EP2056663A1

EP2056663A1 - Apparatus for examining or monitoring plants

Info

Publication number: EP2056663A1
Application number: EP07786610A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peter Osypka
Original assignee: Peter Osypka Stiftung
Current assignee: Peter Osypka Stiftung
Priority date: 2006-09-01
Filing date: 2007-08-08
Publication date: 2009-05-13
Also published as: DE102006041127B3; US20090278555A1; WO2008025439A1; WO2008025439A8; US7994802B2

Abstract

An apparatus (1) is used to examine or monitor the state or state of health of plants (2) with the aid of a bipolar electrode (4) which uses its at least two different poles (5) to tap off corresponding potentials of the plant and supplies them to a detector and/or memory (7), in particular via an amplifier (9), with the result that conclusions regarding the state of, or the possible damage to, a plant (2) can be drawn from changes in these electrical signals and can ensure remedial action.

Description

Device for the examination or monitoring of plants

The invention relates to a device for the investigation or monitoring of the state or health of plants, in particular for the determination of damage caused by environmental influences and / or by pests during the growth or during the life of such a plant.

So far, especially useful plants, eg. As grapevines, visually observed whether they are infected by pests or show a normal growth and appearance deviating phenomena, which leads to more or less general measures such as often oversized spraying with pesticides, additional fertilizer measures or the like. As a rule, the means to be used are not only considerably oversized, but often used too late or at the wrong time.

There is therefore the object to provide a device of the type mentioned above, with which it can be recognized in good time or early, as the general condition or health of the plant or plants or whether and at what stage damage to, for example, by pests or environmental influences.

To achieve this object, it is provided that the device has a bipolar electrode which can be attached to a site or to a region of the plant where it emits electrical signals and / or an electrical potential, or to a green spot or to a green region of the plant having at least two poles contacting the plant in the position of use, the attachment site (s) on the plant in use position at least partially or completely engages and receives electrical signals or potentials of the plant, and that the bipolar electrode with a detector and / or with a Memory for detecting and evaluating these potentials and for comparing recorded at different times potentials and signals connectable or connected.

The invention makes use of the knowledge that plants emit electrical signals or have potentials which correspond to their respective state and change when this state changes and in particular when the normal state of the plant is no longer present. With the device according to the invention, it is possible to monitor the respective plant on the basis of its electrical potentials and to detect changes in these potentials at an early stage, which indicate corresponding changes, in particular deterioration of the state of the plant. Since it is known how these potentials change, if the health of the plant changes or the plant is attacked by pests, these changes can be used as an opportunity for targeted countermeasures.

It is particularly expedient if an amplifier is provided between the fastening or attachment point of the electrode to the plant and the detector and / or memory. This makes it possible for the signals picked up and passed on by the electrode to be clearly and meaningfully recognized and stored.

It may be favorable if a plurality of bipolar electrodes are provided and connected to a common memory. On In this way, the condition of several plants, for example, within a field or a vineyard or a garden or bed can be detected and monitored.

The memory can be connected to an evaluation center wirelessly or via electrical lines. Thus, the plant or plant field may also be monitored or observed over a longer distance and, if necessary, virtually uninterrupted.

An expedient embodiment of the invention may provide that the bipolar electrode has a holder or a holding end for permanent and / or releasable attachment to the plant. Thus, the bipolar electrode can remain for a long time independent of "wind and weather" at the respective plant and allow their monitoring.

In this case, the holder or the holding end of the electrode for connection to a plant can be formed as a double or twin helix, in which each of the mutually parallel turns carries or forms one of the poles of the electrode, and the double helix can measure the location on the plant on the embrace the entire circumference of the attachment site, wherein the two helices or turns of the bipolar electrode forming the double helix are insulated from each other and against the environment and on their the plant part or stem of the plant facing, arranged in the interior of the double helix area insensitive or stripped contact points as a pole to the direct Record the electrical potential of the plant and / or for direct contact with the embraced plant part. Such a spiral or double helix is yielding and can, for example, grow along with the increasing stem thickness of a plant. In addition, it can be easy be applied because the turns of a coil can be easily attached to the side of an elongated part such as a stem or stalks. At the same time, such a helix or double helix is inexpensive to produce, with the properties in terms of flexibility, stability and strength can be influenced and selected by the choice of wire material or wire diameter and spring stiffness and the distance between the poles of the electrodes. By choosing the insulation and the stripped areas while a high level of security against interference from external influences such as rainfall is given at the same time.

