Soil moisture sensor

• US 9,326,462 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2015
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Original Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Inventors: Runge, Thomas H., Hill, Jason Lester, Zimmerman, James
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US14/643,955
• Publication Number:
  US 20150181817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 340/602, 340/601, 340/539.1, 233/63, 137/78.2, 137/78.3, 700/282, 700/284, 700/296
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/167 Control by humidity of the soil itself or of devices simulating soil or of the atmosphere; Soil humidity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1866 For controlling soil irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/189 Soil moisture sensing

Abstract

In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a soil moisture sensor for interrupting an irrigation schedule of an irrigation controller. The moisture sensor comprises a relatively flat body with two lower electrodes and two lower anchoring barbs. A receiver receives moisture readings from the sensor and compares moisture data to a predetermined moisture interrupt value or limit, over which irrigation is interrupted.

Claims

1. A soil moisture sensor comprising:

a sensor body having a horizontally elongated shape formed from a top surface, bottom surface, and a plurality of sides;

a sensor circuit assembly that is horizontally disposed within said sensor body;

an antenna coupled to said sensor circuit assembly and oriented horizontally within said sensor body;

a sensor probe assembly that is connected at a first end of said sensor body so as to be generally perpendicular to said horizontally elongated shape of said sensor body and to extend from an asymmetrically located position on said bottom surface.

2. The soil moisture sensor of claim 1, further comprising a stake member connected at a second end of said sensor body so as to be generally perpendicular to said horizontally elongated shape of said sensor body, perpendicular to said sensor probe assembly, and symmetrically from said bottom surface relative to a position of said sensor probe assembly.

3. The soil moisture sensor of claim 2, wherein said sensor probe assembly includes a first elongated electrode and a second elongated electrode;

each of which is positioned perpendicularly to said horizontally elongated shape of said sensor body.

4. The soil moisture sensor of claim 3, wherein said sensor body has a rectangular shape.

5. The soil moisture sensor of claim 4, wherein said sensor body further comprises a plurality of fins located adjacent to said first elongated electrode and said second elongated electrode.

6. The soil moisture sensor of claim 5, wherein said antenna includes a linear region that extends between said first end and said second end of said sensor body.

7. The soil moisture sensor of claim 6, further comprising a multicolored L.E.D. indicator that changes colors based on a wireless signal strength to a soil moisture receiver.

8. A soil moisture sensor comprising:

a sensor enclosure having a rectangular shape;

a sensor circuit assembly that is disposed within said sensor enclosure;

an antenna coupled to said sensor circuit assembly within said sensor enclosure;

a sensor probe assembly that is connected at a first end of said sensor enclosure so as to extend outward from a bottom of said sensor enclosure to form a cantilever arrangement with said sensor enclosure.

9. The soil moisture sensor of claim 8, wherein said antenna has a generally linear shape, extending along a long side of said rectangular shape of said sensor enclosure.

10. The soil moisture sensor of claim 8, wherein said sensor probe assembly includes a first elongated electrode and a second elongated electrode;

each of which is positioned perpendicularly to a bottom surface of said rectangular shape of said sensor enclosure.

11. The soil moisture sensor of claim 8, further comprising a stake member connected at a second end of said sensor body so as to be generally perpendicular to said sensor probe assembly.

12. The soil moisture sensor of claim 10, wherein said sensor enclosure further comprises a plurality of fins located adjacent to said first elongated electrode and said second elongated electrode.

13. The soil moisture sensor of claim 8, further comprising a multicolored L.E.D. indicator that changes colors based on a wireless signal strength to a soil moisture receiver.

14. A soil moisture sensor comprising:

a sensor enclosure having a generally rectangular shape, including a top surface and a bottom surface, configured to be placed against the ground;

a sensor circuit assembly that is disposed within and on a first side of said sensor enclosure;

a battery compartment sized to enclose one or more batteries and being located adjacent to said sensor circuit assembly, on a second side of said sensor enclosure;

an antenna coupled to said sensor circuit assembly within said sensor enclosure, and extending across said sensor circuit assembly and said battery compartment;

a sensor probe assembly that extends from said bottom surface of said sensor enclosure adjacent a first edge of said sensor enclosure, so as to form an L-shape with said sensor enclosure.

15. The soil moisture sensor of claim 14, wherein said antenna has a 90 degree bend near said sensor circuit assembly.

16. The soil moisture sensor of claim 14, wherein said antenna has a generally linear shape, extending along a long side of said sensor enclosure.

17. The soil moisture sensor of claim 14, wherein said sensor probe assembly includes a first elongated electrode and a second elongated electrode;

each of which is positioned perpendicularly to a bottom surface of said rectangular shape of said sensor enclosure.

18. The soil moisture sensor of claim 17, further comprising a first stake member and a second stake member connected at a second edge of said sensor body so as to be generally perpendicular to said sensor probe assembly.

19. The soil moisture sensor of claim 18, wherein said sensor enclosure further comprises a plurality of fins located adjacent to said first elongated electrode, said second elongated electrode, said first stake member, and said second stake member.

20. The soil moisture sensor of claim 14, further comprising a multicolored L.E.D. indicator exposed on said top surface of said sensor enclosure that changes colors based on a wireless signal strength to a soil moisture receiver.