John W Addink
Engineers at Karendale, Riverside, CA

7048204, May 23, 2006

Nov 6, 2000

10/416056

John W. Addink - Riverside CA, US
Sylvan Addink - Riverside CA, US

Aqua Conserve, Inc. - Riverside CA

A01G 27/00, G05D 7/00, F16K 17/36

239 63, 239 69, 239 71, 137 782, 137 783, 700284

An irrigation controller () receives temperature data, and at least partly derives an estimated solar radiation value from the temperature data. A regression model stored in a memory () of the irrigation controller () operates upon a data point from the estimated solar radiation to estimate an evapotranspiration rate, which is used to affect an irrigation schedule executed by the controller (). The regression model is preferably based upon a comparison of historical ETo values against corresponding historical environmental values, with the data advantageously spanning a time period of at least two days, and more preferably at least one month. Data from one or more environmental factors may also be used, including especially estimated solar radiation, temperature, wind speed, humidity, and soil moisture, and so forth. Values relating the environmental factor(s) may enter the controller from a local sensor (), a distal signal source, or both.

2007019, Aug 16, 2007

Feb 13, 2007

11/674472

John Addink - Riverside CA, US

AQUA CONSERVE, INC. - Riverside CA

G05D 7/00

700284000

An irrigation controller is programmed to automatically initiate communication with a data server to perform at least one of the following functions: (a) exchange irrigation data; (b) receive control data; and (c) receive synchronization data. The irrigation data can be station runtime history, evapotranspiration (ETo) data, rainfall, weather related information, irrigation faults and any other irrigation data. The control data can involve station runtime settings, cycle and soak settings, irrigation scheduling and any other irrigation control data. The synchronization data preferably includes a date and a time, originating from the data server, but can include other data that would be used to synchronize the communication between the irrigation controller and the data server. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a microprocessor disposed in the irrigation controller is programmed to use the date and time to schedule a future contact with the data server.

2006011, Jun 1, 2006

Dec 1, 2004

11/001982

John Addink - Riverside CA, US

G05D 7/00

700284000

An irrigation controller modifies sophisticated irrigation protocols using an extremely simple user control. In one aspect of a particularly preferred class of embodiments, the user control includes a simple “more/less” (increase/decrease) adjustment. In another aspect of preferred embodiments, the controller automatically determines appropriate irrigation amounts, start times, durations, and frequencies. Such automatic determination may advantageously be based in part on the more/less adjustment.

2002001, Jan 24, 2002

Jan 11, 2001

09/759788

John Addink - Riverside CA, US
Tony Givargis - Anaheim Hills CA, US

G05B011/01

700/019000

The present invention provides systems and methods in which an irrigation controller uses a regression model to estimate an evapotranspiration rate (estimated ETo), and uses the estimated ETo to affect an irrigation schedule executed by the controller. The regression model is preferably based upon a comparison of historical ETo values against corresponding historical environmental values, with the data advantageously spanning a time period of at least one month, and more preferably at least two months. Data for multiple environmental factors may also be used. The environmental factor(s) utilized may advantageously comprise one or more of temperature, solar radiation, wind speed, humidity, barometric pressure, cloud cover and soil moisture. Values relating the environmental factor(s) may enter the controller from a local sensor, a distal signal source, or both.

2002002, Feb 21, 2002

Dec 14, 2000

09/738138

John Addink - Riverside CA, US

G05B011/00

137/078200

An irrigation controller modifies sophisticated irrigation protocols using an extremely simple user control. In one aspect of a particularly preferred class of embodiments, the user control includes a simple “more/less” (increase/decrease) adjustment. In another aspect of preferred embodiments, the controller automatically determines appropriate irrigation amounts, start times, durations, and frequencies. Such automatic determination may advantageously be based in part on the more/less adjustment, and in part on an external signal, such as that transmitted by a radio transmitter.

