Low RF-band impedance spectroscopy based sensor for in-situ, wireless soil sensing
First Claim
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1. A soil sensor for emplacement and operation in situ in soil comprising:
- a housing having a surface to be exposed to soil;
an antenna disposed on the surface of the housing, the antenna comprisinga flat microstrip patch antenna;
a measurement circuit disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the antenna, the circuit to measure impedance of soil at a plurality of different frequencies using the antenna as a sensor electrode using reflection—
based spectral impedance/dielectric sensing at low RF band sensing frequencies;
a wireless interface disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the antenna and configured for wireless communications over the antenna at one or more communications frequencies differentiated from the sensing transmissions from the antenna,so that a parameter related to impedance of soil can be derived using a plurality of impedance measurements at the plurality of different frequencies from the antenna in a sensor mode and transmissions from the antenna communicated from the sensor for further use in a wireless transmission mode.
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Abstract
A soil sensor includes a housing, an antenna disposed within the housing, a measurement circuit disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the antenna, the circuit configured to measure impedance of soil at a plurality of different frequencies using the antenna as a sensor electrode, and a wireless interface disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the antenna and configured for wireless communications over the antenna at its communications frequency.
28 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A soil sensor for emplacement and operation in situ in soil comprising:
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a housing having a surface to be exposed to soil; an antenna disposed on the surface of the housing, the antenna comprising a flat microstrip patch antenna; a measurement circuit disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the antenna, the circuit to measure impedance of soil at a plurality of different frequencies using the antenna as a sensor electrode using reflection—
based spectral impedance/dielectric sensing at low RF band sensing frequencies;a wireless interface disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the antenna and configured for wireless communications over the antenna at one or more communications frequencies differentiated from the sensing transmissions from the antenna, so that a parameter related to impedance of soil can be derived using a plurality of impedance measurements at the plurality of different frequencies from the antenna in a sensor mode and transmissions from the antenna communicated from the sensor for further use in a wireless transmission mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A sensor for emplacement and operation in situ at a sample comprising:
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a housing having an outside face to be exposed to the sample; an antenna disposed on the outside face of the housing, the antenna comprising a meta material; a measurement circuit disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the antenna, the circuit configured to measure impedance at a plurality of different frequencies using the antenna as a sensor electrode using reflection—
based spectral impedance/dielectric sensing at low RF band sensing frequencies;a wireless interface disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the antenna and configured for wireless communications over the antenna at one or more communications frequencies, so that a parameter related to impedance of soil can be derived using a plurality of impedance measurements at the plurality of different frequencies from the antenna in a sensor mode and transmissions from the antenna communicated from the sensor for further use in a wireless transmission mode; a power source disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the measurement circuit and the wireless interface; wherein the measurement circuit is configured for periodic self-calibration using a known impedance embedded in the measurement circuit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for acquiring measurement data from a sample by emplacement and operation at the sample, the method comprising:
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providing a sensor, the sensor comprising;
(a) a housing having an outside face to be exposed to the sample, (b) an antenna disposed on the outside face of the housing, the antenna comprising a meta material, (c) a measurement circuit disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the antenna, the circuit configured to measure impedance at a plurality of different frequencies using the antenna as a sensor electrode using reflection—
based spectral impedance/dielectric sensing at low RF band sensing frequencies, (d) a wireless interface disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the antenna and configured for wireless communications over the antenna at one or more communications frequencies, (e) a power source disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the measurement circuit and the wireless interface, wherein the measurement circuit is configured for periodic self-calibration using a known impedance embedded in the measurement circuit;measuring impedance at a plurality of different frequencies using the antenna as a sensor electrode to provide measurement data; wirelessly communicating the measurement data using the wireless interface and antenna for wireless transmission from the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification