Soil humidity device for plants

Abstract

The invention relates to a soil humidity device for a plant, comprising a housing for receiving the plant and comprising a humidity measuring device having a first capacitor electrode and a second capacitor electrode and an evaluation device, the housing being configured in a multi-part manner, the inner pot and the outer pot are used for containing plant soil, and the outer pot surrounds the inner pot on the bottom wall of the inner pot and / or the side wall, protruding from the bottom wall, of the inner pot; or an inner pot and an intermediate pot for accommodating plant soil, the intermediate pot surrounding the inner pot on the bottom wall and / or on the side wall of the inner pot, and an outer pot surrounding the intermediate pot on the bottom wall and / or on the side wall of the intermediate pot, and the first capacitor electrode and the second capacitor electrode are arranged on the inner side, facing the inner basin, of the bottom wall and / or the side wall of the outer basin and / or the middle basin.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a soil moisture (measuring) device for plants according to the preamble of claim 1. Background Art

[0002] EP 3 145 292 B1 discloses a moisture measuring device for plants, which comprises an evaluation device and two capacitor electrodes which are inserted into the plant soil in a plant pot.

[0003] DE 10 202 0 118 565 A1 discloses a moisture measuring device for plants, which has capacitor electrodes arranged at a distance from one another. The capacitor electrodes are inserted into the plant soil of the plant pot. A disadvantage of this known measuring device is that when the plant pot is watered, the measuring device becomes obstructive or its position is changed undesirably.

[0004] DE 20 201 6 005 957 U1 Uhr discloses a soil moisture measuring device for plants, which has a housing for accommodating plant soil and a moisture measuring device, which comprises a first capacitor electrode and a second capacitor electrode and an evaluation device. The capacitor electrodes and the evaluation device are arranged in the bottom area of ​​the housing. The disadvantage here is that the space requirement is relatively large. Summary of the invention

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve a soil moisture device in such a way that comfort and operability are improved.

[0006] To achieve this object, the invention has the features of claim 1 .

[0007] The particular advantage of the invention is that, due to the multi-part design of the housing for accommodating the plant, there is a physical separation between the actual plant or plant soil on the one hand and the moisture measuring device on the other hand. The plant is planted in the plant soil surrounded by the inner pot. The two capacitor electrodes are arranged on the outside of the outer pot or the middle pot surrounding the inner pot. In terms of operating technology, the commercially available inner pot with the plant and plant soil can be easily placed in the outer pot or the middle pot without the need for additional fixing of parts of the moisture measuring device.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first capacitor electrode and / or the second capacitor electrode are formed over a large area and along a circumferential angle of at least 40°, preferably in the range of 160° to 175°. Here, the circumferential angle extends around the axis of symmetry of the outer pot or the inner pot. The electrodes preferably extend from the bottom wall to the edge of the opening at the top of the outer pot or the middle pot, respectively. The first capacitor electrode and the second capacitor electrode preferably extend over a surface of the same size. This advantageously allows good measurement results to be achieved without causing any hindrance to the user of the plant during the treatment (watering) of the plant.

[0009] According to a further development of the invention, the first capacitor electrode and the second capacitor electrode are each designed as an electrically conductive film, which is materially connected to the outer side of the outer pot or the middle pot. As a result, the electrodes together with the supply lines are advantageously arranged in a space-saving manner and are protected by the wall of the outer pot or the middle pot to prevent contact / damage.

[0010] According to an improved solution of the present invention, the outer pot is constructed in two parts, including a first part and a second part surrounded by the first part. The first part has the capacitor electrode and is preferably arranged in the upper section of the second part. A chamber for accommodating the evaluation device is provided in the lower section of the first part. As a result, the first part surrounds the second part, and the two parts preferably end flush on the opening edge of the upper part. The first part is constructed so that the evaluation device is fixed to the first part on the upper edge of the first part. The second part can be constructed so that the evaluation device is directly located on the upper edge.

[0011] According to an improved solution of the present invention, the part of the outer pot has opposite grooves extending in the vertical direction on the inner side. The grooves are free of electrodes or edges defining capacitor electrodes. Thus, the grooves advantageously define the arrangement of the electrodes on the outer side of the first part.

