Patents by Inventor Nicholas N. Lapshov

Nicholas N. Lapshov 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: 11630431
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide irrigation controllers comprising: a housing; a control unit including a first microcontroller configured to execute irrigation programs and a first set of code; and a removable plug-in device that removably mates with a portion of the irrigation controller and communicationally couples to the first microcontroller, wherein the plug-in device comprises a memory storing a second set of code to replace at least a portion of the first set of code, wherein the plug-in device is configured to re-flash at least a portion of the first set of code allowing a copy of the second set of code to overwrite at least the portion of the first set of code; wherein the first set of code comprises a bootloader that writes the copy of the second set of code over the first set of code with the exception of the bootloader that is not written over.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Harvey J. Nickerson, Russel Dean Leatherman, James R. Musselman, Andrew M. Nguyen, Nicholas N. Lapshov
  • Publication number: 20220026869
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide irrigation controllers comprising: a housing; a control unit including a first microcontroller configured to execute irrigation programs and a first set of code; and a removable plug-in device that removably mates with a portion of the irrigation controller and communicationally couples to the first microcontroller, wherein the plug-in device comprises a memory storing a second set of code to replace at least a portion of the first set of code, wherein the plug-in device is configured to re-flash at least a portion of the first set of code allowing a copy of the second set of code to overwrite at least the portion of the first set of code; wherein the first set of code comprises a bootloader that writes the copy of the second set of code over the first set of code with the exception of the bootloader that is not written over.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Harvey J. Nickerson, Russel Dean Leatherman, James R. Musselman, Andrew M. Nguyen, Nicholas N. Lapshov
  • Patent number: 11163284
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide irrigation controllers comprising: a housing; a control unit including a first microcontroller configured to execute irrigation programs and a first set of code; and a removable plug-in device that removably mates with a portion of the irrigation controller and communicationally couples to the first microcontroller, wherein the plug-in device comprises a memory storing a second set of code to replace at least a portion of the first set of code, wherein the plug-in device is configured to re-flash at least a portion of the first set of code allowing a copy of the second set of code to overwrite at least the portion of the first set of code; wherein the first set of code comprises a bootloader that writes the copy of the second set of code over the first set of code with the exception of the bootloader that is not written over.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Harvey J. Nickerson, Russel Dean Leatherman, James R. Musselman, Andrew M. Nguyen, Nicholas N. Lapshov
  • Publication number: 20200264576
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide irrigation controllers comprising: a housing; a control unit including a first microcontroller configured to execute irrigation programs and a first set of code; and a removable plug-in device that removably mates with a portion of the irrigation controller and communicationally couples to the first microcontroller, wherein the plug-in device comprises a memory storing a second set of code to replace at least a portion of the first set of code, wherein the plug-in device is configured to re-flash at least a portion of the first set of code allowing a copy of the second set of code to overwrite at least the portion of the first set of code; wherein the first set of code comprises a bootloader that writes the copy of the second set of code over the first set of code with the exception of the bootloader that is not written over.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Harvey J. Nickerson, Russel Dean Leatherman, James R. Musselman, Andrew M. Nguyen, Nicholas N. Lapshov
  • Patent number: 10663941
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide irrigation controllers comprising: a housing; a control unit including a first microcontroller configured to execute irrigation programs and a first set of code; and a removable plug-in device that removably mates with a portion of the irrigation controller and communicationally couples to the first microcontroller, wherein the plug-in device comprises a memory storing a second set of code to replace at least a portion of the first set of code, wherein the plug-in device is configured to re-flash at least a portion of the first set of code allowing a copy of the second set of code to overwrite at least the portion of the first set of code; wherein the first set of code comprises a bootloader that writes the copy of the second set of code over the first set of code with the exception of the bootloader that is not written over.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Harvey J. Nickerson, Russel Dean Leatherman, James R. Musselman, Andrew M. Nguyen, Nicholas N. Lapshov
  • Publication number: 20180314223
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide irrigation controllers comprising: a housing; a control unit including a first microcontroller configured to execute irrigation programs and a first set of code; and a removable plug-in device that removably mates with a portion of the irrigation controller and communicationally couples to the first microcontroller, wherein the plug-in device comprises a memory storing a second set of code to replace at least a portion of the first set of code, wherein the plug-in device is configured to re-flash at least a portion of the first set of code allowing a copy of the second set of code to overwrite at least the portion of the first set of code; wherein the first set of code comprises a bootloader that writes the copy of the second set of code over the first set of code with the exception of the bootloader that is not written over.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Harvey J. Nickerson, Russel Dean Leatherman, James R. Musselman, Andrew M. Nguyen, Nicholas N. Lapshov
  • Patent number: 10025284
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide irrigation controllers comprising: a housing; a control unit including a first microcontroller configured to execute irrigation programs and a first set of code; and a removable plug-in device that removably mates with a portion of the irrigation controller and communicationally couples to the first microcontroller, wherein the plug-in device comprises a memory storing a second set of code to replace at least a portion of the first set of code, wherein the plug-in device is configured to re-flash at least a portion of the first set of code allowing a copy of the second set of code to overwrite at least the portion of the first set of code; wherein the first set of code comprises a bootloader that writes the copy of the second set of code over the first set of code with the exception of the bootloader that is not written over.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Harvey J. Nickerson, Russel Dean Leatherman, James R. Musselman, Andrew M. Nguyen, Nicholas N. Lapshov
