Patent Application
20140250767
The invention is related to a vermin repellent arrangement and to a method for repelling a vermin, particularly a specified type of vermin.
While in middle or northern European countries vermin and pests are often considered as annoyance only, in many other countries vermin are a vector for spreading diseases, causing significant loss on human lives and severe damage to economy.
For example, malaria, which is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans, remains a scourge in tropical and sub-tropical regions, including much of sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Americas killing around one million people each year. The disease itself is spread by a mosquito and in particularly by the bites of female mosquitoes feeding on the blood of human beings. Although vaccine is currently tested, it may be unreliable and/or too expensive for many people to afford, particularly in those regions most affected by the disease. Tsetse flies on the other hand are considered to be a vector for the human African trypanosomiasis, the so-called sleeping sickness.
Up to this date, current prevention techniques have not been able to eradicate or significantly control the spreading of the diseases by reducing the number of mosquitoes. Recent controlled studies conducted to date by independent investigators found that vermin being a vector of disease agents comprised merely a few percentage of the daily catch or an entire season. Therefore, an area wide and indifferent dispersion or disposition of repellent may be ineffective and/or harm also useful insects. As such, there is still a need for arrangement and methods providing improved repellent capabilities to reduce the risk for humans to be bitten.
This and other objects are solved by the presently independent apparatus and method claims. Embodiments and further aspects are subject matter of the dependent claims. In this respect the term “vermin” reflects any type of pest or more general any type of insect, particularly but not limited to flying insects.
The vermin repellent arrangement proposes detection means for detecting a specific pre-defined type of vermin in a first area. Particularly, the detection means comprise means for acoustically detecting a vermin in said first area and providing a first detection signal in the response thereto. Evaluation means coupled to the detection means are adapted to receive the first detection signal and provide a repellent control signal in response to an evaluation. For instance, these means may evaluate the first detection signal and a reference signal, wherein the reference signal is assigned to at least one pre-defined type of vermin. If a concurrence or correlation is determined between the first detection signal provided by the detection means and the reference signal, the pre-defined type of vermin is considered to be positively identified and a dosage of a repellent compound is released into the area the vermin is currently staying in.
The detection of a specific pre-defined type of vermin in a specified area reduces the overall amount of repellent dosage to be vaporized and prevents or at least reduces killing of useful insects.
In a further embodiment a low power scent system may be used to provide a concentrated scent of human sweat, carbon dioxide or blood vapor to attract a pre-defined type of vermin, for instance female mosquitoes to a pre-ordained area. Alternatively a different compound may be used to attract a type of vermin. Once within the area, the attracted vermin may be identified by the detection and evaluation means. For this purpose, the detection means may comprise a microphone, particularly a stereo microphone arranged to detect the sound of the wing beats of vermin in the pre-ordained area. The use of a stereo microphone allows obtaining direction or distance of the detected vermin. In this respect, the term “sound” reflects any acoustic information generated by at least one type of vermin.
The evaluation means may evaluate this sound and compare the detected sound with a pre-defined sound, for instance with a wing beat sound of a specific type of vermin. The evaluation means may comprise a filter having a passband characteristics corresponding to a wing beat sound of the at least one pre-defined type of vermin. The evaluation means make use of the fact that each type of vermin may comprise a different spectral characteristic of its wing beat sound. Even female and male vermin may comprise different characteristics and as such they can be identified by their wing beat sound characteristic.
In an embodiment the evaluation means are adapted to compare at least a portion of a frequency spectrum of the detection signal with a frequency spectrum of a wing beat sound of the at least one pre-defined type of vermin. In another embodiment the evaluation means may comprise a comparator to provide the repellent control signal in response to a comparison of the processed and preferably filtered detection signal and the reference signal. The reference signal may be a reference frequency spectrum. If the processed and filtered detection signal exceeds the reference signal, the detected type of vermin corresponds to the pre-defined type and is further considered to be at a distance in reach of the repellent dosage.
