MOSQUITO MISTING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING SAME

• US 20100312403A1
• Filed: 06/08/2010
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey C. White
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey C. White
• Inventors: White, Jeffrey C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,994,529 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/283
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2022 Poisoning or narcotising insects by vaporising an insecticide
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 13/00 Fumigators; Apparatus for distributing gases poisoning or narcotising insects by vaporising an insecticide A01M1/2022
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0676 by action on flow sources G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 43/90 Liquid insecticide sprayer

Abstract

Embodiments described herein comprise an apparatus and method for controlling and monitoring a mosquito misting system. The apparatus includes a chemical reservoir, a delivery system, a spray system, one or more sensors, a communication network and a misting management unit. The sensors may detect normal and abnormal operations of the misting system and send this data to the misting management unit. The misting management unit may then analyze the data and determine the problem. If the problem can be fixed without personnel, the misting management unit may simply adjust the system and fix the problem. If the problem requires personnel, the system may automatically schedule the service call based on a number of criteria.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an insect population at a target area with a misting system, the method comprising:

collecting data regarding the misting system;

determining at least one current condition of the misting system;

diagnosing a current functionality of the misting system;

detecting a failure in a system of a misting system; and

taking an action to correct the failure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the taking an action further comprises alerting an operator of the failure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the taking an action further comprises sending a service call to a service technician and fixing the failure.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the sending the service call further comprising automatically sending an alert to the service technicians'"'"' PDA.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the sending the service call further comprising automatically sending an alert to the service technicians'"'"' email account.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining at least one historical condition of the misting system.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising changing a spray cycle based on the historical condition.

8. An apparatus for controlling an insect population with a misting system at a target area, the apparatus comprising:

a chemical unit configured to monitor at least one condition in a chemical reservoir;

a historical data unit configured to collect data regarding the operation of the misting system; and

a diagnostic unit configured to diagnose a functionality of the misting system and take an action to optimize the functionality of the misting system.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a water unit configured to monitor at least one condition of the water source.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a delivery system unit configured to monitor at least one condition of the delivery system.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a spray unit configured to monitor at least one condition of the spray system.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the chemical unit receives data from at least one chemical sensor.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the insect population is a mosquito population.

14. A mosquito misting system for controlling a mosquito population a target area, the mosquito misting system comprising:

a chemical reservoir for storing at least one chemical to be delivered to the target area;

a water source for providing water to be mixed with the chemical prior to delivery to the target area;

a delivery system for delivering the water and chemical to the target area;

a spray system for distributing the water and chemical about the target area;

at least one sensor for collecting data regarding the mosquito misting system; and

a misting management unit for controlling the operation of the mosquito misting system, the misting management unit comprising;

a chemical unit configured to monitor at least one condition in the chemical reservoir;

a historical data unit configured to collect data regarding the operation of the misting system; and

a diagnostic unit configured to diagnose a functionality of the misting system and take an action to optimize the functionality of the misting system.

15. The mosquito misting system of claim 14, wherein the at least one sensor further comprises a chemical level sensor.

16. The mosquito misting system of claim 14, wherein the at least one sensor further comprises a motion detector in the target area.

20. The mosquito misting system of claim 14, further comprising a one or more operator computers for remotely communicating with the misting management unit.

17. The mosquito misting system 14, wherein the misting management unit further comprises a water unit configured to monitor at least one condition of the water source.

18. The mosquito misting system 17, wherein the misting management unit further comprises a delivery system unit configured to monitor at least one condition of the delivery system.

19. The mosquito misting system 18, wherein the misting management unit further comprises a spray unit configured to monitor at least one condition of the spray system.