Sensor for a wireless animal trap detection system

Abstract

An animal trap sensor includes a base having a distal end and a proximal end, a switch having a first metallic element and a second metallic element, and a signal unit, in which, when the first metallic element contacting the second metallic element, thereby forming a closed circuit, such that the signal unit transmits a signal to an off-site receiver. Or, an animal trap sensor includes a first portion and a second portion electrically connected with a signal unit including a power supply, in which, when the first and the second portions are disposed at a first distance between each other, thereby generating an output property, in which, when the first and the second portions are disposed at a second distance between each other, which is different from the first distance, thereby changing the output property and causing the signal unit to transmit a signal to an off-site receiver.

1 . An animal trap sensor comprising
 a base comprising a distal end and a proximal end,   a switch comprising a first metallic element and a second metallic element, and   a signal unit,
 wherein the first metallic element and the second metallic element are electrically separated at the distal end of the base and electrically connected with the signal unit at the proximal end of the base, thereby forming an open circuit, 
 wherein, when the first metallic element contacting the second metallic element, thereby forming a closed circuit, such that the signal unit transmits a signal to an off-site receiver. 
   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . An animal trap system comprises an animal trap and the animal trap sensor of  claim 18 . 
     
     
         6 . A bait station comprises the animal trap sensor of  claim 18 . 
     
     
         7 . A method of trapping an animal comprising
 providing an animal trap,   disposing the animal trap sensor of  claim 18  unto the animal trap,   moving the first portion comprising a magnet and the second portion comprising a magnetically-responsive component, when the animal trap is tripped, from a first distance between each other, which generates an output property, to a second distance between each other, which is different from the first distance, thereby changing the output property and causing the signal unit to generate a signal, and   sending the signal to the off-site receiver to register a capture event.   
     
     
         8 . The animal trap sensor of  claim 18 , further comprises a test mode control mechanism for initiating a test mode,
 wherein, when the test mode is initiated, if the off-site receiver receives the signal to register a capture event, this indicates that the animal sensor is operational; and if the off-site receiver does not receive the signal, this indicates that the animal sensor is not operational.   
     
     
         9 . The animal trap sensor of  claim 8 , wherein the capture event registered in the test mode is not counted as a capture event in a trend analysis for predicting future capture event. 
     
     
         10 . The animal trap sensor of  claim 8 , wherein the test mode control mechanism comprises a test mode button for initiating the test mode. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method of trapping an animal comprising
 providing an animal trap,   disposing the animal trap sensor of  claim 18  unto the animal trap,   optionally initiating a test mode and sending a signal to the off-site receiver,   optionally moving the sensor and sending a move signal to the off-site receiver,   moving the first portion comprising a magnet and the second portion comprising a magnetically-responsive component, when the animal trap is tripped, from a first distance between each other, which generates an output property, to a second distance between each other, which is different from the first distance, thereby changing the output property and causing the signal unit to generate a signal, and   sending the signal to the off-site receiver to register a capture event,
 wherein, when the test mode is initiated, if the off-site receiver receives the signal to register a capture event, this indicates that the animal sensor is operational; and if the off-site receiver does not receive the signal, this indicates that the animal sensor is not operational, 
 wherein the move signal indicates the sensor has been moved and is not operational. 
   
     
     
         16 . A method of monitoring an animal trap system using the sensor of  claim 18  comprising testing the sensor comprising
 initialing the test mode, 
 moving the first portion comprising a magnet and the second portion comprising a magnetically-responsive component from a first distance between each other to the second distance between each other, 
 wherein, if the off-site receiver receives the signal to register a capture event, this indicates that the animal sensor is operational; and if the off-site receiver does not receive the signal, this indicates that the animal sensor is not operational, 
 exiting the test mode, and 
 monitoring a capture event. 
 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . An animal trap sensor comprising
 a first portion comprising a magnet and   a second portion comprising a magnetically-responsive component and electrically connected with a signal unit comprising a power supply,
 wherein, when the first and the second portions are disposed at a first distance between each other, thereby generating an output property, 
 wherein, when the first and the second portions are disposed at a second distance between each other, which is different from the first distance, thereby changing the output property and causing the signal unit to transmit a signal to an off-site receiver. 
   
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The animal trap sensor of  claim 18 , wherein the magnetically-responsive component is a Hall effect sensor. 
     
     
         21 . The animal trap sensor of  claim 18 , wherein the magnetically-responsive component is a magnetoresistor.