Abstract:
An irrigation tracking and control system includes a control module attached an irrigation system, with a GPS receiver in the module for tracking movement of the distal end of the irrigation system. A microprocessor in the module processes position information and status information regarding the irrigation system and transmits the same via a cellular telephone network to a web server hosting a website. The information is downloaded to the website, and predetermined consumers may access the information on the website.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/645,946 filed Jan. 24, 2005. 
    
    
     STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
     (Not Applicable) 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
     (Not applicable) 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to irrigation systems, and more particularly to an improved apparatus and system for tracking the position and status of an irrigation system, and providing this information to a consumer in an easily accessed format. 
     (2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97, 1.98 
     Center pivot and lateral irrigation systems are in widespread use throughout the United States and the world, to assist farmers in the growing of crops. Typically, these irrigation systems include an elongated water distribution pipe with sprinkler heads spaced therealong to broadcast water. The distribution pipe is supported on a series of wheeled towers, to enable the pipe to be moved through a field. In the case of a center pivot system, one end of the pipe is connected at a central pivot point, to broadcast the water in a generally circular pattern. 
     Many such irrigation systems are provided with electronic controls and a microprocessor, to operate the system and control a variety of variable parameters. For example, the application rate can be controlled, or the system may be turned on, off or reversed at period intervals. 
     While current systems have the ability to permit control and variation of the irrigation of fields, they do not currently allow the consumer to quickly and easily monitor the status of the system. For example, it is desirable to determine the amount of water applied on a field over a period of time, to calculate a “history” of that particular field. In addition, it would be valuable to be able to alert the consumer that the system has been shut down, or activated, without requiring the consumer to physically view the system. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved irrigation tracking and control system. 
     A further object is to provide an irrigation tracking and control system that can alert a consumer as to the status of the system, via pager, cell phone or on a website. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an irritation tracking and control system that provides the consumer with an easily accessible report of the history of selected irrigation systems. 
     These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     The irrigation tracking and control system of the present invention includes a control module attached to the irrigation system with a GPS receiver for tracking movement of the distal end of the irrigation system. A cellular modem in the control module is used to transmit position information at periodic intervals to a web server hosting a website. The information is downloaded to the website, and predetermined consumers may access the information on the website. A water pressure sensor detects the presence and absence of water pressure at a sprinkler head on the irrigation system or a current sensor senses current for the system to be able to move or not move, and sends a signal to a microprocessor in the control module upon the occurrence of a change of condition of the irrigation system. This signal is then transmitted via cellular modem to the website for further distribution as determined by the particular consumer. Further distribution can include transmission of an alarm via e-mail, landline telephone, or as a text message to a cell phone. The system also includes the capability of a consumer shutting down the irrigation system by entering a command on the user&#39;s computer, which is then transmitted via the website and thence the cellular phone network to the control module in the irrigation system. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which similar or corresponding parts are identified with the same reference numeral throughout the several views, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an elevational view of one end of an irrigation system, with the control module of the tracking and monitoring system of the present invention thereon; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged elevational view of the control module; and 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the tracking and monitoring system of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , the tracking and monitoring system of the present invention is designated generally at  10 , and includes a control module  12  mounted on a conventional irrigation system  14 . It should be noted that irrigation system  14  may be of any conventional type, including a lateral system or a center pivot system. In the present disclosure, a center pivot will be shown and described. 
     Irrigation system  14  includes an elongated water distribution pipe  16  extending from a center pivot (not shown) to outward end  16   a . A series of sprinkler heads  18  are mounted on pipe  16  along the length thereof, and in some cases, an end gun  20  is installed at the distal end  16   a  of pipe  16  to water corners and other non-circular areas of the field (designated generally at  22 ). A series of support towers  24  are mounted to pipe  16  and have a drive wheel  26  thereon to move pipe  16  over field  22  and distribute water in a predetermined pattern. 
