Granted Patent B2

US 12,392,928 · App. 18/516,418 · Granted Aug 19, 2025

Inventors: Randall A. Hern (San Diego, CA); David G. Fern (Santee, CA); Gerald E. Peterson (Riverside, CA); David M. Redmond (Scottsdale, AZ)

Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation

G01W1/14A01G25/167G01K13/00

Abstract

Claims (26)

1. A wireless rain sensor comprising:

a housing at least partially covering a first sensor, a controller and a wireless transmitter;

wherein the first sensor comprises a material configured to change in response to rain fall and/or an absence of the rain fall; and

wherein the wireless transmitter is coupled to the controller and is configured to transmit wireless signals, at least one wireless signal comprising data corresponding to the change of the material.

2. The wireless rain sensor of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the material comprises a moisture absorptive material that is fixed such that the moisture absorptive material expands in a direction away from the portion.

3. The wireless rain sensor of claim 2 , wherein the first sensor further comprises a spring fixed at one end and coupled at a second end to a movable component coupled to the moisture absorptive material, wherein the spring is configured to cause the movable component to apply a biasing pressure on the moisture absorptive material in a direction against expansion of the moisture absorptive material.

4. The wireless rain sensor of claim 3 , wherein the movable component is coupled to a wiper of a fixed resistive sensing element.

5. The wireless rain sensor of claim 4 , wherein the resistive element and the wiper form a linear potentiometer.

6. The wireless rain sensor of claim 5 , wherein expansion of the moisture absorptive material changes the position of the linear wiper on the potentiometer and causes a change in resistance.

7. The wireless rain sensor of claim 6 , wherein the change in the resistance is detected by the controller to provide an analog continuous measurement corresponding to an amount of rain fall.

8. The wireless rain sensor of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an opening configured to allow rain fall to enter the housing into a volume.

9. The wireless rain sensor of claim 8 , wherein the material of the first sensor is located in the volume to be contacted by rain fall.

10. The wireless rain sensor of claim 8 , wherein the housing comprises a plurality of vents configured to permit evaporation from the material to leave the volume.

11. A method of wirelessly sensing rain, the method comprising:

providing a housing at least partially covering a first sensor, a controller and a wireless transmitter, wherein the first sensor comprises a material configured to change in response to rain fall and/or an absence of the rain fall;

not setting a rain fall threshold at the wireless rain sensor; and

transmitting, via the wireless transmitter, at least one wireless signal comprising data corresponding to the change of the material.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein a portion of the material comprises a moisture absorptive material that is fixed such that the moisture absorptive material expands in a direction away from the portion.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first sensor further comprises a spring fixed at one end and coupled at a second end to a movable component coupled to the moisture absorptive material, wherein the spring is configured to cause the movable component to apply a biasing pressure on the moisture absorptive material in a direction against expansion of the moisture absorptive material.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the movable component is coupled to a wiper of a fixed resistive sensing element.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the resistive element and the wiper form a linear potentiometer.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein expansion of the moisture absorptive material changes the position of the linear wiper on the potentiometer and causes a change in resistance.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the change in the resistance is detected by the controller to provide an analog continuous measurement corresponding to an amount of rain fall.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the housing comprises an opening configured to allow rain fall to enter the housing into a volume.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the material of the first sensor is located in the volume to be contacted by rain fall.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the housing comprises a plurality of vents configured to permit evaporation from the material to leave the volume.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (11)

References Cited (400)