Fringe Capacitance Pest Sensing for False Positive Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pest monitoring systems using parallel plate capacitance sensors are prone to false positives due to dielectric interference and require manual inspection and maintenance, lacking versatility and intelligence in pest detection.
Innovation Solution
A fringe capacitance sensor system utilizing a sensor conductor flanked by un-grounded conductors on an electrically isolated substrate, capable of detecting changes in fringe capacitance through self- or mutual capacitance sensing, with a sensor unit that includes a power source, microprocessor, and transceiver for intelligent pest detection and discrimination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If parallel plate capacitance sensors are used for pest detection, then the sensing mechanism is simple to implement, but false positive results occur due to dielectric interference from leaves, wet weather, and dirt
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the sensing parameter from parallel plate capacitance to fringe capacitance measurement. By measuring capacitance at the edges of conductive plates rather than between parallel plates, the system achieves immunity to dielectric interference while maintaining manufacturing simplicity. The fringe field configuration naturally rejects signals from stationary dielectrics like leaves and dirt.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical parallel plate sensing mechanism with an electromagnetic fringe field sensing mechanism. This substitution allows the system to detect pest presence through capacitive coupling in the fringe field region, which is insensitive to stationary dielectric objects, thereby improving reliability without complicating the mechanical structure.
2Device complexity
If traditional capacitance sensors require manual inspection and maintenance, then the system is simpler to deploy, but productivity and time efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements autonomous operation with onboard power sources, microprocessors for data processing, and transceivers for automatic data transmission. The system self-monitors pest activity, stores data locally, and automatically reports findings, eliminating the need for manual inspection while maintaining simple deployment through wireless connectivity and battery operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor unit integrates multiple functions into a single device: sensing (capacitive detection), processing (microprocessor analysis), storage (data memory), communication (wireless transceiver), and power management (battery). This multi-functional integration maintains deployment simplicity while eliminating manual intervention requirements, thereby improving productivity.
3Reliability
If fringe capacitance sensors with un-grounded conductors are used, then detection reliability is improved by reducing false positives, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electrical configuration parameter from grounded to un-grounded conductors in the fringe capacitance sensor. This parameter change creates a sensing field that is insensitive to stationary dielectric objects, reducing false positives. The un-grounded configuration maintains electrical simplicity while achieving superior detection reliability.
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 system reduces false positives, enables autonomous pest monitoring, collects statistical data, and allows remote reporting, minimizing manual intervention, and is adaptable to various environments with flexible deployment and extended battery life.
Implementation Method 1
a fringe capacitance sensor for sensing objects... sensing device responsive to changes in... capacitance... when a non-capacitive object having a higher dielectric constant than air, such as a pest, approaches two spaced sensor electrodes, the capacitance between the two sensor electrodes increases
Implementation Method 2
when a non-capacitive object having a higher dielectric constant than air, such as a pest, approaches two spaced sensor electrodes, the capacitance between the two sensor electrodes increases
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The invention relates to a fringe capacitance sensor (10) for sensing objects, particularly, but not exclusively, pests, a sensor unit (100) comprising one or more fringe capacitance sensors, a system comprising a plurality of sensor units in a mesh topology or other wireless network and a method for intelligently detecting object activity, such as the presence of a pest, for example, a rodent or crawling, burrowing or flying insect. It can also be applied to the management of animals, whether in the wild or on farms. A preferred sensor (10) for detecting changes (Δ) in fringe capacitance (A) comprises an electrically conductive sensor conductor (12) and two electrically conductive un-grounded conductors (14a; 14b) disposed one on either side (16a; 16b) of the sensor conductor (12) to form a triplet (14a-12-14b). The conductors (12, 14a, 14b) are supported on an un-grounded conductive substrate (18) which is electrically isolated (20) from said conductors (12, 14a, 14b) and each conductor (14a, 12;14b) is of a width (w), and thickness (t), and is spaced by a distance (d) from another such that the sensor is tuned to detect or identify a given animal.