INTRODUCTION

The present invention relates to a monitoring device for a snap trap for killing vermin, particularly for, though not limited to traps for rodents such as mice or rats. The invention further relates to a system for monitoring a group of snap traps, a method of monitoring a snap trap by use of a motion sensor, and a snap trap.

More particularly, the invention relates to a monitoring device for monitoring the status of a spring loaded type of traps, herein referred to as snap traps.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Snap traps typically snaps the vermin between an upper and a lower jaw. Often, such traps comprise an essentially plane base element, a portion of which forms the lower one of the jaws. The upper jaw may be constituted by an element which is pivotally coupled to the base element, so that the upper jaw is pivotally moveable from an open, armed, state, in which the jaws are spaced apart, and a closed, triggered, state where the vermin is trapped and killed between the jaws.

Snap traps are often used at locations where vermin have been observed, and they are inspected on a daily basis. If a trap is triggered, the trapped animal is removed and the trap is armed before being replaced at the location.

Snap traps are sometimes arranged as a measure of precaution even when no vermin have been observed. It may commonly be used where hygiene is of utmost priority, for example, in factories producing food or drug substances, or in restaurants etc.

For hygienic reasons, it is highly undesirable to leave a triggered trap with a dead animal, and it is therefore a time consuming task to service a group of snap traps.

Often, the traps are serviced and inspected by professionals having considerable travelling expenses for inspecting the traps distributed between different clients. Systems for monitoring traps exist, however, typically in expensive configurations including a multitude of movable elements which detects the triggering of a trap or the presence of dead animals. Such known monitoring devices are typically expensive and less resistant to harsh, dirty, humid, or even wet environments. The mechanical design may also take up space and make placement of the snap traps complicated in narrow spaces.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to improve the existing monitoring devices. It is a further object to provide a monitoring device which is simple, reliable and small compared with the existing devices. It is a further object to improve the functionality offered by the monitoring device.

Accordingly, the invention, in a first aspect, provides a monitoring device for a snap trap, the device comprising a body forming an upper surface for carrying at least a portion of the snap trap, a motion sensor embedded in the body and configured to detect a motion activity corresponding to snap of the snap trap by detecting movement of the body, and a communication interface configured to generate a data signal in response to detected motion activity.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a system for monitoring a group of snap traps, the system comprising a plurality of monitoring devices according to the first aspect, and a computer system configured to receive the data signal from each of the snap traps in the group of snap traps, and to provide a service plan based on the data signals.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a method of monitoring a snap trap by use of a motion sensor which is embedded in a body which is placed below the snap trap.

In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a trap with a sensor.

The term embedded herein specifies that the motion sensor and the snap trap are separated by the upper surface and that the detection of movement is not dependent on interaction between the snap trap and movable parts above the upper surface against which the snap trap is supported. The motion sensor may e.g . be completely enclosed in the body, e.g . moulded into a body made of plastic or rubber.

Since the motion sensor is embedded in the body, it becomes very reliable and unaffected by environmental conditions such as humidity and dust etc. Also, the interaction with the snap trap becomes more reliable, and the monitoring device becomes robust. As an example, malfunction due to errors in externally movable parts is prevented. Such external movable parts may be vulnerable e.g. with respect to dirt or with respect to misplacement and wrong interaction with the snap trap. The upper surface may particularly be a plane surface suitable for establishing surface contact with a lower surface of the snap trap. The upper surface may e.g. be a completely closed surface, e.g. of plastic or rubber, and it may particularly be configured for carrying the entire snap trap.

