Patents by Inventor Matthew E. Piper

Matthew E. Piper 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).

  • Patent number: 8650069
    Abstract: The efficiency of an irrigation system on a property is determined as a difference between the actual water usage at a property and the irrigation water need of the plant on the property. Data for the property are received including at least the location and irrigation area of the property. A reference evapotranspiration value for the property is determined using the solar radiation data derived from the location of the property. The irrigation water need of the property is then calculated from the reference evapotranspiration value and area. The irrigation water need is compared to the actual water use at the property to determined the efficiency of the irrigation system operating thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Telsco Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Lex M. Mason, Sr., Matthew E. Piper, Michael B. Bruner, Donald L. Cooper, William L. Savelle
  • Patent number: 8494683
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system, method and software program product for detecting and counteracting a temperature sensor failure with an irrigation controller operating in auto adjust watering mode. A plurality of pseudo temperature data are created from solar radiation for a particular location using unique pseudo temperature conversions for each temperature parameter. The pseudo temperature values can be compared to corresponding measured temperature values from the sensor to validate the integrity of the measurement. These pseudo temperature values are used in place of the measured temperatures for calculating a potential evapotranspiration water deficit for the site. Furthermore, if some valid measured temperature data existed prior to the sensor failure, the measured temperature data is compared to the corresponding pseudo temperature data. Any differences detected between the two values can be used to correct the pseudo temperature toward the measure temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Telsco Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew E. Piper, Venkataramu L. Bangalore
  • Publication number: 20120072036
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system, method and software program product for detecting and counteracting a temperature sensor failure with an irrigation controller operating in auto adjust watering mode. A plurality of pseudo temperature data are created from solar radiation for a particular location using unique pseudo temperature conversions for each temperature parameter. The pseudo temperature values can be compared to corresponding measured temperature values from the sensor to validate the integrity of the measurement. These pseudo temperature values are used in place of the measured temperatures for calculating a potential evapotranspiration water deficit for the site. Furthermore, if some valid measured temperature data existed prior to the sensor failure, the measured temperature data is compared to the corresponding pseudo temperature data. Any differences detected between the two values can be used to correct the pseudo temperature toward the measure temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Matthew E. Piper, Venkataramu L. Bangalore
  • Publication number: 20110137827
    Abstract: The efficiency of an irrigation system on a property is determined as a difference between the actual water usage at a property and the irrigation water need of the plant on the property. Data for the property are received including at least the location and irrigation area of the property. A reference evapotranspiration value for the property is determined using the solar radiation data derived from the location of the property. The irrigation water need of the property is then calculated from the reference evapotranspiration value and area. The irrigation water need is compared to the actual water use at the property to determined the efficiency of the irrigation system operating thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventors: Lex M. Mason, SR., Matthew E. Piper, Michael B. Bruner, Donald L. Cooper, William Savelle