configured to be able to provide a plurality of interface screens (600,650; 700,750), and the status of the watering pump (120) and the amount of water used by the watering pump (120). The watering pump (120) according to claim 16, comprising an interface (330) for displaying at least one of the above. The plurality of interface screens (600,650; 700,750) further include a device status screen (700), which section (720) displays a graph of water usage for the day. The sprinkler pump (120) according to claim 17, which includes. The device status screen (700) includes a section (740) configured to allow the user to select a statistical option to obtain a detailed breakdown of water usage associated with the day. 18. The sprinkler pump (120). The plurality of interface screens (600, 650; 700, 750) include a pump status screen (650) and a device status screen (750).
The pump status screen (650) includes a historical pump data section (670) configured to show historical data over a given time interval.
The device status screen (750) is configured to be accessible in response to the selection of the history pump data section (670) and is configured to display a graph of last week's water usage (770). The sprinkler pump (120) according to any one of claims 17 to 19, which comprises. The device status screen (750) further includes a section (790) configured to allow the user to select statistical options to obtain a detailed breakdown of water usage associated with the week. Item 20. The sprinkler pump (120).

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