Polarized Insect Trap for Window Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing insect traps are either ineffective in attracting insects using ambient light while hiding captured insects from view or increase in size, cost, and complexity to achieve this, and prior art lacks a solution that utilizes polarized light for insect capture.
Innovation Solution
A device with at least two parallel, planar, transparent faces that polarize light into a single plane, oriented at right angles, allowing insects to be attracted while obscuring the view of trapped insects from humans, using a pressure-sensitive adhesive and a securing means for attachment to a window.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a box or decorative element surrounds the insect trapping means to keep captured insects out of view, then the hiddenness of captured insects is improved, but the amount of light surrounding the insect trapping means decreases, potentially decreasing the attraction of insects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses thin polarizing film layers instead of bulky boxes or decorative elements. These thin films allow maximum light transmission while achieving the obscuration effect, resolving the contradiction between light attraction and insect hiddenness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the trapping surface by applying polarizing filters with specific orientation angles. This transforms the surface from opaque to selectively transparent, allowing insects to see through while humans cannot, thus maintaining light attraction while hiding captured insects.
2Productivity
If a light source is included to attract insects towards an insect trap, then the attraction of insects is improved, but the size, cost, and complexity of the insect trap increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the trap self-service by utilizing ambient light from the environment (windows, artificial lighting) instead of requiring an integrated light source. The polarizing filters passively modify this existing light to create the attraction and obscuration effects, eliminating the need for batteries, bulbs, or power circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces polarizing filters as an intermediary between the ambient light and the insect trap. This intermediary component modifies the light properties to achieve attraction and obscuration without requiring the trap itself to generate light, thus avoiding the complexity of integrated lighting systems.
3Productivity
If adhesive devices are placed on windows to capture insects, then the capture effectiveness is improved, but the view of captured insects becomes fully visible, which is aesthetically unpleasant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies thin polarizing film layers directly to the window surface over the adhesive trap. These films are aesthetically pleasing and allow the trap to remain effective while preventing humans from seeing captured insects, thus resolving the contradiction between capture effectiveness and aesthetic appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the visual parameters of the trap by applying polarizing filters that create a viewing angle dependency. The trap remains fully visible to insects approaching from their perspective, but becomes obscured to humans viewing from typical eye level, thus maintaining capture effectiveness while improving aesthetics.
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 solution effectively attracts insects using ambient light while keeping captured insects hidden from view, demonstrating a superior performance in fly catches compared to commercial traps, with a compact, inexpensive, and easy-to-manufacture design.
Implementation Method 1
at least two parallel, planar, transparent faces, each face configured to polarize transmitted light into a single plane. The faces are oriented such that the light polarization planes are at right angles.
Data Source
AI summary
An insect trap for multiple species of pest insects, especially flying insects that are an indoor nuisance. The trap contains at least two parallel, planar, transparent faces, each face configured to polarize transmitted light into a single plane. The faces are oriented such that the light polarization planes are at substantially right angles. When the trap is attached substantially flush to a window, phototactic insects against the window perceive the trap faces as transparent and are thus induced to crawl in to the trap. However, light is prevented from passing through both faces, substantially obscuring the view of trapped insects inside to a casual human observer.