CA2219474A1 - Electronic moisture-meter with alarm - Google Patents
Electronic moisture-meter with alarm Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2219474A1 CA2219474A1 CA 2219474 CA2219474A CA2219474A1 CA 2219474 A1 CA2219474 A1 CA 2219474A1 CA 2219474 CA2219474 CA 2219474 CA 2219474 A CA2219474 A CA 2219474A CA 2219474 A1 CA2219474 A1 CA 2219474A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- soil
- alarm
- moisture
- gauge
- probe
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B21/00—Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
- G08B21/18—Status alarms
- G08B21/20—Status alarms responsive to moisture
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N27/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means
- G01N27/02—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating impedance
- G01N27/04—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating impedance by investigating resistance
- G01N27/048—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating impedance by investigating resistance for determining moisture content of the material
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
- G01N33/24—Earth materials
Abstract
The invention consists of a portable instrument, of a very high accuracy, which measures the soil moisture and which can be calibrated (gauged) for the use in the most different conditions, in function of necessities.
It is a multifunctional gauge of a compact construction very well adapted to the purpose it was conceived for.
In order to measure the soil moisture, the gauge uses the proportionality between the soil humidity contents and its electric conductivity. The information is displayed by a series of LED-s. In contrast with the use of a needled pointer, this mode of displaying gives a great endurance to the gauge.
When it is switched to the ~ALARM~ mode of functioning, the gauge detects any decrease of the soil moisture level under a preset threshold, depending on the type of plant signaling either optically or acoustically, at choice.
The gauge uses a measuring probe of an original conception, made of conducting tracks specially conceived for this measurement.
It is a multifunctional gauge of a compact construction very well adapted to the purpose it was conceived for.
In order to measure the soil moisture, the gauge uses the proportionality between the soil humidity contents and its electric conductivity. The information is displayed by a series of LED-s. In contrast with the use of a needled pointer, this mode of displaying gives a great endurance to the gauge.
When it is switched to the ~ALARM~ mode of functioning, the gauge detects any decrease of the soil moisture level under a preset threshold, depending on the type of plant signaling either optically or acoustically, at choice.
The gauge uses a measuring probe of an original conception, made of conducting tracks specially conceived for this measurement.
Description
CA 022l9474 l997-l2-24 Detailed descrip~ion The functioning mad~ of the Al~rm C~rcuit The soil conductivity is measure~ between termina~s 1 and ~ of the measu-rin~ et~e~rode ~Fig. 4).
The alarm cireuit compnses ~wo integrat~d eircliits of LM 555 ~ype, transistors Ql, Q2. a ~ and the alferent passiYe components.
The t~ase of the dar~ington transistor is potarized ~y Resistors Rl and R2 and also by the soil resistor measured between electrodes 1 and 2, noted Rl 2 This one is varying in function of the soil wetness. The sensitivity of the input buffer can be adjusted by the switch S1 connected to resisto~s Rl and R2: if thevalue of R~ 2 increases over a certain threshold, selected by 5" the darlington transistor ~Q1~Q2) starts condueting and its cottector current is ctosed ~y resistors R3, R ,. ~he v~ttage ~merginy at the terminals of resistor R3 connected between the base ~8) and em~tter ~E~ an~ transistor ~, opens this transistor which is feeding the integrated circuit C11 - operating as a timer - by resistorR7.
The integrated ~ircuit Ct1 has the pin t conneeted to the m~ss, pin 2 connected to pin 6 and to ~he mass by capaeitor Cl. Between pins 6 and 7 i t i ~ptared the resistor Rs which, together with resistor R6 connected between pins 7 and 3, determine the oscillation ~1equei7cy and ~he report pulseJpause of th output vott~ge picked up by pin 3. This vottage is used to controt, l~y resistorRBI the openin~ of transistor ~, whi~h has in collector, as a charge the LED 5 s~ries-connected to resistor R, l, wltich is connected to tlle mass. T~is one w i I t start blinking when the soil l~ecomes too dry.
The second integrate-d circuit of ~ype LM S55 use~ as soun~ generator for the acoustic alarm is fed by switch S2. Its osciilation fr~quency is determined by resistor Rg ~connect~ between pin 7 of the integrated circuit and its feeding source), resistor Rto (connected between pins 7 and 6 of the integrated circuit) and capacitor C2 ~connected between pins 2 with 6 and the mass):
fau~o = 1 ~ 2000Hz To the outp~t of the sound generator made up ~y this integrated circuit ~pin 3) is connected an acoustic sensor, a piezoelectric sensor.
