WO2009064065A1

WO2009064065A1 - Mobile pest control apparatus and mobile pest control method using the same

Info

Publication number: WO2009064065A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/004697
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tae-Dong Kim; Se-Kuel Yoo; Jeong-Ho Kim; Jae-Hwan Yoo
Original assignee: Seoul Electricity Company
Priority date: 2007-11-15
Filing date: 2008-08-13
Publication date: 2009-05-22
Also published as: JP2011505117A; KR100847900B1; RU2010107096A; RU2431956C1

Abstract

In a mobile pest control apparatus, a power supply unit receives DC power from a battery and supplies drive power required for the apparatus and a DC voltage multiplier increases a DC voltage of the drive power to a predetermined DC voltage. An operating unit generates an operation signal according to a high voltage generation switch operation performed by a user. A memory stores a high voltage control program for controlling high voltage generation. When a high voltage generation operation signal is generated through the operating unit, a controller reads the program from the memory and controls high voltage generation according to the program and controls high voltage generation according to a detected output current level.

Description

MOBILE PEST CONTROL APPARATUS AND MOBILE PEST CONTROL METHOD USING THE SAME

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mobile pest control apparatus, which controls pests using electricity, and a mobile pest control using the same.

Description of the Related Art

Pest damage is divided into disease damage and insect damage. The term "disease damage" refers to a reduction in the yield or quality of any useful plants, including crops such as cereals, vegetables, fruits, flowers, and forest trees, due to withering or decomposition of the plants caused by germs. "Insect Damage" refers to feeding or absorbance damages of such plants caused by insects. Insects that damage plants are referred to as "pest insects" . Disease damage is caused by pathogenic agents that live upon plants . Disease damage rapidly spreads throughout wide areas . The extent of disease damage significantly varies depending on the type of pathogens, the type or species of crops, the time of occurrence of disease, and weather conditions. Pathogenic agents include fungus, bacteria, mycoplasma, viruses, and viroids. Pest insects include not only bugs but also ticks and nematodes . Pest insects cause damage in different manners according to the types of the insects. Various trees are planted in forests to protect humans against natural disasters or to provide required forest resources, fresh air, and shelters.

Various trees planted in forests are damaged by various insects that vary according to season. Especially, damage caused by insects, which are referred to as "pine needle gall midges" , which live upon pines which are found throughout Korea, is most serious. Pine needle gall midges have spread throughout Korea and are prevalent in the period from May to July during which forests are most dense. The period for pest control to prevent the occurrence of pine needle gall midges is restricted to about one month. To control pine needle gall midges, 2 to 3 persons are organized into a group, equipped with a trunk injector used to inject pest control liquid and a driller used to drill holes in pines. One of the individuals of each group drills a hole in a pine and then another injects pest control liquid into the hole using the trunk injector filled with pest control liquid.

Another pest insect is a pine wood nematode, which is also referred to as a "pine HIV" . Pine wood nematodes are eelworms which rapidly increase in number such that a pair of male and female nematodes can multiply into 200 thousand in 20 days. Pine wood nematodes prevent the tree from absorbing water so that the tree becomes dehydrated and dies. Pine wood nematodes are less than lmm in size and are thus invisible to human eyes. Pine wood nematodes are fatal to the extent that, when they are transferred to another tree through monochamus alternatus, the infected tree becomes dehydrated and dies with 100% certainty.

However, the conventional method for controlling pine needle gall midges described above has the following problems. Since pine needle gall midges are prevalent in a period during which forests are most dense, it is difficult to identity persons who inject pest control liquid and persons who drill holes and thus a person may inject pest control liquid into a hole into which pest control liquid has already been injected or may pass by a tree in which a hole has not been drilled, thereby reducing pest control effects . In addition, when pest control liquid is loaded into the trunk injector, the pest control liquid may contact and damage the person's body, thereby causing safety problems.

If the pest control is manually conducted in this manner, a very great deal of labor is required to perform the pest control for most pines in the country since about 65 percent of the country is forest, primarily composed of pine. Of course, mobilizing such a great deal of manpower causes many problems .

On the other hand, the method for controlling pine wood nematodes generally uses airplanes. However, chemical water for pest control may drop on food or laundry in the airplane pest control region. Thus, this pest control method may cause damage to vehicles and farms such as fish farms, bee farms, and stock farms in the region.

