Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-12
2001-08-28
Lee, Benjamin C. (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S870160, C043S124000, C043S132100, C424S084000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06281799
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention pertains to methods and apparatuses for sensing changes in an environment, and in particular applications pertains to methods and devices for sensing termites.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A prior art apparatus and method for detecting termite infestation is described with reference to
FIGS. 1 and 2
. A termite detection device
10
is shown in an assembled configuration and inserted within the ground
12
in
FIG. 1
, and is shown in a disassembled configuration in FIG.
2
. Device
10
comprises an outer receptacle
14
having a plurality of orifices
16
(only some of which are labeled) extending therethrough. A cap (or lid)
18
is provided to cover the top of receptacle
14
. Preferably receptacle
14
is inserted into the ground to a depth at which cap
18
will rest approximately at a surface of the ground.
A pair of wooden blocks
20
and
22
are provided within receptacle
14
, and constitute “bait” for termites proximate device
10
. A holder
24
is provided between blocks of wood
20
and
22
and comprises a shelf
26
upon which blocks
20
and
22
rest. Holder
24
and blocks
20
and
22
together comprise an assembly
27
which can be removably inserted into receptacle
14
.
Holder
24
comprises a portion
28
which protrudes upwardly beyond blocks
20
and
22
in the assembled configuration of FIG.
1
. Portion
28
comprises an eye
30
(shown in
FIG. 2
) which can simplify removal of assembly
27
from receptacle
14
using a tool with a hook.
In operation, receptacle
14
is inserted into ground
12
, and blocks
20
and
22
are subsequently left in receptacle
14
for a period of time. Blocks
20
and
22
function as a sensing apparatus to determine if a termite infestation is present in an area proximate device
10
. Specifically, if termites are present, such will penetrate through orifices
16
to reach wooden blocks
20
and
22
. The termites will then burrow into the wooden blocks
20
and
22
.
At regular intervals, cap
18
is removed and blocks
20
and
22
withdrawn from device
14
. Blocks
20
and
22
are then surveyed for termite-inflicted damage and possibly the presence of termites themselves.
Generally, a number of apparatuses
10
will be spread around a given location, such as, for example, a house or other wooden structure. Each of the apparatuses will be checked at a regular interval to determine if a termite infestation is occurring proximate the structure. Also, each of the devices will be mapped relative to one another, and relative to the structure. A comparison of the amount of termite-inflicted damage occurring at the respective devices
10
can then enable a person to determine an approximate localized region of any occurring termite infestation. It can be advantageous to pinpoint a localized region of infestation as such can limit an amount of pesticide utilized for destroying the termites.
Difficulties can occur in monitoring the amount of termite-inflicted damage occurring at each of the many devices
10
provided around a structure. For instance, it can be difficult to regularly and accurately document the amount of damage at each of the devices. As an example, it can be difficult to remember exactly which of the various devices correlates to a specific location on a map of the devices. As another example, it can be difficult to accurately record a reading of termite-inflicted damage associated with an individual device. As yet another example it can be tedious and time-consuming to open all of the receptacles
14
proximate a given structure and manually check the blocks
20
and
22
within the receptacles for termite-inflicted damage.
One method of reducing the above-discussed difficulties is to provide bar codes on the lids
18
of receptacles
14
. Such bar codes can be scanned to specifically identify a particular device which can simplify correlating the devices to locations on a map of the devices. However, ascertaining an amount of termite-inflicted damage can still be time-consuming in that the receptacles still have to be opened and the blocks of wood manually checked to determine if termite-inflicted damage has occurred to the wood.
A recently proposed improvement for monitoring an amount of termite-inflicted damage in a device similar to device
10
is described with reference to
FIGS. 3-5
. Referring to
FIG. 3
, a sensor
40
having circuitry provided thereon is provided in addition to, or in place of, the blocks of wood
20
and
22
(FIGS.
1
and
2
). Sensor
40
is intended to be bent into receptacle
14
(a bent configuration is shown in
FIG. 4
) and to be configured such that termite-inflicted damage to sensor
40
will break the circuitry associated therewith. Sensor
40
can have a number of notches (not shown) provided therein to provide crevices for termites to burrow in.
It is suggested that a printed wiring board
42
can be provided in electrical connection with sensor
40
, and that such printed board can comprise circuitry corresponding to a transponder unit. The transponder unit could, for example, comprise a parallel resonant LC circuit, with such circuit being resonant at a carrier frequency of an interrogator. Such transponder unit can be incorporated into a passive, read-only radio frequency identification device (RFID) system as described with reference to FIG.
5
. Specifically,
FIG. 5
illustrates an RFID system
60
comprising the transponder unit of printed wiring board
42
and an interrogator
45
configured to be passed over transponder unit
42
. Interrogator
45
comprises a coil antenna configured to stimulate the transponder unit. Such coil antenna consists of one or more coils of conductive material provided within a single plane, and can be in the form of, for example, a loop antenna.
In operation, interrogator
45
provides a carrier signal which powers (stimulates) transponder unit
42
and causes a signal to be transmitted from the transponder unit. The signal comprises data which identifies the transponder unit. Such signal can also identify if the circuitry associated with sensor
40
has been broken. The signal is received by interrogator
45
, and eventually provided to a processing system configured to decode and interpret the data. Such processing system can be provided in a portable unit with interrogator
45
, or can be provided in a separate unit to which data from interrogator
45
is subsequently downloaded.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the invention encompasses a device for sensing a change in an environment proximate the device. The device includes a circuit of conductive material comprising at least two sub-circuits which are in parallel electrical configuration relative to one another. The conductive material comprises two ends. The sub-circuits are configured to be broken upon the change in the environment. The device further includes a pair of conductive extensions. A first of the pair of conductive extensions extends from one of the two ends of the conductive material, and a second of the pair of conductive extensions extends from an other of the two ends of the conductive material. Additionally, the device includes a circuit support having circuitry supported thereby and a pair of orifices extending therethrough. The conductive extensions extend through the orifices to electrically connect the circuitry supported by the circuit support to the circuit of conductive material.
In another aspect, the invention includes a method for sensing termites. A sensing device is formed from a pair of wooden blocks and a circuit of conductive material between the wooden blocks. The circuit comprises at least two sub-circuits which are in parallel electrical configuration relative to one another. The conductive material comprises two ends, and is removable from the circuit by termites. The wooden blocks and planer loop of material define a composite block having an outer periphery. A pair of prongs extend outwardly beyond the outer periphery of the composite block. A first of the pair of prongs extends from one of th
Lake Rickie C.
Tuttle Mark E.
Lee Benjamin C.
Micro)n Technology, Inc.
Wells, St. John, Roberts Gregory & Matkin P.S.
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