Abstract: A cassette system includes a base assembly and a cassette assembly configured to secure one or more batteries. The cassette assembly includes a battery case and a first electrical connector configured to couple to the one or more batteries. The base assembly is configured to include a wireless communication deice configured to control actuation of one or more sprinkler valves and a second electrical connector configured to electrically couple to the wireless communication device. The first electrical connector and the second electrical connector are configured to electrically couple responsive to the cassette assembly being removably attached to the base assembly.

Abstract: An in-line, impeller type flowmeter having an inlet flow taper section to converge flow to a measurement chamber and an outlet flow taper section after the measurement chamber, and further exhibiting a high turn-down ratio above about 30:1, and being suitable for use with a pipe having a nominal inner diameter no greater than one inch.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments of the invention include methods and systems for upgrading an existing irrigation system to increase its sensing and control capability without requiring extensive rewiring. A controller module is installed between an irrigation controller and a zone valve and physically proximate to the irrigation controller without disturbing most of the existing wiring between the irrigation controller and the zone valve. A field module is installed between the controller module and the zone valve without disturbing most of the existing wiring between the irrigation controller and the zone valve. The controller module and field module are the communicatively coupled primarily using the existing wiring. The controller module may encode commands transmitted to the field module and/or decode encoded data transmitted from the field module. The field module may encode data transmitted to the controller module and/or decode encoded commands transmitted from the controller module.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments of the invention include methods and systems for upgrading an existing irrigation system to increase its sensing and control capability without requiring extensive rewiring. A controller module is installed between an irrigation controller and a zone valve and physically proximate to the irrigation controller without disturbing most of the existing wiring between the irrigation controller and the zone valve. A field module is installed between the controller module and the zone valve without disturbing most of the existing wiring between the irrigation controller and the zone valve. The controller module and field module are the communicatively coupled primarily using the existing wiring. The controller module may encode commands transmitted to the field module and/or decode encoded data transmitted from the field module. The field module may encode data transmitted to the controller module and/or decode encoded commands transmitted from the controller module.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus and methods for in-line testing for leaks in flexible containers traveling along a production line at high speeds. The apparatus inspects semi-rigid plastic containers at a high capacity by using multiple sensors at fixed displacements along a compression section while analyzing the response of the sensors such that internal pressure decays of leaky containers are readily discernible without interrupting the flow of the production line.

Abstract: A flow sensor using induction pickup and having an improved paddle wheel type impeller within an impeller housing having a concave opening defining a protective skirt area for shielding a portion of the paddle wheel and a stem of the paddle wheel with a varying thickness for reducing cavitational backflow and therefore achieving a precise measurement of the fluid flow velocity and a high turndown ratio is disclosed.

Abstract: A position sensing computer input device including a sensor with a sensing surface including a conductive sheet on which a human touch and the touch of an inanimate object may both be sensed. The device is able to discriminate between the two types of touch for allowing input with at least one of an inanimate object and a human touch.

Abstract: The internal pressure of a sealed container is characterized by tapping to vibrate a wall of the container, and then basing the characterization of the internal pressure on a frequency spectrum of the vibration and stored data measured from vibrating other sealed containers. The stored data is generated by vibrating a series of tests controllers having different, known internal pressures.