io ON-BOARD RADAR APPARATUS, NOTIFICATION SYSTEM, AND TRAVELLING VEHICLE DETECTION METHOD OF ON-BOARD RADAR APPARATUS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A radar apparatus detects an observation point distance and an observation point azimuth. In addition, the radar apparatus calculates an observation point lateral position and an observation point vertical position based on the observation point distance and the observation point azimuth. Furthermore, the radar apparatus determines that a traveling vehicle is detected when a number of observation points included within a side determination range is equal to or greater than a predetermined traveling vehicle determination count, based on the observation point lateral position and the observation point vertical position. The side determination range is set so as to include a passing determination line so as to extend in a direction at 90 degrees relative to a front-rear direction of the vehicle to the side of the vehicle. Full Article
io INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A portable terminal includes a GPS unit configured to receive a GPS signal, a GPS processing section configured to detect GPS accuracy at an interval and detect the position of a vehicle on the basis of the GPS signal received by the GPS unit, and an information processing section configured to detect entrance timing, which is timing when the GPS accuracy is detected when the vehicle is located at an entrance point of a multi-storey parking structure, on the basis of transition of the GPS accuracy detected by the GPS processing section at the interval. Full Article
io APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING LOCATION OF USER By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A terminal for identifying a location of a user includes a transmitter configured to transmit data, a receiver configured to receive the data, a sensor configured to sense at least one piece of context information, and a controller configured to determine a priority order of area information, service set identifier (SSID) information, global positioning system (GPS) signal information, and the context information corresponding to each location, identify the location based on the priority order, and determine the priority order of the SSID information and the GPS signal information in response to retrieving a number of SSIDs. Full Article
io Electrically Short Antennas with Enhanced Radiation Resistance By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Various methods, apparatus, devices and systems are provided for electrically short antennas for efficient broadband transmission. In one example, among others, a system includes a segmentally time-variant antenna and a segment controller that can control conductivity of individual segments of the segmentally time-variant antenna. The conductivity of the individual segments is modulated to allow a pulse to propagate from the proximal end to the distal end of the segmentally time-variant antenna and impede a reflection of the pulse from propagating back to the proximal end of the segmentally time-variant antenna. In another embodiment, a method includes injecting a pulse at a first end of a segmentally time-variant antenna and modulating conductivity of individual segments to allow the pulse to propagate to a second end of the segmentally time-variant antenna and impede a reflection of the pulse from propagating back to the first end. Full Article
io DIRECTIONAL ANTENNA WITH SIGNAL STRENGTH FEEDBACK AND METHODS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed are systems and methods for improving the quality and strength of a wireless signal connecting a mobile station and a base station, in situations where the mobile station is able to utilize a directional antenna. The system for improving system quality comprise, for example, a directional antenna; an antenna power level detector which detects a signal strength; a signal inverter wherein the signal inverter generates a conditioned signal from the detected signal strength; an indicator wherein the indicator provides an indicator of a signal quality level from the detected signal strength; a reorientation decision logic wherein the reorientation decision logic communicates an instruction for movement of the directional antenna, wherein the detected signal strength is correlated to a projected orientation of the directional antenna at a time the signal strength is detected, and further wherein an antenna orientation control loop communicates a reorientation instruction for the directional antenna. Full Article
io Auxiliary Antenna Array for Wideband Sidelobe Cancellation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Described embodiments provide sidelobe cancellation for Simultaneous Transmit and Receive systems. The sidelobe cancellation system includes an array having a primary aperture and an auxiliary array. The auxiliary array includes a plurality of antenna elements disposed adjacent to at least one side of the primary aperture. Each element of the auxiliary array is coupled to a variable attenuator, a variable phase shifter or a variable true time delay unit. A controller tunes the auxiliary array to cancel sidelobes of the primary aperture by adaptively selecting an attenuation value of the variable attenuator, a phase shift value of the variable phase shifter and a time delay value of the variable true time delay unit for each element of the auxiliary array. The auxiliary array operates as an adaptive finite-impulse response (FIR) filter with each antenna element of the auxiliary array operating as an adaptive tap of the adaptive FIR filter. Full Article
io BASE STATION AND COMMUNICATION CONTROL METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A base station including: a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory and the processor configured to: estimate a plurality of angles of arrival based on a plurality of received signals from a plurality of wireless device respectively, each of the plurality of angles of arrival being an angel of a horizontal plane relative to each direction from which each of the plurality of received signals arrives, and control at least one tilt angel based on the plurality of angels of arrival, each of the at least one tilt angle being an angle of the horizontal plane relative to each direction to which at least one beam is formed. Full Article
