Patents by Inventor Thomas H. Runge
Thomas H. Runge 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).
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Patent number: 10638675Abstract: An irrigation control module is described that adjusts a watering schedule for a connected irrigation controller based on weather data provided by a local weather station. The irrigation control module can add additional weather-based irrigation schedule adjustments to an irrigation controller that may otherwise lack the hardware (e.g., wireless transmitter, sufficient memory) and software (e.g., evapotranspiration algorithms) to store and interpret weather data from a weather station.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2016Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: The Toro CompanyInventor: Thomas H. Runge
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Patent number: 9527102Abstract: The present invention is directed to an irrigation sprinkler sensor for sensing if a sprinkler riser has elevated, if water is flowing through the sprinkler riser, if the sprinkler is rotating, or if a sprinkler valve has properly closed.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2014Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: The Toro CompanyInventors: Jason Lester Hill, Thomas H. Runge, Alex Korol
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Publication number: 20160212952Abstract: An irrigation control module is described that adjusts a watering schedule for a connected irrigation controller based on weather data provided by a local weather station. The irrigation control module can add additional weather-based irrigation schedule adjustments to an irrigation controller that may otherwise lack the hardware (e.g., wireless transmitter, sufficient memory) and software (e.g., evapotranspiration algorithms) to store and interpret weather data from a weather station.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2016Publication date: July 28, 2016Applicant: The Toro CompanyInventor: Thomas H. Runge
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Patent number: 9326462Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a soil moisture sensor for interrupting an irrigation schedule of an irrigation controller. The moisture sensor comprises a relatively flat body with two lower electrodes and two lower anchoring barbs. A receiver receives moisture readings from the sensor and compares moisture data to a predetermined moisture interrupt value or limit, over which irrigation is interrupted.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2015Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: The Toro CompanyInventors: Thomas H. Runge, Jason Lester Hill, James Zimmerman
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Patent number: 9301460Abstract: An irrigation control module is described that adjusts a watering schedule for a connected irrigation controller based on weather data provided by a local weather station. The irrigation control module can add additional weather-based irrigation schedule adjustments to an irrigation controller that may otherwise lack the hardware (e.g., wireless transmitter, sufficient memory) and software (e.g., evapotranspiration algorithms) to store and interpret weather data from a weather station.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2012Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: The Toro CompanyInventor: Thomas H. Runge
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Publication number: 20150181817Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a soil moisture sensor for interrupting an irrigation schedule of an irrigation controller. The moisture sensor comprises a relatively flat body with two lower electrodes and two lower anchoring barbs. A receiver receives moisture readings from the sensor and compares moisture data to a predetermined moisture interrupt value or limit, over which irrigation is interrupted.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2015Publication date: July 2, 2015Inventors: Thomas H. Runge, Jason Lester Hill, James Zimmerman
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Patent number: 8981946Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a soil moisture sensor for interrupting an irrigation schedule of an irrigation controller. The moisture sensor comprises a relatively flat body with two lower electrodes and two lower anchoring barbs. A receiver receives moisture readings from the sensor and compares moisture data to a predetermined moisture interrupt value or limit, over which irrigation is interrupted.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2012Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: The Toro CompanyInventors: Thomas H. Runge, Jason Lester Hill, James Zimmerman
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Publication number: 20140358305Abstract: The present invention is directed to an irrigation sprinkler sensor for sensing if a sprinkler riser has elevated, if water is flowing through the sprinkler riser, if the sprinkler is rotating, or if a sprinkler valve has properly closed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2014Publication date: December 4, 2014Applicant: The Toro CompanyInventors: Jason Lester Hill, Thomas H. Runge, Alex Korol
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Patent number: 8862275Abstract: The invention provides a regulator system for regulating the operation of an irrigation system which is responsive to user programmed information. It has a control element for issuing watering control signals to an irrigation system, having at least one of (i) a duration programming device for programming a minimum amount of time and a maximum amount of time for the suspension of watering by the irrigation system, and (ii) a user adjustable temperature programming device for programming a minimum allowed temperature for initiating a watering period by the irrigation system. It further has an irrigation system interface for connecting said control element with the irrigation system. It also has a switch for conveying the control signals from the control element to the irrigation system via the irrigation system interface, for either permitting or prohibiting watering by the irrigation system, responsive to the control signals generated by and received from the control element.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2011Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: The Toro CompanyInventors: Thomas H. Runge, Bruce M. Downie
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Patent number: 8733155Abstract: The present invention is directed to an irrigation sprinkler sensor for sensing if a sprinkler riser has elevated, if water is flowing through the sprinkler riser, if the sprinkler is rotating, or if a sprinkler valve has properly closed.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: The Toro CompanyInventors: Jason Lester Hill, Thomas H. Runge, Alex Korol
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Publication number: 20130255783Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a soil moisture sensor for interrupting an irrigation schedule of an irrigation controller. The moisture sensor comprises a relatively flat body with two lower electrodes and two lower anchoring barbs. A receiver receives moisture readings from the sensor and compares moisture data to a predetermined moisture interrupt value or limit, over which irrigation is interrupted.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2012Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: The Toro CompanyInventors: Thomas H. Runge, Jason Lester Hill, James Zimmerman
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Publication number: 20120221154Abstract: An irrigation control module is described that adjusts a watering schedule for a connected irrigation controller based on weather data provided by a local weather station. The irrigation control module can add additional weather-based irrigation schedule adjustments to an irrigation controller that may otherwise lack the hardware (e.g., wireless transmitter, sufficient memory) and software (e.g., evapotranspiration algorithms) to store and interpret weather data from a weather station.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2012Publication date: August 30, 2012Inventor: Thomas H. Runge
