Mosquito Identification Classification Trap and Method to Use

Abstract

It is important to trap and identify mosquitos to ensure the safety of the population where mosquitos gather. The classification of a type of mosquito is typically accomplished by a unique wingbeat signature that is characteristic of different types of mosquitos. One of the goals of the trap is to quickly identify the mosquito and then quickly release the mosquito. This application will allow the user to obtain an approximate population so that the appropriate type and amount of insecticide can be applied to control the population to insure the health of the human and animal population while at the same time minimizing danger to the environment or surrounding ecosystem.

Claims

1. A mosquito trap which is comprised of: a. an enclosed structure; b. an attractant; c. a first channel; wherein the first channel extends a predetermined length from the bottom of the enclosed structure; wherein an opening is provided on the end of the first channel; d. a second channel; wherein the second channel extends a predetermined length from the bottom of the enclosed structure; wherein an opening is provided on the end of the second channel; e. an entrance detector for the first channel; f. an entrance detector for the second channel; g. interior channel; wherein the interior channel permits passage of a mosquito into the enclosed structure; h. a signature sensing chamber; wherein the signature sensing chamber has a predetermined shape; wherein the signature sensing chamber is rotatable; wherein a pair of openings are provided on the perimeter of signature sensing chamber; i. a plurality of light emitters; wherein the plurality of light emitters are affixed to the inner perimeter of the signature sensing chamber; wherein the light from the light emitters are passed through a diffuser; j. a plurality of light detectors; wherein the plurality of light detectors are affixed to the inner perimeter of the signature sensing chamber; wherein the plurality of light detectors are located directly across from the plurality of light emitters; k. a light guide; wherein the light guide directs the light onto the plurality of light detectors; wherein the plurality of light detectors detect a wing beat frequency; l. a plurality of microphones; wherein the plurality of microphones detect the wing beat frequency; wherein the plurality of microphones is placed within the signature sensing chamber; m. irritant; n. a fan; o. a chamber screen; wherein the chamber screen is placed in the interior of the signature sensing chamber; p. an exit detector; q. a micro-controller; wherein the micro-controller operates the mosquito trap.

2. The mosquito trap as described in claim 1 wherein the first channel and second channels are different lengths.

3. The mosquito trap as described in claim 1 wherein the attractant is placed at the opening of the first channel.

4. The mosquito trap as described in claim 1 wherein the attractant is placed at the opening of the second channel.

5. The mosquito trap as described in claim 1 wherein the irritant is heat.

6. The mosquito trap as described in claim 1 wherein the irritant is a physical strike.

7. The mosquito trap as described in claim 1 wherein the irritant is noise.

8. The mosquito trap as described in claim 1 wherein the irritant is vibration.

9. The mosquito trap as described in claim 1 wherein the plurality of light detectors are located directly across the signature sensing chamber from the plurality of light emitters.

10. The mosquito trap as described in claim 1 wherein the light guide with the light detectors are located directly across the signature sensing chamber from the plurality of light emitters.

11. The light guide as described in claim 10 wherein a polarizing lens is used.

12. A method to use the mosquito trap as described in claim 1, which is comprised of the following steps: a. Mounting the trap to a structure; b. Placing an attractant in close proximity to the opening of the first channel; c. Placing an attractant in close proximity to the opening of the second channel; d. Turning on the fan to create a vacuum; e. Drawing the mosquito into the signature sensing chamber; f. Turning the fan off; g. Identifying the mosquito; h. Turning the fan on; i. Adding an irritant; j. Aligning an opening to allow the mosquito to exit; k. Detecting the exit of the mosquito as it exits the signature sensing chamber; l. Collecting the mosquito in a catch bag.