  • Publication number: 20170090448
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide irrigation controllers comprising: a housing; a control unit including a first microcontroller configured to execute irrigation programs and a first set of code; and a removable plug-in device that removably mates with a portion of the irrigation controller and communicationally couples to the first microcontroller, wherein the plug-in device comprises a memory storing a second set of code to replace at least a portion of the first set of code, wherein the plug-in device is configured to re-flash at least a portion of the first set of code allowing a copy of the second set of code to overwrite at least the portion of the first set of code; wherein the first set of code comprises a bootloader that writes the copy of the second set of code over the first set of code with the exception of the bootloader that is not written over.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Harvey J. Nickerson, Russel Dean Leatherman, James R. Musselman, Andrew M. Nguyen, Nicholas N. Lapshov
  • Patent number: 9547313
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide irrigation controllers comprising: a housing; a control unit including a first microcontroller configured to execute irrigation programs and a first set of code; and a removable plug-in device that removably mates with a portion of the irrigation controller and communicationally couples to the first microcontroller, wherein the plug-in device comprises a memory storing a second set of code to replace at least a portion of the first set of code, wherein the plug-in device is configured to re-flash at least a portion of the first set of code allowing a copy of the second set of code to overwrite at least the portion of the first set of code; wherein the first set of code comprises a bootloader that writes the copy of the second set of code over the first set of code with the exception of the bootloader that is not written over.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Harvey J. Nickerson, Russel Dean Leatherman, James R. Musselman, Andrew M. Nguyen, Nicholas N. Lapshov
  • Publication number: 20140229025
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide irrigation controllers comprising: a housing; a control unit including a first microcontroller configured to execute irrigation programs and a first set of code; and a removable plug-in device that removably mates with a portion of the irrigation controller and communicationally couples to the first microcontroller, wherein the plug-in device comprises a memory storing a second set of code to replace at least a portion of the first set of code, wherein the plug-in device is configured to re-flash at least a portion of the first set of code allowing a copy of the second set of code to overwrite at least the portion of the first set of code; wherein the first set of code comprises a bootloader that writes the copy of the second set of code over the first set of code with the exception of the bootloader that is not written over.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Harvey J. Nickerson, Russel Dean Leatherman, James R. Musselman, Andrew M. Nguyen, Nicholas N. Lapshov
  • Patent number: 8738188
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide irrigation controllers comprising: a housing; a control unit including a first microcontroller configured to execute irrigation programs and a first set of code; and a removable plug-in device that removably mates with a portion of the irrigation controller and communicationally couples to the first microcontroller, wherein the plug-in device comprises a memory storing a second set of code to replace at least a portion of the first set of code, wherein the plug-in device is configured to re-flash at least a portion of the first set of code allowing a copy of the second set of code to overwrite at least the portion of the first set of code; wherein the first set of code comprises a bootloader that writes the copy of the second set of code over the first set of code with the exception of the bootloader that is not written over.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Harvey J. Nickerson, Russel Dean Leatherman, James R. Musselman, Andrew M. Nguyen, Nicholas N. Lapshov
  • Patent number: 8417390
    Abstract: Described herein are several embodiments relating to modular irrigation controllers. In many implementations, methods of implementing irrigation control are provided that detect a presence of a first module coupled with a control unit of an irrigation controller, the control unit operating in accordance with a bootloader set of code and a first set of code to implement irrigation control, identify that the first module stores a second set of code, and activate the bootloader set of code to replace the first set of code with the second set of code. Also described are various different types of modular controllers, expansion modules that may be coupled to the modular controller, having as variety of functions and features, as well as related methods of use and configuration of the controller and these modules in the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Harvey J. Nickerson, Russel Dean Leatherman, James R. Musselman, Andrew M. Nguyen, Nicholas N. Lapshov
  • Publication number: 20110040415
    Abstract: Described herein are several embodiments relating to modular irrigation controllers. In many implementations, methods of implementing irrigation control are provided that detect a presence of a first module coupled with a control unit of an irrigation controller, the control unit operating in accordance with a bootloader set of code and a first set of code to implement irrigation control, identify that the first module stores a second set of code, and activate the bootloader set of code to replace the first set of code with the second set of code. Also described are various different types of modular controllers, expansion modules that may be coupled to the modular controller, having as variety of functions and features, as well as related methods of use and configuration of the controller and these modules in the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: RAIN BIRD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Harvey J. Nickerson, Nicholas N. Lapshov, Russel Dean Leatherman, James R. Musselman, Andrew M. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7844367
    Abstract: Described herein are several embodiments relating to modular irrigation controllers. In many implementations, methods of implementing irrigation control are provided that detect a presence of a first module coupled with a control unit of an irrigation controller, the control unit operating in accordance with a bootloader set of code and a first set of code to implement irrigation control, identify that the first module stores a second set of code, and activate the bootloader set of code to replace the first set of code with the second set of code. Also described are various different types of modular controllers, expansion modules that may be coupled to the modular controller, having as variety of functions and features, as well as related methods of use and configuration of the controller and these modules in the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Harvey J. Nickerson, Russel Dean Leatherman, James R. Musselman, Andrew M. Nguyen, Nicholas N. Lapshov