The present invention refers to a control kit for an irrigation system.

In the state of the art there are known irrigation systems comprising measuring devices driven into the soil comprising a multiplicity of sensors that measure environmental parameters and control units connected to these sensors.

The measuring device sends the data of the environmental parameters to the control unit.

These measuring devices are connected to each other and with the wireless control unit for example by means of radio, WI-FI or 3G mobile telephone connections.

The control unit is connected via Internet to a database comprising a multiplicity of data on plant varieties and local weather conditions.

The control unit, based on the data of the environmental parameters, on data on a growth of the plant varieties, on local weather conditions, commands an opening of at least one electrovalve to irrigate at least one area of soil.

Disadvantageously, the irrigation system to correctly operate must be connected via Internet to the database and cannot operate autonomously.

Disadvantageously, the measuring device does not operate as a control device, since it does not command any electrovalves and a different control unit from the measuring device is necessary.

Disadvantageously, in order to make the irrigation system operate properly it is necessary to know in advance the type of soil and the plant variety that is planted there. The purpose of the present invention consists of realizing a control kit for an irrigation system of a soil that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.

In accordance with the invention such purpose is accomplished with a control kit according to claim 1.

Other characteristics are provided in the dependent claims .

The characteristics and the advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following description, given as an example and not for limiting purposes, referring to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a view of an irrigation system scheme comprising a control kit comprising a control device and an electrovalve according to the present invention;

figure 2 is a view of a system scheme of the control kit for the irrigation system comprising an alternative control device comprising the electrovalve;

figure 3 is a view of a system scheme of the control kit for the irrigation system comprising the control device that commands a control unit comprising the electrovalve ;

figure 4 is a flow diagram of a calibration phase of the process carried out by the control kit according to the present invention;

figure 5 is a flow diagram of a phase of normal operation of the process carried out by the control kit; figure 6 shows a graph of a curve of moisture of the soil as a function of the time during the calibration step;

figure 7 shows a graph of the curve of moisture of the soil as a function of the time during the phase of normal operation of the control kit;

figure 8 is a flow diagram of a phase of alternative normal operation of the process carried out by the control kit .

With reference to the quoted figures and in particular figure 1 a system scheme of a control kit 1 for an irrigation system is shown. The control kit 1 comprises at least one electrovalve 20 and at least one control device 10 driven into a soil 90 to be irrigated.

The device 10 controls the electrovalve 20 open and close to allow or not allow the passage of a fluid, for example water, coming from an irrigation circuit 2 of the irrigation system, which is for example a mains water system, towards at least one irrigation dispenser 5 which is a sprinkler or a dripper that distributes water to the soil 90.

The irrigation circuit 2 comprises a multiplicity of pipes 3, 4 and a multiplicity of irrigation dispensers 5 that are distributed on the soil 90 to be irrigated.

The electrovalve 20 is in flow communication with at least one inlet pipe 3 and at least one outlet tube 4 of the irrigation circuit 2.

The electrovalve 20 comprises a valve 21 that switches from an open position to let the water of the irrigation circuit 2 flow to a closed position to block the water of the irrigation circuit 2 and an actuator 22, for example an electric or electromagnetic servomotor, which controls the opening and closing of the valve 21.

The control device 10 comprises a multiplicity of sensors 31-36 for a measurement of environmental parameters, which are observable data. The multiplicity of sensors 31-36 of the control device 10 comprises an environmental luminosity sensor 31 which is a dusk sensor for measuring luminosity conditions of the environment; an atmospheric temperature sensor 32 for measuring a local atmospheric temperature; an atmospheric pressure sensor 33 for measuring the atmospheric pressure; an atmospheric humidity sensor 34 for measuring the local atmospheric humidity; a soil moisture sensor 35 for measuring the soil moisture and a soil acidity sensor 36 for measuring an electrical conductivity and obtaining a pH value of the soil.

The control device 10 also comprises a measurer of time intervals 37 which is a chronometer that measures time intervals between an opening and a closing of the electrovalve 20 to calculate an irrigation duration.

The control device 10 comprises an upper portion 11 adapted for staying out from the soil 90 and a lower portion 12 that is buried in the soil 90 during the operation of the control device 10.

The upper portion 11 of the control device 10 comprises the environmental luminosity sensor 31, the atmospheric temperature sensor 32, the atmospheric pressure sensor 33, the atmospheric humidity sensor 34.

