Back to results
US 4,902,890 AGranted
Rodent monitoring apparatus
OwnerWilliam C. Biehleinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rodent monitoring apparatus comprises a passageway defined by a horizontal member and two vertical members, an infrared light beam directed across the passageway, and an electronic counter circuit configured to monitor the number of times the light beam is interrupted.
Claims13
An electronic device for locating the active pathways of rodents, comprising:
- (a) an archway having:
- (i) a first vertical leg, said first leg having a top end, a bottom end, and an intermediate portion;
- (ii) a second vertical leg, said second leg having a top end, a bottom end, and an intermediate portion;
- and
- (iii) a horizontal member, said member having two ends, said ends being connected to said top end of said first leg and said top end of said second leg respectively;
- (b) a three sided passageway defined by said first leg, said second leg, and said horizontal member, said passageway being sufficiently open so as not to inhibit the movement of a rodent through said passageway;
- (c) an infrared light source associated with said intermediate portion of said first leg, said light source configured to produce an infrared light beam;
- (d) an infrared photoelectric cell associated with said intermediate portion of said second leg;
- (e) means for shielding said cell from ambient light;
- (f) means for directing said infrared light beam across said passageway from said light source to said cell;
- and
- (g) a counter circuit connected to said cell for monitoring the number of times said light beam is interrupted.
9 more elements
An electronic device for locating the active pathways of rodents, comprising:
- (a) A horizontal member;
- (b) A first vertical member connected to said horizontal member and extending vertically upward therefrom,
- (c) A second vertical member connected to said horizontal member and extending vertically upward therefrom, said second vertical member being spaced apart from said first vertical member;
- (d) A three sided passageway defined by said horizontal member, said first vertical member and said second vertical member, said passageway being sufficiently open so as not to inhibit the movement of a rodent through said passageway;
- (e) An infrared light source associated with said first vertical member, said light source configured to produce an infrared light beam;
- (f) An infrared photoelectric cell associated with said second vertical member;
- (g) means for shielding said cell from ambient light;
- (h) means for directing said infrared light beam across said passageway from said light source to said cell;
- and
- (i) a counter circuit connected to said cell for monitoring the number of times said light beam is interrupted.
7 more elements
A electronic device for locating the active pathways of rodents, comprising:
- (a) a horizontal member;
- (b) a first vertical member connected to said horizontal member and extending vertically therefrom;
- (c) a second vertical member connected to said horizontal member and extending vertically therefrom, said second vertical member being spaced apart from said first vertical member;
- (d) a three sided passageway defined by said horizontal member, said first vertical member and said vertical member, said passageway being sufficiently open so as not to inhibit the movement of a rodent through said passageway;
- (e) an infrared light source associated with said first vertical member, said light source configured to produce an infrared light beam;
- (f) an infrared photoelectric cell associated with said second vertical member;
- (g) means for shielding said cell from ambient light;
- (h) means for directing said infrared light beam across said passageway from said light source to said cell;
- (i) an electronic counter circuit connected to said cell for monitoring the number of times said light beam is interrupted, said electronic counter circuit having:
- (i) an electronic integrated chip configured for counting, said chip having a count pin and a count inhibit pin;
- (ii) count grounding means for electrically grounding said count pin whenever said light beam is interrupted;
- (iii) count inhibit means for electrically grounding said count inhibit pin, whenever said light beam is interrupted;
- (iv) an RC time delay circuit electrically coupled to said count inhibit means, whereby said count inhibit means electrically grounds said count inhibit pin for a predetermined time period after said light beam becomes uninterrupted;
- and
- (v) an electronic digital display circuit coupled to said integrated chip, said display circuit including a push to read electrical switch.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.