GB2193325A

GB2193325A - Monitoring plant cultivation

Info

Publication number: GB2193325A
Application number: GB08716070A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kei Mori
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-07-09
Filing date: 1987-07-08
Publication date: 1988-02-03
Also published as: KR880002000A; IT8721237A0; DE3722516A1; FR2601226A1; FI872989A0; AU7533787A; NL8701612A; JPS6318257A; DK356387A; GB8716070D0; FI872989A; CN87104841A; CH674295A5; SE8702801L; SE8702801D0; IT1222000B; DK356387D0

Description

1 GB2193325A 1 SPECIFICATION described, reference being made to the ac

companying drawing in which the single Figure Monitoring plant cultivation 1 schematically illustrates a plant cultivation monitoring device in use.

The present invention relates to monitoring, or 70 Fig. 1 is a construction view for explaining watching, plant cultivation. an embodiment of the present invention. In In order to cultivate plants, conventionally Fig. 1, 1 is a plant, 2 a pair of electrodes the first consideration was put on consolidat- inserted into or attached on the vein la of the ing an environment suitable for cultivating plant's leaves 1, 3 an amplifier, and 4 an out- plants, for instance, giving plants adequate 75 put device. As shown in Fig. 1, when a pair temperature, humidity, light rays, nutritive sub- of electrodes 2, 2 are inserted into or at stance, and so on. However, those elements tached on the vein la of the plant's leaves at satisfied the plants cultivating condition so as a predetermined interval, a voltage corre to effectively attain the initial object matching sponding to the vein current flowing there with human desire, and the growth of the 80 through is generated between the electrodes plants was forcibly promoted aiming at the 2, 2. The vein current changes in accordance effect for satisfying human desire. Contrary to with the condition of the plant at that time.

the expectation, it was difficult to cause the For instance, when ultraviolet or infrared is respective afore-mentioned conditions to corradiated onto the plant, temperature or humi respond to the result thereof according to the 85 dity is raised or lowered, sound, magnetic conventional method. For instance, in case field, or electric field is appied to the plant, or that the plants did not grow in realization of NO, covers the plant the vein current changes.

the initial object, the reasons thereof hardly Consequently, if the condition of exerting an corresponded one to one to its result. And influence on the cultivation (growth) of the further, a considerably long period of time 90 plant receiving radiation of ultraviolet and in was required between the reason and the re- frared is changed previously and the reaction sult thereof and thereby the correspondence of the plant, that is, the change of the vein therefore was delayed. Those were the prob- current at that time is detected and known lems to be settled. thereby in such a manner as mentioned It is an object of the present invention to 95 above, afterward the change of the environ monitor the cultivation of a plant to find a ment given to the plant can be detected with preferable environment for the cultivation of an approximately real time in accordance with the plant. the change of the vein current.

The object is achieved by measuring the Moreover, various sort of devices can be current flowing through a vein of a leaf of the 100 thought as the output device 4 for displaying plant to provide an indication of the health of the afore-mentioned voltage across the elec the plant substantially at any given instant. trodes. For instance, the recording device for The invention includes a method of monitor- printing the detected voltage signal on the re ing the cultivation of a plant, comprising in- cording medium such as the recording paper serting into, or attaching to, a vein of a leaf 105 or the like, the memory device for storing the of a plant two electrodes spaced apart along same in the memorizing medium such as the the length of vein by a predetermined dismagnetic tape or the like (wherein, if the de tance, detecting the voltage between said tected signal is converted from analog to digi electrodes, and providing an indication of the tal and stored in the memory device, the com magnitude of the detected voltage. 110 puter processing can be easily done), the dis The invention also includes a device for use play device such as the cathode-ray tube, the in a method as defined above, comprising two sound device sounding the speaker by use of electrodes which are adapted to be inserted the voltage signal obtained by frequency-mo into or attached to a vein of a leaf at a pre- dulating the afore- mentioned detected voltage determined spacing apart therealong, and 115 signal, etc. can be thought as the output de means responsive to the voltage between the vice for printing or displaying the signal de electrodes for providing an indication of the tected.

magnitude of the voltage. In practice, the present applicant performed The invention also includes a watching de- an experiment in which a pair of electrodes as vice for watching plants cultivating condition, 120 mentioned above was inserted into the vein of characterized in that a pair of electrodes are the saintpaulia (African violet), the output vol inserted into or attached on a vein of the tage signal generated across the electrodes plant's leaves at a predetermined interval, a was amplified and modulated, and the same voltage generated across said pair of elecwas output by the speaker laying an emphasis trodes is detected, and the exisiting condition 125 on the high sound frequency zone and the low of said plants is watched by the detected vol- sound frequency zone.