The lower portion 12 of the control device 10 comprises the soil moisture sensor 35 and the soil acidity sensor 36.

The control device 10 comprises a wireless data communication device 40 which is an antenna; a processor 41 for processing data; a memory 42 for containing data; a data communication interface 43, which is a USB port; a signalling device 44, which is a luminous signalling device like for example an RGB LED for indicating a state of the control device 10.

The control device 10 switches from a multiplicity of states that indicate for example whether the control device 10 is charged or uncharged, whether it is commanding the electrovalve 20 to irrigate, whether it is loading or downloading data, or indicate the state of the area of soil 90 to be irrigated where the control device 10 is located.

The electrovalve 20 mounts a wireless data communication device 53 which is an antenna.

The control device 10 commands the opening or closing of the electrovalve 20 communicating through the wireless data communication devices 40 of the control device 10 and 53 of the electrovalve 20.

It is possible to provide for a multiplicity of devices 10 to be distributed on the soil 90 so that at least one device 10 is driven into every area of soil 90 to be irrigated that it is wished to be kept monitored.

As far as the operation of the control kit 1 for the irrigation system is concerned, an operating process is shown in a flow diagram shown in figures 4 and 5.

The operating process of the control kit 1 for irrigating the soil 90 comprises a calibration step 100 shown in figure 4 and a step of normal operation 300 shown in figure 5.

During the calibration step 100 the environmental parameters are measured continuously by the sensors 31- 36 of the control device 10, and in particular figure 6 shows a graph of a curve 200 of the moisture of the soil 201 in percentage as a function of the time 202 in arbitrary units. The curve 200 varies according to the plant variety, the climate and the soil and depends on different factors that are linked both to the type of plant variety and to parameters of the soil 90, such as for example compactness and type of soil, the size of the free gaps in the soil, and to climatic environmental factors.

The calibration step 100 of the irrigation process advantageously makes it possible to calibrate the control kit 1 to the conditions of the plant variety and of the soil so as to waste the least possible water during the phase of normal operation 300 of the control kit 1 to irrigate the soil 90.

The calibration step 100 of the process comprises an operation of burying 101 the lower portion 12 of the control device 10 in a point of the soil 90 to be irrigated .

The processor 41 of the control device 10 commands the multiplicity of sensors 31-36 to measure 102 the environmental parameters at pre-set time intervals, where the time intervals are measured by the measurer of time intervals 37.

The processor 41 of the control device 10 saves 103 a multiplicity of environmental parameters measured at a given measurement time as observable data in the memory 42 of the control device 10.

Initially the processor 41 saves the initial environmental parameters 203 at the initial measurement time in the memory 42.

The processor 41 of the control device 10 communicates 104 to the electrovalve 20 to switch from the closed position to the open position to irrigate the soil 90 until it is saturated with water. A rising portion 204 of the curve 200 of the graph of figure 6 shows the increase in moisture of the soil as a function of the irrigation time 202 while the electrovalve 20 is in open position. When the soil 90 is saturated with water, the curve reaches a maximum 205 moisture of the soil 90 beyond which it is no longer possible to increase the moisture of the soil 90.

The processor 41 of the control device 10 checks 105 whether the value of the moisture of the soil of the last moisture measurement of the soil 90 is greater than the value of the moisture of the soil 90 of the previous measurement. If the value of the moisture of the soil 90 increases between the previous and the last measurement, then the processor 41 of the control device 10 leaves the electrovalve 20 open to continue to irrigate 104, otherwise the processor 41 switches the electrovalve 20 from the open position to the closed position 106 interrupting the flow of water for the irrigation. Indeed, once the maximum 205 of the curve 200 has been reached, the moisture of the soil 90 remains constant between the last and the previous measurement, given that the soil 90 is saturated with water.

A steeply descending portion 206 of the curve 200 of the graph of figure 6 shows a very fast decrease in moisture of the soil 90 as a function of the time during a step of draining by gravity of the water from the soil saturated with water until it reaches a maximum threshold value of moisture of the soil called maximum water retention capacity of the soil 207.

The maximum water retention capacity of the soil

207 represents the moisture value of the ground when micro pores of the soil 90 are saturated with water and in the macro pores of the soil 90 there is only air. The micro pores are indeed capable of retaining water by capillarity, whereas the macro pores have lost the water by draining by gravity.

