# US 2016/0353679 A1 · Apparatus and method for three-dimensional moisture control

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- Number: US 2016/0353679 A1
- Document ID: US20160353679A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/728,330
- Filed: 2015-06-02
- Published: 2016-12-08
- Earliest claimed: 2015-06-02
- Assignees: Bryant Consultants, Inc.
- Applicants: Bryant Consultants, Inc.
- Inventors: John Bryant
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160353679A1

## CPC

- A01G 25/167: {Control by humidity of the soil itself or of devices simulating soil or of the atmosphere; Soil humidity sensors}
- G05B 19/042: using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence)
- G01N 27/048: {for determining moisture content of the material}
- G05B 2219/2625: Sprinkler, irrigation, watering
- 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)
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- 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)

## Abstract

A system and method for moisture control includes a computer, a probe controller connected to the computer, a set of probes connected to the probe controller, a sprinkler controller connected to the computer, and a set of sprinklers connected to the sprinkler controller. The set of probes are driven into the ground according to a predetermined set of positions. A set of high voltage currents is injected into the ground through the set of probes and measurements are taken. A three-dimensional resistivity model is generated from the measurements and is compared to a set of moisture requirements. A set of sprinkler commands is generated based on the three-dimensional resistivity model and the set of moisture requirements. If the three-dimensional resistivity model meets the set of moisture requirements, the set of sprinklers are activated in each of a set of sprinkler zones according the three-dimensional resistivity model where watering is needed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for moisture control comprising:
a computer;
a probe controller connected to the computer;
a set of probes connected to the probe controller;
a set of data measured by the set of probes and the probe controller;
a three-dimensional resistivity model generated by the computer from the set of data; and,
a set of sprinkler commands generated by the computer based on the three-dimensional resistivity model.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a network connected to the computer; and,
a graphic user interface connected to the network.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a sprinkler controller connected to the computer;
a set of sprinklers connected to the sprinkler controller; and,
a set of zones, each zone comprising a subset of the set of sprinklers, controlled by the set of sprinkler commands.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a set of moisture requirements stored by the computer; wherein the set of sprinkler commands is based on the set of moisture requirements and the three-dimensional resistivity model.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the set of probes further comprises:
a reference probe connected to the probe controller; and,
a set of measurement probes connected to the probe controller.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the probe controller further comprises:
a current source;
an ammeter connected to the current source; and,
a volt meter connected to the current source.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the volt meter is connected to the reference probe and the set of measurement probes.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the current source is connected to the set of measurement probes and the ammeter is switchably connected to the set of measurement probes.

### Claim 9

A method for controlling moisture comprising the steps of:
receiving a set of moisture requirements;
receiving a set of probe data;
generating a three-dimensional resistivity model from the set of probe data; comparing the three-dimensional resistivity model to the set of moisture requirements; and,
generating a set of sprinkler commands based on the three-dimensional resistivity model and the set of moisture requirements.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the step of receiving a set of probe data further comprises the steps of:
retrieving a set of probe configurations;
selecting a probe configuration from the set of probe configurations;
injecting a current based on the probe configuration; and,
measuring a voltage based on the probe configuration.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the step of generating a three-dimensional resistivity model further comprises the steps of:
calculating a set of resistivity data from the set of probe data;
sorting the set of resistivity data to create a set of sorted resistivity data;
generating a set of first resistivity models from the set of sorted resistivity data;
generating a set of second resistivity models from the set of first resistivity models; and,
combining the set of second resistivity models to generate the three-dimensional resistivity model.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of performing a spatial data analysis on each of the set of first resistivity models.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the step of calculating a set of resistivity data from the set of probe data further comprises the step of calculating a set of locations.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the step of sorting the set of resistivity data to create a set of sorted resistivity data further comprises the step of generating a set of resistivity values at each of the set of locations.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of activating a set of sprinklers based on the set of sprinkler commands.

### Claim 16

A system for moisture control comprising:
a computer;
a set of sprinkler controllers connected to the computer;
a probe controller connected to the computer;
a set of probes connected to the probe controller;
the probe controller programmed to measure a set of probe data;
the computer programmed to:
receive a set of moisture requirements;
receive the set of probe data;
generate a three-dimensional resistivity model from the set of probe data;
compare the three-dimensional resistivity model to the set of moisture requirements;
generate a set of sprinkler commands based on the three-dimensional resistivity model and the set of moisture requirements; and,
send the set of sprinkler commands to the set of sprinkler controllers.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein the set of probes further comprises:
a reference probe switchably connected to the probe controller;
a set of measurement probes switchably connected to the probe controller; and,
wherein the probe controller is further programmed to:
implement a probe configuration for the reference probe and the set of measurement probes;
inject a current based on the probe configuration; and,
measure a voltage based on probe configuration.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein the computer is further programmed to:
calculate a set of resistivity data from the set of probe data;
sort the set of resistivity data to create a set of sorted resistivity data;
generate a set of first resistivity models from the set of sorted resistivity data;
generate a set of second resistivity models from the set of first resistivity models; and,
combine the set of second resistivity models to generate the three-dimensional resistivity model.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, further comprising:
a set of sprinklers connected to the set of sprinkler controllers; and,
a set of zones, each zone comprising a subset of the set of sprinklers, controlled by the set of sprinkler commands.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein the set of commands further comprises a watering schedule based on a set of watering restrictions and a set of weather conditions.