LED INSECT LIGHT TRAP WITH LIGHT TRANSMISSIVE GLUE BOARD

Abstract

Insect capture is improved by providing a glue board having an adhesive coating on its front surface and forming a pattern of insect attractant UV light on that front surface. That pattern includes areas of bright UV light generated by light-emitting diodes that generate light at different wavelengths behind and visible through the glue board by flying insects, dimmer areas of light generated by said light emitting diodes that bounces off other portions of the device onto the glue board, and areas of shadow on the glue board where no or little light from said light-emitting diodes is present.

Claims

1. An insect light trap comprising: a) an electronic circuit including a plurality of groups of light-emitting diodes, each group of light-emitting diodes adapted to emit light in a different portion of the light spectrum; b) a substrate having a front side and a back side; and c) a housing adapted to hold the electronic circuit and the substrate so that the front side of the substrate faces away from the electronic circuit and the light-emitting diodes of the electronic circuit cast light onto the front side of the substrate, said housing having a front panel including openings defined by closed sections having edges, said openings adapted to permit flying insects to enter the trap through such openings and to permit the front side of the substrate to be viewed through such openings by flying insects, and closed sections adapted to cause at least some of the light from the light-emitting diodes reaching the closed sections to bounce off the closed sections and on to the front side of the substrate, wherein, when the front side of the substrate is viewed through the openings by flying insects, a pattern is presented comprising light passing directly from the light-emitting diodes of each group of light-emitting diodes on to the front side of the substrate and reflected light from the light-emitting diodes that has bounced off the closed sections of the housing and on to the substrate; and wherein the control circuit is able to separately control the groups of light-emitting diodes.

2. The insect light trap of claim 1 wherein the front side of the substrate is coated with an adhesive to form a glue board.

3. The insect light trap of claim 1 wherein said light-emitting diodes are arranged in a predetermined pattern.

4. The insect light trap of claim 1 wherein there are four groups of light-emitting diodes comprising a first group of light-emitting diodes that generate light having a wavelength between 500 nm and 590 nm, a second group of light-emitting diodes generating light having a wavelength in the range of 380 nm to 495 nm, and a third group of light-emitting diodes generating light at a wavelength of less than 400 nm.

5. The insect light trap of claim 4 wherein there is a fourth group of light-emitting diodes and the diodes of this fourth group emit soft white light falling within a range extending from 4000K to 6000K.

6. The insect light trap of claim 1 wherein said light-emitting diodes are arranged in a pattern and the substrate includes perforations arranged in the same pattern.

7. The insect light trap of claim 1 wherein said light-emitting diodes include a first group that emits light in the UV portion of the light spectrum and at least one other group that emits light in the visible portion of the light spectrum.

8. The insect light trap of claim 1 wherein the openings are elongated.

9. The insect light trap of claim 1 wherein the control circuit causes at least one of the light-emitting diodes to flicker.

10. The insect light trap of claim 1 wherein the control circuit modulates the intensity of the light generated by at least one of the light-emitting diodes.

11. The insect light trap of claim 1 wherein the circuit adjusts at least one operating parameter of each light-emitting diode used to create the light pattern on the front surface of the substrate.

12. The insect light trap of claim 1 wherein the substrate is coated with an adhesive layer having a glossy finish and which is adapted to capture flying insects.

13. An insect trap comprising: a) an electronic circuit including a plurality of spaced apart light-emitting diodes divided into four groups, each group comprising light-emitting diodes that generate light of a different wavelength than the light-emitting diodes of the other three groups; b) a glue board including a substrate having a front side and a back side, and an adhesive layer coating on a selected portion of the front side, wherein the glue board has a plurality of spaced apart perforations extending through the substrate; and c) a housing adapted to hold the electronic circuit and the glue board so that the front side of the glue board faces away from the electronic circuit and the light-emitting diodes of the electronic circuit are able to cast light on the front side of the glue board, said housing having a front panel including openings defined by closed sections having edges, said openings adapted to permit flying insects to enter the trap through such openings and to permit the adhesive layer of the glue board to be viewed by flying insects through such openings, and said closed sections adapted to cause at least some of the light from the light-emitting diodes reaching the closed sections to bounce off the closed sections and on to the adhesive layer of the glue board, wherein when the adhesive layer of the glue board is viewed by flying insects through the openings in a pattern comprising light from each of the groups of light-emitting diodes is visible to the flying insects.