The maximum water retention capacity of the soil

207 is a value that depends on the type of soil 90 and on other environmental parameters.

Beyond the maximum threshold value that represents the maximum water retention capacity of the soil 207, the soil 90 loses water much less rapidly since it is in a step of evapotranspiration 208, due to two phenomena that are the transpiration of the plant variety that absorbs water from the roots and the release into the air through the leaf body and the evaporation of water directly from the soil to the atmosphere. The step of evapotranspiration 208 is shown in a slowly descending portion 208 of the curve 200 of moisture of the soil 90 that is much less steep with respect to the steeply descending portion of curve 206 that takes place in the step of draining by gravity 206 of the water.

During the step of draining by gravity 206 of the water from the soil 90, the plant variety does not have time to efficiently absorb the water and therefore it is all wasted water. During the step of evapotranspiration 208 the plant variety is capable of absorbing water efficiently and effectively.

The processor 41 of the control device 10 saves 107 in the memory 42 the moisture data of the soil of maximum water retention capacity of the soil 207, i.e. when the curve 200 changes slope between the step of draining by gravity 206 and the step of evapotranspiration 208.

The processor 41 of the control device 10 estimates 108 a minimum threshold of moisture of the soil that represents a maximum suffering threshold of the plant variety 209 below which the plant variety would die due to lack of water. The estimation of the processor 41 takes place on the basis of mathematical and statistical algorithms and on the basis of observable data present in the memory 42 that are observable parameters that comprise the maximum water retention capacity of the soil 207, the other observable data measured by the sensors 31-36, the time interval between the maximum 205 and the maximum water retention capacity of the soil 207, data present in the memory 42 relative to a generic plant variety.

During the calibration step 100 of the irrigation process, the estimation 108 of the maximum suffering threshold of the plant variety 209 by the processor 41 of the control device 10, can be estimated to a higher degree of certainty by providing that the processor 41 of the control device 10 continues to make the sensors measure 102 the environmental parameters and save 103 these parameters in the memory 42 during the step of evapotranspiration shown in the portion 208 of the curve 200. When the processor 41 of the control device 10 measures a moisture of the soil below the maximum suffering threshold of the plant variety estimated earlier, the processor 41 saves in the memory the time interval between the measurement of the value of maximum water retention capacity of the soil 207 and the maximum suffering threshold of the plant variety 209, recalculating the maximum suffering threshold of the plant variety through mathematical and statistical algorithms and on the basis of the observable data present in the memory 42 that are observable parameters that comprise the maximum water retention capacity of the soil 207, the other observable data measured by the sensors 31-36, the time interval between the maximum 205 and the maximum water retention capacity of the soil 207, the maximum suffering threshold of the plant variety 209 estimated 108 earlier, the time interval between the measurement of the value of maximum water retention capacity of the soil 207 and the maximum suffering threshold of the plant variety 209, data present in the memory 42 relative to a generic plant variety.

The processor 41 saves 109 the value of moisture of the soil that represents the maximum suffering threshold of the plant variety 209.

The processor 41 estimates a value of moisture of the soil greater than that of the maximum suffering threshold of the plant variety 209 that represents a value of better minimum threshold 210. The value of better minimum threshold 210 is for example 5-10% higher than the maximum suffering value of the plant variety 209. This minimum threshold value 210 represents a value of moisture of the soil that the processor 41 estimates on the basis of mathematical and statistical algorithms and on the basis of the observable data present in the memory 42 that are observable parameters that comprise the maximum water retention capacity of the soil 207, the other observable data measured by the sensors 31-36, the time interval between the maximum 205 and the maximum water retention capacity of the soil 207, the maximum suffering threshold of the plant variety 209 earlier estimated 108, the time interval between the measurement of the value of maximum water retention capacity of the soil 207 and the maximum suffering threshold of the plant variety 209, data present in the memory 42 relative to a generic plant variety, or to a pre-set percentage value to be added to that of maximum suffering threshold of the plant variety 209.

During the step of normal operation 300 shown in figure 5 the environmental parameters are measured 302 continuously by the sensors 31-36 of the control device 10, and in particular figure 7 shows a graph of a curve 200 of the moisture of the soil 201 in percentage as a function of the time 202 in arbitrary units.

The curve 200 of moisture of the soil of figure 7 measures the moisture of the soil 201 as a function of the time during the step of normal operation 300 of the control kit 1.

