Moisture monitoring apparatus and method including a tensiometer

1. A moisture monitoring apparatus, comprising:

an elongated probe;

the elongated probe having at least one tensiometer, each tensiometer comprising:

a hydrogel chamber formed in the elongated probe and having an inner wall and an open side;

hydrogel comprising a plurality of millimeter-sized hydrophilic particles received into the hydrogel chamber through its open side;

a durable, hydrophilic, and porous window attached to the elongated probe in sealing closing relation overlying the open side of the hydrogel chamber and an inner face of the window in bearing contact with a portion of the hydrogel for holding the hydrogel within the hydrogel chamber; and

a sensor secured to the elongated probe in sensing relation for measuring a mechanical effect originating from the pressure within the hydrogel chamber;

a microcontroller responsive to the signal from the sensor of a respective tensiometer for reporting a determined moisture level proximal to the window, and

whereby moisture-related decisions are directed by an evaluation of an observed moisture level detected by the tensiometer(s) within the apparatus.

2. The moisture monitoring apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

the microcontroller receiving the signal from the sensor of a respective tensiometer and analyzing the detected signal and reporting a determined moisture level proximal to the window of the tensiometer, and

whereby moisture-related decisions are directed by an evaluation of an observed moisture level detected by the tensiometer(s) within the apparatus.

3. The moisture monitoring apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein

the sensor comprises a load cell attached to the elongated probe in sensing relation to the inner wall of the hydrogel chamber;

the inner wall defining an opening to a passageway;

a flexible barrier recessed in the hydrogel chamber for covering the opening in the inner wall; and

linkage between the flexible barrier and the load cell, and

whereby the load cell generates a signal in response to the force received through the flexible barrier originating from the pressure within the hydrogel chamber according to the amount of moisture absorbed from the opposite end of the window.

4. The moisture monitoring apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein

the sensor comprises a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) attached to the elongated probe in sensing relation to the inner wall of the hydrogel chamber;

the inner wall defining an opening to a passageway;

a flexible barrier recessed in the hydrogel chamber for covering the opening in the inner wall; and

linkage between the flexible barrier and the LVDT, and

whereby the LVDT generates a signal in response to the displacement received through the flexible barrier originating from the pressure within the hydrogel chamber according to the amount of moisture absorbed from the opposite end of the window.

5. The moisture monitoring apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein

the sensor comprises a proximity sensor attached to the elongated probe in sensing relation to the inner wall of the hydrogel chamber;

the inner wall defining an opening to a passageway;

a flexible barrier recessed in the hydrogel chamber for covering the opening in the inner wall; and

a target plate linked to the flexible barrier and disposed in the passageway for longitudinal movement therein,

a proximity sensor mounted at the opposing end of the passageway, and

whereby the proximity sensor generates a signal in response to the proximity of the target plate according to the pressure within the hydrogel chamber according to the amount of moisture absorbed from the opposite end of the window.

6. The moisture monitoring apparatus as recited in claim 1 , the elongated probe further comprising an outer frame secured to an inner frame telescopically received therein.

7. The moisture monitoring apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller is configured with software instructions for evaluating the signal relative to predetermined moisture values to determine moisture proximal to the sensor.

8. The moisture monitoring apparatus as recited in claim 1 , whereupon

the hydrogel inside the hydrogel chamber, absorbing moisture proximal to the opposite end of the window and expanding to reach a hydrostatic pressure equilibrium with said moisture, increases the pressure inside the hydrogel chamber, which produces a mechanical effect measurable by the sensor; and

the sensor sends a voltage representative of the mechanical effect to the microcontroller that converts the voltage to a moisture level proximal to the window per the voltage registered by the sensor.

9. The moisture monitoring apparatus as recited in claim 1 ,

wherein the microcontroller electrically communicates with the sensor for receiving periodically the signal therefrom and evaluating the signal, and

wherein the sensor sending the signal as a voltage to the microcontroller is configured to evaluate a mechanical effect originating from the pressure within the hydrogel chamber based on the amount of water absorbed by the hydrogel into the hydrogel chamber through the window.

10. The moisture monitoring apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein

the sensor is a microelectromechanical (MEMS) pressure sensor attached to the elongated probe in sensing relation to the inner wall of the hydrogel chamber; and

whereby the MEMS pressure sensor generates a signal in response to the pressure within the hydrogel chamber according to the amount of moisture absorbed from the opposite end of the window.

11. The moisture monitoring apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the elongated probe includes two or more tensiometers disposed in spaced-apart relation, for measuring soil water tension at respective depths in a soil profile, upon positioning the apparatus within soil.

12. The moisture monitoring apparatus as recited in claim 11 , wherein each one of the tensiometers is associated with a respective unique identifier, which identifier accompanies the signal communicated to the microcontroller so that evaluations may occur relative to a vertical profile within the soil at spaced-apart depths.

