System and method for detecting the presence of pests

Abstract

In one aspect, a system for detecting the presence of pests includes an imaging system, the system including a housing including one or more pest entry ports, a pest attractant disposed within the housing, a pest detection surface, an image capture device configured to capture one or more images of the pest detection surface, and a triggering sensor apparatus for detecting target pests on or attempting to enter the pest detection surface, the triggering sensor apparatus configured to provide a trigger signal when a presence of an object is detected, and the image capture device configured to take an image of the pest detection surface in response to the trigger signal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and devices for automatically detecting the presence of pests.

Background Art

[0002] Existing pest traps or monitoring solutions require regular human intervention. This is most common for inspecting the trap or monitoring device to identify any captured pests and determine the necessary actions. Also, existing solutions require regular services such as replacing consumables like attractants or trap materials like sticky pads.

[0003] This need for regular human intervention is costly and often a cause of errors, which can significantly reduce the effectiveness and commercial viability of the trap or monitoring solution.

[0004] Furthermore, the need for human intervention means that the system has to be designed and located in accessible places so that it is not an additional burden for the operator to service. However, many pests actively avoid places where they are likely to be disturbed, which means that these places are poor choices as monitoring locations. This can significantly limit the effectiveness of the entire monitoring solution.

[0005] Being accessible usually means that the trap or monitoring device needs to be located in a place visible to passers-by. In many applications, the presence of visible pest control measures is unacceptable. As an example, this is particularly true in the hospitality industry, where regular customers will often react strongly negatively to the presence of pest control measures, as they will assume, rightly or wrongly, that there is an ongoing pest problem in the facility. Thus, the increased awareness of the problem can have a significant impact on the business and may be even worse than the pest problem being addressed by the system. As a result, many companies in these sectors are reluctant to adopt existing solutions, except in extreme situations.

[0006] Some attempts have been made to introduce electronic systems to automate the monitoring process. However, these still rely on consumables with a short lifespan and thus do not overcome the need for service. Furthermore, such systems usually require an external power source. This further restricts the options for positioning the trap or monitoring device and actually increases the likelihood that regular customers will notice the device.

[0007] Furthermore, existing electronic traps often do not include a means of sending the results to the end user. When this facility is included, it involves complex setup procedures for connecting the device to the local network. These limitations reduce the desirability and cost-effectiveness of the product for potential customers.

[0008] A particular problem faced by many pest traps and monitoring devices is the short shelf life of the attractants used to lure pests into the trap or monitoring device. These are typically pheromones, kairomones, or other fragrant chemicals that are volatile and difficult to release continuously over a long period of time. Existing solutions regulate the evaporation rate of the components of the attractant. However, this does not address the natural chemical degradation of the attractant, which often occurs when the attractant is exposed to air or even by reactions between the constituent chemical components themselves.

[0009] For the purposes of this application, the terms "trap", "detector", and "monitoring device" are used interchangeably with respect to any device intended to indicate the presence or absence of pests. For the purposes of this application and the appended claims, it is not important whether the device captures, kills, or otherwise affects the behavior of the pests.

Summary of the Invention

[0010] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a system for detecting the presence of pests, the system comprising an imaging system, a housing including one or more pest inlets, a pest attractant disposed within the housing, a pest detection surface, an image capture device configured to capture one or more images of the pest detection surface, a triggering sensor device for detecting a target pest on or attempting to enter the pest detection surface, the triggering sensor device being configured to provide a trigger signal when the presence of an object is detected, and the image capture device being configured to capture an image of the pest detection surface in response to the trigger signal, A system is provided where the triggering sensor device is configured to monitor an area between the one or more inlets and the pest attractant.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the system comprises a power source such as a battery or a capacitor having a limited amount of charge.

[0012] In another embodiment, the system comprises a service module removably attachable to the housing, the service module being adapted to receive a pest attractant and / or a power source.

[0013] In yet another embodiment, the triggering sensor device and at least the electrical components of the pest detection surface are disposed on a common support surface.

[0014] According to another embodiment, the system comprises a power source having a limited amount of charge, the power source being sized to supply an output at a first voltage, and the system comprises a voltage converter for raising the output of the power source to a second voltage, the system according to any one of claims 1 - 8.