It is thus particularly expedient if the bipolar electrode and the holding and measuring coil belonging to it are formed from a flexible and electrically conductive material. It can be achieved by choosing the material and the choice of the dimensions of the cross sections such a low weight of the bipolar electrode that an influence on the respective plant by the attachment of this electrode is not expected or not disturbing extent. This is especially true if the chosen material is biocompatible and even resistant to environmental influences such as moisture, UV rays and temperatures.

For example, silicon, goniomer, rubber, PE and / or PUR can be provided as the material for insulating the bipolar electrode and in particular the double or twin coil or at least one of its coils or turns.

A particularly effective bipolar electrode is obtained if the two coils belonging to it are in turn formed from wire spirals which, in the region of the holder or attachment point on the plant, are connected to the turns of the double coils. helix are formed, which surrounds the plant in use position. The individual electrodes of the bipolar electrode are thus formed from wire turns and then in turn formed in the region of the mounting location on the plant to correspondingly larger, adapted to the dimension of the mounting location turns. In this way, electrodes result in high flexibility and adaptability to the object to be wrapped.

An embodiment of the invention of very considerable and advantageous importance may consist in that the bipolar electrode is connected directly or indirectly to a control unit, with which specific countermeasures such as spraying of antidotes or pesticides or delivery of drugs or fertilizers can be triggered in particular in a pest infestation , The device according to the invention may therefore include a corresponding control device and possibly also the container and the device, with which pesticides and / or fertilizers can be dispensed.

For example, the detector or memory belonging to the device may be connected to the control unit and this may be connected to a dispenser or container which contains the antidote and has a closable opening which is deliberately revealed by the control unit or by its control pulses. Thus, depending on the condition determined by the bipolar electrode, the supply of antidotes may be targeted or even automatically provided that the observed measurement result is unfavorable to the plant. In this case, such a configured device has the advantage that also very specifically tested the effect of, for example, a pesticide and tried in small amounts of individual plants or very targeted and dosed as low as possible Application can be brought.

The container for the controlled or, if appropriate, regulated delivery of antidotes or nutrients can be shaped so that it can be attached to the electrode at or at the point of attachment of the plant or can be fixed thereto by the bipolar electrode or its holder. This results in a combination of the bipolar electrode and the part, which can also be assigned to the user in a simple manner to a plant, by means of which any reactions to unfavorable measurement results can be effected. All this allows the release of active ingredients very specifically on that plant, where a possibly unfavorable measurement result is detected, so that a correspondingly low dosage of the respective active ingredient is possible.

The container for the controlled release of substances may be designed to at least partially encompass the plant, in particular on a stem or stem or branch. As a result, it is directly attachable to the plant and can be fixed so that it can hardly be reached or damaged by mechanical influences or small animals.

A further development of the invention can provide that the poles of the bipolar electrode which come into electrical contact with the plant consist of conductive plastic and, in particular, protrude on the inside of the helices with respect to the bipolar electrode. Thus, it is ensured by the pressure force of the helices, even with a certain clearance between helix and stems, that the poles of the bipolar electrode in each case get into conductive contact with the attachment site of the plant. Conductive plastic is advantageously corrosion resistant and can thus long under unfavorable weather conditions fulfill its function.

The diameter of the double helix of the bipolar electrode and / or the distances of their turns can be adapted to the respective plant to be examined and the attachment point of this plant to be detected in its dimension and in the spring force and spring hardness occurring, which due to the very simple construction of the bipolar electrode with the double helix is very easy by the choice of such dimensions and the material used is possible.

For the power supply of the amplifier, a mains connection, a battery or accumulator connection and / or at least one solar cell can be provided. Above all, one or more solar cells make the device independent of supply lines so that it can also be applied to fields and forests located at a greater distance from houses or inhabited areas.

For good measurement results, it is expedient that the at least two poles of the bipolar electrode are arranged at spaced-apart locations of the double helix, in particular in each case on the mutually opposite turns of this double helix or twin helix.