io POSITION SENSOR, DIRECTION ESTIMATION METHOD, AND SYSTEM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A sensor includes a reception antenna, a parasitic antenna terminating in a variable load, a controller, a transmitter transmitting a transmission signal, a receiver, a memory, and a processor. The controller sets an impedance value of the variable load. The receiver receives a first signal formed of signals received by the antennas and derived from the transmission signal, and the signal received by the parasitic antenna corresponding to the impedance value. The memory stores a first signal strength value of the first signal corresponding to the impedance value. The processor sets candidates of a complex propagation channel, calculates second signal strength values of a second signal respectively corresponding to the candidates, estimates a target complex propagation channel by selecting a candidate corresponding to a minimum difference among differences between the first signal strength value and the second signal strength values, and estimates a direction of arrival of the first signal. Full Article
io SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING PROTECTION LEVEL By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is a system for determining a protection level. The system includes a receiver configured to receive an error augmentation for a satellite orbit and clock error, an error augmentation for an ionospheric error, an error augmentation for noise and multi-path between a receiver and a satellite, and an error augmentation for a tropospheric error, a first calculator configured to calculate a first adjustment coefficient to be applied to the error augmentation for the satellite orbit and clock error and the error augmentation for the ionospheric error, and a second calculator configured to calculate a protection level by applying the first adjustment coefficient. Full Article
io OPTIMIZING METHOD FOR VEHICLE COOPERATIVE OBJECT POSITIONING AND VEHICLE COOPERATIVE POSITIONING APPARATUS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A vehicle cooperative object positioning optimization method and comprises steps of: receiving an information package by the local vehicle and the information package having a vehicle original coordinate and at least one object original coordinate provided by a neighbor vehicle respectively including different positioning accuracies; performing a time delay compensation for the vehicle original coordinate and the object original coordinate to acquire a vehicle coordinate and an object coordinate of the neighbor vehicle respectively; performing an optimizing procedure to optimize the vehicle coordinate and the object coordinate respectively so as to obtain the vehicle optimized coordinate and the object optimized coordinate. Therefore, the vehicle optimized coordinate and the object optimized coordinate include higher accuracy than the coordinate information detected by the GPS receiver so as to determine precisely a distribution of the environmental objects and enhance driving safety. Full Article
io PLASMA AVIATION ANTENNA By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An aircraft communications system may include a RF-transparent enclosure, a plasma antenna element and a controller. The RF-transparent enclosure may be disposed substantially conformal with a portion of the aircraft. The plasma antenna element may be housed within the RF-transparent enclosure. The controller may be operably coupled to the plasma antenna element to provide control of operation of the plasma antenna element. The plasma antenna element may include one or more RF-conductive plasma devices that are selectively ionized to a plasma state under control of the controller. Full Article
io Hierarchically Elaborated Phased-Array Antenna Modules and Method of Calibration By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus consisting of hierarchically elaborated antenna modules is calibrated by steps. Although the AWV can be calculated mathematically based on the required phase shift values of each antenna element for a beam direction to compensate for signal delay. However, in practice, due to hardware implementation imperfection, coupling in signal path for each antenna element within hardware, inaccuracies of implementations, physical misalignment, the mathematically generated AWV does not necessarily provide alignment between transmit beam and receive beam. This subset is sufficient is all practical operation. The subset of AWVs are typically called codebook and the receiver beam points to different direction by using a AWV within the codebook. Full Article
io Final fabrication and calibration steps for hierarchically elaborated phased-array antenna and subarray manufacturing process By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A process writes phase shift error correction values into a phased-array antenna to normalize a range of manufacturing variances. An axial ratio is determined for an antenna weight vector (AWV) by making multiple measurements with the horn of a test antenna mechanically rotating from 0 to 180 degree or with dual polarization test antenna. For calibration of the whole array, each subarray is treated in the same fashion as equivalent to an antenna element in the subarray calibration. The subarray is electronically rotated as a whole (all elements rotated by the same phase shift value) from 0 to 360 degree during the full array calibration. Due to small power variation among AWVs, calibration solely by REV results fail to consistently converge to resolution. Accordingly, the apparatus measures and compares axial ratios. During final fabrication, the apparatus programs an AWV with best axial ratio into each non-transitory array element. Full Article