[0015] In yet another embodiment, the second voltage is suitable for operating an image capture device.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the monitored area is set such that any path between one or more inlets and the attractant crosses the monitored area.

[0017] In another embodiment, the pest detection surface is disposed between one or more inlets and the attractant such that any path between one or more inlets and the attractant crosses the pest detection surface.

[0018] The triggering sensor device may comprise at least one optoelectronic sensor.

[0019] In another embodiment, the optoelectronic sensor comprises a first sensor component and a second sensor component, and the first sensor component and the second sensor component are arranged with respect to the pest detection surface such that electromagnetic radiation transmitted between the first sensor component and the second sensor component in a plan view crosses at least a part of the pest detection surface.

[0020] In another embodiment, the first component of the optoelectronic sensor and the pest detection surface are arranged on a common support surface, and / or the second component of the optoelectronic sensor and the pest detection surface are arranged on a common support surface.

[0021] At least one optoelectronic sensor can be one of a transmissive beam sensor, a reflective sensor, or a diffuse sensor.

[0022] In another embodiment, the electromagnetic radiation of the optoelectronic sensor has a wavelength of 300 nm to 1100 nm, more preferably 450 nm to 950 nm, more preferably 650 nm to 950 nm, and most preferably 750 nm to 950 nm.

[0023] All parts of the triggering sensor device can be located outside the field of view of the image capture device. Alternatively, at least a part of the triggering sensor device can be located on the pest detection surface.

[0024] The triggering sensor device can be arranged to monitor at least a part of the pest detection surface.

[0025] In another embodiment, the pest detection surface extends between a first end arranged close to one or more inlets of the housing and a second end arranged close to the attractant, and the triggering sensor device is configured to monitor at least a part of an area extending from the first end and less than half of the path between the first end and the second end.

[0026] In another embodiment, the triggering sensor device is configured to monitor the area between one or more inlets and the pest detection surface.

[0027] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for detecting the presence of pests in a pest detection system comprising a pest detection surface for detecting target pests, an image capture device, and a trigger sensor device, the method comprising: monitoring at least a portion of the pest detection surface by the trigger sensor device; providing a trigger signal to the image capture device when the presence of an object is detected by the trigger sensor device; capturing, by the image capture device, one or more images of the pest detection surface immediately upon receiving the trigger signal. A method is provided that includes these steps.

[0028] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a system for detecting the presence of pests, the system comprising an imaging system, the system comprising: a pest detection surface; an image capture device configured to capture one or more images of the pest detection surface, the image capture device including an imaging sensor and a light source; A system is provided in which the light source and the imaging sensor are disposed on a common support surface.

[0029] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a system for detecting the presence of pests, the system comprising an imaging system, the system comprising: a pest detection surface; an image capture device configured to capture one or more images of the pest detection surface, the image capture device including an imaging sensor; A system is provided in which the imaging sensor and the pest detection surface are disposed on a common support surface.

[0030] According to one embodiment, a system comprises a triggering sensor device for detecting a target pest that is on or attempting to enter a pest detection surface, the triggering sensor device being configured to provide a trigger signal in response to a detected object, an image capture device being configured to capture an image of the pest detection surface in response to the trigger signal, and at least the electrical components of the triggering sensor device being disposed on a common support surface.

[0031] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a system for detecting the presence of pests, the system comprising an imaging system, a pest detection surface, an image capture device configured to capture one or more images of the pest detection surface, the image capture device comprising an imaging sensor, a triggering sensor device for detecting a target pest that is on or attempting to enter the pest detection surface, the triggering sensor device being configured to provide a trigger signal in response to a detected object, and the image capture device being configured to capture an image of the pest detection surface in response to the trigger signal, wherein at least the electrical components of the triggering sensor device and the pest detection surface are disposed on a common support surface.

[0032] In another embodiment, the triggering sensor device comprises at least one optoelectronic sensor, preferably a transmissive beam sensor, and the electrical components of the optoelectronic sensor include an optical transmitter and an optical receiver.

[0033] The pest detection surface may be disposed on a common support surface.

[0034] The common support surface may be a printed circuit board.

[0035] In another embodiment, one or more of the pest detection surface, the image capture device, and the common support surface are axisymmetric.

