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 detection of a pest body adjacent 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 central processing unit configured to terminate current flow to said killing plates upon completion of said time period; and   said circuit being configured, following termination of said current flow, to detect an absence of a pest body adjacent said killing plates and being further configured to automatically rearm said trap to said active standby mode in response to detecting said absence.   
     
     
         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;   b) automatically activating said circuit upon detection of a pest positioned to be simultaneously contacting 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 for a specified time period;   d) detecting whether the pest is still positioned to be simultaneously contacting the pair of said killing plates after said specified time period; and   e) automatically rearming said trap to said active standby mode upon determining, in response to said step of detecting, an absence of said pest.   
     
     
         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. 
     
     
         11 . The method as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said step d) is completed by detecting simultaneous contact of said pest with two of said killing plates. 
     
     
         12 . An electronic pest trap comprising:
 a trap body having a power source and side walls that define an elongated passageway leading from a trap entrance to a trap back wall;   a plurality of killing plates positioned within said trap body and adjacent one another in spaced relationship along said elongated passageway so that each plate is at a different distance from said trap entrance;   a high-voltage automatic rearming circuit coupled to said killing plates, said circuit, with said trap in an active standby mode, being configured to automatically activate upon detection of a pest positioned to be simultaneously contacting a pair of said killing plates such that said power source delivers a high-voltage pulse train through said circuit to said killing plates; and   said circuit being configured to automatically rearm said trap to said active standby mode in response to a determination that the pest is no longer positioned to be simultaneously contacting a pair of said killing plates.   
     
     
         13 . The electronic pest trap as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein said plurality of killing plates includes first, second and third killing plates, said third killing plate adjacent said trap entrance, said first killing plate located nearest said trap back wall, and said second killing plate located intermediate said first and third killing plates. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic pest trap as set forth in  claim 12 , 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. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic pest trap as set forth in  claim 14 , 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. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic pest trap as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said circuit is configured to detect the pest body by detecting simultaneous contact of said pest body with two of said killing plates. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic pest trap as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said circuit is configured to activate in response to detection of said pest body adjacent said first and second killing plates. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic pest trap as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said circuit is configured to activate in response to detection of said pest body positioned to be simultaneously contacting said first and second killing plates. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic pest trap as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein said circuit is configured to detect the pest body by detecting simultaneous contact of said pest body with said first and second killing plates.