Patents by Inventor Gary Bret Millar
Gary Bret Millar has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING AND USING ONE OR MORE PUMPS IN AN ASSEMBLY LINE GROW POD
Publication number: 20230105410Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for providing and operating a pump control module and pumps in an assembly line grow pod are provided herein. Some embodiments include an assembly line grow pod having a plurality of fluid lines fluidly coupled between a fluid source and a fluid destination within the assembly line grow pod, a plurality of pumps, each coupled to a fluid line such that fluid is moved within the fluid line by the pump, and a master controller communicatively coupled to the pumps. The master controller is programmed to receive information relating to fluid delivery within the assembly line grow pod, determine one or more pumps to deliver the fluid, determine pump parameters for each of the pumps that achieve the fluid delivery, and transmit one or more control signals to the pumps for delivering the fluid within the assembly line grow pod.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2021Publication date: April 6, 2023Applicant: Grow Solutions Tech LLCInventors: Gary Bret Millar, Kevin Hurst -
Publication number: 20220087119Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for providing and operating a valve control module and valves in an assembly line grow pod are provided herein. Some embodiments include an assembly line grow pod having a plurality of fluid lines fluidly coupled between a fluid source and a fluid destination within the assembly line grow pod, a plurality of valves, each coupled to a fluid line such that fluid movement through the fluid lines is selectively controlled by the valves, and a master controller communicatively coupled to the valves. The master controller is programmed to receive information relating to fluid delivery within the assembly line grow pod, determine one or more valves to direct the fluid, determine valve parameters for each of the valves that achieve the fluid direction, and transmit one or more control signals to the valves for directing the fluid within the assembly line grow pod.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2021Publication date: March 24, 2022Applicant: Grow Solutions Tech LLCInventor: Gary Bret Millar
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Publication number: 20220053712Abstract: A controller for an air supplier of an assembly line grow pod is provided. The controller identifies a plant on one or more carts; determines an airflow rate based on an airflow recipe for the identified plant; controls an air supplier to output air through one or more outlet vents at the airflow rate; obtains an image of the plant; identifies a type of contaminants deposited directly on the plant based on the obtained image; and adjusts a power of the air output from the air supplier to remove the contaminants from the plant by the air based on the identified type of contaminants deposited directly on the plant.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2021Publication date: February 24, 2022Applicant: Grow Solutions Tech LLCInventors: Gary Bret Millar, Mark Gerald Stott, Todd Garrett Tueller, Michael Stephen Hurst, Alan Ray Bentley, Taylor John Woodbury
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Publication number: 20220015305Abstract: An assembly line grow pod includes a seeding region, a harvesting region, a track that extends between the seeding region and the harvesting region, a cart including a tray for holding plant matter, and a wheel coupled to the tray, where the wheel is engaged with the track, and a weight sensor positioned on the cart or the track, where the weight sensor is positioned to detect a weight of the plant matter positioned within the cart.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2021Publication date: January 20, 2022Inventors: Gary Bret Millar, Michael Stephen Hurst, Taylor John Woodbury
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Patent number: 11219172Abstract: An assembly line grow pod includes a plurality of fluid lines fluidly coupled between a fluid source and a fluid destination within the assembly line grow pod, a plurality of valves, each coupled to a fluid line such that fluid movement through the fluid lines is selectively controlled by the valves, and a master controller communicatively coupled to the valves. The master controller is programmed to receive information relating to fluid delivery within the assembly line grow pod, determine one or more valves to direct the fluid, determine valve parameters for each of the valves that achieve the fluid direction, and transmit one or more control signals to the valves for directing the fluid within the assembly line grow pod.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2018Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: Grow Solutions Tech LLCInventor: Gary Bret Millar
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Patent number: 11206768Abstract: A cart having a wheel and a cart-computing device communicatively coupled to the wheel, where the cart-computing device receives an electrical signal via the wheel. The electrical signal comprises a communication signal and electrical power. The communication signal corresponds to one or more instructions for controlling an operation of the cart and the electrical power of the electrical signal powers the cart-computing device.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2020Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: Grow Solutions Tech LLCInventors: Gary Bret Millar, Mark Gerald Stott, Todd Garrett Tueller, Michael Stephen Hurst, Alan Ray Bentley, Taylor John Woodbury, Shane York
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Patent number: 11202416Abstract: A method for tracking seeds in an assembly line grow pod having a plurality of carts is provided. A target seed is deposited in a selected cell which is a part of a selected tray located in a selected cart travelling on an assembly line grow pod. A position of the target seed is tracked in the selected cell by determining the position of the target seed in the selected cart and determining a position of the selected cart in the assembly line grow pod. Sustenance is provided to the target seed including the selected cell. A growth factor of the target seed is determined in the selected cell. Upon determination that the growth factor of the target seed in the selected cell is below a predetermined threshold, supply of the sustenance provided to the selected cell is adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2018Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: Grow Solutions Tech LLCInventor: Gary Bret Millar