For the assembly and handling of the device, it is expedient if the connections of the bipolar electrode are designed as a plug for releasably connecting to the memory or to the amplifier upstream of the memory. The electrodes can then easily be mounted on the desired mounting locations of plants and can then optionally also be connected via extension cables or the like to the amplifier or the upstream storage. to be bound. Above all, the arrangement of several electrodes with a common memory and / or amplifier is simplified by this arrangement.

Although it could be provided instead of the helix for attaching the bipolar electrode to a plant, for example, a hinged sleeve part or a clip or the like, however, a coil is preferred because it is very flexible, the production and installation are simple and a virtually automatic adjustment the helix can be made to grow the attachment site of the plant.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention are described in more detail with reference to the drawing. It shows m partly schematized representation:

1 shows a device according to the invention for the investigation or monitoring of the state of plants with m this embodiment, three bipolar electrodes, which are arranged on twin spirals on stalks or stems of grape vines and connected via amplifiers to a memory,

2 m enlarged scale a bipolar electrode constituting the essential part of the device according to the invention, the two poles spaced from each other being arranged on the inside of a double helix, from which the number of poles according to two lines to plugs, with which the different poles detachable with the amplifier and / or

Memory are connectable,

Fig. 3 in still further enlarged scale, the double helix with the lying on its inside stripped Poland, which is indicated in a partial longitudinal section that the turns of the double helix in turn by a coil of thin wire or conductive material formed and coated with an insulation, so that the two belonging to the different poles of the coils Double helix are also isolated from each other,

4 is a plan view of the double helix with a view of the radially inwardly projecting, for example made of electrically conductive plastic or metal on the inside of the helix to improve the contact with a plant stem as well

5 shows a device according to the invention, in which a container for the delivery of active substances is provided in the region of the double helix, which container is actuated by the reservoir.

A device generally designated 1 (cf. in particular FIGS. 1 and 5) serves to examine or monitor the state or health of plants 2, for example of grapevines, damage by environmental influences and / or pests during growth or life such plants 2 are to be determined.

An essential part of the device 1 is one at a location or at an area of the plant 2, where it emits electrical signals and / or an electrical potential is present, or at a green spot or a green area of the plant 2, for example a stem or stalk 3, attaching bare, generally designated 4, particularly well recognizable in Fig. 2 bipolar electrode. This has two plant 2 in the position of use contacting pole 5. It surrounds according to FIG. 1, the attachment points 6 on the plant 2 in the position of use at least partially, even completely in the illustrated embodiments and takes on the poles 5 electrical potentials or signals of the plant 2 on , wherein the two poles 5 are spaced from each other.

The bipolar electrode 4 is connected to a detector or memory 7 for detecting and evaluating these measurement results or potentials and for comparing potentials and signals recorded at different times. It can be seen in Fig. 2, that the terminals of the bipolar electrode 4 as a plug 8 - for each pole 5 a plug - are designed for releasable connection or connection to the memory 7 or to a memory 7 upstream amplifier 9. The bipolar electrode 4 is thus detachably connectable to the memory 7.

As already mentioned, an amplifier 9 is provided between the mounting location 6 of the electrode 4 and the memory 7, which is thus located between the electrode 4 or its terminals 8 and the memory 7. In practice, the bipolar electrode 4 is first connected to or connected to the memory 7 via this amplifier 9. 1 illustrates that a plurality of bipolar electrodes 4 are provided and connected to a common memory-expediently in each case via amplifiers 9-in order to be able to simultaneously monitor a corresponding number of plants 2.

In a manner not shown, the memory 7 with an evaluation center be connected wirelessly or via electrical lines or even an evaluation device ent ^¬ hold. Thus, the measurement results can also be evaluated at a distance from the plants 2 and give rise to corresponding reactions such as increased fertilization or control of pests with pesticides or the like.

As can be clearly seen in the figures, the respective bipolar electrode 4 has a holder or a holding end to be described in greater detail for permanent and / or releasable attachment to the respective plant 2 and its attachment point 6. In the embodiments, this holder or the holding end of the electrode 4 is designed to connect to a plant 2 as a double or twin helix 10 from the common end of each line 11 to the plugs 8 or other connections to the memory 7 or the amplifier 9 lead ,

Each of the mutually parallel m m coinciding their turns 12 and 13 carries or forms one of the poles 5 of the electrode 4, as well m Fig. 2 and 3 can be seen. It is clear that the pole 5 located on the turn 13 has a maximum distance from the pole 5 located on the turn 12, which corresponds approximately to the axial extent of the double or twin helix 10, in order to carry out a correspondingly clear measurement of a respective potential can.

