Abstract: A sprinkler controller is cooperable with a sprinkler assembly that receives fluid input from a pipe span. The sprinkler controller includes a microcontroller circuit, a motion sensor coupled with the microcontroller circuit, and a valve assembly including a modulator coupled with the microcontroller circuit and a valve coupled with the sprinkler assembly. The valve meters or controls an amount of fluid output from the sprinkler assembly, and the microcontroller circuit is programmed to control the valve assembly based on input from the motion sensor. With a series of sprinkler controllers in a center pivot irrigation system, the drop numbers for each of the sprinkler assemblies can be determined based on input from the motion sensors.

Abstract: An irrigation system includes a network hub and a plurality of remote terminal units configured for wireless communication with the network hub. The remote terminal units are connected to a device for irrigation control or sensing, such as a valve for a sprinkler. The network hub is configured to transmit a wireless broadcast to the remote terminal units, in which the wireless broadcast includes a plurality of individual packets transmitted in succession, each of the plurality of individual packets including a network identifier associated with the network hub, a time remaining in a broadcast period of time, and an assignment map indicative of an assigned state for each of the plurality of remote terminal units.

Abstract: This disclosure includes a compact directional antenna array that has a low profile, is easy to deploy and provides a directional response over a wide range of frequencies. The array includes one or more pairs of equal length conductors that are arranged radially about the center of the array. The conductors follow the surface of a lossy medium and are each referenced to a conductive rod that is inserted into the medium. The directional response of the array is selectable by means of a series of configurable relays or switches that route some signals through a delay network to a combiner and other signals directly to the combiner.

Abstract: An irrigation system includes a network hub and a plurality of remote terminal units configured for wireless communication with the network hub. The remote terminal units are connected to a device for irrigation control or sensing, such as a valve for a sprinkler. The network hub is configured to transmit a wireless broadcast to the remote terminal units, in which the wireless broadcast includes a plurality of individual packets transmitted in succession, each of the plurality of individual packets including a network identifier associated with the network hub, a time remaining in a broadcast period of time, and an assignment map indicative of an assigned state for each of the plurality of remote terminal units.

Abstract: An irrigation system includes a network hub and a plurality of remote terminal units configured for wireless communication with the network hub. The remote terminal units are connected to a device for irrigation control or sensing, such as a valve for a sprinkler. The network hub is configured to transmit a wireless broadcast to the remote terminal units, in which the wireless broadcast includes a plurality of individual packets transmitted in succession, each of the plurality of individual packets including a network identifier associated with the network hub, a time remaining in a broadcast period of time, and an assignment map indicative of an assigned state for each of the plurality of remote terminal units.

Abstract: This disclosure includes a compact directional antenna array that has a low profile, is easy to deploy and provides a directional response over a wide range of frequencies. The array includes one or more pairs of equal length conductors that are arranged radially about the center of the array. The conductors follow the surface of a lossy medium and are each referenced to a conductive rod that is inserted into the medium. The directional response of the array is selectable by means of a series of configurable relays or switches that route some signals through a delay network to a combiner and other signals directly to the combiner.

Abstract: An irrigation system includes a network hub and a plurality of remote terminal units configured for wireless communication with the network hub. The remote terminal units are connected to a device for irrigation control or sensing, such as a valve for a sprinkler. The network hub is configured to transmit a wireless broadcast to the remote terminal units, in which the wireless broadcast includes a plurality of individual packets transmitted in succession, each of the plurality of individual packets including a network identifier associated with the network hub, a time remaining in a broadcast period of time, and an assignment map indicative of an assigned state for each of the plurality of remote terminal units.

Abstract: Methods for recovering manganese etchant solutions are provided wherein a process solution used to rinse or neutralize a nonconductive substrate after etching the substrate is collected and evaporated to provide a concentrated process solution that is fed back into the manganese etchant solution or acid rinse.

Abstract: An irrigation control system having an irrigation controller with a unique identifier and configured to execute irrigation schedules, collect, store and forward watering metrics and determine global time, together with a power source, a global time receiver in communication with the microcontroller and configured to provide time from an outside source to the microcontroller and a transceiver in communication with the microcontroller configured to send messages including its unique identifier, predefined irrigation schedules, stored watering metrics and current global time. The system further includes a mobile computer having a microprocessor, a wireless transceiver configured to receive the messages from the irrigation controller transceiver and transmit instructions to the irrigation controller via a communication link and a memory coupled to the microprocessor and configured to store predefined irrigation schedules, and watering metrics.

Abstract: Methods for recovering manganese etchant solutions are provided wherein a process solution used to rinse or neutralize a nonconductive substrate after etching the substrate is collected and evaporated to provide a concentrated process solution that is fed back into the manganese etchant solution or acid rinse.

Abstract: Methods for recovering manganese etchant solutions are provided wherein a process solution used to rinse or neutralize a nonconductive substrate after etching the substrate is collected and evaporated to provide a concentrated process solution that is fed back into the manganese etchant solution or acid rinse.

Abstract: An irrigation control system having an irrigation controller with a unique identifier and configured to execute irrigation schedules, collect, store and forward watering metrics and determine global time, together with a power source, a global time receiver in communication with the microcontroller and configured to provide time from an outside source to the microcontroller and a transceiver in communication with the microcontroller configured to send messages including its unique identifier, predefined irrigation schedules, stored watering metrics and current global time. The system further includes a mobile computer having a microprocessor, a wireless transceiver configured to receive the messages from the irrigation controller transceiver and transmit instructions to the irrigation controller via a communication link and a memory coupled to the microprocessor and configured to store predefined irrigation schedules, and watering metrics.

Abstract: An irrigation control system having an irrigation controller with a unique identifier and configured to execute irrigation schedules, collect, store and forward watering metrics and determine global time, together with a power source, a global time receiver in communication with the microcontroller and configured to provide time from an outside source to the microcontroller and a transceiver in communication with the microcontroller configured to send messages including its unique identifier, predefined irrigation schedules, stored watering metrics and current global time. The system further includes a mobile computer having a microprocessor, a wireless transceiver configured to receive the messages from the irrigation controller transceiver and transmit instructions to the irrigation controller via a communication link and a memory coupled to the microprocessor and configured to store predefined irrigation schedules, and watering metrics.

Abstract: Methods and systems for removing water from a manganese-based etchant bath are disclosed. Water is removed from the manganese-based etchant bath by transferring a portion of the manganese-based etchant bath to a vacuum evaporator for processing and transferring the concentrated portion of the manganese-based etchant bath back to the manganese-based etchant bath.

Abstract: Methods for recovering manganese etchant solutions are provided wherein a process solution used to rinse or neutralize a nonconductive substrate after etching the substrate is collected and evaporated to provide a concentrated process solution that is fed back into the manganese etchant solution or acid rinse.

Abstract: An advertisement blocker circumvention method has the steps of a user device requesting content from the content publisher, wherein the content is embedded with a circumvention loader and at least one advertising call; the content publisher serving the content to the user device; the user device constructing a DOM heirarchy by parsing the content into object components; an adblocker intercepting and blocking the one or more advertisement calls; the circumvention loader detecting the presence of the adblocker; the circumvention loader identifying ad placements and issuing an obfuscated advertisement call containing an advertising call, to a circumvention proxy that is a reverse proxy; the circumvention proxy extracting an advertisement call from the obfuscated advertising call, and issuing the advertisement call to receive the advertisement; the circumvention proxy providing the advertisement to the circumvention loader; and the circumvention loader displaying the ad on the user device.

Abstract: An advertisement blocker circumvention method has the steps of a user device requesting content from the content publisher, wherein the content is embedded with a circumvention loader and at least one advertising call, the circumvention loader detecting the presence of the adblocker, detecting presence of an advertisement blocker, unblocking blocked content, displaying an ask prompt on the user device, lifting restrictions, limiting access, and reinserting trackable resources. In an embodiment, unblocking blocked content comprises unblocking a user-selected portion of the blocked content. In a further embodiment, the ask prompt comprises a user-selectable option comprising “Block Ad”, “Block Ads,” and “Block All Ads.

Abstract: An agile irrigation controller enables any number of programs to be added, limited only by available memory, and is similarly adaptable to control any number of valves or similar irrigation devices in a network. Stored programs within the memory include pointers to next programs in memory, linking the programs together. The memory further stores groups of valves, with links to additional groups of valves.

Abstract: An irrigation control system having an irrigation controller with a unique identifier and configured to execute irrigation schedules, collect, store and forward watering metrics and determine global time, together with a power source, a global time receiver in communication with the microcontroller and configured to provide time from an outside source to the microcontroller and a transceiver in communication with the microcontroller configured to send messages including its unique identifier, predefined irrigation schedules, stored watering metrics and current global time. The system further includes a mobile computer having a microprocessor, a wireless transceiver configured to receive the messages from the irrigation controller transceiver and transmit instructions to the irrigation controller via a communication link and a memory coupled to the microprocessor and configured to store predefined irrigation schedules, and watering metrics.

Abstract: A linear irrigation system includes a linear irrigator movable in a first direction along a path of travel and including plural towers supporting a truss assembly extending laterally in a direction substantially perpendicular to the path of travel. The truss assembly carries a plurality of sprinklers connected to a water supply pipe. A plurality of hydrants are spaced along the water supply pipe, each hydrant having a valve, and a pair of laterally adjacent trolleys are mounted on an elongated frame for movement in two opposite directions, each trolley having a docking station and hydrant valve actuator, the docking stations resiliently suspended from said trolleys for movement in at least three mutually perpendicular directions and adapted to engage and disengage, successively, the plurality of hydrants on the supply pipe extending below and between the pair of trolleys. The trolleys and docking stations may be carried on a mobile cart or incorporated into the linear irrigator.