The repellent dosage may be vaporized into a preferred direction within the pre-ordained area covered by the detection means. In this respect the term “vaporizer” means every device or apparatus capable and adapted for releasing an amount of compound into an area. It may comprise a nozzle, sprayer, atomizer and the like driven by mechanical, electrical, electro-mechanical or other means.
To attract the pre-defined type of vermin, the arrangement may comprise a storage coupled to a second vaporizer to provide a vapor of a compound attractive to the at least one pre-defined type of vermin. A small dosage may be vaporized to attract the pre-defined type of vermin in response to an attraction control signal. Said attraction control signal may be provided within a pre-defined time period or in response to a general detection of vermin within the pre-ordained area.
In a further embodiment, the arrangement may comprise additional detection means, particularly optical or acoustical detection means to detect vermin in a second area. Said second area may at least comprise a portion of the pre-ordained area. A second detection signal is provided in response thereto. The attraction control signal may now be provided by the evaluation means in response to the second detection signal.
A method for repelling at least one type of vermin comprises detecting sound generated by a vermin in a pre-ordained area and providing a recorded signal thereof. In particular, the sound may be the wing beat sound or any sound generated by wings or its elytron. The recorded signal is evaluated and may be compared with a reference signal, wherein the reference signal is assigned to at least one pre-defined type of a vermin. Upon correlation or consistency between the recorded signal and the reference signal a repellent dosage is vaporized within the pre-ordained area.
In a further aspect detecting sound of the vermin comprises detecting the wing beat sound of the vermin in a pre-ordained area and in response thereto vaporizing a dosage of a compound attractive to the at least one pre-defined type of vermin.
Detecting the vermin comprise an optical detection or an acoustical detection.
As an alternative or in addition to vaporizing a dosage of a repellent compound, the identified vermin could be eliminated by use of a small laser or the proboscis of the vermin could be sealed as the vermin tries to draw a fluid from a trap. For this purpose, a membrane could be used which clocks the proboscis of the vermin.
The present invention is now explained in greater detail with a reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The following examples and embodiments are illustrated models and do not reflect correct dimensions or specific arrangements unless otherwise stated. The different aspects of the embodiments can be combined with each other by a person skilled in the art. For example the evaluation means shown in the figures are not restricted to the respective embodiment. Rather, they or their features can be combined by person skilled in the art. It should be noted that elements or features with similar functions bear similar or same reference signs.
Shield arrangement 5 also comprises vaporizer 6, which is coupled to the first storage container 11. Shield 5 also comprises on one side a stereo microphone 8, which is coupled to a processor 10. Processor 10 evaluates signals from stereo microphone 8. Microphone 8 is particularly sensitive in a frequency range, which comprises frequency portions of a sound, e.g. a wing beat sound of a specified type of vermin to be repelled. Stereo microphone 8 allows not only to identify the type of vermin via recordation of the wing beat sound, but also to evaluate direction and distance to vaporizers 6 and 7. For this purpose, processor 10 receives the signal of microphone 8 at input terminal 100. Processor 10 evaluates the signal received by stereo microphone 8 and compares the received signal with one or more reference signals. Those reference signals correspond to sounds of the pre-defined type of vermin. For example, the reference signals may be a reference frequency spectrum.
For instance, stereo microphone 8 records the wing beat of a vermin, particularly a mosquito. Likewise processor 10 provides a reference signal corresponding to the wing beat sound of the mosquito. Upon comparison of the recorded signal and the reference signal processor 10 evaluates and identifies the type of vermin within the area covered by stereo microphone 8 and vaporizers 7 and 6. If the recorded wing beat corresponds to the pre-defined type of vermin, processor 10 will send an attraction control signal to storage 12 to release a further dosage of attractive compound. If successful, the vermin closes the distance to vaporizer 7, which may cause an increased level of the wing beat sound recorded by stereo microphone 8 or any other pre-defined change. Processor 10 evaluates via recorded signal again and upon evaluation, for instance upon evaluating direction and distance processor 10 provides a repellant control signal at output 106 to storage 11. In response thereto storage 11 releases a repellent compound via vaporizer 6.
