LED Lamp for Insect Trap Using Fluorinated Sleeve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flying insect traps using ultraviolet fluorescent tubes face issues with hazardous mercury and phosphor materials, short lifespan, and environmental disposal concerns, necessitating a long-lasting, safe, and effective insect attractant solution.
Innovation Solution
A flying insect trap lamp featuring a translucent sleeve coated with fluorinated ethylene propylene, containing three sets of LEDs emitting light in specific wavelength ranges, with internal circuitry for voltage and current adaptation and an LED controller for patterned light emission, designed for seamless integration into standard trap fixtures without modifying external components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If ultraviolet fluorescent tubes are used to attract flying insects, then the tubes emit light that is highly attractive to flying insects, but the tubes contain hazardous mercury and phosphor materials that pose environmental and safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the fundamental parameters of the light source from fluorescent tube technology to LED technology. This involves changing the emission mechanism from phosphor fluorescence excited by mercury vapor to electroluminescence in semiconductor materials. The patent specifies LED arrays that emit ultraviolet and blue wavelengths (380-480nm) to replace the 300-400nm ultraviolet emission of fluorescent tubes, achieving similar insect attraction without hazardous materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention substitutes the mechanical and chemical system of fluorescent tubes (mercury vapor discharge, phosphor coating, glass envelope) with a solid-state electronic system using LED arrays. This replacement eliminates the need for gas-filled tubes, phosphor coatings, and complex starting mechanisms while achieving the same functional outcome of attracting flying insects through specific wavelength light emission.
2Illumination intensity
If ultraviolet fluorescent tubes are used in insect traps, then the tubes provide effective insect attraction, but the tubes have a short lifespan and require frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the traditional approach by making the light source (LED array) the long-lasting component rather than the short-lived component. LED arrays have operational lifespans exceeding 20,000-50,000 hours compared to fluorescent tubes that last only 8,000-10,000 hours. This extends the replacement cycle from annual to multi-year intervals, reducing maintenance frequency and operational disruption.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If fluorescent tubes are replaced with LED lamps, then environmental hazards are eliminated, but the lamp must be designed to work with existing trap electronics without modification
Solution Approach 1:
The invention designs the LED lamp assembly to serve multiple functions: it provides insect-attractive light emission, interfaces with various existing trap electronics (ballasts, starters, or direct wiring), and accommodates different mounting configurations. The lamp includes universal electrical connectors and control circuitry that can adapt to both ballast-driven and direct-wire installations, making it compatible with the vast majority of existing insect trap designs without requiring trap modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary control circuit board that acts as a buffer between the LED array and the existing trap electronics. This intermediary component handles voltage regulation, current control, and compatibility adaptation, allowing the LED lamp to interface with various electronic configurations (ballast-driven, starter-driven, or direct wiring) without requiring modifications to the trap housing or external components.
4Illumination intensity
If multiple LED wavelengths are used to attract insects, then insect attraction effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the LED array into distinct wavelength groups (ultraviolet 380-405nm, blue 430-480nm, and optionally green 500-560nm) with each segment serving a specific function in insect attraction. This segmentation allows for targeted spectral emission that matches insect photoreceptor sensitivity while maintaining independent control and replacement of individual LED modules, simplifying the overall system architecture.
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 LED lamp provides long-lasting, safe, and highly attractive light patterns to flying insects, overcoming the environmental and maintenance challenges of traditional fluorescent tubes, while being universally compatible with various trap configurations.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are mounted on the elongate mounting panel
Implementation Method 2
Each LED of the first set operates to emit light having a wavelength in the range of 315 to 400 nanometers
Implementation Method 3
The sleeve has a cylindrical substrate (surface) coated with fluorinated ethylene propylene
Data Source
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AI summary
Problems associated with the use of fluorescent tubes in insect traps are resolved by providing a replacement lamp employing multiple sets of light emitting diodes that each emit light at different specific wavelengths each positioned within a translucent sleeve have a surface coated with an environmentally safe light diffusion material creating a pattern on the surface comprising areas of more intense light dominated by the light cast by a single LED separated by areas of less intense light where light cast by adjacent LEDs is more mixed.