Pest monitoring system with conductive electrodes

Abstract

To provide a pest monitoring system which can quickly identify whether pests are present.SOLUTION: A pest monitoring system generally includes a circuit, wherein the circuit is initially in a first impedance state that is configured to change to a second impedance state due to pest activity, wherein the second impedance state is lower than the first impedance state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2A

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross - reference to Related Applications This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 529,681, filed Jul. 7, 2017; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 544,428, filed Aug. 11, 2017; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 670,248, filed May 11, 2018, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to pest monitoring systems, and more particularly to pest monitoring systems having conductive electrodes.

Background Art

[0003] Pests can damage raw materials, structures, crops, food, livestock, and other human - related items. In conventional pest monitoring devices, it is often the case that by placing an attractant (or bait) to which pests tend to chew for collection and / or consumption purposes, the search, deterrence, and / or eradication of pests is facilitated.

[0004] In many conventional pest monitoring devices, physical inspection (e.g., manual disassembly) is required to visually determine whether (or to what extent) pests have chewed (or eaten up) the bait. For example, in current termite monitoring systems, typically, a bait matrix (or multiple matrices) is inserted into a physical station housing inserted into a cavity in the ground. During foraging, termites searching for food encounter the station, enter the interior of the station housing, and begin to eat one or more ingestible bait matrices. The bait usually consists of a non - toxic substance or a mixture of a non - toxic substance and a toxic substance (i.e., a pesticidal active ingredient).

[0005] The pest monitoring system can be adopted to determine the timing at which control measures should be applied and / or used, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] The success or failure of a pest monitoring system in detecting pests (e.g., termites) depends on whether it can identify the presence or absence of pests. A system's relative ability to determine the true presence or absence of pests without false detections (indicating the presence of pests when they actually do not exist) or detection omissions (indicating the absence of pests when they actually exist) is an important factor for robust and accurate pest presence determination. By improving this system to quickly identify the presence or absence of pests, the potential for pest control increases, the risk of damage is minimized, and false indications of pest presence or absence are reduced.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] In one embodiment, a pest monitoring system generally includes a circuit that is initially in a first impedance state configured to change to a second impedance state by the activity of pests, and the second impedance state is lower than the first impedance state.

[0009] In another aspect, a pest monitoring system generally comprises a circuit that is initially in a first impedance state configured to change to a second impedance state by the activity of a pest, the second impedance state being lower than the first impedance state. The system also comprises a control unit configured to determine the presence or absence of a pest based on the measured electrical characteristics of the circuit.

[0010] In yet another aspect, a pest monitoring system generally comprises a bait station and central equipment of a connection system of a structure, regardless of the presence or absence of bait. The assembled bait station comprises a circuit that is initially in a first impedance state configured to change to a second impedance state by the activity of a pest, the second impedance state being lower than the first impedance state. The bait station also comprises a control unit configured to transmit a pest presence / absence signal based on the detected change in impedance. The central equipment is configured to receive the pest presence / absence signal from the bait station.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Throughout the several views of the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts.

[0013] Here, referring to the drawings, particularly FIG. 1, a pest monitoring and / or detection system (broadly referred to as a "pest monitoring system") according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is generally indicated by reference numeral 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the system 100 is configured to at least monitor and / or detect pests such as termites (or other insects / arthropods), and in some embodiments, to control them. However, in other possible embodiments, the system 100 may be configured to monitor and / or detect other pests, and in some embodiments, to control them. Other pests include, for example, insects such as cockroaches, ants, rodents such as rats, mice, voles, birds, bats, etc., but are not limited thereto.

[0014] The system 100 can be used for monitoring pests in various applications, including buildings (such as residences, offices, storage facilities, warehouses, etc.), walls, roadways, levees / dams, shipyards, docks, bridges, railway lines, crops (such as sugarcane), orchards, peanuts (such as peanuts), and / or any other suitable applications, but is not limited thereto.

[0015] The illustrated system 100 includes at least one bait station 102 and a gateway 104 that is remotely located from the bait station 102 and that is communicable with the bait station 102 to receive at least signals from the bait station 102 and, in some embodiments, to transmit signals to the bait station 102, as will be shown in more detail below. The term “bait station” appears throughout this disclosure, but should be broadly construed as functioning as a housing for the circuitry described herein that is capable of generating a pest presence signal, rather than being construed as requiring a bait component. As such, a bait station should be considered any housing into which one or more pests can enter and generate a pest presence signal. Similarly, references to a “bait cage” need not include a bait component. Rather, a “bait cage” functions as a cage frame that includes the electrode assembly and other components of the present invention. The gateway 104 may suitably comprise a processor-based or microprocessor-based device (such as a computer or microcontroller) with an associated memory, or any suitable configuration of reduced instruction set circuitry (RISC), application specific integrated circuitry (ASIC), and / or logic circuitry. In other embodiments, the gateway 104 may suitably comprise any circuitry and / or processor capable of performing the functions of the gateway 104 described herein. In yet another embodiment, the gateway 104 may be incorporated into a connection system, including but not limited to a smart home system and / or a home security panel / system. As used herein, the term “signal” is not limited to a particular type of signal transmission method, but broadly represents any suitable type of (preferably) wireless signal transmission (such as WiFi or cellular). Although only one gateway 104 is shown in FIG. 1, it will be appreciated that multiple gateways 104 may be employed and / or that the gateway 104 may be integral to another connection system within a structure.

[0016] In the illustrated embodiment, the gateway 104 is arranged at a distance from each of the bait stations 102 (in FIG. 1, eight bait stations are shown, but any suitable number of bait stations 102 can be used in the system 100). However, it is understood that the gateway 104 may include the components of the bait station 102 and may be configured to function as the bait station 102. For this reason, in one suitable embodiment, one of the gateway 104 and the bait station 102 can be incorporated into a common assembly.

[0017] In one possible embodiment, the pest monitoring system 100 may include a plurality of bait stations 102 arranged at a site (e.g., around a house) for monitoring and / or detecting pest activities, and the gateway 104 may be arranged immovably relative to the site, remotely from the site, and may communicate with the bait stations 102 from a remote location, as will be shown in more detail below. In another possible embodiment, the gateway 104 may be configured for use at the site (e.g., the gateway 104 may be movable relative to the bait station 102 and may include, for example, a suitable handheld device (such as a wireless device) that can be used by a technician at the site).

[0018] Referring to FIG. 2A, each bait station 102 includes a sensor assembly generally indicated at 108, and optionally, a suitable cage frame 101 that surrounds and / or houses the bait and electrode assembly as detailed herein and is coupled to the sensor assembly 108 prior to operation at an installation location (e.g., underground / above ground). The station housing 109 is configured to allow ants to feed on or move an optional bait matrix 124 disposed within the station housing 109, as will be shown in more detail below, by allowing the ants to enter and exit the station housing 109 (e.g., through slits or holes in the station housing). It is understood that the station housing 109 is not required for all embodiments of the bait station 102 and / or the gateway 104. Referring to FIG. 2B, as another feature, for ease of transportation, handling, and embedding, as well as for aesthetic purposes, there are provided a station housing 109 and a cap 103 that hold the sensor assembly 108 coupled to the cage frame 101.

[0019] The illustrated sensor assembly 108 generally includes a sensor holder 110, an electrode assembly 126, and a control unit 128. As will be shown in more detail below, the electrode assembly 126 of the illustrated embodiment is adjacent to or surrounded by the bait matrix 124, and the control unit 128 is configured to selectively supply electrical stimulation to the electrode assembly 126. Also, in certain embodiments, the control unit 128 is operable to transmit a signal indicative of the presence and / or absence of pests (ants) and / or at least one electrical characteristic of the electrode assembly 126 as a function of the electrical stimulation supplied to the electrode assembly 126. In this way, the control unit 128 facilitates remote monitoring via the gateway 104, which is capable of receiving the signal transmitted by the control unit 128.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the water-resistant member 156 may surround the electrode assembly 126. FIGS. 17A and 18A show one embodiment. FIGS. 17B and 18B show alternative embodiments. Therefore, the present invention shall not be limited to a specific shape or design element. The water-resistant member 156 is preferably composed of a foam and may optionally include one or more points of interest, such as ribs 125, that help further promote the collection of pests. The water-resistant member 156 surrounds the electrode assembly 126 and is surrounded by the bait matrix 124 on the other hand. The rib 125 of interest may be a longitudinal rib along the length of the water-resistant member 156 as shown in FIG. 17A, or may be concentrated on a part of the water-resistant member 156, such as the bottom or top, as shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B. Further, as shown in more detail in FIGS. 17 and 18, chamfers 127 and depressions 129 provide additional points of interest for pest collection.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 2A, the illustrated bait matrix 124 has a generally tubular shape (e.g., in the illustrated embodiment, a generally cylindrical shape with an internal passage) defining a first end face 130, a second end face 132, a circumferential outer face 134, and a circumferential inner face 136 that defines an internal cavity 137 of the bait matrix 124.

[0022] Although one embodiment is shown as a cylinder, it is understood that the bait matrix 124 may be of other suitable shapes. For example, the bait matrix 124 may have a tubular shape that is not generally cylindrical (e.g., the tubular shape may have a substantially polygonal cross-section), and / or the cavity may not extend from the first end face 130 to the second end face 132. In other suitable embodiments, the bait matrix 124 may be generally shaped as a sphere, pyramid, cube, or other suitable shape rather than tubular. Regardless of the shape, the bait matrix may include points of interest that promote the collection of pests by the bait matrix 124.

[0023] Also, it is understood that the thickness of the tubular bait matrix 124 shown in FIG. 2A (i.e., the lateral width from the outer surface 134 to the inner surface 136) is for illustrative purposes. The thickness of the bait matrix 124 according to other suitable embodiments may be considerably larger or considerably smaller than the thickness shown in the figure. However, the thickness of the bait matrix 124 may be any suitable thickness without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0024] In a suitable embodiment, the bait matrix 124 can be at least partially or entirely composed of a cellulosic material such as wood, paper, cardboard, etc. that can be eaten or moved by termites. In other suitable embodiments, an agar matrix alone or a combination of an agar matrix with saccharides (i.e., xylose, mannose, galactose, erythritol, aspartame, saccharin) and / or a pure cellulose material may be used as the bait matrix 124. Without departing from some aspects of the present disclosure, any suitable material that can be eaten or moved by termites is considered usable as the bait matrix 124.

[0025] In the illustrated embodiment, referring to FIG. 19A, in some embodiments, the electrode assembly 126 is disposed within the internal cavity 137 of the bait matrix 124 such that the electrode assembly 126 is surrounded by the bait matrix 124. For example, the electrode assembly 126 may be any one of being surrounded by the bait matrix 124, embedded in the bait matrix 124, sealed in the bait matrix 124, or wrapped by the bait matrix 124. In other suitable embodiments, at least a part of the electrode assembly 126 is disposed within the internal cavity 137 of the bait matrix 124. In other suitable embodiments, the electrode assembly 126 is disposed adjacent to, above, below, near, around the bait matrix 124, or at any other suitable location with respect to the bait matrix 124.

[0026] In one embodiment, the sensor assembly 108 comprises a water-resistant member 156 (e.g., a water-resistant, preferably cross-linked closed cell foam sleeve) surrounding the electrode assembly 126. As used herein, water resistance is generally defined as waterproofness, moisture resistance, impermeability, and / or non-water permeability. The water-resistant member 156 is configured to prevent water or moisture from contacting the electrode assembly 126 until a pest actually penetrates the electrode assembly 126 (and thus, does not cause a false indication of the presence or absence of pests). In this regard, the electrode assembly 126 may be configured with a sensitivity profile adjusted to minimize another false detection signaling. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the water-resistant member 156 is generally tubular and sized to fit within the internal cavity 137 of the bait matrix 124 defined by the circumferential inner surface 136. In one embodiment, as shown in the cross-sectional detail of FIG. 20, an additional mesh sleeve 159 surrounds the water-resistant member 156 to generate a cylindrical pressure and ensure the water resistance of the internal cavity 137. The mesh sleeve 159 is preferably composed of polyethylene, further applying pressure and circumferential stress around the water-resistant member and maintaining a tight fit within the bait matrix 124. While the present invention should not be considered limited thereto, the inventors believe that the proximity (i.e., direct contact) of the bait matrix 124 to the water-resistant member 156 increases the likelihood that termites will continue to bore through the bait matrix 124 and enter the water-resistant member 156, thereby generating a signal. Based on the behavior of termites, boring appears to continue until an open space becomes unavailable or becomes available. Thus, in one embodiment, the bait matrix 124 is configured to be in direct contact with the water-resistant member 156.

[0027] In other suitable embodiments, the water-resistant member 156 may be sized and shaped to receive the electrode assembly 126 and may be disposed adjacent to, above, below, in the vicinity of, surrounding, or at any other suitable location relative to the bait matrix 124. In the illustrated embodiment, the water-resistant member 156 extends generally from the first end face 130 to the second end face 132. However, it is understood that the water-resistant member 156 can have any suitable size or shape. In one embodiment, when the electrode assembly is configured within the water-resistant member 156, the water-resistant member 156 is sealed. To ensure a water-tight seal, the water-resistant member 156 is preferably sealed by ultrasonic sealing. The water-resistant member 156 may have a tubular shape that is not generally cylindrical (e.g., the tubular shape may have a substantially polygonal cross-section), and / or the cavity may not extend from the first end face 130 to the second end face 132. In other suitable embodiments, the water-resistant member 156 may be generally shaped as a sphere, pyramid, cube, or other suitable shape rather than tubular. In one embodiment, the bait matrix 124 may be constructed using a water-resistant material such that a separate water-resistant member 156 is not required.

[0028] The water-resistant member 156 can be formed from any suitable water-resistant material. For example, the water-resistant member 156 may be formed using a foamed or extruded polymer such as closed-cell extruded polyethylene, expanded polystyrene, expanded polypropylene, etc. In other examples, the water-resistant member 156 may be a film or coating. For example, in one suitable embodiment, the water-resistant member 156 may be a water-resistant coating applied to the bait matrix 124.