Broad-leaved trees such as oaks are also common in Korea such that they are found in most regions in the country. Oak wilt disease was found in Sungnam Shi in Gyunggi province in Korea in August, 2004. Once a tree is infected by pathogens causing the disease, the tree rapidly wilts so that it finally becomes dehydrated, turns red, and dies. This disease is rapidly spreading throughout the country. The pathogens of the disease are platypus koryoensis which is a new fungus of Raffaelea sp. Platypus koryoensis is a serious risk to oaks. Although various pest control methods such as steaming, burning, medicine injection, and pesticide spreading may be used for the disease, it is difficult to perform perfect pest control to prevent and cure the disease that is rapidly spreading.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made to overcome the problems and difficulties and prevent the safety risks occurring when the conventional pest control methods are employed, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile pest control apparatus, which performs pest control using electricity while achieving convenient movement of the equipment, and a mobile pest control using the same.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a mobile pest control apparatus and a mobile pest control using the same, wherein electricity is applied to a growing tree while minimizing damage to tissues of the tree to suppress the normal growth of larvae or pest insects, thereby reducing their population density and consequently achieving perfect pest control. The present invention described below can be applied to any industrial field in which a charged DC voltage of a battery is increased to a high level and is then converted into a high AC voltage to be used for pest control.

In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a mobile pest control apparatus including a power supply unit for receiving a DC power from a battery and supplying a drive power required for the pest control apparatus; a DC voltage multiplier for increasing a DC voltage of the drive power supplied from the power supply unit to a predetermined DC voltage level/ an operating unit for generating an operation signal according to a switch operation for high voltage generation performed by a user; a memory for storing a high voltage control program for controlling high voltage generation; a controller for reading, when a high voltage generation operation signal is generated through the operating unit, the high voltage control program from the memory and controlling high voltage generation according to the read high voltage control program and controlling the high voltage generation according to a detected output current level; and a high voltage generator for converting the DC voltage increased by the DC voltage multiplier to a high frequency voltage for use in generating a high voltage, and generating and outputting a high voltage using the high frequency voltage.

The mobile pest control apparatus according to the present invention further includes an output current detector for detecting a level of a current generated by the high voltage generator and providing the detected current level to the controller.

The mobile pest control apparatus according to the present invention further includes a housing, into which the battery, the power supply unit, the DC voltage multiplier, the memory, the controller, the high voltage generator, and the output current detector are embedded as a single body, to provide protection against external impact while enabling mobility.

The mobile pest control apparatus according to the present invention further includes a high voltage cable connected to the high voltage generator to apply a high voltage generated by the high voltage generator to a pest control subject; and a ground cable for connecting the pest control subject to ground.

In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a method for controlling pests using a mobile pest control apparatus including an operating unit including a high voltage generation switch, a memory storing a high voltage control program, a high voltage generator for generating a high voltage, an output current detector, and a controller for controlling high voltage generation, the method including reading, when the high generation switch is turned on, a high voltage control program for controlling high voltage generation from the memory; confirming a high voltage generation period from the read high voltage control program and activating the high voltage generator to generate an initial high voltage; generating a high voltage according to the confirmed high voltage generation period after generating the initial high voltage; detecting a current included in the high voltage generated by the high voltage generator using the output current detector after generating the initial high voltage or after generating the high voltage according to the confirmed high voltage generation period; and controlling a current included in the high voltage generated by the high voltage generator according to the detected current level.

The current control step includes comparing the detected current with a reference current and changing, if the detected current is higher or less than the reference current, a period of a PWM signal provided to the high voltage generator so that the detected current becomes equal to the reference current.

In addition, the current control step includes comparing the detected current with a reference current and changing, if the detected current is higher or less than the reference current, a pulse width of a PWM signal provided to the high voltage generator so that the detected current becomes equal to the reference current.

