System, apparatus, and method for measuring ion concentration with a standard deviation correction

Abstract

Embodiments of the inventive concept include a portable ion concentration apparatus including a controller, a storage section to store one or more data samples, an amplifier circuit, and a chemical field effect transistor (CHEMFET). The CHEMFET and the amplifier circuit can indicate a quantity of nitrate levels in a sample media or a reference media. The controller can process the indication of the quantity of nitrate levels, and generate the one or more data samples based at least on the indication of the quantity of nitrate levels. The portable ion concentration apparatus can include an in-field analysis apparatus, an in-field measurement apparatus, or an in-soil monitoring apparatus. A measurement logic section can determine an ion concentration based on a sensitivity slope M or a polynomial fit. Also disclosed is a method for measuring ion concentration with a standard deviation correction.

1 . A computer-implemented method for measuring ion concentration with a standard deviation correction, comprising:
 calibrating an ion concentration apparatus by performing:
 receiving, by an ion concentration apparatus, a first sample measurement from sample media; 
 receiving, by the ion concentration apparatus, a first reference measurement from reference media; 
 comparing, by the ion concentration apparatus, the first reference measurement to a nominal reference value to determine, by the ion concentration apparatus, a first correction factor; 
 applying, by the ion concentration apparatus, the first correction factor to the first sample measurement to automatically generate and store a first corrected measurement. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising,
 receiving a second sample measurement from the sample media;   receiving a second reference measurement from the reference media;   comparing the second reference measurement to the first reference measurement to automatically determine a second correction factor;   applying the second correction factor to the first sample measurement to generate and store a second corrected measurement;   receiving a third sample measurement from the sample media;   receiving a third reference measurement from the reference media;   comparing the third reference measurement to the second reference measurement to automatically determine a third correction factor;   applying the third correction factor to the first sample measurement to automatically generate and store a third corrected measurement.   
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 continuing an automatic correction of one or more additional sample measurements to correct contamination of active sensor environmental interfaces with solids.   
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, by a sensor module, ion concentration information of ion from an amplifier circuit;   providing the ion concentration information of the ion to a controller,   causing the controller to process the ion concentration information of the ion and generate one or more data samples based at least on the ion concentration information of the ion.   
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 storing one or more ion concentrations corresponding to the reference media;   sensing a temperature of at least one of the sample media or the reference media;   wirelessly transmitting the one or more ion concentrations to a display device.   
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 causing the display device to visibly present the ion concentration information of the ion associated with at least one of the sample media or the reference media.   
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 correcting, for at least one of inherent nitrate, contamination of the sample media or a sample-to-sample drift;   wherein the sample media include soil and water.   
     
     
         8 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing one or more computer instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform:
 calibrating an ion concentration apparatus by performing:
 receiving, by an ion concentration apparatus, a first sample measurement from sample media; 
 receiving, by the ion concentration apparatus, a first reference measurement from reference media; 
 comparing, by the ion concentration apparatus, the first reference measurement to a nominal reference value to determine, by the ion concentration apparatus, a first correction factor; 
 applying, by the ion concentration apparatus, the first correction factor to the first sample measurement to automatically generate and store a first corrected measurement. 
   
     
     
         9 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 8 , storing additional instructions for:
 receiving a second sample measurement from the sample media;   receiving a second reference measurement from the reference media;   comparing the second reference measurement to the first reference measurement to automatically determine a second correction factor;   applying the second correction factor to the first sample measurement to generate and store a second corrected measurement;   receiving a third sample measurement from the sample media;   receiving a third reference measurement from the reference media;   comparing the third reference measurement to the second reference measurement to automatically determine a third correction factor;   applying the third correction factor to the first sample measurement to automatically generate and store a third corrected measurement.   
     
     
         10 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 8 , storing additional instructions for:
 continuing an automatic correction of one or more additional sample measurements to correct contamination of active sensor environmental interfaces with solids.   
     
     
         11 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 8 , storing additional instructions for:
 receiving, by a sensor module, ion concentration information of ion from an amplifier circuit;   providing the ion concentration information of the ion to a controller,   causing the controller to process the ion concentration information of the ion and generate one or more data samples based at least on the ion concentration information of the ion.   
     
     
         12 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 11 , storing additional instructions for:
 storing one or more ion concentrations corresponding to the reference media;
 sensing a temperature of at least one of the sample media or the reference media; 
 wirelessly transmitting the one or more ion concentrations to a display device. 
   
     
     
         13 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 12 , storing additional instructions for:
 causing the display device to visibly present the ion concentration information of the ion associated with at least one of the sample media or the reference media.   
     
     
         14 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 8 , storing additional instructions for:
 correcting, for at least one of inherent nitrate, contamination of the sample media or a sample-to-sample drift;   wherein the sample media include soil and water.   
     
     
         15 . A portable ion concentration apparatus, comprising:
 a controller;   an ion concentration measurement device coupled to the controller;   wherein the ion concentration measurement device and the controller are configured to perform:   calibrating an ion concentration apparatus by performing:   receiving, by an ion concentration apparatus, a first sample measurement from sample media;   receiving, by the ion concentration apparatus, a first reference measurement from reference media;   comparing, by the ion concentration apparatus, the first reference measurement to a nominal reference value to determine, by the ion concentration apparatus, a first correction factor;   applying, by the ion concentration apparatus, the first correction factor to the first sample measurement to automatically generate and store a first corrected measurement.   
     
     
         16 . The portable ion concentration apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the ion concentration measurement device and the controller are further configured to perform:
 receiving a second sample measurement from the sample media;   receiving a second reference measurement from the reference media;   comparing the second reference measurement to the first reference measurement to automatically determine a second correction factor;   applying the second correction factor to the first sample measurement to generate and store a second corrected measurement;   receiving a third sample measurement from the sample media;   receiving a third reference measurement from the reference media;   comparing the third reference measurement to the second reference measurement to automatically determine a third correction factor;   applying the third correction factor to the first sample measurement to automatically generate and store a third corrected measurement.   
     
     
         17 . The portable ion concentration apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the ion concentration measurement device and the controller are further configured to perform: continuing an automatic correction of one or more additional sample measurements to correct contamination of active sensor environmental interfaces with solids. 
     
     
         18 . The portable ion concentration apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the ion concentration measurement device and the controller are further configured to perform:
 receiving, by a sensor module, ion concentration information of ion from an amplifier circuit;
 providing the ion concentration information of the ion to a controller, 
 causing the controller to process the ion concentration information of the ion and generate one or more data samples based at least on the ion concentration information of the ion. 
   
     
     
         19 . The portable ion concentration apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the ion concentration measurement device and the controller are further configured to perform:
 storing one or more ion concentrations corresponding to the reference media;
 sensing a temperature of at least one of the sample media or the reference media; 
 wirelessly transmitting the one or more ion concentrations to a display device. 
   
     
     
         20 . The portable ion concentration apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the ion concentration measurement device and the controller are further configured to perform: causing the display device to visibly present the ion concentration information of the ion associated with at least one of the sample media or the reference media.