CPU-controlled, rearming electronic animal trap with three-killing-plate configuration

Abstract

An electronic animal trap with a CPU-controlled, rearming, three-killing-plate configuration and extended killing cycle for trapping and exterminating larger rodents such as rats. The high-voltage output circuit is connected to a pair of killing plates which are activated with a high-voltage pulse train for a killing cycle when a pest of known impedance is sensed across said pair of plates. A third killing plate, electrically coupled to a first plate of said pair of plates, is brought to the voltage level of the first plate within approximately 1 msec of circuit activation for increased kill and escape-prevention capabilities.

1 . An electronic pest trap comprising: 
 a trap body having a power source and a mechanism for placing said trap into an active standby mode;    a plurality of killing plates positioned within said trap body;    a high-voltage automatic rearming circuit coupled to said killing plates, said circuit, with said trap in said active standby mode, automatically activating in response to closure of said circuit by a pest body across a pair of said killing plates such that said power source delivers a high-voltage pulse train through said circuit to said killing plates for a time period;    a timing mechanism for terminating current flow to said killing plates upon completion of said time period; and    said circuit being configured to automatically rearm said trap to said active standby mode in response to detecting an absence of a pest body across said killing plates.    
   
   
       2 . The electronic pest trap as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of killing plates includes first, second and third killing plates, said third killing plate adjacent an entrance to said trap, said first killing plate located farthest from said entrance within said trap body, and said second killing plate located intermediate said first and third killing plates.  
   
   
       3 . The electronic pest trap as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of killing plates includes first and second killing plates directly coupled to said circuit, and a third killing plate receiving said high-voltage pulse train via said first killing plate.  
   
   
       4 . The electronic pest trap as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said third plate is brought to a voltage level of said first plate approximately 1 msec after said first and second plates are activated by said high-voltage pulse train.  
   
   
       5 . A method for exterminating a pest using an electronic pest trap having a high-voltage rearming circuit electrically coupled to a plurality of killing plates, said method comprising the steps of: 
 a) placing the trap into an active standby mode in which said circuit is open due to separation of said killing plates;    b) automatically activating said circuit in response to closure of said circuit by a pest body across a pair of said killing plates;    c) delivering, by said circuit upon said automatic activation, a high-voltage pulse train to said pair of killing plates;    d) terminating current flow to said killing plates after a specified time period; and    e) automatically rearming said trap to said active standby mode upon detecting an absence of a pest body across said killing plates.    
   
   
       6 . The method as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of killing plates includes first, second and third killing plates, said third killing plate adjacent an entrance to said trap, said first killing plate located farthest from said entrance within said trap body, and said second killing plate located intermediate said first and third killing plates, said pair of killing plates in step b) being said first and second plates.  
   
   
       7 . The method as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of killing plates includes first and second killing plates directly coupled to said circuit, and a third killing plate receiving said high-voltage pulse train via said first killing plate.  
   
   
       8 . The method as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said third killing plate is brought to a voltage level of said first killing plate approximately 1 msec after said high-voltage pulse train is delivered to said pair of killing plates.  
   
   
       9 . The method as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein step c) includes delivering a pulse train to said killing plates of approximately 7500V every 4.25 msec for about 120 seconds.  
   
   
       10 . The method as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said step e) of automatically rearming can occur at least three times.