The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 20, 1996
Filed:
Jan. 03, 1995
Richard L Bireley, San Diego, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A capacitive moisture sensor has two conductors encased in a dielectric material and oriented to minimize the dielectric effect of the moisture-absorbent medium in which the sensor is placed. The conductors, the casing, or both have one or more physical dimensions that vary monotonically across the length of the sensor. The physical dimensions vary in a manner that produces a linear relationship between moisture level and sensor impedance. The physical dimension may be the thickness of the dielectric casing or the spacing between portions of the conductors. In another aspect, the present invention has an irrigation control system with a central control unit and multiple remote units. Each remote unit has a moisture sensor and transmits a measured moisture level to the central control unit. In response to the measured moisture level, the central control unit determines whether to open or close a valve controlling the irrigation of the area in which the sensor is located.