Plant watering need monitor

• US 4,931,775 A
• Filed: 07/21/1988
• Issued: 06/05/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Modublox & Company Incorporated, SKY Probes, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Modublox & Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Sheriff, Jack W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Orsino, Josesph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jackson, Jill
• Application Number:
  US07/222,640
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 340/604, 340/693, 343/825, 324/65 P, 324/61 P, 73/335, 73/336, 73/336.1, 73/338.6, 73/338, 73/304 R, 200/61.05
• US Class Current: 340/604
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/048 for determining moisture content of the material
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture

Abstract

An alarm device for monitoring the watering needs of a plant which comprises a stick surmounted by a cylindrical box containing the electrical elements. The stick is buried in the soil of a pot holding a plant. The alarm device is powered by a battery easily installable and consists of a conductive probe detector located at the buried end of the stick. It also comprises a first integrated circuit which is switched by a backwards connected amplifier acting as a very high impedance switch which minimizes power consumption. The circuit emits a series of pulses when a threshold resistance level is reached. These pulses trigger a melody integrated circuit which produces a pleasant singing melody destined to draw the attention of the plant grower to the watering needs of a plant. The tune is repeatedly reproduced until the soil resistance detected by the probe detector has exceeded a threshold resistance level.

Claims

1. An electrical device operating at low currents for signaling the watering needs of a plant by monitoring the moisture level of the soil around said plant comprising:

means for sensing said moisture level by generating an electrical signal generally proportional to said moisture level;

means for supporting said sensing means, shaped and dimensioned to be planted in said soil;

means for calibrating said device in accordance with the amount of water ordinarily needed by said plant;

a first semi-conductor switch having a drain terminal, a gate terminal and a source terminal, said drain terminal being connected to a voltage source through a load resistor, said gate terminal being connected to a signal reference ground, and said source terminal being connected to said electrical signal through a high value series resistor;

oscillating means for sending electrical pulses at a first frequency, said oscillating means being connected to said drain terminal and being triggered when the voltage differential between said signal and said voltage source causes a certain current flow across said first semi-conductor switch and said load resistor; and

audio-means responsive to said oscillating means for generating an audio-signal.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said supporting means has the form of a stick.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said semi-conductor switch is a field effect transistor.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said means for sensing comprises a first and second electrode, said first electrode surrounding said second electrode almost entirely and serving as said supporting means.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said electrical siganl is a function of the resistance between said electrodes.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein said electrical signal is a function of the capacitance between said electrodes.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said electrical device is powered by a battery.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said battery comprises no more than three 1.5 volt, 100 microampere-hour cells.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein said battery comprises no more than two 1.5 volt, 100 microampere-hour cells.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

dividing means for reducing said first frequency of said electrical pulses and for yielding electrical pulses at a second frequency; and

said audio-means being activated by said electrical pulses at said second frequency.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said oscillating means and said dividing means are built into an integrated chip.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein said calibrating means, said first semi-conductor switch, said oscillating means, said dividing means and said audio-means are housed in a cylindrical container surmounting said supporting means.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein said audio-means comprises:

a music synthesizer generating said audio-signal; and

second means for amplifying said audio-signal.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said music synthesizer is programmed to generate a popular melody.