Twist-Lock Insect Zapper Replacing Exterior Light Photosensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current exterior light fixtures attract a wide range of insects, including harmful ones like mosquitoes, and existing insect control methods involve chemical spraying, which is undesirable for human health and the environment, and become less effective due to mosquito genetic mutations.
Innovation Solution
A mosquito zapper system that replaces the photosensor unit on exterior light fixtures, featuring LEDs emitting light in the 450-570 nanometer spectrum to attract mosquitoes, an outer cage for size filtration, and a voltage arc to kill insects, with a twist-lock design for easy installation and a liquid sensor to prevent operation during rain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If exterior light fixtures are used to illuminate areas, then visibility and safety are improved, but insects including mosquitoes are attracted to the light
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful effect (insect attraction) from the useful function (illumination) by adding a separate insect zapper component that specifically targets and eliminates insects attracted to the light, while the light fixture continues to provide illumination without modification
2Object-affected harmful factors
If chemical spraying is used to control insects, then insect population is reduced, but human health and environment are harmed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical system (insecticide spraying) with a physical system (electrical discharge/zapping) that kills insects through direct contact with electrified elements, eliminating the need for chemical substances while maintaining effective insect control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of insects being attracted to light into a beneficial outcome by using the same light attraction to concentrate insects near the zapper elements, where they are then eliminated, thus using the attraction mechanism against the insects themselves
3Reliability
If chemical insecticides are used repeatedly, then initial insect control is effective, but effectiveness decreases due to mosquito genetic mutations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical insecticides with a physical electrical discharge mechanism that kills insects through direct contact with electrified elements, creating a control method to which insects cannot develop genetic resistance since it does not rely on chemical toxicity
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a full insect zapper system is installed separately from the light fixture, then insect control is achieved, but infrastructure complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the insect zapper components with the existing light fixture structure, using the fixture's power supply and mounting infrastructure to support the zapper elements, thereby eliminating the need for separate infrastructure and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional light fixture that simultaneously provides illumination and insect control capabilities, allowing a single infrastructure to serve multiple purposes and eliminating the need for separate dedicated insect control systems
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
Effectively kills mosquitoes and other small biting insects on contact without harming beneficial insects, reducing the need for chemical spraying and maintaining environmental friendliness, while being self-cleaning and energy-efficient.
Implementation Method 1
one or more LEDs configured to emit light of one or more spectrums
Implementation Method 2
LEDs emitting light in the 450-570 nanometer spectrum to attract mosquitoes
Implementation Method 3
a pair of leads spaced apart by a gap with a certain voltage, to provide a current arc across the gap when an insect enters the gap, killing the insect
Implementation Method 4
a photosensor configured to sense an amount of light for turning on or off an exterior light fixture
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, an exterior lighting insect zapper includes a photosensor configured to sense an amount of light for turning on or off an exterior light and an insect zapper coupled to the photosensor. The exterior lighting insect zapper also includes a twist-lock plug compatible with a receptacle of an exterior light for a photosensor unit plug, such that the exterior lighting insect zapper can replace existing photosensors of exterior light fixtures.