Patents by Inventor Joseph G. Porrazzo

Joseph G. Porrazzo 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).

  • Publication number: 20240324527
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein related to irrigation control. In some embodiments, a shared network of sensors gathers data, and then the data and/or analysis decisions are shared with irrigation devices at other properties. In some embodiments, non-irrigation water flow usage data at a given property can be used to optimize irrigation at the property. In some embodiments, non-irrigation water flow data is used to determine that more than one irrigation station can be run at the same time. In some embodiments, consent can be provided to a water authority for irrigation at a property to be controlled by irrigation schedules and/or schedule adjustments provided by the water authority. And in some embodiments, irrigation can be controlled or adjusted based on analysis of imagery data obtained at a site or property as irrigation is occurring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: John E. Price, Randy R. Montgomery, James R. Harris, Sean Fayazi-Azad, Joseph G. Porrazzo, JR., Steven M. Barendt
  • Publication number: 20240324526
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein related to programming irrigation controllers. In some embodiments, a system for programming irrigation controllers includes an irrigation control application stored on a memory of a mobile electronic device. The irrigation control application can allow the user to create, save, and edit an irrigation schedule template and allow the user to transmit the irrigation schedule template to one or more irrigation controllers. The irrigation control application can store the irrigation schedule template in the memory of the mobile electronic device, but the application does not save the irrigation schedule template at a remote irrigation server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Joseph G. Porrazzo, JR., James R. Harris
  • Publication number: 20240151563
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide an irrigation flow sensor system, comprising: a housing forming a fluid channel to cooperate with conduits of an irrigation system; a paddle wheel device with at least a first blade of a set of the blades comprises a magnetic element; the paddle wheel device is positioned with at least a portion of the blades extends into the fluid channel as the blades rotate about an axis; a magnetic sensor proximate a pathway of the magnetic element as it rotates configured to provide a sensor output every time the magnetic element passes the magnetic sensor; a switch coupled to the magnetic sensor and a current loop, wherein the switch in an activate state is configured to temporarily change the current in the current loop in response to the sensor output, with a rate of change in current corresponding to a flow rate of the fluid flowing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2024
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Steven D. Geerligs, Russell Churchill, Randy R. Montgomery, Chong Wang Kwak, Joseph G. Porrazzo, Jr., Michael A. Landis, Angel Reyes Archundia
  • Patent number: 11874149
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide an irrigation flow sensor system, comprising: a housing forming a fluid channel to cooperate with conduits of an irrigation system; a paddle wheel device with at least a first blade of a set of the blades comprises a magnetic element; the paddle wheel device is positioned with at least a portion of the blades extends into the fluid channel as the blades rotate about an axis; a magnetic sensor proximate a pathway of the magnetic element as it rotates configured to provide a sensor output every time the magnetic element passes the magnetic sensor; a switch coupled to the magnetic sensor and a current loop, wherein the switch in an activate state is configured to temporarily change the current in the current loop in response to the sensor output, with a rate of change in current corresponding to a flow rate of the fluid flowing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Steven D. Geerligs, Russell Churchill, Randy R. Montgomery, Chong Wang Kwak, Joseph G. Porrazzo, Jr., Michael A. Landis, Angel Reyes Archundia
  • Publication number: 20240012434
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system and method for interfacing with an irrigation controller based on rainfall, the system comprising: an interface unit including a housing and a control unit within the housing and configured to: cause an interruption of one or more watering schedules executed by the irrigation controller, which is separate from the interface unit, based on signaling received from a rain sensor including hygroscopic material, when a sensed expansion of the hygroscopic material is above a set rainfall accumulation threshold parameter, the rain sensor being separate from the interface unit and the hygroscopic material being configured to expand in response to being contacted by the rainfall and to contract in response to an absence of the rainfall; and remove the interruption after a completion of a predetermined interval of time after a sensed contraction of the hygroscopic material indicative of a rainfall stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Steven W. Weiler, Joseph G. Porrazzo, JR.
  • Patent number: 11803198
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system and method for interfacing with an irrigation controller based on rainfall, the system comprising: an interface unit including a housing and a control unit within the housing and configured to: cause an interruption of one or more watering schedules executed by the irrigation controller, which is separate from the interface unit, based on signaling received from a rain sensor including hygroscopic material, when a sensed expansion of the hygroscopic material is above a set rainfall accumulation threshold parameter, the rain sensor being separate from the interface unit and the hygroscopic material being configured to expand in response to being contacted by the rainfall and to contract in response to an absence of the rainfall; and remove the interruption after a completion of a predetermined interval of time after a sensed contraction of the hygroscopic material indicative of a rainfall stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Steven W. Weiler, Joseph G. Porrazzo, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20220004207
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system and method for interfacing with an irrigation controller based on rainfall, the system comprising: an interface unit including a housing and a control unit within the housing and configured to: cause an interruption of one or more watering schedules executed by the irrigation controller, which is separate from the interface unit, based on signaling received from a rain sensor including hygroscopic material, when a sensed expansion of the hygroscopic material is above a set rainfall accumulation threshold parameter, the rain sensor being separate from the interface unit and the hygroscopic material being configured to expand in response to being contacted by the rainfall and to contract in response to an absence of the rainfall; and remove the interruption after a completion of a predetermined interval of time after a sensed contraction of the hygroscopic material indicative of a rainfall stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Steven W. Weiler, Joseph G. Porrazzo, JR.