The term motion sensor may include any electronic means capable of detecting motion activity and to recognise a specific motion activity as being caused by the snap of a snap trap. The motion sensor may include a sensor element selected from the group consisting of accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, piezo electric sensors, and moving switches. By moving switches is herein meant a switch which is triggered by acceleration. Such switches may e.g. have a centre rod surrounded by a spring coil. The motion sensor is configured to detect if a motion activity corresponds to snap of the snap trap. This could generally be achieved by incorporating an electronic circuit which can compare a signal from the sensor element with a reference signal which corresponds to a snap. The reference signal may be expressed as a range of sensor signals which could correspond to a snap. Particularly, the motion sensor may be made completely encapsulated in a sealing outer housing, e.g. such that it comprises no movable elements exterior to the body. In one such embodiment, the motion sensor comprises a moving switch, e.g. a vibration switch, which is moulded into the body and therefore forms no movable parts exterior to the body. In one embodiment, the motion sensor does not comprise any movable elements at all, neither exterior to the body nor interior to the body. An example of such an embodiment includes piezoelectric elements shaped and configured as an accelerometer or a gyroscope.

The upper surface may particularly form a completely closed surface with no movable elements, e.g. a plastic or rubber surface with no openings into the interior of the body and thus into the motion sensor. Accordingly, the motion sensor may be configured to interact with the snap trap via a firm closed surface without relying on moving elements.

When the snap trap snaps, e.g. when an animal triggers the trap or when the trap is triggered by malfunction, the jaw movement of the trap creates a slap against the upper surface. The slap is transmitted through the body and registered by the motion sensor as a motion activity corresponding to a snap of the snap trap.

For increasing the ability to detect whether a motion activity relates to snap of the snap trap or other activities, the upper surface may be configured to primarily transmit vertical movement. This effect may be provided by an upper surface made of a relatively hard, solid material, e.g. plastic or a rigid rubber material, e.g. in combination with a certain flexibility for the snap trap to slide against the surface such that vertical movement becomes more significant than horizontal movement in plane with the upper surface.

To further increase the ability to detect whether a motion activity relates to snap of the snap trap or other activities, the motion sensor may be more sensitive in a primary direction than in other direction. The primary direction may particularly be transverse or even perpendicular to a plane surface portion of the upper surface.

The motion sensor may be configured to generate a first signal upon detection of motion activity with a first intensity. Intensity e.g. means that the motion sensor determines vibration with a certain frequency or amplitude. The first threshold value may e.g. correspond to a situation where the jaws snap about a rat or similar vermin.

The motion sensor may also be configured to generate a second signal upon detection of motion activity with a second intensity which is higher than the first intensity. As an example, the motion sensor may, as mentioned above, be based on a vibration switch and the frequency of the switching may be compared with a second threshold value. Alternatively, the motion sensor may compare the amplitude of a sensor signal with a second threshold value. The second threshold value may e.g. correspond to a situation where the jaws snap directly against each other, i.e. by an error without being triggered by an animal.

The generated data signal may represent one or both of the first and second signals such that the monitoring device communicates not only that it has detected a snap but also whether it is likely that an animal is trapped. This may indicate the urgency in servicing the associated snap trap.

To provide further information related to the potential presence of a dead animal between the jaws of the snap trap, the monitoring device may further comprise an animal detection means configured to detect a body of an animal close to the upper surface. The animal detection means may particularly comprise a capacitive sensor configured to detect the body of the animal by capacitive coupling and to generate a third signal in response to the detection of the body of an animal. The capacitive sensor can be any kind of sensor that can sense a capacitive or dielectric material using capacitive coupling. In one embodiment, the capacitive sensor is constituted by a long wire and a high-value resistor. The resistor connects two digital pins on a microcontroller (a send pin and a receive pin) and the wire is connected to the receive pin. First the send pin is turned on (set e.g. to 5V/logic level) and then the time for the receive pin to reach the same level is measured. The amount of capacitive or dielectric material (e.g. water, or the body of an animal) near the wire on the receive pin will affect the charge time and an arbitrary time value can therefore be measured. The sensor setup can be enhanced with stabilizing capacitors to get better readings. The higher the value of the resistor the more sensitive the sensor is, and with values above 1 M ohm it is possible to measure materials which are not in direct contact with the wire. Also, the larger surface area and mass of the wire, the more sensitive the sensor will be. Accordingly, the capacitive sensor may include a foil layer of a conductive material, e.g. aluminium, or a conductive patch on a printed circuit board. The capacitive sensor will also sense changes in the presence of water in the vicinity of the trap, e.g. caused by rain. By analysing the rate of changes, a threshold value can be calculated periodically or continuously. Accordingly, the capacitive sensor may be self adapting to actual conditions and it may continue to detect the presence of an animal body even under changing external humidity conditions. The third signal may be used internally in the monitoring device, e.g. for shifting between a low power consumption mode and a high power consumption mode in which the motion sensor is more sensitive. However, this third signal may also be included in the generated data signal to be communicated outside the monitoring device and thereby further alert about the possible presence of a dead animal sensed by the animal detection means. A capacitive sensor may particularly be embedded in the body of the monitoring device. The term embedded herein specifies that the capacitive sensor and the snap trap are separated by the upper surface and that the detection of an animal is not dependent on interaction between the animal and movable parts above the upper surface against which the snap trap is supported. The animal detection means may e.g. be completely enclosed in the body, e.g. moulded into a body made of plastic or rubber.

The motion sensor may be formed as a vibration switch and it may be configured to analyse a rate of state changes for the vibration switch. I.e. it may be configured to determine a frequency of switching by the switch. The motion sensor may further be configured to compare that frequency with a threshold value such that a motion activity corresponding to snap of the snap trap is considered when the frequency is above the threshold value. In one embodiment, the motion sensor is configured to determine that the detected motion is a snap when the frequency is between a lower and an upper threshold value, and to disregard the motion activity as a snap when outside the lower and upper frequency limits.

The motion sensor may also be configured to determine the pulse count from the sensor and to compare that count with a threshold value.

The motion sensor may also be configured to determine the duration of the pulses from the sensor and to compare that duration with a threshold value.

The motion sensor may also be configured to determine an amplitude of a signal from the sensor and to compare that amplitude with a threshold value. The motion sensor may include a plurality of sensors each capable of detecting movement in a particular direction, e.g. in an x-direction, in an y-direction, and/or in a z-direction of a traditional Cartesian coordinate system, e.g. by detecting acceleration in those particular directions.

The monitoring device may be configured to detect movement of the body without mechanical interaction with the snap trap, e.g. based on sound. Accordingly, the motion sensor may encompass a sensor which detects the motion purely based on air-pressure signals or sound of a snap when the snap trap is triggered.

The monitoring device comprises a communication interface which is configured to communicate in a data signal that the motion activity is detected. This configuration could generally mean that a data signal which expresses the detected motion activity is generated and transmitted in electronic form. The communication interface may e.g. be configured for communicating the data signal wirelessly, e.g. by a GSM signal or similar signal for mobile tele communication or other long range wireless communication signals. It may also be communicated by use of wireless standards for local area networks, Bluetooth, or similar short range communication. The data signal may e.g. contain a string of characters identifying the monitoring device and optionally containing other data, e.g. related to the environment such as temperature, light intensity, light colour temperature, humidity, noise, and/or smell etc. as will be discussed later.

The monitoring device may comprise an activation key, particularly a contactless activation key, configured to activate and to configure the communication interface. The activation key may e.g. be configured to transmit a communication address for the wireless communication. The Activation key may e.g. be a magnetic key which activates the monitoring device and which specifies the address where the data signal is to be communicated. Particularly, the activation key may also be used for deactivation of the monitoring device such that deactivation requires the key.

The contactless activation key may be configured to activate the monitoring device and communication interface. The activation key may be in the form of an RFID/NFC wireless hardware.

The monitoring device may comprise a contactless communication bridge using RFID/NFC technology. The RFID/NFC wireless interface provides onsite data exchange between the monitoring device and a RFID/NFC enabled mobile device (e.g. mobile phone, tablet computer or laptop PC). The mobile device would have a software application installed specifically made to communicate with the Monitoring device.

Data transmission to an external computer e.g. over the internet using 2G/3G/4G LTE may be implemented to ensure data transmission even in poor mobile telecom network signal conditions. If the Monitoring device detects a weak telecom signal it may be configured to transmit Short Message Service (SMS) as an alternative to the weak signal. SMS

transmission tends to successfully being received by the telecom networks, in poor signal conditions.

