DETECTION MODULE, INTERFACE SYSTEMS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING INTERACTIONS OF A USER WITH A LIVING PLANT AND COMMUNICATING CONTROL SIGNALS

Abstract

It is presented a detection module (10) for detecting capacitance variations in a plant (20), comprising one or more electrodes (11) configured and arranged to be put in electrical communication with the plant (20), one or more capacitive sensors (12) in electrical communication with the electrodes (11), configured to measure capacitance through the electrodes (11) and convert it to voltage values, a control unit (13) in communication with each capacitive sensor (12), having at least one electrical or wireless communication port (14′, 14″) to other detection modules (10) or to external devices (0), and being configured to read said voltage values, process them for obtaining processed voltage values, compare said processed voltage values with a threshold value, and send a control signal to one or more external devices (0) via said at least one communication port (14′, 14″) when said processed voltage values exceed the threshold value, and a user-accessible potentiometer (15) in electrical communication with the control unit (13), the potentiometer (15) being configured to adjust said threshold value. It is also presented an interface system and a method for detecting interactions of a user with a living plant and communicating control signals using at least one of said detection module (10).

Claims

1.-13. (canceled)

14. Interface system (1) for communicating control signals to one or more electronic devices, comprising: One or more detection modules (10) for detecting capacitance variations in a plant (20), comprising: one or more electrodes (11) configured and arranged to be put in electrical communication with the plant (20), one or more capacitive sensors (12) in electrical communication with the electrodes (11), configured to measure capacitance through the electrodes (11) and convert it to voltage values, a control unit (13) in electrical communication with each capacitive sensor (12), having at least one communication port (14′, 14″) to other detection modules (10) or to external devices (0), and being configured to read said voltage values, process them for obtaining processed voltage values, compare said processed voltage values with a threshold value, and send a control signal to one or more external devices (0) via said at least one communication port (14′, 14″) when said processed voltage values exceed the threshold value, a user-accessible potentiometer (15) in electrical communication with the control unit (13), the potentiometer (15) being configured to adjust said threshold value, One or more living plants (20), wherein each detection module (10) is in electrical communication with each living plant (20), and wherein the plants are of the crass kind.

15. Interface system (1) according to claim 14, wherein the plants (20) comprise roots buried in a moist substrate and at least one electrode (11) is in direct contact with the moist substrate.

16. Interface system (1) according to claim 14, wherein the interface system (1) includes a hub (30), as well as more than one detection module (10) in communication with the hub (30), which is configured to receive their control signals and redirect the control signals to corresponding external devices (0).

17. Interface system (1) according to claim 14, wherein the control unit (13) is further configured to apply a moving average algorithm to the voltage values provided by the capacitive sensors (12) during a given time interval, in order to calculate average voltage values, becoming the average voltage values into said processed voltage values to be compared with the threshold value.

18. Interface system (1) according to claim 14, wherein the control unit (13) is further configured to measure a dwell time for which the processed voltage values rate above the threshold value and, if said dwell time is lower than a predetermined dwell duration, avoid sending the corresponding control signal.

19. Interface system (1) according to claim 18, wherein the control unit (13) is configured to, after been measured a dwell time higher than a predetermined dwell duration and been detected that the processed voltage values dropped below the threshold value, measure a holding time for which the processed voltage values rate below the threshold value and, if said holding time is lower than a predetermined holding duration, avoid sending a new corresponding control signal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] So that the manner in which the above recited aspects are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention may be had by reference to the appended figures.

[0041] It is to be noted, however, that the appended figures illustrate only embodiments of this invention and is therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

[0042] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present interface system, comprising two detection modules and a hub for communicating control signals to one electronic device.

[0043] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an installation procedure of the present interface system.

[0044] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a first embodiment of the present method for communicating control signals to one or more electronic devices.

[0045] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a second embodiment of the present method for communicating control signals to one or more electronic devices.

[0046] FIG. 5 is an representation of an example embodiment of the present interface system for communicating control signals to a group of lights and a group of speakers.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0047] A preferred embodiment of the present interface system is illustrated schematically as a block diagram in FIG. 1. The present embodiment comprises two detection modules (10) and a hub (30) for communicating control signals to an electronic device (0). Each detection module (10) comprises: [0048] an electrode (11) configured and arranged to be put in electrical communication with a plant (20), [0049] a capacitive sensor (12) in electrical communication with the electrode (11), [0050] a control unit (13) in electrical communication with the capacitive sensor (12), [0051] a user-accessible potentiometer (15) in electrical communication with the control unit (13).

[0052] In the present embodiment, a first detection module (10) is connected via its outlet communication port (14″) to the inlet communication port (14′) of a second detection module (10). Said second detection module (10) is connected via its outlet communication port (14″) to the hub (30), the external device (0).

[0053] The capacitive sensor (12) and the control unit (13) of each detection module (10) are located in a housing (16), whereas the electrode (11) and the potentiometer (15) are arranged outside the housing (16) at the end of a shielded wire. The housing (16) comprises openings (17) through which the shielded wires pass through the housing (16) in an hermetic way. Although in this preferred embodiment the links (14) between communication ports (14′, 14″) have been represented by shielded cables, the links can also consist of wireless links.

[0054] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of installation procedure of the present interface system. In a first step, it is necessary to electrically connect the electrodes (11) of a detection module (10) with a plant (20). Said electrical connection preferably consist on direct contact of the electrodes (11) with the substrate where the roots of the plants are buried. The substrate should have a moisture content for a better performance. As depicted from the following claims, the present interface system offers the possibility of adjusting the threshold value thanks to a user-accessible potentiometer (15). In this installation procedure, after initiating the system, the capacitive sensors (12) measure the capacitance detected through the corresponding plant (20) by means of the electrodes (11) and convert said capacitance into voltage values. The control unit (13) steadily reads said voltage values and compares them with a threshold value while adjusting the threshold value. When the user considers said voltage values being near but under the threshold value, the installation procedure can be considered completed.

[0055] FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present method for communicating control signals to one or more electronic devices. After initiating the system, the capacitive sensors (12) measure the capacitance detected through the corresponding plant (20) by means of the electrodes (11) and convert said capacitance into voltage values. The control unit (13) steadily reads said voltage values and compares them with the threshold value. When the control unit (13) detects a voltage value exceeding the threshold value, a so-called dwell time starts being measured, which indicates the duration for which the voltage values rate above the threshold value. The control unit (13) interprets that there has been a coupling between the subject and the plant (20) only when said measured dwell time is longer than a predetermined minimum dwell duration. Only then, the control unit (13) sends the corresponding control signal to an external device (0) via said communication ports (14′, 14″) and hub (30). This minimum dwell duration is preferably set to 200 milliseconds. When the measured dwell time is less than said minimum dwell duration, the control unit (13) is configured to discard the supposed coupling as a false positive.

[0056] FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a second embodiment of the present method. Compared to the previous first embodiment, after interpreting that there has been a coupling between the subject and the plant (20), this second embodiment further comprises start measuring a so-called holding time when a voltage value drops under the threshold value. The holding time indicates the duration for which the voltage values rate under the threshold value. The control unit (13) interprets that said coupling has been interrupted by the subject on purpose only when said measured holding time is longer than a predetermined holding duration. Only then, the control unit (13) gets ready for interpret a new coupling. This holding duration is preferably set to 250 milliseconds. When the measured holding time is less than said minimum holding duration, the control unit (13) is configured to interpret that said coupling has not been interrupted.

[0057] FIG. 5 represents an example situation where an embodiment of the present interface system is implemented. In this case, it comprises two detection modules (10′, 10″) linked via WIFI to a hub (30), which is configured to send control signals to a PC as external device (0). At the same time, this PC is connected to a power plug (100), a group of lights (0′) and a group of speakers (0″), as well as configured to send corresponding controls signals to said lights (0′) and speakers (0″). In this embodiment, an electrode (not shown) of a first detection module (10′) is connected to a first plant (20′), which is responsible of the control signals received by the lights (0′). This first detection module (10′) has been illustrated outside the pot of the first plant (20′), but it is located inside it, as indicated by its dotted arrow. Another electrode (neither shown) of a second detection module (10″) is connected to a second plant (20″), which is responsible of the control signals received by the speakers (0″). This second detection module (10′) has been also illustrated outside the second plant (20″), but it is integrated in the wall and covered by said plant (20″), as suggested by its dotted arrow.