Radiant energy – Photocells; circuits and apparatus – Optical or pre-photocell system
Reexamination Certificate
2007-03-13
2007-03-13
Allen, Stephone B. (Department: 2878)
Radiant energy
Photocells; circuits and apparatus
Optical or pre-photocell system
C250S573000, C356S128000, C340S603000
Reexamination Certificate
active
11214100
ABSTRACT:
A soil moisture sensor has a cylindrical body of transparent cyclic olefin polymer (COC). A pair of axially spaced cavities tapered toward each other are formed in the body. A light source is placed in one of the cavities, and a light sensor is placed in the other. The walls of the cavities are so curved that divergent light rays from the light source are refracted at the cavity-body interface into parallelism, and that reflected parallel rays are refracted at the body-cavity interface so as to focus on the light sensor. The parallel rays coming from the light source are reflected or refracted at the outer surface of the body, depending upon whether the ambient environment of the sensor is dry or wet.
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Allen Stephone B.
Inskeep IP Group, Inc.
The Toro Company
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