The mobile pest control apparatus according to the present invention provides the following advantages. It is easy to move the pest control equipment and there is no inconvenience of having to install the equipment. It is also possible to rapidly perform pest control while in motion. In addition, it is possible to suppress the normal growth of pests that live upon tissues of growing trees without damaging the tissues of the trees, thereby reducing the population density of the pests and consequently- achieving perfect pest control . Further, since DC power is converted into an AC current to be used for pest control, a small-size DC battery can be used as a power supply. In addition, since there is no need to install a power cable for power supply from a separate power source to a mountain (especially, a high mountain) , it is possible to reduce costs or effort for power supply and to solve problems caused by other installations .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of a mobile pest control apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a mobile pest control method using the mobile pest control apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may obscure the subject matter of the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of a mobile pest control apparatus according to the present invention. The mobile pest control apparatus according to the present invention includes an operating unit 101, a battery 110, a power supply unit 120, a controller 130, a DC voltage multiplier 140, a high voltage generator 150, an output current detector 160, a high voltage cable 191, and a ground cable 192. In FIG. 1, reference numerals "171" to "170+N" denote trees that are pest control subjects. Although not illustrated, it is preferable that the mobile pest control apparatus according to the present invention further include a housing for receiving the battery 110, the power supply unit 120, the DC voltage multiplier 140, the memory 180, the controller 130, the high voltage generator 150, and the output current detector 160 so that the mobile pest control apparatus can be moved as a single body into which these components are incorporated. Here, although the housing may be implemented in a variety of shapes, it is preferable that the housing be implemented in a shape with which it is convenient for the user to use the mobile pest control apparatus while in motion. In addition, although the material of the housing is not limited to a specific material, it is preferable that, taking into consideration aspects such as mobility and insulation, the housing be made of a material that is light while achieving excellent insulation effects.

The operating unit 101 generates an operation signal according to a switch operation for high voltage generation performed by the user, and it is preferable that the operating unit 101 be provided on an outer surface of the housing.

The battery 110 supplies a DC power. A primary or secondary battery may be used as the battery 110 and it is preferable that the battery 110 have an appropriate capacity taking into consideration mobility.

The power supply unit 120 receives a DC power from the battery 110 and supplies a drive power required for the pest control apparatus and it is preferable that the power supply unit 120 include a voltage regulator or a DC-DC converter. The DC voltage multiplier 140 increases the DC voltage of the drive power supplied from the power supply unit 120 to a predetermined DC voltage level and it is preferable that a general DC voltage multiplier that increases a DC voltage to a predetermined DC voltage be used as the DC voltage multiplier 140.

The memory 180 is a storage device that stores a high voltage control program for controlling high voltage generation and it is preferable that a RAM or ROM be used as the memory 180. When a high voltage generation operation signal is generated through the operating unit 101, the controller 130 reads a high voltage control program from the memory 180 and controls high voltage generation according to the read high voltage control program and controls the high voltage generation according to a detected output current level. It is preferable that a control IC such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) , a microprocessor, or a Micro Control Unit (MCU) be used as the controller 130.

The high voltage generator 150 converts the DC voltage increased by the DC voltage multiplier 140 to a high frequency voltage for use in generating a high voltage, and generates and outputs a high voltage using the high frequency voltage.

The output current detector 160 functions to detect the level of a current generated by the high voltage generator 150 and to provide the detected current level to the controller 130. The high voltage cable 191 is a power cable used to apply the high voltage generated by the high voltage generator 150 to a pest control subject tree (for example, the tree 171) . The ground cable 192 permits the high voltage applied to the pest control subject tree 171 to flow to the ground.

Reference will now be made to a procedure for performing pest control using the mobile pest control apparatus according to the present invention constructed as described above. First, the mobile pest control apparatus

(i.e., the housing) is moved to a mountain where pest control subject trees 171 to 170+N are located and the high voltage cable 191 is connected to a branch of each of the pest control subject trees 171 to 170+N and the ground cable 192 is grounded by connecting the ground cable 192 to the ground at a root portion of each of the pest control subject trees 171 to 170+N.

When a high voltage generation switch provided on the operating unit 101 is turned on, the power supply unit 120 converts a DC power output by the battery 110 into a predetermined DC power and supplies the predetermined DC power as a drive power to the controller 130. The controller 130 detects the drive power and reads the high voltage control program stored in the memory 180 and performs a high voltage control operation according to the high voltage control program. Here, the high voltage control program is a program for optimizing pest control and contains a high voltage . level, a high voltage generation period, etc., which are experimentally calculated. As needed, the high voltage control program may be updated with a new high voltage level and a new high voltage generation period.

