It's not often that an invention moves swiftly through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. But it can happen. Such was the case when Advanced Sensor Technology (AST) applied for an accelerated patent for its wireless soil-monitoring sensor. Seventy-six days later, the patent was approved.
“We believe this to be one of the fastest utility patents issued in U.S. history,” says Walt Norley, president and CEO of AST. “That tells us several things. Not only does it say that the design and engineering of our wireless soil sensor are protectable, but it also indicates that our business is moving forward with technology that is a significant advancement for environmental and water conservation efforts.”
AST's wireless soil-monitoring technology is an in-ground system that operates via a wireless mesh network. It provides reliable, real-time measurement of soil moisture, temperature and salinity, which results in water savings and the reduced use of fertilizers and pesticides. The technology has applications for the turf (golf courses and sporting venues), landscaping, agriculture and environmental industries.
Norley added that in addition to this utility patent for the specific sensor technology, additional patents are pending for AST's wireless soil-monitoring method.
“Our R&D work continues, too, as our team of agronomists and engineers develop new sensors that will expand our system's capabilities to include measurement of variables like phosphates, nitrates, nutrients and specific contaminants,” he says.