[0012] According to a further development of the invention, a cable that can be connected to the terminal of the evaluation device extends from the middle pot, which has the first capacitor electrode and the second capacitor electrode on the inside, outside or inside. In this case, the middle pot only serves as a carrier for the first capacitor electrode, for the second capacitor electrode and for the connecting cable of the electrodes. The outer pot is used to accommodate the evaluation device and for accommodating the middle pot, and the inner side of the outer pot is attached to the outer side of the middle pot. The middle pot is used to accommodate the inner pot, which carries the plant.

[0013] According to a further development of the present invention, the evaluation device comprises a solar panel and / or a supercapacitor, by means of which the power supply to the evaluation device is ensured, thereby advantageously saving energy. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0015] in:

[0016] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a soil moisture device according to a first embodiment is shown, wherein the outer pot of the soil moisture device is constructed in two parts.

[0017] Figure 2 Show according to Figure 1 A perspective view of the second part of the interior of the outer basin,

[0018] Figure 3 Show according to Figure 2 A top view of the second part of

[0019] Figure 4 A diagram showing an integral outer pot according to another embodiment of the present invention,

[0020] Figure 5 A side view showing an integrated outer pot according to another embodiment of the present invention, and

[0021] Figure 6 A perspective view showing an intermediate basin of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The soil moisture device for plants has a housing for accommodating plants 25 and plant soil 24 and a moisture measuring device 1 .

[0023] According to the invention, the housing is designed in multiple parts and comprises, on the one hand, an outer pot 2 and, on the other hand, an inner pot 3 . The inner pot 3 serves to receive plant soil 24 and plants 25 .

[0024] According to the Figures 1 to 3 The outer pot 2 of the embodiment of the present invention is constructed in two parts and has a first part 4 and a second part 5 surrounded by the first part 4. The inner pot 3 can be a commercially available flower pot made of pottery or plastic or with a similar arbitrary design. The first part 4 has a bottom wall 6 and a side wall 7 extending vertically from the bottom wall. The side wall 7 can be configured to be cylindrical or truncated cone-shaped.

[0025] Like the first part 4, the second part 5 is provided in a pot-shaped manner with a bottom wall 8 and upright side walls 9. The second part 5 is designed so that the second part can be inserted into the first part 4 with clearance.

[0026] The second part 5 is arranged in an upper section 10 of the first part 4, which is arranged on the side of the bottom wall 6 facing away from the first part 4. A chamber 12 is arranged in the lower section 11 of the first part 4 facing the bottom wall 6, in which an evaluation device 13 of the moisture measuring device 1 is arranged. The evaluation device 13 comprises an electronic device 13', which comprises a microprocessor and a program for determining a watering requirement and / or for automatically programming the watering of the inner pot 3. For example, the evaluation device 13 can generate a signal when the moisture content of the monitored plant soil 24 drops to a critical threshold value. In order to measure the moisture content of the plant soil 24, the evaluation device 13 has a first capacitor electrode 14 and a second capacitor electrode 15 which are integrated in the second part 5 of the outer pot 2. The two electrodes 14, 15 are connected to the evaluation device 13 by a power supply line (not shown).

[0027] In order to supply power to the evaluation device 13, a solar panel 16 and / or a supercapacitor 17 are provided. The solar panel 16 is arranged outside the outer pot, for example, next to the outer pot, and can charge the supercapacitor 17, for example. Alternatively, the solar panel 16 is located inside the outer pot 2 or the first part 4. If the first part 4 is designed in a square and / or polygonal shape, the rigid solar panel 16 is arranged flatly on the outer side of the first part 4. If the first part 4 is designed in an arc shape, the flexible solar panel 16 is arranged on the outer side of the first part 4 in a flat manner.

[0028] For example, the evaluation device 13 can have an evaluation program so that the moisture content of the plant soil 24 is measured once a day. This moisture value is stored in the memory of the evaluation device 13 until the next measurement. The evaluation device 13 is connected to an optical signaling device 18, which can have, for example, an LED light source to indicate the dry state of the plant soil 24 with a signal. For example, if the moisture content drops below a threshold value, the color of the light source changes from green to red, for example. Alternatively, the light source can also be configured to be monochromatic. At this time, the dry state of the plant soil 24 can be indicated, for example, by the flashing frequency of the light source. Thereby, the user is informed by a signal that the user must supply liquid to the plant soil 24.