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the electrode assembly 126 includes a first electrode 144 and a second electrode 148. In one embodiment, the electrodes 144, 148 are elongated strips of a conductive material (e.g., copper). In the illustrated embodiment, the electrodes 144, 148 extend parallel to each other and are spaced apart so as not to contact. When attached to the bait station 102, the electrodes 144, 148 extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ground in which the bait station 102 is buried. In a suitable embodiment, the electrodes 144, 148 may be generally “U”-shaped, with a first portion of the electrodes 144, 148 extending substantially perpendicular to the ground, a second portion of the electrodes 144, 148 extending substantially horizontally with respect to the ground along the bottom surface of the bait station 102, and a third portion of the electrodes 144, 148 extending substantially perpendicular to the ground away from the first portion. In other embodiments, the electrodes 144, 148 may be composed of any suitable material and may have any suitable shape, configuration, and / or orientation such that the electrode assembly 126 can function as described herein. As shown in FIGS. 19A (longitudinal section) and 19B (perspective section), in one embodiment, the electrodes 144, 148 fit tightly against the walls of the water-resistant member 156. In one aspect, a preferred embodiment configures the electrode assembly 126 so as to be very close to the walls of the water-resistant member 156 to allow pests to come into contact with the electrode assembly 126. Thus, regardless of the shape, the electrode assembly 126 preferably conforms to the shape of the water-resistant member 156 and the bait matrix 124. Thus, in this regard, it is preferred that the electrode assembly 126 is semi-rigid and can be placed in a limited space so that the bait station 102 can be fully assembled.

[0030] In some suitable embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2A, the electrode assembly 126 includes an electrode track 157 composed of an electrically insulating material (e.g., a rubber or plastic material). The electrode track 157 attaches the first and second electrodes 144, 148 and provides a base that can ensure the proper placement of the electrodes 144, 148 and prevent the electrodes 144, 148 from contacting each other.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2A, the first electrode 144 is coupled to a first terminal 160 of a power supply circuit that transmits a signal for applying an electrical stimulus, and the second electrode 148 is coupled to a second terminal 162 to monitor the state of the sensor assembly 108. Since the electrodes 144 and 148 do not contact each other, the circuit defined by the first terminal 160, the first electrode 144, the second terminal 162, and the second electrode 148 is an open circuit. When the circuit is an open circuit, a very high value close to infinity is returned by measuring electrical characteristics such as impedance. Therefore, when the circuit is open, it can be said to be in a "high impedance state". Alternatively, when the bait station 102, more specifically the bait matrix 124, is being sampled by termites, a conductive material (e.g., soil, water, termite excrement, termite saliva secretion, etc.) is disposed across the electrodes 144 and 148, and the circuit becomes a complete or closed circuit. When the circuit is a closed circuit, a measurable value is returned by measuring the impedance. Therefore, when the circuit is closed, it can be said to be in a "low impedance state". The low impedance state means that the circuit has any impedance lower than the impedance of a circuit in a high impedance state close to infinity. Thus, the activity of termites within the bait station 102 causes a measurable impedance in the overall circuit that is normally open.

[0032] In the illustrated embodiment, the control unit 128 is disposed at least partially within an internal compartment 138 of the sensor holder 110. The control unit 128 is configured to supply a known electrical stimulus to the electrode assembly 126. In one suitable embodiment, the electrical stimulus is a current. Also, the control unit 128 may be operable to transmit, wired or wirelessly, from the bait station 102 to the gateway 104, one or more signals indicating the presence or absence of pests and / or at least one of one or more electrical characteristics (e.g., resistance or reactance) of the electrode assembly 126.

[0033] The control unit 128 may comprise any suitable processor-based device (e.g., a microcontroller with an associated memory storing executable instructions) or any suitable configuration of a reduced instruction set circuit (RISC), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and / or logic circuitry. Alternatively, the control unit 128 may suitably comprise any circuit and / or processor capable of performing the functions of the control unit 128 described herein.

[0034] Also, in a suitable embodiment, the control unit 128 is suitably disposed within the hollow interior compartment 138 of the sensor holder 110 and comprises a suitable power source 139 and functional circuitry (e.g., an electrochemical cell, a battery, an electronic circuit, etc.) for powering the control unit 128 and / or supplying electrical stimulation to the electrode assembly 126 via suitable electrical interconnections. As shown in FIG. 21, in one embodiment, the power source 139 is a coin cell battery 141 that securely holds the battery of the control unit 128 and extends the operating life of the assembled bait station 102. The power source 139 is preferably arranged to minimize RF interference by being remotely located or separated from any antenna. In one embodiment, the use of a retaining snap 143 may be employed to attach the power source 139 in place and secure it away from the wall of the sensor holder 110 that houses the control unit. Further, as shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, it is preferable to form the bottom wall of the sensor holder 110 with connection pins 145, preferably using a crimp hold that is considered to ensure a robust electrical interconnection.

[0035] Alternatively, the power supply 139 may be remotely located from the bait station 102 and may be electrically connected to the control unit 128 and / or the electrode assembly 126 in any suitable manner (e.g., making available a plurality of above-ground or underground terminals external to the bait station 102 and selectively connecting a remote power supply and / or gateway 104 to the control unit 128 and / or the electrode assembly 126 via such terminals). Alternatively, in a passive system, power may be provided in a signal transmitted by the gateway 104 or another suitable device.

[0036] To assemble the bait station 102 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the electrode assembly 126 includes electrodes 144, 148 coupled to an electrode track 157 and is disposed within a waterproof member 156 such that the electrodes 144, 148 extend in a substantially vertical direction. The waterproof member 156 and the electrode assembly 126 disposed therein are disposed within a bait matrix 124, which is disposed within the station housing 109.

[0037] The control unit 128 and the associated power supply 139 are suitably housed within the internal compartment 138 of the sensor holder 110. The sensor holder 110 is configured to be coupled to the station housing 109 using a connection mechanism 140. The connection mechanism 140 may be a screw-type connection mechanism, and the sensor holder 110 is screwed into the station housing 109. As shown in FIG. 24, in one embodiment of the connection mechanism 140, it preferably includes a screw-type connection mechanism, and by compressing the gasket 147 through the connection of the sensor holder 110 to the cage frame 101, the electrode assembly 126 housed within the cage frame 101 is further sealed against water. As shown in more detail in FIG. 25, the cage frame 101 may be provided with channels 149 containing a compressible material 151 such as foam. The sensor holder 110 may be provided with a ribbed ceiling portion 153 along the channels 149, and by connecting the sensor holder 110 to the cage frame 101 of the sensor holder 110, the ceiling portion 153 compresses the compressible material 151, which fills the channels 149 to form a water-tight seal. The connection mechanism 140 includes a switch closed by the sensor holder 110 screwed into the station housing 109. When the switch is closed, it connects the power supply 139 to the control unit 128, facilitating the power-on and operation of the bait station. Therefore, the bait station 102 remains powered off until the sensor holder 110 is screwed into the station housing 109. As shown in FIG. 26, in one embodiment, there is a molded stopper 155a at the bottom of the sensor holder 110, which is along the corresponding stopper 155b at the top of the cage frame 101. When the sensor holder 110 is screwed into the cage frame 101, the stoppers 155a and 155b prevent over-rotation that could damage the electrical contacts. Further, the stoppers 155a and 155b serve as confirmation to the installer that the connection is fixed and the station 102 is assembled. In other embodiments, it may include a visual indicator, an audible indicator, or a spring-loaded contact. As shown in FIG. 24, the stoppers 155a and 155b are arranged on the outer periphery to minimize the physical stress of the molded plastic material and more strictly control the tolerance range.

[0038] The control unit 128 is operably connected to the electrodes 144 and 148 via the power supply 139 and the first terminal 160 and the second terminal 162 of the functional circuit, respectively, so as to be able to selectively supply electrical stimulation to the electrodes 144 and 148. The first electrode 144 and the second electrode 148 extend in parallel with each other without contacting each other at all. Thus, since the electrodes 144 and 148 are coupled to the first terminal 160 and the second terminal 162 of the functional circuit, respectively, an open circuit is formed by the space between the electrodes 144 and 148.

[0039] The waterproof member 156 appropriately surrounds and protects the electrodes 144 and 148. More specifically, the waterproof member 156 is configured to protect the electrodes 144 and 148 from moisture. In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, both the bait matrix 124 and the waterproof member 156 surround and protect the electrodes 144 and 148.

[0040] Once the sensor assembly 108 is assembled, it can be placed without being included in the station housing 109, or it may be appropriately inserted into a station housing that includes at least a portion of the sensor assembly 108. The sensor assembly 108 can be appropriately buried at least partially underground at a site where termite activity is suspected or detected without the use of a station housing. On the other hand, the illustrated embodiments of the sensor assembly 108 and / or its station housing may be appropriately configured to facilitate the placement, monitoring, deterrence, and / or eradication of any suitable type of pest in any suitable manner by above-ground placement. For example, the sensor assembly 108 and / or its station housing may be configured for suitable above-ground placement on the ground, on a surface substantially horizontal with respect to the ground, on a surface inclined with respect to the ground, on an attachment surface perpendicular to the ground (inside or outside walls of a house or building, a tree, a fence post or railing, underfloor space, etc.), or at other suitable above-ground locations. In a suitable embodiment, it is understood that the pest monitoring system 100 may comprise one or more underground bait stations 102, one or more above-ground bait stations 102, and / or a combination of underground and above-ground bait stations 102.

[0041] After placement of the bait station 102, the control unit 128 can operate to supply electrical stimulation to the electrodes 144, 148. During or after application of the electrical stimulation to the electrodes 144, 148, the control unit 128 can measure the electrical characteristics (e.g., resistance or reactance) of the electrode assembly 126 and operate to transmit a signal indicating the presence or absence of pests and / or the electrical characteristics to the gateway 104.

[0042] In one embodiment, the control unit 128 may be configured to operate autonomously in the sense that it performs automatic (e.g., programmed, intermittent) supply of electrical stimulation to the electrodes 144, 148 and measurement of electrical characteristics. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the control unit 128 is programmed to generate a status report at predetermined time intervals (e.g., once a day, twice a day, once a week, etc.). Information included in the status report may include, but is not limited to, impedance measured low information, low battery status information of the station, and / or low signal strength information of the station. The control unit 128 transmits the status report to the gateway 104 according to a predetermined time interval. Since the control unit 128 measures the electrical characteristics and transmits the status report immediately, it is not necessary to store data in the control unit. In another suitable embodiment, the control unit 128 is configured to transmit a status report signal to the gateway 104 only when the measured electrical characteristics indicate the presence of pests.

[0043] In an alternative embodiment, the control unit 128 may be configured to perform auxiliary operations under the instruction of a suitable remote control system in the sense that it supplies electrical stimulation to the electrodes 144, 148 and / or transmits related signals to the gateway 104 when instructed by the remote control system. For this reason, in some embodiments of the control unit 128, signals may be transmitted to the gateway 104 in real time (e.g., every time the bait matrix 124 is monitored, immediately thereafter), and in other embodiments of the control unit 128, events of transmitting batch-type signals to the gateway 104 when planned or instructed may be stored in its memory.

[0044] Also, in some embodiments, as a threshold value for determining the presence or absence of termites, a single readout or measurement of electrical characteristics may be set. The control unit 128 may store or record the occurrence of a single measurement of electrical characteristics and transmit the occurrence when requested (i.e., by a timing algorithm, an external request by the gateway 104, etc.). For example, in a suitable embodiment, the control unit 128 may monitor the presence or absence of termites by checking once a day. Alternatively, the threshold value for determining the presence or absence of termites may be set to request a plurality of measurement results of electrical characteristics.

[0045] When the illustrated embodiment of the sensor assembly 108 is deployed, the termites identify the positions of the bait matrix 124 and the sensor assembly 108. When the termites penetrate the bait matrix 124 and the water-resistant member 156, they remove particles from the bait matrix 124 and the water-resistant member 156 (e.g., by perforating, foraging, feeding, excavating, moving, or separating, etc.). Some of the particles may be returned to the nest and / or the gallery system and may be consumed / accumulated. It should be understood that the bait station 102 may be provided with only the bait matrix 124, only the water-resistant member 156, or both the bait matrix 124 and the water-resistant member 156.

[0046] When particles are removed from the bait matrix 124 and the water-resistant member 156 by termites, the electrodes 144, 148 are exposed to moisture intrusion and / or termites (see FIG. 3) that deposit the material 200 across the electrodes 144, 148. Examples of the material 200 include water, soil, termite excrement, termite saliva secretions, dead termites, and the like. The open circuit formed by the electrodes 144, 148 and the terminals 160, 162 of the functional circuit is closed by the material 200 or moisture disposed across the electrodes 144, 148, resulting in measurable electrical characteristics. For example, an open circuit typically has a resistance close to infinity, while a low-impedance circuit has a measurable value. Since the electrodes 144, 148 are relatively close to each other, when a termite penetrates the water-resistant member 156, the material 200 spreads, is disposed, or accumulates on the electrode track 157, electrically contacting between the electrodes 144, 148. Therefore, the activity of the termites closes the circuit between the electrodes 144, 148, and the circuit becomes a low-impedance state.

[0047] It should be understood that the electrodes 144, 148 may be arranged in any configuration with respect to the ground in which the electrodes 144, 148 are buried, including, but not limited to, a vertical configuration with respect to the ground, a horizontal configuration with respect to the ground, an oblique configuration with respect to the ground, combinations thereof, or any suitable configuration as required. Furthermore, it is understood that the electrodes may be arranged at various distances from each other, and the shortest distance between the electrodes may be any distance greater than 0, 10 micrometers (μm), 100 μm, 1 millimeter (mm), 10 mm, and more preferably up to 5 centimeters (cm), up to 2 cm, up to 10 mm, up to 5 mm, up to 1 mm, up to 100 μm, or up to 10 μm. However, such ranges may be adjusted according to the size and configuration of the desired device.

[0048] In the illustrated embodiment, the control unit 128 determines the presence or absence of termites, and it is sufficient if measurable electrical characteristics are generated to indicate such presence or absence in the signal transmitted to the gateway 104. Since the circuit is normally an open circuit and in a high-impedance state, the high-impedance state provides a measurable characteristic (a high-impedance value close to infinity) as a known reference. The circuit becomes a low-impedance state only when the material 200 contacts between the electrodes 144 and 148, indicating that the termite has penetrated the water-resistant member 156. Therefore, in contrast to the actual change in the measured value, obtaining measurable electrical characteristics serves as an indicator of the presence or absence of pests (termites). Thus, for detecting the presence or absence of pests, it is not necessary for the control unit 128 to store / transmit the measurement results.

[0049] In an alternative embodiment, the electrical impedance varies based on the amount of the material 200 disposed on the electrodes 144 and 148. For example, the greater the amount of the material 200 disposed on the electrodes 144 and 148, the smaller the electrical resistance. The measured level of electrical resistance may be transmitted to the gateway 104 periodically for additional determination, such as the change in termite activity over time.

[0050] In the illustrated embodiment, with each pulse of the current supplied to the electrodes 144 and 148, the control unit 128 measures the electrical characteristics and determines whether termites are present based on the measured electrical characteristics. For example, in a suitable embodiment, the electrical characteristic is electrical resistance. While the circuit is open, a value close to infinity is returned by measuring the electrical resistance, but when the circuit is closed, the electrical resistance returns a measurable value. Alternatively, in another suitable embodiment, the electrical characteristic is electrical reactance. While the circuit is open, a value approximately zero is returned by measuring the electrical reactance, but when the circuit is closed, the electrical reactance becomes a different measurable value. When the presence of termites is determined, the control unit 128 transmits a signal indicating the presence of termites to the gateway 104.

[0051] The control unit 128 is also considered capable of transmitting signals indicating other appropriate characteristics of the bait matrix 124 as well. Further, by the control unit 128 and / or the gateway 104 utilizing all such characteristics of the bait matrix 124 and its environment, a predictive model or an indicator model may be created thereby enabling the property owner to be provided with a situation report regarding pests.

[0052] Also, in an alternative embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when powered by an external device 304, the control unit 128 may include one or more switches that can be turned on, activated, reset, or start other such functions by the bait station 102 and / or the gateway 104. Such switches include mechanical operating contacts and interconnections, magnetic switches, RF switches, ultrasonic switches, manual switches, or any other of the above-mentioned switches that can be selected to add. Assuming possible underground locations of the pest monitoring system 100, passive and / or proximity switches such as magnetic leads, inductive and capacitive, seismic, infrared, photographic, thermal, electric field, chemical, and / or ultrasonic switches may be preferred over active and / or manual switches in some cases.

[0053] In yet another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the pest monitoring system 100 may preferably use a magnetic reed switch 302 to activate, turn on, and / or reset one or more bait stations 102 and / or one or more gateways 104. As shown in FIG. 5, the magnetic reed switch 302 may supply power to the circuit board. Considering that the pest monitoring system 100 can be installed in an underground environment, the magnetic reed switch 302 provides various advantages such as being a lock switch, consuming less power than other options such as ultrasonic switches, and being able to be installed internally to enable a reliable surrounding sealed housing.

[0054] Before the magnetic reed switch 302 is actuated by the external device 304, one or more of the bait stations 102 and / or the gateway 104 may conserve energy in a sleep state or an off state. When power is supplied to one or more of the bait stations 102 and / or one or more of the gateways 104 by using the magnetic reed switch 302, one or more of the bait stations 102 will be in a discovery mode or a management mode at this time and can search for one or more gateways 104. It is understood that by using another type of switch, one or more of the bait stations 102 and / or one or more of the gateways 104 may be activated, turned on, and / or reset.

[0055] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a pest monitoring network 600 that provides a communication path for the pest monitoring and detection system 100 of FIG. 1.

[0056] The pest monitoring network 600 includes bait stations 102 communicatively coupled to the gateway 104. The pest monitoring network 600 is configured as a private network having one gateway 104 and a plurality of bait stations 102 for each installation location. The gateway 104 functions as a packet forwarder to a long-range radio (LoRa) network server present in the cloud service 602. The gateway 104 is connected to the Internet through a residential owner's WiFi or Ethernet connection or a cellular backhaul equipped with a cellular SIM card. A smartphone application may be used to assist in the installation setup and communication device provisioning. When the network server transmits a packet to the middleware / application platform, the packet is decoded and used for notification of important events to a project management professional (PMP), such as the interpretation and routing of the collected data, the execution of analysis, and the detection of termites and the need for device maintenance.

[0057] When the sensor holder 110 is screwed into the station housing 109 to close the switch and apply the power supply 139 to the control unit 128, when the bait station 102 is first activated, the control unit 128 enters the "setup mode". During the setup mode, the bait station 102 periodically sends a registration request to the gateway 104 via the control unit 128 until it receives a confirmation of registration from the gateway 104. After the registration is confirmed, the bait station 102 transitions to the normal operation mode and sends a status update in the form of a status transmission packet to the gateway 104 according to a predetermined time interval (for example, once a day). The status transmission packet includes, but is not limited to, the station ID, the report number, the sensor impedance measurement result, the battery voltage measurement result, and / or the signal strength of the most recently received confirmation from the gateway 104.

[0058] The packet structure from the bait station 102 to the gateway 104 is preamble>PHDR>PHDR_CRC>PHY payload>CRC.

[0059] The selected transmission mode between the bait station 102 and the gateway 104 is LoRa, which is a low-bandwidth modulation method using an unlicensed frequency spectrum with the advantage of a transmission distance of over 1 kilometer and can pass through many obstacles. The power used in LoRa is small, and since the reception window after each transmission from the bait station 102 is short, the bait station 102 can also shift to the low-power mode during the reporting interval to save power.

[0060] The gateway 104 is configured to collect data from the bait station 102 and pass the information to a network server existing in the cloud. In addition to the data received from each bait station 102, the gateway 104 may also add additional parameters such as the time stamp of each station report and / or the measurement signal strength from each bait station 102.

[0061] The uplink from the gateway 104 to the cloud is an Internet connection that can be configured to connect using any suitable known method. In one embodiment, the Internet connection is made using a digital cellular network (e.g., 3G or 4G), similar to that used by a smartphone to access the Internet. In another embodiment, a WiFi connection to a customer WiFi network may be established to pass data to an Internet cloud database. In yet another embodiment, the gateway 104 can also be directly connected to the homeowner's router through a wired Ethernet connection.

[0062] The network server exists within the cloud service 602 and is used to record which bait stations 102 are associated with which gateways 104 and locations within the customer's home. It also undertakes processes such as (a) device activation to join the network, (b) wireless adjustment according to the area / band used, such as device duty cycle negotiation (e.g., waiting for X seconds between each frame) or bandwidth negotiation, (c) wireless channel selection, (d) device class support (A, C, B), (e) frame duplicate elimination (when multiple gateways receive a device frame), (f) frame downlink routing (selecting the optimal downlink path), (g) frame integrity (ensuring the data is not corrupted), (h) frame encryption / decryption (to avoid data eavesdropping), (i) frame counter check (to prevent replay attacks), (j) backward compatibility for the entire LoRaWAN version, (k) real-time routing of data packets from the end point to the application server, (l) authentication of security keys between the end node, network server, and application server, and (m) management of network efficiency measurement criteria such as network throughput, network availability, packet loss, packet delay, and / or packet delay jitter.

[0063] The network server sends data to the application server through the IP address, after which the monitoring entity accesses it to perform (a) packet decryption, (b) analysis, (c) PMP-related tasks, (d) SAP-related tasks, (e) fulfillment, and / or (f) marketing communication.

[0064] The gateway will send the uplink message to the network in the format of preamble > PHDR > PHDR_CRC > PHY payload > CRC.

[0065] Also, the network server is responsible for sending the necessary downlink messages to the gateway. The packet structure is preamble > PHDR > PHDR_CRC > PHY payload.

[0066] At a high level, the middleware / application platform is a group of micro-cloud services that constitute an on-demand, scalable, and secure computing system existing on a public or private cloud. This platform enables the discovery, identification, cataloging, connection, and control of the gateway 104 and the bait station 102 related to the IoT project.

[0067] The device connects to the platform via MQTT, WiFi, IP, cellular, or satellite. This connection may be direct or integrated via a gateway / network or a mobile device. Once the device is connected to the platform, the data is (if applicable) normalized and, via the REST API, (a) data storage / management when the service provider makes the data available for mining historical data via the API, (b) scheduling of timed events based on specific dates and time zones, (c) SMS / email alerts based on the exceeding or satisfaction of specific thresholds, (d) If / Then event triggers that facilitate notifications to the service provider such as termite detection, low battery, and / or low signal strength between either the gateway 104 and the bait station 102, (e) data visualization, and (f) LoRa tracking and other functions become available. According to the REST API, external business intelligence, artificial intelligence, and other third-party services can consume or interact with the middleware / application layer.

[0068] The installation of the system 100 begins with the installer installing the gateway 104 inside the customer's home. It is typically installed indoors with access to commercial power and a planned way to access the Internet. After the gateway 104 is powered and connected via WiFi, Ethernet, or cellular, it enters a confirmation mode indicated by LED status lighting. When the connection status of the gateway 104 is complete (i.e., solid green LED lighting), the installer reads the gateway ID from the barcode label using a smartphone application and registers the gateway 104 through authentication steps such as (a) gateway uplink to the network server (with downlink confirmation), (b) network server packet authentication, (c) network server and application server authentication, (d) downlink from the network server to the gateway, and (e) application to smartphone application authentication.

[0069] When the cellular network is used as the uplink, gateway communication becomes possible by inputting the SIM card data of the gateway 104. When the customer WiFi network is used, it may be necessary to establish a local WiFi connection between the installer's smartphone and the gateway and input the customer's network SSID and password.

[0070] The installer selects the placement of the bait station 102 according to the guidelines and installs each bait station 102 in the ATBS housing. The installer registers each station by using the installation smartphone application to read the barcode ID of each bait station 102.

[0071] As described above, when the installer screws the electronic module into the bait assembly, the bait station 102 starts up and enters the setup mode, and broadcasts a registration request periodically (for example, every 30 seconds). Then, the gateway 104 receives the request and sends it to the network application server for authentication. The application server confirms that the installation of the bait station 102 is completed by communicating with the smartphone application. Then, the smartphone application notifies the installer to move to the next station.

[0072] After installing the last bait station 102, the installer selects the option to complete the installation on the smartphone application. The system turns on and performs a test confirmation by sending all real-time station data to the gateway 104 that communicates with the network and the application server for verification. The smartphone application confirms that the installation is completed and notifies the installer of the installation location. Then, the system enters the normal operation mode and transmits data at a predetermined time period as described above.

[0073] The gateway 104 is capable of (a) internal and / or (b) external communication. The internal communication of the gateway 104 may be performed using a network. The external communication of the gateway 104 may be sent to the home security (HS) hub 402 and further to the communication portal 404 as shown in FIGS. 7-12. It is understood that the gateway 104 and the HS hub 402 can transmit data externally from the gateway 104 and / or the HS hub 402 and / or the communication portal 404 using WiFi connection, Internet connection, Ethernet connection, cellular connection, and / or any other suitable form of communication means. The HS hub 402 and / or the communication portal 404 may be provided by customers using the pest monitoring system 100 and / or any other external source. The HS hub 402 and / or the communication portal 404 enable the periodic recording of sensor / network data to an external host cloud. An application programming interface (API) may be used for the transmission of data from the gateway 104 to the cloud. Also, an API may be used for the transmission of data from the bait station 102 to the gateway 104. Also, an API may be used for the data transmission from the cloud to the web interface. The API may be described in various different formats such as JSON, XML, or MessagePack, protobuf, bson, avro, or any other binary format, other text-based formats or binary serializations, etc.

[0074] In some suitable embodiments, the gateway 104 may be incorporated into a connection system or network, including but not limited to, a smart home system and / or a home security panel / system (as shown in FIGS. 7-12). In such embodiments, the HS hub 402 and / or the communication portal 404 function as the gateway 104, and the bait station 102 may communicate directly with the HS hub 402 and / or the communication portal 404. In such communication, it is preferred to use a WiFi connection, but an Internet connection, an Ethernet connection, a cellular connection, and / or any other suitable form of communication means may be used for data transmission. Also, if at least a part of the bait station 102 is underground, a low-power wide area network (LPWAN or LoRaWAN) connection may be used for communication between the bait station 102 and the HS hub 402 and / or the communication portal 404.

[0075] In an exemplary embodiment, the gateway 104 is communicatively coupled to a plurality of bait stations 102 and the HS hub 402 and / or the communication portal 404. The gateway 104 acts as a gateway between the plurality of bait stations 102 and the HS hub 402 and / or the communication portal 404. In an exemplary embodiment, the gateway 104 provides a secure communication link between the bait station 102 and the HS hub 402 and / or the communication portal 404, while preventing cyber security threats through communication filtering. In an exemplary embodiment, the gateway 104 establishes a secure communication channel with each of the bait stations 102. The secure communication channel is a two-way communication channel. In some embodiments, the secure communication channel transmits and receives encrypted data. In some other embodiments, the secure communication channel requires including authentication information in the communication. The secure communication channel may be protected in other ways to enable the systems and methods described herein to function.

[0076] Gateway 104 may have two different modes of operation: (a) a management mode (which may also be referred to as a maintenance mode or a discovery mode) that enables the detection of the bait station 102 by the gateway 104 and its addition to the network, or (b) a reporting mode. When the gateway 104 is set to the management mode, it searches for the bait station 102 to be added to its network and sends test packets to the discovered bait station 102. It may be desirable for the gateway 104 to default to the management mode upon its first activation. Once the bait station 102 is attached to the network of the gateway 104, it will not attempt to connect to any other network unless otherwise specified and / or reset. It should be understood that both the gateway 104 and the bait station 102 may require setting to the management mode with respect to the network formed. Also, the gateway 104 may be set to the management mode by using a mobile device application. When setting up the pest monitoring system 100, the installer may first turn on the gateway 104 and set it to the management mode, and then form the network of the pest monitoring system by activating each individual bait station 102. The pest monitoring system 100 preferably communicates using a star network as described herein, in which each bait station 102 communicates directly with the gateway 104.