     Control module  12  is shown in more detail in  FIG. 2 , and includes a hollow housing  28  with an access opening or operable door. A solar panel  30  is mounted in a generally horizontal orientation on top of housing  28 , to provide electrical power to charge a 12-Volt SLA battery  32  within housing  28 . A GPS antenna and cellular telephone antenna combination  34  are mounted adjacent solar panel  30  outside housing  28 , and are connected to a CPU  36  within housing  28 . CPU  36  includes a microprocessor  36   a , a GPS receiver  36   b , and a cellular modem transceiver  36   c  for sending and receiving data over a cellular telephone network. CPU  36  is powered by battery  32 . It should be noted that power for CPU  36  might be alternatively supplied by the irrigation system itself, rather than independently from solar panels  30 . 
     Referring once again to  FIG. 1 , housing  28  of control module  12  is attached to pipe  16  proximal the distal end  16   a  of pipe  16 . This attachment may be accomplished in a number of ways, but preferably is with a band clamp  38 , which may be removed and replaced, making housing  28  removable from irrigation system  14 , as desired. 
     A water pressure sensor  40  is mounted on irrigation system  14  in engagement with a sprinkler head  18 , to detect the presence or absence of water pressure in the sprinkler head, and thereby determine the state of irrigation system  14  as “on” or “off”. Sensor  40  is connected to the CPU  36  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) via conductor  42 . A wire pair  44  extends from CPU  36  and extends the length of the pipe  16  to the control box for the irrigation system (not shown) for remote relay shutdown of the irrigation system  14 . 
       FIG. 1  shows an optional extension post  46  mounted separate but proximal to control module  12 . Extension post  46  may be used to support the solar panel  30 ′ and or GPS and cellular antenna combination  34 ′ (instead of directly on housing  28  as shown in  FIG. 2 ). It should be noted that, in use, if using solar power, there is only one set of solar panels  30  or  30 ′ and antennae  34  or  34 ′, although two are shown in the drawings. If extension post  46  is used, then the solar panel  30  and/or antennae  34  are moved from housing  28  to extension post  46 . A pair of wires  48   a  and  48   b  is provided to connect the solar panel  30 ′ and antennae set  34  to control unit  12 , if post  46  is used. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a schematic diagram shows the general method of operation of the system  10 . Each user of the system is provided with hardware (control module  12 ), which is mounted on the user&#39;s irrigation system, and software for the user&#39;s computer  50 . In operation, the GPS satellites  52  send signals to the GPS receiver  36   b  in control module  12 . This information is processed by microprocessor  36   a , and the exact location of the GPS receiver is determined, thereby establishing the location towards the end of the irrigation system. 
     This location information is then transmitted via the cellar modem transceiver  36   c  to the cellular telephone network  54 , which in turn transmits the data over the Internet to be loaded on a website which is accessed by the user&#39;s computer  50 . Box  56  in  FIG. 3  shows a screen display from the website, with a map of the field  22  in which the user&#39;s irrigation system is located. Data representing the location of the GPS receiver at periodic intervals are displayed as points  58  on the map. Additional information may also be displayed, such as the status of the irrigation system (“on” or “off”) and the history of the location and status of the irrigation system. Other information, from additional sensors not discussed herein, may also be displayed. 
     Tracking and control system  10  is also programmed to enable an alarm to be sent to the user upon the occurrence of an event—such as the water pressure in an irrigation system being “off”. The detection of such an event by a sensor on the irrigation system would cause the sensor to send a signal to the microprocessor  36   a , which in turn would transmit a signal via the cellular telephone transceiver to the Internet website. The alarm is then directed by the instruction so the user: (a) to the user&#39;s computer as a screen display, (b) to the user&#39;s e-mail as an e-mail message, or (c) to the user&#39;s cell phone  60  as a text message  62 . 
     An additional capability of the software is the ability for the user to control any of the user&#39;s irrigation systems by the sending of a command from the user&#39;s computer  50 . This command is then transmitted to the website, which in turn transmits the command over the cellular telephone network  54  to the cellular modem transceiver  36   c  in the control module  12 . The microprocessor  36   a  in control module  12  then sends a command to the irrigation system control box, to shut down the irrigation system  14 . 
     Whereas the invention has been shown and described in connection with the preferred embodiments thereof, many modifications, substitutions and additions may be made which are within the intended broad scope of the appended claims.