EP0202847A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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System and method for Scheduling irrigation
Assignee: Standard Oil Co
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Filing: 1986-05-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-05-13
Abstract
Abstract @ The system and method for scheduling irrigation of an agricultural area in which a crop is being grown, are primarily based on the measurement of actual plant responses to soil water deficits for efficient and effective irrigation. The system and method are characterized by plural sensors (10) for sensing a plurality of parameters related to the agricultural area, including crop canopy temperature (13); from which the water stress condition of the crop can be determined, and for generating sensor data respectively representative of the sensed parameters; an electronic device (12) operatively connected to the sensors (10) for controllably receiving the sensor data from the sensors and deriving therefrom irrigation instructions dependent at least in part on a determination from such data of the actual water stress condition of the crop; and an output device (12) operatively connected to the electronic device for outputting the irrigation instructions for controlling irrigation of the agricultural area in accordance therewith. The system is embodied in a portable unit (24) which greatly facilitates the collection of data and provides immediate anaylsis of such data and instructions to irrigate when needed.
Inventors
- 👤 Bronson Gardner
- 👤 Melvin Keener
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 01:30
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G25/00; A01G25/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A system for- scheduling irrigation of an agricultural area in which a crop is being grown, comprising: sensor means for sensing a plurality of parameters related to the agricultural area, including crop canopy temperature, from which the water stress condition of the crop can be determined, and for generating sensor data respectively representative of the sensed parameters; electronic means operatively connected to said sensor means for controllably receiving the sensor data from said sensor means and deriving therefrom irrigation instructions dependent at least in part on a determination from such data of the water stress condition of the crop; and output means operatively connected to said electronic means for outputting such irrigation instructions for controlling irrigation of the agricultural area in accordance therewith.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
123 words
A system for- scheduling irrigation of an agricultural area in which a crop is being grown, comprising: sensor means for sensing a plurality of parameters related to the agricultural area, including crop canopy temperature, from which the water stress condition of the crop can be determined, and for generating sensor data respectively representative of the sensed parameters; electronic means operatively connected to said sensor means for controllably receiving the sensor data from said sensor means and deriving therefrom irrigation instructions dependent at least in part on a determination from such data of the water stress condition of the crop; and output means operatively connected to said electronic means for outputting such irrigation instructions for controlling irrigation of the agricultural area in accordance therewith.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
21 words
A system as set forth in claim I, wherein said sensor means includes an infrared thermometer for sensing crop canopy temperature.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said sensor means further includes means for sensing relative humidity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said sensor means further includes means for sensing incident solar radiation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said sensor means further includes means for sensing incident solar radiation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electronic means includes a programmable computer for analyzing and deriving from the sensor data irrigation instructions according to predetermined decision criteria for the crop being grown.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
31 words
A system as set forth in claim I, further comprising operator input means operatively connected to said electronic means for selectively controlling the receipt of sensor data from said sensor means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said sensor means includes an infrared thermometer for sensing crop canopy temperature, and said electronic means includes means responsive to an input from said operator input means for effecting receipt of a canopy temperature measurement from said infrared thermometer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
84 words
A system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said sensor means further includes solar radiation sensor means for sensing incident solar radiation, and said electronic means includes means for effecting receipt of a solar radiation measurement for each canopy temperature measurement, comparing such solar radiation measurement to a reference value to determine if such solar radiation measurement is within a specified range of such reference value, and rejecting the corresponding canopy temperature measurement if the solar radiation measurement is outside the specified range.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said output means includes means for visually displaying such irrigation instructions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said output means includes means for automatically controlling irrigation equipment in the agricultural area in accordance with such irrigation instructions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
139 words
A portable system unit for scheduling irrigation of an agricultural area in which a crop is being grown, comprising: a housing; plural sensors carried by said housing for sensing respective parameters related to the agricultural area, including crop canopy temperature, from which the water stress condition of the crop can be determined, and for generating sensor data respectively representative of such parameters; electronic means mounted in said housing and operatively connected to said plural sensors for controllably receiving the sensor data from said plural sensors and then deriving therefrom irrigation instructions dependent at least in part on a determination from such data of the water stress condition of the crop; and output means carried by said housing and operatively connected to said electronic means for outputting such irrigation instructions for controlling irrigation of the agricultural area in accordance therewith.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
139 words
A portable system unit for scheduling irrigation of an agricultural area in which a crop is being grown, comprising: a housing; plural sensors carried by said housing for sensing respective parameters related to the agricultural area, including crop canopy temperature, from which the water stress condition of the crop can be determined, and for generating sensor data respectively representative of such parameters; electronic means mounted in said housing and operatively connected to said plural sensors for controllably receiving the sensor data from said plural sensors and then deriving therefrom irrigation instructions dependent at least in part on a determination from such data of the water stress condition of the crop; and output means carried by said housing and operatively connected to said electronic means for outputting such irrigation instructions for controlling irrigation of the agricultural area in accordance therewith.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A unit as set forth in claim 12, wherein said plural sensors include an infrared thermometer for sensing crop canopy temperature.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
A unit as set forth in claim 13, further comprising an extension pole mounted at its lower end to said housing and supporting at its upper end said infrared thermometer at a substantially higher elevation than said housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
A unit as set forth in claim 14, wherein said extension pole is adjustable in length.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A unit as set forth in claim 14, further comprising strap means for enabling said housing to be carried by an operator.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
A unit as set forth in claim 14, wherein said plural sensors further include solar radiation sensor means supported at the upper end of said extension pole for sensing incident solar radiation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A unit as set forth in claim 12, wherein said plural sensors include temperature and humidity sensor means for sensing ambient air temperature and relative humidity.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
A unit as set forth in claim 18, wherein said temperature and humidity sensor means is located within said housing, said housing including door means operable to expose said temperature and humidity sensor means to outside environmental conditions when said door means is opened.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
A unit as set forth in claim 19, further comprising switch means operated by said door means for actuating said temperature and humidity sensor means when the door is opened.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
A unit as set forth in claim 12, wherein said output means includes means for visually displaying such irrigation instructions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
A unit as set forth in claim 12, further comprising operator input means operatively connected to said electronic means for selectively controlling the receipt of sensor data from said plural sensors.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
A unit as set forth in claim 12, wherein said electronic means includes a programmable computer for analyzing and deriving from the sensor data irrigation instructions according to predetermined decision criteria for the crop being grown.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for scheduling irrigation of an agricultural area in which a crop is being grown, comprising the steps of: using plural sensors to sense a plurality of different para- . meters related to the agricultural area, including crop canopy temperature at a plurality of different locations in the agricultural area, from which the water stress condition of the crop can be determined, and to generate sensor data representative of the sensed parameters; using an electronic device operatively connected to the sensors to control the receipt of sensor data from the sensors and then to derive from such received sensor data irrigation instructions dependent at least in part on a determination of the water stress condition of the crop; and then controlling irrigation of the agricultural area in accordance with such irrigation instructions outputted by an output device operatively connected to the electronic device.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for scheduling irrigation of an agricultural area in which a crop is being grown, comprising the steps of: using plural sensors to sense a plurality of different para- . meters related to the agricultural area, including crop canopy temperature at a plurality of different locations in the agricultural area, from which the water stress condition of the crop can be determined, and to generate sensor data representative of the sensed parameters; using an electronic device operatively connected to the sensors to control the receipt of sensor data from the sensors and then to derive from such received sensor data irrigation instructions dependent at least in part on a determination of the water stress condition of the crop; and then controlling irrigation of the agricultural area in accordance with such irrigation instructions outputted by an output device operatively connected to the electronic device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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