14. The insect light trap of claim 12 wherein the light-emitting diodes of the first group of light-emitting diodes emit soft white light falling within the range of between 4000K and 6000K, the light-emitting diodes of the second group of light-emitting diodes emit light having a wavelength between 500 nm and 590 nm, the light-emitting diodes of the third group of light-emitting diodes emit light having a wavelength falling with the range of 380 nm to 495 nm, and the fourth group of light-emitting diodes emit light having a wavelength of less than 400 nm.

15. The insect light trap of claim 14 wherein the light-emitting diodes of the second group of light-emitting diodes emit light having a wavelength of 560 nm.

16. The insect light trap of claim 14 wherein the light-emitting diodes of the third group of light-emitting diodes emit light having a wavelength of 430 nm.

17. The insect light trap of claim 14 wherein the light-emitting diodes of the fourth group of light-emitting diodes emit light having a wavelength of 368 nm.

18. The insect light trap of claim 13 wherein the electronic circuit is adapted to cause the light-emitting diodes of a selected group of light-emitting diodes to flicker.

19. The insect light trap of claim 13 wherein the electronic circuit is adapted to modulate the intensity of the light generated by a selected group of light-emitting diodes.

20. The insect light trap of claim 13 wherein the electronic circuit comprises a microprocessor under program control which controls the operation of the individual light-emitting diodes of each group of light-emitting diodes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The features and attributes which may be employed to practice the present invention will be better understood from a review of the detailed description provided below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the front of a flying insect trap;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the back of the trap of FIG. 1;

[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the top of the trap of FIG. 1;

[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the trap of FIG. 1 with the glue board partially removed from the housing;

[0022] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the trap of FIG. 1 with the glue board entirely removed from the housing;

[0023] FIG. 6; is a schematic view of one example of a circuit that may be used to generate insect attracting light;

[0024] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the glue board of the insect trap of FIG. 1;

[0025] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing how different groups of LEDs may be deployed to create a desired light pattern on an attraction surface such as the adhesive surface of a glue board; and

[0026] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an alternative electronic circuit for displaying insect attractant light in accordance with a selected programmed set of instructions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] This description of the preferred embodiment is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description of this invention. In the description, relative terms such as “lower”, “upper”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “above”, “below”, “up”, “down”, “top” and “bottom”, “under”, as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “downwardly”, “upwardly”, “underside”, etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawings under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms such as “connected”, “connecting”, “attached”, “attaching”, “joined”, and “joining” are used interchangeably and refer to one structure or surface being secured to another structure or surface or integrally fabricated in one piece unless expressly described otherwise.

[0028] The flying insect trap 1 shown in the drawings comprises a housing 10, a glue board 50, and an electronic circuit 70. These elements combine to provide a unique display of insect attractant light directly on the front side 52 of the glue board 50. An adhesive coating 54 on the front side 52 of the glue board 50 captures any insects coming into contact with the front side 52 of the glue board 50.

[0029] The housing 10 shown in the drawings has a back compartment 12 in which electronic circuit 70 is stored. The back compartment 12 comprises a back wall 14. The back wall 14 has a flat surface and two electrical prongs 16 and 18 project from this flat surface. While the drawings show the entire back wall 14 to be flat, this is not necessary. For example, the portion of the back wall 14 surrounding the prongs 16 and 18 could be a generally flat surface with other portions of the wall being at an angle from, parallel to, or even having a contour other than the flat surface. The prongs 16 and 18 provide two functions when plugged into a standard electrical outlet (not shown) supplying household current. First, the prongs 16 and 18 supply electrical energy to the electronic circuit 70. Second, the prongs 16 and 18 support the entire insect traps 1.