When the high voltage control operation is initiated, the power supply unit 120 converts a DC voltage supplied by the battery 110 into a predetermined DC voltage using the voltage regulator and the DC/DC converter included in the power supply unit 120 and supplies the predetermined DC voltage to the DC voltage multiplier 140. The DC voltage multiplier 140 then increases the DC voltage to a DC voltage for use in high voltage generation and supplies the increased DC voltage to the high voltage generator 150. Here, the controller 130 applies a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signal for high voltage generation to the high voltage generator 150.

The high voltage generator 150 increases the increased DC voltage supplied from the DC voltage multiplier 140 to a high frequency AC voltage according to the applied PWM control signal. Here, an appropriate level for the high frequency voltage is 150V. Then, the high voltage generator 150 generates a high voltage of about 20KV using a winding ratio of a transformer provided in the high voltage generator 150.

The generated high voltage is applied to each of the trees 171 to 170+N using the high voltage cable 191 connected to the tree. In a method for applying a high voltage to a tree, under control of the controller 130, a high voltage having a high frequency band is instantaneously applied in an impulse form to a branch of a growing tree for a short time of less than 0.5 seconds. Here, it is preferable that the high voltage be intermittently applied to the branch of the tree tens of times a day. Applying the high voltage to the tree in this manner increases stress applied to larvae which live upon the tree to suppress the growth of the larvae and to reduce the overall density of larvae, thereby exterminating the pests.

When the high voltage generator 150 applies a high voltage to a tree, the output current detector 160 detects the level of a high-voltage output current applied to the tree and provides the detected current level to the controller 130. An excessive current may flow in an epidermis of the tree due to excessive moisture or a rainy spell. To prevent this, the output current detector 160 detects the high voltage output current applied to the tree and the controller 130 compares the detected high voltage output current level with a previously stored reference current level and controls the high voltage generator 150 according to whether the high voltage output current level is higher or lower than the reference current level. This protects both the high voltage output device and the tree. Here, the control of high voltage generation of the high voltage generator 150 is performed by turning on or off the PWM control signal or by changing the width and period of the pulses. For example, when the high voltage output current applied to the tree is higher than the preset current level corresponding to the preset voltage, the controller 130 decreases the generated high voltage so that the high voltage output current becomes equal to the preset current level . On the other hand, when the high voltage output current applied to the tree is lower than the preset current level, the controller 130 increases the generated high voltage so that the high voltage output current becomes equal to the preset current level. A detailed description of the method for changing the generated high voltage by controlling the width of pulses or the period of the PWM signal is omitted herein since the same apparatus for controlling high voltage generation as that widely known in the art is applied in this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a mobile pest control method using the mobile pest control apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, where "S" denotes step.

As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile pest control method includes the steps of SlOl) to S103) reading, when the high generation switch provided on the operating unit 101 is turned on, a high voltage control program for controlling high voltage generation from the memory 180; S105) to S107) confirming a high voltage generation period from the read high voltage control program and activating the high voltage generator 150 to generate an initial high voltage; S109) to S113) generating a high voltage according to the confirmed high voltage generation period after generating the initial high voltage; S115) detecting a current included in the high voltage (signal) generated by the high voltage generator 150 using the output current detector 160 after generating the initial high voltage or after generating the high voltage according to the confirmed high voltage generation period; and S117) to S119) controlling a current included in the high voltage generated by the high voltage generator 150 according to the detected current level.

The following is a more detailed description of the mobile pest control method according to the present invention. First, when the user turns the high voltage generation switch provided on the operating unit 101 at step SlOl, the controller 130 reads the high voltage control program from the memory 180 at step S103.

Then, at step S105, the controller 130 confirms a high voltage generation period included in the high voltage control program (S105) and executes the high voltage control program to generate a primary (initial) high voltage at step S107. Here, the high voltage generation period includes the number of high voltage generations per day and a high voltage generation time during which a high voltage is generated.

The generated high voltage is applied to a pest control subject tree (for example, the tree 171) through the high voltage cable 191.

