# US 10,768,102 B2 · Moisture content observation device, moisture content observation method, and cultivating device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,768,102 B2 - Document ID: US10768102B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/065,892 - Filed: 2017-02-20 - Published: 2018-12-27 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-02-26 - Assignees: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Takeshi Fujiyama; Yuuji Terashima - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768102B2 ## CPC - G01N 21/3554: for determining moisture content - A01G 7/00: Botany in general - A01G 7/045: {with electric lighting} - A01G 9/249: {Lighting means (with special arrangements for promoting growth A01G7/045)} - A01G 25/165: {Cyclic operations, timing systems, timing valves, impulse operations} - A01G 27/00: Self-acting watering devices, e.g. for flower-pots - G01N 33/0098: {Plants or trees (wood G01N33/46)} - G01N 21/27: using photo-electric detection (G01N21/31 takes precedence){; circuits for computing concentration (logarithmic circuits G06G7/24; photometric circuits in general G01J)} - G01N 21/3151: {using two sources of radiation of different wavelengths (G01N21/33 - G01N21/39 take precedence)} - G01N 21/359: using near infrared light - G01N 2021/8466: {Investigation of vegetal material, e.g. leaves, plants, fruits} - 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) - 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) ## Abstract A threshold level setter/water content index detector calculates an Σ Ln (I905/I1550) which is a total sum of the reflection intensity ratio as a water content index of one leaf. A controller displays a graph representing the time-transition of the water content contained in the leaf of the plant from the start to the end of the measurement period on a UI screen of monitor 50. The controller fixedly determines and sets, as a leaf, a set of reflection positions where the water content for each reflection position which is calculated at the start of the measurement period exceeds a threshold level. When viewed from first beam source and second beam source, white reference substrate which covers a back surface of the leaf of the plant is disposed on the leaf of the plant. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for observing water content contained in a plant, the device comprising: a first light source which radiates a near infrared laser reference beam of a first wavelength having a characteristic in which light tends not to be absorbed in water while sequentially scanning toward the plant; a second light source which radiates a near infrared laser measuring beam of a second wavelength having a characteristic in which light tends to be absorbed in water while sequentially scanning toward the plant; an output unit that outputs an invisible light image indicating presence or absence of water contained in the plant; a water content calculation unit that repeatedly calculates the water content contained in each pixel area constituting the invisible light image based on reflection light of the near infrared laser reference beam and reflection light of the near infrared laser measuring beam, in a certain measurement period; and a controller that displays a time-transition of the water content, which is contained in the pixel area from start to end of a measurement period, calculated by the water content calculation unit on a display unit, wherein the controller fixedly determines a set of pixel areas in which the water content calculated by the water content calculation unit exceeds a threshold level at the start of the measurement period, out of all pixel areas constituting the invisible light image, as an observation target portion on the plant. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device for observing water content of claim 1, wherein a background material which covers a back surface of the plant is disposed in the plant as seen from the first light source and second light source. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device for observing water content of claim 2, wherein the water content calculation unit calculates the water content for each pixel area in a set of the pixel areas fixedly determined as a target portion of the plant, and wherein the output unit displays the invisible light image in a stepwise and distinguishable manner in accordance with the water content calculated for each pixel area by the water content calculation unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A cultivation device comprising: the device for observing water content of claim 1; and a cultivation controller that irrigates the plant with a predetermined amount of water based on a time-transition of water content calculated by a water content calculation unit in a certain period of the measurement periods. ### Claim 5 A method for observing water content in a device for observing water content contained in a plant, the method comprising: radiating a near infrared laser reference beam of a first wavelength having a characteristic in which light tends not to be absorbed in water while sequentially scanning toward a plant, by a first light source; radiating a near infrared laser measuring beam of a second wavelength having a characteristic in which light tends to be absorbed in water while sequentially scanning toward the plant, by a second light source; outputting an invisible light image indicating presence or absence of water contained in the plant; repeatedly calculating the water content contained in each pixel area constituting the invisible light image based on reflection light of the near infrared laser reference beam and reflection light of the near infrared laser measuring beam, in a certain measurement period; and displaying a time-transition of the calculated water content contained in the pixel area from start to end of a measurement period on a display unit, wherein an observation target portion of the plant is fixedly determined as a set of pixel areas in which the water content calculated at the start of the measurement period exceeds a threshold level, out of all pixel areas constituting the invisible light image.