# US 10,499,573 B1 · Wireless soil profile monitoring apparatus and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,499,573 B1 - Document ID: US10499573B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/194,205 - Filed: 2018-11-16 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-16 - Assignees: Keith Lynn Paulsen - Applicants: Keith Lynn Paulsen - Inventors: Keith Lynn Paulsen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10499573B1 ## CPC - A01G 25/167: {Control by humidity of the soil itself or of devices simulating soil or of the atmosphere; Soil humidity sensors} - A01B 63/02: for implements mounted on tractors - A01B 63/16: with wheels adjustable relatively to the frame - A01C 21/007: {Determining fertilization requirements} - A01G 25/16: Control of watering - G01N 21/3563: for analysing solids; Preparation of samples therefor - G01N 27/223: {for determining moisture content, e.g. humidity (rain detectors on vehicle windows B60S1/0825)} - A01B 79/005: {Precision agriculture} - A01C 7/203: {comprising depth regulation means} - G01K 1/16: Special arrangements for conducting heat from the object to the sensitive element - G01N 21/3554: for determining moisture content - G01N 33/245: {for agricultural purposes} - G01N 33/246: {for water content} - G01N 2021/855: {Underground probe, e.g. with provision of a penetration tool} - A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12) - A01B: SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL (making or covering furrows or holes for sowing, planting or manuring A01C5/00; mowers convertible to soil working apparatus or capable of soil working A01D42/04; mowers combined with soil working implements A01D43/12; soil working for engineering purposes E01, E02, E21) - A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00) ## Abstract An in situ low-power wireless measurement apparatus and method suitable for reporting a soil moisture profile at various zones. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for measuring characteristics of a material by an apparatus, comprising: performing a set of measurement sequences, wherein each measurement sequence comprises: generating, for a plurality of cycles, a control signal; applying, for the plurality of cycles, the control signal to a switch bank that is coupled to a capacitor; and aggregating, by an integrator for the plurality of cycles, a current of the capacitor, wherein the current is collected when the capacitor is coupled in series with a probe; measuring, for the set of measurement sequences, an output of the integrator to produce a set of measurements, wherein the set of measurements comprises a first measurement taken with the control signal having a first duty cycle and a second measurement taken with a second duty cycle that is different from the first duty cycle; determining a saturation based on the first measurement, the second measurement, and a ratio of the first duty cycle and the second duty cycle; and transmitting data indicating the saturation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the material is soil. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the data comprises communicating, by wireless transmission, the data indicating the saturation to a server or database. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of cycles produces an alternating 20 volt signal across terminals of the probe. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal has a 25% duty cycle for a first measurement sequence, and wherein the control signal has a 50% duty cycle for a second measurement sequence. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the probe functions as antenna for transmission of moisture data. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the probe is tuned to operate as a wide band antenna suitable for transmission in a wide variety of moisture conditions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the data indicating the saturation is used to tune an antenna. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising using the probe as an antenna. ### Claim 10 A method for measuring characteristics of a material by an apparatus, comprising: performing a set of measurement sequences, wherein each measurement sequence comprises: aggregating, by an integrator for a plurality of cycles of a control signal, a current in series with a probe; measuring, for the set of measurement sequences, an output of the integrator to produce a set of measurements, wherein the set of measurements comprises a first measurement taken with the control signal having a first duty cycle and a second measurement taken with a second duty cycle that is different from the first duty cycle; determining a saturation based on the first measurement, the second measurement, and a ratio of the first duty cycle and the second duty cycle; and transmitting data indicating the saturation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the material is soil. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein transmitting the data comprises communicating, by wireless transmission, the data indicating the saturation to a server or database. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of cycles produces an alternating 20 volt signal across terminals of the probe. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the control signal has a 25% duty cycle for a first measurement sequence, and wherein the control signal has a 50% duty cycle for a second measurement sequence. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the probe functions as antenna for transmission of moisture data. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the probe is tuned to operate as a wide band antenna suitable for transmission in a wide variety of moisture conditions. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the data indicating the saturation is used to tune an antenna. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising using the probe as an antenna.