Processor 10 as well as all other electrical devices are supplied by a battery 13 coupled to supply terminal 105. Instead of a battery 13, any other energy storage or power supply may be used. For example, a solar cell could be used to charge a battery pack for use of the arrangement during night time.
By acoustically identifying the predetermined type of vermin, for example a female mosquito or a tsetse fly or any other vermin potentially causing harm to human beings or spreading diseases, the overall amount of repellent dosage can be reduced significantly. Particularly, the repellent dosage will be vaporized only at a time, at which the identified vermin is close to vaporizer 6. For attracting the respective type of vermin the second vaporizer 7 with the second storage 12 is used.
In response to a comparison of the frequency characteristic of the recorded signal with the stored signal in memory 220, processor 10 provides a control signal at terminal 106 to release or spray a respective dosage of the repellent compound.
Memory 220 is also coupled to terminal 107 for releasing an attractive compound within pre-defined time periods.
Second vaporizer 6a is arranged vis-à-vis container 50 and directed into an area of shield 50 above container 50. Vaporizer 6a is connected to controllable valve 60 for releasing a small amount of a repellent dosage from storage 11. A vermin within the area is directly sprayed and eliminated and drops into container 50.
A first microphone 8a is arranged close to area 51 and the open end of shield 5. Microphone 8a is connected to input terminal 100a of processor 10. A second microphone 8b is arranged close to area 53 and coupled to a second input terminal 100b of processor 10. Processor 10 and the microphones as well as all other electrical devices are supplied by a battery 13, which also includes a solar cell for recharging the battery.
In operation of the arrangement, the wing beat sound of a vermin close to area 51 is recorded via microphone 8a and received by processor 10. Processor 10 evaluates this signal and evaluates whether the recorded sound corresponds to a respective wing beat of a predetermined type of vermin. If so it activates valve 70 via a respective control signal through terminal 107 to release a small amount of attractive dosage into area 53 of shield 5. The vermin in area 51 is now attracted by said attractive compound into area 53. Upon moving from area 51 to area 53, the level of the recorded wing beat is decreasing at microphone 8a while at the same time increasing at microphone 8b.
The wing beat sound may be identified again by processor 10 and upon exceeding a pre-defined threshold, processor 10 provides a control signal at terminal 106 to open valve 60. A small amount of repellent dosage is released and sprayed into area 53, the area which now presumably contains the vermin. The sprayed vermin is eliminated and drops into container 50.
In this respect,
The passband of each filter corresponds to the frequency spectrum of the sound of a female mosquito. The output terminal of filter 311 is connected to a first input terminal of a first comparator 313. A second input terminal of the first comparator 313 is coupled to a reference signal source 314. First comparator 313 is connected to output terminal 107 for providing the control signal to release a small dosage of attractive compound. The output of the first comparator 313 is also coupled to a delay line 317 and to a logic OR gate 316.
The output of filter 310 is connected to a first input terminal of a second comparator 312. A second input terminal of the second comparator 312 is coupled to the reference signal source 314. The output of the second comparator is connected to an input of logic AND gate 315 the output of that logic gate providing the control signal for releasing an amount of the repellent compound.
In operation, a signal recorded by microphone 8a is applied to input terminal 100a and filtered via bandpass filter 311. Comparator 313 provides a respective output signal upon comparison of the filtered signal with a first reference signal Vref1. If the filtered signal exceeds the threshold of reference signal Vref1, comparator 313 provides a control signal at terminal 107 to release the attractive compound via vaporizer 7 into area 53. Further, the signal is applied to logic OR gate 316 and to delay unit 317. The delay unit 317 is used to take the time period into account, which is required for the chemical compound to dispense within area 53 and to attract the vermin located close to area 51 into area 53.
