Patents by Inventor Timothy J. Crist
Timothy J. Crist 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: 9681610Abstract: An integrated irrigation valve control device has a coil adapted to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of irrigation equipment. Control circuitry is electrically coupled to the coil to control the flux at the coil. A housing covers at least a portion of the coil and at least a portion of the control circuitry.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2014Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: Rain Bird CorporationInventors: Timothy J. Crist, Matthew S. Prucinsky, Michael A. Lorenz
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Publication number: 20170094918Abstract: An integrated irrigation valve control device has a coil adapted to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of irrigation equipment. Control circuitry is electrically coupled to the coil to control the flux at the coil. A housing covers at least a portion of the coil and at least a portion of the control circuitry.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2016Publication date: April 6, 2017Inventors: Timothy J. Crist, Matthew S. Prucinsky, Michael A. Lorenz
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Publication number: 20170059274Abstract: A detector monitors the presence, absence, insertion, and/or removal of an object in a holster. The detector broadcasts a message to an electronic device reporting whether the object, such as a weapon, has been removed from the holster and/or if the holster lock has been unlocked. The detector repeatedly probes for the presence of the object in the holster. The electronic device, in response to authenticating the message, may control the recording of audio, video, and/or other data in conjunction with the insertion or withdrawal. The detector stores information about when an object has been removed or inserted from the holster and provides it the electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2016Publication date: March 2, 2017Applicant: TASER International, Inc.Inventors: Timothy J. Crist, Daniel J. Wagner, Mark A. Hanchett, Matthew J. Morstad
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Publication number: 20170006787Abstract: Some embodiments provide systems for use in controlling irrigation, comprising: an irrigation controller configured to couple with one or more valves at a site and to control activation and deactivation of the one or more valves in accordance with an irrigation schedule stored in the irrigation controller; a wireless adapter directly communicationally coupled through a direct wired connection with the irrigation controller; and a network adapter wirelessly coupled over a point-to-point wireless communication path with the wireless adapter, wherein the network adapter is configured to further couple through a direct wired connection with a local router configured to provide communication over a distributed network to a remote server; wherein the wireless adapter is configured to poll the irrigation controller to acquire and locally store status information; and the wireless adapter is configured to communicate, over the point-to-point wireless channel, the status information to the server.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2016Publication date: January 12, 2017Inventors: Steven W. Weiler, David M. Redmond, Harvey J. Nickerson, Timothy J. Crist, Gregory W. Decker
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Patent number: 9468162Abstract: Some embodiments provide systems for use in controlling irrigation, comprising: an irrigation controller configured to couple with one or more valves at a site and to control activation and deactivation of the one or more valves in accordance with an irrigation schedule stored in the irrigation controller; a wireless adapter directly communicationally coupled through a direct wired connection with the irrigation controller; and a network adapter wirelessly coupled over a point-to-point wireless communication path with the wireless adapter, wherein the network adapter is configured to further couple through a direct wired connection with a local router configured to provide communication over a distributed network to a remote server; wherein the wireless adapter is configured to poll the irrigation controller to acquire and locally store status information; and the wireless adapter is configured to communicate, over the point-to-point wireless channel, the status information to the server.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: Rain Bird CorporationInventors: Steven Weiler, David M. Redmond, Harvey J. Nickerson, Timothy J. Crist, Gregory Decker
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Publication number: 20150088324Abstract: An integrated irrigation valve control device has a coil adapted to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of irrigation equipment. Control circuitry is electrically coupled to the coil to control the flux at the coil. A housing covers at least a portion of the coil and at least a portion of the control circuitry.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2014Publication date: March 26, 2015Inventors: Timothy J. Crist, Matthew S. Prucinsky, Michael A. Lorenz
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Publication number: 20150019031Abstract: An irrigation control device comprises a coil adapted to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of irrigation equipment. Control circuitry is electrically coupled to the coil to receive control signals from an irrigation control unit and to control the flux at the coil. A housing covers at least a portion of both the coil and the control circuitry, the housing including a threaded end configured to thread the irrigation control device to a valve assembly to be actuated by the electromagnetic flux of the coil.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2014Publication date: January 15, 2015Inventors: Timothy J. Crist, Matthew S. Prucinsky
