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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
AN INSECT TRAP
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2019/120422
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
An insect trap comprising: a detector house with sides and openings and a detector, which can detect the presence of insects in the detector house and send a signal when these are detected. The insect trap also comprises a bait and a communication unit for transmitting information about the status of the insect trap, including for example catch, the presence of insects and/or operating parameters. A control unit receives a signal or signals from the detector when it detects an insect. The detector house can be taken from a first configuration to a second configuration, in which first configuration the insect trap comprises a first number of openings, and in which second configuration the insect trap comprises a number of openings, which differ from the number of openings in the first configuration.

Inventors:
OLLER JORDI TAPAIS (ES)
HOHNEN PETER (DK)
Application Number:
PCT/DK2018/050378
Publication Date:
June 27, 2019
Filing Date:
December 19, 2018
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
ANTICIMEX INNOVATION CENTER AS (DK)
International Classes:
A01M1/02; A01M1/10; A01M1/14
Domestic Patent References:
WO2017216406A22017-12-21
Foreign References:
US20170354135A12017-12-14
US6389738B12002-05-21
EP2149301A12010-02-03
DE3225412A11984-01-12
US5930944A1999-08-03
EP2775447A12014-09-10
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
ZACCO DENMARK A/S (DK)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims

1. An insect trap comprising:

• a detector house with sides and openings;

· a detector that can detect the presence of insects in the detector house and send a signal when these are detected;

• a bait;

• a communication unit for transmitting information about the status of the insect trap, including for example catch, presence of insects and/or operating parameters;

• a control unit receiving a signal or signals from the detector when it detects an insect;

characterized in that

• the detector house can be taken from a first configuration to a second configuration, in which first configuration the insect trap comprises a first number of openings, and in which second configuration the insect trap comprises a number of openings, which differs from the number of openings in the first configuration. 2. An insect trap according to claim 1 , characterized in that the detector comprises a heat-dissipating plate and an infra-red sensor, which infra-red sensor can detect changes in the heat radiation from the heat-dissipating plate and send a signal to the control unit, if it detects a deviation in the heat radiation of a given magnitude.

3. An insect trap according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a heating element that can heat up the heat-dissipating plate.

4. An insect trap according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a heating element that is heated electrically.

5. An insect trap according to claims 2-4, characterized in that the heat- dissipating plate comprises a bait.

6. An insect trap according to claims 2-5, characterized in that the heat- dissipating plate comprises an adhesive.

7. An insect trap according to claims 2-6, characterized in that the insect trap comprises a heat-dissipating plate, which substantially emits heat homogeneously.

8. An insect trap according to claims 2-7, characterized in that the insect trap comprises a heat-dissipating plate, which contains a heat conductive material in the form of a material with a low specific heat conduction coefficient, e.g. rubber.

9. An insect trap according to claims 1 -8, characterized in that the insect trap comprises an infra-red sensor, which can detect changes in the heat radiation from the heat-dissipating plate and send a signal to the control unit depending on the size and/or extent of this change.

10. An insect trap according to claim 9, characterized in that the insect trap comprises a control unit, which contains software and a databank, comprising data of insect types and the respective changes in heat release resulting from the presence of specific insects on the heat-dissipating plate, which control unit is programmed such that the control unit can compare data from the databank with actual changes in the heat radiation from the heat- dissipating plate and thereby determine the type of an insect located on the heat-dissipating plate.

1 1. An insect trap according to any one of claims 1 -10, characterized in that the control unit is an external unit having a detector, with which the insect trap communicates via e.g. bluetooth, WiFi, mobile networks and/or the Internet.

Description:
An insect trap

The invention relates to an insect trap comprising: a detector house with sides and openings; a detector that can detect the presence of insects in the detector house and send a signal when these are detected; a bait; a communication unit for transmitting information about the status of the insect trap, including for example catch, presence of insects and/or operating parameters; a control unit that receives a signal or signals from the detector when it detects an insect.

Insects have for long been considered a nuisance in many respects, including in connection with food, clothes and diseases, but also simply because they can be annoying. Therefore, insect traps have been known since ancient times, and it has been attempted to improve insect traps for centuries. There has especially been a need for developing traps for mosquitoes and flies, but the need for efficient traps is rising even today, as both populations and travelling are parameters on the increase with subsequent higher risk of global spreading of harmful insects. Consequently, new and improved methods for insect control are developed on an ongoing basis, a great deal of which is based on insecticides, pesticides, while other methods use actual traps, containing mechanical and/or electric means for insect control.

In known traps, light or smells are often utilized as bait, and the traps are often equipped with a killing mechanism in the form of electric current or an adhesive/fluid that retain the insects until they die. Especially the light traps may be the cause of nuisance in the environments where they are used, as they inevitably emit light. Moreover, light-operated traps also require stable power supply, for which reason the traps will either have to be equipped with a battery or provided with cable for connection to the electricity grid. Furthermore, if the traps comprise a killing mechanism that is operated by electricity, the requirement for the power supply increases correspondingly, which is particularly a problem with insect traps that comprise an electric killing mechanism. In the known traps, the killed insects amass on the inside of the traps, which primarily is a problem in the traps with electric killing mechanisms as they short-circuit and are either ruined entirely or just stop working.

Electrically based traps/killing mechanisms in which insects are killed by a current being passed through them also constitute a serious health hazard, as the insects explode due to the electric impact and thus spread bacteria through the air.

Known insect traps thus require service, and though this problems is especially pronounced in the case of the electric traps, traps with adhesives or other killing mechanisms also require regular maintenance and emptying.

Furthermore, the traps do not prevent the reproduction of insects.

An object of the invention is to eliminate one or more of the problems outlined above. Another object of the invention is to specify an alternative to the known methodologies and/or devices for insect control.

This is achieved by being able to take a detector house from a first configuration to a second configuration, in which first configuration the insect trap comprises a first number of openings, and in which second configuration the insect trap comprises a number of openings, which differs from the number of openings in the first configuration.

Embodiments of the invention will appear from the dependent claims. In the following, an embodiment of the invention will be explained with reference to the figures, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows the trap in perspective in an open position;

Fig. 2 shows the trap in perspective in a partially open position;

Fig. 3 shows the trap in perspective in the configuration, wherein it comprises a lid that allows passage of insects from the outer side and into the trap;

Fig. 4 shows the lid of the trap in perspective;

Fig. 5 shows the trap in perspective in the concentration, wherein it can catch crawling insects, such as cockroaches.

Fig. 1 shows an insect trap 1 , comprising a detector house 2 with sides 20,21 and openings 5,6. The trap is equipped with a detector 7,8, which can detect the presence of insects in the detector house 2. In the embodiment shown, the detector comprises an infra-red sensor 7, which measures the temperature and temperature variations in an area/volume around a plate 8. This area is preferably the surface of the plate 8. The plate 8 itself is in an embodiment a plate, which can be heated by a heat source (not shown in the figures), so that it reaches a temperature above that of the surroundings. Such heat sources are well-known to the skilled person, and it will therefore not be explained in further detail. The heat-dissipating plate 8 is preferably made of a material with a low heat conduction coefficient. By making the plate of such a material and adjust the heat source, a system can be achieved, wherein the plate has a very homogeneous and the same temperature in the extent of the plate, and thereby a sensitive system is obtained, wherein the difference in the temperature between an individual insect, which has the same temperature as the surroundings, and the plate causes a local deviation in the temperature on the plate 8 when the insect lands on it. This deviation in temperature is brief but with correspondingly quick measurements it is possible to IR measure the arrival of individual insects on the heat-dissipating plate 8. By making the heat-dissipating plate of a material with a low specific heat conduction coefficient and/or low specific heat capacity, the presence of the difference in the temperature can be varied and prolonged, thereby obtaining higher measurement certainty. Various organic materials, including rubber, have proved to be advantageous as plate material.

As mentioned above, the plate 8 is heated to a temperature above that of the surroundings, and moreover it is in an embodiment covered by a bait/material that emits one or more substances to attract insects. These substances may be fragrances in the form of pheromones, which are fragrances that constitute a communication means in the natural life-cycle of insects. Pheromones e.g. are included in the mating of insects to attract mates.

The pheromone is in an embodiment of the invention deposited in or added to a slice of paper-like material (not shown in the figures), which is placed on the plate 8. This slice of paper or similar material is normally provided with an adhesive on the side with pheromone, and this adhesive serves to retain insects. The side that is to face the plate 8 can be provided with another adhesive, which is adjusted such that the paper-like material can easily be exchanged/placed on and removed from the plate 8, but normally the plate is retained mechanically. The known traps with adhesive to retain insects require regular inspection, partly to ensure that the trap is not excessively filled with insects on the adhesive plate and partly to inspect whether there is a catch. This is resource-intensive and often the inspection ends with a conclusion that the trap works and does not require further maintenance. By making a trap as indicated, the need for such inspections will be reduced, as it will basically only be necessary to inspect and maintain the trap, when catch of a certain size/volume is registered.

At the side of the paper-like material that faces the detector a small section 3 is seen. This section serves to facilitate fitting or removal of the paper-like material.

In an embodiment, the trap is equipped with a blower that can ventilate the plate 8, so that fragrances from here can be spread to the surroundings of the trap. The blower may be sensor-controlled, so that it is turned on when insects (activity in the trap) are registered. The blower may also be timer operated, such that the control unit is only turned on in certain periods, but it may also be remote-controlled, so that a user can activate the blower via wireless communication, and thereby it can, as the rest of the trap, be connected to the Internet, so that a user can control it in terms of time and blower intensity.

