Soilmoisture Equipment Corporation

Other

Pioneer Hi-bred International, Inc.

Whitney Skaling

Percy E Skaling

James L Hunter

Steven J Corak

Ali Farsad

Thomas G Macfie

Gregory T Hart

Steve Riley

Laszlo Rudolics

A secure on-demand transportation service provides transportation to a passenger at a specified pick-up location. To this end, a transportation request is received from a passenger application running on a passenger's mobile computing device. A vehicle is assigned to provide the requested transportation, and an encrypted data package is generated which includes encrypted information that is unique to the current transportation request. The encrypted data package is provided to a vehicle application and displayed on an externally visible display associated with the vehicle at the pick-up location. The displayed encrypted data package is scanned by the passenger and the passenger application compares the scanned data to previously received data to determine if there is a match. If so, the passenger is informed and a match message is sent. The match message confirms that the vehicle has arrived at the pick-up location and that the passenger has found the vehicle.

Secure on-demand transportation service

A TDR matrix suction sensor measures the matrix suction exhibited by a porous medium surrounding the sensor. The sensor is constructed from a TDR matrix suction sensor probe, which includes two or more elongated conductors and a jacket that encases the conductors. The jacket is made of a hydrophilic, non-conductive, porous (HN-CP) material. In operation, a pulse delay time is computed for an electrical pulse injected into the proximal end of the conductors and reflected when reaching their distal ends. The pulse delay time and a delay-to-matrix suction profile of the HN-CP jacket material are used to compute the matrix suction exhibited by the probe jackets. An indicator of the current value of the matrix suction exhibited by the porous medium is then established based on the matrix suction computed for the HN-CP jackets.

Time-domain reflectometry matrix suction sensor

A capacitive matrix suction sensor measures the matrix suction exhibited by a porous medium surrounding the sensor. The sensor is constructed from a capacitive moisture probe having a sensing body, and a jacket that encases the sensing body. The jacket is made of a hydrophilic, non-conductive, porous (HN-CP) material. In operation, the sensing body is energized, and the voltage produced is read. The matrix suction exhibited by the HN-CP jacket material is then computed based on the voltage, and an indicator of the current value of the matrix suction exhibited by the porous medium is established based on the matrix suction computed for the HN-CP jacket material.

Capacitive matrix suction sensor having a hydrophilic, non-conductive, porous jacket

An apparatus for testing a porous medium is provided. The apparatus includes a liquid processing subsystem and a liquid weighing subsystem. The liquid processing subsystem is interfaced with the medium in a manner that establishes liquid contact there-between. The liquid processing and liquid weighing subsystems are sealably interconnected via an interconnecting liquid tube. The liquid weighing subsystem stores a liquid which flows therefrom, through the tube, through the liquid processing subsystem, and into the medium until it is saturated with the liquid. The liquid weighing subsystem automatically measures the weight of the liquid stored therein on an ongoing basis and uses these measurements to determine one or more hydraulic properties of the medium.

Automated hydraulic property measurement apparatus

An open sensor is provided for testing a split sample of a composite medium. The open sensor generally includes a longitudinal section of a tube and a plurality of serpentine conductors which are successively layered on top of each other. The interior surface of the tube section forms a trough into which the split sample of the composite medium can be disposed. The number of serpentine conductors is two or greater.

Open sensor for testing a split sample of a composite medium

A sensor is provided for testing a composite medium. The sensor includes a tube and three or more conductors which are wound in a continuously parallel helix around the tube such that the conductors are interleaved. The tube is non-porous and electrically insulative. Both the proximal end and the distal end of the tube are open. Each turn of each conductor is equally spaced from the adjoining turns of the other conductors, and the conductors have a common helical length. The sensor can also include a first cap which seals the proximal end of the tube and a second cap which seals the distal end of the tube such that the interior of the tube is always filled with air.

Helical sensor for testing a composite medium

A sensor is provided for testing a porous medium. The sensor includes a plurality of porous elements, a number of electrically conductive interface plates which is one greater than the quantity of elements, and the same number of conductors. Each element operates as a discrete variable capacitor, exhibits a different known liquid release curve, and includes a first axial opening. The elements are stacked one on top of another. Each plate includes a second axial opening. The plates are axially distributed within the sensor such that the first and second axial openings combine to form a longitudinal cavity that extends from the sensor's proximal end to its distal end, and each element is sandwiched between a different pair of plates. A distal end of each conductor is attached to a different one of the plates, and a proximal end is routed through the cavity to the sensor's proximal end.

Stacked sensor for testing a porous medium

The present invention is embodied in a tensiometer apparatus and process that employs novel techniques for performing the required routine service operation of refilling a sealable measurement chamber of the apparatus with liquid from a reservoir using a novel, piston-type, 'jet-action' plunger mechanism. These novel techniques result in a tensiometer which is easier to use, requires no tools for assembly or replacement of parts, and is easier and lower cost to manufacture and maintain. These novel techniques also result in a tensiometer which has improved measurement sensitivity and accuracy, higher reliability and a longer operating lifetime than conventional tensiometers.

Jet-action plunger-based tensiometer apparatus

An apparatus and method for monitoring drying of an agricultural porous media such as grain and seed, includes deriving moisture content of the porous media using time domain reflectometry and utilizing moisture content to monitor and/or control the drying process. The porous media is positioned around a time domain reflectometry probe. An array of probes can be used to measure moisture in different areas of one batch of porous media or in a plurality of batches of porous media. The derivation of moisture content of the porous media around each probe would allow information to be provided to a dryer controller to alter the drying process if needed.

Apparatus and method for monitoring drying of an agricultural porous medium such as grain or seed

A probe adapted for use with a time domain reflectrometry device in primarily measuring the moisture content in soils and other mediums. This probe can however be used in may differing measurement applications involving materials of specific dielectric constants as well as apparent dielectric constants that are derived from a matrix of several differing dielectrics. In the probe according to the present invention, the inner core of the probe is composed of an inner conductive element, a conductor that is used to transmit a broadband pulse. A dielectric liquid, solid or gel surrounds this inner conductive core, and assists in retaining broadband signal strength. The dielectric material is then encased in a metallic outer shell that serves as a protective housing for the probe. This outer shell is electronically transparent to the electromagnetic pulse transmitted by the active inner conductive core and surrounding dielectric. The outer shell is preferably made of stainless steel, but can be made of other materials as they serve to protect the inner dielectric material and conductive core. This combination of features allows a broadband pulse transmitted through the probe to penetrate into the material being measured, returning a much larger reflection feature upon reaching probe end points, while protecting the dielectric-coated transmission elements inside.

Encased time domain reflectometry probe

A waveguide assembly adapted for use with a time domain reflectrometry device for use in measuring the moisture content in soils and other mediums. A waveguide assembly comprised of a plurality of waveguide conductors (probes) for insertion into the soil are connected to a coaxial cable. An electronic stepped pulse travels through the coaxial cable and, due to an impedance mismatch where the coaxial cable and the waveguide assembly are joined, a downgoing beginning reference wave or reflection is produced. The beginning reference wave provides a starting point for measuring the accumulated time delay as the electronic pulse continues to travel through the waveguide assembly. An ending reflection wave is created as the electronic pulse reaches the end of the waveguide assembly and transmits into the surrounding soil. The apparent dielectric of the soil may be ascertained having determined the accumulated delay time, and in turn one can ascertain the moisture content of the soil using the apparent dielectric value.

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Buellton, CA, United States of America

Whitney Skaling