Patent ID: 7482820
Filing Date: 2009-01-27
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A device for determining a moisture content value and a salinity value of a soil, the device comprising: a probe conducting structure to be placed in the soil to form a capacitor; a soil moisture circuit comprising a high frequency oscillator for applying a first electrical stimulus to the probe structure, a reference capacitor connected in series to the high frequency oscillator, and a first voltage meter located between the high frequency oscillator and the reference capacitor; a soil salinity circuit comprising a low frequency oscillator for applying second electrical stimulus to the probe structure, a reference resistor connected in series to the low frequency oscillator, and a second voltage meter located between the low frequency oscillator and the reference resistor, wherein the low frequency oscillator is substantially lower in frequency than the high frequency oscillator; a third voltage meter; and a processor, the processor calculating a capacitance of the soil as a function of (V