[0077] In addition, the gateway 104 may have two different communication modes: (a) internal communication on the pest monitoring system network for transmitting or receiving information with the bait station 102, or (b) external communication for transmitting or receiving information with remote devices and / or the cloud. Each bait station 102 may be configured to automatically send a signal to the gateway 104 in response to a determination of the presence or absence of pest activity in order to receive data from the bait station 102, and / or the gateway 104 may check the individual bait stations 102 on the network at predetermined intervals.

[0078] The gateway 104 may be aware of the bait station 102 belonging to its network. On the other hand, the bait station 102 itself does not specifically recognize the counterpart it is communicating with. The gateway 104 is configured to store the data at least until it is sent to an external location and / or device from the bait station 102. The gateway 104 preferably transmits the data to the cloud or an external source upon receiving an instruction and / or when the time interval programmed in the firmware of the bait station 102 and / or the gateway 104 elapses. It is understood that the gateway 104 may also transmit the data to the cloud and / or an external source at a programmed time interval and / or in response to a request from a mobile application used in a remote device, as will be described in more detail below.

[0079] It is understood that the gateway 104 may be configured to function as both the bait station 102 and / or the gateway 104, and may also be capable of external communication in addition to internal communication with other bait stations 102 and / or gateways 104.

[0080] As shown in FIG. 5, the gateway 104 may have a magnetic reed switch 302 and / or an ultrasonic switch 301. The ultrasonic sensor may supply power to the ultrasonic switch 301 on the gateway 104 and may be used for the stop / start cycle of the gateway 104. The ultrasonic switch 301 may enable remote activation of the gateway 104 using a remote device. As a result, instead of waiting for the gateway 104 to send out data for each of its scheduled downloads, the data stored in the gateway 104 can be instantaneously downloaded at that timing. It is understood that the data stored in the gateway 104 may be the latest report data from the bait station 102 to the gateway 104.

[0081] A mobile client such as a telephone or a handheld device can perform operations such as (a) obtaining a list of all the bait stations 102 connected to the gateway 104, (b) resetting the bait station and / or the gateway 104, (c) linking the gateway 104 to the customer's home network (such as a WiFi network or a cellular phone network), (d) setting a host cloud report, (e) checking the customer's home network, (f) removing the bait station 102 from the network, (g) setting the bait station 102 and / or the gateway 104 to discovery mode, and / or (h) erasing the entire network.

[0082] In some embodiments, the ultrasonic switch 301 may be more preferable than other types of switches, such as infrared switches, as it can function better in the underground environment. The ultrasonic switch 301 relies on a combination of an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver. When the transmitter emits an ultrasonic signal, it is wirelessly transmitted to the ultrasonic receiver and then converted by the ultrasonic receiver into an electrical signal that can be used for various functions. In the pest monitoring system 100 which is the subject of the present disclosure, the ultrasonic switch 301 or device is present within the sensor holder 110 which is part of the pest monitoring system 100. The gateway 104 and / or the bait station 102 in the pest monitoring system 100 may be installed within a plastic sensor housing (not shown) installed underground, on the ground surface, or above ground. Also, the components of the pest monitoring system 100 may be similarly installed underground, on the ground surface, or above ground without using a plastic sensor housing. The signal emitted by the ultrasonic transmitter needs to pass through any sensor housing material in addition to the sensor cover. Also, the ultrasonic signal may need to pass through other materials such as soil, mulch, or walls, concrete, and / or artificial barriers (i.e., organic or inorganic). In addition to the underground environment, it is preferable to use ultrasonic signals rather than infrared rays because of the high ability to transmit through the plastic material around the device. The use of the ultrasonic switch 301 has been proven to be effective in that tests are conducted on-site and the required operating functions can be activated within the pest monitoring system 100. It is understood that the ultrasonic transmitter may be any type of handheld device capable of emitting ultrasonic signals.

[0083] In one embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 12, the pest monitoring system 100 may be directly incorporated into the connection system or the HS hub 402. For the purposes of the present application, it is understood that the connection system means any automatic or wireless interconnection and / or connection system within industrial, residential and / or commercial facilities. The connection system may have a communication central point or device that collects the communication of all devices, such as the HS hub 402. Also, according to the connection system, it is understood that various devices within an industrial, residential or commercial facility can communicate with each other or with a central location. Such devices include, but are not limited to, fire / smoke detectors, intrusion detectors, medical alert devices, energy management devices, water / leak detectors, irrigation systems, smart home appliances, lighting mechanisms, door locks, window sensors, video / audio devices, etc. Further, it is understood that the connection system may communicate externally through the HS hub 402 and / or the communication portal 404 to a distributed network system or the communication portal 404 from the facility 400, or to another external source such as a cloud, a single server system, or a similar system. The pest monitoring system 100 may be compatible with residential and / or commercial connection systems and / or distributed network systems. The pest monitoring system 100 may be directly installed and may be incorporated by a service provider into a part of an existing and / or personal connection system, including but not limited to home security providers, construction contractors, pest management specialists, other technology service providers, and / or facility owners.

[0084] As described above, the pest monitoring system 100 is designed to detect pest activity within, on, or around the consumable and / or movable bait matrix 124. In addition to industrial facilities, commercial facilities, and / or residential structures 400, one or more bait stations 102 and at least one gateway 104 may be installed at intervals at a distance determined to be effective for detecting pest activity, in proximity to levees, docks, railroad tracks, and such other wood-based structures. Such intervals between the various bait stations 102 and / or gateways 104 may be 5 - 30 feet, 5 - 15 feet, and 1 - 100 feet.

[0085] Removal of a portion of the bait matrix 124 by a pest may cause a signal to be emitted that is transmitted from an individual bait station 102 to a gateway 104 or to a distributed network system for transmission to, but not limited to, data management, storage, analysis, and / or certifiers including, without limitation, technology providers, installation companies, and facility owners. As shown in FIGS. 7 through 12, the signal may be transmitted from the gateway 104 through the HS hub 402 of the connection system to the communication portal 404 and beyond. Signals indicating pest activity may be further routed by service providers (406, 412) of the connection system to appropriate recipients (410, 413, 414, 416, 418, etc.), including, but not limited to, technology owners, certified service providers, and / or facility / property owners 400. The certified service providers (414, 416) may be notified of a potential pest threat and may be required to respond thereto.

[0086] By utilizing existing technologies, infrastructure, and expertise common in the security and surveillance industries, not limited to these, the complexity of the monitoring process is reduced, threats are communicated, and responses to threats are facilitated. Incorporation of the pest monitoring system 100 into a connection system (not limited to this) may provide the same level of facility protection and peace of mind as originally provided by the security and surveillance industries, including, but not limited to, life safety (fire, intrusion, medical) and / or lifestyle (temperature, lighting, doors, etc.) management that does not require traditional visual inspections of pest activities. Combining pest monitoring with another home security / surveillance system provides greater comfort and peace of mind to property owners. When pests are detected by the pest monitoring system 100, it is understood that an alert may be transmitted directly to a security company and / or sent to one or more of a pest monitoring provider, a contact at the monitored facility, a manager, or an owner, and / or the company providing the pest monitoring system 100.

[0087] In some embodiments, upon receiving a signal from the bait station 102 indicating the presence of termites, the HS hub 402 generates an alert to notify the owner / contact of the building / structure. This alert may include, but is not limited to, displaying a pest alert on a smart TV connected to the HS hub 402, flashing the lighting within the building / structure in a predetermined sequence, and / or sounding the doorbell of the building / structure in a predetermined sequence.

[0088] The communication of the data collected by the gateway 104 may be performed by various means, and may include communication with one or more of (a) an HS hub 402 that receives data from the bait station 102 (or the gateway 104), (b) a communication portal 404 that enables data transmission from a data source (regardless of the presence or absence of the HS hub 402) to the cloud and may be equipped with devices such as a WiFi router and a mobile phone, (c) an HS company data service 406 that can host cloud data that may have been transmitted from the communication portal, (d) a service provider 410 such as a home security company, (e) a DM company or a data management company 412 / 413, (f) a pest management professional "PMP" who can deal with any detected pests (regardless of the presence or absence of the routing services 414 / 416), (g) a PM routing service 418 that notifies the PMP, (h) a resident or property owner 400, and / or (i) a cloud service network provider 407. FIGS. 7 to 12 give examples of various communication paths. These paths are adjustable, and it is understood that the common goal of the pest monitoring system 100 is to ultimately provide data regarding the presence of pests from the location of the system 100 to service providers such as the property owner and / or the pest management professional. To achieve this purpose, it is understood that various intermediate communication paths can be used.

[0089] Another embodiment of the present disclosure is a method for determining whether a termite (or other insect / arthropod) that has consumed a bait after placing the bait at the site is the same as a termite (or other insect / arthropod) that has entered the facility at the site. Therefore, it is useful to provide a bait that facilitates such determination.

[0090] In one embodiment, the bait generally includes a polysaccharide carrier material and a marker material mixed with the carrier material. The marker material is consumable by an insect (or another arthropod) and includes a substance that facilitates determination that the insect (or another arthropod) is actively eating the bait when observing the insect (or another arthropod).

[0091] In another embodiment, a method of monitoring insects generally includes placing a bait at a first location on site, the bait including a marker material that facilitates determination that insects / arthropods are actively consuming the bait. The method also includes monitoring the activity of insects / arthropods at the bait, detecting the level of activity of insects / arthropods at the bait as a result of the monitoring, and visually inspecting a second location on site with respect to the activity of insects / arthropods as a result of the detection. The method further includes observing the insects / arthropods at the second location to determine that the insects / arthropods have consumed the marker material and are actively consuming the bait.

[0092] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an exemplary bait matrix 124 that can be used in conjunction with a pest monitoring system 100 (shown in FIG. 1) that includes a conductive bait matrix 1400 and a non-conductive bait matrix 1402. In one preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that a “conductive bait matrix” generally means a bait matrix that includes conductive particles. It should also be understood that the bait may contain conductive particles but may not be conductive itself. For the purposes of the present disclosure, this type of bait may sometimes also be referred to as a “conductive bait”. In one embodiment, the bait matrix 124 includes only the conductive bait matrix 1400.

[0093] However, in other embodiments, it may be preferred that the bait matrix 124 includes one or more portions, at least one portion including the conductive bait matrix 1400 and a second portion including the non-conductive bait matrix 1402.

[0094] Furthermore, in other suitable embodiments, it is understood that the bait matrix 124 can be non-conductive (i.e., include only the non-conductive bait matrix 1402 that substantially does not contain conductive particles).

[0095] The conductive bait matrix 1400 may be up to 5%, up to 10%, up to 15%, up to 30%, up to 50%, up to 75%, and / or up to 100% of the size of the entire bait matrix 124 (the conductive portion 1400 and the non-conductive portion 1402).

[0096] In a suitable embodiment, as shown in Table 2 below and more particularly shown in Example 1 of this specification, the conductive bait matrix 1400 is strongly accepted by pests and may be preferred for consumption or movement by pests.

[0097] Furthermore, it is understood that the bait matrix 124 shown in FIG. 1 can be strongly accepted by pests and may be preferred for consumption or movement by pests without including the conductive bait matrix 1400.

[0098] The bait matrix 124 according to one embodiment has a substantially solid configuration. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the bait matrix 124 may be semi-solid (e.g., in the form of a gel) or substantially liquid (e.g., in the form of a fluid suspension). In a particularly suitable embodiment, the bait matrix 124 is an extruded bait matrix.

[0099] The bait matrix 124 and / or the conductive bait matrix 1400 according to a suitable embodiment includes a carrier material and a plurality of conductive particles and / or a plurality of particles that increase acceptability. It is understood that the non-conductive bait matrix 1402 may not contain or may not sufficiently contain conductive particles for conductivity and / or charge transport. Also, it is understood that the conductive bait matrix 1400 may be only a part (the conductive part 1400) of the bait matrix 124. Further, it is understood that a charge may or may not be applied to the conductive bait matrix 1400. The conductive particles or feeding-stimulating particles according to one embodiment may be metal particles such as iron, zinc, magnesium, copper, or aluminum, but are not limited thereto. The particles may be in any suitable particle form such as dust-like, oxide-like, powder-like, slag-like, flake-like, or other suitable particle forms.

[0100] In other embodiments, the conductive particles or feeding-stimulating particles are semi-metallic or non-metallic conductive particles. Suitable examples according to one embodiment include, but are not limited to, carbon-based particles such as graphite, carbon nanotube fragments, carbon black, coke, and carbonized carbon powder.

[0101] In a particularly suitable embodiment, the conductive particles or feeding-stimulating particles are graphite particles. Graphite is available in various types such as flake graphite, amorphous graphite, scaly graphite, expandable graphite, or highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG).

[0102] Graphites are commercially available in various grades for various applications, such as EDM grade (e.g., described in "Properties and Characteristics of Graphite, For the EDM Industry", Fifth Printing - February 2002, 1987, Poco Graphite, Inc., POCO Graphite, Inc., 300 Old Greenwood Rd. Decatur, TX 76234), industrial grade (e.g., described in "Industrial Material Solutions", Poco Graphite Inc., brochures IND - 92480 - 0514, 6204 - 7085INK - 0414, all 2014), semiconductor grade, ion implantation grade, biomedical grade (e.g., described in "Biomedical Grade Graphites", Poco Graphite Inc., Brochure IND - 7334 - 0514), and Glassmate grade (e.g., described in "Glassmate", Poco Graphite Inc., brochure GLA 102930 - 0214, 2014).

[0103] It is well known that different types and grades of graphite often differ in one or more of their properties, such as density, Shore hardness, Rockwell hardness, flexural strength, thermal expansion, thermal conductivity, heat capacity, emissivity, compressive strength, electrical resistivity, or average particle size.

[0104] Generally, any type and grade of graphite may be used, assuming that the incorporation into the bait matrix promotes the taste preference of the bait matrix. In one suitable embodiment, the material containing the conductive particles is graphite provided by a graphite manufacturer (e.g., Asbury Graphite Mills, Inc.) as a conductive filler for manufacturing a conductive polymer. In one embodiment, the material containing the conductive particles is ultrafine graphite and / or super - large surface area graphite.

[0105] In a suitable embodiment, the average particle size of the graphite may be 1 μm to 20 μm, 1 μm to 15 μm, 1 μm to 10 μm, 1 μm to 5 μm, or 1 μm to 3 μm. Methods for determining the average particle size are well known to those skilled in the art. In one embodiment, the surface area of the graphite is 1 m 2 / g to 500 m 2 / g, 20 m 2 / g to 400 m 2 / g, 50 m 2 / g to 300 m 2 / g.

[0106] Electrical resistivity (also known as resistivity, specific electrical resistance, or volume resistivity) is an inherent property that quantifies the strength with which a given material opposes the flow of electric current. Those skilled in the art are familiar with methods for measuring electrical resistivity. For example, one standard method for measuring the electrical resistivity of a graphite sample is described in ASTM C611-98.

[0107] Table 1: Types of Graphite Provided by Asbury Graphite Mills, Inc. for the Production of Conductive Polymers

[0108]

Table 1

[0109] In one embodiment, the conductive bait matrix 1400 contains a sufficient amount of conductive particles, preferably graphite, to provide an electrical resistance of the conductive bait matrix 1400 in the range of 1 kΩ to 500 kΩ, 10 kΩ to 100 kΩ, preferably 40 kΩ to 80 kΩ, more preferably 1 kΩ to 20 kΩ.

[0110] In one embodiment, the conductive bait matrix 1400 contains graphite particles in an amount of about 0.1 wt% to about 50 wt%, 1 wt% to about 25 wt%, preferably about 5 wt% to about 15 wt%, more preferably about 8 wt% to about 12 wt%, compared to its total weight. The other portions of the conductive bait matrix 1400 in such embodiments are carrier materials. In other embodiments, poisons such as active ingredients may be included in the bait matrix 124, and the concentration of the graphite particles, the concentration of the carrier material, or both may be reduced.

[0111] It should be understood that some feeding stimulants such as erythritol can also be used as effective insecticide components.

[0112] Also, other suitable conductive particles can be used and still remain within the scope of some aspects of the present disclosure. Furthermore, it is understood that the bait matrix 124 shown in FIG. 1 may contain poisons without including the conductive bait matrix 1400. Furthermore, it should be understood that the conductive bait matrix 1400 can be used in devices without current flowing through itself.

[0113] The carrier material of the bait matrix 124 according to one embodiment includes consumable materials (for example, materials that can be consumed and digested by pests being monitored using the bait matrix). For example, in one particularly suitable embodiment, the carrier material includes polysaccharide materials (for example, cellulose materials such as wood flour, α - cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, or other suitable cellulose materials that termites can consume). It is understood that the carrier material may include other consumable materials without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In other suitable embodiments, agar matrices alone or in combination with saccharides (that is, xylose, mannose, galactose, erythritol, aspartame, saccharin) and / or pure cellulose materials may be used as the carrier material of the bait matrix 124.

[0114] As an alternative or in addition, the carrier material may include a material that is consumable but indigestible or essentially indigestible (e.g., a material that is consumable but not digestible by the pest being monitored using the bait matrix 124). In one example, a suitable consumable and indigestible or essentially indigestible material used as the carrier material is a thermosetting material and / or a resin-based material. Such materials can melt and mix with the conductive particles (and the digestible material, if present) and be extruded integrally to form the bait matrix 124.

[0115] However, it is understood that the bait matrix 124 can function as described in FIG. 1 without including the conductive bait matrix 1400.

[0116] By being "essentially indigestible", it is understood that less than 50% by weight, preferably less than 10% by weight, more preferably less than 1% by weight, and even more preferably less than 0.1% by weight of the material orally acquired by the pest being monitored using the bait matrix 124 is digested later. Digestibility for the purposes of this application means that it can be broken down into a simpler form by the consumer after consumption.

[0117] Also, as this alternative or addition, it is considered that the carrier material may include a movable material, that is, a material that can be pushed away without being ingested and / or digested by pests. Thermoplastic materials are generally well-known materials that become easy to mold or cast when the temperature exceeds a specific temperature and solidify upon cooling. Suitable thermoplastic materials include high-temperature thermoplastics such as polyphthalamide (PPA), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherimide (PEI), polyarylsulfone (PSU), polyethersulfone (PES), polyphenylsulfone (PPSU), syndiotactic polystyrene (SPS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyoxymethylene (POM), polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), poly(p-phenylene oxide) (PPE), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN), acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate (ASA), etc., engineering thermoplastics, and standard thermoplastics such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), etc. There are many examples, but not limited to these.

[0118] In one embodiment, the carrier material includes a thermoplastic material having a melting point of less than about 220°C, less than about 180°C, less than about 160°C, or less than about 140°C.

[0119] Also, in one embodiment, the bait matrix 124 and / or the conductive bait matrix 1400 includes at least one pesticidal active ingredient.

[0120] Also, when the bait matrix 124 and / or the conductive bait matrix 1400 contains a pesticidal active ingredient, the processing temperature used for melting or softening the thermoplastic material when creating the carrier material is preferably less than the temperature at which the function of the pesticidal active ingredient becomes ineffective and / or less than the temperature at which the integrity of the molecules of the active ingredient is impaired.

[0121] Suitable thermoplastic materials include, but are not limited to, cellulose acetate propionate (CAP), cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), or polyester. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0305326A1 describes particularly suitable thermoplastic materials in paragraphs

[0077] and

[0078] , the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. In a particularly suitable embodiment, the thermoplastic carrier material is a polyester having a relatively low melting point, which melting point is, for example, less than 170°C, less than 160°C, less than 150°C, less than 140°C, less than 130°C. Suitable polyesters are, for example, the polyesters disclosed in WO-A 92 / 09654 and WO-A 96 / 15173, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0122] 3 / g intrinsic viscosity according to DIN 53728 and an acidity index of less than 1.2 mg KOH / g, preferably less than 1.0 mg KOH / g according to DIN EN 12634, and is an aliphatic or aliphatic / aromatic (semi-aromatic) polyester.

[0123] 3 Another preferred polyester has an intrinsic viscosity greater than 160 cm 3 / g, an acidity index of less than 1.0 mg KOH / g, and a melt volume flow rate (MVR) of less than 6.0 cm

[0124] The above-mentioned preferred compostable semi-aromatic polyesters and their manufacturing processes are disclosed in WO-A 09 / 127556, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. Also, the thermoplastic material may include a mixture of biodegradable semi-aromatic polyesters containing polymers that are susceptible to the influence of hydrolysis, examples of which are PLA (polylactic acid), PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoic acid), PBS (polybutylene polysaccharide), and starch. A particularly suitable polyester is sold by BASF SE under the trade name of Ecoflex®. This material is a compostable statistical aliphatic-aromatic copolyester based on the monomers 1,4-butanediol, adipic acid, and terephthalic acid in the polymer chain. The melting point of Ecoflex® is about 110-120 °C.

[0125] The thermoplastic polymer may include a single polymer or a mixture of at least two different polymers. For example, in one embodiment, the thermoplastic polymer includes a mixture of a relatively high molecular weight polymer and a relatively low molecular weight polymer. For polyesters such as Ecoflex®, their manufacture and use are described in patent applications EP-A 1656423, EP-A 937120, EP-A 950689, EP-A 1838784, EP-A 947559, EP-A 965615, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. In one embodiment, the thermoplastic polymer includes a mixture of Ecoflex® and polylactic acid (PLA) such as Ecovio®.

[0126] The advantage of using a low melting point polyester polymer as a carrier material (e.g., as a control for CAP or CAB) lies in the extrusion of a bait matrix containing active ingredients that decompose at high temperatures, such as above 160 °C, 180 °C, 200 °C. For example, CAP and CAB typically have a melting point close to about 180 °C. The extrusion of this polyester polymer (e.g., Ecoflex®) at high temperatures may have a greater adverse effect on the active ingredients than extrusion at low temperatures. It should be understood that a melting point higher than 180 °C can be used. Also, based on preliminary studies, termites prefer a bait matrix composed of graphite and Ecoflex® over a bait matrix composed of graphite and CAB or CAP at the same relative concentrations as shown in Tables 3 and 4 and more specifically shown in Example 2.

[0127] As used herein, a substance or mixture of substances is considered "biodegradable" if it has a biodegradability of at least 60% in percentage in the process defined in DIN EN 13432. Other methods for determining biodegradability are described, for example, in ABNT 15448-1 / 2 and ASTM D6400. As used herein, a substance or mixture of substances can be decomposed by biological processes such as microorganisms during composting, generate CO2, water, inorganic compounds, and biomass at a rate consistent with other known compostable materials, and leave no visible, distinguishable, or harmful residues, and / or is considered "compostable" if it meets the criteria described in any of the composting standards such as DIN EN 13432 in Europe, ASTM D 6400 in the United States, or the Green Pla Standard in Japan.

[0128] As a result of biodegradability and / or compostability, generally, a substance (e.g., polyester) decomposes within a reasonable and demonstrable period. The decomposition may be brought about by exposure to electromagnetic radiation such as enzymatic, hydrolytic, oxidative, and / or UV radiation, and is mainly caused by exposure to microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast, fungi, and algae. In one example of a method for quantifying biodegradability, the polyester is mixed with compost and stored over a specific period of time. As an example, according to DIN EN 13432, air free of CO2 passes through the mature compost during the composting process, and the compost follows a predefined temperature profile. Here, biodegradability is defined by the ratio of the net amount of CO2 released from the sample (after subtracting the amount of CO2 released by the compost without the sample) to the maximum possible amount of CO2 that could be released by the sample (calculated from the carbon content of the sample), and this ratio is defined as the percentage biodegradability. Even after several days of composting, biodegradable polyesters or biodegradable polyester mixtures generally show significant signs of decomposition such as mold growth, cracking, and perforation.

[0129] Polyester is a well-known polymer. It includes monomers in the form of polymerization such as diols and dibasic acids (or diesters) or hydroxy acids (or hydroxy esters). Suitable polyesters are, for example, aliphatic polyesters. In addition to homopolymers of aliphatic hydroxycarboxylic acids or lactones, copolymers or block copolymers of different hydroxycarboxylic acids or lactones or mixtures thereof are included. Also, these aliphatic polyesters may contain units of diols and / or isocyanates. Further, aliphatic polyesters may contain units derived from trifunctional or polyfunctional compounds (such as epoxides, acids, or triols). Aliphatic polyesters may contain the latter units as individual units, or may contain many of these, optionally in combination with diols and / or isocyanates. The process for making aliphatic polyesters is well known to those skilled in the art. In making aliphatic polyesters, it is of course also possible to use mixtures composed of two or more comonomers and / or other units (such as epoxides, polyfunctional aliphatic or aromatic acids, or polyfunctional alcohols). Aliphatic polyesters generally have a molar mass (number average) of 10,000 to 100,000 g / mol.

[0130] Examples of aliphatic polyesters are high molecular weight reaction products of lactic acid, poly-3-hydroxybutanoic acid, or polyesters composed of aliphatic or alicyclic dicarboxylic acids and aliphatic or alicyclic diols. Also, aliphatic polyesters may be random or block copolyesters containing other monomers. The ratio of other monomers is generally up to 10% by weight. Preferred comonomers are hydroxycarboxylic acids, lactones, or mixtures thereof.

[0131] The high molecular reaction product of lactic acid may itself be known or may be made by a process known per se. In addition to polylactic acid, copolymers or block copolymers based on lactic acid containing other monomers may also be used. Linear polylactic acid is most commonly used. However, branched lactic acid polymers can also be used. Examples of branching agents are polyfunctional acids or alcohols. An example of polylactic acid that can be mentioned is polylactic acid essentially obtained from at least one aliphatic C4-C 10 dicarboxylic acid and at least one C3-C 10 alkanol having 3 to 5 hydroxyl groups, its C1-C4-alkyl ester, or a polylactic acid essentially obtained from a mixture thereof.

[0132] Poly-3-hydroxybutanoic acid is a homopolymer or copolymer of 3-hydroxybutanoic acid containing 4-hydroxybutanoic acid and 3-hydroxyvaleric acid in a weight ratio of up to 30%, preferably up to 20% of 3-hydroxybutanoic acid, or a mixture thereof. Also, suitable polymers of this type include polymers having an R stereospecific configuration. These polyhydroxybutanoic acids or copolymers can be produced by microorganisms.

[0133] In addition to the process for producing stereospecific polymers, processes for producing from various bacteria and fungi are known. Also, the above-mentioned hydroxycarboxylic acids or lactones, or mixtures thereof, oligomers, or block copolymers of polymers can also be used.

[0134] Suitable polyesters composed of aliphatic or alicyclic dicarboxylic acids and aliphatic or alicyclic diols are polyesters composed of aliphatic or alicyclic dicarboxylic acids or mixtures thereof and aliphatic or alicyclic diols or mixtures thereof. According to the present disclosure, either a random copolymer or a block copolymer may be used.

[0135] Suitable aliphatic dicarboxylic acids generally have 2 to 10 carbon atoms. These may be linear or branched. Alicyclic dicarboxylic acids used herein generally have 7 to 10 carbon atoms, particularly 8 carbon atoms. However, in principle, dicarboxylic acids having more carbon atoms (for example, up to 30 carbon atoms) may be used. Examples include, but are not limited to, malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, pimelic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, fumaric acid, 2,2-dimethylglutaric acid, suberic acid, 1,3-cyclopentanedicarboxylic acid, 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, 1,3-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, oxynodiacetic acid, itaconic acid, maleic acid, and 2,5-norbornanedicarboxylic acid, particularly adipic acid. Also, mention should be made of the ester-forming derivatives of the above-mentioned aliphatic or alicyclic dicarboxylic acids that can be used in the same manner as, in particular, di-C1-C6-alkyl esters such as dimethyl, diethyl, di-n-propyl, diisopropyl, di-n-butyl, diisobutyl, di-t-butyl, di-n-pentyl, diisopentyl, and di-n-hexyl esters. Anhydrides of dicarboxylic acids can also be used in the same manner. The dicarboxylic acids or their ester-forming derivatives may be used individually or as a mixture of two or more.

[0136] Suitable aliphatic or alicyclic diols generally have 2 to 10 carbon atoms. These may be linear or branched. Examples thereof are 1,4-butanediol, ethylene glycol, 1,2- or 1,3-propanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,2- or 1,4-cyclohexanediol, or mixtures thereof.

[0137] Examples of aliphatic polyesters include the aliphatic copolyesters described in WO 94 / 14870, in particular, aliphatic copolyesters composed of succinic acid, its diesters, or mixtures with other aliphatic acids, diesters (e.g., glutaric acid and butanediol), or mixtures of this diol with ethylene glycol, propanediol, or hexanediol respectively, or mixtures thereof. In another embodiment, preferred aliphatic polyesters include polycaprolactone.

[0138] As used herein, semi-aromatic polyesters represent polyesters containing aliphatic and aromatic monomers in polymerized form. Also, the term semi-aromatic polyesters is intended to include derivatives of semi-aromatic polyesters such as semi-aromatic polyether esters, semi-aromatic polyester amides, or semi-aromatic polyether ester amides. Suitable semi-aromatic polyesters include linear non-chain-extended polyesters (WO 92 / 09654). Chain-extended and / or branched semi-aromatic polyesters are preferred. The latter are disclosed in, for example, WO 96 / 15173, WO 96 / 15174, WO 96 / 15175, WO 96 / 15176, WO 96 / 21689, WO 96 / 21690, WO 96 / 21691, WO 96 / 21689, WO 96 / 25446, WO 96 / 25448, and WO 98 / 12242, which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference. Also, mixtures of different semi-aromatic polyesters may be used. In particular, the term semi-aromatic polyesters is intended to mean products such as Ecoflex® (BASF SE), Eastar® Bio, and Origo-Bi® (Novamont).

[0139] Particularly preferred semi-aromatic polyesters include: (A) an acid component composed of (a1) 30 to 99 mol% of at least one aliphatic or at least one alicyclic dicarboxylic acid or its ester-forming derivative, or a mixture thereof, (a2) 1 to 70 mol% of at least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid or its ester-forming derivative or a mixture thereof, and (a3) 0 to 5 mol% of a sulfonic acid group-containing compound; and (B) at least one C2-C 12 alkanediol and at least one C5-C 10 There are polyesters containing important components such as a diol component selected from cycloalkanediols or mixtures thereof. Further, the semi-aromatic polyester may optionally contain one or more components selected from (C) and (D). (C) is (c1) at least one ether-functional group-containing dihydroxy compound having the formula HO-[(CH2) n -O] m -H (I) [wherein n is 2, 3, or 4, and m is an integer from 2 to 250] (c2) at least one hydroxycarboxylic acid of formula IIa or IIb

[0140]

Chemical formula

[0141]

Chemical formula

[0142] [Chemical formula] [wherein, R 1 is a single bond, (CH2) z -alkylene group (wherein, z = 2, 3, or 4), or a phenylene group] (c6) at least one aminocarboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of naturally occurring amino acids, polyamides obtained by polycondensation of dicarboxylic acids having 4 to 6 carbon atoms and diamines having of 4 to 10 carbon atoms, compounds of formula IVa and formula IVb,

[0143] [Chemical formula]

[0144] [Chemical formula] [wherein, s is an integer from 1 to 1500, t is an integer from 1 to 4, and T is selected from the group consisting of phenylene, (CH2) u -(wherein, u is an integer from 1 to 12), C(R2)H, and C(R2)HCH2 (wherein, R2 is methyl or ethyl)] and a polyoxazoline having a repeating unit V,

[0145] [Chemical formula] [wherein, R 3 is hydrogen, C1-C6-alkyl, C5-C8-cycloalkyl, phenyl (unsubstituted or having a maximum of three C1-C4-alkyl substituents), or tetrahydrofuryl] Alternatively, it is a compound selected from the mixture composed of (c1) to (c6). (D) is (d1) At least one compound having at least three groups capable of forming esters, (d2) At least one isocyanate, (d3) At least one divinyl ether, Or a compound selected from the mixtures composed of (d1) to (d3).

[0146] The acid component A of the semi-aromatic polyester may contain 30 to 70 mol%, particularly 40 to 60 mol% of a1, and 30 to 70 mol%, particularly 40 to 60 mol% of a2.

[0147] The aliphatic acids and corresponding derivatives a1 that can be used generally have 2 to 10 carbon atoms. These may be linear or branched. The alicyclic dicarboxylic acids generally have 7 to 10 carbon atoms, particularly 8 carbon atoms. However, in principle, it is also possible to use dicarboxylic acids having more carbon atoms (for example, up to 30 carbon atoms). Examples include malonic acid, succinic acid, 2-methylglutaric acid, 3-methylglutaric acid, adipic acid, pimelic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, fumaric acid, 2,2-dimethylglutaric acid, suberic acid, 1,3-cyclopentanedicarboxylic acid, 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, 1,3-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, oxynodiacetic acid, itaconic acid, maleic acid, brassilic acid, and 2,5-norbornanedicarboxylic acid, but are not limited thereto. Also, the ester-forming derivatives of the above-mentioned aliphatic or alicyclic dicarboxylic acids that can be used and mentioned are particularly di-C1-C6-alkyl esters such as dimethyl, diethyl, di-n-propyl, diisopropyl, di-n-butyl, diisobutyl, di-t-butyl, di-n-pentyl, diisopentyl, or di-n-hexyl esters. Also, anhydrides of dicarboxylic acids can be used.

[0148] The dicarboxylic acid or its ester-forming derivative may be used individually or in the form of a mixture composed of two or more of them.

[0149] In another embodiment, succinic acid, adipic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, brassilic acid, or ester-forming derivatives thereof, or mixtures thereof may be used. When preparing a polymer mixture containing "hard" or "brittle" components (e.g., polyhydroxybutyrate or especially polylactide), the aliphatic dicarboxylic acid may include sebacic acid or a mixture of sebacic acid and adipic acid. In another embodiment, when preparing a polymer mixture containing "soft" or "tough" components (e.g., polyhydroxybutyrate-co-valerate), the aliphatic dicarboxylic acid may include succinic acid or a mixture of succinic acid and adipic acid.

[0150] Another advantage of succinic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, and brassilic acid is that they are readily available and renewable raw materials.

[0151] The aromatic dicarboxylic acid a2 that can be mentioned generally has 8 to 12 carbon atoms, preferably 8 carbon atoms. As an example, terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, 2,6-naphthoic acid, and 1,5-naphthoic acid, and ester-forming derivatives thereof can be mentioned. Here, in particular, di-C1-C6-alkyl esters, such as dimethyl, diethyl, di-n-propyl, diisopropyl, di-n-butyl, diisobutyl, di-t-butyl, di-n-pentyl, diisopentyl, or di-n-hexyl esters can be mentioned. Also, the anhydrides of the dicarboxylic acid a2 are suitable ester-forming derivatives.

[0152] However, in principle, aromatic dicarboxylic acids (a2) having more carbon atoms (e.g., up to 20 carbon atoms) can be used.

[0153] The aromatic dicarboxylic acid or its ester-forming derivatives (a2) may be used individually or as a mixture of two or more.

[0154] The sulfonic acid group-containing compound (a3) is usually one of alkali metal salts of 5-sulfophthalic acid or mixtures thereof, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salts of dicarboxylic acids containing a sulfonic acid group or ester-forming derivatives thereof.

[0155] In one embodiment, the acid component A contains 40 to 60 mol% of a1, 40 to 60 mol% of a2, and 0 to 2 mol% of a3. In another embodiment, the acid component A contains 40 to 59.9 mol% of a1, 40 to 59.9 mol% of a2, and 0.1 to 1 mol% of a3, particularly 40 to 59.8 mol% of a1, 40 to 59.8 mol% of a2, and 0.2 to 0.5 mol% of a3.

[0156] The diol B is generally selected from the group consisting of branched or straight-chain alkanediols having 2 to 12 carbon atoms or the group consisting of cycloalkanediols having 5 to 10 carbon atoms. Examples of alkanediols are ethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,2-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 2,4-dimethyl-2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol, 2-ethyl-2-butyl-1,3-propanediol, 2-ethyl-2-isobutyl-1,3-propanediol, and 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,6-hexanediol, especially ethylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, or 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol (neopentyl glycol), cyclopentanediol, 1,4-cyclohexanediol, 1,2-cyclohexanedimethanol, 1,3-cyclohexanedimethanol, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, or 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol. 1,4-butanediol in combination with adipic acid as component (a1) and 1,3-propanediol in combination with sebacic acid as component (a1) are particularly preferred. Another advantage of 1,3-propanediol is that it is readily available and made from renewable raw materials. Mixtures of different alkanediols can also be used.

[0157] Depending on whether an excess of acid groups or an excess of OH end groups is required, either component A or component B may be used in excess. In a preferred embodiment, the molar ratio of components A and B used may be from 0.4:1 to 1.5:1, preferably from 0.6:1 to 1.1:1.

[0158] In addition to components A and B, the polyester may contain other components.

[0159] Possible dihydroxy compounds (c1) are diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, and polytetrahydrofuran (poly-THF), particularly preferably diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, and polyethylene glycol, and mixtures thereof can also be used. Similarly, compounds having different variables n (see formula I), for example, polyethylene glycols containing propylene units (n = 3) (obtained, for example, by first polymerizing with ethylene oxide and then with propylene oxide using a polymerization method known per se), particularly preferably polymers based on polyethylene glycols having different variables n (units formed from ethylene oxide accounting for the majority) can also be used. The molar mass (M n ) of polyethylene glycol is generally selected within the range of 250 to 8000 g / mol, preferably 600 to 3000 g / mol.

[0160] In one embodiment of preparing a semi-aromatic polyester, based on the molar amounts of B and (c1), for example, 15 to 98 mol%, preferably 60 to 99.5 mol% of diol B and 2 to 85 mol%, preferably 0.5 to 40 mol% of dihydroxy compound (c1) may be used.

[0161] In a preferred embodiment, the hydroxycarboxylic acid (c2) to be used is glycolic acid, D-, L-, or D,L-lactic acid, 6-hydroxyhexanoic acid, cyclic derivatives thereof such as glycolide (1,4-dioxane-2,5-dione), D- or L-dilactide (3,6-dimethyl-1,4-dioxane-2,5-dione), p-hydroxybenzoic acid, or oligomers and polymers thereof such as 3-polyhydroxybutyric acid, polyhydroxyvaleric acid, polylactide (e.g., available as NatureWorks® 4042D (NatureWorks)), or a mixture of 3-polyhydroxybutyric acid and polyhydroxyvaleric acid (available from PHB Industrial, Tianan, or Metabolix), and particularly preferably these low molecular weight cyclic derivatives for the preparation of semi-aromatic polyesters.

[0162] Examples of the amount of hydroxycarboxylic acid that can be used are 0.01 to 50% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 40% by weight, based on the amounts of A and B.

[0163] Amino-C2-C 12 Alkanol or amino-C5-C 10 The cycloalkanol (component c3) may contain 4-aminomethylcyclohexanemethanol, preferably an amino-C2-C6 alkanol such as 2-aminoethanol, 3-aminopropanol, 4-aminobutanol, 5-aminopentanol, or 6-aminohexanol, or an amino-C5-C6 cycloalkanol such as aminocyclopentanol and aminocyclohexanol, or a mixture thereof.

[0164] The diamino-C1-C8 alkane (component c4) to be used is preferably a diamino-C4-C6 alkane such as 1,4-diaminobutane, 1,5-diaminopentane, or 1,6-diaminohexane (hexamethylenediamine "HMD").

[0165] In one embodiment of preparing the semi-aromatic polyester, based on the molar amount of B, 0.5 to 99.5 mol%, preferably 0.5 to 50 mol% of (c3) and, based on the molar amount of B, 0 to 50 mol%, preferably 0 to 35 mol% of (c4) may be used.

[0166] The 2,2'-bisoxazoline (c5) of Formula III is generally obtained by the process of Angew. Chem. Int. Edit., Vol. 11 (1972), pp. 287-288. The bisoxazoline has R 1 as a single bond, (CH2) z -alkylene (where z = 2, 3, or 4), such as methylene, ethane-1,2-diyl, propane-1,3-diyl, or propane-1,2-diyl, or a phenylene group. Particularly preferred bisoxazolines that can be mentioned are 2,2'-bis(2-oxazoline), bis(2-oxazolinyl)methane, 1,2-bis(2-oxazolinyl)ethane, 1,3-bis(2-oxazolinyl)propane, and 1,4-bis(2-oxazolinyl)butane, especially 1,4-bis(2-oxazolinyl)benzene, 1,2-bis(2-oxazolinyl)benzene, or 1,3-bis(2-oxazolinyl)benzene.

[0167] When preparing the semi-aromatic polyester, for example, based on the total molar amount of components B, c3, c4, and c5 in each case, 70 to 98 mol% of B, up to 30 mol% of (c3), 0.5 to 30 mol% of (c4), and 0.5 to 30 mol% of (c5) may be used. In another embodiment, based on the total weight of A and B, 0.1 to 5 wt%, preferably 0.2 to 4 wt% of (c5) may be used.

[0168] The component (c6) used may be a naturally occurring aminocarboxylic acid. These include valine, leucine, isoleucine, threonine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, lysine, alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, proline, serine, tyrosine, asparagine, and glutamine.

[0169] Preferred aminocarboxylic acids of Formula IVa and Formula IVb are those in which s is an integer from 1 to 1000, t is an integer from 1 to 4, preferably 1 or 2, and T is phenylene and -(CH2) u -(where u is 1, 5, or 12) selected from the group consisting of.

[0170] Also, (c6) may be a polyoxazoline of Formula V. However, (c6) may be a mixture of different aminocarboxylic acids and / or polyoxazolines.

[0171] In one embodiment, the amount of (c6) used may be 0.01 to 50% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 40% by weight, based on the total amount of components A and B.

[0172] As other compounds that can be used as needed to prepare the semi-aromatic polyester, there is a compound (d1) containing at least three groups capable of forming esters.

[0173] Compound (d1) may contain 3 to 10 functional groups capable of forming ester bonds. Particularly preferred compounds (d1) have 3 to 6 such functional groups in the molecule, especially 3 to 6 hydroxy groups and / or carboxy groups. Examples to be mentioned are tartaric acid, citric acid, maleic acid, trimethylolpropane, trimethylolethane, pentaerythritol, polyether triols, glycerol, trimesic acid, trimellitic acid, trimellitic anhydride, pyromellitic acid, pyromellitic dianhydride, and hydroxyisophthalic acid.

[0174] The general amount of compound (d1) used is 0.01 to 15 mol%, preferably 0.05 to 10 mol%, particularly preferably 0.1 to 4 mol% based on component A.

[0175] The component (d2) used is an isocyanate or a mixture of different isocyanates. Aromatic or aliphatic diisocyanates may be used. However, polyfunctional isocyanates may also be used. The aromatic diisocyanate d2 is, in particular, tolylene 2,4-diisocyanate, tolylene 2,6-diisocyanate, diphenylmethane 2,2'-diisocyanate, diphenylmethane 2,4'-diisocyanate, diphenylmethane 4,4'-diisocyanate, naphthylene 1,5-diisocyanate, or xylylene diisocyanate. As an example, isocyanates obtained from BASF SE as Basonat® can also be used.

[0176] Among these, as component (d2), diphenylmethane 2,2'-, 2,4'-, and 4,4'-diisocyanates are particularly preferred. The latter diisocyanates are generally used as a mixture.

[0177] The tricyclic isocyanate (d2) that can be used in the same way is tris(4-isocyanophenyl)methane. Polycyclic aromatic diisocyanates are produced, for example, during the preparation of monocyclic or bicyclic diisocyanates.

[0178] Also, component (d2) may contain subordinate amounts (e.g., up to 5% by weight) of uretdione groups based on the total weight of component (d2), for example, to cap isocyanate groups.

[0179] The aliphatic diisocyanate (d2) is mainly a linear or branched alkylene diisocyanate or cycloalkylene diisocyanate having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably 3 to 12 carbon atoms, such as hexamethylene 1,6 - diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, or methylene bis(4 - isocyanatocyclohexane). Hexamethylene 1,6 - diisocyanate and isophorone diisocyanate are particularly preferred aliphatic diisocyanates (d2).

[0180] Preferred isocyanurates include those derived from C2 - C 20 (preferably C3 - C 12 ) cycloalkylene diisocyanate or alkylene diisocyanate (e.g., isophorone diisocyanate or methylene bis(4 - isocyanatocyclohexane)). Here, the alkylene diisocyanate may be linear or branched. Particularly preferred are isocyanurates based on n - hexamethylene diisocyanate, such as the cyclic trimer, pentamer, or higher - order oligomers of n - hexamethylene diisocyanate.

[0181] The general usage amount of the compound (d2) is 0.01 to 5 mol%, preferably 0.05 to 4 mol%, particularly preferably 0.1 to 4 mol% based on the total molar amount of A and B.

[0182] The usable divinyl ether (d3) is generally any of the commercially available conventional divinyl ethers. It is preferred to use 1,4 - butanediol divinyl ether, 1,6 - hexanediol divinyl ether, 1,4 - cyclohexanedimethanol divinyl ether, or a mixture thereof.

[0183] The preferred usage amount of the divinyl ether is 0.01 to 5 wt%, particularly 0.2 to 4 wt% based on the total weight of A and B.

[0184] Examples of semi-aromatic polyesters are based on components such as (A, B, d1), (A, B, d2), (A, B, d1, d2), (A, B, d3), (A, B, c1), (A, B, c1, d3), (A, B, c3, c4), (A, B, c3, c4, c5), (A, B, d1, c3, c5), (A, B, c3, d3), (A, B, c3, d1), (A, B, c1, c3, d3), or (A, B, c2). Among these, particularly preferred are semi-aromatic polyesters based on (A, B, d1), (A, B, d2), or (A, B, d1, d2). In another preferred embodiment, the semi-aromatic polyester is based on (A, B, c3, c4, c5) or (A, B, d1, c3, c5).

[0185] It is understood that the polyester polymer according to the above disclosure is a biodegradable polyester polymer, but may be non-biodegradable without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0186] In one suitable example, the carrier material includes both a polysaccharide material such as a cellulose material and a thermoplastic material such as a polyester. For example, in such an embodiment, the thermoplastic material may include about 20 to about 40 wt%, 20 to about 60 wt%, or 20 to about 80 wt% of the bait matrix 124.

[0187] Some suitable compositions of the conductive bait matrix 1400 are shown in Table 1a.

[0188] Table 1a:

[0189] [Table 2]

[0190] Some suitable compositions of the non-conductive bait matrix 1402 are shown in Table 1b.

[0191] Table 1b:

[0192] [Table 3]

[0193] For example, it will be appreciated that other suitable manufacturing processes such as co-extrusion, compression, impregnation, molding, suspension (but not limited to these) etc. may also be considered for combining the carrier materials.

[0194] One way to create a workpiece is (1) Prepare the following mixture a. A softening or melting thermoplastic polymer with a softening point or melting point below about 220°C b. A feeding stimulant material for the target pest (i.e., a material that increases the palatability of the matrix for consumption purposes and may be considered "digestible" or "nutritious", but such advantages are not necessary) c. A material containing conductive particles and / or feeding stimulating particles and (2) Mold the mixture to provide a workpiece of a desired shape (3) Cool the workpiece to a temperature below the softening point or melting point of the plastic to provide a solid composite which includes.

[0195] Preferably, one workpiece is the conductive bait matrix 1400 or includes the conductive bait matrix 1400.

[0196] Another way to create a workpiece is (1) Prepare the following mixture a. A softening or melting thermoplastic polymer with a softening point or melting point below about 220°C b. A feeding stimulant material for the target pest (i.e., a "digestible" or "nutritious" component) c. Optional additional components and (2) Mold the mixture to provide a workpiece of a desired shape (3) Cool the workpiece to a temperature below the softening point or melting point of the plastic to provide a solid composite It includes.

[0197] Another suitable workpiece may be the non-conductive bait matrix 1402 or may include the non-conductive bait matrix 1402.

[0198] As used herein, the term "melted" is intended to represent a state of a material in which a thermoplastic material is completely melted, partially melted, sufficiently softened or tackified so that a polymer can be formed into a plastic matrix, for example, by extrusion or molding and subsequent cooling. Similarly, the term "melting point" as used herein is intended to represent a temperature at which a given material (a polymer or a mixture of polymers) melts, softens, or tackifies, including the glass transition temperature of an amorphous polymer. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the melting point of a given material (a polymer or a mixture of polymers) can be changed by contacting the material (a polymer or a mixture of polymers) with a specific solvent and / or other additives. In one embodiment, the workpiece is formed by extrusion.

[0199] To create a solid composite article according to one embodiment, after a mixture of a granular or particulate thermoplastic polymer, a feeding stimulant material for a target pest, and a plurality of conductive particles and / or feeding stimulant particles is prepared, the components are mixed by compounding and extruded or molded at a predetermined temperature and pressure. In a suitable embodiment, in contrast to the case of the polymer alone, a combination of graphite and the polymer is feeding stimulant. The material containing the polymer, the feeding stimulant material, and the plurality of feeding stimulant particles can be combined by mixing the components using standard mixing or compounding techniques and driving out excess moisture. For example, these materials can be mixed in a rotary mixer or a compounding extruder. Heat is applied as needed to heat the mixture to a temperature high enough to make the thermoplastic polymer flexible or plastic and suitable for molding by extrusion or the like. In one embodiment, this temperature is at least as high as the melting point of the polymer. In another embodiment, this temperature is at least as high as the glass transition temperature of the polymer.

[0200] One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that higher temperatures may be required and that the processing temperature can be optimized to be able to process the polymer, provided that the temperature is not raised to a level that would cause significant harm to other components of the composite, such as charring of a digestible or nutritious material. Also, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the softening temperature of a thermoplastic material can be altered by including a solvent in the mixture. In embodiments where a solvent is present, it is understood that softening at the polymer surface when altered by the solvent will begin at a temperature below the normal melting point of the polymer in the absence of the solvent. In other words, a temperature below the normal melting point of the polymer is considered an appropriate forming temperature in embodiments where the solvent is effective to soften the polymer surface at a temperature below its normal melting point.

[0201] A variety of extrusion or molding techniques can be used, and many examples thereof are known in the art. While not limited by any theory, under the extrusion or molding conditions applied by the methods described herein, the polymer granules are thought to soften, become viscous, or completely melt. When this occurs, the softened polymer granules come into contact with and adhere to each other due to the pressure applied to the mixture, or the polymer completely melts, such that the molten polymer forms a continuous phase in the mixture. The temperature at which compression is applied is high enough to achieve the desired level of polymer particle adhesion or polymer melting. It is understood that by using a variety of material specifications (such as polymer type, polymer size, particle size distribution, and ratio of components) and a variety of process parameters (such as temperature and pressure), products with various advantageous properties can be provided. Without undue experimentation, selecting advantageous combinations of materials and parameters for use as an effective bait matrix in the systems described above, to provide products with different amounts of conductive particles, different levels of palatability, and different physical properties, is within the ability of one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

[0202] In one embodiment of practicing this method, the molten mixture is provided by mixing a polymer, an ingestive stimulant (i.e., a material that aids digestion or contains nutrients), and a material containing a plurality of conductive and / or ingestive stimulant particles to form a mixture, and then kneading the mixture under high pressure and high temperature to form a molten material.

[0203] In another embodiment of practicing this method, the method includes the step of forming pellets or flakes of the mixture prior to compounding.

[0204] In one embodiment of creating a workpiece, after all components are mixed, after separately mixing using a twin-screw mixer or the like and then extruding through a die to impart a specific cross-sectional profile to the composite material, in a device that can be cooled in a water bath or spray, the mixture is heated to exceed the melting point of the thermoplastic polymer contained therein (e.g., up to about 220 °C in some embodiments).

[0205] In another embodiment of forming a workpiece, a polymer, an ingestive stimulant material, and a material containing a plurality of conductive particles and / or ingestive stimulant particles are combined under positive pressure and high temperature in an extruder and then extruded to provide an elongated workpiece.

[0206] In another embodiment of forming a workpiece, a material containing a thermoplastic polymer and a plurality of conductive particles and / or ingestive stimulant particles is fed separately and simultaneously into the extruder upstream, and the ingestive stimulant material is added to the extruder downstream.

[0207] In another embodiment of forming a workpiece, a material containing a thermoplastic polymer, a plurality of conductive particles and / or ingestive stimulant particles, and an ingestive stimulant material are fed into the extruder separately and simultaneously.

[0208] It should be understood that by the above-described embodiments of forming a workpiece, it is possible to manufacture a suitable workpiece without using a material containing a plurality of conductive and / or ingestive stimulant particles.

[0209] In a preferred embodiment, the surface of the finished workpiece is structurally non-uniform on the scale of mm to cm. In one embodiment, the surface includes a plurality of cavities with widths of 0.1 mm to 100 mm, 1 mm to 50 mm, 1 mm to 20 mm, and depths of 0.1 mm to 10 mm, 1 mm to 5 mm, 1 mm to 3 mm. The cavities can be of any shape. The cavities can be interconnected or separated from each other. The individual cavities of the same workpiece can have different sizes and shapes.

[0210] FIG. 14 shows an exemplary bait matrix 124 having a structurally non-uniform surface.

[0211] In one embodiment, one or more of the parameters of the extrusion process, such as temperature, duration, extrusion speed, extrusion additive, post-extrusion treatment, etc., are selected so that the surface of the extruded workpiece includes separated or interconnected cavities with a width of 0.1 mm to 20 mm and a depth of 0.1 mm to 5 mm.

[0212] Those skilled in the art can grasp the parameters of the extrusion process that result in an incomplete / structurally non-uniform surface of the workpiece. For example, taking the melting point of the extruded thermoplastic semi-crystalline polymer as T m and applying an extrusion temperature of up to T m +80 °C, T m +70 °C, or T m +60 °C can make the surface structurally non-uniform.

[0213] Cooling can be achieved, for example, by immersing the workpiece in a water tank or spraying water on the workpiece.

[0214] In another embodiment, the surface of the finished workpiece is structurally uniform. That is, there are few or no cavities visible on the mm to cm scale.

[0215] FIG. 15 is a cross-section of a suitable embodiment of the bait matrix 124. As can be easily seen, the feeding stimulants or insoluble biomarkers (schematically shown by circle 1600) and the carrier material particles (schematically shown by square 1602) are randomly scattered throughout the thickness and height of the bait matrix 124.

[0216] As shown in FIG. 16, in another possible embodiment of the bait matrix 124, the bait matrix 124 may be formed by a co-extrusion process so as to have a plurality of different layers 1700. In such an embodiment, by extruding the layer of conductive particles 1600 simultaneously with the layer of carrier material particles 1602, the layer of carrier material particles 1602 will cover the outer surface of the layer of conductive particles 1600. Optionally, the layer of conductive particles 1600 may be sandwiched between the layers of carrier material particles 1602.

Example

[0217] Preference of termites for specific bait matrix compounds [Example 1] Preference of termites for graphite (conductive bait matrix) The activity area composed of 100 mm × 20 mm polystyrene dishes (to a depth of approximately 5 mm) was filled with QuickStone® experimental stones (Whip Mix Corp., Louisville, Kentucky) mixed according to the manufacturer's instructions. The QuickStone® experimental stones were stored for 24 hours before use. As the first hydration reaction, 5 ml of purified water was added to each activity area, and the excess water was discarded after 2 hours. Then the surface was gently wiped. Two different bait matrix compositions, one containing EcoFlex® and graphite and the other containing EcoFlex® but no graphite, were measured into bait portions of uniform size (approximately 1.0 × 1.0 × 0.5 cm, 10 replicates of each composition) and placed individually in plastic transport dishes (4 cm × 4 cm with openings cut in both side walls for termite access). A non-nutritive 5% agar plug (approximately 0.5 cm × 1.0 cm) was added to each activity area as a water source. The agar plugs were replaced every 3 - 4 days, and approximately 0.25 ml of purified water was added to the surface of each activity area every 4 days. Approximately 100 termites (worker termites and approximately 10% soldier termites by weight ratio) were transferred to each activity area. The assay samples were maintained at 27°C and 80% RH. After 2 weeks, the bait samples were removed from the activity areas and oven-dried at 110°F for approximately 24 hours. The weight of the bait was measured, and as an indicator of bait acceptance, the difference in weight before and after as a result of termites removing the bait was compared. The removal of the bait occurred as a result of a combination of consumption, provisioning (feeding of soldier termites by worker termites), and application of the bait to the surface of the activity area.