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Patent number: 8909381Abstract: An irrigation control device having a modulator that modulates data onto an alternating power signal by distorting amplitude of a first leading portion of selected cycles of the alternating power signal, and permit effectively a full amplitude of the alternating power signal on a following portion of the selected cycles, wherein the first leading portion and the following portion are either both on a high side of a cycle or both on a low side of a cycle of the alternating power signal. The irrigation control device further includes an interface configured to couple the modulator to a multi-wire interface coupled to a plurality of irrigation devices to permit the alternating power signal to be applied to the multi-wire interface.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2013Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Rain Bird CorporationInventor: Timothy J. Crist
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Patent number: 8851447Abstract: An integrated irrigation valve control device has a coil adapted to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of irrigation equipment. Control circuitry is electrically coupled to the coil to control the flux at the coil. A housing covers at least a portion of the coil and at least a portion of the control circuitry.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2009Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Rain Bird CorporationInventors: Timothy J. Crist, Matthew S. Prucinsky, Michael A. Lorenz
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Patent number: 8840084Abstract: An irrigation control device comprises a coil adapted to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of irrigation equipment. Control circuitry is electrically coupled to the coil to receive control signals from an irrigation control unit and to control the flux at the coil. A spacer is configured to maintain the coil at a predetermined position relative to the control circuitry.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2009Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Rain Bird CorporationInventors: Timothy J. Crist, Matthew S. Prucinsky
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Patent number: 8659183Abstract: Methods for controlling irrigation devices coupled to and receiving operational power from a multi-wire interface of an irrigation system, and related irrigation devices, are provided. In some forms, the methods define initialization of the irrigation devices having received operational power, including the timing of charging, discharging and recharging of the irrigation devices in order to provide a time staggered recharging of the energy reserves of the irrigation devices. In some forms, the methods involve the use of different delay periods at different irrigation devices coupled to irrigation valves to place multiple irrigation valves into a known position. In some embodiments, these methods spread out the usage of charging energy drawn from the multi-wire interface by the irrigation devices coupled thereto to reduce inrush currents.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2009Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Rain Bird CorporationInventors: Timothy J. Crist, Kenneth J. Dietz
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Publication number: 20140039698Abstract: An irrigation control device having a modulator that modulates data onto an alternating power signal by distorting amplitude of a first leading portion of selected cycles of the alternating power signal, and permit effectively a full amplitude of the alternating power signal on a following portion of the selected cycles, wherein the first leading portion and the following portion are either both on a high side of a cycle or both on a low side of a cycle of the alternating power signal. The irrigation control device further includes an interface configured to couple the modulator to a multi-wire interface coupled to a plurality of irrigation devices to permit the alternating power signal to be applied to the multi-wire interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: Rain Bird CorporationInventor: Timothy J. CRIST
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Patent number: 8532831Abstract: An irrigation control device having a modulator that modulates data onto an alternating power signal by distorting amplitude of a first leading portion of selected cycles of the alternating power signal, and permit effectively a full amplitude of the alternating power signal on a following portion of the selected cycles, wherein the first leading portion and the following portion are either both on a high side of a cycle or both on a low side of a cycle of the alternating power signal. The irrigation control device further includes an interface configured to couple the modulator to a multi-wire interface coupled to a plurality of irrigation devices to permit the alternating power signal to be applied to the multi-wire interface.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2012Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Rain Bird CorporationInventor: Timothy J. Crist
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Publication number: 20120303169Abstract: An irrigation control device having a modulator that modulates data onto an alternating power signal by distorting amplitude of a first leading portion of selected cycles of the alternating power signal, and permit effectively a full amplitude of the alternating power signal on a following portion of the selected cycles, wherein the first leading portion and the following portion are either both on a high side of a cycle or both on a low side of a cycle of the alternating power signal. The irrigation control device further includes an interface configured to couple the modulator to a multi-wire interface coupled to a plurality of irrigation devices to permit the alternating power signal to be applied to the multi-wire interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2012Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: Rain Bird CorporationInventor: Timothy J. Crist