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Patent number: 11191224Abstract: An air flow control system for an assembly line grow pod is provided. The air flow control system includes a shell including an enclosed area, one or more carts moving on a track within the enclosed area, an air supplier within the enclosed area, one or more outlet vents coupled to the air supplier, and a controller. The controller includes one or more processors, one or more memory modules, and machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to identify a plant on the one or more carts, determine an airflow rate based on an airflow recipe for the identified plant, and control the air supplier to output air through the one or more outlet vents at the airflow rate.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2018Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: GROW SOLUTIONS TECH LLCInventors: Gary Bret Millar, Mark Gerald Stott, Todd Garrett Tueller, Michael Stephen Hurst, Alan Ray Bentley, Taylor John Woodbury
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Patent number: 11172622Abstract: A distributed control system for use in an assembly line grow pod includes a master controller and a hardware controller device. The master controller includes a first processor and a first memory for storing a first set of instructions that dictates plant growing operations and a second set of instructions that dictates a plurality of distributed control functions. The hardware controller device is coupled to the master controller via a plug-in network interface. The hardware controller device includes a second processor and a second memory for storing a third set of instructions that dictate a selected control function of the plurality of distributed control functions. Upon the plug-in connection, the master controller identifies an address of the hardware controller device and sends a set of parameters defining a plurality of tasks relating to the selected control function.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2018Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Grow Solutions Tech LLCInventors: Gary Bret Millar, Mark Gerald Stott, Michael Stephen Hurst, Kevin Hurst
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Devices, systems, and methods for providing and using one or more pumps in an assembly line grow pod
Patent number: 11160222Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for providing and operating a pump control module and pumps in an assembly line grow pod are provided herein. Some embodiments include an assembly line grow pod having a plurality of fluid lines fluidly coupled between a fluid source and a fluid destination within the assembly line grow pod, a plurality of pumps, each coupled to a fluid line such that fluid is moved within the fluid line by the pump, and a master controller communicatively coupled to the pumps. The master controller is programmed to receive information relating to fluid delivery within the assembly line grow pod, determine one or more pumps to deliver the fluid, determine pump parameters for each of the pumps that achieve the fluid delivery, and transmit one or more control signals to the pumps for delivering the fluid within the assembly line grow pod.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2018Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: GROW SOLUTIONS TECH LLCInventors: Gary Bret Millar, Kevin Hurst -
Patent number: 11154016Abstract: An assembly line grow pod includes a seeding region, a harvesting region, a track that extends between the seeding region and the harvesting region, a cart including a tray for holding plant matter, and a wheel coupled to the tray, where the wheel is engaged with the track, and a weight sensor positioned on the cart or the track, where the weight sensor is positioned to detect a weight of the plant matter positioned within the cart.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2018Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Grow Solutions Tech LLCInventors: Gary Bret Millar, Michael Stephen Hurst, Taylor John Woodbury
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Patent number: 11134626Abstract: A watering station includes a robotic watering device having a first swing arm having a first end opposite a second end, a rotatable robot arm rotatably coupled to a second end of the first swing arm, a first motor configured to pivot the first swing arm, a second motor configured to rotate the rotatable robot arm with respect to the first swing arm, and pump outlets positioned on the rotatable robot arm, one or more pumps fluidly coupled to the pump outlets positioned on the rotatable robot arm, and a fluid reservoir, where the one or more pumps comprises an inlet and an outlet, and the one or more pumps are fluidly coupled to the fluid reservoir such that when activated the one or more pumps draw fluid from the fluid reservoir and disperse a predetermined amount of fluid out the pump outlets.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2019Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: GROW SOLUTIONS TECH LLCInventors: Gary Bret Millar, Michael Tyler Wirig, Tyler Ray Iverson, Kevin Leon Hurst
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Patent number: 11126542Abstract: Systems and methods for programming a grow pod are provided herein. One embodiment of a grow pod includes a plurality of carts for growing plants, a plurality of pod environment affecters, and a pod computing device that, when executed by a processor, causes the grow pod to receive a recipe program. The recipe program may define a grow recipe for the grow pod and may cause actuation of at least a portion of the plurality of pod environment affecters to facilitate growth for the plurality of respective plants. The recipe program may be created via a scripting language that includes a plurality of commands for controlling the grow pod. In some embodiments, the plurality of commands are specific to the grow pod. Embodiments of the grow pod may additionally instantiate a plurality of instances of the recipe program that correspond with each of the plurality of carts.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2018Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: Grow Solutions Tech LLCInventor: Gary Bret Millar
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Patent number: 11116155Abstract: A system bypasses harvesting in an assembly line grow pod when it is determined that a plant in a cart is not ready to harvest. The system includes a track, a cart configured to move on the track, one or more sensors and a controller. The cart includes an upper plate that supports a plant. The controller receives information about the plant from the one or more sensors, determines whether the plant in the cart is ready to harvest based on the information; and transmits an instruction for bypassing harvesting the plant in the cart in response to determination that the plant in the cart is not ready to harvest.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2018Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: GROW SOLUTIONS TECH LLCInventors: Gary Bret Millar, Mark Gerald Stott, Michael Stephen Hurst, Taylor John Woodbury
