Patents Assigned to Hunter Industries, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11917740
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to transmit a data encoded power signal to addressable devices. A lighting controller sends the data encoded power waveform to a plurality of addressable lighting modules to power and control a behavior of the lighting modules. An inventory function causes the lighting controller to send, one by one, each of the possible unique addresses, or for a particular range of addresses, a command to turn ON lighting modules. The lighting controller monitors the current draw of the power supply or the data encoded power waveform and compares the monitored current with a threshold to determine whether the addressed lighting module responded to the command. The lighting controller provides the user, via a user interface, a list of the responding lighting modules based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter John Woytowitz
  • Patent number: 11903103
    Abstract: A lighting system includes control adapters and a lighting controller that sends commands and data over an AC power line to power and control the lamps associated with the control adapters. Lighting themes are uniquely programmable color and intensity that are applied to a collection of control adapters to achieve different lighting modes instantly, without the delay that programming each control adapter individually incurs. The plurality of control adapters receive theme lighting information over the power line and store the theme information in memory. The lighting controller sends a single command to the collections of the control adapter groups to apply the theme or a multiple of themes to run in sequence as a pattern. Each control adapter retrieves and applies the theme information associated with the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter John Woytowitz
  • Patent number: 11871710
    Abstract: An irrigation communicates wirelessly with irrigation control valves. A wireless controller transceiver unit obtains signals from the irrigation controller and transmits these signals wirelessly to a valve transceiver. The irrigation control valves open or close according to the signals received by the valve transceiver. The irrigation system also includes an auxiliary communication device that communicates user commands to the controller transceiver. The user commands are used to create associations between the controller transceiver and each of the valve transceivers. The communication link between the auxiliary communication device and the communication transceiver or the valve transceiver can be an RF communication link such as Bluetooth, a close field communication link such as an inductive communication link, or an optical communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter John Woytowitz
  • Patent number: 11867383
    Abstract: Disclosed is an outdoor light fixture assembly having a housing and a lens module. The lens module is removable from the housing for servicing. The removable lens module includes a socket for one or more light sources and a lens. The outdoor light fixture further includes engagement structures for installing and removing the lens module from the housing without the use of tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrin I. Schmuckle, Jesus Moreno
  • Patent number: 11862952
    Abstract: A watertight electrical compartment for use in an irrigation device can include a compartment body having a chamber and a sealing section configured to mate with one or more sealing rings. A sealing cap can mate with the sealing section and/or the sealing rings to seal the chamber. A cap retainer can be advanced over at least a portion of the sealing cap. One of the compartment body and cap retainer can have internal threads to be screwed onto external threads of the other one of the compartment body and cap retainer. The cap retainer can also have a stopping feature to keep the sealing cap in its sealed position. The watertight electrical compartment can be used in a wireless flow sensor assembly, a battery operated irrigation controller, and/or a battery-operated central controller device, to provide irrigation control, and/or sensor information, without the need for AC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael F. Paul
  • Patent number: 11771024
    Abstract: An irrigation system comprises an irrigation controller that receives user input and provides a power signal and command and message data to an encoder. The encoder encodes the command and message data onto the power signal to provide a data encoded power waveform that is sent over a two-wire path. The irrigation system further comprises one or more decoders in communication with the two-wire path to receive the data encoded power waveform and one or more irrigation valves in communication with the one or more decoders. The data encoded power waveform provides power to the decoders and the decoders decode the command and message data from the data encoded power waveform to control the irrigation valves according to the user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter John Woytowitz
  • Patent number: 11612904
    Abstract: An irrigation sprinkler can be provided with a flow guard feature configured to send an indicator stream into the air when a nozzle is missing, while still conserving most of the water that would have been wasted without the flow guard feature. The flow guard feature can include a valve assembly having a first port and a second off-axis port. The second port can be smaller than the first port. The second port can be non-parallel to the first port. The first port can be open when the nozzle is present and be sealed when the nozzle is missing. The second, off-axis port can be open even when the nozzle is missing to provide the indicator stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Blake A. Wildt, LaMonte D. Porter
  • Patent number: 11540364
    Abstract: A lighting system includes lighting fixtures and a lighting controller that sends commands and data over an AC power line to power and control the lighting fixtures. Lighting themes are uniquely programmable color and intensity that are applied to a collection of lighting groups to achieve different lighting modes instantly, without the delay that programming each lighting fixture individually incurs. The groups of lighting modules receive theme lighting information over the power line and store the theme information in memory. The lighting controller sends a single command to the collections of the lighting groups to apply the theme or a multiple of themes to run in sequence as a pattern. Each lighting module retrieves and applies the theme information associated with the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: HUNTER INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Peter John Woytowitz
  • Patent number: 11525558
    Abstract: Disclosed is an outdoor light fixture assembly having a housing and a lens module. The lens module is removable from the housing for servicing. The removable lens module includes a socket for one or more light sources and a lens. The outdoor light fixture further includes engagement structures for installing and removing the lens module from the housing without the use of tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrin I. Schmuckle, Jesus Moreno
  • Patent number: 11502492
    Abstract: A watertight electrical compartment for use in an irrigation device can include a compartment body having a chamber and a sealing section configured to mate with one or more sealing rings. A sealing cap can mate with the sealing section and/or the sealing rings to seal the chamber. A cap retainer can be advanced over at least a portion of the sealing cap. One of the compartment body and cap retainer can have internal threads to be screwed onto external threads of the other one of the compartment body and cap retainer. The cap retainer can also have a stopping feature to keep the sealing cap in its sealed position. The watertight electrical compartment can be used in a wireless flow sensor assembly, a battery operated irrigation controller, and/or a battery-operated central controller device, to provide irrigation control, and/or sensor information, without the need for AC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael F. Paul
