Antenna circuit matching the soil conditions
First Claim
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1. A wireless sub-surface soil sensor comprising:
- a microcontroller configured to measure analog voltages and perform calculations to determine the real-time soil conductivity value and the real-time soil dielectric constant value;
an antenna; and
an antenna circuit in communication with the microcontroller and the antenna, the antenna circuit comprising a plurality of resistors and inductors for tuning the antenna, the antenna circuit configured to utilize a real-time soil conductivity value of a soil area and a real-time soil dielectric constant value of a soil area to vary the properties of the antenna to closely match the soil conditions and improve a communication range and communication reliability of the antenna to wirelessly transmit a plurality of soil data through the soil to the surface.
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Abstract
A wireless sub-surface soil sensor having a tunable antenna that can be optimized for transmission through various soils is disclosed herein. The wireless sub-surface sensor preferably also measures the moisture and salinity of a material. The wireless sub-surface sensor preferably includes a cover for protecting circuitry of the sensor. The wireless soil sensor is designed to be buried underground and to transmit to above ground receivers.
26 Citations
4 Claims
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1. A wireless sub-surface soil sensor comprising:
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a microcontroller configured to measure analog voltages and perform calculations to determine the real-time soil conductivity value and the real-time soil dielectric constant value; an antenna; and an antenna circuit in communication with the microcontroller and the antenna, the antenna circuit comprising a plurality of resistors and inductors for tuning the antenna, the antenna circuit configured to utilize a real-time soil conductivity value of a soil area and a real-time soil dielectric constant value of a soil area to vary the properties of the antenna to closely match the soil conditions and improve a communication range and communication reliability of the antenna to wirelessly transmit a plurality of soil data through the soil to the surface.
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2. A wireless sub-surface soil sensor comprising:
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a microcontroller configured to measure analog voltages and perform calculations to determine the real-time soil conductivity value and the real-time soil dielectric constant value; an antenna; a probe conducting structure to be placed in the material forming a capacitor connected to a soil moisture circuit; a soil moisture circuit comprising a high frequency oscillator for applying electrical stimulus to the probe structure, a known reference capacitor connected in series to the high frequency oscillator, and a first voltage meter located between the high frequency oscillator and the reference capacitor; a soil salinity circuit comprising a low frequency oscillator for applying electrical stimulus to the probe structure, a known reference resistor connected in series to the low frequency oscillator, and a second voltage meter located between the low frequency oscillator and the reference resistor; wherein the respective circuits connect between the reference capacitor and the reference resistor, at which point the circuits are connected to the probe structure and a third voltage meter; and an antenna circuit in communication with the microcontroller, the antenna circuit comprising a plurality of resistors and inductors for tuning the antenna, the antenna circuit configured to utilize a real-time soil conductivity value and a real-time soil dielectric constant value to vary the properties of an antenna to closely match the soil conditions and improve a communication range and communication reliability of the antenna to wirelessly transmit a plurality of soil data through the soil to the surface.
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3. A method for tuning an antenna of a wireless sub-surface sensor positioned in a soil area, the method comprising:
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determining at least one real-time electrical property of a soil area; analyzing the at least one real-time electrical property to determine an optimal antenna property for efficient transmission and range; tuning an antenna of a wireless sub-surface sensor with an antenna circuit of the wireless sub-surface sensor, the antenna circuit configured to utilize the at least one real-time electrical property to tune the antenna to the optimal antenna property for efficient transmission and range to create a tuned antenna, the wireless sub-surface antenna buried below the surface in the soil; and transmitting soil data in a wireless communication from the tuned antenna through the soil to a receiver above ground. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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Specification