A control unit is added to the environmental tester including a thermostat-humidistat container, an air conditioner, a first temperature and humidity sensor for measuring temperature and humidity in the thermostat-humidistat container, a controller for receiving a first signal from the first temperature and humidity sensor to control the air conditioner. The control unit includes a second temperature and humidity sensor configured to measure the temperature and humidity distribution in the thermostat-humidistat container, and an additional unit configured to receive the first signal and set values for the temperature and the humidity from the controller, and receive a second signal from the second temperature and humidity sensor, compute a correction value from the received first signal, second signal, and set values, and send the correction value to the controller.

A control unit is added to the environmental tester including a thermostat-humidistat container, an air conditioner, a first temperature and humidity sensor for measuring temperature and humidity in the thermostat-humidistat container, a controller for receiving a first signal from the first temperature and humidity sensor to control the air conditioner. The control unit includes a second temperature and humidity sensor configured to measure the temperature and humidity distribution in the thermostat-humidistat container, and an additional unit configured to receive the first signal and set values for the temperature and the humidity from the controller, and receive a second signal from the second temperature and humidity sensor, compute a correction value from the received first signal, second signal, and set values, and send the correction value to the controller.

An irrigation system includes at least one environmental sensor, such as a solar radiation sensor that is installed on an irrigation site, and a soil moisture sensor that is also installed on the irrigation site. Programming allows an estimated ET value to be calculated based at least in part on the output signal of the environmental sensor. A pre-programmed watering schedule is automatically modified based on the estimated ET value to thereby conserve water while maintaining the health of plants on the irrigation site. The system automatically inhibits irrigation when an output signal of the soil moisture sensor indicates an amount of moisture in the soil is above a predetermined threshold.

An irrigation system includes at least one environmental sensor, such as a solar radiation sensor that is installed on an irrigation site, and a soil moisture sensor that is also installed on the irrigation site. Programming allows an estimated ET value to be calculated based at least in part on the output signal of the environmental sensor. A pre-programmed watering schedule is automatically modified based on the estimated ET value to thereby conserve water while maintaining the health of plants on the irrigation site. The system automatically inhibits irrigation when an output signal of the soil moisture sensor indicates an amount of moisture in the soil is above a predetermined threshold.

Probe systems and methods including active environmental control are disclosed herein. The methods include placing a substrate, which includes a device under test (DUT), on a support surface of a chuck. The support surface extends within a measurement environment that is at least partially surrounded by a measurement chamber. The methods further include determining a variable associated with a moisture content of the measurement environment and receiving a temperature associated with the measurement environment. The methods also include supplying a purge gas stream to the measurement chamber at a purge gas flow rate and selectively varying the purge gas flow rate such that a dew point temperature of the measurement environment is within a target dew point temperature range. The methods further include providing a test signal to the DUT and receiving a resultant signal from the DUT. The systems include probe systems that perform the methods.

A climate control unit configured to control a heating unit and a cooling unit. The climate control unit includes a temperature sensor configured to measure a current dry bulb temperature, a humidity sensor configured to measure a current relative humidity, a processor, and a storage medium operably coupled to the processor. The storage medium has software instructions stored therein, which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine a current apparent temperature based on the current dry bulb temperature and the current relative humidity, receive a user-selected desired apparent temperature, activate a heating mode when the current apparent temperature is below a lower apparent temperature threshold, and activate a cooling mode when the current apparent temperature is above an upper apparent temperature threshold. The software instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to automatically switch between the heating mode and the cooling mode.

A climate control unit configured to control a heating unit and a cooling unit. The climate control unit includes a temperature sensor configured to measure a current dry bulb temperature, a humidity sensor configured to measure a current relative humidity, a processor, and a storage medium operably coupled to the processor. The storage medium has software instructions stored therein, which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine a current apparent temperature based on the current dry bulb temperature and the current relative humidity, receive a user-selected desired apparent temperature, activate a heating mode when the current apparent temperature is below a lower apparent temperature threshold, and activate a cooling mode when the current apparent temperature is above an upper apparent temperature threshold. The software instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to automatically switch between the heating mode and the cooling mode.

An improved incubator and control apparatus include separate temperature and humidity control loops wherein a commanded temperature and a commanded relative humidity (RH) value are commanded to the control apparatus via a user interface. The control apparatus employs a humidifier rate saturation controller which acts responsive to both a humidity control signal and a current temperature to regulate the addition of humidity to the air within the incubator assembly to avoid a transient humidity from exceeding a predetermined value and thereby avoiding the generation of condensation within the incubator.

An improved incubator and control apparatus include separate temperature and humidity control loops wherein a commanded temperature and a commanded relative humidity (RH) value are commanded to the control apparatus via a user interface. The control apparatus employs a humidifier rate saturation controller which acts responsive to both a humidity control signal and a current temperature to regulate the addition of humidity to the air within the incubator assembly to avoid a transient humidity from exceeding a predetermined value and thereby avoiding the generation of condensation within the incubator.

An automatic water discharge device is provided for use with a pneumatically operated apparatus and includes a housing including a water accumulation chamber; an electromagnetic valve coupled to the water accumulation chamber and including a bottom air discharge hole; and a detection mechanism arranged in the housing and in operative coupling with the electromagnetic valve. When the detection mechanism detects moisture entraining gas or air passing through the water accumulation chamber, the electromagnetic valve is activated to allow water to drain through the bottom air discharge hole. As such, operations of automatic detection, accurate draining, and effectively blocking impurities can be all performed and an advantage of maintaining the performance of the pneumatically operated apparatus may also be achieved.