The monitoring device may comprise an independent power supply powering the device by battery and/or by solar power. The monitoring device may comprise a wireless power interface for charging internal rechargeable energy storage. This eliminates the need for servicing the Monitoring device due to depleted batteries and thus eases the use in the field for the end user. The energy storage may be NiMH Batteries, Li-Ion Batteries, Ultra Capacitors or similar. The wireless power charging interface may implement RFID/NFC technology. The independent power supply may be configured to generate a fourth signal based on a level of the supplied power, and the fourth signal may be included in the data signal. In that way, the data signal may indicate if a monitoring device is in lack of power and therefore potentially incapable of determining a snap of the snap trap. In one embodiment, the independent power supply is capable of communicating how long time the battery will last. Finally, the monitoring device may comprise other sensors, e.g. for communicating weather data in the data signal, e.g. temperature, air pressure, or humidity etc. The monitoring device may e.g. further comprise at least one additional sensor selected from the group consisting of temperature sensor, light intensity sensor, light temperature sensor, air humidity sensor, smell sensor, and external noise sensor.

The monitoring device may further comprise data recording capability configured to transmit and/or store data related to the motion activity. The data may be generated by the at least one additional sensor and it may contain at least one of the following: a temperature stamp indicating a temperature at, before, and/or after the motion activity. The temperature stamp may e.g. indicate the temperature in the area where the trap is installed at, before, and/or after the motion activity and the temperature stamp may be used to investigate any correlation between the success rate of the trap and the temperature, e.g. to determine if a specific temperature gives the best result. The temperature could be measured directly on the surface of the monitoring device, or the device may communicate, e.g. by wireless communication with external temperature sensors. The temperature stamp may e.g. indicate a difference temperature between e.g. an outdoor temperature and the temperature where the trap is located, or a change in temperature measured in a period of time before the motion is detected.

a light intensity stamp indicating a light intensity at, before, and/or after the motion activity. The light intensity stamp may e.g. indicate the light intensity in the area where the trap is installed at, before, and/or after the motion activity and the light intensity stamp may be used to investigate any correlation between the success rate of the trap and the light intensity, e.g. to determine if a specific light intensity gives the best result. The light intensity could be determined in standard measures for light intensity, and it could be determined directly on the surface of the monitoring device, or the device may communicate, e.g. by wireless communication with external light intensity sensors. The light intensity stamp may e.g. indicate a difference light intensity between e.g. an outdoor light intensity and the light intensity where the trap is located, or a change in light intensity measured in a period of time before the motion is detected.

- a light colour temperature stamp indicating a light colour temperature at, before, and/or after the motion activity. The light colour temperature stamp may e.g. indicate the light colour temperature in the area where the trap is installed at, before, and/or after the motion activity and the light colour temperature stamp may be used to investigate any correlation between the success rate of the trap and the light colour temperature, e.g. to determine if a specific light colour temperature gives the best result. The light colour temperature could be determined in standard measures for light colour temperature, e.g. Kelvin, and it could be determined directly on the surface of the monitoring device, or the device may communicate, e.g. by wireless communication with external light colour temperature sensors. The light colour temperature stamp may e.g. indicate a difference in light colour temperature between e.g. an outdoor light colour and the light colour where the trap is located, or a change in light colour measured in a period of time before the motion is detected.

an air humidity stamp indicating a air humidity at, before, and/or after the motion activity. The air humidity stamp may e.g. indicate the air humidity in the area where the trap is installed at, before, and/or after the motion activity and the air humidity stamp may be used to investigate any correlation between the success rate of the trap and the air humidity, e.g. to determine if a specific air humidity gives the best result.

a smell stamp indicating a air humidity at, before, and/or after the motion activity. The smell stamp may e.g. indicate a smell in the area where the trap is installed at, before, and/or after the motion activity and the smell stamp may be used to investigate any correlation between the success rate of the trap and the smell, e.g. to determine if a specific smell gives the best result.

an external noise stamp indicating an external noise at, before, and/or after the motion activity. The external noise stamp may e.g. indicate a noise in the area where the trap is installed at, before, and/or after the motion activity and the external noise stamp may be used to investigate any correlation between the success rate of the trap and the noise, e.g. to determine if a specific noise gives the best result.