[0030] The back compartment 12 has two side walls 20 and 22, a top wall 24, and a bottom wall 26. The bottom wall includes an extension 28 that prevents the glue board 50 from falling out the bottom of the housing 10. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the back compartment 12 also includes a front wall 30. As shown, the front wall has six round openings 32. Light-emitting diodes 72-82 are visible through the openings 32. The shape and number of these openings may vary without deviating from the invention.

[0031] In addition to the back compartment 12, the housing 10 has a front panel 34. The front panel 34 may be integrally formed with, permanently adhered to, or temporarily fastened to the back compartment 12. As shown in the drawings, the front panel 34 is coupled at its opposite edges to the two side walls 20 and 22 of compartment 12 and bows outwardly from the two side walls 20 and 22. This provides a large top opening 36 through which glue board 50 can be inserted, removed and replaced. While there is a similar opening 38 at the bottom, the extension 28 of the bottom wall 26 of back compartment 12 reduces the size of the bottom opening 38 preventing the glue board from dropping out the bottom of the trap 1 when the trap 1 is plugged into an electrical outlet.

[0032] The front panel 34 also includes a plurality of openings 40 defined by closed sections 42 having edges 44. The openings 40 and closed sections 42 are each generally elongate extending from side wall 20 to side wall 22. The openings 40 permit insects to enter and light to exit the trap. The openings 40 also permit the flying insect to view the insect attractant light display described below that is presented on the glue board 50. The closed sections 42 interfere with the ability of people to readily view any insects trapped on the glue board 50, prevent young children from touching the glue board 50 and the insects adhered to the adhesive layer 54 of glue board 50, and also help provide a display of light on the front surface 52 of glue board 50 that is highly attractive to flying insects.

[0033] Glue board 50 comprises a substrate 51 and has a front side 52 and a back side 53. An adhesive layer 54 on the front side 52 coats a selected portion of the substrate 51. As shown in FIG. 6, the edges 56 of the substrate 51 are left uncoated so a user need not touch the adhesive layer 54 when replacing the glue board 50. The features of the glue board 50 discussed above are common to many glue boards offered by pest control device manufacturers. However, glue board 50 has distinguishing features. As shown in the drawings, the glue board 50 is adapted to permit UV light to pass through the glue board 50. This is achieved either by making the substrate of a UV light transmissive material (i.e., a UV transparent or a UV translucent material) or, as shown, by including a plurality of perforation 58 extending through at least the substrate 51.

[0034] Examples of such UV light transmissive materials include fused silica, calcium fluoride, magnesium fluoride and various acrylic sheets such as Acrylite Op-4 sold by CYRO Industries of Parsippany, N.J.. These materials tend to be relatively expensive, so the less expensive option of perforating the substrates typically employed to construct glue boards may be preferred in certain situations. The number, position and shape of the perforations 58 correspond to the openings 32 in the front wall 30 of back compartment 12. When the glue board 50 is positioned in the housing 10, each perforation 58 is aligned with one of the openings 32 to provide pathways for UV light to exit the back compartment 12 and pass through the glue board 50.

[0035] The UV light referenced above is generated by electronic circuit 70. As shown in FIG. 6, the circuit 70 comprises six separate light-emitting diodes 72-82. The circuit further includes resistors 84, 86 and 88, capacitors 90 and 92 and a full waive rectifier bridge 94. Bridge 94 converts to direct current the 120v alternating current supplied to the prongs 16 and 18 by the electrical outlet (not shown). The various resistors and capacitors control the delivery of electrical energy to the light-emitting diodes 72-82.

[0036] The electrical circuit 70 is adapted to fit in the back compartment 12 of the housing 10 so that the light-emitting diodes 72-82 are aligned with the openings 32 through the front wall 30 of back compartment 12. As such, light emitted by the light-emitting diodes can pass through openings 32, the perforations 58 of the glue board 50 when the glue board 50 is positioned in housing 10, and through openings 40 in the front panel 34 of housing 10. The light-emitting diodes 72-82 are of a type that generate peak output in the UV light range which is most attractive to flying insects. The circuit 70 may also be adapted to selectively dim and brighten the light-emitting diodes 72-82 (or to cycle them on and off) in a controlled sequence to increase insect attraction. The circuit may also be adapted to be powered by a battery supplying DC current.

