Wireless Moisture Sensing Apparatus, System, and Techniques

1 . A wireless tag apparatus comprising:

a processing element configured to:

determine a moisture condition of a moisture sensor removably coupled with the wireless tag apparatus by:

applying a first voltage to either a first terminal or a second terminal of a first electrical conductor of the moisture sensor; and

sensing a corresponding second voltage at either a first terminal or a second terminal of a second electrical conductor of the moisture sensor; and

determine whether there is a breakage of at least one of the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor by:

applying a third voltage to the first terminal of the at least one of the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor; and

sensing a corresponding fourth voltage at the respective second terminal of the at least one of the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor;

a wireless transmitter configured to transmit a radio frequency (RF) signal of a frequency in an ISM band of between 2.4-2.485 GHz, wherein the RF signal includes data pertaining to:

the moisture condition of the moisture sensor; and

a unique identifier associated with the wireless tag apparatus; and

an activation element configured to output an activation signal to the processing element, which activation signal results in the processing element determining the moisture condition of the moisture sensor.

2 . The wireless tag apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the RF signal:

at a first transmission rate when the wireless tag apparatus is in a low-power state; and

at a second transmission rate when the wireless tag apparatus is in an active state, wherein the second transmission rate is greater than the first transmission rate.

3 . The wireless tag apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the RF signal periodically.

4 . The wireless tag apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to:

periodically transmit the RF signal at a first transmission rate; and

transmit, for a designated period, the RF signal at a second transmission rate upon a change of the moisture condition, wherein the second transmission rate is greater than the first transmission rate.

5 . The wireless tag apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the activation signal is a first wake-up signal, which first wake-up signal results in the processing element transitioning out of a first low-power state and outputting a second wake-up signal to the wireless transmitter, which second wake-up signal results in the wireless transmitter transitioning out of a second low-power state and transmitting the RF signal.

6 . The wireless tag apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the activation device comprises at least one of:

an accelerometer configured to output the activation signal to the processing element upon detection of movement of the wireless tag apparatus by the accelerometer;

a magnetic field sensor configured to output the activation signal to the processing element upon detection of a magnetic field by the magnetic field sensor; and

a button configured to output the activation signal to the processing element upon actuation of the button.

7 . The wireless tag apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a timer configured to output a first wake-up signal to the processing element, which first wake-up signal results in the processing element transitioning out of a first low-power state.

8 . The wireless tag apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the timer is configured to output the first wake-up signal periodically.

9 . The wireless tag apparatus of claim 7 , wherein upon transitioning out of the first low-power state, the processing element is configured to output a second wake-up signal to the wireless transmitter, which second wake-up signal results in the wireless transmitter transitioning out of a second low-power state.

10 . The wireless tag apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing element is configured to determine the moisture condition of the moisture sensor at a predetermined interval.

11 . The wireless tag apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing element is configured to determine whether there is such a breakage before determining the moisture condition of the moisture sensor.

12 . The wireless tag apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the RF signal further includes data pertaining to at least one of:

a manufacture code associated with the wireless tag apparatus;

a status of the wireless tag apparatus;

a power level of a power supply of the wireless tag apparatus; and

an output of at least one sensor of the wireless tag apparatus.

13 . A system comprising:

the wireless tag apparatus of claim 1 ; and

the moisture sensor, wherein the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor are configured to be in removable communication with the processing element.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein:

the first electrical conductor comprises a first electrically conductive trace comprising a first outer portion and a first inner portion; and

the second electrical conductor comprises a second electrically conductive trace comprising a second outer portion and a second inner portion;

wherein the first inner portion and the second inner portion are positioned adjacent each other, between the first outer portion and the second outer portion.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the first electrically conductive trace and the second electrically conductive trace are disposed longitudinally adjacent each other.

16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first electrically conductive trace and the second electrically conductive trace at least partially comprises an electrically conductive ink.

17 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the moisture sensor is formed integrally with a host platform external to the wireless tag apparatus.

18 . A wireless tag apparatus comprising:

a processing element configured to be removably coupled with a moisture sensor to:

apply a first voltage to a first electrical conductor of the moisture sensor and sense a corresponding second voltage with a second electrical conductor of the moisture sensor in determining a moisture condition of the moisture sensor; and

apply a third voltage to at least one of the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor and sense a corresponding fourth voltage with the same at least one of the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor in determining whether there is a breakage of the moisture sensor;

a wireless transmitter configured to transmit a radio frequency (RF) signal of a frequency in an ISM band of between 2.4-2.485 GHz, wherein the RF signal includes data pertaining to:

the moisture condition of the moisture sensor; and

a unique identifier associated with the wireless tag apparatus;

an accelerometer configured to detect movement of the wireless tag apparatus and, in response to detecting such movement, output a first wake-up signal to the processing element; and

a timer configured to periodically output a second wake-up signal to the processing element;

wherein in response to receiving at least one of the first wake-up signal and the second wake-up signal, the processing element is configured to:

transition out of a first low-power state;

determine the moisture condition of the moisture sensor; and

output a third wake-up signal to the wireless transmitter; and

wherein in response to receiving the third wake-up signal, the wireless transmitter is configured to:

transition out of a second low-power state; and

transmit the RF signal.

19 . The wireless tag apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the wireless tag apparatus is configured to be associated with at least one of a personal sanitary product and an article of bedding such that incontinence is able to be detected by the wireless tag apparatus and wirelessly tracked utilizing a computing device external to and in wireless communication with the wireless tag apparatus.

20 . The wireless tag apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the processing element is configured to be removably coupled with the moisture sensor as hosted by at least one of:

a personal sanitary product;

an article of bedding;

a habitable structure having at least one moisture barrier;

a quantity of soil; and

a mechanical device.