Though the heat from the heating plate/the heat-dissipating plate 8 in itself promotes the release of pheromones from it, it may sometimes be advantageous to add to the release of fragrances by ventilating the heat- dissipating plate with a blower. As insects extensively use pheromones to find mates, a user may e.g. wish to confuse mating insects by spreading fragrances (pheromones) from the plate and out into the surroundings of the trap to prevent pairing and mating.

At the same time, however, the blower has the effect that the heating plate is cooled, and that is exactly why it is convenient that the control of the blower (in the control unit) is arranged, so that it only runs in regulated and controlled time intervals. It may also be advantageous to combine heat management depending on the activity of the blower, such that e.g. the spreading of fragrances can be furthered by using both increased heat and increased blowing at the same time.

In the embodiment shown, the trap is provided with a detector 7 in the form of an infra-red sensor. The detector 7 is placed, such that it has measurement direction in the direction of the heated plate 8 and so that it can "see" the entire plate 8.

In an embodiment of the invention, the detector is equipped with a baffle plate 9. This baffle plate prevents extraneous disturbances. In an embodiment of the invention, the baffle plate 9 is provided with a click mechanism, so that it can easily be attached to and removed from the detector.

The detector is normally connected to a control unit (not shown) in the trap, and this control unit is connected to a transmitting unit with antenna 10, so that information about detecting, functionality and catches can be distributed wirelessly to the user. However, the control unit can also be an external unit, and if this is the case, the detector is connected internally to the transmitting unit, which distributes information to the external control unit.

The trap may possibly partake in a mesh network, and it can normally also report status information about e.g. power consumption, battery life, functionality, temperature and the like to the user. This control and exchange of information, which may take place via the internet, is normally carried out in such a manner that the user can also change the parameters of the trap, including e.g. the temperature of the plate, activate the blower or just update the trap's software.

The trap is provided with a hinge mechanism 1 1 , 1 1 a, about which the lid 20 can be turned as shown in Fig. 2. Thereby the detector house can be brought from a first position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, to a second position, as shown in Fig. 5. In the first configuration, the trap can be used for catching flying insects, while in the second configuration, it is particularly suitable for catching crawling insects.

Fig. 2 shows the lower left part of the trap's two openings 5,6 through which crawling insects can enter unobstructed into the fragrance-emitting and heated plate 8 on the inside of the trap, and when the insects step on the plate, the detector 7 detects a temperature change and sends a message to the control unit about this. In an embodiment of the invention, the control unit comprises software that can identify the characteristic of the temperature variation and thus determine the species of the insect; this applies regardless of whether the trap is used in its first or second configuration.

Another method for identifying the insect species can be, by means of e.g. a microphone in the insect trap, to measure the sound, as the flaps of the wings of flying insects often has a species-characteristic frequency, and this may, as explained above, also be utilized in the control unit (with software).

The openings 5 and 6 are located at the bottom of the trap, and the conceptual background of this is that the trap in its second configuration thus can be used on a floor in environments where there is a risk of crawling insects, e.g. cockroaches. When the trap is placed in its second configuration, insects are lured into the trap via the fragrances that are spread from the plate 8 and further out into the surroundings of the trap via openings 5, 5a and 6. For the insects to also be able to enter the trap, the openings are provided in front of a slanting slit (not shown), which leads up to the heated plate. The detector 7 itself, which is disposed in the lid 20 of the trap, thus also turns, and when the trap enters into the second configuration, as shown in Fig. 5, the detector is positioned right above the heat-dissipating plate (not shown in Fig. 5). Normally, the baffle plate 9 would be removed when the trap is to be used in its second configuration (as floor trap).

Fig. 4 shows a lid for the trap, and this lid is provided with engagement means 33, 33a, 34, 34a, which are complementary to other engagement means (35, 35a shown in Fig. 2) in the trap house 2. The lid is provided with openings 32 of such a size that they allow easy passage for most flying insects. The number of openings may be varied, and the trap can in theory be used in the first configuration without the lid attached, but in addition to an aesthetic effect, the lid also has a "cage-like" effect, as the insects have difficulty finding their way out, once they are on the backside (inside the trap). Furthermore, the lid also has a positive effect on the temperature of the heat- dissipating plate, as it is sheltered from airflows. When the trap is in its first configuration for catching flying insects, it is preferably used above floor lines on exterior house walls or walls or even in attics of the buildings where it is used.

The front side 21 of the trap is equipped with a button 4, which serves to release the lid 31 from the trap 1.

In a simple form, the control unit is connected to switches, which are activated depending on whether the trap is in its first or second configuration, and thereby the control unit can let the user know about the catch of crawling or flying insects.