ES2235575A1 - Electronic system for evaluating quantity of flying insects, has set of conductive electrodes connected to high voltage source, and programmable robots and microcontroller connected to buses of computer - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has a set of conductive electrodes connected to a high voltage source. Programmable robots and microcontroller are connected to buses of a computer.

Description

Electronic system to quantify populations of flying insects and evaluate attractants and repellents.

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a system electronic that allows a quantitative evaluation of the amount of flying insects trying to cross a determined space zone. The area where the monitoring of the insects that try to cross it is a surface, preferably flat, where a series of electrodes has been placed conductors, connected to a high voltage source. The conductive electrodes preferably have the form of wire or long thin rod and are arranged in such a way that they form a grid or grid where the electrodes connected to different poles of the high voltage source are separated a very small distance comparable to the dimensions of the insect whose Quantification is intended to be performed.

The electronic system that we describe in this descriptive memory consists of a system that allows a quantitative evaluation of chemical substances, objects or any type of device considered as attractant or repellent of Any species of flying insect. Also, the system we provides a procedure that allows quantifying the population of flying insects, present in a certain place. The system  electronic, can also be used to quantify the existence and / or evolution of pests in open or closed spaces, as for example, inside a greenhouse.

Background of the invention

At present, the procedure generally used to quantify insect populations is to use adhesive or jelly traps where they get trapped, performing the quantification visually by a operator.

This type of trap is also used to evaluate the effectiveness of various chemical agents considered attractants or insect repellents and methods for evaluate the efficiency of insecticides using them, for example the Abbott procedure, see Abbott, W.S .; "A method of computing the effectiveness of an insecticide "; J. Econ. Entomol. 18, 265-267 (1925).

When you want to evaluate the efficiency of others attracting devices or insect repellents, the use of Adhesive traps is not suitable. Currently there are Commercially various mechanical, electromechanical devices, acoustic, luminous, electronic, electromagnetic, etc, designed to repel or attract certain species of insects, but there is no system that allows an evaluation or comparison of its characteristics.

The electronic system that we describe in this memory, consists of a system that allows an evaluation Quantitative of both chemical substances, objects or any type of device considered as attractant or repellent of any kind of flying insect.

On the other hand, there is currently a large number of insect traps in which the electrocution of the insect, as examples of this type of trap We will cite those described in the following patents:

WO 98/53677 INSECT ATTRACTANT DEVICE

WO 00/03588 COMBINATION MOSQUITO KILLING SYSTEM AND INSECT ATTRACTOR

WO 99/52353 INSECT TRAP

WO 01/22812 INSECT TRAP

WO 01/01768 LAMP WITH INSECT CATCHER

WO 02/062999 PROTEINS AND NUCLEIC ACIDS ENCODING SAME

WO 00/11944 APPARATUS FOR ATTRACTING AND DESTROYING INSECTS

WO 99/35908 KILLING SYSTEM MOSQUITO

WO 00/03594 COMBINATION MOSQUITO KILLING SYSTEM AND INSECT ATTRACTOR

WO 99/59403 PEST TRAP

The patents above are cited because a part of our system incorporates an electrocution trap, but no insect trap is the subject of our patent, but a system that offers information that can be processed by other electronic systems, such as data collectors, computers, digital counters, etc ...

The system we propose is new, and its purpose is not the extermination of insects, but to provide an electrical signal, more exactly, an electrical pulse, every time that an insect is electrocuted and this electric pulse has some features that allow it to be exploited and processed by other electronic systems, such as counters, automatons programmable, microcontrollers, or be coupled to buses Computer input

Detailed description of the invention

The proposed minimum system consists of a trap of insects of the electrocution type [R] and an electronic circuit [C] which provides a pulse [S1-S2] at its output electrical every time there has been an electrocution of some insect. In Fig 1 the trap is indicated by [R] and wants represent a grid formed by a series of electrodes drivers. Also, in Figure 1 it is represented by [C] the electronic circuit that provides its output [S1-S2] an electric pulse, every time an insect It is electrocuted.

The "electrical pulse" output is low voltage, and has a maximum and minimum values (High and Low) suitable for use by any digital system made with logic circuits. For example, some pulses whose "Low" and "High" values are respectively 0 and 5 Volts would be adequate levels to be used by circuits logic of the TTL families or by logic circuits of the family CMOS

In figure 1 it is also drawn with the letter [K] a digital counter, which is an optional element as indicated in claim number six of the present patent application. Also in Figure 1 by [Ve] we represent a high voltage source, whose positive poles and negative are respectively [E1] and [E2]. By [M] is represented a resistance of low ohmic value. Every time there is a electrocution of the insect will appear a voltage proportional to the current that has passed through the insect. The electronic circuit, represented by [C] will be responsible for transforming this signal into a Square pulse of suitable characteristics. Also appear drawn in the same figure [X] and [Y] that represent the entries of the electronic circuit [C].

Claims (6)

1. An electronic system for the evaluation of insect populations consisting of at least two electrodes conductors, rod-shaped or wire separated a distance very short, between 1 and 20 millimeters, which are connected each of them to one of the poles of a source of high voltage, between 200 and 5,000 Volts, which they cause the electrocution of the insect that tries to pass between the electrodes and an electronic circuit that provides its output a low voltage electrical pulse, less than 50 volts, each time that an insect is electrocuted. 2. An electronic system for the evaluation of insect populations, according to claim one, in which the output pulse values are appropriate for can be used as input by any integrated circuit digital of any commercial logic family. 3. An electronic system in accordance with the first and second claim, wherein the electric pulse of output has a proportional width as long as the electrocution of the insect, that is, the duration of the pulse of output, is proportional to the duration of electrocution of the insect. 4. An electronic system, according to the previous claims wherein the separation between electrodes connected to the high voltage source, can be varied manually and be adjusted to an optimal distance, according to the dimensions of the insect species that is intended evaluate. 5. An electronic system, according to the previous claims, which also incorporates a "counter of pulses "electromechanical or electronic, with a display where the number of registered pulses appears. The display can be of any type, including those made with LEDs (diodes light emitters), liquid crystal (LCD) or plasma. 6. An electronic system, according to the previous claims wherein the pulse counter is You can zero.