Wireless sensor probe

• US 7,788,970 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2003
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digital Sun, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Digital Sun, Inc.
• Inventors: Hitt, Dale K., Heaton, Kurtis G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): FAYYAZ, NASHMIYA SAQIB
• Application Number:
  US10/693,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20040083833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,510 Days
• Field of Search: 73/73, 73/84, 738/66, 239 63- 74
• US Class Current: 73/73
• 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 33/24 Earth materials G01N33/42 takes precedence

Abstract

A wireless sensor probe for use in environmental monitoring and control includes a separable probe body and sensor mast. The probe body includes a void configured to house the sensor mast including one or more sensor devices for sensing a soil property surrounding the probe body when the probe body is inserted partially into the ground. The probe body includes a probe top part for encapsulating the probe body and the sensor mast. The sensor mast is inserted into the probe body to form the sensor probe. In another embodiment, a wireless sensor probe includes a housing containing one or more sensor devices. The probe further includes a collar situated near a top portion of the housing being used to anchor the housing to the top of the ground and a gasket formed on the outside perimeter of the housing for securing the housing in the ground.

Claims

1. A wireless sensor probe comprising:

a probe body for placement into the ground;

said probe body having an interior, an exterior, a top and a bottom;

a stabilizing gasket secured on and extending out from an external side surface of said probe body between said top and bottom of said probe body such that said stabilizing gasket is positioned completely beneath the ground when said wireless sensor probe is inserted into the ground;

said stabilizing gasket having an annular shape with a top surface facing a top of said probe body and a side surface increasing in size from a bottom portion of said stabilizing gasket to a top portion of said stabilizing gasket such that said stabilizing gasket allows insertion of said wireless sensor probe into the ground and resists said wireless sensor probe from being moved upwards from said ground;

a mast member including one or more sensor devices for sensing a soil property surrounding the probe body when the probe body is inserted into the ground; and

a top member selectively removable from a top of said probe body;

wherein the mast member is configured to removably fit within the interior of the probe body; and

,

wherein the interior of the probe body is selectively enclosable with the top member; and

, wherein the wireless sensor probe is further configured to wirelessly transmit data from the one or more sensor devices.

2. The wireless sensor probe of claim 1, further comprising:

a collar situated near a top portion of the probe body.

3. The wireless sensor probe of claim 1, wherein the mast member further comprises a battery.

4. The wireless sensor probe of claim 1, further comprising a wireless transceiver circuit in communication with said sensor devices.

5. The wireless sensor probe of claim 1, wherein the top member connects to the probe body by an arrangement selected from the following:

a screw mount, a bayonet type mount and a flange mount.

6. The wireless sensor probe of claim 1, wherein the top member comprises a solar cell panel.

7. The wireless sensor probe of claim 1, wherein the top member comprises a data display.

8. The wireless sensor probe of claim 7, wherein the data display comprises one of an LED display or an LCD display.

9. The wireless sensor probe of claim 1, wherein a shape of the probe body is selected from a round shape, a hexagon shape, a rectangular shape, a triangular shape, and a cross-beam shape.

10. The wireless sensor probe of claim 1, wherein one or more sensor devices further comprise sensor components selected from the following group:

an air temperature sensor, a relative humidity sensor, a light level sensor, a soil moisture sensor, a soil temperature sensor, a soil dissolved oxygen sensor, a soil pH sensor, a soil conductivity sensor, and a soil dielectric frequency response sensor.

11. The wireless sensor probe of claim 1, wherein said stabilizing gasket is further positioned so as to minimize flow of water down said probe body.

12. The wireless sensor probe of claim 1, wherein said stabilizing gasket is a rubber ring.

13. A wireless soil sensor having selectively joinable components, the wireless soil sensor comprising:

a probe body having an opening into an interior of the probe body and a top end and a bottom end;

a stabilizing gasket secured to an outer side surface of said probe body so as to prevent flow of water between said stabilizing gasket and said probe body when located completely in the soil;

said stabilizing gasket having an annular shape with a top surface facing a top of said probe body and a side surface increasing in width from a bottom portion of said stabilizing gasket to a top portion of said stabilizing gasket such that said stabilizing gasket allows insertion of said wireless soil sensor into the ground and resists said wireless soil sensor from being moved upwards from said ground;

a component mast comprising sensor circuitry;

said component mast being user-insertable into the opening into the interior of the probe body; and

,

a probe top selectively engagable with the probe body so as to cover the opening into the interior of the probe body;

wherein the wireless soil sensor is further configured to wirelessly transmit data from the sensor circuitry; and

,

wherein said stabilizing gasket is located between said top end and said bottom end of said probe body.

14. The wireless soil sensor of claim 13, wherein the component mast connects to the probe top.

15. The wireless soil sensor of claim 13 further comprising a plurality of sensor components.

16. The wireless soil sensor of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of sensor components are positioned along a length of the probe body.

17. The wireless soil sensor of claim 13, wherein the sensor circuitry further comprises sensor components selected from the following group:

an air temperature sensor, a relative humidity sensor, a light level sensor, a soil moisture sensor, a soil temperature sensor, a soil dissolved oxygen sensor, a soil pH sensor, a soil conductivity sensor, and a soil dielectric frequency response sensor.

18. The wireless soil sensor of claim 13 wherein the probe top connects to the probe body by an arrangement selected from the following:

a screw mount, a bayonet type mount and a flange mount.

19. The wireless soil sensor of claim 13, wherein said component mast further comprises a battery.

20. The wireless soil sensor of claim 13, wherein said probe top further comprises a display.

21. The wireless soil sensor of claim 13, wherein said probe top further comprises a solar cell.

22. The wireless sensor probe of claim 13, wherein said stabilizing gasket is a rubber ring.

23. A wireless sensor probe comprising:

a probe body for placement into the ground;

said probe body having an interior, an exterior, a top and a bottom;

a stabilizing gasket secured on an external side surface of said probe body between said top and bottom of said probe body such that said stabilizing gasket is positioned completely beneath the ground when said wireless sensor probe is inserted into the ground;

said stabilizing gasket having an annular surface facing a top of said probe body and a side surface decreasing in size from a top portion of said stabilizing gasket to a bottom portion of said stabilizing gasket such that said stabilizing gasket allows insertion of said wireless sensor probe into the ground and resists said wireless sensor probe from being moved upwards from said ground;

a mast member;

one or more sensor devices for sensing a soil property surrounding the probe body when the probe body is inserted into the ground; and

a top member selectively removable from a top of said probe body;

wherein the mast member is configured to removably fit within the interior of the probe body; and

,

wherein the interior of the probe body is selectively enclosable with the top member; and

, wherein the wireless sensor probe is further configured to wirelessly transmit data from the one or more sensor devices.