Wireless in-kiln moisture sensor and system for use thereof

A method for monitoring the moisture content of a collection of wood members drying in a kiln, the kiln operable for applying heat, and air circulation for drying the wood collection to a specified moisture content,

• wherein a wireless sensor in operable contact with the wood collection for forming an electrical circuit with the wood collection, wherein the circuit additionally includes two spaced apart conductive plates positioned within the wood collection, and wherein the sensor and the circuit are configured to establish each of a capacitance and resistance of a water content of at least a portion of the collection, the portion residing between the spaced apart conductive plates;
• and
• wherein the sensor includes:
• (a) a wireless transmitter for wirelessly communicating with a stationary device, the stationary device for wirelessly receiving data from the sensor related to the water content of the portion of the collection, the data including measurements of the capacitance and resistance, and (b) one or more batteries for providing electrical power to the sensor;
• comprising performing the following by computational machinery:
• activating a timer for determining when a first time limit is exceeded;
• wirelessly transmitting a first instance of the data to the stationary device, via the wireless transmitter, when the first time limit is exceeded;
• evaluating, based on the data, a predetermined condition, wherein the evaluating of the predetermined condition comprises performing one of:
• (i) a comparison of an elapsed time for drying the wood collection in the kiln with a predetermined elapsed time limit for drying the collection in the kiln, (ii) a comparison of a humidity in the kiln with a humidity threshold, or (iii) a comparison of an impedance for the portion of the wood collection with an impedance threshold;
• obtaining, when the predetermined condition evaluates to a predetermined result, information for a second time limit different from the first time limit;
• restarting the timer and using the information for activating the timer to determine when the second time limit is exceeded;
• and
• wirelessly transmitting a second instance of the data to the stationary device, via the wireless transmitter, when the second time limit is exceeded;
• wherein for conserving the batteries, the first time limit is longer than the second time limit.

A wireless sensor for monitoring the moisture content of a collection of wood members being dried in a kiln, the kiln operable for applying heat, and air circulation for drying the wood collection to a specified moisture content,

• wherein the wireless sensor is in operable contact with the wood collection for forming an electrical circuit with the wood collection, wherein the circuit additionally includes two spaced apart conductive plates positioned within the wood collection, and wherein the sensor and the circuit are configured to establish capacitance and resistance of a water content of a portion of the wood collection, the portion residing between the spaced apart conductive plates;
• the sensor comprising:
• one or more batteries for electrically powering the sensor;
• a wireless transmitter for wirelessly communicating with a stationary device, the wireless communications including transmissions by the transmitter of data related to the water content of the portion of the wood collection, the data including measurements of each of the capacitance and resistance, measurements of the humidity in the kiln, and measurements of a temperature in the kiln;
• a processor for iteratively:
• (i) obtaining one of the measurements of the capacitance, one of the measurement of the resistance, one of the measurements of the humidity, and one of the measurements of the temperature, and (ii) providing the one measurement of each of:
• the capacitance, resistance, humidity and temperature to the wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting as an instance of the data;
• a timer for determining when a first time limit is exceeded;
• wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to wirelessly transmit a first instance of the data to the device when the first time limit is exceeded;
• wherein the processor is configured to evaluate a predetermined condition by a performance of one of:
• (i) a comparison of an elapsed time for drying the collection in the kiln with a predetermined elapsed time limit for drying the wood collection in the kiln, (ii) a comparison of a humidity in the kiln with a humidity threshold, or (iii) a comparison of an impedance for the portion of the wood collection with an impedance threshold;
• wherein the processor is configured to obtain, based on a result of the performance, information for a second time limit different from the first time limit;
• wherein the processor is configured to restart the timer and use the information for activating the timer to determine when the second time limit is exceeded;
• wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to wirelessly transmit a second instance of the data to the stationary device when the second time limit is exceeded;
• wherein for conserving the batteries, the first time limit is longer than the second time limit.

A wireless sensor for monitoring the moisture content of a collection of wood members being dried in a kiln, the kiln operable for applying heat, and air circulation for drying the wood collection to a specified moisture content,

• wherein the wireless sensor is in operable contact with the wood collection for forming an electrical circuit with the wood collection, wherein the circuit additionally includes two spaced apart conductive plates positioned within the wood collection, and wherein the sensor and the circuit are configured to establish capacitance and resistance of a water content of a portion of the wood collection, the portion residing between the spaced apart conductive plates;
• the sensor comprising:
• one or more batteries for electrically powering the sensor;
• a wireless transmitter for wirelessly communicating with a stationary device, the wireless communications including transmissions by the transmitter of data related to the water content of the portion of the wood collection, the data including measurements of each of the capacitance and resistance, measurements of the humidity in the kiln, and measurements of a temperature in the kiln;
• a processor for iteratively:
• (i) obtaining one of the measurements of the capacitance, one of the measurement of the resistance, one of the measurements of the humidity, and one of the measurements of the temperature, (ii) providing the one measurement of each of:
• the capacitance, resistance, humidity and temperature to the wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting as an instance of the data for adjusting a push rate of the wood collection into the kiln.