Patents by Inventor Levente L. Klein
Levente L. Klein 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: 9241449Abstract: A method of operating a drip irrigation system is provided and includes providing drip irrigation lines aside a diverter line with T-junctions interleaved between adjacent ones of the drip irrigation lines and each T-junction including a three-way line coupled to the diverter line, a check valve operably disposable between the three-way line and a downstream end of an upstream one of the drip irrigation lines to permit fluid flow in only a forward direction and a controllable valve operably disposable between the three-way line and an upstream end of a downstream one of the drip irrigation lines.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2013Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Hendrik F. Hamann, Levente L. Klein, Sergio A. Bermudez Rodriguez, Michael A. Schappert
-
Patent number: 9179610Abstract: A controllable emitter of an irrigation apparatus including a drip line and a control station configured to control a pressure of pressurized fluid in the drip line is provided. The controllable emitter is disposable along the drip line and includes a container coupled to the drip line, the container being formed to define an interior and including an inlet through which the pressurized fluid is receivable in the interior from the drip line and an outlet through which the pressurized fluid is exhaustible from the interior, a piston, including a magnetic element, disposed at least partially in the container to occupy a position in accordance with the pressure of the pressurized fluid and a sensor configured to sense a position of the magnetic element and to communicate a sensed position to the control station.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2013Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Hendrik F. Hamann, Levente L. Klein, Sergio A. Bermudez Rodriguez, Michael A. Schappert, Alejandro G. Schrott
-
Patent number: 9173353Abstract: An irrigation system including a diverter line is provided. The system includes drip irrigation lines, T-junctions interleaved between adjacent drip irrigation lines, each T-junction including a three-way line coupled to the diverter line, a check valve operably disposable between the three-way line and a downstream end of an upstream one of the drip irrigation lines to permit fluid flow in only a forward direction and a controllable valve operably disposable between the three-way line and an upstream end of a downstream one of the drip irrigation lines. The controllable valve is operable to permit fluid flow in only the forward direction and to prevent the fluid flow.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2013Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Hendrik F. Hamann, Levente L. Klein, Sergio A. Bermudez Rodriguez, Michael A. Schappert
-
Patent number: 9167757Abstract: An irrigation system is provided and includes a main irrigation line, one or more lateral driplines, each lateral dripline being divided into zones and including a plurality of emitters at each zone and a plurality of controllable valves disposed along each of the one or more lateral driplines at zone borders. Each one of the plurality of controllable valves is actuatable to activate corresponding emitters in the associated zone in a zone by zone cycle and each one of the plurality of emitters is replaceable to vary an amount of deliverable fluid by the zone by zone cycle.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2013Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Hendrik F. Hamann, Levente L. Klein, Sergio A. Bermudez Rodriguez, Michael A. Schappert
-
Patent number: 9149011Abstract: A controllable emitter of an irrigation apparatus including a drip line having pressurized fluid therein is provided. The controllable emitter includes a container coupled to the drip line, the container being formed to define an interior and including an inlet through which the pressurized fluid is receivable in the interior from the drip line and an outlet through which the pressurized fluid is exhaustible from the interior, a magnetic stopper, which is normally disposable in a first position such that the magnetic stopper prevents a flow of the pressurized fluid through the outlet and which is actively disposable in a second position such that the magnetic stopper permits the flow and a controllable actuator configured to generate a magnetic field operable to urge the magnetic stopper to move from the first position to the second position.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2013Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Hendrik F. Hamann, Levente L. Klein, Sergio A. Bermudez Rodriguez, Michael A. Schappert, Alejandro G. Schrott
-
Publication number: 20150189195Abstract: An imaging system and use thereof for large-area monitoring with very high temporal resolution are provided. In one aspect, an imaging system includes a camera equipped with curved optics having a field of view of from about 0.01 miles to about 1.5 miles; and interchangeable light filters positioned in front of the camera configured to change one or more of an intensity and an amplitude of light captured by the imaging system. The curved optics may include a hemispherical mirror configured to reflect an image of objects in front of the mirror, and the camera may be positioned facing a reflective surface of the hemispherical mirror so as to capture the image reflected in the hemispherical mirror. Alternatively, the curved optics may include a fisheye lens mounted to the camera. An imaging network of the present imaging systems and a method for use thereof for thermal monitoring are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2013Publication date: July 2, 2015Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Hendrik F. Hamann, Levente L. Klein, Sergio A. Bermudez Rodriguez
