WO2003017749A1

WO2003017749A1 - Digital flowerpot capable of controlling growing environment

Info

Publication number: WO2003017749A1
Application number: PCT/KR2002/001573
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jae-Suk Lee
Original assignee: Jae-Suk Lee
Priority date: 2001-08-23
Filing date: 2002-08-20
Publication date: 2003-03-06

Abstract

tDisclosed herein is a digital flowerpot capable of controlling its growing environment. The digital flowerpot has a sensor unit (20), a microprocessor (30), a display unit (50), a speaker (60) and a power supply unit (70). The sensor unit (20) detects growth data of the plant, and simultaneously detects the approach of a person. The microprocessor (30) converts the analog signals representing the growth data into digital signals to manage the data, and controls an entire operation of the digital flowerpot by an operation process. The display unit (50) receives a control signal necessary for controlling the growing environment of the plant. The display unit (50) further displays impropriety of growing conditions necessary for the cultivation of the plant, and further displays that improper growing conditions are adjusted appropriately. The speaker (60) indicates the impropriety of growing conditions, and indicates that improper growing conditions are adjusted appropriately.

Description

DIGITAL FLOWERPOT CAPABLE OF CONTROLLING GROWING

ENVIRONMENT

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to a digital flowerpot capable of controlling its growing environment of plants potted therein, thus allowing easy control of cultivation management of growing plants.

Background Art

Generally, plants including flowers are beautiful in appearance, so they have functions of easing the minds of users. Therefore, plants have been sold for decorative purposes. Especially, plants for aromatic, anti-pest, medical and food use, such as herbs, are sold as functional plants in addition to purely decorative plants. Such plants are planted in flowerpots, etc., and cultivated.

If a cultivator purchases a plant planted in a flowerpot, etc.. the management of cultivation of the plant is required. If a cultivator is experienced in the cultivation of plants for a sufficient period of time, the cultivator can cultivate a plant on the basis of his acquired experience. Further, if a cultivator is inexperienced in the cultivation of plants, he can cultivate plants by acquiring cultivation information of plants through information transmission media, such as relevant publications or the Internet, etc. However, if cultivators desire to personally cultivate various kinds of plants, it is difficult for the cultivators to gain actual experience of the cultivation of all plants. Even if the cultivators acquire cultivation information of plants through information transmission media, such as publications or the Internet, there are problems in that it is difficult for respective cultivators to precisely determine exact growing conditions, such as temperature. humidity, the amount of solar radiation, etc., which are needed for their specific plant cultivation circumstances. Disclosure of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a digital flowerpot capable of controlling its growing environment. which comprises various sensors to allow a cultivator to learn the amount of ambient light, ambient temperature and moisture, which are included in the growing environment of plants, and the survival and dead of plants, and displays sensed data on a monitor of a personal computer or a display unit (liquid crystal display) to allow the cultivator to recognize various data sensed by the sensors. thus enabling the cultivator to easily cultivate and manage plants, and increasing interest and pleasure in cultivating plants for the cultivator.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a digital flowerpot capable of controlling its growing environment, which can be widely used as a technical aid. In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides A digital flowerpot capable of controlling its growing environment, comprising a container in which a plant is planted; a sensor unit installed in the container for detecting growth data of the plant, which are data necessary for controlling the growing environment of the plant, and simultaneously detecting the approach of a person; a microprocessor for receiving analog signals representing the growth data necessary for controlling the growing environment of the plant and the data obtained by detecting the approach of a person, which are detected by the sensor unit, converting the analog signals into digital signals to manage the data, and controlling an entire operation of the digital flowerpot by an operation process; a display unit for receiving a control signal necessary for controlling the growing environment of the plant, which is outputted from the microprocessor, displaying impropriety of growing conditions necessary for the cultivation of the plant in characters to enable a person to recognize the improper growing conditions in response to the control signal, and further displaying in characters that improper growing conditions necessary for the cultivation of the plant are adjusted appropriately in response to the control signal; a speaker for indicating the impropriety of growing conditions necessary for the cultivation of the plant by sounds, and further indicating by sounds that improper growing conditions necessary for the cultivation of the plant are adjusted appropriately; and a power supply unit for supplying operating power to the microprocessor.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a digital flowerpot capable of controlling its growing environment according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a transmission cable of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the digital flowerpot capable of controlling its growing environment according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention when the digital flowerpot is viewed from below; and

Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a control circuit applied to the digital flowerpot capable of controlling its growing environment according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, a digital flowerpot 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a container 10, a sensor unit 20. a microprocessor 30, a display unit 50, a speaker 60 and a power supply unit 70.

