The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 21, 2011
Filed:
Apr. 24, 2008
Venkataramu L. Bangalore, Plano, TX (US);
Venkataramu L. Bangalore, Plano, TX (US);
Telsco Industries, Inc., Garland, TX (US);
Abstract
An intelligent irrigation rain sensor for use in an irrigation system comprises a rain sensor unit and a sensor control unit. The rain sensor unit has a rain catcher reservoir with an open top for receiving rainwater with an internal volume for holding water and tapers into a funnel. At least one droplet detector is positioned directly below the funnel opening that contacts the water droplets from the funnel. The droplet detector includes detection electrodes for sensing a change in an electrical property being monitored by a detection control in the sensor control unit and for discriminating phantom droplets from rain. Upon exceeding a rain threshold amount over measurement time period, the intelligent irrigation rain sensor issues a rain signal to the irrigation controller. The intelligent irrigation rain sensor issues a corresponding dry signal to the irrigation controller after a drying period has elapsed.