-
Publication number: 20140252112Abstract: An irrigation system including a diverter line is provided. The system includes drip irrigation lines, T-junctions interleaved between adjacent drip irrigation lines, each T-junction including a three-way line coupled to the diverter line, a check valve operably disposable between the three-way line and a downstream end of an upstream one of the drip irrigation lines to permit fluid flow in only a forward direction and a controllable valve operably disposable between the three-way line and an upstream end of a downstream one of the drip irrigation lines. The controllable valve is operable to permit fluid flow in only the forward direction and to prevent the fluid flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2013Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Hendrik F. Hamann, Levente L. Klein, Sergio A. Bermudez Rodriguez, Michael A. Schappert
-
Publication number: 20140252103Abstract: A method of operating a drip irrigation system is provided and includes providing drip irrigation lines aside a diverter line with T-junctions interleaved between adjacent ones of the drip irrigation lines and each T-junction including a three-way line coupled to the diverter line, a check valve operably disposable between the three-way line and a downstream end of an upstream one of the drip irrigation lines to permit fluid flow in only a forward direction and a controllable valve operably disposable between the three-way line and an upstream end of a downstream one of the drip irrigation lines.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2013Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Hendrik F. Hamann, Levente L. Klein, Sergio A. Bermudez Rodriguez, Michael A. Schappert
-
Publication number: 20140252113Abstract: An irrigation system is provided and includes a main irrigation line, one or more lateral driplines, each lateral dripline being divided into zones and including a plurality of emitters at each zone and a plurality of controllable valves disposed along each of the one or more lateral driplines at zone borders. Each one of the plurality of controllable valves is actuatable to activate corresponding emitters in the associated zone in a zone by zone cycle and each one of the plurality of emitters is replaceable to vary an amount of deliverable fluid by the zone by zone cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2013Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Hendrik F. Hamann, Levente L. Klein, Sergio A. Bermudez Rodriguez, Michael A. Schappert
-
Publication number: 20140252133Abstract: A controllable emitter of an irrigation apparatus including a drip line and a control station configured to control a pressure of pressurized fluid in the drip line is provided. The controllable emitter is disposable along the drip line and includes a container coupled to the drip line, the container being formed to define an interior and including an inlet through which the pressurized fluid is receivable in the interior from the drip line and an outlet through which the pressurized fluid is exhaustible from the interior, a piston, including a magnetic element, disposed at least partially in the container to occupy a position in accordance with the pressure of the pressurized fluid and a sensor configured to sense a position of the magnetic element and to communicate a sensed position to the control station.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2013Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Hendrik F. Hamann, Levente L. Klein, Sergio A. Bermudez Rodriguez, Michael A. Schappert, Alejandro G. Schrott
-
Publication number: 20140252117Abstract: A controllable emitter of an irrigation apparatus including a drip line having pressurized fluid therein is provided. The controllable emitter includes a container coupled to the drip line, the container being formed to define an interior and including an inlet through which the pressurized fluid is receivable in the interior from the drip line and an outlet through which the pressurized fluid is exhaustible from the interior, a magnetic stopper, which is normally disposable in a first position such that the magnetic stopper prevents a flow of the pressurized fluid through the outlet and which is actively disposable in a second position such that the magnetic stopper permits the flow and a controllable actuator configured to generate a magnetic field operable to urge the magnetic stopper to move from the first position to the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2013Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Hendrik F. Hamann, Levente L. Klein, Sergio A. Bermudez Rodriguez, Michael A. Schappert, Alejandro G. Schrott
-
Publication number: 20120038377Abstract: Corrosion sensor apparatus are disclosed for detection of contamination affecting metal based components and devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2010Publication date: February 16, 2012Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Hendrik F. Hamann, Levente L. Klein, Michael A. Schappert, Prabjit Singh