NL2037555B1 - Detection system for an animal trap for mice and rats - Google Patents

Abstract

A detection system (1) for use in combination with an animal trap (2), said detection system (1) comprising at least one 5 sensor (3, 4) for detecting a condition of the animal trap (2), which detection system (1) comprises a first sensor (3) equipped for monitoring an active/passive mode of the animal trap (2) and a second sensor (4) for monitoring a temperature of an object caught in the animal trap (2).

Description

Detection system for an animal trap for mice and rats

The invention relates to a detection system for use in combination with an animal trap, said detection system comprising at least one sensor for detecting a condition of the animal trap. The trap may be particularly intended for catching mice and rats.

Through the following link a mousetrap provided with a sensor is available on the market. https://www, allestegenongedierte.nl/muizenklem-met-sensor-en- app.html?gad source=l1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIytzOrfPIhOMV&kBBAh2G70Q kKGEAQYASABEgIgD D BwE

An object of the invention is to provide a detection system which can be used in combination with an existing mousetrap, wherein the combination of the detection system of the invention with the animal trap is capable to provide functionalities that cannot be achieved with the known mousetrap that is provided with a sensor.

According to the invention a detection system is proposed having the features of one or more of the appended claims.

In a first aspect of the invention the detection system comprises a first sensor equipped for monitoring an active/passive mode of the animal trap and a second sensor for monitoring a temperature of an object caught in the animal trap. Accordingly it is not only possible to monitor whether the animal trap has been activated by a rat, a mouse or other animal, but it can also monitor whether it is indeed a living object that has activated the animal trap.

Suitably the first sensor is a Hall sensor which is equipped and positioned so that it can cooperate with a magnet mounted or mountable on a part of the animal trap which is movable between a proximate position and a distal position with reference to the Hall sensor, wherein the part of the animal trap which is movable is a spring-loaded arm which is arranged to trap a living object which is to be caught, which happens when the arm is released to the distal position with reference to the Hall sensor.

It is further preferred that the second sensor is a thermopile sensor. This effectively enables to distinguish between a living object being caught in the animal trap, and the absence of such a living object which would then relate to a false activation of the animal trap.

Preferably the detection system comprises a microcontroller and a radio transmitter connected to the microcontroller for data transfer regarding the status of the animal trap as monitored with the detection system to the cloud. This means that all data handling and intelligence can be concentrated in one or more algorithms that are not in the detection system, but in the cloud. When a user employs plural mousetraps, the algorithms pertaining to all these mousetraps can simply be upgraded centrally and in a single operation.

It is further preferable that the detection system comprises a scannable OR code for identification. Together with the location of the detection system, all data pertaining to each individual detection system can thus be simply organized in the cloud.

A further beneficial {feature of the detection system of the invention is that the detection system comprises a LED for indication of an on/off status of the detection system.

It is further preferred that the detection system is battery-

- 3 = powered by a battery housed in the detection system. The lifetime of the battery can be extended by making switching on and off of the detection system dependent on activation of the animal trap as monitored with the Hall sensor.

The accompanying drawing, which is incorporated into and forms a part of the specification, illustrates one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serves to explain the principles of the invention. The drawing is only for the purpose of illustrating one or more embodiments of the invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention.

In the drawing: - figure 1 represents a schematic drawing of the detection system of the invention in combination with an animal trap; and — figure 2 depicts a block scheme representing the principles of operation of the detection system of the invention.

Whenever in the figures the same reference numerals are applied, these numerals refer to the same parts.

With reference first to figure 1, it shows a detection system 1 for use in combination with an animal trap 2. The detection system 1 comprises a first sensor 3 equipped for monitoring an active/passive mode of the animal trap 2 and a second sensor 4 for monitoring a temperature of an object caught in the animal trap 2.

The first sensor 3 is preferably a Hall sensor which is equipped and positioned so that it can cooperate with a magnet 5 mounted or mountable on a part 6 of the animal trap 2 which is movable between a proximate position and a distal position with reference to the Hall sensor 3. Said part 6 of the animal trap 2 which is movable is suitably a spring-loaded arm 7 which is arranged to trap a to be caught living object, when the arm 7 is released to the distal position with reference to the Hall sensor 3.

The second sensor 4 is preferably a thermopile sensor, which can monitor temperature differences at a particular location where a trapped animal can be located, in comparison with the temperature of the environment.

Turning now to figure 2, it is shown that the detection system 1 comprises a microcontroller 8 and a radio transmitter 9 connected to the microcontroller 8 for data transfer regarding the status of the detection system 1 to the cloud 10. In the upper part of figure 1 it is shown that plural detection systems 1 can be used which all submit their information to the cloud 10, which is accessible from a back-office computer 14, from where the status of every detection system 1 can be monitored.

It is also shown that the or each detection system 1 comprises a scannable QR code 11 for identification.

The detection system 1 preferably further comprises a LED 12 for indication of an on/off status of the detection system 1.

Finally it is shown that the detection system 1 is battery- powered with battery 13. The battery 13 is preferably housed in the detection system 1.

A typical operation of the detection system 1 of the invention can be explained as follows.

A system comprising plural mousetraps 2 and plural detection systems 1 have a wireless connection to the outside world represented by the cloud 10. This connection is preferably based on LoRa wherein the detection system 1 of a particular mousetrap 2 communicates with a LoRa gateway. This gateway is in turn connected to the cloud 10 server. The subscription holder can connect to its registered detection system(s) 1 and corresponding mousetrap(s) 2 via his computer 14 in the back office that has access to the cloud 10.

