Wireless smart mosquito and insect trap device, network and method of counting a population of the mosquitoes or insects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10588306-B2
Application number	US-201615566930-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2016
Priority date	Apr 13, 2015
Publication date	Mar 17, 2020
Grant date	Mar 17, 2020

Abstract

Embodiments relate to smart mosquito and insect trap devices, networks and method for detecting, counting, trapping and discarding a population of mosquitoes and/or insects. The mosquito species include the ones such as Aedes mosquito species that can cause Zika virus diseases. The device comprising a housing (201) having a directional force through a narrow path (240) to move an insect or mosquito in a predetermined direction. The device comprises one or more detectors (255) to detect a presence of an insect or mosquito along the path (240). An isolated basket (260) or trap is included to trap the insect or mosquito at a location below or at an end of the path. A processor (352) tracks a count of a population in the basket based on detection of the presence of the insect or mosquito.

First claim

We claim:

1. A device comprising:
a housing having a directional force through a narrow path to move an insect or mosquito in a predetermined direction;
one or more detectors to detect a presence of an insect or mosquito along the narrow path;
an isolated basket to trap the insect or mosquito at a location below or at an end of the narrow path;
a processor to track a count of a population in the basket based on detection of the presence of the insect or mosquito; and
a remotely-controlled basket emptying assembly coupled to the basket for emptying the basket in response to receipt of a control signal and placing the basket back on-line after the emptying is complete.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a suction device at a bottom of the housing, the suction device causing the directional force through the narrow path.

3. The device of claim 1 , further comprising isolation elements to isolate the basket ( 260 ) from at least a portion of the narrow path.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the suction device is a fan.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to detect one of a sex or type of the insect or mosquito; and to adaptively lure the insect or mosquito to the housing for suction into the housing by the directional force.

6. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a global position system for identifying a location of the device; wherein the processor is configured to report a location of the device.

7. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a solar power system for powering the device.

8. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a communication device ( 175 ) configured to communicate with a mobile device.

9. A network comprising:
a plurality of insect or mosquito trapping devices in communication with each other, each device comprising:
a housing having a directional force through a narrow path to move an insect or mosquito in a predetermined direction;
one or more detectors to detect a presence of an insect or mosquito along the narrow path;
an isolated basket to trap the insect or mosquito at a location below or at an end of the narrow path;
a processor to track a count of a population in the basket based on detection of the presence of the insect or mosquito; and
a remotely-controlled basket emptying assembly coupled to the basket for emptying the basket in response to receipt of a control signal and placing the basket back on-line after the emptying is complete.

10. The network of claim 9 , each device further comprising a suction device at a bottom of the housing, the suction device causing the directional force through the narrow path.

11. The network of claim 9 , each device further comprising isolation elements to isolate the basket from at least a portion of the narrow path ( 240 ).

12. The network of claim 9 , wherein the suction device is a fan.

13. The network of claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to adaptively lure the insect or mosquito to the housing for suction into the housing by the directional force; and to detect one of a sex or type of the insect or mosquito.

14. The network of claim 9 , further comprising a global position system for identifying a location of the device; wherein the processor is configured to report a location of the device.

15. The network of claim 9 , wherein one of the plurality of trapping devices is a master device and the other of the plurality of trapping devices are slave devices to the master device.

16. A method comprising:
providing, in a housing with a narrow path, a directional force through the narrow path to move an insect or mosquito in a predetermined direction, the housing having an isolated basket to trap the insect or mosquito at a location below or at an end of the narrow path;
detecting, by one or more detectors, a presence of an insect or mosquito along the narrow path;
counting, by a processor, a population in the basket based on detection of the presence of the insect or mosquito;
displaying a representation of an amount of the population in the basket;
determining when the basket needs emptying; and
emptying, by a remotely-controlled basket emptying assembly, the basket in response to determining that the basket needs emptying.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
adaptively luring the insect or mosquito to the housing for suction into the housing by the directional force; and
detecting, by the processor, a sex or type of the insect or mosquito.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
detecting a location of the device; and
reporting the location of the device.

Assignees

• Univ Florida

Inventors

• Hur Byul
• Eisenstadt William R

Classifications

• A01M1/026 Primary

  combined with devices for monitoring insect presence, e.g. termites (bait stations A01M1/2005; detecting other animals in a given area A01M31/002) · CPC title

• A01M1/12

  automatically reset · CPC title

• A01M1/023

  Attracting insects by the simulation of a living being, i.e. emission of carbon dioxide, heat, sound waves or vibrations · CPC title

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title

• A01M1/106

  for flying insects · CPC title