13. The method as described in claim 12 wherein the identification of the mosquito is through the wingbeat frequency.

14. The method as described in claim 12 wherein the identification of the mosquito is through noise detection.

15. A mosquito trap which is comprised of a. an enclosed structure; b. an attractant; c. a first channel; wherein the first channel extends a predetermined length from the bottom of the enclosed structure; wherein an opening is provided on the end of the first channel; d. a second channel; wherein the second channel extends a predetermined length from the bottom of the enclosed structure; wherein an opening is provided on the end of the second channel; e. an entrance detector for the first channel; f. an entrance detector for the second channel; g. an interior channel; wherein the interior channel permits movement of a mosquito within the enclosed structure; h. an entrance door; wherein the entrance door permits access to the signature sensing chamber; i. a signature sensing chamber; wherein the signature sensing chamber has a predetermined shape; wherein a rotatable screen is provided within the signature sensing chamber; j. a plurality of light emitters; wherein the plurality of light emitters is affixed to the inner perimeter of the signature sensing chamber; wherein the light from the light emitters are passed through a diffuser; k. a plurality of light detectors; wherein the plurality of light detectors is affixed to the inner perimeter of the signature sensing chamber; wherein the plurality of light detectors is located directly across the signature sensing chamber from the plurality of light emitters; wherein the plurality of light detectors detect a wing beat frequency; l. a plurality of microphones; wherein the plurality of microphones detect a wing beat frequency; wherein the plurality of microphones is placed within the signature sensing chamber; m. irritant; n. a fan; o. a rotatable screen; wherein the rotatable screen is placed in the interior of the signature sensing chamber; wherein the rotatable screen provides an exit point for the mosquito; p. an exit detector; q. a micro-controller; wherein the micro-controller operates the mosquito trap.

16. The mosquito trap as described in claim 15 wherein the first channel and second channels are different lengths.

17. The mosquito trap as described in claim 15 wherein the attractant is placed at the opening of the first channel.

18. The mosquito trap as described in claim 15 wherein the attractant is placed at the opening of the second channel.

19. The mosquito trap as described in claim 15 wherein the irritant is heat.

20. The mosquito trap as described in claim 15 wherein the irritant is a physical strike.

21. The mosquito trap as described in claim 15 wherein the irritant is noise.

22. The mosquito trap as described in claim 15 wherein the irritant is vibration.

23. The mosquito trap as described in claim 15 wherein the light guide is located directly across from the plurality of light emitters which directs the light onto a plurality of light detectors.

24. The light guide as described in claim 23 wherein a polarizing lens is used.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the mosquito trap.

[0034] FIG. 2 is a side view of the mosquito trap.

[0035] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the mosquito trap according to line 3-3 on FIG. 1 showing the internal components in the first embodiment.

[0036] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the mosquito trap according to line 3-3 on FIG. 1 showing the internal components in the second embodiment.

NUMBERING REFERENCES

[0037] 1 Trap [0038] 5 First Channel—Longer [0039] 6 Attractant at entrance of first channel [0040] 7 Attractant at entrance of second channel [0041] 10 Second Channel—Shorter [0042] 15 Entrance detector for the first channel [0043] 16 Entrance detector for the second channel [0044] 20 Interior channel to signature sensing chamber [0045] 21 Entrance Door (Second Embodiment) [0046] 26 Intake Air Screen [0047] 30 Signature sensing chamber [0048] 35 Light emitter [0049] 36 Exit detector [0050] 40 Light detector [0051] 45 Rotatable Screen (Second embodiment) [0052] 50 Fan [0053] 55 Exit from signature sensing chamber (First embodiment) [0054] 57 Catch Bag [0055] 60 Exit Air inlet [0056] 70 Microphone [0057] 71 Chamber screen (First embodiment) [0058] 72 Microphone Screen (Second embodiment) [0059] 73 Microphone Screen (First embodiment) [0060] 74 Beater arms (First embodiment) [0061] 75 Beater arms (Second embodiment) [0062] 80 Air intake (First embodiment).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0063] This is a mosquito trap 1. The mosquito trap will consist of two exterior channels, a first channel 5 and a second channel 10 that are attached to an enclosed trap structure and will extend vertically down from the trap; the first channel 5 is longer than the second channel 10. The internal structure houses the internal components.

[0064] The channels, 5 and 10, will be circular structures with openings on the ends enable a mosquito to travel up through the channel and into the enclosed structure of the trap. The channels are different lengths to target different types of mosquitoes. These traps will be attached to permanent structures such as buildings, light posts, poles in and around the community depending on the desires of the user.

[0065] In order to attract different types of mosquitos, sometimes bait or attractant is used at the end of the opening of the first or second channel 5 or 10 and this lures certain types of mosquitos which are attracted by certain bait to enter the first channel 5 or the second channel 10. The use of bait or attractant that are depicted as numbers 6 and 7 is well known in the prior art and no specific attractant is being claimed. Common examples of attractant 6, 7 include carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2), heat, odors, and light. In the field a CO.sub.2 cannister is placed near the proximity of the trap to slowly leak the gas into the area. In another example a mixture of oak leaves is placed in a pool of water near the opening of the respective channels so that the mixture will emit an odor that attracts mosquitoes. These are just two examples of the different types of attractants. A particular attractant may be used depending on the type of mosquito that needs to be studied but other attractants include light and heat.