tage signal. As a result When the ultraviolet or the infra In order that the invention may be well un- red in radiated onto the plant 1, or the ambi derstood, an embodiment thereof, which is ent temperature and humidity are raised or given by way of example only, will now be 130 lowered, the sound of the plant suffering from 2 GB2193325A 2 a pain is emitted from the speaker 4. On the to produce sound from said speaker.

contrary, when the environment of the plant 11. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein turns out to be near that of an ordinary natu- said voltage responsive means comprises anal ral condition, the speaker emits the sound in ogs of digital voltage signal conversion means.

its own way. And further, when the light rays 70 12. A device as claimed in claim 8 or 11, containing therein neiher ultraviolet nor infrared wherein said voltage responsive means in are supplied to the plant the speaker can emit cludes voltage signal frequency modulation the sound of the joyful plant In consequence, means.

it can be easily judged whether the present 13. A device as claimed in claim 8, 11 or environment of the plant s preferable or not 75 12 wherein said voltage responsive means for the plant by listening to the sound emitted comprises a memory.

from the speaker 4. 14. A watching device for watching plants As is apparent from the foregoing descrip- cultivating condition, characterized in that a tion, according to present invention, it may be pair of electrodes are inserted into or attached possible to find the environment preferable for 80 on a vein of the plant's leaves at a predeter the plant with an approximately real tim e. mined interval, a voltage generated across The plant can be cultivated in the environment said pair of electrodes is detected, and the preferable for the plant Furthermore, the plant exisiting condition of said plants is watched is not cultivated only for person's desire, but by the detected voltage signal.

the same is cultivated in the environment pre- 85 15. A watching device for watching plants ferable also-the plant cultivating condition as defined in claim 14, characterized in that said detected voltage sig

Claims

CLAIMS nal is printed on a recording medium such as

1. A method of monitoring the cultivation of a recording paper or the like.

a plant, comprising inserting into, or attaching 90 16. A watching device for watching plants to, a vein of a leaf of a plant two electrodes cultivating condition as defined in claim 14, spaced apart along the length of vein by a characterized in that said detected voltage sig predetermined distance, detecting the voltage nal is stored in a memorizing medium such as between said electrodes, and providing an in- a magnetic tape or the like.

dication of the magnitude of the detected vol- 95 17. A watching device for watching plants tage. cultivating condition as defined in claim 16,

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein characterized in that said detected voltage sig a signal corresponding to the detected voltage nal is converted from analog to digital and is printed on a recording medium. stored in said memorizing medium.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein 100 18. A watching device for watching plants a signal corresponding to the detected voltage cultivating condition as defined in claim 14, is displayed on a display device. characterized in that the frequency of said de

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein tected voltage signal is modulated and said the frequency of the signal corresponding to modulated signal is stored in said memorizing the detected voltage is modulated and fed 105 medium.

through a speaker. - 19, A watching device for watching plants

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein cultivating condition as defined in claim 14, the signal corresponding to-the detected vol- characterized in that the frequency of said de tage is stored in a memory. tected voltage signal is modulated and said

6. A method as claimed i n claim 5 wherein 110 modulated signals sounds a speaker.

the signal corresponding to the detected vol- 20. A watching device for watching plants tage is converted from analog to digital prior cultivating condition as defined in claim 14, to storage in said memory. characterized in that said detected voltage sig

7. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein nal is displayed on a display device such as a the frequency of the signal corresponding to 115 cathode-ray tube or the like.

the detected voltage is modulated prior to 21. A method of monitoring the cultivation storage in said memory. of a plant, substantially as hereinbefore de

8. A device for use in a method as claimed scribed with reference to the accompanying in claim 1, comprising two electrodes which drawing.

are adapted to be inserted - into or attached to 120 22. A device for monitoring the cultivation a vein of a leaf at a predetermined spacing of a plant, substantially as hereinbefore de apart therealong, and means responsive to the scribed.

voltage between the electrodes for providing P ublished 1988 at The Patent office, State House, 66/7 1 High Holborn, an indication of the magnitude of the voltage. London WC 1 R 4TP, Further copies may be obtained from

9. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein The Patent Office, Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3 RD.

said voltage responsive means includes -means Printed by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd. Con. 1/87.

for providing a printout.

10. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said voltage responsive means includes a speaker and circuitry for causing said voltage