Soil moisture sensor and controller
First Claim
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;
a memory coupled to the controller circuit;
wherein the controller circuit, the sensor circuit, and the memory 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 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 memory is adapted to store data corresponding to one or more of the soil moisture threshold level and the moisture level of the soil.
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Accused Products
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 a soil moisture level; and a memory coupled to the controller circuit. The controller, sensor circuits, and the memory 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 between the controller and a valve, the control line to carry a power signal from the controller to the valve; the controller circuit is adapted to cause interruption of irrigation based on the moisture level of the soil and a soil moisture threshold; the memory adapted to store data of the soil moisture threshold level and the moisture level of the soil.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An integrated moisture sensor and controller device adapted to be placed in soil comprising:
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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; a memory coupled to the controller circuit; wherein the controller circuit, the sensor circuit, and the memory 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 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 memory is adapted to store data corresponding to one or more of the soil moisture threshold level and the moisture level of the soil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An integrated moisture sensor and controller device adapted to be placed in soil comprising:
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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; a memory coupled to the controller circuit; 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 memory, 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 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 memory is adapted to store data corresponding to one or more of the soil moisture threshold level and the moisture level of the soil. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification