# US 6,724,312 B1 · Pest control apparatus and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,724,312 B1 - Document ID: US6724312B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/669,316 - Filed: 2000-09-25 - Granted: 2004-04-20 - Earliest claimed: 1999-07-21 - Inventors: Daniel Barber; Don Black; Edward King; Sterett Robertson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6724312B1 ## CPC - A01M 1/026: {combined with devices for monitoring insect presence, e.g. termites (bait stations A01M1/2005; detecting other animals in a given area A01M31/002)} - A01M 1/2011: {for crawling insects} - A01M 1/24: Arrangements connected with buildings, doors, windows, or the like - A01M 31/002: {Detecting animals in a given area} - A01M 2200/011: Crawling insects - Y10T 29/49117: Conductor or circuit manufacturing - A01M: CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS (appliances for catching swarms or drone-catching A01K57/00; fishing A01K69/00 - {A01K99/00}; biocides, pest repellants or attractants A01N); APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A pest control system includes pest control devices installed about an area or building. These devices each include a bait member and a wireless communication circuit. The wireless communication circuit may be in the form of a passive RF tag that transmits information indicative of bait status and an identifier unique to each pest control device. The wireless communication circuit can be configured in a first assembly for detecting the presence of one or more pests and a second assembly for delivering a pesticide once pests are detected. The assemblies are interchangeable within a pest control device housing. The wireless communication circuit is connected to a sensor having an electrically conductive element that can be comprised of a nonmetallic material, such as a carbon-based ink. One or more connection members electrically couple the wireless communication circuit and the sensor. These members are comprised of an electrically conductive, elastomeric compound, such as a carbon-filled silicone rubber. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pest control device, comprising: an electrical circuit; a sensing member operable to detect one or more pests when electrically connected to the electrical circuit; and a first connection member electrically coupled to the electrical circuit, the first connection member being comprised of an electrically conductive elastomeric compound, the first connection member being operable to electrically connect the sensing member to the electrical circuit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the electrical circuit includes an RF transponder. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a housing to receive the electrical circuit, the sensing member, and the first connection member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the circuit is operable to apply an electric potential to the sensing member and detect a change in an electrical characteristic of the sensing member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the first electrical connection member is comprised of silicone rubber and electrically conductive carbon. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the sensing member includes an electrically insulating substrate and an electrical conductor terminating at an edge of the substrate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein the conductor is arranged as an electrically conductive loop carried on the substrate, the substrate is subject to consumption or displacement by one or more pests, and the conductor terminates at the edge in two electrically isolated contact sites. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a housing carrying the electrical circuit, wherein the sensing member includes a conductor and the housing includes a recess to receive a portion of the sensing member, and the first connection member is arranged to apply a biasing force to the sensing member to retain the sensing member and maintain electrical contact with a conductor when the portion is received in the recess. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein the portion of the sensing member includes a pair of electrical contact sites, and further comprising a second connection member carried by the housing and being comprised of an electrically conductive, elastomeric material including carbon, the second connection member being spaced apart from the first connection member, the first connection member being operable to contact a first one of the electrical contact sites and the second connection member being operable to contact a second one of the electrical contact sites when the sensing member is engaged to the housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the sensing member includes a substrate comprised of a paper coated with polyethylene. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a bait including a pesticide. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a monitoring bait comprised of a material consumable or displaceable by one or more species of termites. ### Claim 13 A method, comprising: installing a pest control device including a wireless communication circuit electrically connected to a sensor; detecting the presence of one or more pests with the sensor; and reconfiguring the pest control device in response to said detecting, said reconfiguring including introducing a pesticide bait member into the pest control device and adjusting the position of the wireless communication circuit that remains assembled with the pest control device after said reconfiguring. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein said installing includes providing a monitoring bait member adjacent to the sensor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the pest control device includes a first assembly of the monitoring bait member, the sensor, and the wireless communication circuit before said reconfiguring and the pest control device includes a second assembly of the pesticide bait member and the wireless communication circuit after said reconfiguring. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the sensor includes a substrate comprised of a paper coated with a polymeric organic compound, the pest control device includes a housing sized to receive the first assembly, and the first assembly includes a carrying member to remove the first assembly from the housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the pest control device includes a housing sized to receive the second assembly and the second assembly includes a bait tube with a slot sized to receive the wireless communication circuit after removal from the first assembly. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising locating the pest control device after said reconfiguring with a hand held interrogator. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the wireless communication circuit includes a passive RF transmitter configured to transmit an identifier in response to an interrogation signal. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising transmitting status information about the pest control device to an interrogator with the wireless communication circuit. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the pest control device is one of a plurality of pest control devices disposed relative to a region to be monitored for presence of the one or more pests. ### Claim 22 A pest control system, comprising: a housing; a monitoring bait member; a sensor; a wireless communication circuit; and a pesticide bait member; wherein the monitoring bait member, the sensor, and the wireless communication circuit are operable to be arranged in a first assembly to be positioned in the housing to detect one or more pests, and the pesticide bait member and the wireless communication circuit are operable to be arranged in a second assembly different than the first assembly, the second assembly being positioned in the housing in place of the first assembly after detection of the one or more pests with the first assembly. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22, further comprising an interrogator to generate an interrogation signal, the wireless communication circuit including a passive transmitter responsive to the interrogation signal to provide an identifier. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22, wherein the first assembly includes a carrying member operable to remove the first assembly from the housing and the sensor includes a substrate comprised of a paper coated by an organic, polymeric compound. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22, wherein the second assembly includes a bait tube member defining a space sized to receive the wireless communication device. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22, further comprising a plurality of pest control devices each including a passive RF transmitter operable to provide a unique identifier in response to an interrogation signal. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22, wherein the wireless communication circuit includes an active RF transmitter. ### Claim 28 A method, comprising: installing a pest control device including a wireless communication circuit electrically connected to a sensor; detecting the presence of one or more pests with the sensor; reconfiguring the pest control device in response to said detecting, said reconfiguring including introducing a pesticide bait member into the pest control device and adjusting the position of the wireless communication circuit; locating the pest control device after said reconfiguring with a hand held interrogator. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein the pest control device includes a first assembly of the monitoring bait member, the sensor, and the wireless communication circuit before said reconfiguring and the pest control device includes a second assembly of the pesticide bait member and the wireless communication circuit after said reconfiguring. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein the sensor includes a substrate comprised of a paper coated with a polymeric organic compound, the pest control device includes a housing sized to receive the first assembly, and the first assembly includes a carrying member to remove the first assembly from the housing. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein the pest control device includes a housing sized to receive the second assembly and the second assembly includes a bait tube with a slot sized to receive the wireless communication circuit after removal from the first assembly. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein the wireless communication circuit includes a passive RF transmitter configured to transmit an identifier in response to an interrogation signal. ### Claim 33 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein the wireless communication circuit is electrically coupled to the sensor by a connection member comprised of an electrically conductive elastomeric material that is configured to apply a biasing force to the sensor to retain the sensor and maintain in a recess maintaining electrical contact therewith. ### Claim 34 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein the wireless communication circuit includes a passive RF transponder, and the wireless communication circuit remains assembled with the pest control device after said reconfiguring in a different assembly than before said reconfiguring.