Ultrasonic insect detector
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for detecting insects, comprising means for detecting ultrasonic signals generated by the tearing of material by insects as they feed on the material and producing first electrical signals therefrom, means for processing the first electrical signals to generate second electrical signals indicative of the feeding activity of the feeding insects, and means for coupling the ultrasonic signal detecting means to the processing means.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for detecting insects detects insects by detecting ultrasonic signals which are generated by mechanical disturbances in material on which insects are feeding caused by the insects feeding on the material.
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36 Claims
- 1. An apparatus for detecting insects, comprising means for detecting ultrasonic signals generated by the tearing of material by insects as they feed on the material and producing first electrical signals therefrom, means for processing the first electrical signals to generate second electrical signals indicative of the feeding activity of the feeding insects, and means for coupling the ultrasonic signal detecting means to the processing means.
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19. An ultrasonic insect detector for detecting insects by detecting feeding events, a feeding event being a mechanical disturbance in a material on which insects are feeding caused by an insect tearing the material as it takes a bite of the material, each feeding event producing an ultrasonic signal, the system comprising
an ultrasonic transducer sensitive only to frequencies within a narrow frequency range for detecting the ultrasonic signals and generating first electrical signals therefrom, a preamplifier, means for coupling an input of the preamplifier to the ultrasonic transducer, a band-pass filter to pass only the narrow range of frequencies to which the ultrasonic transducer is sensitive, means for coupling an output of the preamplifier to an input of the band-pass filter, an envelope detector for producing envelopes of the preamplified and band-pass filtered first electrical signals wherein each envelope is indicative of a feeding event, and means for coupling an output of the band-pass filter to an input of the envelope detector.
- 25. A method of detecting insects comprising detecting ultrasonic signals produced by mechanical disturbances in material on which the insects are feeding, the mechanical disturbances being caused by the tearing of the material on which the insects are feeding.
- 32. A method of detecting insects by detecting feeding events wherein a feeding event is a mechanical disturbance created in material on which an insect is feeding caused by an insect taking a bite of the material, comprising the steps of detecting ultrasonic signals produced by the mechanical disturbances wherein each detected ultrasonic signal is indicative of a feeding event and is an oscillatory signal, producing electrical signals from the detected ultrasonic signals, detecting the envelopes of the electrical signals and producing an envelope signal for each electrical signal which exceeds a set threshold, and providing an indication of the feeding activity of the insects based upon the envelope signals.
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