2003010, Jun 12, 2003

Nov 7, 2002

10/291100

John Addink - Riverside CA, US
Sylvan Addink - Iowa City IA, US

G05D011/00

700/284000, 239/069000, 700/029000

The present invention provides systems and methods in which an irrigation controller uses a regression model to estimate an evapotranspiration rate (estimated ETo), and uses the estimated ETo to affect an irrigation schedule executed by the controller. The regression model is preferably based upon a comparison of historical ETo values against corresponding historical environmental values, with the data advantageously spanning a time period of at least one month, and more preferably at least two months. Data for multiple environmental factors may also be used. The environmental factor(s) utilized may advantageously comprise one or more of temperature, solar radiation, wind speed, humidity, barometric pressure, cloud cover and soil moisture.

6963808, Nov 8, 2005

Jun 5, 2000

10/297146

John W. Addink - Riverside CA, US
Sylvan Addink - Riverside CA, US
Tony Givargis - Anaheim CA, US

Aqua Conserve, Inc. - Riverside CA

G06D001/00

702 45, 702 44, 702 50, 702 55

The present invention provides systems and methods that identify a flow anomaly to an operator or other person by: executing a first device of a plurality of water using devices; receiving flow data on a quantity of water used by the first device during a time period required to generate a first water use signature from the first device; comparing a future water use pattern against the first water use signature to identify a flow anomaly with the first device; and providing information regarding the flow anomaly to the person. Identifying anomalies can be useful in numerous ways, including discovering problems that need fixing, reducing waste, and even calculating appropriate irrigation application rates.

2002009, Jul 11, 2002

Jan 11, 2001

09/758510

John Addink - Riverside CA, US
Tony Givargis - Anaheim Hills CA, US

Aqua Conservation Systems, Inc.

G05B011/01

700/019000

An irrigation system includes a plurality of modules, each of which operates a plurality of irrigation stations, a master controller that controls the plurality of modules, and a user interface that receives a user input that identifies to the master controller which of the plurality of irrigation stations are active. The master controller may comprise a dedicated irrigation controller, a personal computer, or other suitable device. The plurality of modules may advantageously use decoder chips, and may be disposed in the irrigation controller or physically separate from the irrigation controller. The user interface will preferably be disposed in the master controller but may be disposed in a device physically separate from the master controller. The operation of the plurality of irrigation stations is at least partly affected by information transmitted from the microprocessor disposed in the master controller.

2012019, Jul 26, 2012

Mar 27, 2012

13/431042

John Addink - Riverside CA, US

G05D 7/00

700284

An irrigation management system reduces high peak water use values by utilizing a microprocessor disposed in an irrigation controller to (a) receive peak water use information from a source other than a water supplier (b) receive water use information at a consumer site, and (c) automatically derive a new irrigation schedule that is at least partly based on the information received. The new irrigation schedule preferably includes at least one of a modification in a default irrigation frequency or start time, a reduction in a default irrigation application duration, the use of a rolling-average in the determination of the new irrigation application duration and other changes or modifications to the default irrigation schedule that will provide for the reduction in high peak water use values. Additionally, the microprocessor will display to the water user and/or third parties details on the new irrigation schedule and information received from the water supplier.

6950728, Sep 27, 2005

Aug 17, 2000

10/031046

John Addink - Riverside CA, US
Tony Givargis - Anaheim CA, US

Aqua Conservation Systems, Inc. - Riverside CA

G05D007/06, G05B011/01, A01G025/00

700284, 137 782, 239 69

An interactive irrigation system exchanges information between an irrigation controller and a distal computer, between the irrigation controller and a user, between the user and the distal computer, and between the distal computer and a third party. The information is preferably exchanged over an Internet communication system. The exchanged information includes the following: irrigation scheduling; quantity of water applied to the landscape at the user location, which is compared to ETo values; warnings to users when potential problems with their irrigation systems are detected; and other irrigation information that is useful to the user or a third party.