[0066] The purpose of this device is to trap, identify and then force the mosquito out of the signature sensing chamber and into a catch bag. This is done primarily to determine changes in the population of mosquitoes in order to provide information to assist in population control of the mosquito and to identify those mosquitoes that are harmful to humans so that appropriate vector control method(s) such as the use of an insecticide or larvicides or sterile males can be appropriately applied.

[0067] A challenge is to be able to appropriately identify the mosquito as it travels through the trap. In any given environment there will likely be multiple types of mosquitos and this is anticipated by this application. Regardless of the type of mosquito, the mosquito must fly through one of the channels, 5 or 10, to be identified by the sensor. The sensor package that is part of this application is designed to attract various types of mosquitoes through the use of attractants, which is placed near the entrance of the respective channels, 5 and 10. The attractants will be chosen for the specific types of mosquitoes expected at the installed location. The trap is modular so that the user can use any combination of attractants such as light, warmth, CO2, water and contrasting colors, which is placed proximate to the entrance to the first channel 5 or second channel 10. In one example a CO2 cannister is placed near the proximity of the opening in the channel and the gas from the cannister is leaked into the area.

[0068] The mosquito will enter through the opening of either the first channel 5 or the second channel 10. The differences in the length of these channels reflect that certain types of mosquitos will fly at different heights. Ideally the difference in length of the channels is between one and one and one-half meters.

[0069] Entrance detectors, 15 and 16, will be placed in the first and second channel, 5 and 10, to alert the user of this device to the presence of a mosquito.

[0070] A fan 50 that is encased in the trap will create a slight vacuum to help the mosquito to travel within either the first or second channel past a photo detector 15, 16 in the respective first or second channel, and into an interior channel 20 that will lead the mosquito into the signature sensing chamber 30. The purpose of the entrance detector 15 or 16 is not to identify the type of mosquito but to indicate at what height the mosquito was flying when it entered the trap; this will provide the classification algorithm one parameter to use as a clue as to the possible type of mosquito that is entering the trap. The fan 50 within the trap will create a slight vacuum to assist the mosquito through the channel 20 and into the trap.

[0071] The mosquito will then enter the signature sensing chamber 30; an ideal number of mosquitos for identification purposes within the signature sensing chamber 30 are between one and three. If there are too many mosquitos in the signature sensing chamber 30, the appropriate identification of the mosquito will be difficult if not impossible. If more than three mosquitoes enter the signature sensing chamber 30 during one cycle, all mosquitoes will be evacuated from the signature sensing chamber 30 and they will be counted and classified as “undetermined species”.

[0072] While in the signature sensing chamber 30, the mosquito will be identified through its wingbeat frequency using sound and/or light wave interference.

[0073] A plurality of microphones 70 are placed within the signature sensing chamber to assist in the elimination of ambient background noise (people, cars, electrical transmitted noise and well as electrically induced noise) as well as detect the noise from the mosquito's wingbeat frequency. Ideally three microphones are used to obtain the most accurate information related to the noise signature of a particular mosquito. For the vast majority of mosquitos a range of 300-850 hertz from the wing beat frequency is produced.

[0074] Light waves in the signature sensing chamber 30 are produced using the light emitters 35 and corresponding light detectors 40 that are placed directly across from the light emitters and are placed on the inner perimeter of the signature sensing chamber 30. As the mosquito enters the signature sensing chamber 30, the mosquito wingbeat will break the light beam repeatedly and this will provide the necessary information to determine its wingbeat frequency for identification. In order to increase the accuracy of the wingbeat frequency measurements, the light from the emitters may shine directly onto the detectors or may shine onto a light guide (not depicted) that directs the light to a single row of detectors. Additionally, polarized lenses may also be used. The use of light guides, diffusers and polarized lenses is well known in the prior art but not in connection with this type of application.

[0075] Another challenge is to force the mosquito to fly within the signature sensing chamber 30. If the mosquito is not flying, the wingbeat frequency cannot be detected. In order to encourage the mosquito to fly within the signature sensing chamber 30 an irritant is typically applied. The irritant is again used immediately prior to turning on the fan for the evacuation cycle because it is easier to evacuate a mosquito that is in the air rather than hanging on to a surface. The irritant may include a physical device such as beater arms 74, 75 that will brush against the mosquito without harming it, a heat source, noise or vibration.

