Long range, battery powered, wireless environmental sensor interface devices

• US 7,719,432 B1
• Filed: 02/02/2006
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Original Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Inventors: Hill, Jason Lester
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins; Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Labbees; Edny
• Application Number:
  US11/346,121
• Time in Patent Office: 1,566 Days
• Field of Search: 340/601, 340/602, 731/701.6, 731/701.7
• US Class Current: 340/602
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/246 for water content for control of watering A01G25/167

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. A sensor interface device comprising:

a sealed sensor body;

a battery disposed within said sealed sensor body;

a wireless transceiver communication device disposed in said sealed sensor body and configured for intermittent communication of the following conditions;

soil moisture, temperature, and salinity;

a first sensor cable interfaced with circuitry within said sealed sensor body;

said first sensor cable having a first end sealed to an external surface of said sealed sensor body and a second end configured for sensing soil temperature, capacitance and soil conductivity;

a second sensor cable interfaced with said circuitry within said sealed sensor body;

said second cable having a first end sealed to said external surface of said sealed sensor body and a second end configured for sensing soil temperature, soil capacitance and soil conductivity;

said first and second sensor cables configured to prevent moisture penetration within said first and second sensor cable while buried within soil;

wherein said soil sensor provides soil moisture data, soil temperature data and soil salinity data which are cross compensated.

2. A sensor interface device comprising:

a sealed sensor body having a cylindrical shape;

a battery disposed within said sealed sensor body;

a wireless transceiver communication device disposed in said sealed sensor body and configured for intermittent communication of the following conditions;

soil moisture, temperature, and salinity; and

,

a first sensor cable interfaced with circuitry within said sealed sensor body;

said first sensor cable having a first end sealed to an external surface of said sealed sensor body and a second end configured for sensing soil temperature, capacitance and soil conductivity;

a second sensor cable interfaced with said circuitry within said sealed sensor body;

said second cable having a first end sealed to said external surface of said sealed sensor body and a second end configured for sensing soil temperature, capacitance and soil conductivity;

said first and second sensor cables configured to prevent moisture penetration within said first and second sensor cable while buried within soil;

wherein a cross compensation calculation is performed on soil moisture data, soil temperature data and soil salinity data measured from said sensor interface device.

3. A sensor interface device comprising:

a sealed sensor body;

a battery disposed within said sealed sensor body;

a wireless transceiver communication device disposed in said sealed sensor body and configured for intermittent communication of one or more of the following conditions through soil;

soil moisture, temperature, salinity and proximity;

a first water resistant cable connected to an outer surface of said sealed sensor body;

a first sensor connected to said first water resistant cable so as arranged to measure moisture, salinity and temperature at a first area of soil remote from said sealed sensor body;

a second water resistant cable connected to said outer surface of said sealed sensor body;

a second sensor connected to said second water resistant cable so as to measure moisture, salinity and temperature at a second area of soil;

said first sensor and said second sensor each measuring capacitance and conductivity; and

,

wherein a cross compensation calculation is performed on said capacitance, conductivity and temperature measured from said sensor interface device.

4. A sensor interface device comprising:

a sealed sensor body;

a battery disposed within said sealed sensor body;

a wireless transceiver communication device disposed in said sealed sensor body and configured for intermittent communication of one or more of the following conditions through soil;

soil moisture, temperature, salinity and proximity;

a first water resistant cable connected to an outer surface of said sealed sensor body;

a first temperature sensor connected to said first water resistant cable and positioned to measure a first area of soil;

a second water resistant cable connected to said outer surface of said sealed sensor body; and

a second temperature sensor connected to said second water resistant cable positioned to measure a second area of soil.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said first temperature sensor measures temperature at a first soil depth and said second temperature sensor measures temperature at a second soil depth.

6. A sensor interface device comprising:

a sealed sensor body;

a battery disposed within said sealed sensor body;

a wireless transceiver communication device disposed in said sealed sensor body and configured for intermittent communication of one or more of the following conditions through soil;

soil moisture, temperature, salinity and proximity;

a first water resistant cable connected to an outer surface of said sealed sensor body;

a first conductivity sensor arranged to measure a first area of soil;

a second water resistant cable connected to an outer surface of said sealed sensor body;

a second conductivity sensor connected to said second water resistant cable so as to measure a second area of soil;

wherein said first conductivity sensor provides a first data reading and wherein said second conductivity sensor simultaneously provides a second data reading.

7. The device of claim 6 configured to discretely sample soil conductivity at different depths in the soil.

8. A sensor interface device comprising:

a sealed sensor body having a cylindrical shape;

a battery disposed within said sealed sensor body;

a wireless transceiver communication device disposed in said sealed sensor body and configured for intermittent communication of one or more of the following conditions through soil;

soil moisture, temperature, salinity and proximity;

a first water resistant cable connected at its first end to an outer surface of said sealed sensor body and having an external sensor interface connected to its second end for replaceable connection to an external sensor;

said sensor interface device being installed by removing a vertical column of soil, vertically lowering the device into the column and then horizontally inserting said external sensor on the device into an undisturbed region of soil and covering the device with soil.

9. A sensor interface device comprising:

a sealed sensor body;

a battery disposed within said sealed sensor body;

a wireless transceiver communication device disposed in said sealed sensor body and configured for and intermittent communication of one or more of the following conditions through soil;

soil moisture, temperature, salinity and proximity;

a first sensor cable interfaced with circuitry internal to said sensor interface device and having a first end sealed to an external surface of said sensor interface device and a second end removably connected with a first soil moisture sensor; and

a second sensor cable interfaced with said circuitry internal to said sensor interface device and having a first end sealed to said external surface of said sensor interface device and a second end removably connected with a second soil moisture sensor.

10. A sensor interface device comprising a sealed, battery powered, wireless transceiver communication device configured for sensing and intermittent communication of one or more of the following conditions:

soil moisture, temperature, salinity and proximity;

wherein said sensor interface device further comprises a first sensor pin, a second sensor pin and a third sensor pin, each of which in communication with internal circuitry of said sensor device;

said internal circuitry arranged to selectively apply voltage to said first sensor pin and to selectively measure said voltage based on said second sensor pin and said third sensor pin.

11. The device of claim 10 further comprising a fourth sensor pin, a fifth sensor pin and a sixth sensor pin, each of which in communication with said internal circuitry of said sensor device;

said internal circuitry arranged to selectively apply voltage to said fourth sensor pin and to selectively measure said voltage with said fifth sensor pin and said sixth sensor pin;

wherein said second sensor pin and said third sensor pin are positioned to measure a first soil location and said fifth sensor pin and said sixth sensor pin are positioned to measure a second soil location.

12. A sensor interface device comprising:

a sealed sensor body;

a battery disposed within said sealed sensor body;

a wireless transceiver communication device disposed in said sealed sensor body and configured for intermittent communication of one or more of the following conditions through soil;

soil moisture, temperature, salinity and proximity;

a super capacitor;

a current limiting resistor connected to said super capacitor and to a power tap of said battery; and

,

a power amplifier connected to said super capacitor;

wherein said super capacitor and said current limiting resistor are configured to reduce voltage spikes during intermittent operation of said power amplifier.