Patent ID: 11927538
Assignee: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G  H | IPC G  H

Claim 0:
1. A device for monitoring moisture content of a plant, the device comprising:
(i) one or more zero power infrared (IR) sensors, each sensor comprising a first plasmonic absorber tuned to a selected wavelength range of IR radiation and comprising a switch actuatable using only energy of IR radiation absorbed by the plasmonic absorber; wherein the one or more zero power IR sensors are disposed within a circuit in series or in parallel, and wherein the circuit is interruptable by the switch of each sensor;
(ii) a transmitter disposed within the circuit and activatable by a selected configuration of said switches; and
(iii) optionally a battery disposed within the circuit, the battery capable of powering the transmitter;
wherein absorption by the one or more sensors of selected wavelengths of IR radiation originating from a plant, characteristic of a selected moisture content of the plant, causes the transmitter to transmit an electromagnetic radiation signal.