[0076] This irritant will motivate the mosquito to fly and therefore be identified through the wingbeat frequency but also assist in the evacuation of the mosquito from the trap. A micro-controller (not depicted) will control the operation of the components of the device including rotating the chamber (first embodiment) or opening port doors and the cycling of the fan as well as measuring the wingbeat frequency of the mosquito. The mosquito enters the trap through either channel 5 or 10 and pass between a pair of entrance detectors, 15,16. The information that a mosquito has entered a channel and passed by a photo detector will be relayed to the micro-controller as the mosquito enters the signature sensing chamber 30. As the mosquito flies within the signature sensing chamber 30 a plurality of microphones 70 will detect the wingbeat frequency of the mosquito and that information is gathered by the micro-controller. Additionally, the micro-controller also detects the wingbeat frequency of the mosquito as the mosquito disrupts the stream of light between the light emitter 35 and the light detector 40. After the micro-controller has gathered the information necessary to identify the mosquito the micro-controller will apply an irritant to force the mosquito to exit from the signature sensing chamber 30; this irritant may be a beater arm 75. At the same time the micro-controller opens a rotatable door (second embodiment) to allow the mosquito to exit the signature sensing chamber. The micro-controller will collect, store, all relevant data including the wingbeat frequency, the entrance level and the time of day in stored memory and then transfer it to a server; the micro-controller will also operate the fan and the microphone, the operation of the detection devices and the operation of all the other components of the trap.

[0077] Several screens have been placed on this device. An intake air screen 26 is placed on the air intake, 60 and 80, to ensure that foreign bodies or other insects do not enter the trap. Microphone screens, 72 and 73, have also been placed over the microphones to protect the microphones within the signature sensing chamber 30.

[0078] A rotatable screen 45 and chamber screen 71 initially trap the mosquito within the signature sensing chamber 30, and allow the free flow of air throughout the trap. As the mosquito exits, the fan 50 is turned on to again to produce the slight vacuum within the channels, 5 and 10, and also motivate the mosquito to leave the trap to be collected in the bag 57.

[0079] It is anticipated that the cycle to bring a mosquito in, identify it within the signature sensing chamber 30 and then have the mosquito exit the trap is between 5 and 15 seconds.

[0080] It is anticipated that there will be two different embodiments of this device. Regardless of which version will be used, both will operate to trap, classify and then release the mosquito. The differences between the embodiments will focus on the manner in which the mosquito is led into and out of the signature sensing chamber.

First Embodiment—FIG. 3

[0081] In the first embodiment the signature sensing chamber 30 openings A and B will be provided on the interior perimeter of the signature sensing chamber such as depicted in FIG. 3. Once the mosquito enters the signature sensing chamber 30 through the interior channel 20 and through the opening A, the signature sensing chamber 30 will rotate approximately twenty to thirty degrees to prevent the mosquito from leaving the trap and trap the mosquito within the signature sensing chamber 30 during the identification process. The chamber screen 71 will insure that the air flow through the trap is free of particulates in order to insure that the interior components of the device are not affected.

[0082] At all times during the rotation of the signature sensing chamber 30 the microphones 70 are protected by the screen 73 to collect information from the wingbeat frequency sound waves that are produced by the mosquito.

[0083] Once the signature sensing chamber 30 is rotated initially and prevents the mosquito from leaving the trap the mosquito is identified by its wingbeat frequency both by light interruption and/or noise recognition (sound wave) techniques. Once the mosquito has been identified, the signature sensing chamber 30 will rotate an additional twenty to thirty degrees to align the opening B with the exit 55 and past the exit detector 36. Once the mosquito has left the trap, the signature sensing chamber 30 will rotate back to the original starting point so that the passage A is aligned with the interior channel 20 for the cycle to begin again.

Second Embodiment—FIG. 4

[0084] In the second embodiment, which is depicted by FIG. 4, the mosquito gains access to the signature sensing chamber 30 through an entrance door 21 that will open and close and allow the mosquito to travel through the interior channel 20. In the second embodiment, the signature sensing chamber 30 will not rotate but instead the door 21 will allow the mosquito to travel into the signature sensing chamber 30 but will close to prevent the mosquito from leaving the signature sensing chamber 30. Once the mosquito has been identified a rotating screen door 45 will open and the mosquito will leave the signature sensing chamber 30 and exit the trap through the exit 55 and past the exit detector 36 and into the catch bag 57.

[0085] Once the mosquito has left the signature sensing chamber 30, the entrance door 21 will rotate to allow another mosquito to enter the signature sensing chamber 30.

[0086] While certain modifications made by made by those skilled in the art, any modifications to the invention will not depart from the spirit of the invention.