The container 10 is a receptacle in which a plant is planted. The sensor unit 20 installed in the container 10 detects growth data of the plant, which are data necessary for controlling the growing environment of the plant, and simultaneously detects the approach of a person. The microprocessor 30 receives analog signals representing the growth data necessary for controlling the growing environment of the plant and the data obtained by detecting the approach of a person, which are detected by the sensor unit 20, converts the analog signals into digital signals to manage the data, and controls an entire operation of the digital flowerpot 100 by an operation process. The display unit 50 receives a control signal necessary for controlling the growing environment of the plant, which is outputted from the microprocessor 30. The display unit 50 further displays impropriety of growing conditions necessary for the cultivation of the plant in characters to enable a person to recognize the improper growing conditions in response to the control signal, and further displays in characters that improper growing conditions necessary for the cultivation of the plant are adjusted appropriately in response to the control signal. The speaker 60 indicates the impropriety of growing conditions necessary for the cultivation of the plant by sounds, and indicates by sounds that improper growing conditions necessary for the cultivation of the plant are adjusted appropriately. The power supply unit 70 supplies operating power to the microprocessor 30.

The sensor unit is comprised of a light sensor 20A, a temperature sensor 20B, a moisture sensor 20C, a plant energy sensor 20D and a biometric sensor 20E. The light sensor 20A senses the amount of ambient light using the variation of electric resistance caused by the variation of the amount of ambient light radiated from the sun. The temperature sensor 20B senses ambient temperature. The moisture sensor 20C senses the amount of moisture in the container 10. The plant energy sensor 20D senses whether or not the plant is alive by amplifying a potential difference of electricity flowing through the plant. The biometric sensor

20E senses the approach of a person such that the propriety or impropriety of growing conditions necessary for the cultivation of the plant is displayed on the display unit 50 in characters.

The plant energy sensor 20D of the sensor unit 20 is comprised of two clampers 20a and 20b such that leaves or stems of the plant can be clamped at predetermined intervals by the clampers 20a and 20b so as to measure a potential difference of electricity flowing through the plant. The potential difference sensed by the clampers 20a and 20b of the plant energy sensor 20D is very fine, so it is preferable to include an amplifier in the plant energy sensor 20D.

Further, the amount of ambient light, temperature and moisture sensed by the light sensor 20A, the temperature sensor 20B and the moisture sensor 20C of the sensor unit 20, respectively, are also detected as very fine electrical signals, so it is preferable to include amplifiers in the light sensor 20A, the temperature sensor

20B and the moisture sensor 20C, respectively.

The microprocessor 30 consists of an analog/digital (A/D) converting unit 32, a control unit 33, a data managing unit 34, and a data input/output unit 35.

The A/D converting unit 32 receives the analog signals which are data necessary for controlling the growing environment of the plant, detected by the sensor unit 20, through a selector unit 31 , and converts the analog signals into digital signals. The control unit 33 receives the growth data of the plant converted into the digital signals by the A/D converting unit 32, processes the growth data, stores data and controls the entire operation of the microprocessor 30. The data managing unit

34 receives and manages data outputted from the control unit 33. The data input/output unit 35 transmits the growth data of the plant outputted from the data managing unit 34 to a personal computer 80 through a transmission cable 90. and outputs data received from the personal computer 80 to the data managing unit 34.

That is, the data input/output unit 35 is connected to the personal computer 80 through the transmission cable 90 such that the data input/output unit

35 transmits data related to growing conditions of necessary for the cultivation of the plant, outputted from the data managing unit 34, to the personal computer 80. and outputs control signals received from the personal computer 80 to the data managing unit 34.

The selector unit 31 is disposed between the sensor unit 20 and the A/D converter 32 and is comprised of first to fifth cross points 31 A to 3 I E. The first cross point 31 A outputs the amount of ambient light, sensed by the light sensor 20A of the sensor unit 20, to the A/D converter 32 for a predetermined period of time. The second cross point 3 IB outputs ambient temperature, sensed by the temperature sensor 20B of the sensor unit 20, to the A/D converter for a predetermined period of time. The third cross point 31 C outputs the amount of moisture in the container 10, sensed by the moisture sensor 20C of the sensor unit 20, to the A/D converter 32 for a predetermined period of time. The fourth cross point 3 I D outputs plant energy, sensed by the plant energy sensor 20D of the sensor unit 20, to the A/D converter 32 for a predetermined period of time. The fifth cross point 3 IE outputs information of the approach of a person, sensed by the biometric sensor 20E of the sensor unit 20, to the A/D converter 32 for a predetermined period of time. The first to fifth cross points 31A to 31 E are selector switches for sequentially and selectively outputting a light signal, a temperature signal, a moisture signal, a plant energy signal, and a human body sensing signal (signal for sensing the approach of a person), respectively sensed by the light sensor 20A, the temperature sensor 20B, the moisture sensor 20C. the plant energy sensor 20D and the biometric sensor 20E, to the A/D converter 32 for a predetermined period.

