Mosquito repellent apparatus and method for operating the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12302889-B2
Application number	US-202318388106-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2023
Priority date	Jul 25, 2023
Publication date	May 20, 2025
Grant date	May 20, 2025

Abstract

A mosquito repellent apparatus for repelling a mosquito in a vehicle using an ultrasonic wave and a method for operating the same is provided. The mosquito repellent apparatus includes a mosquito recognition device that detects a mosquito, an ultrasonic sensor that generates an ultrasonic signal, and a controller. The controller recognizes mosquito appearance in a vehicle using the mosquito recognition device, determines a mosquito appearance stage based on a mosquito sound, and controls power of the ultrasonic sensor based on the mosquito appearance stage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mosquito repellent apparatus, comprising:
a mosquito recognition device configured to detect a mosquito;
an ultrasonic sensor configured to generate an ultrasonic signal; and
a controller configured to:
recognize mosquito appearance in a vehicle using the mosquito recognition device;
determine a mosquito appearance stage based on a mosquito sound; and
control power of the ultrasonic sensor based on the mosquito appearance stage;
wherein the controller is further configured to determine an optimal mounting position of the mosquito repellent apparatus with regard to multiple reflections from a reflector in the vehicle if there is a mosquito repellant limit area at a current position of the mosquito repellent apparatus due to a power limit of the ultrasonic sensor.

2. The mosquito repellent apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to variably control a frequency and a radiation pattern of the ultrasonic signal based on the mosquito appearance stage.

3. The mosquito repellent apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine an output voltage and sensitivity of the ultrasonic signal based on the mosquito appearance stage.

4. The mosquito repellent apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to change a lighting color based on the mosquito appearance stage.

5. The mosquito repellent apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
recognize mosquito population based on a frequency and a waveform of the mosquito sound;
determine the mosquito appearance stage as stage 1 if the mosquito population is recognized as one; and
determine the mosquito appearance stage as stage 2 if the mosquito population is recognized as two or more.

6. The mosquito repellent apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic sensor comprises at least one ultrasonic sensor disposed for each radiation angle.

7. The mosquito repellent apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine an output voltage and sensitivity of the ultrasonic signal based on a mounting position of the mosquito repellent apparatus and sound pressure output information of the ultrasonic signal for each position in the vehicle.

8. The mosquito repellent apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle visualizes and outputs a mounting position of the mosquito repellent apparatus and sound pressure output information of the ultrasonic signal for each position in the vehicle.

9. The mosquito repellent apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to radiate lighting to an ultrasonic radiation position.

10. A method for operating a mosquito repellent apparatus, the method comprising:
recognizing mosquito appearance in a vehicle using a mosquito recognition device;
determining a mosquito appearance stage based on a mosquito sound; and
controlling power of an ultrasonic sensor based on the mosquito appearance stage;
wherein the method further comprises determining an optimal mounting position of the mosquito repellent apparatus with regard to multiple reflections from a reflector in the vehicle if there is a mosquito repellent limit area at a current position of the mosquito repellent apparatus due to a power limit of the ultrasonic sensor.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the controlling of the power of the ultrasonic sensor comprises:
variably controlling a frequency and a radiation pattern of an ultrasonic signal radiated by the ultrasonic sensor based on the mosquito appearance stage.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the controlling of the power of the ultrasonic sensor comprises:
determining ultrasonic power and sensitivity of the ultrasonic sensor based on the mosquito appearance stage.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
controlling a lighting color based on the mosquito appearance stage.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the determining of the mosquito appearance stage comprises:
recognizing mosquito population based on a frequency and a waveform of the mosquito sound;
determining the mosquito appearance stage as stage 1 if the mosquito population is recognized as one; and
determining the mosquito appearance stage as stage 2 if the mosquito population is recognized as two or more.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
visualizing and outputting, by the vehicle, a mounting position of the mosquito repellent apparatus and sound pressure output information of an ultrasonic signal for each position in the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
radiating lighting to an ultrasonic radiation position of the ultrasonic sensor.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
playing and outputting a mosquito repellent sound source through a speaker based on the mosquito appearance stage.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Corp

Inventors

• Kim Ki Chang
• Park Dong Chul

Classifications

• H05B47/115

  by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings · CPC title

• A01M2200/012

  Flying insects · CPC title

• B60R1/00

  Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles · CPC title

• B60R99/00

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• A01M29/10

  using light sources, e.g. lasers or flashing lights · CPC title