[0029] Furthermore, the evaluation device 13 can be connected to a radio module 19 so that the drying status can be communicated to a mobile data device, for example via WLAN.

[0030] For the water supply and metering of the plant soil 24 , the evaluation device 13 is connected to a switching mechanism 20 , for example an electric valve or a pump, in order to convey water from an external water reservoir to the plant soil 24 in the inner pot 3 .

[0031] Furthermore, the evaluation device 13 can have isolating resistors and / or inductors 21 , so that signals can be provided for test purposes and at the same time interfering effects of the measuring lines used can be minimized.

[0032] from Figure 2 It can be seen that the first capacitor electrode 14 and the second capacitor electrode 15 are arranged on the outer side of the second part 5 of the outer pot 2. The first capacitor electrode 14 and the second capacitor electrode 15 are designed to be large-area and preferably have the same size. The first capacitor electrode 14 and the second capacitor electrode 15 are arranged opposite each other on the outer side of the side wall 9 of the second part 5. The first capacitor electrode and the second capacitor electrode are each separated from each other only by a vertical groove 22, which here extends from the bottom wall 8 to the free opening edge 23 of the inner part 5 on the inner side of the side wall 9.

[0033] The first capacitor electrode 14 and the second capacitor electrode 15 each extend at a circumferential angle φ of at least 40°, preferably in the range of 160° to 174°. In the present embodiment, the first capacitor electrode 14 and the second capacitor electrode 15 each extend along a circumferential angle φ of 175°. The circumferential angle φ extends along the circumferential direction U around the axis A of the second part 5. If the second part 5 is cylindrical, the first capacitor electrode 14 and the second capacitor electrode 15 extend partially cylindrically. The first capacitor electrode 14 and the second capacitor electrode 15 extend symmetrically to each other with respect to the midplane M of the second part 5.

[0034] The first capacitor electrode 14 and the second capacitor electrode 15 are each designed as an electrically conductive film, such as an aluminum foil. The films are connected to the outer side of the second part 5 in a material-locking manner, for example, by an adhesive (self-adhesive film). Alternatively, the capacitor electrodes 14, 15 can be formed by applying an electrically conductive material, such as a paint.

[0035] The inner pot 3 containing the plant soil 24 and the plant 25 is preferably made of plastic material and has a bottom wall 26 and a side wall 27 extending vertically from the bottom wall. Typically, the bottom wall 26 has holes so that moisture or water can also be supplied to the plant soil 24 from below, such as for orchids.

[0036] The second part 5 of the outer pot 2 is designed such that the inner pot 3 can be inserted into the outer pot with play.

[0037] According to the present invention Figure 4In another embodiment, an integral outer pot 2' is provided, in which only the first capacitor electrode 14' is arranged on the outside of the outer pot 2'. A second capacitor electrode 15' protrudes from the bottom wall 8' of the outer pot 2', which second capacitor electrode is preferably located in a sleeve connected integrally to the outer pot 2'. The first capacitor electrode 14' extends at a circumferential angle φ in the range between 272° and 355°. The first capacitor electrode 14' is interrupted only by the groove 22'.

[0038] Alternatively, according to Figure 4 The components can also be based on Figure 1 An alternative second part 4 of the outer pot 2.

[0039] according to Figure 5 In another embodiment of the invention, the outer pot 2 ″ is formed in one piece, wherein the first capacitor electrode 14 ″ is arranged on the outer side of the side wall 28 and the second capacitor electrode 15 ″ is arranged to protrude from the bottom wall 29. The outer pot 2 ″ substantially corresponds to the embodiment according to Figure 4 The outer basin 2' is different from the outer basin 2' in that the side connecting plates 30 extend from the side walls 28 to fix the outer basin 2' on the vertical wall.