io RADIO COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND BEAM CONTROL METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A radio communication device including a memory and a processor coupled to the memory and the processor configured to determine a method, among a plurality of methods for beam forming, to be used for forming a first beam for a first terminal and a second beam for a second terminal based on a difference between an emitting direction of the first beam, to be formed, from the radio communication device and an estimated direction of the second terminal from the radio communication apparatus, the estimated direction being estimated based on a received signal from a second terminal, and form the first beam and the second beam based on the determined method. Full Article
io Moisture responsive irrigation method and apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An irrigation device comprising a moisture responsive barrier is provided. At least a portion of the barrier has perforations, at least some of the perforations are associated with a water swellable material. The perforations are configured to open as the water swellable material loses moisture and dries out and are configured to close as said water swellable material is exposed to and absorbs water, such as during a watering step. According to another aspect the irrigation method includes the steps of positioning a perforated barrier between a source of irrigation water and an area to be irrigated, wherein the perforations are associated with a water swellable material; exposing the water swellable material to water to cause the water swellable material to swell to close the perforations; and permitting the water swellable material to dry, to open the perforations, whereby the opening and closing of the perforations regulates the amount of irrigation water being applied across the barrier in the irrigation method. Full Article
io Light-scattering fluororesin film for agricultural applications, and method for producing same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provide a light-scattering fluororesin film for agricultural applications which can be used as a covering material for an agricultural house or the like, is excellent in uniformity of color or the like of crops cultivated, can reduce the occurrence of leaf scorch, seedling blight or the like, and can cultivate the crops at high productivity. Specifically, the invention provides a light-scattering fluororesin film for agricultural applications that gives a ratio of scattered light with a scattering angle of 5.5 to 10° being 5% or higher relative to the total transmitted light. Full Article
io Plant cultivation apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention discloses an apparatus to simplify an air supply path without damaging the merit of conventional culture apparatus. The apparatus is a culture apparatus which includes a row of a plurality of box-shaped containers for plant cultivation, and a row of lower stage containers arranged in the lower portion of the row, holding the upper stage container spaced as high as the height after growth of the plants to be cultivated. In each container, a support, a blocking film stretched between front and rear, right and left supports of the container are provided. In the one end of the rows of the containers, an air conditioner is arranged, and in another end, a turnaround chamber is provided. Full Article
io Assemblies, systems and methods for the transportation and display of plants and flowers By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system for efficient transportation and display of plants or flowers has been designed that contains two or more trays and a container. The first tray and alternative tray house the plants or flowers. The second tray, in which the first tray and alternative tray nest, allows for easy movement of the first tray, the alternative tray and the supply of water or nutrients. The container is designed to serve two functions, shipping and displaying. Full Article
io Algae growth system for oil production By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system for culturing photosynthesizing microorganisms includes a source of a gaseous fluid a mixer that creates micron bubbles within an aqueous medium using the gaseous fluid. The mixing chamber holds the aqueous medium including the micron bubbles before the micron bubbles and aqueous medium are mixed with a culture of photosynthesizing microorganism in a reaction chamber. Full Article
io Method for determining hydration requirements of succulent plants By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides an improved, quantitative, standardized method of hydrating succulent plants by a plant owner. The method includes calculating the amount of water and watering frequency required, depending on environmental conditions, such as substrate used to grow a plant, relative humidity and temperature, and using a demarcated container for watering the plant, all of which maintains and prolongs the health, vitality, beauty and longevity of the succulent plant. Full Article
io Liquid application device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A liquid-application device that permits a user to selectively apply herbicide to weeds without applying the herbicide to adjacent plants. A reservoir of herbicide is mounted to a container end of an elongated tube and a wick is mounted to an opposite end. The tube has a central passage through which the liquid flows from the container end to the wick end by gravity. A valve mechanism at the wick end controls the flow of liquid out of the central passage. A wick retainer in the valve mechanism holds a wick that receives liquid released through the valve. A shroud covers the wick and the wick protrudes after the shroud is seated on a weed leaf. The shroud can be withdrawn by a mechanical connection, such as a trigger, or by simply forcing the shroud out of the way. Full Article