The data related to the motion activity could be stored in the monitoring device, and/or it could be communicated to an external computer system.

In one embodiment, the monitoring device includes a timer which communicates the expiry of a threshold duration in which no snap of the snap trap has been detected. This may indicate that the trap is no longer positioned on the upper surface.

In one embodiment, the monitoring device includes a timer configured to determine at least a time of the day and optionally a date.

The monitoring device may further comprise data recording capability configured to transmit and/or store data related to the motion activity and including date from the timer, e.g. the time of the day or the date where the motion activity is detected.

The monitoring device may include a holder or a frame formed about, or at least partly about, the upper surface. The holder or frame may be configured to retain the snap trap on the upper surface. In one embodiment, the holder or frame may be configured to allow snap traps of different sizes to be retained on the upper surface. This may be enabled e.g. by a frame made from an elastically deformable material. It may also be enabled by one or more adaptation elements configured to hold the snap trap in the frame. Such elements may e.g. be arranged between the frame and the snap trap to thereby fill out a gap there between. The body may form a lower surface for supporting the body on ground and the upper surface may form a first portion at a first distance to the lower surface and a second portion at a, larger, second distance to the lower surface. In one such embodiment, the upper surface is stepped and comprises a well defined transition between an upper portion and a lower portion. In another example, the upper surface is inclined to define a relatively large thickness of the body at the second portion and to define a relatively small thickness of the body at the first portion of the upper surface.

The monitoring device may comprise a battery or other energy storage contained in the body between the lower surface and the second portion of the upper surface, where the thickness of the body is relatively large. The stepped or inclined upper surface may allow sufficient thickness for the battery and yet a relatively low height e.g. where bait can be positioned. This will make entrance easier for a mouse or rat.

The monitoring device may further comprise a surface sensor configured to detect the presence of a snap trap on the upper surface and to generate a fifth signal representing the presence of a snap trap. The generated data signal may represent this fifth signal and thus communicate whether or not a trap is present on the monitoring device. The surface sensor may e.g. be a magnetic sensor capable of determining the presence of a magnetic material.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a system for monitoring a group of snap traps, the system comprising a plurality of monitoring devices of the kind described above. The system also comprises a computer system configured to receive the data signal from each of the snap traps in the group of snap traps, and to provide a service plan based on the data signals.

Particularly, the computer system may be configured to receive the data signal wirelessly and/or via the internet.

The service plan may include prioritisation between the snap traps in the group of snap traps. The prioritisation may be based on data in the data signal. As an example, the prioritisation may be based on the aforementioned first or second signals indicating whether or not an animal was trapped between the jaws, or it may be based on the third signal from the animal detection means indicating whether or not an animal is trapped, or it may be based on the fourth signal indicating the status of the battery.

Each snap trap in the group of snap traps may be assigned an identifier which quantifies how critical the snap trap is compared to the other snap traps in the group of snap traps, and the service plan may be further based on the identifier. The identifier may e.g. identify critical snap traps in industries where hygiene is important.

The computer system may be configured to receive one of the above described temperature stamp, light intensity stamp, light colour temperature stamp, air humidity stamp, smell stamp, or external noise stamp. The computer system may be configured to use this data to provide a behaviour indication for the animal for which the trap is intended, e.g. statistical data.

As an example, the computer system may be configured to determine an average number of kills for different values of temperature, light intensity, light colour stamp, air humidity, smell stamp, and/or external noise. In one embodiment, the system is configured to provide a ratio of kills for different values of the above stamps. The ratio can be provided individually for each trap in the group of snap traps.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a method of monitoring a snap trap by use of a motion sensor which is embedded in a body which is placed below the snap trap. The method may include any of the steps discussed relative to the first and second aspects of the invention, including the steps of identifying if a motion signal is likely to derive from the snap of a snap trap, generating electronically a data signal upon recognising the snap of a trap, transmitting the signal by wireless to a computer system, and visualising a trap status which is based on data signals received from a plurality of monitoring devices. The method may further comprise identifying an animal habit which contains an identification of a ratio between the trap activity and external environmental parameters e.g. including one of the temperature, the light intensity, light colour temperature, humidity, noise and smell.