[0040] According to the present invention Figure 6 Another embodiment of the present invention is provided with an intermediate pot 31 having a bottom wall 32 and side walls 33 extending vertically from the bottom wall, which is arranged between a commercially common outer pot and an inner pot 3 containing plant soil, which is preferably formed in one piece. The intermediate pot 31 substantially corresponds to the shape of the second part 5 of the outer pot 2, and is different from the inner pot 3 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Figures 1 to 3 In contrast to the embodiment of the embodiment of the present invention, the bottom wall 32 is arranged directly on the bottom wall of the first part of the outer pot or in the vicinity of the bottom wall 6 of the first part 4 of the outer pot 2. As in the second part 5, the first capacitor electrode 14 and the second capacitor electrode 15 are arranged on the outside of the intermediate pot 31, and a cable 34 respectively extends from the first capacitor electrode and the second capacitor electrode from the opening edge of the intermediate pot 31 to the evaluation device 13 (not shown). Alternatively, the capacitor electrodes 14, 15 can also be arranged on the inside of the intermediate pot 31.

[0041] The difference between the intermediate pot 31 and the second part 5 is mainly that the shape of the intermediate pot is adapted to the commercially available outer pot and the first part 4 of the outer pot 2. Therefore, the evaluation device 13 is located outside the outer pot 2.

[0042] Typically, the outer pots 2, 2', the inner pot 3 and the intermediate pot 31 have a stop ring 35 ( Figure 2 ).

Claims

1. A soil moisture device for plants, comprising a housing for accommodating plants (25) and a moisture measuring device (1), the moisture measuring device having a first capacitor electrode (14, 14') and a second capacitor electrode (15, 15') and an evaluation device (13), characterized in that - The housing is constructed in multiple parts, including o an inner pot (3) for containing plant soil (24) and an outer pot (2, 2', 2''), the outer pot surrounding the inner pot (3) on a bottom wall (26) of the inner pot and / or on a side wall (27) of the inner pot protruding from the bottom wall (26); or o an inner pot (3) and an intermediate pot (31) for containing plant soil (24) and an outer pot (2, 2'), wherein the intermediate pot surrounds the inner pot (3) on the bottom wall (26) of the inner pot and / or on the side wall (27) of the inner pot, and the outer pot surrounds the intermediate pot (31) on the bottom wall (32) of the intermediate pot and / or on the side wall (33) of the intermediate pot, and The first capacitor electrode (14, 14') and the second capacitor electrode (15, 15') are arranged on the outer side of the bottom wall and / or the side wall of the outer pot (2, 2') and / or the middle pot (31) facing the inner pot (3).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The inner pot (3) is made of plastic material and the bottom wall and / or the side wall of the inner pot (3) have holes.

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The outer pot (2) and / or the middle pot (31) are configured such that the inner pot (3) can be inserted into the outer pot (2) or the middle pot (31) with clearance.

4. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The first capacitor electrode (14, 14') and / or the second capacitor electrode (15, 15') are designed to have a large area and cover the outer side of the outer cup (2, 2', 2") or the middle cup (31) with a circumferential angle (φ) of at least 40°, preferably in the range of 160° to 170°.

5. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The first capacitor electrode (14, 14') and / or the second capacitor electrode (15, 15') are designed as an electrically conductive film or as a coating which is materially connected to the inner side of the outer pot (2) or the middle pot (31).

6. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The outer pot (2) is constructed in two parts, comprising a first part (4) and a second part (5) surrounded by the first part (4), a chamber (12) for accommodating an evaluation device (13) being arranged in a lower section (11) facing the bottom wall of the outer pot (2), and the second part (5) of the outer pot (2) having the capacitor electrodes (14, 15) being arranged in an upper section (10) facing away from the bottom wall.

7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The second part (5) of the outer pot (2) has opposite grooves (22) on the inner side, which extend from the bottom wall (8) of the second part (5) to the opening edge (23) of the second part (5).

8. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The first capacitor electrode (14, 14') and the second capacitor electrode (15, 15') extend partially cylindrically or partially conically.

9. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that Cables (34) connected to the respective capacitor electrodes (14, 14'; 15, 15') extend from one side of the intermediate pot (31) to such a length that they can be connected to terminals of the evaluation device (13).

10. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that The evaluation device (13) is connected to a solar panel (16) and / or a supercapacitor (17) in order to supply power to the evaluation device (13).

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