The processor 41 of the control device 10 saves 303 a multiplicity of environmental parameters measured at a certain measurement time as observable data in the memory 42 of the control device 10.

The processor 41 of the control device 10 checks

310 whether the value of the moisture of the soil is below the value of the moisture of the soil 90 of the better minimum threshold 210. If the value of the moisture of the soil is greater than the better minimum threshold 210, then it continues to measure and to save observable data in the memory 42, otherwise the control device 10 switches the electrovalve 20 from the closed position to the open position 304 irrigating the soil 90.

A rising portion 204 of the curve 200 of the graph of figure 7 shows the increase in moisture of the soil as a function of the irrigation time 202 while the electrovalve 20 is in open position.

The processor 41 of the control device 10 continues to make the sensors 31-36 measure 302 the observable parameters .

The processor 41 of the control device 10 compares

305 the value of moisture of the soil and if it finds it to be above the value of moisture of the soil corresponding to the maximum water retention capacity of the soil 207, then it interrupts the irrigation switching the electrovalve 20 from the open position to the closed position 306, otherwise it continues to keep the electrovalve 20 open continuing to irrigate the soil 304.

Given that the irrigation took place up to the threshold of maximum water retention capacity of the soil 207, the portion 208 of curve 200 of the moisture of the soil 90 as a function of the time will have a slower slope because it is due to the phase of evapotranspiration and not to the step of draining by gravity.

Advantageously the control device 10 provides less water and for a shorter time than the soil 90 not wasting water and avoiding a step of draining by gravity of the water from the soil, avoiding a step of saturation of the soil .

Advantageously, the time interval 220 between one irrigation and the next is short with respect to conventional irrigation systems, as shown in figure 7, given that the soil of the plant variety is always kept within the optimal thresholds to feed the plant variety, i.e. within the threshold of maximum water retention capacity of the soil 207 and the better minimum threshold 210.

Advantageously, the irrigation frequency of the soil 90 commanded by the control kit 1 depends on the effective moisture of the soil 90 and not on pre-set irrigation times.

Advantageously, it is not necessary to connect via Internet through a control unit to decide when to irrigate, since the soil 90 is constantly kept under surveillance by the control device 10.

Advantageously, it is not necessary to connect via

Internet to predict whether it will rain to block the irrigation, given that the high frequency of short irrigations commanded by the control kit 1 allow to interrupt the irrigation within a short time and until the value of the moisture of the soil will not be lower than to the better minimum threshold 210.

Advantageously, the control kit 1 does not provide for predetermined irrigation time intervals between one irrigation and another, given that the irrigation depends only on the measurement of the observable parameters, such as for example the moisture of the soil 90 to define when the soil 90 is above the threshold of maximum water retention capacity 207 or below the better minimum threshold.

Advantageously, the control kit 1 has much higher performance since it adapts the irrigation to the soil and to the plant variety without having the need to know which soil it is and which plant variety it is.

Advantageously, the control kit 10 does not need any clock to operate, since the control kit 1 does not provide for measuring a schedule and has not pre-set schedule, since the irrigation does not start at a certain schedule, but due to a measurement of the environmental parameters by the sensors 31-36, like for example the moisture of the soil 90 above or below thresholds 207, 210.

Alternatively, it is possible to foresee, as shown in figure 2, that the device 10 comprises the electrovalve 20 to command the irrigation of the soil 90. In this alternative no antenna 40 is necessary to communicate with the electrovalve 20, which is mounted together with the control device 10.

Alternatively, instead of the maximum water retention capacity 207, it is possible for a user to select a maximum soil moisture value, a value that is saved in the memory 42. In this alternative, during the phase of normal operation 300, the processor 41 of the control device 10 compares 305 the value of moisture of the soil and if it is found to be greater than the maximum soil moisture value selected by the user as saved in the memory 42, then the processor 41 interrupts the irrigation switching the electrovalve 20 from the open position to the closed position 306, otherwise it continue to keep the electrovalve 20 open, continuing to irrigate the soil 304.

Alternatively, it is possible to foresee for the measurer of time intervals 37 to be mounted with the electrovalve 20 as for example shown in figure 3.

More in general, it is possible to foresee for the control kit 1 to comprise the measurer of time intervals 37 that can be mounted with the control device 10 or with the electrovalve 20.