In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a snap trap with an integrated monitoring device, the snap trap comprising a snap element configured to kill an animal by mechanical snap movement, the trap comprising a body encapsulating a sensor, the sensor configured to detect the mechanical snap movement of the snap element, the snap trap further comprising a communication interface configured to communicate in a data signal that the snap movement is detected. The trap may include any of the features mentioned relative to the monitoring device of the first aspect of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be further described with reference to the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a monitoring device according to the invention;

Figs. 2-3 illustrate different view of the monitoring device; and

Fig. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the monitoring device and a snap trap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Fig. 1 illustrates a monitoring device 1 for a snap trap 2. The monitoring device has a body 3 which defines an upper surface 4. The upper surface is an essentially plane surface on which the snap trap 2 can be supported.

The illustrated snap trap comprises first and second jaws 5, 6 and an internal spring mechanism configured to urge the jaws toward each other.

During use, the lower surface 7 of the snap trap is placed on the monitoring device in direct contact with the upper surface 4. If the snap trap is triggered and the jaws snaps towards each other, the snap creates a knocking impact between lower surface of the snap trap and the upper surface of the monitoring device. The impact propagates through the upper surface into the body 3 of the monitoring device where the motion sensor detects the motion activity and detects that it corresponds to a snap of the snap trap. The dotted lines 8 illustrate coils of a capacitive sensor completely embedded in the body, and the dotted line 9 illustrates an acceleration sensor in the form of a vibration switch sensor completely embedded in the body. The vibration switch recognizes the amplitude of the vibration to which it is exposed and/or the frequency. That amplitude and/or the frequency is compared with a predetermined threshold value. The switch response is an electrical contact closure or contact opening. The electrical contact may be either an electromechanical relay or solid-state triac.

Fig. 2 illustrates a top view of the monitoring device without the snap trap. The dotted line 10 illustrates the boundary of a printed circuit board carrying the capacitive sensor 8 and the acceleration sensor 9. The printed circuit board is also completely embedded in the body 3. The dotted lines 11 illustrate batteries embedded in the body. The batteries may be replaceable or they may be fixed in the monitoring device, e.g. for recharge via induction, for recharge by cable connection, or for recharge by solar energy. In one embodiment, the monitoring device is made with integrated non-replaceable batteries. When the batteries are empty, the device is disposed and replaced by a new device with new batteries.

In addition or as an alternative to at least one of the capacitive sensor and the acceleration sensor, the monitoring device may include a microphone or similar structure capable of sensing the air-pressure or sound signal deriving from the activation of the snap trap.

The monitoring device is made in one piece, e.g. by moulding, e.g. from plastic or rubber, and the sensors and batteries are completely contained within the moulded material. The motion sensor comprises no movable elements exterior to the body and the upper surface forms a closed surface with no movable elements. This makes the monitoring device robust and simple, and enables use in harsh environment and cleaning.

The monitoring device comprises a frame 12, c.f. Fig. 1. The frame 12 extends about the upper surface. The frame is made from a resilient rubber or plastic material and it is configured to retain the snap trap on the upper surface by friction between an inner surface of the frame and an edge of the snap trap.

Fig. 3 illustrates a side view of the monitoring device and its user interface. The user interface comprises visual battery indicator 13, a switch indicator 14 for visualising the on/off state of the monitoring device, and an antenna 15 for the communication interface for communicating the data signal wirelessly. The illustrated magnetic key 16 is for activating the monitoring device and for initialising the communication interface. Due to the need for a key, it is only possible for deactivate the monitoring device with the correct key, and unintended deactivation of the monitoring device can be prevented. Fig. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the monitoring device and the snap trap correctly placed on the upper surface. The monitoring device may comprise a surface sensor capable of determining the presence of the snap trap on the upper surface and to communicate this via the data signal.