Method to detect termite infestation in a structure

• US 7,434,990 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2004
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: University of Mississippi
• Original Assignee: University of Mississippi
• Inventors: Lee, Peng
• Primary Examiner(s): Verbitsky; Gail
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jagan; Mirellys
• Application Number:
  US10/711,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20050018745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,502 Days
• Field of Search: 374/45, 374/4, 374/5, 374/121, 374/7, 431/321, 250/341.1
• US Class Current: 374/121
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/026 combined with devices for monitoring insect presence, e.g. termites bait stations A01M1/2005; detecting other animals in a given area A01M31/002
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/24 Arrangements connected with buildings, doors, windows, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 2200/011 Crawling insects
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/72 Investigating presence of flaws
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/46 Wood

Abstract

A method for confirming the presence of termites in a structure, involving a preliminary infrared scan of a structure and confirmation of termite infestation with at least one detector in order to quickly locate potential areas of termite infestation.

Claims

1. A method to nondestructively confirm termite infestation in at least one site in a residential structure comprising:

(a) using a thermal imaging camera to receive a thermal image of said residential structure to detect moisture carried by termites at an at least one site wherein said thermal image is a cold spot; and

(b) positioning at least one detector at said at least one site to nondestructively confirm termite infestation in said at least one site in said residential structure wherein said thermal image is received without prior electromagnetic radiation of the residential structure.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one detector is a microwave motion detector.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one detector is a dog.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one detector is a gas detector.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one detector is an x-ray detector.

6. The method of claim 1 further including the step of heating said structure.

7. The method of claim 1 further including the step of cooling said structure.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one detector is a fiber optic scope.