The double helix 10 wraps around the measuring point and thus the attachment point 6 on the plant 2 on the entire circumference of the stem 3, wherein the turns 12 and 13 of the two helices forming the double helix 10 according to FIG. isolated and relative to the environment and only on their part of the plant or stem 3 of the plant 2 facing, arranged in the interior of the double helix 10 area insensitive or stripped contact points as a pole 5 for the direct Aufseinme electrical potential of the plant 2 and / or have direct contact with the encompassed plant part 3. The insulation is indicated in Figure 3 by the reference numeral 14 and may be, for example, silicone or rubber.

The bipolar electrode 4 and belonging to it holding and measuring spiral, so the double helix 10, are formed of a flexible and electrically conductive material, so that a good adaptation to the cross section and the growth of the attachment point 6 of the plant 2 is possible.

Belonging to the bipolar electrode 4, two spirals or turns 12 and 13 are shown in FIG. 3 in turn formed from wire coils 15 which extend within the insulation 14 and according to FIG. 3 in the region of the holder on the plant 2 to the windings 12 and 13th the double helix 10 are formed, which surrounds the plant 2 in the position of use at the attachment point 6. This leads to a very flexible and also the plant and its movements and their growth practically not disturbing arrangement high compliance and yet good strength, which also leads to a mounting point 6 practically not burdening solid connection with this point.

The bipolar electrode 4 can be connected directly or indirectly to a control unit, which in the exemplary embodiment can be arranged, for example, within the memory 7 and with which targeted countermeasures, such as spraying of antidotes or pesticides or dispensing of fertilizers or the like, can be triggered, especially in the case of pest infestation , FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment in which the memory 7 belonging to the device 1 is arranged with the control device arranged thereon and therefore not shown separately, and this via a line 16, which may also be wireless, with a dispensing device or container 17 is connected, which contains corresponding antidote and has an initially closed or closable opening, which is apparent by control pulses from the controller forth. Thus, depending on the measurement of changing potentials, it may even be possible, if appropriate, to automatically ensure the targeted delivery of medicaments, fertilizers and / or pesticides from the container 17. In this case, the container 17 for the controlled release of antidotes, medicaments or nutrients as shown in FIG. 5 is shaped so that it can be attached to or at the attachment point 6 of the plant 2, where the electrode 4 attacks, or even by the bipolar electrode 4 and the holder can be fixed thereto. The container 17 can thus also be designed so that it at least partially surrounds the plant 2 msbeson- on a stem or stem or branch. Accordingly, the content of this container 17 can be used due to the measurements of the bipolar electrode 4.

In Fig. 4 can be seen on the double helix 10 inside radially projecting poles 5, which may consist of electrically conductive plastic and due to their supernatant against the inner contour of the double helix 10 can form a particularly good contact with the plant 2 and its attachment point 6. The use of electrically conductive plastic reduces corrosion problems, although metallic poles 5 could also be used made of a corrosion-resistant metal. In Fig. 1 it can be seen that the diameter of the double helix 10 of the bipolar electrode 4 adapted to each plant to be examined 2 and thereby to be detected point 6 of this plant 2 in their dimension and also in the spring force and hardness occurring is to give a solid but detachable and adaptable attachment. In addition, the distances of the turns 12 and 13 and the material used can be preselected in order to allow an "inconspicuous" adaptation to a plant. Conversely, the electrode 4 can also, with the aid of its double helix 10, support an otherwise too weak part of the plant serve.

For the power supply of the amplifier 9, a network connection, a battery or accumulator connection and / or at least one solar cell can be provided in order to be able to monitor plant collections or fields or vineyards which are also removed from conventional power supplies. A corresponding power connection 18 is indicated in FIG. 1.

The device 1 is used to examine or monitor the state or health of plants 2 with the aid of a bipolar electrode 4, which picks up potentials of the plant with its at least two different poles 5 and supplies them to a detector and / or memory 7, in particular via an amplifier 9 so that conclusions can be drawn from changes in these electrical signals on the condition or possible damage to a plant 2 and can be taken to remedy the situation.

