Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-12
2002-05-28
Trieu, Van T (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S384720, C119S713000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06396402
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to an apparatus and method of deterring excavation of wooden objects such as utility poles by woodpeckers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Woodpeckers strike objects with their beaks for several purposes. They tap on structures to communicate their presence to other woodpeckers; sequences of taps that are species specific, called drums, are also made as part of territorial and mating behaviors. They make small excavations in wooden objects in their search for insect food items located beneath the surface. Large excavated cavities are made in trees and other similar objects using the beak. These cavities are used for roosting and nesting purposes.
Although woodpeckers historically have tapped on and excavated in trees, man-made structures have become a common target for these types of activities. Woodpeckers can cause damage to objects while engaged in tapping and excavation behaviors. Considerable damage has been reported on wooden utility poles, which woodpeckers utilize in a similar manner to natural trees. Excavations of large woodpecker species, such as the Pileated Woodpecker (
Drycopus pileatus
) can be larger and cause the larger amounts of damage.
A number of approaches have been tried to deter woodpeckers, particularly the Pileated Woodpecker, from damaging utility poles. The majority are passive deterrents, while others are active (and occasionally automated electronic) deterrents. Passive devices include visual repellents, tactile repellents, chemosensory repellents and physiologic repellents. Visual repellents include balloons with large ‘eyespots’ that resembles a predator, raptor models and silhouettes, and iridescent or holographic tape. Visual deterrents are usually mounted on or near utility poles and act as a scaring device. Tactile repellents include polybutene products and roost inhibitors such as spikes or nets. These techniques provide protective measures such as pole wrapping that do not allow woodpeckers to cling to the smooth surface of the plastic wrap. Metal barriers such as wire wrapped around a pole are currently the most widespread and effective technique for preventing woodpecker damage. Chemosensory and physiologic repellents include chemicals such as methyl anthranilate or mesurol. These types of repellents act either on contact or through ingestion of the materials.
A limited number of active devices include auditory repellents (both sonic and ultrasonic), programmable propane ‘bangers’, and strobe lights. All of these deterrent devices are used to produce ‘startle’ responses. Auditory repellents include devices with electronically reproduced and broadcasted distress calls, devices that generate very loud sounds by propane explosions and pyrotechnics that are used to scare loafing and roosting birds. Ultrasonic devices are offered as deterrents to roosting and loafing birds, but these devices have no demonstrated utility, probably because most birds are physiologically incapable of detecting ultrasound (i.e., frequencies above 20,000 Hz). At least one deterrent device available in the marketplace is an automated electronic unit.
None of the previously described deterrent methods provided a satisfactory solution for preventing woodpecker damage due to problems with: cost, effectiveness, environmental toxicity, electrical conductivity hazards, devices being bothersome to people or subsequent increases in the difficulty of maintaining pole hardware.
The following patents have been located in a search:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,965,552 issued October 1993 by Price et al entitled “Electronic Animal Repellant Apparatus” issued October 1990 discloses a device for animals in general which uses sounds generated by a speaker where the key point is that the sounds are delayed by a random time period after detection to avoid the animal becoming habituated to the sounds.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,986,551 issued November 1999 by Pueyo et al and entitled “Method and System for Preservation Against Pesky Birds and Pest Animals” discloses a method for dissuading the animals from returning after an initial frightening action.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,463 issued September 1999 by Patrick et al entitled “Audio Monitoring System for Assessing Wildlife Bio-diversity” discloses a microphone and analysis system for detecting and analyzing bird sounds in the environment.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,327 issued September 1993 by Bentz et al entitled “Audible Alarm for Motion Detection using Dual Mode Transducer” discloses a transducer which detects the presence of a pet or animal by detecting sounds in the range 20 to 250 Hz generated by the movement of the animal.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,619 issued May 1993 by Yoshida entitled “Supersonic Sound Emission Device” discloses a device within a housing for mounting on a pole which is used to generate high frequency sounds with the intention of scaring birds.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,592 issued July 1992 by Parra entitled “Method and Apparatus for Separating Dolphin from Tuna” discloses a method of dispersing dolphins by playing sounds from a predator that is the killer whale.
None of these prior patents provide an arrangement suitable to deter the excavation activities of woodpeckers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is intended to deter woodpeckers from tapping on and excavating within objects.
The invention therefore provides an apparatus for deterring woodpeckers from tapping on and excavating within an object comprising:
a housing having a mounting assembly for mounting the housing on the object so as to receive vibrations therefrom;
a transducer arranged for converting vibrations in the object and into electrical signals, the transducer being arranged to be responsive to the vibrations preferentially over airborne sounds;
a sound transmitter for emitting a deterrent sound externally of the housing;
a memory containing a plurality of audible deterrent sounds which act as a deterrent to the woodpeckers;
and a processing circuit arranged to:
process the electrical signals to discriminate transient woodpecker induced vibrations from long-term background vibrations and to provide an output signal in response to detection of a woodpecker induced vibration;
count the number of output signals within a predetermined time interval;
and, when a predetermined count is reached within the predetermined time interval, to effect actuation of the deterrent by extracting at least one of the sounds from the memory and activating the sound transmitter to transmit the sound.
Preferably the audible deterrent sounds in the memory include a plurality of different sounds at least one of which is generated by woodpeckers and at least one of which is generated by woodpecker predators.
Preferably the processing circuit is arranged to select for sequential actuations different ones of said sounds.
Preferably the processing circuit is arranged such that the audible deterrents generation are halted when the power source voltage is low.
Preferably there is provided a clock providing an indication of time and wherein the processing circuit is arranged such that the audible deterrents generation are halted at certain times of day or days of year.
Preferably the processing circuit is arranged such that the audible deterrents generation are delayed after the predetermined count is reached for a predetermined delay period.
Preferably the processing circuit is arranged such that the audible deterrents generation are limited to a certain number within a predetermined time period to avoid repeated generations from draining the power source.
Preferably the processing circuit is arranged such that the signals are discriminated by comparing a long-term average of the signal energy and a short term average of signal energy.
Preferably the processing circuit is arranged such that the signals are discriminated by comparing short-term average signal energy which must exceed the long term average signal by a threshold value amount.
Preferably the processing circuit is arranged such that the short-term average signal energy is determined using a peak detector with a short time const
Berger Robert Paul
McIlraith Alexander Leslie
Battison Adrian D.
Dupuis Ryan W.
Myrica Systems Inc.
Trieu Van T
Williams Michael R.
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