The data input/output unit 35 is connected to a universal serial bus (USB) port of the personal computer 80 through the transmission cable 90 such that the data input/output unit 35 transmits data related to growing conditions necessary for the cultivation of the plant, which are outputted from the data managing unit 34. to the personal computer 80, and outputs control signals received from the personal computer 80 to the data manage unit 34.

Further, the power supply unit 70 is connected to the USB port of the personal computer 80 to receive power from the USB port of the personal computer 80 and supply the power to the microprocessor 30. The display unit 50 is most preferably realized as a liquid crystal display.

In the above description, various data necessary for controlling the growing environment of the plant represent respective signals detected by the sensor unit 20, for example, the amount of ambient light, the amount of moisture, ambient temperature, and plant energy for determining whether or not the plant is alive.

In Fig. 1 , reference numerals 84 and 86, which are not described, are a keyboard for inputting instructions from the cultivator who cultivates the plant. and a mouse, respectively.

Hereinafter, a process of cultivating plants by the digital flowerpot capable of controlling its growing environment having the above construction according to the preferred embodiment of this invention is described in detail.

First, a plant is planted in the container 10 of the digital flowerpot 100 capable of controlling its growing environment of the present invention, and power is then supplied to the personal computer 80 and the microprocessor 30. In this case, the light sensor 20A of the sensor unit 20 senses the amount of ambient light. the temperature sensor 20B senses the ambient temperature, the moisture sensor

20C senses the amount of moisture in the container 10, the plant energy sensor 20D senses the energy of the plant, and the biometric sensor 20E detects the approach of a person.

In order to measure the potential difference of the plant using the plant energy sensor 20D of the sensor unit 20, two clampers 20a and 20b of the plant energy sensor 20D are clamped to leaves or stems of the plant at predetermined intervals, thus enabling the potential difference of electricity flowing through the plant to be measured.

If no potential difference is measured between the two clampers 20a and 20b of the plant energy sensor 20D which are clamped to leaves or stems of the plant at predetermined intervals, it is determined that the plant is dead.

The analog signals related to the amount of ambient light, the amount of moisture, ambient temperature, plant energy for determining whether the plant is alive, and the human body sensing signal (signal of the approach of a person) are sequentially outputted to the A/D converter 32 through the first to fifth cross points

31 A to 31 E of the selector unit 31 for a predetermined period. The A/D converter 32 converts the analog signals into digital signals and outputs the digital signals to the control unit 33.

The control unit 33 processes these signals (the amount of ambient light. the amount of moisture, ambient temperature, plant energy for determining the survival of the plant, and the signal of the approach of a person, which are converted into the digital signals), and outputs the processed results to the data managing unit 34, the display unit 50 and the speaker 60 through first to fifth buffers 33A to 33E.

The data managing unit 34 receives the above signals from the control unit 33 and manages data related to the signals. Further, if the personal computer

80 requests the signals, that is, data necessary for controlling the growing environment of the plant, the data managing unit 34 transmits corresponding data to the personal computer 80 through the data input/output unit 35 and the transmission cable 90. The personal computer 80 receiving the data necessary for controlling the growing environment of the plant processes a growth control program of the plant, which is stored in the personal computer 80 or a storage medium, by an execution program stored in read only memory (ROM) of the personal computer 80. Therefore, the personal computer 80 compares the received data with reference data necessary for controlling the growing environment of the plant, which are preset in the microprocessor 30 or a storage medium. On the basis of the compared result, if the data necessary for controlling the growing environment of the plant, which are detected by the sensor unit 20, are improper, the impropriety of growing conditions necessary for the cultivation of the plant is displayed on the monitor 82 of the personal computer 80 or the display unit 50 in texts such as

Arabic numerals, graphs, or graphic characters, etc., and simultaneously outputted by sounds through the speaker 60, thus allowing the cultivator to appropriately adjust the improper growing conditions of the plant.

Accordingly, if the growing conditions necessary for the cultivation of the plant are adjusted appropriately, that is, light, the amount of moisture, or temperature is increased or decreased to enable the plant to be optimally grown. the fact that growing conditions necessary for the cultivation of the plant are adjusted appropriately is displayed on the monitor 82 of the personal computer 80 or the display unit 50 in texts such as Arabic numerals, graphs, or graphic characters, etc., and is outputted by sounds through the speaker 60.

The texts such as Arabic numerals, graphs, or graphic characters, etc.. which are displayed in the display unit 50, can be displayed for a predetermined period of time only when the approach of a person is detected by the biometric sensor 20E, or can be always displayed.

