Apparatus, system and method for monitoring plants

• US 9,727,048 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2014
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sang Eco System Limited
• Original Assignee: Sang Eco System Limited
• Inventors: So, Kwai Sang
• Primary Examiner(s): Connolly, Mark
• Application Number:
  US14/402,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20160266570A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• Field of Search: 713320, 713300, 700275
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/00 Botany in general
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/045 with electric lighting
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/406 characterised by monitoring or safety G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37591 Plant characteristics

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus, system and method for monitoring plant. A sensor means can be adapted for receiving plant growth information of the plant being received inside a container. An indicating means can be adapted for indicating information of the plant growth information. A wireless communication means can be adapted for transmitting the plant growth information to an external device. A control means can select a working mode of the indicating means and the wireless communication means. Through the cooperative effect of the sensor means, the storage means, the indicating means and the wireless communication means, operators do not have to take along with instruments to perform measurement reading of the on-site plant growth information at a regular time, thereby saving labor cost and time cost of monitoring the plant growth information and improving efficiency of plant monitoring.

Claims

1. An apparatus for monitoring plant comprising:

a sensor means adapted for receiving plant growth information of a plant being received inside a container;

a storage means being mounted to the said sensor means adapted for collecting and storing the said plant growth information received by the said sensor means;

an indicating means being mounted to the said storage means adapted for indicating information of the said plant growth information stored in the said storage means;

a wireless communication means being mounted to the said storage means adapted for transmitting the said plant growth information stored in the said storage means to an external device; and

a control means for controlling the said indicating means and the said wireless communication means adapted for allowing the plant monitoring apparatus to be operated with a working mode under a working mode signal received by the said control means.

2. The apparatus for monitoring plant according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a power means being mounted to the said indicating means, the said wireless communication means and the said control means, the said power means is adapted for storing electricity and supplying power to the said indicating means, the said wireless communication mean and the said control means.

3. The apparatus for monitoring plant according to claim 2, wherein the said power means is adapted to supply power wirelessly.

4. The apparatus for monitoring plant according to claim 1, wherein the said sensor means comprises at least one or a combination of the following sensors:

an optical sensor, a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, a water level sensor or GPS sensor.

5. The apparatus for monitoring plant according to claim 1, wherein the said indicating means comprises an electronic scale member and a display control chip adapted for converting the said plant growth information to scale information which is displayed on the said electronic scale member.

6. The apparatus for monitoring plant according to claim 5, wherein a button means being arranged below the said electronic scale member and mounted to the said control means is adapted to input the said working mode signal to the said control means.

7. The apparatus for monitoring plant according to claim 1, wherein the said external device is a computer or a mobile phone.

8. A system for monitoring plant, which comprises the apparatus of claim 1 adapted to be communicated with an external device through wireless communication.

9. The system for monitoring plant according to claim 8, wherein the said system further comprises at least two plant monitoring apparatus, the said storage means of at least two plant monitoring apparatus comprise plant identification information adapted for identifying the plants and the said wireless communication means is adapted to transmitting the said plant identification information and the said plant growth information to the said external device.

10. A method for monitoring plant, which comprises the system for monitoring plant according to claim 8, which comprises:

receiving the said working mode signal; and

controlling the said indicating means and the said wireless communication means to be worked in a work mode according to the said working mode signal.

11. The method for monitoring plant according to claim 10, wherein the said working mode is adapted to be an indicating mode for indicating the said indicating means to work, a transmission mode for indicating information of the said wireless communication means to work or a full working mode for indicating information of both the said wireless communication means and the indicating means to work together.

12. The method for monitoring plant according to claim 10, wherein the said external device is adapted to take an action corresponding to the said plant growth information after completion of the works of the said wireless communication means and the indicating means according to the said working mode signal.

13. The method for monitoring plant according to claim 12, wherein the said action of said external device following the said plant growth information is to give a warning signal when the said plant growth information is not in compliance with the default range of plant growth information.

14. The method for monitoring plant according to claim 13, wherein the said warning signal is a text warning signal, sound warning signal or an image warning signal.