Sensors for measuring water/solute content and thickness of plant tissue
AssigneeThe Penn State Research Foundation
InventorSayed Amin Afzal
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for non-invasively determining a water content, a solute content, and a thickness of plant tissue are disclosed. A system includes a sensing device having a first piece and a second piece, where the first piece and the second piece are coupled together to form a clip. The system further includes a capacitive tissue sensor including a capacitor. The capacitor includes a plurality of coplanar conductive plates. The first piece and the second piece are biased in a closed position to provide a gripping force around the plant tissue such that at least a portion of the plant tissue contacts the plurality of coplanar conductive plates.
Claims24
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The system of claim 21, wherein at least one of the first piece and the second piece is constructed of a clear, flexible material.
The system of claim 21, wherein at least one of the first piece and the second piece are formed of a material that allows at least some electromagnetic radiation to pass therethrough.
The system of claim 21, wherein at least one of the first piece and the second piece are formed of a material that allows for transpiration of the plant tissue when the system is placed on the plant tissue.
The system of claim 21, wherein the capacitive tissue sensor further comprises a printed circuit board disposed on a surface of the second piece.
The system of claim 21, wherein the capacitive tissue sensor further comprises a printed circuit board integrated with the second piece.
The system of claim 21, wherein the capacitive tissue sensor further comprises measuring circuitry coupled to the plurality of coplanar conductive plates.
The system of claim 21, wherein the capacitive tissue sensor further comprises an output terminal coupled to the plurality of coplanar conductive plates and communicatively coupled to a central unit comprising a processing device.
The system of claim 21, further comprising a protective material disposed on the capacitive tissue sensor.
A system for non-invasively determining a dimensional aspect of plant tissue, the system comprising:
- a sensing device comprising a first piece and a second piece, wherein the first piece and the second piece are coupled together to form a clip;
- a tissue thickness sensor disposed between the first piece and the second piece, wherein the tissue thickness sensor comprises:
- a first permanent magnet,
- a second permanent magnet, and
- a magnetic sensor,
- wherein:
- a first magnetic field generated between the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet creates a repulsive magnetic force between the first piece and the second piece,
- a second magnetic field generated by the second permanent magnet reduces an offset magnetic field generated by the first permanent magnet;
- and
- the magnetic sensor is positioned in a location such that a strength of the magnetic field can be sensed, wherein when the plant tissue is placed between the first piece and the second piece, a change in the strength of the magnetic field is sensed by the magnetic sensor and the dimensional aspect is determined based on the change in the strength.
A system for non-invasively determining one or more of a water content, a solute content, and a thickness of plant tissue, the system comprising:
- a sensing device comprising a first piece and a second piece, wherein the first piece and the second piece are coupled together to form a clip;
- a capacitive tissue sensor comprising a capacitor having a plurality of coplanar conductive plates,
- wherein the first piece and the second piece are biased in a closed position to provide a gripping force around the plant tissue such that at least a portion of the plant tissue contacts the plurality of coplanar conductive plates;
- and
- a tissue thickness sensor disposed between the first piece and the second piece, wherein the tissue thickness sensor comprises:
- a first permanent magnet,
- a second permanent magnet, and
- a magnetic sensor,
- wherein:
- a first magnetic field generated between the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet create a repulsive magnetic force between the first piece and the second piece,
- a second magnetic field generated by the second permanent magnet reduces an offset magnetic field generated by the first permanent magnet;
- and
- the magnetic sensor is positioned in a location such that a strength of the magnetic field can be sensed, wherein when the plant tissue is placed between the first piece and the second piece, a change in the strength of the magnetic field is sensed by the magnetic sensor and the dimensional aspect is determined based on the change in the strength.
(canceled)
A method for non-invasively determining a dimensional aspect of plant tissue, the method comprising:
- providing a sensing device comprising a tissue thickness sensor, wherein the tissue thickness sensor comprises a first permanent magnet, a second permanent magnet, and a magnetic sensor;
- placing the sensing device on the plant tissue such that plant tissue is disposed between the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet;
- receiving magnetic field data from the sensing device, wherein the magnetic field data corresponds to a sensed change in a strength of a magnetic field that is generated between the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet due to the plant tissue;
- and
- determining the dimensional aspect of the plant tissue from the magnetic field data.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.