Sensor Battery Compartment Submerged in Soil for Antenna Range
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sensor devices with compact profiles often suffer from reduced antenna range when installed deep in the ground, leading to inefficient data exchange with mobile units like lawnmowers, and existing solutions compromise either size or performance.
Innovation Solution
A sensor device design with a battery compartment submerged in the soil and an antenna configuration where the secondary PCB or antenna covers the battery from above, maintaining a compact profile while optimizing antenna performance through a metallic ground interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the sensor device is installed deep into the ground surface to achieve a compact profile, then the device dimensions are reduced, but the antenna range is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the battery compartment from a horizontal arrangement to a vertical arrangement, allowing the battery to be placed below the antenna in the depth dimension. This dimensional change enables the antenna to extend closer to the ground surface for better signal range while the battery occupies the vertical space underneath, achieving both compact overall device volume and improved antenna performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested arrangement where the battery compartment is positioned within the housing structure directly below the antenna element. The antenna is arranged to extend towards the ground surface while the battery compartment is nested underneath, allowing both components to occupy overlapping vertical space without interfering with each other's functionality.
2Reliability
If the antenna length is increased to improve range, then the device dimensions increase, but the compact profile is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing antenna length in the horizontal dimension which would expand device width, the patent utilizes the vertical dimension by positioning the battery compartment below the antenna. This allows the antenna to achieve adequate length for proper signal range while the overall device footprint remains compact due to the vertical stacking arrangement.
3Reliability
If a staggered and broad antenna arrangement is used, then antenna range is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a complex staggered broad arrangement of multiple antenna elements, the patent inverts the conventional approach by placing the power source (battery) below the antenna rather than beside it. This simple inversion of the battery-antenna spatial relationship achieves compact dimensions without requiring complex multi-element antenna configurations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design achieves a compact and efficient sensor device with enhanced antenna range, allowing reliable data exchange with mobile units without increasing the device's dimensions, ensuring effective operation and durability.
Implementation Method 1
optimizing antenna performance through a metallic ground interaction
Data Source
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AI summary
A sensor device (100) includes a housing (110) placed at least in part on top of a soil surface (302). The sensor device (100) includes at least one battery (116) housed within a battery compartment (112) in the housing (110). The sensor device (100) includes a sensor (200) electrically coupled with the at least one battery (116). The sensor device (100) is characterized in that the battery compartment (112) is at least partly submerged into the soil surface (302).