Bark Beetle Trap With Pivot Arm Ejection for Weight-Based Counting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing insect traps, particularly those used for monitoring bark beetles, are labor-intensive and prone to inaccuracies due to complex mechanisms and lack of reliability, leading to delayed detection of infestations and ineffective pest management.
Innovation Solution
An insect trap with a trigger unit featuring a pivoting arm and counterweight mechanism that activates at a predefined weight, automatically emptying the trap and providing a reliable weight-dependent signal for insect count determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual counting of captured insects is performed, then device complexity is low, but productivity is low and measurement precision is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical counting with an automated optical detection system. A camera captures images of insects in the collection container, and image processing algorithms automatically count and categorize the insects. This substitution of mechanical/manual operations with optical and computational systems directly resolves the contradiction by dramatically improving productivity while accepting increased device complexity through the addition of imaging and processing components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy (image) of the insects in the collection container and processes this copy to determine insect counts and characteristics. Instead of directly manipulating or counting physical insects, the system captures their visual representation and analyzes the image data. This copying approach enables automated, high-speed counting while preserving all necessary measurement capabilities.
2Productivity
If automatic detection systems are added to improve productivity, then insect counting efficiency increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the imaging system to serve multiple functions simultaneously: counting insects, determining species types, assessing insect size, and potentially monitoring trap status. By making the detection system universal and multi-functional, the patent justifies the added device complexity through the delivery of multiple valuable measurements from a single system addition, thereby improving productivity across multiple parameters rather than just one.
3Measurement precision
If image processing is used to determine insect numbers, then measurement precision improves, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent likely employs image processing strategies that analyze only the necessary portions of captured images or use simplified algorithms that achieve sufficient precision without exhaustive processing. By applying partial action (processing only what's needed to achieve accurate counts) rather than exhaustive analysis of every pixel and detail, the system maintains high measurement precision while controlling energy consumption to reasonable levels.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The trap ensures accurate and efficient monitoring of insect populations by reducing manual intervention and minimizing errors, enabling early detection of infestations and facilitating sustainable forest management.
Implementation Method 1
the second light source is configured to emit light in a second wavelength range, wherein the second wavelength range is complementary to the absorption spectrum of the fluorescent marker
Implementation Method 2
a first light source, comprising a first light-emitting diode (LED), is configured to emit light in a first wavelength range
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an insect trap (9), in particular a bark beetle trap, for determining the number of captured insects, in particular of captured bark beetles, having a sensor unit (12), wherein the sensor unit (12) is designed to sense a weight-dependent signal in order to determine the number of captured insects, wherein the weight-dependent signal is dependent on a weight of the captured insects, wherein the insect trap (9) has a tripping unit (13) with a pivot arm (14), wherein the weight of the captured insects acts on the pivot arm (14), wherein the tripping unit (13) is designed to trip at a predefined weight and to transfer the pivot arm (14) from a collecting position (34) into an ejecting position (35), wherein the insect trap (9) is designed to release at least some of the captured insects from the insect trap (9) in the ejecting position (35) of the pivot arm (14), wherein the tripping unit (13) has a counterweight (15), wherein the tripping unit (13) is designed to return the pivot arm from the ejecting position (35) into the collecting position (34) on account of the counterweight (15).