Arthropod detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11523599-B2
Application number	US-201716340912-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2017
Priority date	Oct 12, 2016
Publication date	Dec 13, 2022
Grant date	Dec 13, 2022

Abstract

A method for detecting an arthropod, the method being performed using an apparatus including a detection surface, an electrode grid including electrodes arranged relative to the detection surface, and an electronic processing device, wherein the method includes, in the electronic processing device: measuring changes in electrical properties of the electrode grid in response to at least one of movement and positioning of one or more body parts of an arthropod in proximity to the detection surface; and, determining whether the arthropod is of a particular arthropod type by analysing the changes to determine whether the changes are indicative of a characteristic behaviour of the particular arthropod type.

First claim

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A method for detecting an arthropod, the method being performed using an apparatus including a detection surface, an electrode grid including electrodes arranged relative to the detection surface, and an electronic processing device, wherein the method includes, in the electronic processing device:
a) measuring changes in electrical properties of the electrode grid in response to at least one of movement and positioning of one or more body parts of an arthropod in proximity to the detection surface; and,
b) determining whether the arthropod is of a particular arthropod type by analysing the changes to determine whether the changes are indicative of a characteristic behaviour of the particular arthropod type, wherein the characteristic behaviour includes a characteristic movement of a body part of the arthropod relative to the detection surface.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein at least some of the electrodes are capacitive electrodes and the changes include capacitance changes between one or more pairs of the capacitive electrodes, and wherein the method includes measuring one or more capacitance signals including the capacitance changes.

3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the method includes at least one of:
a) measuring changes in a capacitance signal over time; and,
b) analysing the capacitance changes by comparing the capacitance signal to a signal pattern that is known to be indicative of the characteristic behaviour.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the characteristic movement includes at least one of:
a) walking on the detection surface with tarsi of the arthropod;
b) dragging on the detection surface with an abdomen of the arthropod;
c) palping on the detection surface with a mouthpart of the arthropod;
d) drumming on the detection surface with antennae of the arthropod; and,
e) ovipositing on the detection surface with an ovipositor of the arthropod.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the method includes at least one of:
a) determining a position of the detected arthropod relative to the detection surface based on the changes; and,
b) determining an orientation of the detected arthropod relative to the detection surface based on the changes.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes a camera and the method includes triggering the camera in response to a successful determination that the arthropod is of the particular arthropod type.

7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes an opening defined in the detection surface and the electrode grid includes at least two perimeter electrodes arranged proximate to a perimeter of the opening, and wherein measuring changes in the electrical properties of the electrode grid includes measuring changes in electrical properties between the at least two perimeter electrodes in response to at least one of movement and positioning of one or more body parts of an arthropod in proximity to the opening, wherein the at least two perimeter electrodes includes at least one pair of capacitive electrodes arranged on opposing sides of the perimeter of the opening, and wherein the method includes measuring capacitance changes between the at least one pair of capacitive electrodes.

8. A method according to claim 7 , wherein the characteristic behaviour includes at least one of:
a) a characteristic movement of a body part of the arthropod relative to the opening;
b) inserting one or more body parts of the arthropod into the opening;
c) inserting an ovipositor of the arthropod into the opening; and,
d) the entire arthropod moving through the opening.

9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the changes in electrical properties include changes in response to a material being deposited by the arthropod in proximity to the detection surface and wherein the method includes analysing the changes to determine whether the changes are indicative of a characteristic behaviour including depositing material.

10. An apparatus for detecting an arthropod, the apparatus including:
a) a detection surface;
b) an electrode grid including electrodes arranged relative to the detection surface; and,
c) an electronic processing device configured to:
i) measure changes in electrical properties of the electrode grid in response to at least one of movement and positioning of one or more body parts of an arthropod in proximity to the detection surface; and,
ii) determine whether the arthropod is of a particular arthropod type by analysing the changes to determine whether the changes are indicative of a characteristic behaviour of the particular arthropod type, wherein the characteristic behavior includes a characteristic movement of a body part of the arthropod relative to the detection surface.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the electrode grid includes capacitive electrodes and the electronic processing device is configured to measure capacitance changes between one or more pairs of the capacitive electrodes, and wherein the electrode grid is configured so that the capacitance changes occur in response to one or more body parts of the arthropod being positioned between the one or more pairs of the capacitive electrodes.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the electrode grid at least one of:
a) includes a first set of electrodes arranged in rows and a second set of electrodes arranged in columns; and,
b) is provided on a flexible printed circuit board.

13. An apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the detection surface includes:
a) a surface that is at least one of:
i) substantially planar;
ii) curved;
iii) cylindrical;
iv) frustoconical; and,
v) spherical; and,

b) a cylindrical detection surface defining a central hole and the electrode grid includes a pair of capacitive electrodes arranged on opposing sides of the hole.

14. An apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the detection surface at least one of:
a) includes a combination of interconnected surfaces each including electrodes;
b) is coated with a material selected to at least one of:
i) attract the particular arthropod type; and,
ii) stimulate a characteristic behaviour of the particular arthropod type; and,

c) is provided proximate to an entrance to a trap.

15. An apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the apparatus includes at least one of:
a) a camera, the electronic processing device being configured to trigger the camera in response to a successful determination that the detected arthropod is of the particular arthropod type;
b) a sensor, the electronic processing device being configured to trigger the sensor in response to a successful determination that the detected arthropod is of the particular arthropod type; and,
c) a detection sensor for detecting the presence of the arthropod, the electronic processing device being configured to start measuring changes in electrical properties of the electrode grid in response to activation of the detection sensor.

16. An apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the apparatus includes an actuator, the electronic processing device being further configured to trigger the actuator in response to a successful determination that the detected arthropod is of the particular arthropod type.

17. An apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the electronic processing device is configured to generate a notification in response to a successful determination that the detected arthropod is of the particular arthropod type, and wherein the electronic proce

Assignees

• Commw Scient Ind Res Org

Inventors

• Moore Darren Craig
• Schellhorn Nancy
• Brosnan Stephen John

Classifications

• H01J1/02

  Main electrodes · CPC title

• G01D5/24

  by varying capacitance · CPC title

• A01M1/02

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

• A01M2200/012

  Flying insects · CPC title

• G01V3/088

  operating with electric fields (G01V3/082 takes precedence) · CPC title