David S Small

US Patent:

7165730, Jan 23, 2007

Filed:

Mar 26, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/809990

Inventors:

James Jolly Clark - Austin TX, US
Michael T. Perkins - Austin TX, US
David Small - Bastrop TX, US

International Classification:

A01G 27/00
B05B 3/00
B05B 3/18

US Classification:

239 67, 239 63, 239 64, 239 65, 239 66, 239 68, 239 69, 239 70, 239723, 239726

Abstract:

A water irrigation system may include a computer system, a sensing unit, an irrigation controller, and/or a water delivery system. The sensing unit may include a moisture gauge. The moisture gauge may include a capacitor coupled to a collector. The sensing unit may assess an amount of moisture in the collector and provide output that is a function of the amount of moisture in the collector to the computer system. The computer system may control irrigation of a zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the assessed amount of moisture in the collector. A method of controlling irrigation may include assessing an amount of moisture in a collector near or in a zone to be irrigated and controlling irrigation at least partially based on the assessed amount of moisture in the collector.

US Patent:

20050211792, Sep 29, 2005

Filed:

Mar 26, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/809993

Inventors:

James Clark - Austin TX, US
Michael Perkins - Austin TX, US
David Small - Bastrop TX, US
Paul Morgenstern - Austin TX, US

International Classification:

A01G027/00

US Classification:

239067000, 239068000, 239069000, 239070000

Abstract:

A water irrigation system may include a computer system, a sensing unit, an irrigation controller, and/or a water delivery system. The computer system may include regional evapotranspiration. The sensing unit may assess climatological conditions and provide output that is a function of the climatological conditions to the computer system. The computer system may assess zonal evapotranspiration at least partially based on the output provided by the sensing unit. The computer system may assess an irrigation need of the zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the regional evapotranspiration and the assessed zonal evapotranspiration. A method of controlling irrigation may include assessing climatological conditions, assessing zonal evapotranspiration based at least on the assessed climatological conditions, and controlling irrigation of the zone to be irrigated at least partially based on regional evapotranspiration and the assessed zonal evapotranspiration.

US Patent:

20050211793, Sep 29, 2005

Filed:

Mar 26, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/809994

Inventors:

James Clark - Austin TX, US
Michael Perkins - Austin TX, US
David Small - Bastrop TX, US

International Classification:

A01G027/00

US Classification:

239067000, 239068000, 239069000

Abstract:

A water irrigation system may include a computer system, a sensing unit, an irrigation controller, and/or a water delivery system. The sensing unit may communicate with the computer system. The sensing unit may include a solar panel. Electricity from the solar panel may be supplied to the sensing unit. The computer system may receive community irrigation instructions. The computer system may control irrigation of a zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the community irrigation instructions. A method of controlling irrigation may include receiving sunlight with a solar panel, using the received sunlight to produce electricity, and providing at least a portion of the produced electricity to a part of the water irrigation system. The method may further include receiving community irrigation instructions and controlling irrigation of a zone to be irrigated by the water irrigation system at least partially based on the community irrigation instructions.

US Patent:

20050211794, Sep 29, 2005

Filed:

Mar 26, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/811015

Inventors:

James Clark - Austin TX, US
Michael Perkins - Austin TX, US
David Small - Bastrop TX, US

International Classification:

B05D001/00

US Classification:

239069000, 239001000, 239071000, 239201000, 239DIG014

Abstract:

A water irrigation system may include a computer system, a sensing unit, an irrigation controller, and/or a water delivery system. The sensing unit may include a wind sensor. The wind sensor may include thermistors. The sensing unit may assess wind speed at one of the thermistors as a function of temperature. The sensing unit may provide output based on the assessed wind speed to the computer system. The computer system may control irrigation of a zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the assessed wind speed. A method of controlling irrigation may include assessing wind speed as a function of temperature, assessing an irrigation need of the zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the assessed wind speed, and controlling irrigation to at least meet the assessed irrigation need of the zone to be irrigated.

US Patent:

20050216127, Sep 29, 2005

Filed:

Mar 26, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/810102

Inventors:

James Clark - Austin TX, US
Michael Perkins - Austin TX, US
David Small - Bastrop TX, US
Paul Morgenstern - Austin TX, US

International Classification:

G05D007/00

US Classification:

700284000, 239069000

Abstract:

A water irrigation system may include a computer system, a sensing unit, an irrigation controller, and/or a water delivery system. The sensing unit may include a moisture gauge. A rate of evaporation of moisture from a collector of a moisture gauge may be within about 10% of an average rate of evaporation of moisture from a zone to be irrigated. The sensing unit may assess an amount of moisture in the collector and provide output that is a function of the amount of moisture in the collector to the computer system. The computer system may control irrigation of the zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the assessed amount of moisture in the collector. A method of controlling irrigation may include receiving moisture in a collector and controlling irrigation of a zone to be irrigated at least partially based on an assessed amount of moisture in the collector.

US Patent:

20050216128, Sep 29, 2005

Filed:

Mar 26, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/810111

Inventors:

James Clark - Austin TX, US
Michael Perkins - Austin TX, US
David Small - Bastrop TX, US

International Classification:

G05D007/00
G05B007/00
A01G025/16

US Classification:

700284000, 700019000, 137078200, 239069000

Abstract:

A water irrigation system may include a computer system, a sensing unit, an irrigation controller, and/or a water delivery system. The sensing unit may include a solar panel. Electricity produced by the solar panel may be supplied to the sensing unit. The sensing unit may assess climatological conditions in or near a zone to be irrigated. The sensing unit may be elevated at least 2 meters above the computer system. The sensing unit may communicate wirelessly with the computer system to provide output that is a function of the assessed climatological conditions to the computer system. The computer system may control irrigation of a zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the output from the sensing unit. A method of controlling irrigation may include allowing the computer system to control irrigation of a zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the assessed climatological conditions.

US Patent:

20050216129, Sep 29, 2005

Filed:

Mar 26, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/811010

Inventors:

James Clark - Austin TX, US
Michael Perkins - Austin TX, US
David Small - Bastrop TX, US

International Classification:

G05D007/00

US Classification:

700284000, 702003000

Abstract:

A water irrigation system may include a computer system, a sensing unit, an irrigation controller, and/or a water delivery system. The sensing unit may include one or more sensors and a solar panel. Electricity produced by the solar panel may be supplied to the sensors of the sensing unit. The sensing unit may provide output to the computer system that is a function of the received sunlight. The computer system may assess solar insolation as a function of the output from the sensing unit. The computer system may control irrigation of a zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the assessed solar insolation. A method of controlling irrigation may include assessing solar insolation from output provided by a solar panel near or in a zone to be irrigated and controlling irrigation at least partially based on the assessed solar insolation.

US Patent:

20050216130, Sep 29, 2005

Filed:

Mar 26, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/811017

Inventors:

James Clark - Austin TX, US
Michael Perkins - Austin TX, US
David Small - Bastrop TX, US

International Classification:

G05D011/00

US Classification:

700284000, 239069000, 239201000, 700283000

Abstract:

A water irrigation system may include a computer system, a sensing unit, an irrigation controller, and/or a water delivery system. The computer system may include an infrared receiver. An operator may use a portable device with an infrared transmitter to provide a signal to the infrared receiver of the computer system. The signal may include instructions for the water irrigation system. The computer system may control irrigation of a zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the infrared signal from the portable device. A method of controlling irrigation may include allowing an infrared receiver of a computer system to receive infrared output from a portable device and controlling irrigation of a zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the infrared output. The method may include controlling irrigation of a zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the infrared output received from the portable device.