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Patent number: 11102942Abstract: A system for removing seeds includes a track, one or more carts moveably disposed on the track, one or more sensors, a removing device, and a controller. The controller includes one or more processors, one or more memory modules, and machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to determine a location of one or more of one or more contaminated seeds and one or more contaminated plants on the one or more carts based on information received from the one or more sensors and instruct the removing device to remove one or more of the one or more contaminated seeds and the one or more contaminated plants based on the location.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2018Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: Grow Solutions Tech LLCInventor: Gary Bret Millar
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Patent number: 11096342Abstract: An assembly line grow pod includes a fluid source and a fluid distribution manifold. The fluid distribution manifold includes a fluid inlet, a plurality of fluid outlets, a plurality of valves coupled within the fluid outlets and movable between an open position and a closed position, a plurality of biasing assemblies coupled to the of valves to bias the valves in the closed position, and a plurality of tension rings coupled to the biasing assemblies to adjust an amount of biasing force applied by the biasing assemblies. Fluid from the fluid source having a fluid pressure that exceeds the biasing force causes the valves to move to the open position such that a specific amount of the fluid is ejected from the fluid outlets.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2018Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: Grow Solutions Tech LLCInventor: Gary Bret Millar
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Peristaltic pumps in an assembly line grow pod and methods of providing fluids via peristaltic pumps
Patent number: 11089742Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for providing a predetermined amount of fluid in an assembly line grow pod are provided. Some embodiments include an assembly line grow pod including a tray held by a cart supported on a track, the tray including at least one section. The assembly line grow pod further includes a fluid source and a watering station. The watering station includes a robot device having a movable arm and at least one peristaltic pump coupled to the arm, the peristaltic pump having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet fluidly coupled to the fluid source. A predetermined amount of fluid from the fluid source is delivered to the at least one section of the tray via movement of the movable arm of the robot device to align the outlet of the peristaltic pump with the at least one section and via ejection of the fluid from the outlet.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2018Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: Grow Solutions Tech LLCInventor: Gary Bret Millar -
Patent number: 11071266Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for providing and operating a valve control module and pressure valves in an assembly line grow pod are provided herein. Some embodiments include an assembly line grow pod having a plurality of fluid lines fluidly coupled between a fluid source and a fluid destination within the assembly line grow pod, a plurality of pressure valves, each coupled to a fluid line such that fluid pressure in the fluid lines is selectively controlled by the pressure valves, and a master controller communicatively coupled to the pressure valves. The master controller is programmed to receive information relating to fluid delivery within the assembly line grow pod, determine one or more pressure valves to direct the fluid, determine pressure valve parameters for each of the pressure valves that achieve the fluid pressurization, and transmit one or more control signals to the pressure valves for pressurizing the fluid within the assembly line grow pod.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2018Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: GROW SOLUTIONS TECH LLCInventors: Gary Bret Millar, Kevin Hurst
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Patent number: 11067524Abstract: A system for testing for contaminants in an assembly line grow pod includes a tray moving along a track arranged in an assembly line grow pod, a plurality of cells arranged on the tray and a contaminant sensor. Each cell supports seeds, plants, or both, and a selected cell includes side walls and a base that define a cavity. The contaminant sensor is arranged in the cavity of the selected cell. The contaminant sensor includes a sensing device and a control device. The sensing device directly senses a characteristic of a content present in association with the selected cell. The control device is coupled to the sensing device and operable to receive a signal from the sensing device. The control device may determine a likelihood of contamination based on the received signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2018Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: Grow Solutions Tech LLCInventor: Gary Bret Millar
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Publication number: 20210169014Abstract: An image capture system for a grow pod includes a master controller that has a processor, a memory, and cameras that are communicatively coupled to the master controller and positioned to capture images of plants or seeds. The memory stores a grow recipe and a logic. The grow recipe defines instructions for growing the plants or seeds and expected attributes corresponding to the instructions. The logic, when executed by the processor, causes the master controller to perform at least the following: receive, from the cameras, the images of the plants or seeds, determine attributes of the plants or seeds from the images, compare the attributes of the plants or seeds from the images to the expected attributes defined by the grow recipe, and adjust the instructions of the grow recipe for growing the plants or seeds based on the comparison of the attributes to the expected attributes.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2021Publication date: June 10, 2021Inventor: Gary Bret Millar