When flying or generally moving from area 51 to area 53, the signal level recorded by microphone 8a decreases and the signal level may drop below the threshold of Vref1. However, logic gate 316 will still provide a logic high signal at its output due to the delay unit 317 indicating a vermin is in proximity.
At the same time, the level of the recorded signal at terminal 100b increases and is filtered by filter 310. The filtered signal is now compared at comparator 312 with a second threshold reference signal Vref2. Upon exceeding the second reference signal Vref2, comparator 312 provides a respective output signal to logic AND gate 315. If both input signals at gate 315 are considered high, gate 315 generates the control signal to spray a repellent dosage into area 53, thereby eliminating any vermin within the area.
The use of two microphones 8a and 8b provides the possibility to obtain direction and movement information of a predetermined type of vermin. Of course, instead of two different microphones 8a and 8b also a stereo microphone can be used as well.
Further, it is also possible to replace microphone 8a with any other kind of identification and detection means. For example, microphone 8a could be replaced by an optical detection means for detecting any type of the vermin within area 51. To this extent, the passband characteristic of filter 311 could be implemented in a more general and not vermin type specific way to generally detect plurality types of vermin.
Processor 10 of this arrangement comprises a first input terminal 100b for signals recorded by stereo microphone 8b and a second input terminal 100c for receiving detection signals from optical sensors 9. Processor and evaluation means 10 further comprise an amplifier 420 coupled to input terminal 100c for amplifying an optical detection signal. Amplifier 420 is connected upstream to low pass filter 421 for filtering and identifying the vermin within area 51a. Filter 421 provides a signal to a comparator 422 which compares the optical detection signal with a reference signal. Upon exceeding the threshold comparator 422 provides a control signal to switch 418, said switch connected to terminal 100b. Optionally, it provides a control signal to valve 70 for releasing a dosage of an attractive compound into the hollow cylinder.
Upon providing the control signal by comparator 422, filter 410 and comparator 412 are activated. Further, switch 418 is closed thereby coupling terminal 100b to filter 410. Filter 410 is a bandpass filter filtering the signal of the recorded wing beat of the vermin and compares the filtered signal in comparator 412 with a reference signal. In response to the comparison valve 60 and a vaporizer 6a is activated releasing a dosage of a repellent compound.
The control signal outputted by comparator 422 reduces the overall power consumption, as the microphone 8b as well as other portions of evaluation means 10 are activated only upon detecting a vermin within area 51a by means of comparator 422. Hence a battery life can be extended.
In this embodiment, two optical sensors 9 are used to detect a vermin within area 51a. Of course, the optical sensors can be replaced by an acoustical sensor, for instance a microphone or any other means to detect movement or a vermin within area 51a.
In addition to the chemical attraction means with vaporizer 7a, valve 70 and storage 12, other attraction means like optical attraction means can be used as well. For instance, an infrared source can be arranged onto the side wall providing an infrared signal similar to the human emitted infrared spectrum.
At the upper end of area 51, a membrane 9a is arranged forming a capacitive element with upper layer 91. For this purpose, membrane 9a is coupled to terminal 100c of evaluation means 10b. In addition, vaporizer 7a for releasing an attractive compound is coupled to storage 12b and to evaluation means 10b for receiving a respective release control signal. A further vaporizer or spraying element 6b is arranged close to membrane 9a and connected to storage 11a. That storage comprises a compound which may also include components attractive to the pre-defined type of vermin, like for instance the female mosquito. However, the compound also comprises a material potentially sealing the proboscis of the vermin.