[0036] The system may include a mirror disposed opposite to the opposite side of the common support surface.

[0037] In another embodiment, the mirror is axisymmetric about the mirror symmetry axis, the mirror symmetry axis of the mirror intersects the imaging sensor of the image capture device, and / or the mirror symmetry axis of the mirror is collinear with the central axis of the imaging sensor.

[0038] In another embodiment, the mirror is manufactured by one or more of machining, injection molding, thermoforming, vacuum forming, and stamping.

[0039] In another embodiment, the image capture device preferably includes a plurality of light sources disposed around the pest detection surface. The light sources may be arranged to illuminate the pest detection surface from a plurality of angles.

[0040] In another embodiment, the light source of the image capture device is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation that is invisible to the target pest and / or the light source of the image capture device is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation that is invisible to the human eye.

[0041] In another embodiment, the light source of the image capture device is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation at a wavelength of 300 nm to 1100 nm, more preferably 450 nm to 950 nm, more preferably 650 nm to 950 nm, and most preferably 750 nm to 950 nm.

[0042] In another embodiment, the color of the pest detection surface is selected to provide high contrast compared to the color of the target pest.

[0043] The pest detection surface may have a high reflectivity with respect to the electromagnetic radiation provided by the light source of the image capture device. Alternatively, the pest detection surface may have a high absorption rate with respect to the electromagnetic radiation provided by the light source of the image capture device.

[0044] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a system for detecting the presence of pests, the system comprising an imaging system, a pest detection surface, an image capture device comprising an imaging sensor configured to capture one or more images of the pest detection surface, the imaging sensor having a field of view smaller than the pest detection surface, means for expanding the field of view of the image sensor so that the field of view of the image sensor covers the pest detection surface, is provided.

[0045] According to one embodiment, the means for expanding the field of view includes a mirror.

[0046] In another embodiment, the system comprises a housing including a first wall located on the opposite side of the pest detection surface, the first wall being spaced from the pest detection surface by a first distance, and the mirror being disposed on the first wall so as to create an optical distance between the pest detection surface and the imaging sensor that is longer than the optical path covering the cavity height of the imaging cavity.

[0047] The mirror may be disposed facing the opposite side of the pest detection surface.

[0048] The mirror may be dome-shaped.

[0049] In another embodiment, the image capture device and the pest detection surface are disposed on a common support surface.

[0050] The means for expanding the field of view may include a wide-angle lens, particularly a fish-eye lens.

[0051] A wide-angle lens may be part of an image capture device, and the image capture device may have an angle of view of 75 degrees or more.

[0052] The mirror may be formed to compensate for the distortion caused by the wide-angle lens.

[0053] In another embodiment, the mirror is manufactured by one or more of machining, injection molding, thermoforming, vacuum forming, and stamping.

[0054] The pest detection surface may be formed to compensate for the distortion caused by the wide-angle lens.

[0055] In another embodiment, the system includes a housing, and the pest detection surface and the image capture device are disposed within the housing.

[0056] The housing may include a top having a rounded outer surface.

[0057] In another embodiment, the housing includes attachment means for fixing the housing to one or more components of a bed.

[0058] The housing may have an overall height of less than 30 mm.

[0059] In another embodiment, the image capture device is installed in a fixed spatial relationship with the pest detection surface.

[0060] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a system for detecting the presence of pests, the system comprising an imaging system, a pest detection surface, an image capture device configured to capture one or more images of the pest detection surface, the image capture device comprising an imaging sensor and a lens, the lens introducing distortion into one or more images of the pest detection surface, A system is provided that includes a curved surface disposed within the field of view of an image capture device and configured to compensate for distortion caused by a lens.

[0061] According to one embodiment, the system includes a mirror disposed opposite the pest inspection surface.

[0062] The curved surface may be at least partially defined by the mirror.

[0063] The mirror may be axially symmetric about a mirror axis of symmetry.

[0064] In another embodiment, the mirror axis of symmetry of the mirror intersects the imaging sensor of the image capture device and / or the mirror axis of symmetry of the mirror is collinear with the central axis of the imaging sensor.

[0065] In another embodiment, the mirror is disposed opposite the image capture device.

[0066] The mirror may be dome-shaped.

