Soil moisture level sensing using Frequency domain reflectometry

Shibin Varghese

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: FDC1004, FDC2214

Hi Friends,

We developed a soil moisture sensor for one of our projects and is working fine. But our team has decided to move to a more accurate method to determine the moisture content by using frequency domain reflectometry. But we don't have any idea about it. Can anyone help us?. We even don't know which chip is to be used.

over 6 years ago

0 Clancy Soehren over 6 years ago

TI__Mastermind 23810 points

TI has two devices that might help, the FDC1004 and FDC2214. The FDC1004 has a shield feature which helps to prevent unwanted interference from nearby sources, such as a human hand. That might not be relevant for your application. The FDC2214 is generally more sensitive, so I suggest looking into that device first.

0 Shibin Varghese over 6 years ago in reply to Clancy Soehren

Expert 1130 points

Dear Friend,
Thank you for your reply.
Does TI have any chip to perform all the functions needed from frequency generation to change in frequency analysis?

0 Clancy Soehren over 6 years ago in reply to Shibin Varghese

TI__Mastermind 23810 points

The devices I mentioned have instructions in the datasheet and app notes about how to set them up. The FDC1004 a more traditional charge-based capacitance measurement. The FDC2214 drives the external LC tank (part of which is variable based on your external sensor) and outputs the change in capacitance.

The actual sensor design has to be done by you, but these devices can drive the sensor and provide the capacitance result in a digital format.

0 Shibin Varghese over 6 years ago in reply to Clancy Soehren

Expert 1130 points

Thank You for your time

0 Shibin Varghese over 6 years ago in reply to Shibin Varghese

Expert 1130 points

Can anyone suggest any chip of TI which can generate RF signals up to 2GHz and also a phase comparator for the same frequency range?.
The purpose is to measure the moisture content of soil by using TDR technique.

0 Clancy Soehren over 6 years ago in reply to Shibin Varghese

TI__Mastermind 23810 points

Shibin,

Can you start a new thread with this request so that it can be directed to the correct team? The FDC devices I mentioned above only work up to 10MHz, so two orders of magnitude less than what you are looking for.

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Soil moisture level sensing using Frequency domain reflectometry