Wildlife deterrence using mono-colored light to induce neurophysical behavioral responses in animals

• US 10,321,672 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2016
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lite Enterprises Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lite Enterprises Inc.
• Inventors: Ronning, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Trieu, Van T
• Application Number:
  US15/287,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20170099827A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 29/10 using light sources, e.g. lasers or flashing lights
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 29/16 using sound waves
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 29/32 specially adapted for birds, e.g. spikes
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0095 Devices specially adapted to avoid bird strike
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/02 Arrangements or adaptations of signal or lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light

Abstract

Wildlife deterrence methods and systems use mono-colored light within a sensitivity range of a short-wavelength-sensitive (SWS) photoreceptor of a species to be deterred, such as an avian species. The mono-colored light may be generated by one or more high brightness mono-colored light emitting diodes (LEDs) and may be within 25 nm of a peak absorption wavelength of the SWS photoreceptor of the species. The mono-colored light is directed to a deterrence area with an intensity sufficient to cause at least a temporary disruption of visual perception in the species to induce an augmented behavioral response in the species resulting in avoidance of the deterrence area. The mono-colored light may also be generated as intermittent pulses having a duration sufficient to keep a pupil of an eye of the species in a continuous unstable state to prevent light adaption by the species.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

defining a deterrence area;

determining a species to be deterred within the deterrence area;

generating mono-colored light of at least one wavelength within 25 nm of a peak absorption wavelength of a short-wavelength-sensitive (SWS) photoreceptor of the species; and

directing the mono-colored light to the deterrence area with a light intensity sufficient to cause a temporary disruption of visual perception in the species to induce an augmented behavioral response resulting in avoidance of the deterrence area.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the mono-colored light is generated from at least one high-brightness mono-colored LED.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the species is an avian species.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the SWS photoreceptor is an ultraviolet sensitive (UVS) cone of the avian species.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the SWS photoreceptor is a violet sensitive (VS) cone of the avian species.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the light intensity within the deterrence area is sufficient to exceed a light adjusted contrast sensitivity function (CSF) intensity threshold for the species when exposed to the mono-colored light within the deterrence area.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the light intensity within the deterrence area is greater than 10⁻

6 W/cm² or greater than 2×

10⁶ photons/mm².

8. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the mono-colored light includes generating intermittent pulses of the mono-colored light.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the intermittent pulses have a duration sufficient to keep a pupil of an eye of the species in a continuous unstable state to prevent light adaption by the species.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the intermittent pulses have varying ON pulse durations in a range of 5-1000 ms and varying OFF pulse durations in a range of 20-2000 ms.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the species is an avian species, and wherein generating the mono-colored light includes generating mono-colored light at a first wavelength within a sensitivity range of a violet sensitive (VS) cone of the avian species and at a second wavelength within a sensitivity range of an ultraviolet sensitive (UVS) cone of the avian species.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the mono-colored light includes generating mono-colored light at a wavelength in a range of 335-398 nm and/or in a range of 377-455 nm.

13. The method claim 1 wherein generating mono-colored light includes generating mono-colored light from a plurality of light sources arranged to provide a linear barrier and wherein directing the mon-colored light toward the deterrence area includes illuminating an airspace above a runway for an aircraft.

14. The method claim 1 wherein directing the mono-colored light includes illuminating an airspace along at least one of an approach slope and a take-off slope proximate a runway for an aircraft.

15. A method comprising:

defining a deterrence area;

determining a species to be deterred within the deterrence area;

generating intermittent pulses of mono-colored light of at least one wavelength within 25 nm of a peak absorption wavelength of a short-wavelength-sensitive (SWS) photoreceptor of the species; and

directing the mono-colored light to the deterrence area.

16. A method comprising:

defining a deterrence area;

determining a species to be deterred within the deterrence area;

generating mono-colored light of at least one wavelength within a sensitivity range of at least one short-wavelength-sensitive (SWS) photoreceptor of the species; and

directing the mono-colored light to the deterrence area with a light intensity sufficient to exceed a light adjusted contrast sensitivity function (CSF) intensity threshold for the species when exposed to the mono-colored light within the deterrence area.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the mono-colored light is generated from at least one high-brightness mono-colored LED.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the light intensity within the deterrence area is greater than 10⁻

6 W/cm².

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the species is an avian species, and wherein the SWS photoreceptor is at least one of an ultraviolet sensitive (UVS) cone of the avian species and a violet sensitive (VS) cone of the avian species.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein generating the mono-colored light includes generating intermittent pulses of the mono-colored light.

21. A system comprising:

at least one light source configured to generate mono-colored light of at least one wavelength within a sensitivity range of at least one short-wavelength-sensitive (SWS) photoreceptor of an avian species to be deterred and to direct the mono-colored light to a deterrence area; and

a controller for controlling the light source to generate the mono-colored light with an intensity of the light within the deterrence area sufficient to exceed a light adjusted contrast sensitivity function (CSF) intensity threshold for the avian species when exposed to the light within the deterrence area.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the at least one light source is a high brightness mono-colored Light Emitting Diode (LED).

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the at least one light source includes a plurality of light sources arranged to provide a linear barrier for illuminating an airspace above a runway for an aircraft.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein the at least one light source is directed to illuminate an airspace along at least one of an approach slope and a take-off slope proximate a runway for an aircraft.

25. The system of claim 21 wherein the at least one light sources includes a plurality of light sources configured to generate mono-colored light at a plurality of wavelengths within a sensitivity range of at least one short-wavelength-sensitive (SWS) photoreceptor of a plurality of avian species.

26. The system of claim 21 wherein the at least one light source is configured to generate mono-colored light of at least one wavelength within 25 nm of a peak absorption wavelength of at least one of an ultraviolet sensitive (UVS) cone of an avian species and a violet sensitive (VS) cone of an avian species.

27. The system of claim 21 wherein the at least controller is configured to control the light source to generate the mono-colored light with a power that provides a light intensity within the deterrence area that is greater than 10⁻

6 W/cm².

28. The system of claim 21 wherein the controller is configured to control the light source to generate intermittent pulses of the mono-colored light.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the intermittent pulses have varying ON pulse durations in a range of 5-1000 ms and varying OFF pulse durations in a range of 20-2000 ms.

30. A system comprising:

at least a first light source configured to generate a first mono-colored light of at least one wavelength within 25 nm of a peak absorption wavelength of at least one short-wavelength-sensitive (SWS) photoreceptor of a first species to be deterred and to direct the mono-colored light to a deterrence area;

at least a second light source configured to generate a second mono-colored light of at least one wavelength within 25 nm of a peak absorption wavelength of at least one short-wavelength-sensitive (SWS) photoreceptor of a second species to be deterred and to direct the mono-colored light to the deterrence area; and

a controller for controlling the first and second light sources to generate the first and second mono-colored light.