Insect Trap Using CO2 Exhaust and Sensor Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flying insect trapping devices are not efficient or effective in capturing a wide range of flying insects, particularly mosquitoes, as they often rely on simple attractants and lack advanced control mechanisms to optimize trapping conditions.
Innovation Solution
A flying insect trapping device that uses a combustible fuel supply to create a carbon dioxide-rich exhaust gas, combined with sensors and a controller to adjust operating parameters based on environmental conditions, and a vacuum system to draw insects into a trap chamber, along with an attractant dispenser and imaging device for enhanced trapping efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If simple attractants are used in existing trapping devices, then device complexity is reduced, but trapping effectiveness and efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the attractant by using carbon dioxide with specific concentration ratios (approximately 4-5% CO2 in exhaust gas) and controlling temperature (37°C to mimic human body temperature). This transforms the attractant from simple to chemically optimized, significantly improving trapping effectiveness while maintaining reasonable device complexity through controlled parameter adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates sensors that detect insect presence and provide feedback to the control system. The controller adjusts fuel flow and air flow rates based on sensor signals, creating a closed-loop system that optimizes attractant generation in real-time. This feedback mechanism enhances trapping effectiveness while preventing excessive resource consumption.
2Productivity
If advanced control mechanisms are added to optimize trapping conditions, then trapping efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the controller perform multiple functions: regulating fuel flow to the combustion device, controlling air flow rates, adjusting exhaust gas composition, and responding to sensor feedback. By consolidating these control functions into a single multi-functional controller, the system achieves high trapping efficiency while minimizing the number of separate components, thus managing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the fuel regulation system and air flow control system into an integrated control mechanism. The controller simultaneously manages both fuel flow rate and air flow rate to achieve optimal exhaust gas composition (4-5% CO2). This merging of control functions reduces the number of independent components and simplifies the overall device architecture while maintaining high trapping efficiency.
3Productivity
If carbon dioxide-rich exhaust gas is generated to mimic mammalian exhalation, then insect attraction capability is improved, but fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the combustion parameters by controlling the air-to-fuel ratio to achieve exhaust gas with 4-5% CO2 concentration. By adjusting the combustion chamber temperature and gas flow rates, the system produces highly attractive exhaust mimicking mammalian breath with minimal fuel input. This parameter optimization ensures maximum insect attraction capability per unit of fuel consumed.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system continuously monitors exhaust gas composition and adjusts fuel flow rate based on sensor feedback. When the desired CO2 concentration (4-5%) is achieved, the controller maintains or reduces fuel flow, preventing excessive fuel consumption. This feedback control ensures that fuel is used efficiently to maintain optimal attractant composition without waste.
4Productivity
If multiple sensors and control systems are integrated, then trapping performance is optimized, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is designed as a multi-functional unit that performs sensor signal processing, fuel flow regulation, air flow control, and exhaust composition adjustment. By consolidating multiple control functions into a single integrated controller, the patent reduces the number of separate electronic components needed, simplifying manufacturing and reducing costs while maintaining optimized trapping performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the combustion device, exhaust gas generation system, and control system into an integrated unit. The controller simultaneously manages fuel injection, air mixing, and combustion parameters, eliminating the need for separate control units for each function. This integration reduces assembly complexity and manufacturing costs while achieving superior trapping performance through coordinated control of multiple parameters.
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 device effectively attracts and captures flying insects by mimicking mammalian exhalation with a controlled carbon dioxide-rich exhaust, optimizing trapping conditions through sensor feedback, and utilizing a vacuum system for efficient insect collection.
Implementation Method 1
an inlet port for connection with a fuel supply. The inlet port enables the fuel from the fuel supply to flow into the combustion chamber for continuous combustion therein to create an exhaust gas comprising carbon dioxide
Implementation Method 2
a photosensor on an exterior of the device for detecting ambient light
Implementation Method 3
a vacuum device communicated to the insect inlet. The vacuum device is constructed and arranged to draw insects attracted to the insect attractant through the insect inlet and into the insect trap chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A device for trapping flying insects and a system of such devices are disclosed. The device includes a supporting frame with an associated combustible fuel supply connected to a combustion device with a fan which is operated to generate an exhaust gas having carbon dioxide to attract flying insects. The insects are drawn into a trap chamber on the frame by suction where they are collected and/or killed. The device may further include various sensors to regulate fuel flow and fan speed in accordance with insect activity as influenced by environmental and other factors.