Moisture sensor
First Claim
1. A sensor for sensing the moisture content of a volume of material surrounding the sensor, the sensor comprising:
- an electrical circuit for implementing a high frequency method for measuring moisture content, the electrical circuit having a signal transmission electrode connected thereto;
a mounting substrate supporting the electrical circuit and the signal transmission electrode;
the signal transmission electrode having an electrical length greater than a physical length of the mounting substrate; and
a sensor body encapsulating the mounting substrate and the electrical circuit, at least the portion of the sensor body contacting the electrical circuit being non-conductive, wherein the mounting substrate is a printed circuit board, and wherein the signal transmission electrode is a composite electrode comprising a plurality of serially connected conductive segments located on both sides of the printed circuit board.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A novel and useful sensor and sensing system employs a transmission electrode which provides a length of transmission electrode that is greater than the physical length of the sensor, allowing for the effective and accurate determination of the moisture content of a volume of material using high-frequency measurement methods. The construction of the sensor allows the sensor to be directly inserted into the material, without requiring excavation or backfilling of the sensors in the material. The sensor can be employed as part of a sensing system, with one or more sensors preferably being managed by a field node, which in turn, interoperates with a system master node.
9 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A sensor for sensing the moisture content of a volume of material surrounding the sensor, the sensor comprising:
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an electrical circuit for implementing a high frequency method for measuring moisture content, the electrical circuit having a signal transmission electrode connected thereto; a mounting substrate supporting the electrical circuit and the signal transmission electrode; the signal transmission electrode having an electrical length greater than a physical length of the mounting substrate; and a sensor body encapsulating the mounting substrate and the electrical circuit, at least the portion of the sensor body contacting the electrical circuit being non-conductive, wherein the mounting substrate is a printed circuit board, and wherein the signal transmission electrode is a composite electrode comprising a plurality of serially connected conductive segments located on both sides of the printed circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification