Tunable Spectrum Lighting System for Insect Attraction and Repulsion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing insect control methods, including chemical and physical approaches, face challenges such as health risks, environmental impact, and inefficacy in managing insect populations due to their varying responses to light sources, which are often disturbed by traditional light traps and have limited seasonal effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A lighting system with multiple light sources having different spectral power distributions, controlled by a system that maintains the same visual appearance to humans but attracts or repels insects based on their phototactic behavior, allowing for dynamic control of insect movement between locations without disturbing users.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If traditional light traps with single spectral distribution are used, then insects are attracted to the light source, but the visual appearance changes noticeably and insects become disturbed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of light sourceVSAvoideffectiveness of insect attraction

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The light source is divided into multiple lighting elements, each emitting a different spectral power distribution. This segmentation allows the system to present different spectral characteristics to insects while maintaining a consistent overall visual appearance to humans, thereby improving insect attraction effectiveness without noticeable visual changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the light source (lighting elements) are assigned different spectral qualities tailored to specific insect phototactic responses. Each lighting element targets specific wavelength preferences of different insect species, creating localized spectral zones that enhance overall attraction effectiveness while maintaining uniform human perception.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If multiple light sources with different spectral power distributions are used, then insect control effectiveness is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsect control effectivenessVSAvoidnumber of light sources and control mechanisms

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple lighting elements with different spectral power distributions are merged into a single integrated light source assembly. This combination allows the system to deliver multiple spectral profiles simultaneously or sequentially while being controlled by a single controller, thereby improving insect control effectiveness without proportionally increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The light source assembly is designed to perform multiple functions by incorporating lighting elements that target different insect species and behavioral responses. The same physical assembly can attract different types of insects at different times or under different conditions, eliminating the need for multiple separate light sources and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If chemical substances are used for insect control, then insect population is effectively controlled, but health risks and environmental harm increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsect population control effectivenessVSAvoidhealth risks to humans

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces chemical insect control methods with a physical light-based control system. By using multiple lighting elements with different spectral power distributions, the system attracts and controls insect populations through phototactic behavior manipulation rather than chemical exposure, thereby eliminating health risks and environmental harm associated with chemical substances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 effectively manages insect populations by leveraging phototaxis to attract or repel insects, maintaining user comfort and adaptability across different seasons and species, enhancing ecological and human well-being by reducing insect presence in inhabited areas.

Implementation Method 1

the insect displays preferential phototaxic behavior towards one of the first and second spectral power distributions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhototaxis:

Data Source

PatentEP3099161B1Lighting system for insect control

Publication Date: 2019.11.20 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV

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Figure 5(a)~6(b)

AI summary

An insect control system has a light source arrangement (10) comprising one or more light sources with tuneable spectrum, polarization, intensity and or flickering pattern. The system enables a particular type of insect to be attracted or repelled in a particular time period.