Handheld data-logging spray apparatus
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Interior
InventorJeremy D. Dixon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The handheld data-logging spray apparatus incorporates a global positioning system (GPS) receiver and microcontroller into a conventional handheld spray unit. As an operator dispenses a chemical using the handheld data-logging spray apparatus, the microcontroller records (among other things) the volume of chemical dispensed and the GPS location of the sprayer. The recorded data is processed and stored on a removable USB thumb drive. The operator can download the data from the thumb drive and manipulate the data using a conventional spreadsheet program or a commercially-available geographic information system program.
Claims19
A handheld data-logging spray apparatus comprising:
- a spray delivery assembly comprising a handheld liquid reservoir bottle and a finger-pumpable trigger;
- a microcontroller;
- a flow measurement means;
- and
- a geographic information system receiver;
- whereby the handheld data-logging spray apparatus is structured so that as an operator uses his fingers to pump the trigger of the apparatus, the microcontroller records an amount of a liquid dispensed from the handheld liquid reservoir bottle through the apparatus, and simultaneously records a geographic location of the apparatus.
A method of making a handheld data-logging spray apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a microcontroller, the microcontroller comprising a programmable data processing data recorder;
- (b) connecting the microcontroller to a geographic information system;
- (c) integrating the microcontroller and geographic information system into a control housing to create a data integration module, the data integration module being capable of operating as a handheld component;
- and
- (d) connecting the data integration module to a handheld spray assembly;
- (e) connecting a flow measurement module to the data integration module and the spray assembly so that the flow measurement module provides an electrical flow volume signal to the microcontroller as a liquid is pumped from a handheld liquid reservoir bottle and through the handheld spray assembly and out of a spray assembly nozzle when a finger-pumpable trigger is pumped.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.