Although the USB port of the personal computer 80 is described as being connected to the power supply unit 70, and the USB port of the personal computer

80 and the data input/output unit 35 of the microprocessor 30 are described as being connected to each other through the transmission cable 90 by way of example, the present invention is not limited to the above description. For example, the personal computer 80 may not be connected to the data input/outpul unit 35 of the microprocessor 30, and a battery can be used in place of the power supply unit 70. Further, a modification comprised of only the sensor unit 20. the microprocessor 30, the display unit 50 and the speaker 60 can fall under the scope of the present invention.

Further, in the above description, as an example, the USB port of the personal computer 80 and the data input/output unit 35 of the microprocessor 30 are connected to each other through the transmission cable 90 to input/output data between the personal computer 80 and the microprocessor 30 in a wired manner. However, the present invention is not limited to the above description. That is. even if data are transmitted/received between the personal computer 80 and the microcomputer 30 in an RS422 manner or Blue Tooth manner, modifications comprising such data transmission can be included in the spirit of the present invention.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, the present invention provides a digital flowerpot capable of controlling its growing environment, which comprises various sensors to allow a cultivator to learn the amount of ambient light, ambient temperature and moisture, which are included in the growing environment of plants, and the survival and dead of plants, and displays sensed data on a monitor of a personal computer or a display unit (liquid crystal display) to allow the cultivator to recognize various data sensed by the sensors, thus enabling the cultivator to easily cultivate and manage plants, increasing interest and pleasure in cultivating plants for the cultivator, and enabling the flowerpot to be widely used as a technical aid.

Claims

1. A digital flowerpot capable of controlling its growing environment, comprising: a container in which a plant is planted; a sensor unit installed in the container for detecting growth data of the plant, which are data necessary for controlling the growing environment of the plant, and simultaneously detecting the approach of a person; a microprocessor for receiving analog signals representing the growth data necessary for controlling the growing environment of the plant and the data obtained by detecting the approach of a person, which are detected by the sensor unit, converting the analog signals into digital signals to manage the data, and controlling an entire operation of the digital flowerpot by an operation process; a display unit for receiving a control signal necessary for controlling the growing environment of the plant, which is outputted from the microprocessor. displaying impropriety of growing conditions necessary for the cultivation of the plant in characters to enable a person to recognize the improper growing conditions in response to the control signal, and further displaying in characters that improper growing conditions necessary for the cultivation of the plant are adjusted appropriately in response to the control signal; a speaker for indicating the impropriety of growing conditions necessary for the cultivation of the plant by sounds, and further indicating by sounds that improper growing conditions necessary for the cultivation of the plant are adjusted appropriately; and a power supply unit for supplying operating power to the microprocessor.

2. The digital flowerpot capable of controlling its growing environment according to claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor comprises: an analog/digital (A/D) converting unit for receiving the analog signals which are the data necessary for controlling the growing environment of the plant, detected by the sensor unit, through a selector unit, and converting the analog signals into digital signals; a control unit for receiving the growth data of the plant, which are converted into digital signals by the A/D converting unit, operating and processing the growth data, storing data and controlling an entire operation of the microprocessor; a data managing unit for receiving and managing data outputted from the control unit; and a data input/output unit for transmitting the growth data of the plant outputted from the data managing unit to a personal computer through a transmission cable, and outputting data received from the personal computer to the data managing unit.

3. The digital flowerpot capable of controlling its growing environment according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit comprises: a light sensor for sensing the amount of ambient light using the variation of electric resistance caused by the variation of the amount of ambient light radiated from the sun; a temperature sensor for sensing ambient temperature; a moisture sensor for sensing the amount of moisture in the container: a plant energy sensor for sensing whether or not the plant is alive, by amplifying a potential difference of electricity flowing through the plant; and a biometric sensor for sensing the approach of a person such that the propriety or impropriety of growing conditions necessary for the cultivation of the plant is displayed on the display unit in characters.

4. The digital flowerpot capable of controlling its growing environment according to claim 2, wherein the data input/output unit is connected to a USB port of the personal computer through the transmission cable such that the data input/output unit transmits data related to growing conditions necessary for the cultivation of the plant, outputted from the data managing unit, to the personal computer, and outputs control signals received from the personal computer to the data managing unit.

5. The digital flowerpot capable of controlling its growing environment according to claim 2, wherein the transmission cable is connected to a USB port of the personal computer to allow the microprocessor to communicate with the personal computer.

6. The digital flowerpot capable of controlling its growing environment according to claim 1, wherein the power supply unit is connected to a USB port of the personal computer to receive power from the USB port of the personal computer and supply the power to the microprocessor.

7. The digital flowerpot capable of controlling its growing environment according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is a liquid crystal display.