Grain bin capacitive moisture sensor system and method

摘要

A data collector associated with a grain bin is in communication with a plurality of capacitive moisture cables hanging within the grain bin. Each capacitive moisture cable includes a plurality of sensor nodes positioned along the moisture cable. Each sensor node includes a sensor node microprocessor and a sensor node memory coupled to a temperature sensor, a reference capacitive sensor and a capacitive moisture sensor. A main controller is in communication with the data collector. The main controller memory is configured in a data structure comprising grain type data, temperature data, raw reference capacitance data, raw moisture capacitance data, node identification data, physical node positional data, and a calculated moisture content for each sensor node. A method of determining moisture contents of grain in a grain bin related to such a system is also included.

主权项

1. A grain bin moisture sensor system comprising:
a data collector associated with a grain bin and comprising a data collector microprocessor and a data collector memory, the data collector being in communication with at least one capacitive moisture cable hanging within the grain bin; each capacitive moisture cable comprising a plurality of sensor nodes spaced at a predetermined interval along the moisture cable and each sensor node being wired in parallel to the data collector; each sensor node comprising a pair of capacitive plates and a circuit board defining a circuit board plane and a sensor node microprocessor and a sensor node memory coupled to a temperature sensor, a reference capacitive sensor and a capacitive moisture sensor; a main controller comprising a main controller microprocessor and a main controller memory, the main controller being in communication with the data collector, wherein the main controller memory is configured in a data structure comprising grain type data, temperature data, raw reference capacitance data, raw moisture capacitance data, node identification data, physical node positional data, and a calculated moisture content for each sensor node; wherein the circuit board is positioned between the pair of capacitive plates with the plates positioned generally perpendicular to the circuit board plane, and wherein the plates have longitudinal sides inclining toward each other to define a corresponding pair of opposing longitudinally extending gaps.