A detection system 1 and corresponding mousetrap 2 can be registered or deleted in the cloud 10 by scanning a QR code 11 that contains the unique address of the detection system 1 and the corresponding mousetrap 2. Together with the location data, this provides sufficient information to accumulate the data of each mousetrap 2 and its location, such as who owns the animal trap, etc.

The detection system 1 of the animal trap 2 can be turned on and off from the outside using a magnet. As soon as it is turned on, the detection system 1 searches for a connection with the gateway. This is visible to the user through the flashing of a LED 12 of the detection system 1.

As soon as the detection system 1 is switched on, a flash of light shows at a rate of every minute whether the animal trap 2 has been triggered or not. In this way, the user is also aware of the condition of the animal trap 2 on site.

A magnetic switch can be used to detect whether the animal trap 2 is activated or not. When the animal trap 2 is activated, the detection system 1 measures using a thermopile temperature sensor 4 whether there is a temperature difference at the location of the animal trap 2 in comparison with the ambient temperature, which is attributed the presence of a living object (mouse, rat, other) in the animal trap 2. These temperature measurements are taken several times within a period of time so that it can also be assessed whether after the animal trap 2 has been activated, the object (mouse, rat, etc.) has or has not escaped the animal trap 2.

All data of the animal trap 2 is sent by the detection system 1 to the cloud 10 via local gateways using the LoRa protocol.

The concerning data include the ambient temperature, the estimated temperature around the animal trap, the condition of the trigger, the battery status, etc. In the cloud 10 it can then be assessed whether an object has been captured or not and this data can be retrieved remotely from the back office 14.

When activated, the condition of the animal trap 2 is also communicated daily with battery status, etc. so that it can be monitored whether the animal traps 2 are still connected.

Although the invention has been discussed in the foregoing with reference to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the invention is not restricted to this particular embodiment which can be varied in many ways without departing from the invention. The discussed exemplary embodiment shall therefore not be used to construe the appended claims strictly in accordance therewith. On the contrary the embodiment is merely intended to explain the wording of the appended claims without intent to limit the claim to this exemplary embodiment. The scope of protection of the invention shall therefore be construed in accordance with the appended claims only, wherein a possible ambiguity in the wording of the claims shall be resolved using this exemplary embodiment.

Variations and modifications of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and equivalents. The entire disclosures of all references,

applications, patents, and publications cited above are hereby incorporated by reference. Unless specifically stated as being “essential” above, none of the various components or the interrelationship thereof are essential to the operation of the invention. Rather, desirable results can be achieved by substituting various components and/or reconfiguration of their relationships with one another.

Aspects of the invention are itemized in the following section. 1. A detection system (1) for use in combination with an animal trap (2), said detection system (1) comprising at least one sensor (3, 4) for detecting a condition of the animal trap (2), characterized in that the detection system {1) comprises a first sensor (3) equipped for monitoring an active/passive mode of the animal trap (2) and a second sensor (4) for monitoring a temperature of an object caught in the animal trap (2). 2. The detection system according to claim 1, characterized in that the first sensor (3) is a Hall sensor which is equipped and positioned so that it can cooperate with a magnet (5) mounted or mountable on a part (6) of the animal trap (2) which 1s movable between a proximate position and a distal position with reference to the Hall sensor (3), wherein the part (6) of the animal trap (2) which is movable is a spring-loaded arm (7) which is arranged to trap a to be caught living object, when the arm (7) is released to the distal position with reference to the Hall sensor (3). 3. The detection system according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the second sensor (4) is a thermopile sensor. 4. The detection system according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the detection system (1) comprises a microcontroller (8) and a radio transmitter (9) connected to the microcontroller (8) for data transfer regarding the status of the detection system (1) to the cloud (10).

5. The detection system according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the detection system (1)

comprises a scannable QR code (11) for identification.

6. The detection system according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the detection system (1) comprises a LED (12) for indication of an on/off status of the detection system (1).

7. The detection system according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the detection system (1) is battery-powered by a battery (13) housed in the detection system (1).

Claims (7)

- Gg - CONCLUSIONS 1. A detection system (1) for use in combination with an animal trap (2), the detection system (1) comprising at least one sensor (3, 4) for detecting a condition of the animal trap (2), characterised in that the detection system (1) comprises a first sensor (3) equipped for monitoring an active/passive mode of the animal trap (2) and a second sensor (4) for monitoring the temperature of an object caught in the animal trap (2). Detection system according to claim 1, characterised in that the first sensor (3) is a Hall sensor equipped and positioned so as to cooperate with a magnet (5) mounted or mountable on a part (6) of the animal trap (2) movable between a proximal position and a distal position relative to the Hall sensor (3), the movable part (6) of the animal trap (2) being a spring-loaded arm (7) adapted to capture a living object to be captured when the arm (7) is released to the distal position relative to the Hall sensor {3}. Detection system according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the second sensor (4) is a thermopile sensor. Detection system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the detection system (1) comprises a microcontroller (8) and a radio transmitter (9) connected to the microcontroller (8) for data transmission regarding the status of the detection system (1) to the cloud (10). 5. Detection system according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the detection system (1) comprises a scannable QR code (11) for identification purposes. 6. Detection system according to any of claims 1- 5, characterized in that the detection system (1) comprises an LED (12) for indicating an on/off status of the detection system (1). 7. Detection system according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the detection system (1) is powered by a battery (13) housed in the detection system (1).