Method and apparatus for dispensing airborne materials for controlling pests
US6339897B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 8, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jan 22, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 8, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S43/90
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method and apparatus for dispensing pheromones, semiochemicals, and other materials that can control the behavior or physiology of insects and other pests are described. The dispensers (AgJets) use electronic dispensing technology such as that used in ink jet printing. The units have a self-containing reservoir for the to-be-dispensed chemical, and they are capable of being activated to dispense by an electromagnetic signal from a broadcasting controller unit. Picoliter volumes of pheromones and semiochemicals can be dispensed in drop-on-demand mode. The units for dispensing shall be powered by battery and/or solar energy for hands-off operation in remote sites. The units may also have weather monitoring devices (thermometer, anemometer, humidity measurement), and such climactic information can be transmitted to central receiving stations and/or used locally in the AgJet device to control chemical dispensing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.