Sensor device for use in controlling irrigation
First Claim
1. A wireless rain and temperature sensor comprising:
- a housing at least partially covering a first sensor, a controller and a wireless transmitter;
the first sensor comprising a moisture absorptive material located to be contacted by rain fall and configured to expand in response to the contact with the rain fall and contract in response to an absence of the rain fall, wherein the moisture absorptive material comprises a plurality of hygroscopic material diskswherein the first sensor further comprises a component coupled to a first portion of the moisture absorptive material and configured to move with the expansion and contraction of the moisture absorptive material; and
wherein there is no rain fall threshold set at the wireless rain sensor;
a temperature sensor at least partially covered by the housing;
the controller coupled to the first sensor and configured to output signals corresponding to a variable amount of expansion and contraction of the moisture absorptive material, wherein the controller is coupled to the temperature sensor and configured to output signals corresponding to a variable air temperature; and
the wireless transmitter configured to transmit wireless signals, at least one wireless signal comprising data corresponding to the variable amount of expansion and contraction of the moisture absorptive material and additional data corresponding to the variable air temperature.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided herein for sensing rain fall for use in irrigation control. In one embodiment, a wireless rain sensor comprises a housing at least partially covering a first sensor, a controller and a wireless transmitter. The first sensor comprises a moisture absorptive material located to be contacted by rain fall and configured to expand in response to the contact with the rain fall and contract in response to an absence of the rain fall. The controller is coupled to the first sensor and configured to output signals corresponding to a variable amount of expansion and contraction of the moisture absorptive material. The wireless transmitter is configured to transmit wireless signals, at least one wireless signal comprising data corresponding to the variable amount of expansion and contraction of the moisture absorptive material.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A wireless rain and temperature sensor comprising:
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a housing at least partially covering a first sensor, a controller and a wireless transmitter; the first sensor comprising a moisture absorptive material located to be contacted by rain fall and configured to expand in response to the contact with the rain fall and contract in response to an absence of the rain fall, wherein the moisture absorptive material comprises a plurality of hygroscopic material disks wherein the first sensor further comprises a component coupled to a first portion of the moisture absorptive material and configured to move with the expansion and contraction of the moisture absorptive material; and wherein there is no rain fall threshold set at the wireless rain sensor; a temperature sensor at least partially covered by the housing; the controller coupled to the first sensor and configured to output signals corresponding to a variable amount of expansion and contraction of the moisture absorptive material, wherein the controller is coupled to the temperature sensor and configured to output signals corresponding to a variable air temperature; and the wireless transmitter configured to transmit wireless signals, at least one wireless signal comprising data corresponding to the variable amount of expansion and contraction of the moisture absorptive material and additional data corresponding to the variable air temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification