US2022361478A1PendingUtilityA1
Pest control system and method of operating same
Est. expiryNov 4, 2034(~8.3 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Phillip J. HowardRichard V. Baxter, Jr.Douglas K. BruneUriel KlukEdward G. BeistleChristopher J. SilerMarc Black
A01M 23/30A01M 1/02A01M 31/002A01M 1/10A01M 1/026
78
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Claims
Abstract
A pest control device comprising a capacitive sensor array including a plurality of sensor pads, the capacitive sensor array being configured to generate an electrical output signal indicating the state of each sensor pad, and an electronic controller electrically connected to the capacitive sensor array, the electronic controller including a processor and a memory including a plurality of instructions, which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to: receive the electrical output signals from the capacitive sensor array, determine a measured capacitance value for each sensor pad based on each electrical output signal, calculate a baseline for each sensor pad based on the measured capacitance value of the sensor pad, determine whether a difference between the measured capacitance value of at least one sensor pad and its corresponding baseline exceeds a first predetermined threshold, update a counter when the first predetermined threshold is exceeded, and record an event indicative of a presence of a pest when the counter exceeds a predetermined limit.
Claims
exact text as granted — not AI-modified1 . A pest control device comprising:
a capacitive sensor array including a plurality of sensor pads, the capacitive sensor array being configured to generate an electrical output signal indicating the state of each sensor pad, and an electronic controller electrically connected to the capacitive sensor array, the electronic controller including a processor and a memory including a plurality of instructions, which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:
receive an updated parameter from a remote system;
store the updated parameter in a memory device of the electronic controller;
receive the electrical output signals from the capacitive sensor array;
determine a measured capacitance value for each sensor pad based on each electrical output signal; and
detect a presence of a pest based on the measured capacitance value for each sensor pad and the updated parameter stored in the memory device.
2 . The pest control device of claim 1 , wherein to detect the presence of the pest based on the measured capacitance value for each sensor pad and the updated parameter stored in the memory device comprises to:
adapt a baseline for each sensor pad based on the measured capacitance value of the sensor pad and a programmable time constant to generate an adapted baseline for each sensor pad, wherein the adapted baseline adapts to gradual environmental changes; determine a difference between each measured capacitance value and its corresponding adapted baseline; determine whether a difference between the measured capacitance value of at least one sensor pad and its corresponding adapted baseline exceeds a pest value threshold; and record an event indicative of the presence of the pest when the difference exceeds the pest value threshold for longer than a counter limit.
3 . The pest control device of claim 2 , wherein to receive the updated parameter from the remote system comprises to receive the programmable time constant.
4 . The pest control device of claim 3 , wherein to adapt the baseline for each sensor pad comprises to calculate each adapted baseline using the following equations:
A
(
new
)
=
A
(
old
)
-
A
(
old
)
*
(
Kf
2
1
6
)
+
C
meas
Adapted
baseline
=
A
(
new
)
*
(
Kf
2
1
6
)
wherein “K f ” is the updated parameter stored in the memory device, “Cmeas” is the measured capacitance value corresponding to the electrical output signal of one sensor pad, and “A(old)” is a variable stored in memory.
5 . The pest control device of claim 2 , wherein to receive the updated parameter comprises to receive the pest value threshold.
6 . The pest control device of claim 2 , wherein to receive the updated parameter comprises to receive the counter limit.
7 . The pest control device of claim 2 , wherein to detect the presence of the pest based on the measured capacitance value for each sensor pad and the updated parameter stored in the memory device further comprises to:
determine whether a difference between the measured capacitance value of at least one sensor pad and its corresponding adapted baseline exceeds a human value threshold; wherein to record the event indicative of the presence of the pest comprises to record an event indicative of the presence of the pest when the difference exceeds the pest value threshold and is less than the human value threshold for longer than a counter limit.
8 . The pest control device of claim 7 , wherein to receive the updated parameter comprises to receive the human value threshold.
