# US 10,765,073 B2 · Soil sensor assembly

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,765,073 B2
- Document ID: US10765073B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/781,349
- Filed: 2016-12-01
- Published: 2018-12-13
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2015-12-03
- Assignees: CropX Technologies, Ltd.
- Applicants: CropX Technologies, Ltd.
- Inventors: Yossi Haran
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765073B2

## CPC

- A01G 25/167: {Control by humidity of the soil itself or of devices simulating soil or of the atmosphere; Soil humidity sensors}
- G01N 27/223: {for determining moisture content, e.g. humidity (rain detectors on vehicle windows B60S1/0825)}
- G01N 33/246: {for water content}
- G01R 27/26: Measuring inductance or capacitance; Measuring quality factor, e.g. by using the resonance method; Measuring loss factor; Measuring dielectric constants {; Measuring impedance or related variables}
- 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)
- 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)
- G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12)

## Abstract

A soil sensor assembly and methods of measuring undisturbed soil are disclosed. The soil sensor assembly can be a volumetric water content (VWC) sensor. The soil sensor assembly can include at least one soil probe. The soil probes can be secured to a support to enable an installation of the soil sensor assembly in a target soil. The soil probes can include helical blades secured concentrically along the support at predefined longitudinal locations. The soil probes can include at least one radiofrequency (RF) electrode secured to the helical blades at a predefined radial distance from a longitudinal axis of the support. The soil sensor assembly can also include at least one electronics unit coupled to the RF electrodes to receive and/or transmit RF signals from the RF electrodes. The soil sensor assembly can enable a self-tapping installation action and/or enable alienating the soil measurements (e.g., by RF electrodes) away from a disturbed soil.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A volumetric water content (VWC) sensor comprising:
a support configured to secure a position of the VWC sensor in target soil, wherein the support includes a tip;
at least one electronics unit;
at least one helical blade secured along its inner lateral side to an outer surface of the support; and
at least one VWC probe positioned along the support between at least one of the at least one helical blade and the tip of the support, wherein the at least one VWC probe includes at least two radiofrequency (RF) electrodes extending around the outer surface of the support, wherein the at least one VWC sensor is configured to measure a VWC of a target soil in a measurement region between the at least two RF electrodes.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The VWC sensor of claim 1, wherein the helical blade includes an RF electrode.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The VWC sensor of claim 1, wherein the at least one helical blade includes at least two helical blades, and wherein the at least one VWC probe is positioned between two adjacent ones of the at least helical blades.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The VWC sensor of claim 1, wherein the at least one VWC probe is positioned between one of the at least one helical blade and the tip.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The VWC sensor of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two RF electrodes is circular.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The VWC sensor of claim 1, wherein the at least one electronics unit is embedded within the at least one helical blade.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The VWC sensor of claim 1, further comprising a protective layer covering at least one of the at least two RF electrodes.

### Claim 8

A method of measuring volumetric water content, the method comprising:
providing a volumetric eater content (“VWC”) sensor including:
a support configured to secure a position of the VWC sensor in soil, wherein the support includes a tip;
at least one electronics unit;
at least one helical blade secured along its inner lateral side to an outer surface of the support; and
at least one VWC probe positioned along the support between at least one of the at least one helical blade and the tip of the support, wherein the at least one VWC probe includes at least two radiofrequency (RF) electrodes extending around the outer surface of the support,
positioning the VWC sensor in target soil;
generating radio frequency signals by the at least one electronics unit;
transmitting the generated RF signals to the target soil using the at least two RF electrodes,
receiving the generated RF signals by the at least two RF electrodes; and
determining the VWC based on the received RF signals.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one helical blade includes at least two helical blades, and wherein the at least one VWC probe is positioned between two adjacent ones of the at least two helical blades.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one VWC probe is positioned between one of the at least one helical blade and the tip.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein each of the at least two RF electrodes is circular.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one electronics unit is embedded within the at least one helical blade.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the VWC sensor further comprises a protective layer covering at least one of the at least two RF electrodes.