Long Range, Battery Powered, Wireless Environmental Sensor Interface Devices

• US 20110273196A1
• Filed: 05/06/2010
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jason Lester Hill
• Original Assignee: Jason Lester Hill
• Inventors: Hill, Jason Lester
• Granted Patent: US 10,085,393 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/696
• 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: G01N 33/246 for water content for control of watering A01G25/167
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/25 using a mesh network, e.g. a public urban network such as public lighting, bus stops or traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/886 using energy harvesting, e.g. solar, wind or mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

Long range, battery powered, wireless environmental sensor interface devices that can be connected to a plurality of sensors and wirelessly communicate the sensor readings back to a central collection device or Internet terminal. Instead or additionally, sensors can be integrated with the device for added efficiency. The devices incorporate a rugged enclosure and an internal power supply that allows them to be placed in harsh environmental conditions and operate for multiple years without maintenance due to unique power-saving design features. The RF circuitry is specially optimized for long-range outdoor communications of small quantities of data. Line-of-sight communication range of several miles is possible with this device. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method for installing a wireless soil moisture sensor, comprising:

removing a portion of soil to create a hole in an area of turf;

placing said soil moisture sensor into said hole;

moving a moisture sensor pin that is connected to said soil moisture sensor sideways into a wall of said hole; and

,

packing soil around said soil moisture sensor.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said removing a portion of soil further comprises using a cup-cutter to create a 4.25″

hole in said area of turf.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said placing said soil moisture sensor into said hole further comprises lowering said soil moisture sensor along a substantially perpendicular trajectory relative to a surface of said turf.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said moving a moisture sensor pin further comprises moving said moisture sensor pin along a substantially parallel trajectory relative to a surface of said turf, into an undisturbed area of soil.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein said moving a moisture sensor pin further comprises moving a plurality of soil moisture pins sideways into said wall of said hole.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein said moving a moisture sensor pin further comprises moving a sensor body of said soil moisture sensor toward said wall of said hole such that a plurality of soil moisture sensor pins are inserted into an undisturbed area of soil.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein said moving a moisture sensor pin further comprises moving a sensor body of said soil moisture sensor toward said wall of said hole such that a plurality of soil moisture sensor pins are inserted into an undisturbed area of soil along a substantially parallel trajectory relative to a surface of said turf.

28. A method for installing a wireless soil moisture sensor, comprising:

removing a portion of soil to create a cylindrical hole in an area of turf;

placing said soil moisture sensor into said hole;

moving a sensor electrode of said soil moisture sensor into a wall of said hole; and

,

burying said portion of soil around said soil moisture sensor.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said removing a portion of soil further comprises using a cup-cutter to create a 4.25″

hole in said area of turf.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein said soil moisture sensor has a rectangular body.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein at least one side of said soil moisture sensor is rounded.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein said moving a sensor electrode further comprises moving said sensor electrode independently of a body portion of said soil moisture sensor.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein said moving a sensor electrode further comprises moving said sensor electrode dependently with a body portion of said soil moisture sensor.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein said sensor electrode is connected to said body portion via a cable external to said body portion.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein said sensor electrode is rigidly fixed on a side of said sensor body.

36. The method of claim 28, wherein said moving a sensor electrode further comprises moving a sensor body of said soil moisture sensor toward said wall of said hole such that a plurality of sensor electrodes are inserted into an undisturbed area of soil along a substantially parallel trajectory relative to a surface of said turf.

37. A method for installing a wireless soil moisture sensor, comprising:

removing a portion of soil to create a cylindrical hole in an area of turf;

placing said soil moisture sensor into said hole; and

,

moving said soil moisture sensor towards a wall of said hole such that a plurality of elongated soil electrodes move into an undisturbed region of soil.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said moving said soil moisture sensor towards said wall of said hole further comprises moving said soil moisture sensor towards said wall of said hole such that a first elongated soil electrode moves into said undisturbed region of soil at a first height and a second elongated soil electrode moves into said undisturbed region of soil at a second height.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said first elongated soil electrode and said second elongated soil electrode are moved into said undisturbed region of soil along paths that are substantially parallel to a surface of said turf.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising completely burying said soil moisture sensor with said portion of soil.