[0218] Conclusion As shown by the data in Table 2, the matrix acceptance of EcoFlex® containing graphite was much greater than that of EcoFlex® without graphite.

[0219] Table 2. Relative consumption data of "Conductive part of the assembly" (KA, which contains a mixture of Ecoflex (registered trademark), Lattice (registered trademark) NT 100 (in the form of microcrystalline cellulose), and graphite (Asbury (registered trademark) 4848)) and "Non-conductive part of the assembly" (HW, which contains Ecoflex (registered trademark) and Lattice (registered trademark) NT 100 (in the form of microcrystalline cellulose)). In the non-choice test (t-test, 0.05% level), the acceptance of KA was much greater than the acceptance of HW.

[0220]

Table 4

[0221] [Example 2] Preference of termites for Ecoflex (registered trademark) materials Objective: To determine whether Coptotermes formosanus and Reticulitermes flavipes prefer specific bait matrix components, three prototype bait matrices shown in Table 3 were given to termites by non-choice and single-dish choice methods.

[0222] Table 3. Prototype matrices evaluated for acceptance by C. formosanus and R. flavipes

[0223]

Table 5

[0224] In various bait samples, an equal proportion (X%) of Ecoflex (registered trademark), CAB, and CAP was used and combined with the same proportion of NT100 (Y%) and graphite (Z%). X, Y, and Z each represent a specific proportion of the bait composition and are consistent among the samples (e.g., X% is the same among the bait samples (Ecoflex (registered trademark), CAB, and CAP)). In a suitable embodiment, the value of X is 35, the value of Y is 55, and the value of Z is 10.

[0225] No-choice assay test: The activity area composed of a 100 mm × 20 mm polystyrene dish was filled (to approximately 5 mm depth) with QuickStone (registered trademark) experimental stone (Whip Mix Corp., Louisville, Kentucky) mixed according to the manufacturer's instructions. QuickStone (registered trademark) was stored for 24 hours before use. As the first hydration reaction, 5 ml of purified water was added to each activity area, and the excess water was discarded after 2 hours. Then, the surface was gently wiped. Bait parts of uniform size (10 replicates) or pine parts (4 replicates) were measured and individually placed in plastic transport dishes (4 cm × 4 cm with openings cut in both side walls for termite access). A 5% agar plug without nutrients (approximately 0.5 cm × 1.0 cm) was added to each activity area as a water source. The agar plugs were replaced every 3 - 4 days, and approximately 0.25 ml of purified water was added to the surface of each activity area every 4 days. 100 termites (worker termites and approximately 10% soldier termites by weight ratio) were transferred to each activity area. The assay samples were maintained at 27 °C and 80% relative humidity. After 2 weeks, the bait / pine samples were removed from the activity areas and oven-dried at 110 °F for approximately 24 hours. The weight of the bait was measured, and as an indicator of bait acceptance, the difference in weight before and after as a result of the termites removing the bait was compared. The removal of the bait occurred as a result of a combination of consumption, provision (feeding of soldier termites by worker termites), and application of the bait to the surface of the activity area.

[0226] Single-dish choice assay test: Single-plate choice replicates (three) were included to determine whether termites would accept / consume the bait in the presence of wood, following the same procedure as described for the no-choice assay, with wood pieces added to the activity area.

[0227] result Summary: During the evaluation period, termites of both species were observed walking and converging on the three prototype baits. After 48 hours, the bait (marked with graphite) was visible through the body wall in most termites in all territories. Two weeks after infestation, the bait appeared more visible in termites in Ecoflex® territories compared to CAB and CAP territories.

[0228] Coptotermes formosanus (Table 4) No-choice test: Bait acceptance of Ecoflex®, as indicated by the amount of material removed from the subsample, was much greater than that of CAB, CAP, and pine.

[0229] The acceptance of CAP was much less than that of Ecoflex®, CAB, and pine.

[0230] There was no significant difference in acceptance of CAB and pine.

[0231] Single-dish choice test: Termites removed more Ecoflex® (59.37 mg) than pine (20.97 mg). Termites removed less CAB (0.83 mg) than pine (56.43 mg).

[0232] Termites removed less CAP (0.93 mg) than pine (41.60 mg).

[0233] Reticulitermes speratus (Table 4) No-choice test: There was no significant difference in acceptance of Ecoflex®, CAB, and pine.

[0234] The acceptance of CAP was much smaller than that of EcoFlex®, CAB, and pine.

[0235] Single-dish selection assay: The termites removed more EcoFlex® (66.63 mg) than pine (11.03 mg).

[0236] The termites removed less CAB (35.37 mg) than pine (59.17 mg).

[0237] The termites removed less CAP (11.83 mg) than pine (74.30 mg).

[0238] Conclusion EcoFlex® was readily accepted by Coptotermes formosanus and Reticulitermes flavipes in both no-choice and single-dish selection (bait and pine) assay methods.

[0239] In the no-choice assay, the bait acceptance of CAP (containing CE polymer 26627) was much smaller than that of EcoFlex® and CAB (containing CE polymer 24647).

[0240] In the single-dish selection assay, the bait acceptance of CAB and CAP was greatly reduced when combined with a pine food source.

[0241] In the single-dish selection assay, the bait acceptance of EcoFlex® was greater than that of the pine food source.

[0242] Table 4. Acceptance of Three Prototype Trelona (trademark) MY Termite Bait Matrices by Coptotermes formosanus and Reticulitermes flavipes for EcoFlex (registered trademark) (thermoplastic material = EcoFlex (registered trademark)), CAB (thermoplastic material = CAB), and CAP (thermoplastic material = CAP) 1 .

[0243]

Table 6

[0244] [Example 3] Another preference for the EcoFlex (registered trademark) bait matrix is shown in the data of Table 5 below. In a field study, three bait matrix compositions were exposed to Coptotermes formosanus for 4 weeks. The three baits used were: a) a mixture of cellulose (Y%), cellulose acetate propionate CAP (X%), and graphite (Z%); b) a mixture of cellulose (Y%), EcoFlex (registered trademark) (X%), and graphite (Z%); and c) a mixture of cellulose (Y%), cellulose acetate butyrate CAB (X%), and graphite (Z%). X, Y, and Z each represent a specific proportion of the bait composition and are consistent among samples (e.g., X% is the same among baits a), b), and c)). Replicates of the three different baits were placed in underground buckets and fed to termite colonies over a 30-day period. At the start of the study, an estimate of the number of termites led to the buckets was provided, and at the end of the study, an estimate of the number of termites remaining in the buckets was provided. As shown in the table below, some buckets contained multiple bait matrices. Other buckets contained individual matrices. Buckets 3 - 6 were placed close to each other surrounding the same location (a tree), and buckets 7 - 10 were placed close to each other surrounding the same location (a second tree). After the 30-day period, the baits were removed from the buckets, consumption was observed and evaluated, and then the weight of the baits was measured.

[0245] Conclusion Regardless of colony size and whether the baits were provided individually or in combination with each other, the termites showed a clear preference for bait (b) (EcoFlex® blend) over bait (a) (CAP blend) and bait (c) (CAB blend).

[0246] Table 5. Preference data from a field trial comparing termite preferences for (a) CAP blend bait, (b) EcoFlex® blend bait, and (c) CAB blend bait after 30 days of consumption

[0247] [Table 7]

[0248] In introducing elements of the present invention or preferred embodiments thereof, the articles "a", "an", "the", and "said" are meant to mean that there is one or more of such elements. The terms "comprising", "including", and "having" are inclusive and mean that other elements besides the recited elements may exist and that various changes may be made to the above configuration without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, all of the content included in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings is merely illustrative and should not be construed in a limiting sense.

[0249] Since various changes can be made to the above configuration without departing from the scope of the present invention, all of the content included in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings is merely illustrative and should not be construed in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A pest monitoring system comprising a circuit, wherein the circuit is initially in a first impedance state configured to change to a second impedance state by the activity of pests, and the second impedance state is lower than the first impedance state.

2. The circuit comprises a first electrode having a first potential, and a second electrode that is initially not in contact with the first electrode and is used in combination with the first electrode to sense the activity of pests, The pest monitoring system according to claim 1.

3. The pest monitoring system according to claim 2, further comprising an optional bait matrix disposed adjacent to the circuit.

4. The pest monitoring system according to claim 3, wherein the bait matrix at least partially surrounds the first electrode and the second electrode.

5. The pest monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein one of a) material deposited by pests that collect the bait matrix and b) moisture intrusion generates a measurable impedance between the first electrode and the second electrode that closes an open circuit.

6. The pest monitoring system according to claim 5, wherein a change in impedance between the first electrode and the second electrode, when present, generates a measurable electrical characteristic indicating collection of the bait matrix by pests.

7. The pest monitoring system according to claim 3, further comprising a water-resistant member disposed between the bait matrix and the first electrode and the second electrode and configured to prevent moisture intrusion into the first electrode and the second electrode prior to the presence of pest activity.

8. Formed of an electrically insulating material, providing a base to which the first electrode and the second electrode are attached, facilitating proper placement of the first electrode and the second electrode, and preventing the first electrode and the second electrode from contacting each other The pest monitoring system according to claim 2, further comprising a non-conductive gap configured to perform the above.

9. The pest monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit configured to generate a first electrical signal to the first electrode via a first terminal and monitor the second electrode via a second terminal.

10. The control unit measures the electrical characteristics between the first electrode and the second electrode, and determines the presence or absence of pests based on the measured electrical characteristics. The pest monitoring system according to claim 9, further configured to perform the above.

11. A circuit that is initially in a first impedance state configured to change to a second impedance state by the activity of pests, and the second impedance state is lower than the first impedance state, and A control unit configured to determine the presence or absence of pests based on the measured electrical characteristics of the circuit. A pest monitoring system comprising:

12. The circuit comprises a first electrode having a first potential, and a second electrode that is not initially in contact with the first electrode and is used in combination with the first electrode to detect the activity of pests. The pest monitoring system according to claim 11.

13. The pest monitoring system according to claim 12, wherein the control unit is further configured to detect a change in impedance between the first electrode and the second electrode.

14. The pest monitoring system according to claim 11, wherein the control unit is further operable to transmit a signal indicating the presence of pests.

15. The pest monitoring system according to claim 11, wherein the measured electrical characteristic is one of electrical resistance and electrical reactance.

16. A circuit that is initially in a first impedance state configured to change to a second impedance state by the activity of pests, and the second impedance state is lower than the first impedance state, and A control unit configured to transmit a pest presence signal based on the detected change in impedance. A bait station comprising: A central device of a connection system of a structure, configured to receive the pest presence signal from the bait station. A pest monitoring system comprising:

17. The pest monitoring system according to claim 16, wherein the bait station is configured to communicate directly with the central device.

18. The pest monitoring system according to claim 17, wherein the bait station communicates directly with the central device using a wireless connection.

19. The pest monitoring system according to claim 16, wherein the central device is further configured to issue an alarm indicating the presence of pests at the bait station.

20. The pest monitoring system according to claim 19, wherein the central device transmits the alarm to at least one of a technology owner, an accredited service provider, and an owner of the structure.

21. The pest monitoring system according to claim 19, wherein the central device is connected to a telecommunications network and transmits the alarm using at least one of a WiFi connection, a cellular connection, an Internet connection, and an Ethernet connection.

22. The pest monitoring system according to claim 19, wherein the central device is configured to issue the alarm by controlling at least one of an output of a smart TV, lighting, and a doorbell of the structure.

23. The pest monitoring system according to claim 16, further comprising a plurality of bait stations, each of the plurality of bait stations communicating directly with the central device.

24. The pest monitoring system according to claim 16, wherein the connection system comprises a home security system.

25. A pest monitoring system comprising one or more waterproof stations, each waterproof station comprising one or more circuits for monitoring a change in impedance, the change in impedance being used as a marker for the presence of pests.

26. a. One or more waterproof stations each comprising one or more circuits, the one or more circuits monitoring impedance, one or more waterproof stations; b. One or more control units in communication with the one or more circuits, the one or more control units detecting any change in impedance and generating a signal; c. One or more gateways in communication with the one or more control units, the one or more gateways receiving the signal and functioning as a packet forwarder to a network server; d. One or more application platforms that receive the signal and interpret the change in impedance as indicating the presence of pests A pest monitoring system comprising.

27. A pest monitoring system comprising a control unit that detects changes in impedance between two or more electrodes, and the control unit transmits one or more signals indicating changes in potential across the two or more electrodes.

28. The pest monitoring system according to claim 27, further comprising a waterproof housing that holds the electrodes.

29. The pest monitoring system according to claim 27 or 28, wherein the signal is transmitted to a central device.

30. The pest monitoring system according to claim 27 or 28, wherein the signal is transmitted to a data collection service.

31. The pest monitoring system according to claim 27 or 28, wherein the signal is transmitted to a cloud server.

32. The pest monitoring system according to claim 27 or 28, wherein the signal is transmitted to a home monitoring system.

33. The pest monitoring system according to claim 27 or 28, wherein the signal is transmitted directly to a pest management expert.

34. A bait matrix composition comprising a consumable marker material, the material facilitating determination of active ingestion of the consumable marker material.

35. The bait matrix according to claim 34, wherein the material comprises carbon-based conductive particles.

36. The bait matrix according to claim 34 or 35, wherein the carbon-based conductive particles are selected from one or more of graphite, carbon nanotube fragments, carbon black, coke, and carbonized coal dust.

37. A method of facilitating taste preference of a pest bait matrix, the method comprising introducing graphite into the bait matrix.

38. A method of enhancing the taste of a pest bait matrix, the method comprising introducing graphite.

39. A bait matrix with enhanced taste for pests, the bait matrix comprising graphite.

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