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Patent number: 8295985Abstract: An irrigation device including an actuator configured to control water flow to at least one water delivery device, a first stored energy source configured to power the actuator to effect irrigation via the at least one water delivery device, and a second stored energy source which is separate from the first stored energy source, wherein the second stored energy source is configured to power the actuator to terminate the irrigation via the at least one water delivery device. The irrigation devices further includes a controller configured to cause the first stored energy source to power the actuator to effect the irrigation, responsive to an instruction to provide irrigation, and to cause the second stored energy source to power the actuator to terminate the irrigation responsive to a termination condition.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2008Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Rain Bird CorporationInventor: Timothy J. Crist
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Patent number: 8260465Abstract: An irrigation control device having a modulator that modulates data onto an alternating power signal by distorting amplitude of a first leading portion of selected cycles of the alternating power signal, and permit effectively a full amplitude of the alternating power signal on a following portion of the selected cycles, wherein the first leading portion and the following portion are either both on a high side of a cycle or both on a low side of a cycle of the alternating power signal. The irrigation control device further includes an interface configured to couple the modulator to a multi-wire interface coupled to a plurality of irrigation devices to permit the alternating power signal to be applied to the multi-wire interface.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2009Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Rain Bird CorporationInventor: Timothy J. Crist
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Publication number: 20110017845Abstract: An irrigation control device comprises a coil adapted to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of irrigation equipment. Control circuitry is electrically coupled to the coil to receive control signals from an irrigation control unit and to control the flux at the coil. A spacer is configured to maintain the coil at a predetermined position relative to the control circuitry.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2009Publication date: January 27, 2011Applicant: Rain Bird CorporationInventors: Timothy J. Crist, Matthew S. Prucinsky
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Publication number: 20110015800Abstract: An irrigation control device having a modulator that modulates data onto an alternating power signal by distorting amplitude of a first leading portion of selected cycles of the alternating power signal, and permit effectively a full amplitude of the alternating power signal on a following portion of the selected cycles, wherein the first leading portion and the following portion are either both on a high side of a cycle or both on a low side of a cycle of the alternating power signal. The irrigation control device further includes an interface configured to couple the modulator to a multi-wire interface coupled to a plurality of irrigation devices to permit the alternating power signal to be applied to the multi-wire interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2009Publication date: January 20, 2011Applicant: Rain Bird CorporationInventor: Timothy J. Crist
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Publication number: 20110015793Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for controlling an irrigation device coupled to and receiving operational power from a multi-wire interface of an irrigation system comprises: receiving power at the device where the device is one of a plurality of devices receiving power substantially simultaneously; charging an energy reserve of the device using the power, wherein the energy reserve of each device is charged and adapted to supply power to an actuator coupled to a valve; identifying a delay period for the device, the delay period different than a delay period of at least one other device, the delay period defining a period of time that the device is to delay before the energy reserve is discharged; discharging the energy reserve after the delay period lapses; and recharging the energy reserve by drawing current from the multi-wire interface to provide a time staggered recharging of the energy reserves of the devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2009Publication date: January 20, 2011Applicant: Rain Bird CorporationInventors: Timothy J. Crist, Kenneth J. Dietz
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Patent number: 7819087Abstract: A remote controlled animal training system includes a wireless transmitter capable of transmitting a plurality of wireless signals non-concurrently. Each wireless signal of the plurality of signals is representative of one of a plurality of predetermined stimulus levels. A wireless receiver is capable of receiving the wireless signal from the transmitter. A demodulator is in communication with the RF receiver, demodulating the wireless signal to produce a digital signal. A microprocessor is in communication with the demodulator for receiving the digital signal from the demodulator and producing a pulse signal therefrom. A first output device is in communication with the microprocessor. The first output device produces a stimulus of intensity relative to a characteristic of the pulse signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2007Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Tri-Tronics, Inc.Inventors: Francisco J. Napolez, Timothy J. Crist