Alternatively, it is possible to foresee there is no measurer of time intervals 37 at all since the time interval necessary to estimate the minimum threshold value can be estimated through a direct measurement during the calibration step 100.

Alternatively, the calibration process 100 measures the irrigation time interval 221 to reach the value of moisture of the soil 90 corresponding to the value of maximum water retention capacity of the soil 207 and saves this irrigation time interval 221 in the memory 42. In this alternative, the measurer of time intervals 37 measures the irrigation time interval 221. In this alternative during the phase of normal operation 300 of the control kit 1 as shown in figure 8, the processor 41 of the control device 10 does not compare 305 the value of moisture of the soil to verify whether it is found to be above the value of moisture of the soil corresponding to the maximum water retention capacity of the soil 207, but the processor 41 estimates that the moisture of the soil 90 reaches the maximum water retention capacity of the soil 207 when the soil 90 is irrigated for the duration of the irrigation time interval 221 present in the memory 42 and thus the processor 41 commands the electrovalve to irrigate 320 simply the soil 90 for the duration of the irrigation time interval 221. This alternative thus needs the control kit 1 to include the measurer of time intervals 37 mounted with the control device 10 or with the electrovalve 20.

Alternatively, the calibration process 100 measures the irrigation time interval 221 to reach a maximum soil moisture value chosen by the user and saves this irrigation time interval 221 in the memory 42.

Alternatively, the processor 41 during the calibration step 100 that foresees the irrigation of the soil 90 up to saturation does not continue to compare 105 the value of soil moisture measured by the soil moisture sensor 35, but irrigates for a time interval that is sufficiently long and pre-set in the memory 42, such that it is certain that the curve 200 reaches the maximum 205 moisture of the soil 90 beyond which it is no longer possible to increase the moisture of the soil 90.

Alternatively, as shown in figure 3 the control device 10 can be connected through an antenna 40 to a control unit 50 of a known irrigation system. In this alternative, the control device 10 communicates to a processor 51 of the known control unit 50 that comprises another memory 52, to switch the electrovalve 20 included in the known control unit 50 from the open position to the closed position.

Again alternatively, it is possible to foresee that data relative to the plant variety to be able to be transmitted to the control device 10 and inserted in the memory 42.

Again alternatively, it is possible to foresee that the value of moisture of the soil corresponding to the maximum water retention capacity of the soil 207 and the value of moisture of the soil corresponding to the better minimum threshold 210 are pre-set in the memory 42 of the control device 10 as moisture values of the soil initially pre-set and thus the control kit 1 can still operate, even if less efficiently, even if the user of the control kit 1 does not actuate the calibration phase 100.

Again alternatively, the control device 10 can transmit the observable data measured by the sensors 31- 36 and the threshold values 207 and 210 to a centralised database, for example loading these data directly via antenna 40, or at first downloading them onto a USB stick through the interface 43 and then transmitted via Internet by a user.

Alternatively, the control device 10 verifies through the environmental luminosity sensor 31 that the luminosity conditions are above or below certain luminosity thresholds and decides not to irrigate when luminosity conditions are comparable with those of night time or not to irrigate when the luminosity conditions and the environmental temperature correspond to the part of the day when the sun is intensely shining on the plant .

Alternatively, the environmental parameters are measured 302 at pre-set time intervals by the sensors 31-36 of the control device 10.

Again alternatively, the processor 41 of the control device 10 comprises an artificial intelligence module and in particular the artificial intelligence module of the processor 41 is a classifying processor capable of actuating a comparison and recognition process through statistical algorithms of the curve 200 of observable data measured by the multiplicity of sensors 31-36 in the calibration step 100 and a multiplicity of curves 200 of corresponding observable data of a multiplicity of plant varieties present in said at least one memory 42. Once the measured curve 200 is identified with the curve 200 of a plant variety present in the database, the artificial intelligence module of the processor 41 identifies the values of better minimum threshold 210 and of maximum water retention capacity of soil 207 typical for the plant variety thus identified.

Alternatively, it is not the processor 41 that commands said multiplicity of sensors 31-36 to measure 102, 302 the environmental parameters, but the sensors

31-36 measure independently from the processor 41 the observable data and transmit them to the processor 41 to save them 103, 303 in the memory 42.

The invention thus conceived can undergo numerous modifications and variants, all of which are encompassed by the inventive concept; moreover, all the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, can be any according to the technical requirements.