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US 5,592,774 AGranted
Termite activity remote monitoring and information system
AssigneeNisus Corporation
InventorStanley D. Galyon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method and system for use in determining the presence of termites and controlling termite population. The system and method utilized changes in, for example, conductivity, as a method of determining termite activity.
Claims19
A system for use in the determination and/or control of termite infestation comprising:
- at least one sensing station including a generally impermeable housing, said housing defining a first hollow inner chamber, a first sensor capable of sensing evidence of termites and ambient environmental factors disposed within said first chamber, a means for allowing termites and ambient environmental factors access into said first chamber, and a bait disposed within said first chamber;
- and a detector operably linked to said first sensor wherein said first sensor is a moisture sensor, methane gas sensor, or pH sensor.
A system for use in the determination and/or control of termite infestation comprising:
- at least one sensing station including a generally impermeable housing, said housing defining a first hollow inner chamber, a first sensor capable of sensing evidence of termites and ambient environmental factors disposed within said first chamber, a means for allowing termites and ambient environmental factors access into said first chamber, a bait disposed within said first chamber;
- and a detector operably linked to said first sensor;
- said system further comprising at least one control station including a generally impermeable housing, said housing defining a second hollow inner chamber, a second sensor capable of sensing ambient environmental factors disposed within said second chamber, and a means for allowing ambient environmental factors, but not termites, access into said second chamber;
- and said second sensor being operably linked to said detector.
1 more element
A termite sensing station comprising:
- a generally impermeable housing, said housing defining a hollow inner chamber, a sensor capable of sensing evidence of termites and ambient environmental factors disposed within said chamber, a means for allowing termites and ambient environmental factors access into said chamber, and a bait disposed within said chamber wherein said sensor is a moisture sensor, a methane gas sensor, or a pH sensor.
A method of detecting an infestation of termites comprising the steps of providing:
- at least one sensing station including a generally impermeable housing, said housing defining a first hollow inner chamber, a first sensor capable of sensing evidence of termites and ambient environmental factors disposed within said first chamber, a means for allowing termites and ambient environmental factors access into said first chamber, and a bait disposed within said first chamber;
- providing at least one control station including a generally impermeable housing, said housing defining a second hollow inner chamber, a second sensor capable of sensing ambient environmental factors disposed within said second chamber, and a means for allowing ambient environmental factors, but not termites, access into said second chamber;
- exposing said at least one sensing station and said at least one control station to an area of suspected or possible termite infestation detecting and analyzing physical changes within said first hollow chamber;
- detecting and analyzing physical changes within said second hollow chamber;
- and determining said physical changes due to other than ambient environmental factors.
2 more elements
A method of detecting an infestation of termites comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one sensing station including a generally impermeable housing, said housing defining a first hollow inner chamber, a first sensor capable of sensing evidence of termites and ambient environmental factors disposed within said first chamber, a means for allowing termites and ambient environmental factors access into said first chamber and a bait disposed within said first chamber;
- detecting and analyzing physical changes within the first hollow chamber and comparing the degree of said physical changes within said first hollow chamber to a baseline of ambient environmental factors, wherein said first sensor is capable of detecting changes in pH, changes in conductivity, changes in resistivity, changes in gas content or changes in moisture content.
A system for use in the determination and/or control of termite infestation comprising:
- a plurality of sensing stations, each station including a generally impermeable housing, said housing defining a first hollow inner chamber, a first sensor capable of sensing evidence of termites and ambient environmental factors disposed within said first chamber, a means for allowing termites and ambient environmental factors access into said first chamber, and a bait disposed within said first chamber;
- a detector operably linked to said first sensor;
- a plurality of control stations, each control station including a generally impermeable housing, said housing of said control station defining a second hollow inner chamber, a second sensor capable of sensing ambient environmental factors disposed within said second chamber, and a means for allowing ambient environmental factors, but not termites, access into said second chamber;
- said second sensor being operably linked to said detector.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.