US Patent 8104498 Soil moisture sensor and controller

Moisture sensor devices and methods are disclosed herein. One embodiment includes an integrated moisture sensor and controller to be placed in soil comprising a controller circuit for controlling a switch; a sensor circuit comprising a probe and adapted to provide the controller circuit a signal corresponding to a moisture level of the soil. The controller and sensor circuits integrated into a single device positioned within the soil; the switch coupled to the controller circuit and to be coupled to a control line of an irrigation controller at an electrical position between the controller and a valve, the control line to carry a power signal from the controller to the valve; the switch to interrupt irrigation in response to a signal from the controller circuit; the controller circuit is adapted to determine an amount of time for which irrigation is interrupted.