Termite sensing methods
First Claim
1. A termite sensing method, comprising:
- forming a sensing device, the forming comprising;
providing at least two wooden blocks;
providing a loop of conductive material between the wooden block, the conductive material of the loop comprising two ends and being removable from the loop by termites;
providing a circuit board having circuitry supported thereby, the circuitry supported by the circuit board comprising at least a portion of a transponder unit;
providing a receptacle joined to one of the circuit board and the loop of conductive material, the receptacle having at least one orifice extending therein;
providing at least one electrical plug joined to the other of the circuit board and the loop of conductive material;
removably inserting the plug into the receptacle to electrically connect the conductive material of the loop to the transponder circuit, wherein a break in the loop of conductive material alters a signal transponded by the transponder unit; and
placing the sensing device in the ground; and
monitoring the signal transponded by the transponder unit to determine if the loop is broken.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention encompasses an electrical apparatus. Such apparatus includes RFID circuitry on a first substrate, and sensor circuitry on a second substrate. A receiving structure is associated with one of the RFID circuitry and the sensor circuitry, and at least one connecting structure is associated with the other of the RFID circuitry and the sensor circuitry. The at least one connecting structure is removable received within the receiving structure. The invention also encompasses a method of forming an electrical apparatus. A first substrate and a second substrate are provided. The first substrate has RFID circuitry thereon, and the second substrate has sensing circuitry thereon. A receptacle is joined with one of the RFID circuitry and the sensor circuitry, and has at least one orifice extending therein. At least one prong is joined with the other of the RFID circuitry and the sensor circuitry. The prong is removably inserted within the receptacle to electrically connect the RFID circuitry with the sensing circuitry.
95 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A termite sensing method, comprising:
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forming a sensing device, the forming comprising;
providing at least two wooden blocks;
providing a loop of conductive material between the wooden block, the conductive material of the loop comprising two ends and being removable from the loop by termites;
providing a circuit board having circuitry supported thereby, the circuitry supported by the circuit board comprising at least a portion of a transponder unit;
providing a receptacle joined to one of the circuit board and the loop of conductive material, the receptacle having at least one orifice extending therein;
providing at least one electrical plug joined to the other of the circuit board and the loop of conductive material;
removably inserting the plug into the receptacle to electrically connect the conductive material of the loop to the transponder circuit, wherein a break in the loop of conductive material alters a signal transponded by the transponder unit; and
placing the sensing device in the ground; and
monitoring the signal transponded by the transponder unit to determine if the loop is broken. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
removing the circuit board from the loop of conductive material by detaching the prong from the receptacle, and inserting an other prong into the receptacle, said other prong being joined to an other loop of conductive material.
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3. The method of claim 1 wherein the prong is joined to the circuit board and the receptacle is joined to the loop of conductive material;
- and if the transponder unit is sending a signal indicative of at least some of the conductive material having been removed, further comprising;
removing the circuit board from the loop of conductive material by detaching the prong from the receptacle, and inserting the prong into an other receptacle, said other receptacle being joined to an other loop of conductive material.
- and if the transponder unit is sending a signal indicative of at least some of the conductive material having been removed, further comprising;
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4. A method of forming an electrical apparatus, comprising:
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providing a first substrate having RFID circuitry thereon;
providing a second substrate having sensing circuitry thereon;
joining a receptacle with one of the RFID circuitry and the sensor circuitry, the receptacle having at least one orifice extending therein; and
joining at least one prong with the other of the RFID circuitry and the sensor circuitry;
removably inserting the prong within the receptacle to electrically connect the RFID circuitry with the sensing circuitry; and
wherein the second substrate comprises foam, wherein the circuitry on the second substrate comprises a conductive material which can be removed by termites, and wherein the RFID circuitry is configured to send a different signal to an interrogator if at least some of the conductive material has been removed than if none of the conductive material is removed. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
removing the RFID circuitry from the sensing circuitry by detaching the prong from the receptacle, and inserting an other prong into the receptacle, said other prong being joined to an other second substrate having an other sensing circuitry thereon.
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6. The method of claim 4 wherein the prong is joined to the first substrate and the receptacle is joined to the second substrate;
- and if the RFID circuitry is sending a signal indicative of at least some of the conductive material having been removed, further comprising;
removing the RFID circuitry from the sensing circuitry by detaching the prong from the receptacle, and inserting the prong into an other receptacle, said other receptacle being joined to an other second substrate having an other sensing circuitry thereon.
- and if the RFID circuitry is sending a signal indicative of at least some of the conductive material having been removed, further comprising;
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7. An electrical apparatus comprising:
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RFID circuitry on a first substrate;
sensor circuitry on a second substrate;
a receiving structure associated with one of the RFID circuitry and the sensor circuitry;
at least one connecting structure associated with the other of the RFID circuitry and the sensor circuitry and removably received within the receiving structure; and
wherein the sensor circuitry comprises a loop of conductive material removable by termites and is thereby configured to sense the presence of termites.
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8. An electrical apparatus comprising:
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RFID circuitry on a first substrate;
sensor circuitry on a second substrate;
a receptacle associated with one of the RFID circuitry and the sensor circuitry, the receptacle having at least one orifice extending therein;
at least one extension associated with the other of the RFID circuitry and the sensor circuitry and removably inserted within the receptacle; and
wherein the second substrate comprises foam, wherein the circuitry on the second substrate comprises a conductive material which can be removed by termites, and wherein the RFID circuitry is configured to send a different signal to an interrogator if at least some of the conductive material has been removed than if none of the conductive material is removed.
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Specification