If microphones together with processor 10 detect and positively identify a vermin, and more specifically a predetermined type of vermin, evaluation means 10b generate an attraction control signal releasing a small dosage of an attractive compound from storage 12a via vaporizer 7a. At the same time, membrane 9a and facing upper layer 91 are applied with a respective voltage. If the vermin now tries to reach the potential food source, it may land on membrane 9a sticking its proboscis through membrane 9a. The vermin on the surface and the proboscis may cause the change in the capacitance between membrane 9a and plate 91, which can be detected by evaluation means 10b. Upon such detection, the evaluation means generate a control signal for releasing a small amount of a compound from storage 11a via vaporizer 6b. The compound is drawn by the vermin potentially sealing its proboscis. For this purpose, the compound may comprise an adhesive or any other material clocking the proboscis while the vermin tries to draw food or blood through membrane 9a.
Often preparation of the apparatus in respective area, for example in a human's dormitory, sleeping room or any other kind of closed space is done in step S1 before activating the apparatus. The battery or energy storage is fully loaded and the device activated.
The apparatus releases in step S2 a small amount of attractant dosage into the air attracting any vermin for which the attractant compound is assigned to. After spraying the attractant into the area, the microphone is activated. The microphone listens and records any signal and particularly potential sound, for example a wing beat of vermin entering a pre-ordained area, substantially defined by the microphone's sensitivity. If after some time in step S4 no sound was recorded, a further small amount of attractive compound would be released.
If, however, a wing beat sound is recorded, the method will proceed with step S5 by identifying the sound and comparing the recorded signal with one or more reference signals. Those reference signals are assigned to sounds generated by predetermined types of vermin, for instance the wing beat sound of a female mosquito. For example, the one or more reference signals may be reference frequency spectrums.
If the comparison proves unsuccessful, the vermin is considered not to be of the pre-defined type and the method continues with step S8. Waiting for some time might be useful to reduce the probability of faulty or incorrect measurements and decrease the amount of a sprayed attractant compound.
If a pre-detected type of vermin is identified in step S6 the repellent compound is sprayed into the area thereby eliminating the vermin in step S7. After some time in step S8, a new small amount of attractant compound is sprayed and the method is repeated with step S2.
In this embodiment, the attractant compound is released periodically to attract specific types of vermin into pre-defined area covered by the repellent means. A repellent compound is only sprayed into the area after a predetermined type of vermin is identified to be in that area. Nevertheless, the amount of attractant compound used can be reduced.
To this extent,
If a recorded sound corresponds to vermin wing beat, the method continues with step S13 releasing a small dosage of an attractant compound. The compound is selected to be attractive to a specific type of vermin to be repelled. After the release of the attractant compound in step S13, some time is passed and then any sound is recorded again. The recorded sound is compared with a signal representing a predetermined sound, for example a wing beat generated by the predetermined type of vermin.
If a comparison proves successful, repellent means in step S16 are activated to repel the vermin. For example, a small amount of repellent compound may be released in the area in which the vermin is located, an optical sensor may be used to eliminate the vermin using a small laser or any other repellent or elimination method may be used.
After step S16, some time is waited in step S17 and then the method is repeated starting again with step S11. If the comparison in step S15 shows no correlation, meaning that the recorded sound does not seem to be generated by the predetermined type of the vermin, there is no need to activate the repellent means. Therefore, the method continues with step S11 after a predetermined time period has passed in step S17.
The present invention provides a possible solution to prevent an arbitrary killing of beneficial insects. It cannot only be used to repel vermin potentially dangerous for humans but repel any type of sound producing vermin or pests. Further, the presented apparatus and method can attract vermin away from humans in the area they may be sleeping.
The small amount of insecticide or repellent compound reduces the contamination and exposure to humans or beneficial insects. Further, specific repellent or attractive compounds can be used which may be suitable for children or particularly sensitive persons. The small current source needed for the arrangement provides access to locations without regular power supply.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11171357.4 | Jun 2011 | EP | regional |
| 11174220.1 | Jul 2011 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2012/059359 | 5/21/2012 | WO | 00 | 5/20/2014 |