[0037] The combination of elements described above is highly advantageous because it presents a light pattern on the front surface 52 of the glue board 50 that is highly attractive to flying insects. That pattern includes areas of bright direct UV light from the light-emitting diodes 72-82 that passes through openings 40 in the front panel 34, perforations 58 through the glue board 50 and openings 32 in the front wall 30 of the housing 10. That pattern also includes areas of dimmer UV light which travels from the light-emitting diodes 72-82 to the closed sections 42 of the front panel and bounces off the front panel back to the front surface 52 of the glue board 10. That pattern also includes areas of shadow on the front surface 52 of the glue board 50 where no or minimal direct or bounced UV light reaches the front of the glue board 50.

[0038] As noted above, the closed sections 42 of the front panel 34 have edges 44. The edges 44 are also illuminated by the light-emitting diodes 72-82 which is believed to aid in insect attractancy. The edges 44 frame the openings 40.

[0039] Further, the adhesive layer 54 on the front surface 52 of glue board 50 may be modified in various ways to enhance insect attractancy. The adhesive layer can be light transmissive in the UV range so that light from the light-emitting diodes 72-82 can travel through this layer. This is particularly important if the adhesive layer covers the perforations 58 or if the substrate 51 is made of a UV transparent or UV translucent material. The adhesive layer 54 can be made to diffuse the UV light or to cause the UV light to bounce off the front surface of the glue board 50 in a specular manner. Either of these effects can be achieved by modifying the chemistry of the adhesive material used or the physical nature of the adhesive surface. A rough surface will tend to diffuse the UV light. A smooth surface will act like a mirror.

[0040] Still further, the glue board 50 (or either the substrate or adhesive layer) may be stamped or otherwise textured with a preselected pattern of depressions and ridges that cause brighter and dimmer areas of UV light on the front surface 52 of the glue board 50. These ridges and depressions may also be arranged to provide either sharp or blurred lines of demarcation between areas of shadow and light.

[0041] Likewise, the light-emitting diodes may be randomly arranged or arranged in any suitable pattern for achieving insect attraction. The pattern may, for example, include two rows of light-emitting diodes, as illustrated. The pattern of holes 32 in the front wall 30 of the back compartment 12 and the pattern of the perforations 58 in the glue board should match the selected pattern of the light-emitting diodes 72-82. Likewise, the number, size, shape and arrangement of light-emitting diodes (and openings) should be adapted to that UV light is still present even if one of the perforations is blocked by the body of a captured insect.

[0042] Those skilled in the art of insect trap design have operated under the premise that UV light is an effective insect attractant. While this is generally true, a display of light of various wavelengths in both the UV and visible ranges provides even greater insect attraction. Such a display can be created using a plurality of LEDs that generate light in different wavelengths.

[0043] One such display formed on an attraction surface, which may be the adhesive surface of a glue board 114, is shown in FIG. 8. The glue board has a plurality of holes 58 extending at least through the glue board's substrate. The LEDs 100, 102, 104 and 106 are arranged either behind the glue board so light emitted from the LEDs passes via the holes 58 through the glue board. Alternatively, the glue board and LEDs may be arranged and mounted such that the LEDs reside in or extend through the holes 58 of the glue board.

[0044] The pattern illustrated in FIG. 8 is created using four different sets of LEDs. A first set consists of LEDs 100. A second set consists of the LEDs 102. LEDs 104 provide a third set of LEDs and LEDs 106 provide a fourth set of LEDs. Each set of LEDs is adapted to emit light of a different wavelength than the other sets.

[0045] Specifically, the first set of LEDs, consisting of LEDs 100, produces soft white light emulating daylight, i.e., light in the range of 4000K to 6000K. Preferably, this light will have a wavelength of 5000K. Such light is visible to humans. The second set of LEDs, consisting of LEDs 102, produces light that is in the yellow or green portion of the visible light spectrum, i.e., light having a wavelength between 500 and 590 nm. Preferably, the light emitted by the second set of LEDs has a wavelength of 560 nm. In FIG. 8, LEDs 102 are positioned adjacent the right and left edges of glue board 114. As such, the areas designated 110 have a green tint.