  • Patent number: 11503694
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to transmit a data encoded power signal to addressable devices. A data signal includes address and command data that varies between logical states. A controller provides a low loss rectified power signal. The controller further provides data within the power signal by forming a positive polarity rectified power waveform corresponding to data in a first state and a negative polarity rectified waveform signal corresponding to data in a second state using substantially loss-less circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter John Woytowitz
  • Patent number: 11395416
    Abstract: A landscape control box includes a base portion and a facepack. The facepack supports a rotary shaft extending along an axis in a first direction. A cover has a hole aligned with the rotary shaft. A knob has a receptacle and a first portion of an interacting structure. The receptacle engages with the rotary shaft so as to transfer rotational motion of the knob to the rotary shaft. The first portion of the interacting structure engages with a second portion of the interacting structure on the cover so as to inhibit movement of the knob. The control box can receive one or more modules for enhancing functionality of the control box and/or superseding station programming stored by the control box or input by the user. The control box includes openings that are sized and shaped to allow attachment of different sized pipes and conduits to the control box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael F. Paul
  • Patent number: 11384925
    Abstract: An adjustable landscape light assembly for securing to a surface includes a light fixture and a mount. The light fixture includes a first engagement structure configured to engage with a first engagement structure of the mount while allowing the light fixture to be rotated relative to the mount. The light assembly includes a locking member configured to move between a first position and a second position. The locking member engages with both the light fixture and the mount when in the second position to prevent the light fixture from being rotated relative to the mount and disengages from the mount when moved to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Zeman, Darrin I. Schmuckle, Juan C. Gomez
  • Patent number: 11272674
    Abstract: A flow control system for an irrigation sprinkler can include a service valve having an inlet, a first fluid port, a second fluid port, a third fluid port, and/or a valve piston having a valve piston inlet and a valve piston outlet. The system can include a pilot valve and a vent line. The system can include a filter in fluid communication with the inlet of the service valve. The valve piston can be configured to move vertically with respect to the first, second, and third fluid ports between first, second, and third valve positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald H. Anuskiewicz, David W. Davidson, Michael A. Huelsman
  • Patent number: 11229168
    Abstract: An irrigation system comprises an irrigation controller that receives user input and provides a power signal and command and message data to an encoder. The encoder encodes the command and message data onto the power signal to provide a data encoded power waveform that is sent over a two-wire path. The irrigation system further comprises one or more decoders in communication with the two-wire path to receive the data encoded power waveform and one or more irrigation valves in communication with the one or more decoders. The data encoded power waveform provides power to the decoders and the decoders decode the command and message data from the data encoded power waveform to control the irrigation valves according to the user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter John Woytowitz
  • Patent number: 11178830
    Abstract: An irrigation controller comprises actuable controls, a memory to store the watering program, and one or more displays. The actuable controls and display are incorporated into a removable face pack that is mounted to an interior door of the irrigation controller. The face pack can be easily moved from a first position on the front side of the interior door to a second position on the back side of the interior door and the face pack automatically senses its position. When the face pack is in the first position, the actuable controls and display are configured for operating information. When the face pack is in the second position, the wiring hook up area of the irrigation controller is exposed and the actuable controls and display are configured for diagnostics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: HUNTER INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Richard C. Stange, Thomas C. Kadien, Steven B. Cook, Kok Huat Chong
  • Patent number: 11160146
    Abstract: A lighting system includes lighting fixtures and a lighting controller that sends commands and data over an AC power line to power and control the lighting fixtures. Lighting themes are uniquely programmable color and intensity that are applied to a collection of lighting groups to achieve different lighting modes instantly, without the delay that programming each lighting fixture individually incurs. The groups of lighting modules receive theme lighting information over the power line and store the theme information in memory. The lighting controller sends a single command to the collections of the lighting groups to apply the theme. Each lighting module retrieves and applies the theme information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John Malaugh, Peter John Woytowitz
  • Patent number: 11133956
    Abstract: Systems and methods to authenticate a controller having a user interface with a manually actionable control include randomly selecting a first position of the plurality of positions of the manually actuable control, prompting a user to position the manually actionable control to the randomly selected position, receiving an indication of the present position of the manually actionable control, comparing the indication of the randomly selected position with the indication of the present position, and authenticating the controller when the indication of the randomly selected position matches the indication of the present position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Vicente Tulliano, Dexter Baga, Charlotte A. Wilson, Dustin R. Franklin, Lynn Langit, Jason Lin, Christopher Karady Scripca Lucian, Christian M. Stead
  • Patent number: 11067259
    Abstract: Disclosed is an outdoor light fixture assembly having a housing, a contact block, and a user serviceable light module. The housing has a first opening for receiving the contact block and a second opening for receiving the user serviceable light module. The contact block has at least one contact and a power wire. The contact block can be disposed relative to the first opening so that the at least one contact is accessible from inside the housing. The user serviceable light module light module is sized and shaped to transition between a connected position and a released position relative to the housing. The user serviceable light module has a cover and a circuit board supporting one or more light emitting diodes and having at least one contact pin. The light emitting diodes are arranged relative to the circuit board to emit light in a direction towards the second opening when the user serviceable light module is in the connected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrin I. Schmuckle, Adam Zeman, Sergio Corona
  • Patent number: 11040359
    Abstract: A sprinkler can include a turbine, a nozzle, a gear drive and a reversing mechanism. The gear drive and the reversing mechanism rotatably couple the turbine and the nozzle. The gear drive can shift a direction of rotation of an output stage that is coupled to the reversing mechanism. The sprinkler can include at least one arc adjusting gear that moves and arc adjusting tab to contact a shift arm to cause the shifting mechanism to change direction. The arc adjusting gear can engage with the arc tab for adjusting the arc setting and disengage from the arc tab for normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Zachary B. Simmons