  • Publication number: 20210392829
    Abstract: In some embodiments, provide an irrigation sensor system, comprising: a rain funnel comprising an upper opening and at least one wall tapering from the upper opening to a lower aperture; and a tipping bucket positioned to receive water falling from the lower aperture while the tipping bucket is positioned such that a central longitudinal axis of the tipping bucket is not aligned with an axis extending through the lower aperture of the funnel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Jorge A. Marsano, Joseph G. Porrazzo, John E. Price, Hari Reddy
  • Publication number: 20210333135
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide an irrigation flow sensor system, comprising: a housing forming a fluid channel to cooperate with conduits of an irrigation system; a paddle wheel device with at least a first blade of a set of the blades comprises a magnetic element; the paddle wheel device is positioned with at least a portion of the blades extends into the fluid channel as the blades rotate about an axis; a magnetic sensor proximate a pathway of the magnetic element as it rotates configured to provide a sensor output every time the magnetic element passes the magnetic sensor; a switch coupled to the magnetic sensor and a current loop, wherein the switch in an activate state is configured to temporarily change the current in the current loop in response to the sensor output, with a rate of change in current corresponding to a flow rate of the fluid flowing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Steven D. Geerligs, Russell Churchill, Randy R. Montgomery, Chong Wang Kwak, Joseph G. Porrazzo, JR., Michael A. Landis
  • Patent number: 11119513
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system and method for interfacing with an irrigation controller based on rainfall, the system comprising: an interface unit including a housing and a control unit within the housing and configured to: cause an interruption of one or more watering schedules executed by the irrigation controller, which is separate from the interface unit, based on signaling received from a rain sensor including hygroscopic material, when a sensed expansion of the hygroscopic material is above a set rainfall accumulation threshold parameter, the rain sensor being separate from the interface unit and the hygroscopic material being configured to expand in response to being contacted by the rainfall and to contract in response to an absence of the rainfall; and remove the interruption after a completion of a predetermined interval of time after a sensed contraction of the hygroscopic material indicative of a rainfall stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Steven W. Weiler, Joseph G. Porrazzo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11006589
    Abstract: In some embodiments, provide an irrigation sensor system, comprising: a rain funnel comprising an upper opening and at least one wall tapering from the upper opening to a lower aperture; and a tipping bucket positioned to receive water falling from the lower aperture while the tipping bucket is positioned such that a central longitudinal axis of the tipping bucket is not aligned with an axis extending through the lower aperture of the funnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Jorge A. Marsano, Joseph G. Porrazzo, John E. Price, Hari Reddy
  • Publication number: 20200012299
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system and method for interfacing with an irrigation controller based on rainfall, the system comprising: an interface unit including a housing and a control unit within the housing and configured to: cause an interruption of one or more watering schedules executed by the irrigation controller, which is separate from the interface unit, based on signaling received from a rain sensor including hygroscopic material, when a sensed expansion of the hygroscopic material is above a set rainfall accumulation threshold parameter, the rain sensor being separate from the interface unit and the hygroscopic material being configured to expand in response to being contacted by the rainfall and to contract in response to an absence of the rainfall; and remove the interruption after a completion of a predetermined interval of time after a sensed contraction of the hygroscopic material indicative of a rainfall stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Steven W. Weiler, Joseph G. Porrazzo, JR.
  • Patent number: 10444769
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system and method for interfacing with an irrigation controller based on rainfall, the system comprising: an interface unit including a housing and a control unit within the housing and configured to: cause an interruption of one or more watering schedules executed by the irrigation controller, which is separate from the interface unit, based on signaling received from a rain sensor including hygroscopic material, when a sensed expansion of the hygroscopic material is above a set rainfall accumulation threshold parameter, the rain sensor being separate from the interface unit and the hygroscopic material being configured to expand in response to being contacted by the rainfall and to contract in response to an absence of the rainfall; and remove the interruption after a completion of a predetermined interval of time after a sensed contraction of the hygroscopic material indicative of a rainfall stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Steven W. Weiler, Joseph G. Porrazzo, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20190200547
    Abstract: In some embodiments, provide an irrigation sensor system, comprising: a rain funnel comprising an upper opening and at least one wall tapering from the upper opening to a lower aperture; and a tipping bucket positioned to receive water falling from the lower aperture while the tipping bucket is positioned such that a central longitudinal axis of the tipping bucket is not aligned with an axis extending through the lower aperture of the funnel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Jorge A. Marsano, Joseph G. Porrazzo, John E. Price, Hari Reddy
  • Publication number: 20180307253
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system and method for interfacing with an irrigation controller based on rainfall, the system comprising: an interface unit including a housing and a control unit within the housing and configured to: cause an interruption of one or more watering schedules executed by the irrigation controller, which is separate from the interface unit, based on signaling received from a rain sensor including hygroscopic material, when a sensed expansion of the hygroscopic material is above a set rainfall accumulation threshold parameter, the rain sensor being separate from the interface unit and the hygroscopic material being configured to expand in response to being contacted by the rainfall and to contract in response to an absence of the rainfall; and remove the interruption after a completion of a predetermined interval of time after a sensed contraction of the hygroscopic material indicative of a rainfall stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Steven W. Weiler, Joseph G. Porrazzo, JR.
  • Patent number: D890106
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Price, Joseph G. Porrazzo, Jr., Scott M. Cline, Edward M. Gandelman
  • Patent number: D891376
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Price, Joseph G. Porrazzo, Jr., Scott M. Cline, Edward M. Gandelman