Ecolab Inc.

David Neal Demattia

James P Gardner, Jr

Louis Mark Holzman

Stephen X Skaff

Kraig S Lund

John Ellwood Thomas

James L Copeland

A reporting system for collecting, communicating and analyzing information from a plurality of pest monitoring locations is disclosed. The monitored locations include activity sensing pest devices. These devices can include traps and/or passive and active monitoring devices not having a trapping or killing functionality. While traps may constitute the majority of activity sensing pest devices in a given pest control program, devices which only monitor pest activity may be preferred in some locations and applications. The system includes automatic reporting from the plurality of activity sensing pest devices and also includes physical inspection data. Preferably an automatic real-time communication system is used, with the preferred communication system being a radio-frequency (RF) or other over-the-air system. However, hardwired systems, use of a personal digital assistant (PDA) as an interim data carrier, and other technologies may also be employed. Manual input means for providing the additional physical inspection data on the activity sensing pest device parameters and a computer based report generation means (of the resulting combined data) provide for a robust and efficient pest monitoring and/or trapping tool.

Method and apparatus for automatic pest trap report generation and additional trap parameter data

A reporting system collects, communicates and analyzes information from a plurality of pest monitoring locations. The monitored locations include activity sensing pest devices. These devices can include traps and/or passive and active monitoring devices not having a trapping or killing functionality. The system includes automatic reporting from the plurality of activity sensing pest devices and also includes physical inspection data. Preferably an automatic real-time communication system is used, with the preferred communication system being a radio-frequency (RF) or other over-the-air system. However, hardwired systems, use of a personal digital assistant (PDA) as an interim data carrier, and other technologies may also be employed. Manual input devices for providing the additional physical inspection data on the activity sensing pest device parameters and a computer based report generator (of the resulting combined data) provide for a robust and efficient pest monitoring and/or trapping tool.

A non-destructive flying insect detector is disclosed. The detector creates a sheet or curtain of light comprising a sensing zone and detects, by means of light extinction, individual flying insects that intersect the sensing zone. The sensing zone is created by a beam of light that enters the sensing zone area and is then bounced between opposing reflective surfaces. Preferably a laser is utilized to generate the beam of light. The beam of light leaves the sensing zone area and is incident on a light detection device (such as a photo cell) connected to an amplifier circuit. The light detection device monitors the light intensity and is arranged and configured to detect changes in the light intensity. The changes are electronically converted to a pest detection signal and/or to a flying insect count. Each flying pest detection signal may also be associated with other monitored data. For example, the time and date when the count occurred, the temperature, and the ambient light, among other parameters may be stored with the flying insect count(s). The stored data may be transmitted in real time, transmitted periodically, and/or collected with a PDA device or the like. The detector may be completely passive or it may provide an attractant for the flying insects&#x2014;such as UV lamps. Further, the detector can act as a counter alone (e.g., as a flying insect monitor without a physical trap) or it can operate together with a trap. In the latter case, the flying insect may become entangled on a glue or sticky board lying beneath the light curtain and/or become eliminated by an electrical discharge device.

Light extinction based non-destructive flying insect detector

A method and system provide an automated cleaning apparatus for cleaning various types of articles, wherein each type of article is detected and washed according to its own pre-determined combination. The cleaning apparatus has a storage device storing an array of pre-determined chemical combinations and cleaning parameters, including specifying cleaning chemicals to be used on the various identified article types. A transponder is provided with identifying information of the article type. A transceiver detects the type of article from the transponder and communicates that identifying information to a processor. Based on the detected identifier, the processor selects from the storage device the proper chemical combination and cleaning parameters for washing the identified type of article. A control device coupled to the processor delivers the chemicals specified by the selected chemical combination. Finally, a cleaning subsystem coupled to the processor cleans the articles using the delivered chemicals and other specified parameters.

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Lindstrom, MN, United States of America

David Neal Demattia