Apparatus and method for digitally controlling plant pot, and method for ordering plant pot delivering on-line

• US 20040030606A1
• Filed: 05/13/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jung-Yeon Park
• Original Assignee: Jung-Yeon Park
• Inventors: Park, Jung-Yeon
• Granted Patent: US 7,110,862 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/167 Control by humidity of the soil itself or of devices simulating soil or of the atmosphere; Soil humidity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 27/003 Controls for self-acting watering devices

Abstract

Provided is an apparatus of digitally controlling a plant pot including a case coupled to the outer circumference of the pot, a moisture sensor drawn from the case, for detecting moisture in soil contained in the pot, a liquid crystal display (LCD) installed in the case, for displaying a text or icons, an audio output portion for outputting a voice message, a message storage portion for storing an orderer'"'"'s message and controlling messages, a data input/output portion connected to a personal computer, for inputting/outputting message data, a key input portion for inputting key signals through a key pad such as a power key or a record key, a battery for supplying power to each circuit block, and a controller for performing a plant pot controlling program, reading a message stored in the message storage portion in response to the moisture sensor and a signal from the key input portion to output a voice to the audio output portion, displaying the name of a plant planted on the pot and information for controlling the plant on the LCD in the form of a text, displaying the current control state of the plant pot in the form of an icon, and downloading the message data from the personal computer through the data input/output portion or uploading the control state data to the personal computer.

Claims

1. An apparatus of digitally controlling a plant pot comprising:

a case coupled to the outer circumference of the pot;

a moisture sensor drawn from the case, for detecting moisture in soil contained in the pot;

a liquid crystal display (LCD) installed in the case, for displaying a text or icons;

an audio output portion for outputting a voice message, a message storage portion for storing an orderer'"'"'s message and controlling messages;

a data input/output portion connected to a personal computer, for inputting/outputting message data;

a key input portion for inputting key signals through a key pad such as a power key or a record key;

a battery for supplying power to each circuit block; and

a controller for performing a plant pot controlling program, reading a message stored in the message storage portion in response to the moisture sensor and a signal from the key input portion to output a voice to the audio output portion, displaying the name of a plant planted on the pot and information for controlling the plant on the LCD in the form of a text, displaying the current control state of the plant pot in the form of an icon, and downloading the message data from the personal computer through the data input/output portion or uploading the control state data to the personal computer.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data input/output portion is constituted by an RS232 or USB interface circuit for serial data communication with the personal computer.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data input/output portion is an AM or FM wireless transceiver for wireless data communication with the personal computer.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the downloaded data is supplied in the form of audio, video, MP3, WMA, ASF, RAM, RA, WAV or a combination thereof.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the icons are expressed such that plat pot controlling state data is drawn for cases where water is supplied at an appropriate time and where water is not supplied at an appropriate time, in response to the output of a message requesting for taking care of the plant pot, and the fresh or withered state of the plant pot is preferably reflected on the icon to be displayed.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the icons are expressed according to the growth periods of the plant.

7. A method of digitally controlling a plant pot comprising the steps of:

audio-outputting an orderer'"'"'s voice message on delivery through initialization;

displaying the name of a plant planted in the plant pot, displaying information related to the plant in the form of text and displaying a plant pot control state with icons, at normal times;

detecting the moisture contained in the plant pot and determining whether watering is necessary or not;

if it is determined that watering is necessary, displaying the determination in the form of a text and audio-outputting a message requesting for taking care of the plant;

preparing plant pot control state data for cases where water is supplied at an appropriate time and where water is not supplied at an appropriate time, in response to the output of the message requesting for taking care of the plant pot; and

reflecting and displaying the fresh or withered state of the plant on icons in response to the prepared plant pot control state data.

8. A method of ordering a plant pot for delivery on-line comprising the steps of:

uploading an order for delivery of a plant pot and a message file to be delivered with the plant pot onto a server connected on-line;

relaying the uploaded order from the server to a vender nearest to a recipient; and

transplanting an orderer'"'"'s message on a digital plant pot controlling apparatus in response to the downloaded order and delivering the plant pot having a digital plant pot controlling apparatus.

9. An apparatus of digitally controlling a plant pot comprising:

a case connected to the outer circumference of a plant pot;

an electronic valve adhered to the case, for controlling the supply of water to the plant pot;

a water tank connected to the electronic valve,

a moisture sensor drawn from the case, for detecting moisture in the soil contained in the plant pot;

a temperature sensor embedded in the case, for detecting the ambient temperature;

an illumination sensor embedded in the case, for detecting the intensity of ambient illumination;

a liquid crystal display installed in the case, for displaying a text or icons;

an audio output portion installed in the case, for outputting a voice message;

a message storage portion for storing orderer'"'"'s messages and control messages;

a data input/output portion connected to a personal computer, for inputting/outputting message data;

a key input portion for inputting key signals through a key pad including a power key and a record key;

a battery for supplying power to the respective circuits; and

a controller for performing a plant pot controlling program, reading a message stored in the message storage portion in response to the moisture sensor, the illumination sensor, the temperature sensor and a signal from the key input portion to output a voice to the audio output portion, displaying the name of a plant planted on the pot and information for controlling the plant on the LCD in the form of a text, displaying the current control state of the plant pot in the form of an icon, downloading the message data from the personal computer through the data input/output portion or uploading the control state data to the personal computer, and supplying water to the plant pot by controlling the electronic valve if watering is necessary.

10. An apparatus of digitally controlling a plant pot comprising:

a case connected to the outer circumference of a plant pot;

an operation sensor embedded in the case, for detecting the user'"'"'s operation;

a liquid crystal display installed in the case, for displaying a text or icons;

an audio output portion installed in the case, for outputting a voice message;

a message storage portion for storing orderer'"'"'s messages and control messages;

a key input portion for inputting key signals through a key pad including a power key and a record key;

a battery for supplying power to the respective circuits; and

a controller for performing a plant pot controlling program, reading a message stored in the message storage portion in response to the moisture sensor and a signal from the key input portion to output a voice to the audio output portion, displaying the name of a plant planted on the pot and information for controlling the plant on the LCD in the form of a text, and displaying the current control state of the plant pot in the form of an icon.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising an operation display portion, wherein when an operation display mode is set, the controller displays a plant pot control state by flickering of a lamp of the operation display portion instead of outputting a message.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the operation sensor is one of an approaching sensor for detecting the approach of the user and a touch sensor for detecting the touch by the user.

13. An apparatus of digitally controlling a plant pot comprising:

a case connected to the outer circumference of a plant pot;

an electronic valve adhered to the case, for controlling the supply of water to the plant pot;

a water tank connected to the electronic valve,

a moisture sensor drawn from the case, for detecting moisture in the soil contained in the plant pot;

a temperature sensor embedded in the case, for detecting the ambient temperature;

an illumination sensor embedded in the case, for detecting the intensity of ambient illumination;

a liquid crystal display installed in the case, for displaying a text or icons;

an audio output portion installed in the case, for outputting a voice message;

a message storage portion for storing orderers messages and control messages;

a key input portion for inputting key signals through a key pad including a power key and a record key;

a battery for supplying power to the respective circuits; and

a controller for performing a plant pot controlling program, reading a message stored in the message storage portion in response to the moisture sensor, the illumination sensor, the temperature sensor and a signal from the key input portion to output a voice to the audio output portion, displaying the name of a plant planted on the pot and information for controlling the plant on the LCD in the form of a text, displaying the current control state of the plant pot in the form of an icon, and supplying water to the plant pot by controlling the electronic valve if watering is necessary.