io Polyphosphate fertilizer combinations By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A composite particle and a population of particles comprising a water-insoluble polyphosphate composition, methods of producing, and methods of using the same are provided. The polyphosphate composition may comprise at least one alkaline earth metal selected from calcium and magnesium and optionally at least one nutrient ion selected from the group consisting of potassium, ammonium, zinc, iron, manganese, copper, boron, chlorine, iodine, molybdenum, selenium or sulfur. Full Article
io Composition that prevents damage to trees by harmful insects and a prevention method thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a composition comprising a neonicotinoid-based compound having a high degree of insecticidal activity, a surfactant, and an organic solvent, which is capable of demonstrating stable effects and in which the types and amounts of surfactant and organic solvent are adjusted so as to prevent chemical damage in numerous types of trees. In addition, the present invention relates to a method for preventing damage to trees by harmful insects of numerous types of trees by injecting this composition into a tree trunk and allowing the chemical to circulate within the tree body. Full Article
io Mixed turf and method for its production By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Turf (1) for sports, recreational activities and/or for ornamental purposes comprising a mat of flexible material (10) equipped with a first face (11) and a second face (12) opposite to each other. To the mat (10) a plurality of fibers (20) are connected of an artificial material in such a way that it forms an artificial turf (50) that protrudes from the first face (11). The turf (1) comprises, furthermore, a measured amount of a loose infill material (50), for example of granular type, distributed on the face (11) of the mat (10). The turf (1) comprises, furthermore, natural vegetable material, i.e. plants, belonging to one, or more plant species (30) put in the loose infill material (50) by means of sowing, transplantation of portions of plants, or a combination of the two solutions. The fibers of artificial material (20) have a profiled shape comprising a main blade (21) and at least one side wing (22). More precisely, the side wing (22) has a curved profile suitable for forming a channel (25) arranged substantially parallel to the main blade (21) in order to form a channel that is substantially parallel to said main blade, so that the profile of the channel partially or completely encircles the spaces that are occupied by water, roots and loose infill material, creating a water reserve for roots. Full Article
io Controlled growth environments for algae cultivation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for cultivating algae can include providing a body of water in a substantially enclosed system. The enclosed system can have a length of channel and a cover. The method can optionally include circulating the body of water through the enclosed system under positive pressure conditions. The positive pressure should prevent ingress of any external atmosphere or material. Further, the method can include cultivating the algae in the body of water at conditions which promote growth. Likewise, a system for cultivating algae can include a channel with a cover, water in the channel, and a pump to introduce positive pressure into the system. Full Article
io Multi-functional furniture-accessory system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A central housing in a generally rectilinear configuration. The central housing has a horizontal open top, a horizontal open bottom and side walls. A horizontal lower divider panel is between the top and the bottom. Lateral openings in the housing are located in the lower section of the upstanding side walls adjacent to the bottom extent. A plurality of interchangeable upper components is chosen from the class including a cover having seat and table top on the top and bottom of the planar surfaces, an ice chest a large planter, an upper horizontal divider panel and an ice chest. The upper components are adapted to be selectively positioned on the open top and depend into the upper component. A plurality of lower components is chosen from the class including doors and casters. A lateral opening is formed in the housing adjacent to the bottom. Full Article
io Foliar application of nutrients to vegetation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides a system and method to accurately and safely allow the application of nutritional elements to the foliage of vegetation. The accuracy and safety are the result of the nutritional elements being pre-mixed and applied via a pressurized canister, which produces a foam-based delivery system. The foam is highly visible, dissipates rapidly, and is inert except for the nutrients which it contains (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and others including all of the micro-nutrients that are essential for plant growth). The nutrient content of the foam, for specific uses of the invention, is necessarily variable depending on the type and condition of the vegetation needing such an application. Full Article
io Method to use a photoluminescent adjuvant in agricultural applications By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention provides a nontoxic photoluminescent adjuvant delivered to targeted crops, plants and seeds to assist spray operations in low light or dark light operations. These crops and plants include: not for human consumption crops, turf grass, ornamental flowers, seeds, shrubs and bushes. Spray operations are delivered to the foliar, crown and soil parts and seeds of a crop or plant. Full Article
io Plant air purification enclosure apparatus and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A plant air purifying enclosure, or “PAPE,” contained within an unconditioned space, either within or outside a building, containing therein a plant air purifier, which is used to purify air using plants and microbes growing therein. The PAPE enclosure itself receives poor indoor quality air from within structure where the PAPE is located or from a structure close by along with thermal energy which keeps the plant air purifier enclosure at a suitable temperature for the plants and air cleaning microbes within the air purifier. Poor air enters the enclosure, is purified by the plants and microbes, and returns in purified form back to the habitable space from which it was taken. This lowers the amount of outside air needed for ventilation purposes and so lessens a building's overall energy consumption while providing efficiently for naturally purified air. Fundamentally, the object of this invention is to specify devices, systems and methods to house/enclose plant purifiers in such a way that they can readily be deployed on a wide scale. Full Article
io Adjustable water retention device for a plant pot By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An adjustable water retention device for a plant pot has a plant container nesting in a second outer pot, with a facilitated flow of water communicating between the second outer pot and the plant container, wherein the second outer pot rests on a base. Full Article
io Plant cultivation apparatus for producing the plant having high content of ginsenosides By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A plant cultivation apparatus including: a guide rail disposed above a cultivation bed and extending along the length direction of the cultivation bed; a movable unit configured to move along the guide rail; an arm unit having a first end that is coupled to the movable unit, and a second end that is telescopically extendable from the movable unit toward the cultivation bed; and a UV radiation unit coupled to the second end of the arm unit and configured to irradiate the cultivation bed with a set amount of UV light. Full Article
io Automated contamination-free seed sampler and methods of sampling, testing and bulking seeds By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An automated seed sampler system includes an imaging device for obtaining images of seeds, an orienting device for orienting the seeds based on the images, and a sampling station for removing tissue from the oriented seeds. In some aspects, the system also includes a transport subsystem for supporting the oriented seeds and conveying the oriented seeds to the sampling station. A method for removing tissue from seeds includes imaging the seeds, orienting the seeds based on image information obtained from the seeds, and removing tissue from the oriented seeds. In some aspects, the method also includes transporting the oriented seeds in a transport subsystem to a sampling station for removing the tissue from the oriented seeds, and/or collecting the tissue removed from the oriented seeds so that a one-to-one correspondence exists between the tissue and the sampled seeds, and/or analyzing the tissue for characteristics indicative of genetic and/or chemical traits. Full Article
io Plant cultivation device and feed-water control method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A plant cultivation device and feed-water control method, in which a detected moisture amount to start watering and a water amount to be used per watering are easily determined, includes a plant cultivation container for pooling plant cultivation water; a water-absorbing plant cultivation bed material; a feed-water device for supplying the plant cultivation water to the plant cultivation container; a first moisture sensor for detecting moisture around an immersed part of the plant cultivation bed material; a second moisture sensor for detecting moisture around a growth part of the plant cultivation bed material where a root of a plant is received; and a controller for supplying water when values detected by both of the first and second moisture sensors are below respective reference values, and for stopping water supply when a value detected by either the first or second moisture sensor is above the corresponding reference value. Full Article
io Aquaponic vertical garden with integrated air channel for plant-based air filtration By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments are described for a closed-loop, vertical garden system for growing plants and filtering air and water comprising: a support structure; a composite, grow media configured to physically support the growth of plants and distribute water to the roots of the plants through capillary action through the area of the grow media; a water source coupled to the grow media through a pump and plumbing system, wherein the plumbing system is configured to draw water from the water source through the grow media and back to the water source in substantially closed loop aquatic system; and an air flow subsystem configured to draw outside air through the plants and transmit filtered air back out of the support structure. Full Article
io Wettable peat moss, method of preparation, and method of use By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A composition comprising peat moss and one or more alkoxylates selected from the group consisting of alcohol alkoxylates and alkylphenol alkoxylates and, optionally, one or more polysaccharides, for example guars and/or guar derivatives. A synergistic effect of a combination of the alkoxylates and the polysaccharides was discovered. A method of preparing the peat moss composition and a method of using it are also disclosed. Full Article
io Injection-molded planter having undercuts and process for manufacturing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A planter for holding a plant includes a container having an open upper end. The container has side walls extending downward from the upper end and tapering inward to a lower end. A base at the lower end of the container has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the upper end. A circumferential ring surrounds the lower end of the container. The circumferential ring has an upper edge that extends outward from the container by a distance such that removal of the container and ring from a mold as a single unit would be inhibited. Accordingly, the container and the circumferential ring are molded from a thermoplastic material as separate components. The circumferential ring fits around the lower end of the container and is held in place by a mechanical interlock between the container and the ring. Full Article
io Method to use a photoluminescent adjuvant in agricultural applications By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention provides a non-toxic photoluminescent adjuvant delivered to targeted crops, plants and seeds to assist spray operations in low light or dark light operations. These crops and plants include: not for human consumption crops, turf grass, ornamental flowers, seeds, shrubs and bushes. Spray operations are delivered to the foliar, crown and soil parts and seeds of a crop or plant. Full Article
io Plant protection circular bag with wire mesh By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Jul 2019 08:00:00 EDT Full Article
io COMBINATION SHOWERHEAD WITH PRESS BUTTON SWITCHING By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides a combination showerhead with press button switching comprising fixing holder, two showerheads and switching mechanism. The first showerhead is mounted to fixing holder; fixing holder comprises an inlet passage and two diversion passages. The switching mechanism comprises diversion plate, transmission mechanism, sliding block and press button. Diversion plate is connected to fixing holder movably and cooperated with inlet and diversion passages to switching waterway by predetermined angle rotating. Sliding block is slidably connected to fixing holder; the transmission mechanism is connected between the diversion plate and the sliding block in transmission way so that back-and-forth sliding of sliding block drives diversion plate to rotate step-by-step in predetermined angle. Press button is movably connected to fixing holder and connected to sliding block in transmission way to drive sliding block to slide. The combination showerhead is novel and convenient for one-handed operation with reasonable layout and compact structure. Full Article
io DETECTION OF A PLUNGER POSITION IN AN IRRIGATION CONTROL DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Some embodiments provide irrigation valve control apparatuses comprising: a solenoid configured to cooperate with a plunger; an input stimulus source coupled with the solenoid and configured to apply an input stimulus while a plunger drive signal is not being applied and that is sufficiently small to not cause the plunger to move; sampling circuitry configured to measure one or more voltage measurements corresponding to one or more voltages across the solenoid, wherein the one or more voltage measurements are dependent upon the current position of the plunger relative to the solenoid; and control circuitry cooperated with the sampling circuitry to receive the one or more voltage measurements from the sampling circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine whether the plunger is in one of the open and closed positions based on the one or more voltage measurements. Full Article
io AUTONOMOUS MOBILE PLATFORM AND VARIABLE RATE IRRIGATION METHOD FOR PREVENTING FROST DAMAGE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A rover includes a base having wheels and a propulsion system coupled to the wheels to propel the rover around a field. A tower is coupled to the base and extends over the base. Sensors are set on the tower and the base and are configured to sense environmental conditions around the rover at different elevations. A computing system includes a processor and memory. The memory is configured to receive measured data from the sensors and determine an amount and manner of water to be dispensed on plant life in the field. Full Article
io CONTROLLING VALVE OPERATION USING PRESSURE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A valve body has a piston that slides within the body through four successive positions. The piston has a head, and an upper and lower skirt, with a port in the upper skirt. In the first position, a bias force urges the piston to the first of four positions, in which the piston port is closed. In a second position, the piston port aligns with a low pressure port in the valve body, when a low pressure supply of water is connected. In a third position, greater pressure again closes the piston port. In a fourth position, at a still greater pressure, the piston port aligns with a high pressure port in the valve body. The bias force or a location of the piston port can be varied for valves along a supply line, whereby varying supply pressure opens different valves, thereby enabling addressing of valves according to supply pressure. Full Article
io AUTONOMOUS MOBILE PLATFORM AND VARIABLE RATE IRRIGATION METHOD FOR PREVENTING FROST DAMAGE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A rover includes a base having wheels and a propulsion system coupled to the wheels to propel the rover around a field. A tower is coupled to the base and extends over the base. Sensors are set on the tower and the base and are configured to sense environmental conditions around the rover at different elevations. A computing system includes a processor and memory. The memory is configured to receive measured data from the sensors and determine an amount and manner of water to be dispensed on plant life in the field. Full Article
io METHOD AND SYSTEM OF A NETWORKED SCENT DIFFUSION DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A diffusion device for atomizing liquids includes a floating magnet disposed within a track inside at least one package with liquid for the atomizing diffusion device, wherein as a liquid level inside the package changes, the floating magnet moves substantially vertically along the track, a plurality of Hall effect sensors or Hall effect switches disposed outside the liquid at various positions, the Hall effect sensors or Hall effect switches each generating an output voltage in response to a magnetic field of the floating magnet, and a processor that receives the output voltages and fits them to a model that includes the floating magnet position with respect to various sets of output voltages to determine a position of the floating magnet with respect to the Hall effect sensors. Full Article