~ he s~and-by consumption v~ the alarm buffer is very reduced ~approx. 4 ~A) determined only by ~he polarization resistançe of the base of Q" 0~ transistors done by resistors R1, Rz and switch S1. When the alarm is launched, all the other components will be fed by the electronic switch made with transistor Q~, The very reduced current contained between the measurement electrodes 1 and Z slackens down the corrosion.
It is to note that;
R 1. 2 = p * ~
where p is in function of the soil moisture and e 2 s is given by the geometry of the measurement probe ~L
The functionn~ng mode o~ theMo~sture-Meter The moisture-meter measures the soil moisture using the proportionality relation between the moisture of the soil and its electric conductivity measured ~etween electrodes ~ and 3 of the measurement probe. The moisture content of the soil is indicated by 4 L~D-s (3 green ones indicating the normal moisture content and a red one ~ndic~ting an excessive soil moisture~.
The moisture-meter is fed by S3 knob only when we want to effectuate the humidity reading. This way we diminish both the battery current consumption and the corrosion of the measurement probe, The integrated circuit LM 339 ~quad comparator~ controls the 4 LE~ connected ~y res~stors R~s~ P~20, R21~ R22 to the 9V voltage of the battery.
The "t"lnpUts of ~he 4 comparators are all together connected to ele~trode 3 of the measurement probe.
CA 022l9474 l997-l2-24 Th~ YQ!t~Qe~+ = ~ 3f~1Z* ~-~G
We hal,re c~?oserl as ~hresh~lds:
R1,3 t ~K 50K t ~K 2K
-> v~ 4;5V ~V Q ~V Q,175 Green Red The ~ nputs of the omparators ~re connected to the eference Yo~tages obtained by the ch~n~ ~f r~s~o~ R13, ~14~ R~ 16~ R17~ R18 ~S ~ WS- pin 1 between R, 3 and R, 4, pin 8 between R14 and R, ~;, pin 4 between R, ~ and R, 6 and pin 6 between Rl6 ~nd R17. The ~uad c~n~,~al~tor is ~ed by pin 3 only w~en pressing ~3 ~utton during the measuremen~ process.
The pin 1~ o~ th~ inte~rat~ circ~it ~t 33~ is co~ecte~ to ~c m~ss, ~n~
the csmparatorsl outputs ~p}ns 1, Z~ 14~ 13~ are connect~d res~ectively to LE0-s 4, 3, ~, ~ whic~ in~cat~ m~ist~fr~ c~nt~nt o~ ~h~ SOlt~
~s~
I max = ~U~UA ~ ~ r r/ Rl ~ = p * S = ~l 2 ~l le tn thP nr~be s ~ring the ~~ $ ' ' 2 ~ symmatric ~onstruc;ion.
me~suremPnt ~ Consequentiy, the posi~ion in which ~hé probe ~when S~ is ~ ~s oonneeted to ~he e~nneetor has no pressed3 i ~ impor~ance. We may use v~riou~ ~ne~ure!nent ~.CY probes of different iengths on condition to respect the report s by mean~ ~f which the moi~ture-meter has been standard~ze~. -
The alarm cireuit compnses ~wo integrat~d eircliits of LM 555 ~ype, transistors Ql, Q2. a ~ and the alferent passiYe components.
The t~ase of the dar~ington transistor is potarized ~y Resistors Rl and R2 and also by the soil resistor measured between electrodes 1 and 2, noted Rl 2 This one is varying in function of the soil wetness. The sensitivity of the input buffer can be adjusted by the switch S1 connected to resisto~s Rl and R2: if thevalue of R~ 2 increases over a certain threshold, selected by 5" the darlington transistor ~Q1~Q2) starts condueting and its cottector current is ctosed ~y resistors R3, R ,. ~he v~ttage ~merginy at the terminals of resistor R3 connected between the base ~8) and em~tter ~E~ an~ transistor ~, opens this transistor which is feeding the integrated circuit C11 - operating as a timer - by resistorR7.