[0067] In another embodiment, the mirror is manufactured by one or more of machining, injection molding, thermoforming, vacuum forming, and stamping.

[0068] In another embodiment, the curved surface is at least partially defined by the pest inspection surface.

[0069] The mirror may be substantially flat.

[0070] In another embodiment, the lens is a wide-angle lens, particularly a fish-eye lens.

[0071] In another embodiment, the image capture device has a field of view of 75 degrees or more.

[0072] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for determining the shape of a surface to compensate for distortion caused by a lens used in a system for detecting the presence of pests, the system comprising: an image capture device configured to capture one or more images of a pest detection surface, the method comprising: capturing an image of a reference object of known dimensions using the image capture device; determining a distortion function that describes the mathematical correlation between one or more locations in the image and their corresponding locations on the reference object; determining a compensation function by mathematically inverting the distortion function; calculating the shape of the surface for compensating lens distortion using the compensation function.

[0073] According to one embodiment, the reference object is a flat polygonal surface of known dimensions.

[0074] In another embodiment, the reference object has a checkerboard pattern with a square of known dimensions.

[0075] In another embodiment, one or more locations in the image are one or more corners of the reference object.

[0076] In another embodiment, the distortion function is derived by correlating one or more locations in the image with their corresponding locations on the reference object using polynomial regression fitting, preferably the least squares method.

[0077] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a system for detecting the presence of pests, the system comprising at least one active component having a limited lifespan and receiving lifespan status data indicative of the remaining lifespan of the at least one active component, determining a lifespan parameter representing the period until the end of the operating lifespan of the active component based on the lifespan status data, A system is provided that includes a control unit configured to determine a service status signal based on lifespan status data.

[0078] According to one embodiment, the control unit compares a lifespan parameter with a service time threshold, and is configured to determine a service status signal based on the comparison result.

[0079] In another embodiment, the control unit is configured to determine a service status signal for requesting maintenance of at least one active component when the lifespan parameter falls below the service time threshold.

[0080] In another embodiment, at least one active component includes a power source, preferably a battery, and the lifespan status data includes information regarding the remaining charge of the power source.

[0081] In another embodiment, the lifespan status data includes environmental condition data indicating environmental conditions acting on at least one active component.

[0082] In another embodiment, the environmental condition data includes one or more of humidity data indicating the humidity level of the air acting on the active component, and temperature data indicating the air temperature acting on the active component.

[0083] In another embodiment, the control unit receives a service interval parameter representing a predetermined time interval between scheduled services of the system, determines the current operating time of the active component, compares the lifespan parameter with the difference between the service interval parameter and the current operating time, and is configured to determine a service status signal based on the comparison result.

[0084] In another embodiment, the control unit is configured to determine a service status signal for requesting maintenance of at least one active component when the difference between the service interval parameter and the current operating time is greater than the lifetime parameter.

[0085] In another embodiment, the system a pest detection surface, an image capture device configured to capture one or more images of the pest detection surface, and at least one active component includes a power source for supplying power to the image capture device.

[0086] In another embodiment, the power source comprises a battery, preferably a disposable alkaline battery.

[0087] In another embodiment, the power source is sized to supply an output at a first voltage, and the system comprises a voltage converter for raising the output of the power source to a second voltage.

[0088] In another embodiment, the second voltage is suitable for operating the image capture device.

[0089] In another embodiment, the system comprises a pest attractant comprising one or more active substances for attracting target pests, and at least one active component comprises one or more active substances of the pest attractant.

[0090] In another embodiment, the active substances of the pest attractant include one or any combination of pheromones, kairomones, and bait for the target pests.

[0091] In another embodiment, the system comprises a service module removably attachable to the housing of the system, the service module being adapted to receive the pest attractant and the power source.

[0092] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a system comprising at least one active component with a limited lifespan, the method comprising receiving lifespan status data indicating the remaining lifespan of the at least one active component, determining a lifespan parameter representing the period until the end of the operating lifespan of the active component based on the lifespan status data, determining a service status signal based on the lifespan parameter, is provided.

[0093] Within the scope of this application, it is explicitly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples, and alternatives described in the foregoing paragraphs, as well as the claims, and / or the following description and drawings, and in particular their individual features, can be adopted independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and all features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and / or combination, except where such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to modify the originally filed claims, including the right to amend the originally filed claims to be dependent on and / or incorporate any feature of any other claim, even though the applicant did not originally claim so, or to file new claims accordingly.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0094] Here, examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0095]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0096] The present disclosure provides a system and method for detecting pests that can be used as or as part of a pest trap, detector, or monitoring device. By significantly reducing the amount of human intervention required, the above problems are substantially solved. Also, a pest monitoring device, trap, or detector can be positioned in locations where it would not be practical by other means.

[0097] The present disclosure describes presently preferred embodiments of automated insect detectors, but it is understood that the invention is beneficial in a wide range of applications, including passive traps and systems with and without automated detection capabilities. These systems can include traps, as well as passive and active monitoring devices, with or without trap or insecticidal functionality. Traps may constitute the majority of the activity-sensing pest devices in a given pest control program, but devices that only monitor pest activity may be preferred depending on the location and application. Thus, both types of devices can be utilized in the various environments in which the present invention can be used. Further, unless the context dictates otherwise, both traps and passive or active pest monitoring devices are included within the scope of the term "pest detector" as used herein.

[0098] The present disclosure provides methods, apparatus, and systems that are effective, practical, and inexpensive pest detectors, thereby enabling individual positioning that can keep the detector in the field for long periods with minimal human intervention.

[0099] Please refer to FIG. 1, which shows advantageous locations for a bedbug monitoring device. Bedbugs typically feed on exposed areas of the skin, particularly the arms, neck, upper chest, and back of an occupant in bed. After feeding, they move to hidden hiding places, most commonly the bed structure 24 behind the headboard 23 or under the mattress 25. This is well known to practitioners in this field. From this, it is clear that a location close to either the feeding location or the hiding location is a suitable location for the monitoring device. In particular, the location 26 behind or immediately below the headboard, and the location 27 on the floor directly below the head end of the bed are advantageous because insects only need to be attracted a short distance from their natural position to reach the monitoring device. The location 28 between the mattress and the bed frame is on the most common path that insects take and is the most advantageous location for maximizing the likelihood of detection. These locations are also advantageous in that a monitoring device positioned at these locations is less likely to be noticed by the bed occupant. However, all of these locations have the major drawback of being difficult to access for inspection of the monitoring device. In all cases, it is advantageous and indeed essential to minimize the amount of human intervention required. In addition, location 28 is difficult. This is because the device must be made thin enough so that it remains undetected by the bed occupant. The present invention and the features described below solve these problems and enable the monitoring device to be positioned at the most advantageous location 28 so that it can operate for a long time without the bed occupant being aware of its presence and without human intervention.

[0100] Referring to FIG. 2, an embodiment of a system for advantageously implementing the present invention is shown. The axially symmetric optical system is arranged about the axis of symmetry 2 and includes a camera 6 and a mirror 1. In this system, the camera consists of an imaging sensor and a wide-angle lens commonly referred to as a "fisheye" lens. The mirror is designed such that the camera can generate an image of the floor surface 4 in its reflection, which will hereinafter be referred to as the device floor or imaging surface.

[0101] In this embodiment, the device floor is designed to be the lower surface of a "pitfall" trap, which will be familiar to experts in the field of insect traps. The slope 3 allows crawling insects to access the monitoring device, but once the insect reaches a position where it is on the device floor and imaged by the camera, the vertical surface prevents the insect from escaping again. This may be beneficial for some systems, but the action of trapping insects is not a requirement of the present invention and is included in this embodiment as an example.

[0102] Similar arrangements with lenses and mirrors but lacking axial symmetry are also possible and are encompassed by the present invention. However, these non-rotationally symmetric optical components, so-called "freeform" optical elements, are considered less advantageous than the presented embodiments because they are much more costly to design and manufacture.

[0103] Furthermore, additional active components 5 and 12 are co-located on the floor of the device. These can generally be LEDs or any other light source for the imaging system 5. Additionally, they can include components for triggering the imaging system when an insect is likely to be within the field of view 12.

[0104] The advantage of a system that positions the active components, which are the camera and the lighting, in a single plane is that it can be easily produced using standard printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing techniques, which is beneficial for reducing the cost of the system. Conventional imaging systems for detecting pests, which do not correspond to the present invention, require additional wiring and manufacturing complexity.

[0105] A wide-angle lens such as 6 typically introduces significant optical distortion. In FIG. 2, the mirror 1 is formed in a shape that compensates for this distortion, resulting in a substantially linear output image on the image plane 4. This significantly reduces the amount of image processing that needs to be performed and greatly reduces the complexity and cost of the associated processing components.

[0106] When the selected lens 6 does not introduce significant distortion, the optimal shape of the mirror 1 is planar. The mirror 1 can be manufactured by many methods including, but not limited to, machining, injection molding, thermoforming, vacuum forming, and stamping.

[0107] The mirror 1 is suspended above the floor 4 by means not shown in this figure, although various methods including snaps and adhesives will be apparent to those skilled in the art. This installation can be made with respect to the inner surface of additional roof components such as 11 shown in FIG. 7.

[0108] FIG. 3 shows a method that can be used to estimate the required shape of the mirror. A reference image 31 of a known object 29, such as a uniform checkerboard pattern of black and white squares of known size, is taken from a known distance by the lens and camera 30 to be compensated. From this reference image, a mathematical correlation between the positions of the corners in the checkerboard pattern and their true locations is derived 32 using a polynomial least squares method that fits the distortion function of the camera and lens. This is a bivariate equation for the true position as a function of the location in the image and is usually expressed in polar or Cartesian coordinates. The inverse of this equation is the compensation function 33 and can be used to calculate the required shape of the mirror 34 by simple geometry.

[0109] Refer to FIG. 4, which is an alternative embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a flat mirror 7 is suspended above the camera and lens 6, and the formed floor 8. In this configuration, the shape of the floor is designed to compensate for lens distortion. This allows the use of a flat mirror 7 even when the lens introduces significant distortion. This embodiment presents the advantage that relatively expensive optical components can be made into simple planes by adding complexity to floor components that can be manufactured inexpensively, such as by injection molding.

[0110] In both FIGS. 2 and 4, the camera and lens element 6 have a focal length appropriate to provide a clear focus on the system floor 4 or 8, which is approximately twice the distance between the lens and the mirror.

[0111] Refer to FIG. 5, which is a plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention. The inclined plane 3, the camera 6, the imaging surface, i.e., the floor 4, the lighting element 12, and the triggering sensor 5 are as described with reference to FIG. 2. If alternative figures for this provide additional explanation of their functions, this will be described below. This embodiment also includes an outer housing 11 for accommodating the components of the system. The field of view 9 (the obliquely hatched rectangle) is designed to substantially fill the area of the floor of the system 4. Thereby, the area where insects may be inside the monitoring device but not visible to the imaging system is minimized.

[0112] The triggering sensor 5 in this embodiment is configured as a "light gate", where one element is an optical emitter and the other element is an optical sensor. When the optical path 13 is blocked by an insect, the imaging system is triggered to capture an image. In this embodiment, the location of the component 5 and the light beam 13 are preferably positioned to maximize the probability that an insect is within the field of view 9 when the sensor is triggered. This is achieved by positioning the sensor close to the edge of the field of view without invading the image. An arrangement having one or more of the elements 5 within the field of view 9 is within the scope of the present invention, but it is not preferred because the resulting image processing becomes more difficult when the element 5 is within the field of view 9.

[0113] Furthermore, this embodiment includes an attractant 10, which may include a pheromone, a kairomone, or other attractants well known to those skilled in the art of pest control. In this embodiment, the attractant 10 is located in a place where any insects entering the device through the inclined plane 3 (covered with a net) must pass across the floor 4 of the monitoring device and are very likely to enter the field of view 9 of the camera before they can reach the attractant 10. More preferably, the configuration may ensure that there is no route to the attractant that does not pass through both the triggering sensor devices 5 and 13 and the field of view 9 from the inlet of the device. This configuration, which can be easily achieved by many means such as expanding the field of view 9 to cover the entire floor 4, is within the scope of the present invention.

[0114] The selection of the illumination wavelength depends on many factors. LEDs are generally preferred because they are physically small, have a low-cost package, and exhibit high energy-efficient light generation. The problem when using LEDs is that they generate light in a narrow wavelength band, and the selection of the appropriate wavelength depends on many factors.

[0115] By using low-cost LEDs, wavelengths greater than about 950 nm and shorter than about 400 nm are not as advantageous as wavelengths in the near-ultraviolet to near-infrared range of 400 nm to 950 nm where low-cost LEDs are readily available, so the use of low-cost LEDs is advantageous.

[0116] Wavelengths that fall within the high-sensitivity regions of the spectra of typical silicon CMOS and CCD image sensors are also advantageous. Furthermore, wavelengths for which a low-cost polymer optical system typically made from PMMA is suitable are preferred. Other types of imaging sensors are expensive and consume more power than silicon CMOS and CCD devices. Other types of lenses such as glass are more fragile and expensive compared to molded polymer lenses. For this reason, wavelengths in the range of 450 nm to 950 nm are preferred.

[0117] Furthermore, it is advantageous to use wavelengths that are invisible to insects as well as, optionally, to humans in order to avoid triggering the escape response. Most insects have very limited light reception at wavelengths longer than 650 nm, and human vision ends at approximately 750 nm. As a result, wavelengths longer than this are preferred.

[0118] Taking everything into consideration, the above points mean that embodiments of the present invention will use an illumination element 12 that generates light having a wavelength for imaging in the range of 300 nm to 1100 nm, more preferably 450 nm to 950 nm, more preferably 650 nm to 950 nm, and most preferably 750 nm to 950 nm.

[0119] The color of the imaging surface 4 is selected to provide good image contrast for the target species of insects under the wavelength selected for the illumination element 12. In the most advantageous embodiments described above, when using illumination in the range of 750 nm to 950 nm, since most insects substantially absorb the illumination wavelength, a surface with a high reflectance with respect to the illumination wavelength is preferred to provide good contrast.

[0120] Please refer to FIG. 6 showing one embodiment of the present invention in both disassembled (left) and assembled (right) forms. This figure shows a replaceable cartridge 14 that can be attached to the housing 11 by non-permanent means. In this embodiment, this is achieved by snap features 23, but as is well known to those skilled in the art, it can also be achieved by various alternative approaches. The cartridge 14 contains a volume for storing the battery 16 and the attractant 18. The capacities of both 14 and 18 are designed to achieve a lifespan longer than the service interval of the system. Combining these consumable elements into a single, user-replaceable part is beneficial because it reduces the cost and burden on the user.

[0121] Refer to FIG. 7, which is an external view of an embodiment of the present invention. The outer housing 11 attaches the cartridge 14. It also has an inclined surface 3 that allows insects to access the internal space below the roof 22. The mirror 1 or 7 is installed on the lower surface of the roof 22 as described above. The outer housing further has a smooth and rounded outer surface 19 on the top and sides to minimize any possibility of feeling the device through the mattress.

[0122] Refer to FIG. 8, which is a bottom external view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7. The attachment tab 20 with features of screw holes and restraint lips provides the ability to fasten the device to the bed frame. Alternatively, adhesive pads 21 can be adapted to the underside of the device to provide a means of attachment.

[0123] Refer to FIG. 9, which shows a circuit diagram of the power subsystem of the present invention. As described above, it is advantageous for the device to be powered by a battery 16 for reasons of discretion, cost, and convenience for the user. Solutions with multiple batteries in various series or parallel configurations may be fully acceptable in certain situations. However, it is advantageous to use a single battery or cell to minimize the size and cost of the trap and its consumable cartridge 14. For reasons of safety and cost, this single cell or battery is advantageously an alkaline chemical single cell. The operating voltage of a single alkaline cell is 1.5 volts or less, which may be insufficient to operate power-consuming components 36 such as imaging sensors and wireless communication components. To solve this problem, this embodiment utilizes a boost converter 35, as would be well known to those skilled in the art.

[0124] Please refer to FIG. 10. The inventor has recognized the limitations of existing "smart monitoring" solutions where the user has to perform complex setup procedures to register devices at specific locations so that the received data can be correlated with meaningful physical locations such as room numbers. The present invention circumvents this problem by providing preconfigured monitoring devices at specific locations. The user sends a list 37 of locations to be monitored, such as a list of room numbers. An automated deployment system 39 obtains this list and registers each location to a specific device from the storage device 38. The system further prints a label 40 indicating the assigned location and attaches it to the monitoring device before shipment. Upon receiving the shipped monitoring device, the user only needs to position each monitoring device at the location indicated by the label and no on-site configuration is required.

Claims

**Claim 1** A system for detecting the presence of pests, comprising an imaging system, wherein the imaging system includes a housing including one or more pest inlets, a pest attractant disposed within the housing, a pest detection surface, an image capture device configured to capture one or more images of the pest detection surface, a triggering sensor device for detecting target pests that are on or attempting to enter the pest detection surface, the triggering sensor device including at least one transmissive beam photoelectric sensor, the triggering sensor device being configured to monitor an area between the one or more pest inlets and the pest attractant, the transmissive beam photoelectric sensor including an optical transmitter and an optical receiver, the optical transmitter and the optical receiver being disposed with respect to the pest detection surface such that an optical path therebetween crosses at least a portion of the pest detection surface in plan view, the triggering sensor device being configured to provide a trigger signal when the optical path is blocked by an object, and the image capture device being configured to capture an image of the pest detection surface in response to the trigger signal. **Claim 2** The system according to claim 1, comprising a power source including a battery or a capacitor having a limited amount of charge. **Claim 3** The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the triggering sensor device is configured to monitor an area, and the area is set such that any path between the one or more pest inlets and the pest attractant crosses the monitored area. **Claim 4** The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pest detection surface is disposed between the one or more pest inlets and the pest attractant such that any path between the one or more pest inlets and the pest attractant crosses the pest detection surface. **Claim 5** The system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the triggering sensor device is disposed to monitor at least a portion of the pest detection surface. **Claim 6** The system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a service module removably attachable to the housing, the service module being adapted to receive the pest attractant and / or a power source.

7. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein all parts of the triggering sensor device are located outside the field of view of the image capture device.

8. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the triggering sensor device is configured to monitor an area between the one or more pest inlets and the pest detection surface.

9. Further comprising at least one active component with a limited lifespan and a control unit, the control unit receiving a service interval parameter representing a predetermined time interval between scheduled services of the system, determining a current operating time of the at least one active component, comparing a lifespan parameter of the at least one active component with a difference between the service interval parameter and the current operating time, and being configured to determine a service status signal based on the comparison result. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the control unit is configured to determine a service status signal for requesting maintenance of the at least one active component when a difference between the service interval parameter and the current operating time is greater than the lifespan parameter.

11. The system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the pest attractant includes one or more active substances for attracting target pests, and the at least one active component includes the one or more active substances of the pest attractant.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the active substance of the pest attractant includes one or any combination of pheromones, kairomones, and bait for the target pest.

13. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the image capture device includes a plurality of light sources and an imaging sensor, the light sources and the imaging sensor of the image capture device are arranged on a common support surface, and the trigger signal is configured to trigger the image capture device to trigger the light sources.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the light source of the image capture device is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation that is invisible to the target pests and / or the light source of the image capture device is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation visible to the human eye.

15. The system according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the color of the pest detection surface is selected to provide a desired contrast compared to the color of the target pests, and the pest detection surface has a desired reflectivity with respect to the electromagnetic radiation provided by the light source of the image capture device.

16. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the pest attractant is disposed directly on a path to the one or more pest inlets, spaced apart from the one or more pest inlets.

17. A method for detecting the presence of pests in a pest detection system comprising a pest detection surface, an image capture device, and a triggering sensor device, wherein the triggering sensor device comprises at least one transmissive beam photoelectric sensor and is configured to detect target pests, the transmissive beam photoelectric sensor comprises a light transmitter and a photoelectric receiver, and the light transmitter and the photoelectric receiver are disposed with respect to the pest detection surface such that an optical path therebetween crosses at least a portion of the pest detection surface in a plan view, the method comprising: monitoring at least a portion of the pest detection surface by the triggering sensor device; providing a trigger signal to the image capture device when the optical path is blocked by an object; and capturing, by the image capture device, one or more images of the pest detection surface immediately upon receiving the trigger signal, wherein the triggering sensor device is configured to monitor an area between the one or more pest inlets and the pest attractant.

Images