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Publication number: 20120043395Abstract: The present invention is directed to an irrigation sprinkler sensor for sensing if a sprinkler riser has elevated, if water is flowing through the sprinkler riser, if the sprinkler is rotating, or if a sprinkler valve has properly closed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2011Publication date: February 23, 2012Inventors: Jason Lester Hill, Thomas H. Runge, Alex Korol
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Publication number: 20110238230Abstract: The invention provides a regulator system for regulating the operation of an irrigation system which is responsive to user programmed information. It has a control element for issuing watering control signals to an irrigation system, having at least one of (i) a duration programming device for programming a minimum amount of time and a maximum amount of time for the suspension of watering by the irrigation system, and (ii) a user adjustable temperature programming device for programming a minimum allowed temperature for initiating a watering period by the irrigation system. It further has an irrigation system interface for connecting said control element with the irrigation system. It also has a switch for conveying the control signals from the control element to the irrigation system via the irrigation system interface, for either permitting or prohibiting watering by the irrigation system, responsive to the control signals generated by and received from the control element.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2011Publication date: September 29, 2011Inventors: Thomas H. Runge, Bruce M. Downie
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Patent number: 7962245Abstract: The invention provides a regulator system for regulating the operation of an irrigation system which is responsive to user programmed information. It has a control element for issuing watering control signals to an irrigation system, having at least one of (i) a duration programming device for programming a minimum amount of time and a maximum amount of time for the suspension of watering by the irrigation system, and (ii) a user adjustable temperature programming device for programming a minimum allowed temperature for initiating a watering period by the irrigation system. It further has an irrigation system interface for connecting said control element with the irrigation system. It also has a switch for conveying the control signals from the control element to the irrigation system via the irrigation system interface, for either permitting or prohibiting watering by the irrigation system, responsive to the control signals generated by and received from the control element.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2010Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: The Toro CompanyInventors: Thomas H. Runge, Bruce M. Downie
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Patent number: 7912588Abstract: The invention provides a regulator system for regulating the operation of an irrigation system which is responsive to user programmed information. It has a control element for issuing watering control signals to an irrigation system, having at least one of (i) a duration programming device for programming a minimum amount of time and a maximum amount of time for the suspension of watering by the irrigation system, and (ii) a user adjustable temperature programming device for programming a minimum allowed temperature for initiating a watering period by the irrigation system. It further has an irrigation system interface for connecting said control element with the irrigation system. It also has a switch for conveying the control signals from the control element to the irrigation system via the irrigation system interface, for either permitting or prohibiting watering by the irrigation system, responsive to the control signals generated by and received from the control element.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2008Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: The Toro CompanyInventors: Thomas H. Runge, Bruce M. Downie
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Publication number: 20100305766Abstract: The invention provides a regulator system for regulating the operation of an irrigation system which is responsive to user programmed information. It has a control element for issuing watering control signals to an irrigation system, having at least one of (i) a duration programming device for programming a minimum amount of time and a maximum amount of time for the suspension of watering by the irrigation system, and (ii) a user adjustable temperature programming device for programming a minimum allowed temperature for initiating a watering period by the irrigation system. It further has an irrigation system interface for connecting said control element with the irrigation system. It also has a switch for conveying the control signals from the control element to the irrigation system via the irrigation system interface, for either permitting or prohibiting watering by the irrigation system, responsive to the control signals generated by and received from the control element.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2010Publication date: December 2, 2010Inventors: Thomas H. Runge, Bruce M. Downie
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Patent number: 7552632Abstract: The present invention describes a rain sensor that counts water drops with a microcontroller. After a predetermined threshold of water drops have been counted, the rain sensor interrupts an irrigation schedule of an irrigation controller.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2007Date of Patent: June 30, 2009Assignee: The Toro CompanyInventors: Thomas H. Runge, Larry Kent Hopkins, Michael James Grundy
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Publication number: 20080249664Abstract: The invention provides a regulator system for regulating the operation of an irrigation system which is responsive to user programmed information. It has a control element for issuing watering control signals to an irrigation system, having at least one of (i) a duration programming device for programming a minimum amount of time and a maximum amount of time for the suspension of watering by the irrigation system, and (ii) a user adjustable temperature programming device for programming a minimum allowed temperature for initiating a watering period by the irrigation system. It further has an irrigation system interface for connecting said control element with the irrigation system. It also has a switch for conveying the control signals from the control element to the irrigation system via the irrigation system interface, for either permitting or prohibiting watering by the irrigation system, responsive to the control signals generated by and received from the control element.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2008Publication date: October 9, 2008Inventors: Thomas H. Runge, Bruce M. Downie
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Patent number: 7363113Abstract: The invention provides a regulator system for regulating the operation of an irrigation system which is responsive to user programmed information. It has a control element for issuing watering control signals to an irrigation system, having at least one of (i) a duration programming device for programming a minimum amount of time and a maximum amount of time for the suspension of watering by the irrigation system, and (ii) a user adjustable temperature programming device for programming a minimum allowed temperature for initiating a watering period by the irrigation system. It further has an irrigation system interface for connecting said control element with the irrigation system. It also has a switch for conveying the control signals from the control element to the irrigation system via the irrigation system interface, for either permitting or prohibiting watering by the irrigation system, responsive to the control signals generated by and received from the control element.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2005Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Assignee: The Toro CompanyInventors: Thomas H. Runge, Bruce M. Downie