[0046] The third set of LEDs, consisting of LEDs 104, produces light in the violet or blue portion of the visible light spectrum, i.e., light between 380 nm and 495 nm. Most preferably, the wavelength of the light generated by LEDs 104 has a wavelength of 430 nm. The LEDs 104 are located near the center of the glue board 114. As such, the area designated 112 has a blue or purple tint. The fourth set of LEDs, consisting of LEDs 106, generates light in the UV range, i.e., light having a wavelength at or below 400 nm. Preferably, the wavelength of light generated by LEDs 106 is in the UV-A range, i.e., between 315 nm and 400 nm. UV light having a wavelength of 368 nm has proven to be highly effective so the LEDs 106 may be selected to give off light of this wavelength. LEDs 106 are present in each section 110 and section 112. Thus, sections 110 of the glue board 114 are reflecting both green light and UV light and section 112 is reflecting both blue or violet light and UV light.

[0047] The light reflected off the glue board 114 is arranged in a pattern more attractive to flying insects, and particularly flies, than other patterns that have been employed. Also, because the pattern is cast directly on the adhesive layer, insects will fly to and land on that layer where they become captured in the adhesive. This, too, improves the efficacy of the trap. Further, while FIG. 8 shows a sharp line of demarcation between the outer sections 110 and the center section 112, these lines are blurred in actual use because of the way light traveling from the LED reaches the various portions of the glue board. Most of the light reaches the glue board directly from the LEDs. Some light from the LEDs is reflected from other features of the trap onto the glue board or alternative substrate of the attraction assembly.

[0048] Additionally, a control circuit may be provided to permit separate control of each of the LEDs or group of LEDs. A schematic diagram of an exemplary control circuit 120 is illustrated in FIG. 9. As illustrated, the operation of each LED 100-104 is separately coupled to its own program register 122, pulse width modulator 124 and driver 126. This permits the on/off state of each LED to be separately controlled.

[0049] More specifically, various operating characteristics of each LED can be separately controlled to increase insect attraction. Examples include: [0050] Whether the LED is on or off; [0051] Whether the LED operates at a constant power output or whether the power output is modulated over time; [0052] If the power output is modulated over time, the pattern, timing, and amounts of changes in the power output; [0053] Whether the LED is constantly on or flickers on and off; [0054] If the LED flickers on and off, the pattern and timing of the flickering.

[0055] Further, these and other operating characteristics of each individual LED can be coordinated by the microprocessor unit 130 based on a preprogrammed set of instructions. A user can select between various programs which are individually tailored to address the specific species of insects to be captured and the light characteristics that achieves the best capture rate for such species. Such programs can also be individually tailored to take into account ambient light conditions or anticipated changes in ambient light conditions during the course of a day that can also affect insect attraction. The microprocessor unit 130 delivers these instructions via interface 132 to the instruction decoder 134. In turn, the instruction decoder 134 populates the separate program registers 122 associated with each separate LED based on the instructions provided by the microprocessor unit 130. The LEDs 100 through 106 are thus operated pursuant to the instructions provided by the microprocessor unit 130.

[0056] Various advantages arise from the trap described above. First, the light-emitting diodes 72-82 (or 100-106) generate intense UV light without requiring much in the way of electrical power. Second, the glue board 50 is easily replaced. Third, the openings 40 in the front panel 34 are large enough to permit flying insects to see the insect attractive UV light display on the front surface of the glue board, yet small enough such that the closed sections 42 effectively prevent children from reaching into the trap. Likewise, the closed sections 42 generally block from human view any insects stuck to the adhesive surface of the glue board 50. This is particularly true when the user is at a standing or seated position because of the height at which electrical outlets are typically mounted.

[0057] In certain embodiments, the insect attractant light pattern is on the glue board itself. Thus, insects attracted by the pattern are more likely to come into contact with the adhesive surface of glue board 50 than if the pattern is some distance from the glue board as is the case with prior art insect traps employing a glue board.

[0058] The foregoing description is intended to explain the various features and advantages, but is not intended to be limiting. The scope of the invention is defined by the following claims which are also intended to cover a reasonable range of equivalents.