Claims

claims

1. Device (1) for examining or monitoring the state or health of plants (2), in particular for determining damage from environmental influences and / or by pests during the growth or life of such a plant (2), characterized in that the device has a bipolar one which can be attached to a location (6) or to a region of the plant (2) where it emits electrical signals and / or an electrical potential, or to a green spot or a green area of the plant (2) Electrode (4) having at least two the plant (2) in the position of use touching poles (5), the attachment point (s) (6) on the plant (2) in the position of use at least partially or completely surrounds and electrical signals and / or potentials of the plant (2) receives, and that the bipolar electrode (4) with a detector and / or with a Speiss rather (7) for detecting and evaluating these potentials and is connectable or connected to compare recorded at different times potentials and signals.

2. Device according to one of claim 1, marked thereby, that between the attachment point (6) of the electrode

(4) and the detector and / or memory (7) an amplifier (9) is provided.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a plurality of bipolar electrodes (4) are provided and connected to a common memory (7).

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the memory (7) is connected to an evaluation center wirelessly or via electrical lines.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the bipolar electrode (4) has a holding tion or a holding end for permanent and / or releasable attachment to the plant (2).

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the holder or the holding end of the electrode (4) for connection to a plant (2) as a double or twin spiral (10) is formed, in which each of the parallel windings (12, 13) arranged on each other carry or form one of the poles (5) of the electrode, and in that the double helix (10) wraps around the measuring point on the plant (2) on the entire circumference of the attachment point (6), the double helix (10) forming two coils are isolated from each other and against the environment and on their the plant part or stem (3) of the plant facing, in the interior of the double helix (10) arranged region insensitive or stripped contact points for the direct recording of the electrical potential of the plant (2) and / or for direct contact with the encompassed plant part (3).

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that the bipolar electrode (4) and belonging to it holding and measuring coil is formed of a flexible and electrically conductive material.

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the bipolar electrode (4) belonging to two helices (12, 13) in turn from wire coils (15) are formed in the region of the holder on the plant (2). are formed to the turns (12, 13) of the double helix (10), which touches or embraces the plant (2) in the position of use.

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bipolar electrode (4) is directly or indirectly connected to a control device, with which specific countermeasures such as spraying of antidotes or pesticides or dispensing of fertilizers can be triggered in particular in a pest infestation.

10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the belonging to it memory (7) with the control unit and this with a dispensing device or container (17) is connected, which contains the antidote and has a closable opening which through Control impulses is evident.

11. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the container (17) for the controlled delivery of antidotes, drugs or nutrients is shaped so that it at or at the attachment point (6) of the plant (2) for the Electrode (4) attachable or by the bipolar electrode (4) and the holder can be fixed thereto.

12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the container (17) for the controlled release of substances for at least partially encompassing the plant (2) is formed in particular on a stem or stem or branch (3).

13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the poles (5) of the bipolar electrode (4) coming into electrical contact with the plant consist of conductive plastic or, in particular, corrosion-resistant metal and in particular opposite the bipolar electrode (4 ) protrude on the inside of the coil (10).

14. The device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the diameter of the double helix (10) of the bipolar electrode (4) and / or the distances of their turns to the respective plant to be examined (2) and thereby to be detected position ( 6) of this plant (2) are adapted in their dimension and in the spring force and spring hardness occurring.

15. Device according to one of claims 1 to 14 characterized in that for the power supply of the amplifier

(9) a mains connection, a battery or Akkumulatorenan- circuit and / or at least one solar cell are provided.

16. Device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the at least two poles (5) of the bipolar electrode (4) are arranged at spaced locations of the double helix (10), in particular at the opposite turns of this double helix or twin helix ,

17. Device according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the terminals of the bipolar electrode (4) or their lines (11) as a plug (8) for releasably connecting to the memory (7) or on the memory (7) upstream of the amplifier (9) are formed.

18. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the diameter of the double helix (10) forming individual coils or turns (12, 13) match.

19. The device according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that as a material for insulating the bipolar electrode (4) and in particular the double or twin coil (10) or at least one of their turns or coils (12, 13) silicone, rubber , Goniomer, PE and / or PUR.