Soil moisture sensor and controller

• US 7,836,910 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Inventors: Dresselhaus, Daniel D., O'Brien, Kevin G.
• Primary Examiner(s): FITZGERALD, JOHN P
• Application Number:
  US11/097,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20060144438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,063 Days
• Field of Search: 73/73, 73/74, 137/78.3
• US Class Current: 137/78.3
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0091 by measuring fluid parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/223 for determining moisture content, e.g. humidity rain detectors on vehicle windows B60S1/0825
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/246 for water content for control of watering A01G25/167
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/189 Soil moisture sensing

Abstract

Moisture sensor devices and methods associated with operation of the moisture sensor devices are disclosed herein. One embodiment includes a moisture sensor and controller device adapted to be placed in soil comprising a switch adapted to be coupled to a power control line of an irrigation controller, the power control line for sending an activating power signal to an irrigation valve; a control circuit coupled to the switch; and a sensor circuit coupled to the control circuit and adapted to provide a signal to the control circuit, the signal corresponding to a moisture level of the soil; wherein the control circuit is adapted to control the switch to interrupt the activating power signal based on the signal from the sensor circuit; wherein the switch and the control circuit are both external to the irrigation controller.

Claims

1. An integrated moisture sensor and controller device adapted to be placed in soil comprising:

a controller circuit for controlling a switch;

a sensor circuit coupled to the controller circuit, the sensor circuit comprising a probe and adapted to provide the controller circuit a signal corresponding to a moisture level of the soil;

wherein the controller circuit and the sensor circuit are integrated into a single device adapted to be positioned within the soil;

the switch coupled to the controller circuit and adapted to be coupled to a power control line of an irrigation controller at an electrical position between the irrigation controller and a valve controlled by the irrigation controller, the power control line adapted to carry an activating power signal from the irrigation controller to the valve; and

wherein the controller circuit comprises communication logic adapted to communicate with an external device.

2. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 1 wherein the communication logic includes means for detecting a power interrupt on the power control line.

3. The integrated moisture sensor and controller circuit of claim 1 wherein, upon control of the controller circuit, the switch is adapted to interrupt the power control line to interrupt irrigation.

4. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 1 further comprising a water tight housing enclosing the switch and the controller circuit.

5. The integrated moisture sensor and controller of claim 1 wherein the communication logic is adapted to receive commands from the external device.

6. The integrated moisture sensor and controller of claim 1 wherein the controller circuit is adapted to selectively cause interruption of irrigation based on the moisture level of the soil and a soil moisture threshold level;

and

wherein the controller circuit is adapted to adjust the soil moisture threshold level based on a remote signal received by the communication logic.

7. The integrated moisture sensor and controller of claim 1 wherein the controller circuit is adapted to selectively cause interruption of irrigation based on the moisture level of the soil and a soil moisture threshold level;

the integrated moisture sensor and controller further comprising;

a memory adapted to store data corresponding to one or more of the soil moisture threshold level and the moisture level of the soil.

8. The integrated moisture sensor and controller of claim 1 wherein the switch is adapted to interrupt irrigation in response to a signal from the controller circuit;

and

wherein the controller circuit is adapted to determine an amount of time for which irrigation is interrupted.

9. The integrated moisture sensor and controller of claim 1 wherein the external device is an irrigation controller.

10. The integrated moisture sensor and controller of claim 1 wherein the external device is a remote test tool.

11. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 1 wherein the switch, the controller circuit and the sensor circuit are integrated into the single device.

12. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 11 further comprising:

a first connector coupled to the switch and adapted to couple the power control line from the irrigation controller to the switch; and

a second connector coupled to the switch and adapted to couple the power control line from the switch to the valve.

13. The integrated moisture sensor and controller of claim 1 wherein the switch is adapted to interrupt irrigation in response to a signal from the controller circuit;

and

wherein the controller circuit is adapted to store a savings value corresponding to an amount of water savings.

14. The integrated moisture sensor and controller of claim 13 wherein the communication logic is adapted to send a signal corresponding to the savings value to the external device.

15. The integrated moisture sensor and controller of claim 14 wherein the saving value comprises a percentage water savings calculated by the controller circuit.

16. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 1 further comprising a housing enclosing the controller circuit.

17. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 16 wherein the housing comprises a waterproof housing enclosing the controller circuit.

18. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 16 wherein the controller circuit further comprises:

a variable frequency oscillator, a frequency of the variable frequency oscillator varies as a function of the capacitance of a capacitor within the sensor circuit, the capacitance varies as a function of the moisture content of the soil;

a reference oscillator; and

a logic circuit for comparing a frequency of the variable frequency oscillator to a frequency of the reference oscillator.

19. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 16 further comprising a logic power supply for providing power to the controller circuit and the switch.

20. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 16 further comprising:

a circuit board at least partially within the housing;

wherein the sensor circuit is formed on the circuit board, the sensor circuit including two electrodes forming a capacitor, a capacitance of the capacitor varies as a function of a moisture content of the soil;

wherein the controller circuit is attached to the circuit board;

wherein the housing comprises a waterproof housing adapted to prevent water from the soil from contacting the controller circuit.

21. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 16 further comprising a circuit board at least partially within the housing, wherein the controller circuit and the sensor circuit are attached to the circuit board.

22. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 16 further comprising a circuit board including a trace pattern formed on the circuit board, the trace pattern forming two electrodes of a capacitor, a capacitance of the capacitor varies as a function of a moisture content of soil.

23. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 22 wherein the circuit board is a multi-layer circuit board and wherein the trace pattern is formed on an inner layer of the multi-layer circuit board.

24. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 22 further comprising an insulating layer formed over the circuit board to seal the circuit board from the soil.

25. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 24 wherein the insulating layer comprises a coating formed around the circuit board.

26. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 24 wherein the insulating layer comprises a plastic sleeve formed around the circuit board.

27. An integrated moisture sensor and controller device adapted to be placed in soil comprising:

a controller circuit adapted to control operation of a switch;

a sensor circuit coupled to the controller circuit, the sensor circuit comprising a probe and adapted to provide the controller circuit a signal corresponding to a moisture level of the soil;

the switch coupled to the controller circuit;

a first connector coupled to the switch and adapted to couple a power control line from an external irrigation controller to the switch, the power control line for carrying an activating power signal from the external irrigation controller to a valve controlled by the external irrigation controller; and

a second connector coupled to the switch and adapted to couple the power control line from the switch to the valve;

wherein the controller circuit, the sensor circuit, the switch, the first connector, and the second connector are integrated into a single device adapted to be positioned within the soil;

wherein the switch is electrically positioned in a control signal path between the external irrigation controller and the valve;

wherein based upon the moisture level of the soil, the controller circuit controls operation of the switch to allow the activating power signal from the external irrigation controller to reach the valve or to interrupt the activating power signal from reaching valve; and

wherein the controller circuit comprises communication logic adapted to communicate with an external device.

28. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 27 wherein the external device is an irrigation controller.

29. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 27 wherein the external device is a remote test tool.

30. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 27 wherein the communication logic is adapted to receive commands from the external device.

31. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 27 wherein the controller circuit is adapted to control operation of the switch based on the moisture level of the soil and a soil moisture threshold level;

and

wherein the controller circuit is adapted to adjust the soil moisture threshold level based on a remote signal received by the communication logic.

32. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 27 wherein the controller circuit is adapted to control operation of the switch based on the moisture level of the soil and a soil moisture threshold level;

the integrated moisture sensor and controller further comprising;

a memory adapted to store data corresponding to one or more of the soil moisture threshold level and the moisture level of the soil.

33. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 27 wherein the switch is adapted to interrupt irrigation in response to a signal from the controller circuit;

and

wherein the controller circuit is adapted to determine an amount of time for which irrigation is interrupted.

34. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 27 wherein the controller circuit is adapted to store a savings value corresponding to an amount of water savings due to the interruption of the activating power signal.

35. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 34 wherein the communication logic is adapted to send a signal corresponding to the savings value to the external device.

36. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 35 wherein the saving value comprises a percentage water savings calculated by the controller circuit.

37. An integrated moisture sensor and controller device adapted to be placed in soil comprising:

a controller circuit for controlling actuation of a valve;

a sensor circuit coupled to the controller circuit, the sensor circuit comprising a probe and adapted to provide the controller circuit a signal corresponding to a moisture level of the soil;

wherein the controller circuit and the sensor circuit are integrated into a single device adapted to be positioned within the soil;

a switch coupled to the controller circuit and adapted to be coupled to a power control line of an irrigation controller that controls the valve, the power control line adapted to carry an activating power signal from the irrigation controller to the valve; and

wherein the controller circuit comprises communication logic adapted to receive commands from an external device.

38. An integrated moisture sensor and controller device adapted to be placed in soil comprising:

a controller circuit for controlling actuation of a valve;

a sensor circuit coupled to the controller circuit, the sensor circuit comprising a probe and adapted to provide the controller circuit a signal corresponding to a moisture level of the soil;

wherein the controller circuit and the sensor circuit are integrated into a single device adapted to be positioned within the soil;

a switch coupled to the controller circuit and adapted to be coupled to a power control line of an irrigation controller that controls the valve, the power control line adapted to carry an activating power signal from the irrigation controller to the valve;

wherein the controller circuit is adapted to selectively cause interruption of irrigation based on the moisture level of the soil and a soil moisture threshold level; and

wherein the controller circuit is adapted to adjust the soil moisture threshold level based on a remotely received signal.

39. An integrated moisture sensor and controller device adapted to be placed in soil comprising:

a controller circuit adapted to control operation of a switch;

a sensor circuit coupled to the controller circuit, the sensor circuit comprising a probe and adapted to provide the controller circuit a signal corresponding to a moisture level of the soil;

the switch coupled to the controller circuit;

a first connector coupled to the switch and adapted to couple a power control line from an external irrigation controller to the switch, the power control line for carrying an activating power signal from the external irrigation controller to a valve controlled by the external irrigation controller; and

a second connector coupled to the switch and adapted to couple the power control line from the switch to the valve;

wherein the controller circuit, the sensor circuit, the switch, the first connector, and the second connector are integrated into a single device adapted to be positioned within the soil;

wherein the switch is electrically positioned in a control signal path between the external irrigation controller and the valve;

wherein based upon the moisture level of the soil, the controller circuit controls operation of the switch to allow the activating power signal from the external irrigation controller to reach the valve or to interrupt the activating power signal from reaching the valve; and

wherein the controller circuit comprises communication logic adapted to receive commands from an external device.

40. An integrated moisture sensor and controller device adapted to be placed in soil comprising:

a controller circuit adapted to control operation of a switch;

a sensor circuit coupled to the controller circuit, the sensor circuit comprising a probe and adapted to provide the controller circuit a signal corresponding to a moisture level of the soil;

the switch coupled to the controller circuit;

a first connector coupled to the switch and adapted to couple a power control line from an external irrigation controller to the switch, the power control line for carrying an activating power signal from the external irrigation controller to a valve controlled by the external irrigation controller; and

a second connector coupled to the switch and adapted to couple the power control line from the switch to the valve;

wherein the controller circuit, the sensor circuit, the switch, the first connector, and the second connector are integrated into a single device adapted to be positioned within the soil;

wherein the switch is electrically positioned in a control signal path between the external irrigation controller and the valve;

wherein based upon the moisture level of the soil and a soil moisture threshold level, the controller circuit controls operation of the switch to allow the activating power signal from the external irrigation controller to reach the valve or to interrupt the activating power signal from reaching the valve;

wherein the controller circuit is adapted to adjust the soil moisture threshold level based on a remote signal received by communication logic.