Patents Assigned to Digital Sun, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8812007
    Abstract: A wireless sensor probe for use in environmental monitoring and control includes a separable probe body and sensor mast. The probe body includes a void configured to house the sensor mast including one or more sensor devices for sensing a soil property surrounding the probe body when the probe body is inserted partially into the ground. The probe body includes a probe top part for encapsulating the probe body and the sensor mast. The sensor mast is inserted into the probe body to form the sensor probe. In another embodiment, a wireless sensor probe includes a housing containing one or more sensor devices. The probe further includes a collar situated near a top portion of the housing being used to anchor the housing to the top of the ground and a gasket formed on the outside perimeter of the housing for securing the housing in the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Digital Sun, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale K. Hitt, Kurtis G. Heaton
  • Patent number: 8215570
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method to control the flow duration and the flow rate of each individual sprinkler head wirelessly in each zone of an automatic sprinkler system. The system comprises a plurality of sensors, preferably wireless, to control the sprinkler heads, either directly or through a controller. The system enables precise control over irrigation times for the areas covered by each sprinkler head. The system also enables each sprinkler head to control its on/off and duration decisions based on receiving data from a sensor within an irrigation zone of an automatic sprinkler system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Digital Sun, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale K. Hitt
  • Patent number: 8104993
    Abstract: A wireless sensor probe for use in environmental monitoring and control includes a separable probe body and sensor mast. The probe body includes a void configured to house the sensor mast including one or more sensor devices for sensing a soil property surrounding the probe body when the probe body is inserted partially into the ground. The probe body includes a probe top part for encapsulating the probe body and the sensor mast. The sensor mast is inserted into the probe body to form the sensor probe. In another embodiment, a wireless sensor probe includes a housing containing one or more sensor devices. The probe further includes a collar situated near a top portion of the housing being used to anchor the housing to the top of the ground and a gasket formed on the outside perimeter of the housing for securing the housing in the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Digital Sun, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale K. Hitt, Kurtis G. Heaton
  • Patent number: 7788970
    Abstract: A wireless sensor probe for use in environmental monitoring and control includes a separable probe body and sensor mast. The probe body includes a void configured to house the sensor mast including one or more sensor devices for sensing a soil property surrounding the probe body when the probe body is inserted partially into the ground. The probe body includes a probe top part for encapsulating the probe body and the sensor mast. The sensor mast is inserted into the probe body to form the sensor probe. In another embodiment, a wireless sensor probe includes a housing containing one or more sensor devices. The probe further includes a collar situated near a top portion of the housing being used to anchor the housing to the top of the ground and a gasket formed on the outside perimeter of the housing for securing the housing in the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Digital Sun, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale K. Hitt, Kurtis G. Heaton
  • Patent number: 7789321
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method to control the flow duration and the flow rate of each individual sprinkler head wirelessly in each zone of an automatic sprinkler system. The system comprises a plurality of sensors, preferably wireless, to control the sprinkler heads, either directly or through a controller. The system enables precise control over irrigation times for the areas covered by each sprinkler head. The system also enables each sprinkler head to control its on/off and duration decisions based on receiving data from a sensor within an irrigation zone of an automatic sprinkler system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Digital Sun, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale K. Hitt
  • Patent number: 7339957
    Abstract: A method for providing environmental monitoring and control includes providing a network of wireless nodes, the wireless nodes includes an array of sensor nodes and an array of actuator nodes, each wireless node including a wireless transceiver, a processor and one of a sensor device or an actuator device. In one embodiment, the receiver wireless node schedules the time slot for the next transmission by sending an acknowledgement message from the receiver wireless node to the sender wireless node including a time slot for the next scheduled transmission. The wireless nodes are turned off until the next scheduled time slot when the wireless nodes are turned on synchronously. In another embodiment, the sender wireless node schedules the next transmission by sending a message including a time slot for the next scheduled transmission and the receiver wireless node sends an acknowledgement message acknowledging the selected time slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Digital Sun, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale K. Hitt