Soil moisture detector with light activated audio alarm inhibitor

• US 4,791,413 A
• Filed: 07/15/1987
• Issued: 12/13/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jantor Plant Pet Projects, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Kazimierz E. Lyczek
• Inventors: Lyczek, Kazimierz E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Orsino, Jr., Joseph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jackson, Jill D.
• Application Number:
  US07/078,126
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 340/602, 340/604, 340/870.29, 250/200, 250/564, 250/213 A, 361/173, 361/175, 200/61.02, 307/117, 73/291, 73/293, 73/304 R, 324/65 R
• US Class Current: 340/604
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture

Abstract

The soil moisture alarm device comprising of a conductivity sensor, a photoelectric light sensor, an ON-OFF controllable audio generator, a buzzer and a DC battery as a source of power. The device can be placed in the pot permanently. It will not work without ambient light, so that it will not disturb people at night when they are sleeping.

Claims

1. A soil moisture detector with light activated audio alarm inhibiter for use in household plant care by means of generating audio sound when moisture level is too low comprising:

a source of DC electric current means, a conductivity sensor means to be inserted permanently into the soil, a photoelectric light sensor means, an ON-OFF controllable audio generator means having one input connected the conductivity sensor and the other input connected to the photoelectric light sensor, wherein said ON-OFF controllable audio generator means includes means for generating audio frequency when both light sensor senses daylight (or any light whose intensity is equal to daylight) and conductivity sensor senses low conductivity of the soil.

2. Device according to claim 1 employing the solar cell battery as a cource of DC electric current wherein said solar cell battery also acts as the photoelectric light sensor.