io MULTI-FUNCTION SPLASHLESS SPRAYHEAD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A fluid control valve includes a body, a first diverter, a second diverter, and a first actuator. The body includes an inlet configured to receive a supply of fluid. The first diverter is movable in a radial direction within the body between a first radial position and a second radial position. The second diverter is movable in a longitudinal direction within the body between a first longitudinal position and a second longitudinal position. The first actuator is operatively coupled to the first diverter and to the second diverter. The first actuator is configured to simultaneously move the first diverter between the first and second radial positions and the second diverter between the first and second longitudinal positions. Full Article
io REMOTE SWITCH COMBINATION SHOWER HEAD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A remote switch combination shower head includes a first shower head, a second shower head and a switch mechanism, wherein further comprising a fixing seat assembled to a support arm, the fixing seat is disposed with an inlet waterway connected to the support arm, a first diversion waterway and a second diversion waterway; the first shower head is assembled to the fixing seat and is capable of connecting to the first diversion waterway; the second shower head is a hand shower head connected to the second diversion waterway by a flexible pipe; the switch mechanism comprises a switch component and an operation component, the switch component is disposed to the fixing seat and is coupled to the inlet waterway, the first diversion waterway and the second diversion waterway, so that the waterways are switched by the movement of the switch component. Full Article
io BODY-WORN/CARRIED PUMP STATION By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The invention regards in a first aspect a body-worn/carried pump station comprising a housing having at least one compartment, in said housing having at least a pump, a motor and an internal power supply, where said motor is powered by said internal power supply, and a container comprising material to be pumped, wherein said pump has means for connecting said container, at least one hose connected to said pump in one end and connected to a dispensing means in the other end for dispensing material pumped from the container, control means for start/stop and/or for controlling and/or setting up said pump station, and a display, wherein at least said control means or said display is located remotely from said pump station. The invention regards in second aspect a container connector assembly, comprising: a first connector comprising a first inlet and first outlet, a second connector comprising a second inlet a second outlet, a first mounting means on said first connector for connecting said first connector to a container comprising a container opening, a second mounting means on said first connector for connecting said first connector to second connector, a third mounting means on said second connector for receiving said first connector, a fourth mounting means on said second connector for connecting said second connector to a device comprising a device opening, a valve inside said first connector and/or inside said second connector to be opened and closed, wherein said second and/or third mounting means is configured for connecting said first connector to said second connector by a translational movement of said connector(s), and wherein said translational movement is substantially perpendicular to an axis formed along said first outlet and second inlet when the connectors are connected. Full Article
io ULTRASONIC-ROTARY COMPOSITE ATOMIZATION MECHANISM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An ultrasonic-rotary composite atomization mechanism comprises a housing and an ultrasonic unit passing through the housing and free to rotate with respect to the housing. A dynamic unit is installed in a position of the ultrasonic unit, which is corresponding to the housing, to drive the ultrasonic unit to rotate with respect to the housing. The ultrasonic unit includes a material supply channel, a vibration member disposed in the ultrasonic unit, and a vibration-rotation cup connected with the material supply channel. The material supply channel carries a liquid into the vibration-rotation cup. The dynamic unit and vibration member operate simultaneously to make the vibration-rotation cup rotate at high speed and vibrate ultrasonically. Thus is generated a synergistic effect: the ultrasonic vibration uses inertia force to break the cohesion and disperse the liquid, and the high-speed rotation generates centrifugal force to atomize the liquid. Full Article
io HURRICANE DISSIPATION SYSTEM AND METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A storm dissipation system having: means for moving water from a body of water located in the proximity of said storm, and means for mixing said water with the air for the purpose of changing the energy of said storm. Full Article
io Rotatable Shroud for Directional Control of Application Area By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A controlled droplet application (CDA) nozzle has a CDA nozzle cone having a first axis of rotation in a first position and, after adjustment, a second axis of rotation in a second position orthogonal to the first. A rotationally adjustable directional shroud surrounds at least a portion of the cone, the directional shroud blocking at least a portion of a lip of the cone regardless of whether the cone is positioned in the first or second axis of rotation. Full Article