Soil moisture sensor with data transmitter
First Claim
1. A sensor for sensing moisture content of a medium such as soil, the sensor including:
- a sensing circuit for generating a sensed signal having a signal parameter value attributable to the moisture content of the medium;
a processing module for processing the signal parameter value to provide, at an output, a scaled data value;
a register for storing a sensor identifier for the sensor; and
a communications interface for communicatively coupling the sensor to an external communications device to communicate the scaled data value and the sensor identifier thereto.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor and method for sensing moisture content of a medium such as soil is disclosed. In an embodiment, the sensor includes a sensing circuit, a processing module, a register, and a communications interface for communicatively coupling the sensor to an external communications device. In use, the sensing circuit generates a sensed signal having a signal parameter value attributable to the moisture content of the medium. The processing module processes the signal parameter value to provide, at an output, a scaled data value. The register stores a sensor identifier for the sensor and the communications interface is capable of communicating the scaled data value and the sensor identifier to the external device. An irrigation control system is also disclosed.
47 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A sensor for sensing moisture content of a medium such as soil, the sensor including:
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a sensing circuit for generating a sensed signal having a signal parameter value attributable to the moisture content of the medium; a processing module for processing the signal parameter value to provide, at an output, a scaled data value; a register for storing a sensor identifier for the sensor; and a communications interface for communicatively coupling the sensor to an external communications device to communicate the scaled data value and the sensor identifier thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A sensor for sensing moisture content of a medium such as soil, the sensor including:
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a sensing circuit for generating a sensed signal having a signal parameter value attributable to the moisture content of the medium, the sensing circuit including an oscillator configured such that when the sensor is inserted into the medium the oscillator generates the sensed signal, the sensed signal having a frequency signal parameter value (fosc) that varies according to a dielectric constant of the medium; a processing module for processing the signal parameter value to provide, at an output, a scaled data value (SF), the processing including deriving a count value (FS) of the sensed signal (fosc) detected during a gate time, and processing the count value (FS), and frequency values indicative of in air (Fα
) and in water (FW) frequency values respectively to calculate the scaled data value SF wherein;a register for storing a sensor identifier for the sensor; and a communications interface for communicatively coupling the sensor to an external communications device to communicate the scaled data value and the sensor identifier thereto. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A computer readable medium containing a computer software program for programming a sensor for sensing moisture content of a soil medium, the software program being executable by a processor module to cause the sensor to:
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generate a sensed signal having a signal parameter value attributable to the moisture content of the medium; process the signal parameter value to provide, at an output, a scaled data value; access a register to retrieve a sensor identifier for the sensor; and activate a communications interface communicatively coupling the sensor to an external communications device to communicate the scaled data value and the sensor identifier thereto. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method of obtaining a measurement value from a sensor for sensing moisture content of a medium such as soil, the method including:
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inserting the sensor into the medium having a moisture content; the sensor generating a sensed signal having a signal parameter value attributable to the moisture content of the medium; controlling a processing module associated with the sensor to; process the signal parameter value to provide, at an output of the sensor, a scaled data value; access a register to retrieve a sensor identifier for the sensor; and activate a communications interface communicatively coupling the sensor to an external communications device to communicate the scaled data value and the sensor identifier thereto. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. An irrigation control system for controllably interrupting a programmed irrigation cycle, the irrigation control system including:
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a sensor including; a sensing circuit for generating a sensed signal having a signal parameter value attributable to moisture content of a medium such as soil; a processing module for processing the signal parameter value to provide, at an output, a scaled data value; a register for storing a sensor identifier for the sensor; and a communications interface for communicatively coupling the sensor to an external communications device to communicate the scaled data value and the sensor identifier thereto; and an external communications device including; a user-settable input for entering a high-set point level value; and a comparator for comparing the scaled data value with the high-set point value to provide, responsive to the comparison, a control signal for actuating a switching means to interrupt the programmed irrigation cycle.
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23. (canceled)
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24. (canceled)
Specification