13. The moisture monitoring apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the tensiometer electrically connects to an automated irrigation control device for irrigation control purposes.

14. The moisture monitoring apparatus as recited in claim 13 , further comprising a wireless communicator that communicates the signal of the sensor to a receiver.

15. The moisture monitoring apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a resilient gasket seated between the window and the hydrogel chamber.

16. A method for providing a signal that indicates soil water tension for evaluating whether to irrigate, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an apparatus including an elongated probe with at least one tensiometer, each tensiometer comprising:

a hydrogel chamber formed in the elongated probe and having an inner wall and an open side;

hydrogel comprising a plurality of millimeter-sized hydrophilic particles received into the hydrogel chamber through its open side;

a durable, hydrophilic, and porous window attached to the elongated probe in sealing closing relation overlying the open side of the hydrogel chamber and an inner face of the window in bearing contact with a portion of the hydrogel for holding the hydrogel within the hydrogel chamber; and

a sensor secured to the elongated probe in sensing relation for detecting a variable signal caused by a mechanical effect originating from the pressure within the hydrogel chamber based on the amount of water absorbed by the hydrogel into the hydrogel chamber through the window

(b) providing a second part of the apparatus, a head unit (that connects to the elongated probe such as by mated threads, press fit, or similar, providing a leak proof joinder of the two components) comprising:

batteries to power the apparatus;

a microcontroller to control the apparatus such as by determining when the apparatus enters battery-saving mode and when the apparatus exits battery-saving mode to collect and communicate a signal from a sensor within a tensiometer in the elongated probe;

a circuit board; and

a remote transmission module (for when remote data transmission is needed); or a display screen (for when remote data transmission is not needed)

(c) inserting the apparatus into a selected location in a ground surface to dispose the elongated probe and its tensiometer(s) below the surface of the soil;

(d) acquiring from the sensor within a tensiometer a variable signal originating from the pressure within the hydrogel chamber based on the amount of water absorbed by the hydrogel into the hydrogel chamber through the window;

(e) displaying on a display screen within the head unit or sending via a remote transmission module within the head unit a determined SWT at a soil depth associated with a respective tensiometer, and

whereby soil irrigation decisions are directed by an evaluation of an observed soil water tension detected by the moisture monitoring apparatus disposed in the ground location.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving by a communicator the signal from the sensor of a respective tensiometer; and

communicating the signal to the microcontroller configured for analyzing the detected pressure and reporting a determined soil water tension at a soil depth associated with the tensiometer, and

whereby soil irrigation decisions are directed by an evaluation of an observed soil water tension detected by the moisture monitoring apparatus disposed in the ground location.

18. The method as recited in claim 16 , wherein step (c) further comprises

communicating the soil-moisture-induced force by a dowel pin disposed in a passageway for longitudinal movement therein,

a first end of the dowel pin in contact with a first side of a flexible barrier recessed in the hydrogel chamber for covering an opening in the inner wall to the passageway,

the sensor comprising a load cell attached to the elongated probe sensing relation to the inner wall of the hydrogel chamber,

a second end of the dowel pin in contact with a load cell, and

whereby the load cell generates a signal in response to the force applied by the dowel pin based on the soil-moisture-induced pressure of the hydrogel on the flexible barrier according to the amount of moisture absorbed from the soil through the window.

19. The method as recited in claim 16 , wherein step (c) further comprises

communicating the soil-moisture-induced pressure by a flexible barrier, part of which is disposed at the opening of a passageway for longitudinal movement therein,

the flexible barrier recessed in the hydrogel chamber for covering the opening, the sensor comprising a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) attached to the elongated probe in sensing relation to the inner wall of the hydrogel chamber and a portion of the flexible barrier allowed to move within in the passageway in contact with the LVDT, and

whereby the LVDT generates a signal in response to the displacement applied by the flexible barrier originating from the pressure within the hydrogel chamber based on the amount of water absorbed by the hydrogel into the hydrogel chamber through the window.

20. The method as recited in claim 16 , wherein step (c) further comprises

sensing proximity of a target plate disposed in a passageway for longitudinal movement therein, the passageway closed at one end by a flexible barrier recessed in a hydrogel chamber to cover an opening in an inner wall to the passageway, the sensor comprising a proximity sensor attached to the elongated probe in alignment with the passageway, and

whereby the proximity sensor generates a signal in response to a position of the target plate as determined by the pressure originating from within the hydrogel chamber based on the amount of water absorbed by the hydrogel into the hydrogel chamber through the window.

21. The method as recited in claim 16 , wherein step (c) further comprises

sensing pressure within the hydrogel chamber with a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) pressure sensor, and

whereby the MEMS pressure sensor generates a signal in response to the pressure within the hydrogel chamber based on the amount of water absorbed by the hydrogel into the hydrogel chamber through the window.