After the initial high voltage is generated, at step S109, the controller 130 determines whether or not a next period has come. If a next period has come, the controller 130 proceeds to step Sill to generate a high voltage using the same method as described above. Then, at step S113, the controller 130 determines whether or not it is necessary to terminate high voltage generation. If it is necessary to terminate high voltage generation, the controller 130 terminates high voltage generation. On the other hand, if it is determined that the number of remaining high voltage generations to be performed is nonzero, the controller 130 proceeds to the above step SlO9 to repeat the subsequent steps until the procedure is terminated.

On the other hand, if it is determined at step S109 that a next period has not come, the controller 130 proceeds to step S115 to detect an output current of the high voltage generator 150 through the output current detector 160. Thereafter, at steps S117 and S119, the controller 130 compares the detected output current with a reference current and turns on or off the output of the high voltage generator 150 or controls the current level thereof. That is, the controller 130 compares the detected current with the reference current and, if the detected current is higher or less than the reference current, the controller 130 changes the pulse width of a PWM signal provided to the high voltage generator 150 or changes the period of the PWM signal so that the detected current becomes equal to the reference current.

Here, a detailed description of technologies in which providing the PWM signal to the high voltage generator 150 is stopped to turn the output of the high voltage generator 150 off and the pulse width or period is changed to change the high voltage generated by the high voltage generator to control the output current is omitted since the technologies are well known in the art.

The present invention described below can be applied to any industrial field in which a charged DC voltage of a battery is increased to a high level and is then converted into a high AC voltage to be used for pest control.

The present invention is not limited to the specific, preferred embodiments described above, and anyone having ordinary knowledge in the art can make various modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. The modifications fall within the scope of the present invention defined by the appended claims .

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A mobile pest control apparatus comprising: a power supply unit for receiving a DC power from a battery and supplying a drive power required for the pest control apparatus; a DC voltage multiplier for increasing a DC voltage of the drive power supplied from the power supply unit to a predetermined DC voltage level; an operating unit for generating an operation signal according to a switch operation for high voltage generation performed by a user; a memory for storing a high voltage control program for controlling high voltage generation; a controller for reading, when a high voltage generation operation signal is generated through the operating unit, the high voltage control program from the memory and controlling high voltage generation according to the read high voltage control program and controlling the high voltage generation according to a detected output current level; and a high voltage generator for converting the DC voltage increased by the DC voltage multiplier to a high frequency voltage for use in generating a high voltage, and generating and outputting a high voltage using the high frequency voltage.

2. The mobile pest control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an output current detector for detecting a level of a current generated by the high voltage generator and providing the detected current level to the controller.

3. The mobile pest control apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a housing, into which the battery, the power supply unit, the DC voltage multiplier, the memory, the controller, the high voltage generator, and the output current detector are embedded as a single body, to provide protection against external impact while enabling mobility.

4. The mobile pest control apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: a high voltage cable connected to the high voltage generator to apply a high voltage generated by the high voltage generator to a pest control subject; and a ground cable for connecting the pest control subject to ground.

5. The mobile pest control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the generated high voltage through at least one of an operation for turning on or off the generated high voltage and an operation for controlling a pulse width or period.

6. A method for controlling pests using a mobile pest control apparatus including an operating unit including a high voltage generation switch, a memory storing a high voltage control program, a high voltage generator for generating a high voltage, an output current detector, and a controller for controlling high voltage generation, the method comprising: reading, when the high generation switch is turned on, a high voltage control program for controlling high voltage generation from the memory; confirming a high voltage generation period from the read high voltage control program and activating the high voltage generator to generate an initial high voltage; generating a high voltage according to the confirmed high voltage generation period after generating the initial high voltage; detecting a current included in the high voltage generated by the high voltage generator using the output current detector after generating the initial high voltage or after generating the high voltage according to the confirmed high voltage generation period; and controlling a current included in the high voltage generated by the high voltage generator according to the detected current level .

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the current control step includes comparing the detected current with a reference current and changing, if the detected current is higher or less than the reference current, a period of a PWM signal provided to the high voltage generator so that the detected current becomes equal to the reference current.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the current control step includes comparing the detected current with a reference current and changing, if the detected current is higher or less than the reference current, a pulse width of a PWM signal provided to the high voltage generator so that the detected current becomes equal to the reference current.