Wireless subsoil sensor network

• US 20070039745A1
• Filed: 08/18/2005
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Anderson, Noel, Stelford, Mark, Faivre, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US11/206,600
• Publication Number:
  US 20070039745A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 172/6
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 79/005 Precision agriculture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/189 Soil moisture sensing

Abstract

A sensor network comprising one or more passive sensors dispersed within a soil at known coordinate locations and depths. A transceiver wirelessly communicates with the passive sensors to receive data indicating a condition within the soil, such as environmental condition or a biological presence. The wireless communication is performed on a radio frequency suitable for transmission through soil. The transceiver may be attached to a vehicle located above or below the surface of the soil, a device engaging the soil, or an active sensor located within the soil.

Claims

1. A sensor network comprising one or more passive sensors, and a transceiver in wireless communication with at least one sensor, the sensors being dispersed within a composite material and having known positions.

2. The sensor network described in claim 1 wherein the composite material is a soil, and the position of each sensor is defined by a coordinate location and a depth.

3. The sensor network described in claim 2 wherein the wireless communication being performed on a radio frequency suitable for transmission through soil.

4. The sensor network in claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the sensor is a RFID, MEMs, or nanotechnology sensor, indicating a condition within the composite material.

5. The sensor network described in claim 4 wherein the condition sensed is an environmental condition or a biological presence.

6. The sensor network described in claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the transceiver attaching to a vehicle located above the surface of the composite material.

7. The sensor network described in claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the transceiver attaching to a vehicle located below the surface of the composite material.

8. The sensor network described in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the transceiver attaching to a device engaging the composite material.

9. The sensor network described in claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the transceiver attaching to an active sensor located within the composite material.

10. A sensor network comprising one or more passive sensors, and a transceiver in wireless communication with at least one sensor, the sensors being dispersed within a soil, each sensor having a known coordinate location and a depth, each sensor indicating a condition within the soil, the wireless communication being performed on a radio frequency suitable for transmission through soil.

11. The sensor network described in claim 10 wherein the condition sensed is an environmental condition or a biological presence.

12. The sensor network described in claim 10 or 11 wherein the transceiver attaching to a vehicle located above the surface of the soil.

13. The sensor network described in claim 10 or 11 wherein the transceiver attaching to a vehicle located below the surface of the soil.

14. The sensor network described in claim 10 or 11 wherein the transceiver attaching to a device engaging the soil.

15. The sensor network described in claim 10 or 11 wherein the transceiver attaching to an active sensor located within the soil.

16. A sensor network comprising one or more passive sensors, at least one active sensor having a transceiver in wireless communication with at least one passive sensor, the sensors being dispersed within a soil, each sensor having a known coordinate location and a depth, each sensor indicating a condition within the soil.

17. The sensor network described in claim 16 wherein at least one passive sensor is located in a sub-tillage zone, and at least one passive sensor is located in a tillage zone or a surface zone.

18. The sensor network described in claim 16 wherein at least one passive sensor is located in a sub-tillage sub-root zone, at least one passive sensor is located in a sub-tillage root zone, and at least one passive sensor is located in a tillage zone or a surface zone.

19. The sensor network in claim 16, 17, or 18 wherein the passive sensor is a RFID, MEMs, or nanotechnology sensor.

20. The sensor network described in claim 19 wherein the condition sensed is an environmental condition or a biological presence.