Pest control system and method of operating same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11116203-B2
Application number	US-202016829072-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 25, 2020
Priority date	Nov 4, 2014
Publication date	Sep 14, 2021
Grant date	Sep 14, 2021

Abstract

A pest control device comprising a capacitive sensor array including a plurality of sensor pads, the capacitive sensor array being configured to generate an electrical output signal indicating the state of each sensor pad, and an electronic controller electrically connected to the capacitive sensor array, the electronic controller including a processor and a memory including a plurality of instructions, which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to: receive the electrical output signals from the capacitive sensor array, determine a measured capacitance value for each sensor pad based on each electrical output signal, calculate a baseline for each sensor pad based on the measured capacitance value of the sensor pad, determine whether a difference between the measured capacitance value of at least one sensor pad and its corresponding baseline exceeds a first predetermined threshold, update a counter when the first predetermined threshold is exceeded, and record an event indicative of a presence of a pest when the counter exceeds a predetermined limit.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pest control system comprising:
a pest trap device,
a pest control device configured to be coupled to the pest trap device, the pest control device comprising:
a capacitive sensor array,
an electronic controller electrically connected to the capacitive sensor array, the electronic controller being configured to:
receive electrical output signals from the capacitive sensor array; and
record a first event when at least one of the electrical output signals indicates a presence of a pest; and

a position sensor operable to generate an electrical output signal indicative of movement of the pest control device.

2. The pest control system of claim 1 , wherein:
the capacitive sensor array further includes a plurality of sensor pads, the capacitive sensor array being configured to generate the electrical output signals indicating the state of each sensor pad; and
the electronic controller is further configured to:
determine a measured capacitance value for each sensor pad based on each electrical output signal;
calculate baselines for the sensor pads based on the measured capacitance values;
determine whether a difference between the measured capacitance value of at least one sensor pad and its corresponding baseline exceeds a first predetermined threshold;
update a counter when the first predetermined threshold is exceeded; and
record the first event indicative of a presence of a pest when the counter exceeds a predetermined limit.

3. The pest control system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller is further configured to transmit the first event to a remote system in response to recording the first event.

4. The pest control system of claim 1 , wherein the position sensor is an accelerometer.

5. The pest control system of claim 1 , wherein the pest control device further comprises an outer casing and a support leg pivotally coupled to the outer casing, the support leg including a panel sized to be positioned below the pest trap device.

6. The pest control system of claim 5 , wherein the support leg is coupled to the outer casing via a mounting arm of a plurality of mounting arms, the plurality of mounting arms extending along a sidewall of the outer casing.

7. The pest control system of claim 1 , wherein:
the pest trap device includes a hinged bar operable to pivot about an axis, and
the pest control device further comprises an outer casing and at least one clip operable to engage the hinged bar such that the pest control device is moved with the hinged bar when the hinged bar is pivoted about the axis.

8. The pest control system of claim 1 , wherein the pest trap device further comprises a base and a pivoting member pivotally coupled to the base, and the pest control device is mounted on a top surface of the pivoting member.

9. The pest control system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller is further configured to:
receive the electrical output signal from the position sensor;
determine, based on the electrical output signal, whether the pest control device has been in a first position for a predetermined period of time;
determine, based on the electrical output signal, a deflection angle of the pest control device when the pest control device has been in the first position for the predetermined period of time;
compare the deflection angle of the pest control device to a predetermined angular threshold; and
generate an output signal when the deflection angle is greater than the predetermined angular threshold.

Assignees

• Dow Agrosciences Llc

Inventors

• Howard Phillip J
• Baxter Jr Richard V
• Brune Douglas K
• Kluk Uriel
• Beistle Edward G
• Siler Christopher
• Black Marc

Classifications

• A01M23/30 Primary

  Break-back traps {, i.e. mouse-trap type} · CPC title

• A01M1/10

  Catching insects by using} Traps {(using suction effect A01M1/06) · CPC title

• A01M31/002 Primary

  Detecting animals in a given area · CPC title

• A01M1/026

  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

• A01M1/02

  with devices {or substances, e.g. food, pheronones} attracting the insects · CPC title