Method and apparatus for capacitively sensing pests

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 6937156
APP PUB NO 20030184442A1
SERIAL NO

10400951

Stats

ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

Importance

Loading Importance Indicators... loading....

Abstract

See full text

A method and apparatus for capacitively sensing one or more pests is disclosed. The detector may be employed as either a passive detector and/or as a part of a combined detector and trap. The sensor system includes at least two sensor electrodes and a capacitance sensing circuit. When a non-capacitive object, such as a pest, approaches the sensor electrodes, the capacitance of the sensor electrodes increases due to the object having a higher dielectric constant than air. A capacitance sensing circuit detects the increased capacitance and provides an output signal that a pest has entered the area being monitored. The capacitance sensing circuit may also be constructed to measure the change in the electrode in order to determine the size and/or type of pest based on a characteristic change.

Loading the Abstract Image... loading....

First Claim

See full text

Family

Loading Family data... loading....

Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
ECOLAB USA INC1 ECOLAB PLACE SAINT PAUL MN 55102

International Classification(s)

  • [Classification Symbol]
  • [Patents Count]

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Gardner, Jr James P Stillwater, MN 8 293
Holzman, Louis Mark Saint Paul, MN 5 204
Lund, Kraig S Longmont, CO 4 195
Skaff, Stephen X Owatonna, MN 11 468

Cited Art Landscape

Load Citation

Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cite Landscape

Load Citation