Pest control apparatus and methods

Abstract

A pest control system includes pest control devices installed about an area or building. These devices each include a bait member and a wireless communication circuit. The wireless communication circuit may be in the form of a passive RF tag that transmits information indicative of bait status and an identifier unique to each pest control device. The wireless communication circuit can be configured in a first assembly for detecting the presence of one or more pests and a second assembly for delivering a pesticide once pests are detected. The assemblies are interchangeable within a pest control device housing. The wireless communication circuit is connected to a sensor having an electrically conductive element that can be comprised of a nonmetallic material, such as a carbon-based ink. One or more connection members electrically couple the wireless communication circuit and the sensor. These members are comprised of an electrically conductive, elastomeric compound, such as a carbon-filled silicone rubber.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method, comprising: 
 installing a pest control device including a wireless communication circuit electrically connected to a sensor;    detecting the presence of one or more pests with the sensor; and    reconfiguring the pest control device in response to said detecting, said reconfiguring including introducing a pesticide bait member into the pest control device and adjusting the position of the wireless communication circuit.    
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein said installing includes providing a monitoring bait member adjacent to the sensor.  
     
     
         3 . The method of    claim 2   , wherein the pest control device includes a first assembly of the monitoring bait member, the sensor, and the wireless communication circuit before said reconfiguring and the pest control device includes a second assembly of the pesticide bait member and the wireless communication circuit after said reconfiguring.  
     
     
         4 . The method of    claim 3   , wherein the sensor includes a substrate comprised of a paper coated with a polymeric organic compound, the pest control device includes a housing sized to receive the first assembly, and the first assembly includes a carrying member to remove the first assembly from the housing.  
     
     
         5 . The method of    claim 3   , wherein the pest control device includes a housing sized to receive the second assembly and the second assembly includes a bait tube with a slot sized to receive the wireless communication circuit after removal from the first assembly.  
     
     
         6 . The method of    claim 1   , further comprising locating the pest control device after said reconfiguring with a hand held interrogator.  
     
     
         7 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein the wireless communication circuit includes a passive RF transmitter configured to transmit an identifier in response to an interrogation signal.  
     
     
         8 . The method of    claim 7   , further comprising transmitting status information about the pest control device to an interrogator with the wireless communication circuit.  
     
     
         9 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein the pest control device is one of a plurality of pest control devices disposed relative to a region to be monitored for presence of the one or more pests.  
     
     
         10 . A pest control system, comprising: 
 a housing;    a monitoring bait member;    a sensor;    a wireless communication circuit; and    a pesticide bait member;    wherein the monitoring bait member, the sensor, and the wireless communication circuit are operable to be arranged in a first assembly to be positioned in the housing to detect one or more pests, and the pesticide bait member and the wireless communication circuit are operable to be arranged in a second assembly different than the first assembly, the second assembly being positioned in the housing in place of the first assembly after detection of the one or more pests with the first assembly.    
     
     
         11 . The system of    claim 10   , further comprising an interrogator to generate an interrogation signal, the wireless communication circuit including a passive transmitter responsive to the interrogation signal to provide an identifier.  
     
     
         12 . The system of    claim 10   , wherein the first assembly includes a carrying member operable to remove the assembly from the housing and the sensor includes a substrate comprised of a paper coated by an organic, polymeric compound.  
     
     
         13 . The system of    claim 10   , wherein the second assembly includes a bait tube member defining a space sized to receive the wireless communication device.  
     
     
         14 . The system of    claim 10   , further comprising a plurality of pest control devices each including a passive RF transmitter operable to provide a unique identifier in response to an interrogation signal.  
     
     
         15 . The system of    claim 10   , wherein the wireless communication circuit includes an active RF transmitter.  
     
     
         16 . A device, comprising: 
 a housing;    an electrical circuit associated with the housing;    a sensing member configured to engage the housing, the sensing member including an electrical conductor comprised of a carbon-containing ink, the conductor being electrically coupled to the electrical circuit when the sensing member is engaged to the housing.    
     
     
         17 . The device of    claim 16   , wherein the circuit includes a wireless RF transmitter to communicate the change to an interrogating apparatus.  
     
     
         18 . The device of    claim 16   , wherein the circuit is operable to apply an electric potential to the sensing member and detect a change in an electrical characteristic of the sensing member.  
     
     
         19 . The device of    claim 16   , wherein the conductor is arranged as an electrically conductive loop carried on an electrically insulating substrate subject to consumption or displacement by one or more pests, the conductor terminates at an edge of the substrate in two electrically isolated contact sites.  
     
     
         20 . The device of    claim 19   , further comprising a first electrical connection member electrically coupled to the electronic circuit, the first connection member being carried with the housing, the first connection member being comprised of an electrically conductive elastomeric compound including carbon, the conductor contacting the first connection member to electrically couple the sensing member to the electrical circuit when the sensing member is engaged to the housing.  
     
     
         21 . The device of    claim 20   , wherein the housing includes a recess to receive a portion of the sensing member, the conductor terminates at an edge of the portion of the sensing member, and the first connection member is arranged to apply a biasing force to the sensing member to retain the sensing member and maintain electrical contact with the conductor when the portion is received in the recess.  
     
     
         22 . The device of    claim 21   , further comprising a second connection member carried by the housing and being comprised of an electrically conductive, elastomeric compound including carbon, the second connection member being spaced apart from the first connection member, the first connection member being operable to contact a first one of the contact sites and the second connection member being operable to contact a second one of the contact sites when the sensing member is engaged to the housing.  
     
     
         23 . The device of    claim 22   , wherein the substrate is comprised of a paper coated with polyethylene.