9 . One or more non-transitory, computer-readable storage media comprising a plurality of instructions that in response to being executed cause a pest control device to:
receive an updated parameter from a remote system; store the updated parameter in a memory device of the electronic controller; receive a plurality of electrical output signals from a capacitive sensor array of the pest control device, the capacitive sensor array including a plurality of sensor pads, the capacitive sensor array to generate an electrical output signal indicating the state of each sensor pad; determine a measured capacitance value for each sensor pad based on each electrical output signal; and detect a presence of a pest based on the measured capacitance value for each sensor pad and the updated parameter stored in the memory device.
10 . The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 9 , wherein to detect the presence of the pest based on the measured capacitance value for each sensor pad and the updated parameter stored in the memory device comprises to:
adapt a baseline for each sensor pad based on the measured capacitance value of the sensor pad and a programmable time constant to generate an adapted baseline for each sensor pad, wherein the adapted baseline adapts to gradual environmental changes; determine a difference between each measured capacitance value and its corresponding adapted baseline; determine whether a difference between the measured capacitance value of at least one sensor pad and its corresponding adapted baseline exceeds a pest value threshold; and record an event indicative of the presence of the pest when the difference exceeds the pest value threshold for longer than a counter limit.
11 . The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 10 , wherein to receive the updated parameter from the remote system comprises to receive the programmable time constant.
12 . The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 11 , wherein to adapt the baseline for each sensor pad comprises to calculate each adapted baseline using the following equations:
A
(
new
)
=
A
(
old
)
-
A
(
old
)
*
(
Kf
2
1
6
)
+
C
meas
Adapted
baseline
=
A
(
new
)
*
(
Kf
2
1
6
)
wherein “K f ” is the updated parameter stored in the memory device, “Cmeas” is the measured capacitance value corresponding to the electrical output signal of one sensor pad, and “A(old)” is a variable stored in memory.
13 . The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 10 , wherein to receive the updated parameter comprises to receive the pest value threshold.
14 . The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 10 , wherein to receive the updated parameter comprises to receive the counter limit.
15 . The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 10 , wherein to detect the presence of the pest based on the measured capacitance value for each sensor pad and the updated parameter stored in the memory device further comprises to:
determine whether a difference between the measured capacitance value of at least one sensor pad and its corresponding adapted baseline exceeds a human value threshold; wherein to record the event indicative of the presence of the pest comprises to record an event indicative of the presence of the pest when the difference exceeds the pest value threshold and is less than the human value threshold for longer than a counter limit.
16 . The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 15 , wherein to receive the updated parameter comprises to receive the human value threshold.
17 . A method of monitoring for pests, the method comprising:
generating, by a capacitive sensor array of a pest control device including a plurality of sensor pads, an electrical output signal indicating the state of each sensor pad; receiving, by the pest control device, an updated parameter from a remote system; storing, by the pest control device, the updated parameter in a memory device of the electronic controller; receiving, by the pest control device, the electrical output signals from the capacitive sensor array; determining, by the pest control device, a measured capacitance value for each sensor pad based on each electrical output signal; and detecting, by the pest control device, a presence of a pest based on the measured capacitance value for each sensor pad and the updated parameter stored in the memory device, detecting the presence of the pest based on the measured capacitance value for each sensor pad and the updated parameter stored in the memory device comprises:
adapting a baseline for each sensor pad based on the measured capacitance value of the sensor pad and a programmable time constant to generate an adapted baseline for each sensor pad, wherein the adapted baseline adapts to gradual environmental changes;
determining a difference between each measured capacitance value and its corresponding adapted baseline;
determining whether a difference between the measured capacitance value of at least one sensor pad and its corresponding adapted baseline exceeds a pest value threshold; and
recording an event indicative of the presence of the pest when the difference exceeds the pest value threshold for longer than a counter limit.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein receiving the updated parameter from the remote system comprises receiving the programmable time constant.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein receiving the updated parameter comprises receiving the pest value threshold.
20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein detecting the presence of the pest based on the measured capacitance value for each sensor pad and the updated parameter stored in the memory device further comprises:
determining whether a difference between the measured capacitance value of at least one sensor pad and its corresponding adapted baseline exceeds a human value threshold; wherein recording the event indicative of the presence of the pest comprises recording an event indicative of the presence of the pest when the difference exceeds the pest value threshold and is less than the human value threshold for longer than a counter limit; and wherein receiving the updated parameter comprises receiving the human value threshold.Join the waitlist — get patent alerts
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