The integrated ~ircuit Ct1 has the pin t conneeted to the m~ss, pin 2 connected to pin 6 and to ~he mass by capaeitor Cl. Between pins 6 and 7 i t i ~ptared the resistor Rs which, together with resistor R6 connected between pins 7 and 3, determine the oscillation ~1equei7cy and ~he report pulseJpause of th output vott~ge picked up by pin 3. This vottage is used to controt, l~y resistorRBI the openin~ of transistor ~, whi~h has in collector, as a charge the LED 5 s~ries-connected to resistor R, l, wltich is connected to tlle mass. T~is one w i I t start blinking when the soil l~ecomes too dry.
The second integrate-d circuit of ~ype LM S55 use~ as soun~ generator for the acoustic alarm is fed by switch S2. Its osciilation fr~quency is determined by resistor Rg ~connect~ between pin 7 of the integrated circuit and its feeding source), resistor Rto (connected between pins 7 and 6 of the integrated circuit) and capacitor C2 ~connected between pins 2 with 6 and the mass):
fau~o = 1 ~ 2000Hz To the outp~t of the sound generator made up ~y this integrated circuit ~pin 3) is connected an acoustic sensor, a piezoelectric sensor.
~ he s~and-by consumption v~ the alarm buffer is very reduced ~approx. 4 ~A) determined only by ~he polarization resistançe of the base of Q" 0~ transistors done by resistors R1, Rz and switch S1. When the alarm is launched, all the other components will be fed by the electronic switch made with transistor Q~, The very reduced current contained between the measurement electrodes 1 and Z slackens down the corrosion.
It is to note that;
R 1. 2 = p * ~
where p is in function of the soil moisture and e 2 s is given by the geometry of the measurement probe ~L
The functionn~ng mode o~ theMo~sture-Meter The moisture-meter measures the soil moisture using the proportionality relation between the moisture of the soil and its electric conductivity measured ~etween electrodes ~ and 3 of the measurement probe. The moisture content of the soil is indicated by 4 L~D-s (3 green ones indicating the normal moisture content and a red one ~ndic~ting an excessive soil moisture~.
The moisture-meter is fed by S3 knob only when we want to effectuate the humidity reading. This way we diminish both the battery current consumption and the corrosion of the measurement probe, The integrated circuit LM 339 ~quad comparator~ controls the 4 LE~ connected ~y res~stors R~s~ P~20, R21~ R22 to the 9V voltage of the battery.
The "t"lnpUts of ~he 4 comparators are all together connected to ele~trode 3 of the measurement probe.
CA 022l9474 l997-l2-24 Th~ YQ!t~Qe~+ = ~ 3f~1Z* ~-~G
We hal,re c~?oserl as ~hresh~lds:
R1,3 t ~K 50K t ~K 2K
-> v~ 4;5V ~V Q ~V Q,175 Green Red The ~ nputs of the omparators ~re connected to the eference Yo~tages obtained by the ch~n~ ~f r~s~o~ R13, ~14~ R~ 16~ R17~ R18 ~S ~ WS- pin 1 between R, 3 and R, 4, pin 8 between R14 and R, ~;, pin 4 between R, ~ and R, 6 and pin 6 between Rl6 ~nd R17. The ~uad c~n~,~al~tor is ~ed by pin 3 only w~en pressing ~3 ~utton during the measuremen~ process.
The pin 1~ o~ th~ inte~rat~ circ~it ~t 33~ is co~ecte~ to ~c m~ss, ~n~
the csmparatorsl outputs ~p}ns 1, Z~ 14~ 13~ are connect~d res~ectively to LE0-s 4, 3, ~, ~ whic~ in~cat~ m~ist~fr~ c~nt~nt o~ ~h~ SOlt~
~s~
I max = ~U~UA ~ ~ r r/ Rl ~ = p * S = ~l 2 ~l le tn thP nr~be s ~ring the ~~ $ ' ' 2 ~ symmatric ~onstruc;ion.
