Soil moisture sensor and controller

• US 8,104,498 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2010
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• 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:
  US12/910,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20110036155A1
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 73/73, 73/74, 73/783, 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 are disclosed herein. One embodiment includes an integrated moisture sensor and controller to be placed in soil comprising a controller circuit for controlling a switch; a sensor circuit comprising a probe and adapted to provide the controller circuit a signal corresponding to a moisture level of the soil. The controller and sensor circuits integrated into a single device positioned within the soil; the switch coupled to the controller circuit and to be coupled to a control line of an irrigation controller at an electrical position between the controller and a valve, the control line to carry a power signal from the controller to the valve; the switch to interrupt irrigation in response to a signal from the controller circuit; the controller circuit is adapted to determine an amount of time for which irrigation is interrupted.

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;

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.

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

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

4. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device 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 communication logic.

5. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 1, further comprising a memory adapted to store data corresponding to one or more of a soil moisture threshold level and the moisture level of the soil.

6. 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.

7. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 6 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.

8. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 1 wherein the controller circuit is adapted to calculate a savings value corresponding to an amount of water savings based on the amount of time for which irrigation is interrupted.

9. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 8 wherein the controller circuit is adapted to store the savings value.

10. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 8 wherein the saving value comprises a percentage water savings calculated by the controller circuit.

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

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

13. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 11 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.

14. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 11 wherein the housing comprises a waterproof housing enclosing the controller circuit.

15. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 11 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.

16. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 11 further comprising a logic power supply for providing power to the controller circuit and the switch.

17. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 11 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.

18. The integrated moisture sensor and controller device of claim 17 further comprising an insulating layer formed over the circuit board to seal the circuit board from the soil.

19. 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;

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;

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.