Patents by Inventor Bruce E. Mikkelson

Bruce E. Mikkelson 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: 11234381
    Abstract: A turf management system for a multi-climate environment including respective micro-climates at different green surfaces that are remote from one another includes a plurality of local control circuits including respective communication interfaces that are configured to receive sensor data from environmental sensors that are locally positioned at the different green surfaces, and a central control circuit that is configured to be communicatively coupled to the local control circuits. The central control circuit includes a network interface that is configured to receive data indicating differing local conditions at the respective micro-climates from the local control circuits, and a processor that is configured to aggregate the data indicating the differing local conditions at the respective micro-climates for output to a user interface. Related circuits, methods of operation, and computer program products are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: SubAir Systems LLC
    Inventor: Bruce E. Mikkelson
  • Patent number: 10975534
    Abstract: A turf management system includes a wireless receiver that is configured to receive respective wireless signals comprising sensor data from wireless sensors positioned in a soil profile at respective depths below a green surface. A control circuit is coupled to the wireless receiver and is configured to determine soil profile conditions at the respective depths below the green surface responsive to the sensor data. The control circuit is coupled to a subsoil environmental control mechanism and is configured to automatically control operation of the subsoil environmental control mechanism responsive to the soil profile conditions at the respective depths below the green surface. The subsoil environmental control mechanism may include a hydronic mechanism that is configured to circulate fluid through a hydronic tubing network below the green surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: SubAir Systems LLC
    Inventor: Bruce E. Mikkelson
  • Patent number: 10577755
    Abstract: A turf management system includes a wireless receiver that is configured to receive respective wireless signals comprising sensor data from wireless sensors positioned in a soil profile at respective depths below a green surface. A control circuit is coupled to the wireless receiver and is configured to determine soil profile conditions at the respective depths below the green surface responsive to the sensor data. The control circuit is coupled to a subsoil environmental control mechanism and is configured to automatically control operation of the subsoil environmental control mechanism responsive to the soil profile conditions at the respective depths below the green surface. The subsoil environmental control mechanism may include an airflow mechanism that is configured to alter airflow below the green surface, and/or a hydronic mechanism that is configured to circulate fluid through a hydronic tubing network below the green surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: SubAir Systems LLC
    Inventor: Bruce E. Mikkelson