me~suremPnt ~ Consequentiy, the posi~ion in which ~hé probe ~when S~ is ~ ~s oonneeted to ~he e~nneetor has no pressed3 i ~ impor~ance. We may use v~riou~ ~ne~ure!nent ~.CY probes of different iengths on condition to respect the report s by mean~ ~f which the moi~ture-meter has been standard~ze~. -
Claims (13)
1. The use of a probe made of printed circuit boards.
2. The use of a probe as explained at point 1 with conducting tracks (drawn in a specific form) as a moisture sensor.
3. The probe described in point 1 and 2 of the Claims is detachable being connected to the gauge by a connector.
4. The probes described in the above-mentioned claims (1, 2, 3) have different sizes.
5. The construction of a probe in function of the plant-pot size.
6. The selection of the plant type done by means of the switch S1.
7. Selection of an alarm threshold by using a switch (S1).
8. The display of the soil moisture (by LED-s) at request by pushing a button.
9. The soil moisture is displayed by means of a series of LED-s suggestively colored: yellow for dry soil, green for normal humidity and red when the soil contents water in excess.
10. The achievement of an alarm in case of low moisture content of the soil.
The alarm is automatically released when the moisture-meter detects the inferior limit of accepted moisture content. This threshold limit can be selected by the switch S1.
The alarm is automatically released when the moisture-meter detects the inferior limit of accepted moisture content. This threshold limit can be selected by the switch S1.
11. The alarm can be launched by either optical or acoustical signals, at choice, signaling the decrease of the soil moisture content under a preset threshold.
12. The use of the piezoelectric sensor for the acoustic alarm and the LED for the optical alarm.
13. The construction of a moisture-meter using the proportionality relation between the soil humidity and its electrical conductivity.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2219474 CA2219474A1 (en) | 1997-12-24 | 1997-12-24 | Electronic moisture-meter with alarm |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2219474 CA2219474A1 (en) | 1997-12-24 | 1997-12-24 | Electronic moisture-meter with alarm |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2219474A1 true CA2219474A1 (en) | 1999-06-24 |
Family
ID=29275119
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2219474 Abandoned CA2219474A1 (en) | 1997-12-24 | 1997-12-24 | Electronic moisture-meter with alarm |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2219474A1 (en) |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN105891444A (en) * | 2016-04-07 | 2016-08-24 | 中国水利水电科学研究院 | Device used for detecting moisture in dry soil |
| CN106483271A (en) * | 2016-10-26 | 2017-03-08 | 上海科世达-华阳汽车电器有限公司 | Planting container for plant and its soil testing assemblies |
| CN109342113A (en) * | 2018-12-21 | 2019-02-15 | 四川光辉好口碑农业发展有限公司 | A kind of Garden Planning soil collection detection device |
| CN109523751A (en) * | 2018-09-30 | 2019-03-26 | 康美中药材数据信息服务有限公司 | A kind of production of crude drugs soil environment method for early warning, electronic equipment and storage medium |
| CN112042506A (en) * | 2020-05-27 | 2020-12-08 | 宁波大叶园林工业股份有限公司 | Soil humidity alarm with soil standard wetting box |
| CN115561311A (en) * | 2022-09-16 | 2023-01-03 | 石河子大学 | Low-frequency sound wave remote soil moisture content measuring system and method |
-
1997
- 1997-12-24 CA CA 2219474 patent/CA2219474A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN105891444A (en) * | 2016-04-07 | 2016-08-24 | 中国水利水电科学研究院 | Device used for detecting moisture in dry soil |
| CN106483271A (en) * | 2016-10-26 | 2017-03-08 | 上海科世达-华阳汽车电器有限公司 | Planting container for plant and its soil testing assemblies |
| CN109523751A (en) * | 2018-09-30 | 2019-03-26 | 康美中药材数据信息服务有限公司 | A kind of production of crude drugs soil environment method for early warning, electronic equipment and storage medium |
| CN109342113A (en) * | 2018-12-21 | 2019-02-15 | 四川光辉好口碑农业发展有限公司 | A kind of Garden Planning soil collection detection device |
| CN109342113B (en) * | 2018-12-21 | 2021-07-09 | 四川光辉好口碑农业发展有限公司 | Soil acquisition and detection equipment for garden planning |
| CN112042506A (en) * | 2020-05-27 | 2020-12-08 | 宁波大叶园林工业股份有限公司 | Soil humidity alarm with soil standard wetting box |
| CN115561311A (en) * | 2022-09-16 | 2023-01-03 | 石河子大学 | Low-frequency sound wave remote soil moisture content measuring system and method |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |