Abstract:
The fish trap system includes an enclosure having a revolving trap door attached to a coned gate Gargoor. Still and video cameras are included in the enclosure to provide snapshot and moving pictures of fish caught in the trap. A buoy (float) is included, from which images of fish in the enclosure are relayed via digital link to the user on the Internet. Moreover, user-controlled electrical gates are provided to either retain a fish or release a fish by closing and opening the gates via the Internet connection. The video camera, being disposed in the trap housing, is movable and provides views of the area around the fish trap when submerging the trap until it reaches the ground in order to locate the right flooring for the fish trap. Aside from fishing purposes, the fish trap system may be used for experimental purposes.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/582,803, filed Jan. 3, 2012. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to fishing equipment, and more particularly to a fish trap system that provides an electronically and remotely controlled fish trap system. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A Gargoor is a traditional fishing tool used in Kuwait and other Gulf Countries. A Gargoor is simply a coned gate fish trap made from chicken wire. However, when placing the Gargoor underwater, the fisherman will not be able to know what type of fish he caught, or if the trap caught any fish at all, until he pulls the fish trap out of the water. Moreover, he doesn&#39;t have a choice or control over what the fish trap catches. Modifications to the Gargoor should be made to remedy these drawbacks. 
     Thus, a fish trap system solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The fish trap system is a device to be connected to a Gargoor. A revolving trap door attaches to the coned gate Gargoor. Still and video cameras are included to provide snapshot and moving pictures of fish caught in the trap. Images are relayed via digital link to the user on the Internet. Moreover, user-controlled electrical gates are provided to either retain a fish or release a fish by closing and opening the gates via the Internet connection. The video camera is movable and is disposed in the trap housing to provide views of the area around the fish trap when submerging the trap until it reaches the ground in order to locate the right flooring for the fish trap. Aside from fishing purposes, the fish trap system may be used for experimental purposes as well. 
     These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a fish trap system according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a fish trap system according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed environmental perspective view of a float for a fish trap system according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of a fish trap system according to the present invention, showing a laser and sensor inside the trap. 
         FIG. 5  is an environmental partial perspective view of a fish trap system according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an environmental perspective view of a fish trap system according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a partial perspective view of a fish trap system according to the present invention, showing a trapped fish captured on a video monitor. 
         FIG. 8  is a screenshot showing a fish counter field on a monitor in a fish trap system according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of a cell phone receiving the images from a fish trap system according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the cell phone of  FIG. 9 , showing the scrollbar that controls the rotating gate in a fish trap system according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a partial perspective view of a fish trap system according to the present invention, showing the mechanism of the rotating gate. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a laser and sensor used in a fish trap system according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the fish trap system  10  includes a movable camera  210 , a snapshot camera  212  which can be a digital still camera, a rotating gate  202 , a safety electrical gate  18  and a photoresistor sensor and laser beam combination  214  attached directly to the fish trap  16 . The fish trap  16  is a geodesic mesh enclosure having moving structures inside that trap or release fish entrained in the geodesic enclosure at the remote command of an operator. A coned trap mechanism  20  has a large opening at the wall of the geodesic enclosure, the coned mechanism  20  tapering as it extends towards the center of the geodesic enclosure. The coned trap mechanism  20  functions as a guideway for the fish to a temporary trap enclosure. A waterproof cable  14  operably connects these components to a mini laptop  218  indirectly by using a Phidget circuit  216  (a plug and play” building block circuit for low cost USB sensing and control) in between. In case of vision display for both the movable-web-camera and Snapshot-Camera, some cables are connected directly to the USB Port of the Mini laptop  218  without using the Phidget circuit  216 . To provide a long distance wireless Internet connection, a router  220  is added to the system. RMD (Remote Desktop Display) software is used, which is installed in both the mini laptop  218  and a remote WLAN-enabled device such as any Smartphone  222  the user  11  has in order to provide the connection between the user  11  and the fish trap through the Internet. The user  11  can remotely control the trap system while in his boat  10 . 
     A photoresistor sensor and laser beam system  214  is included. When the photoresistor and laser beam detection system  214  senses a fish entering the fish trap  16 , the sensor instantly sends a signal to the Phidget via the waterproof cable  14 . As most clearly shown in  FIG. 4 , the laser source  402  of the detection system  214  emits a laser beam  404  that is transmissible through a transparent protective cover  408  and impinges on the detection photoresistor  406 . The laser beam  404  and the detection components are also shown in  FIG. 12 . Breaking of the beam  404  by a fish results in a detection signal being generated. The detection signal is then sent to the mini laptop  218  via a USB cable. Responsively, through another USB cable that is connected directly between the mini-laptop  218  and the snapshot camera  212 , the laptop  218  sends a command to the snapshot web camera  212  to take the snapshot. By using the RMD software, which depends on the Internet connection that is provided by the router  220 , the mini laptop  218  sends the snapshot image of the trapped fish. 
     The user has the choice of whether or not he/she wants to keep the fish. In the case where the user is not interested in keeping the fish, he can click on an open icon provided by the RMD software window on his Smartphone  222 , thereby sending a signal automatically to the mini laptop  218 , which gets sent to the Phidget circuit  216 , which routes the open command via the waterproof cable  14  to the rotating gate-servomotor combination  202  that drives the gate to the exit configuration, thereby allowing the fish to escape. 
     An additional movable camera  210  is provided at the electronic fish trap  16  to display the region under the fish trap while submerging it into the water until it reaches the ground in order to choose the right flooring for the fish trap  16 , and to display the region around the fish trap  16  constantly for experimental or recreational purposes. 
     Thus, the fish trap system supports a process capable of trapping fish, counting the number of fish entering the trap, taking a snapshot of them, giving a user capability to choose the fish he/she wants by using the rotating gate  202 , displaying the region under the fish trap while submerging it into the water until it reaches the ground in order to choose the right flooring for the fish trap, displaying the region around the fish trap constantly for experimental or recreational reasons, and saving the fish in case the user forgets or is not able to come and take the trapped fish by opening the safety electrical exit gate  18 . 
     Initial entrainment of the fish is performed by the coned trap mechanism  20 , in which the fish enters the trap, and absent a release mechanism, are unable to get out. The coned trap mechanism  20  is basically a one-way gate in which the fish entering the trap are never able to get out. Moreover, a laser source and photoresistor sensor combination  214  is attached at the end of the inner (small) diameter of the coned gate  20 . The laser beam portion of the combination  214  is positioned face-to-face with the photoresistor sensor portion of the combination  214 , and they are both wired to the surface through the waterproof cable  14 . If any object passes through the laser beam and interrupts it, the sensor will instantaneously detect the resulting darkness and then send a signal to the Phidget circuit  216  via the waterproof cable  14 . After the fish passes the inner diameter of the coned trap mechanism  20 , it will be trapped between the coned trap mechanism  20  and the rotating gate  202 , and waiting for an action from the user. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 11 , the rotating gate  202  is similar to a revolving door. However, the rotating gate  202  has a servomotor  512  connected to it to facilitate remote controlled operation. The gate  202  has bifurcated arms joining together at a rotation axis perpendicular to the direction of travel of the bifurcated arm gate  202 . The bifurcated arms are separated from each other an angular distance of 120°. Remote ends of the bifurcated arms contact a 120° stationary arcuate wall portion to form a temporary enclosure for the trapped fish. The coned trap mechanism  20  joins the stationary arcuate wall portion at an opening from the opposite side of the arcuate wall to form an entry point for fish into the temporary enclosure trap. The permanent trap area  500  is formed by an elongate stationary wall extending from one end of the arcuate wall portion of the coned trap mechanism  20  to the peripheral wall of the geodesic structure  16 , and a shorter elongate stationary wall extending from the rotation axis of the gate  202  to the peripheral wall of geodesic structure  16 . One of the rotatable aims of the rotating gate  202  completes the permanent trap area  500 . A release area  501  is formed by the outer geodesic wall, the shorter stationary wall, and the remaining arm of the rotating gate  202 . The servomotor  512  is connected at the rotation axis to cause the bifurcated arms to rotate like a revolving door. When the servomotor rotates 120° positive rotation, the fish are guided to the permanent trap area  500 . On the other hand, when it rotates 120° negative rotation, the fish are retained in the release area  501 . The peripheral structure  504  of the trap  16  bounds both the release and the trap areas. The configuration of the rotating gate  202  allows the user the choice if he/she wants the trapped fish (On hold trapped fish  502  in  FIG. 5 ) or not, as shown in  FIG. 5 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , a movable camera  210  is attached to the peripheral portion of the trap  16 . 
     The electrical signal is transmitted to the Phidget circuit  216  on the surface through a waterproof cable  14 . The waterproof cable  14  contains the photoresistor sensor&#39;s wires and the laser power source&#39;s wires. It also contains the servomotor wires, all of which are connected to the Phidget  216 . It also contains two USB cables for the snapshot web camera and the movable camera  210 , which are directly connected to the mini-laptop  218 . 
     The waterproof cable  14  and the wires inside should be able to withstand high mechanical tension. The waterproof cable  14  and the wires inside should be able to withstand salt water. The number of wires can be minimized if the Phidget circuit  216  and the mini-laptop  218  are installed in a small waterproof box directly attached to the fish trap because the only device that must be on the surface is the wireless router  220 . The signal, which is sent by the photoresistor sensor  408  through the waterproof cable  14 , is processed by the Phidget circuit  216 . The Phidget circuit  216  is an interface for software run on the mini laptop  218 . Therefore, the code written on the laptop  218  is applied by the Phidget circuit  216 . Thus, all of the servomotors can be easily controlled through the Phidget circuit  216 . Also, in case of sensors, all the signals are read through the Phidget circuit  216 . During all operational steps, a web video camera  210  is used to capture the images. Thus, the web video camera  210  views the region in front of it all the time and sends the live video feed to the mini laptop  218 . Using a Visual Basic (VB) program that is already compatible with the Phidget circuit  216 , any trapped fish are photographed by the snapshot camera  212 . Therefore, there is no need to send a signal back to the snapshot camera  212  to take the shot because the trapped fish image will be copied from the screen of the laptop  218  directly. 
     Simultaneously, the fish counter  802  is incremented, as shown in screenshot  800  of  FIG. 8 . At the same time, the system sends a message to the user via email to notify him that fish are in the trap enclosure. 
     Additionally, Remote Control Desktop (RMD) software is installed in both the mini-laptop  218  and a personal Smartphone  222 . The RMD software allows a user to view the mini-laptop  218  desktop screen by wireless transmission received on the user&#39;s Smartphone  222 . RMD software uses an Internet connection to enable this desktop viewing feature, thereby allowing the user to see the number of fish and images of the fish trapped by the system (step  7 ). 
     Any device that provides a portable Internet connection, such as a wireless router  220 , can be used in the system. However, the router  220  must be placed on the surface. Therefore, a buoy or float  12   a  is used to carry the router  220  on the surface. The float  12   a  has an upper cone-shaped enclosure  12   b  comprising a water resistant cone extending upward from the buoy or float that provides protection for the router  220 , mini-Laptop  218 , and the Phidget  216 . 
     After installing the RMD application on the Smartphone  222 , the user can see the desktop screen of the mini-laptop  218  on the screen of the Smartphone  222  wirelessly via an Internet connection. This means that the user can watch the shape and the number of fish received in the trap  16 . Moreover, the user can also open and close both the rotating gate  202  and the safety electrically controlled exit gate  18 . 
     In exemplary operation of the trap, a user who has viewed fish, as shown in screen shot  900  of  FIG. 9 , can move the scroll bar  1000  on his Smartphone screen (as shown in  FIG. 10 ) to rotate the rotating gate  202 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . Hence, the maximum value of the scroll bar is 120°, and the minimum value is −120°. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the signal is sent to the rotating gate  202  via the router  220 , the mini laptop  218 , the Phidget circuit  216 , the waterproof cable  14 , and then to the servomotor portion of the rotating gate  202  to rotate the gate according to the user command via the scrollbar  1000  on his phone. 
     The rotating gate  202  will rotate in a positive direction if the user scrolled the scroll bar up to 120, which means that he wants the system to retain the on-hold trapped fish. Therefore, it will enter the trap. On the other hand if he scrolled the scroll bar down to −120, which means that he doesn&#39;t want the fish, the fish will be let out of the trap  16  via the escape door  18 . 
     Before and/or during remote controlled operation of the revolving fish door  202 , the user  11  can view the fish in the trap  16 . The movable camera  210  (web camera) views the region in front of it, then sends the frontal image stream via USB through the waterproof cable  14  until the image stream reaches the Smartphone  222 , which displays the live video constantly. 
     The movable web video camera  210  is connected to a second servomotor, which can position the camera 180° clockwise (CW) and counterclockwise (CCW). Scrolling a scroll bar on the Smartphone  222  dedicated to the movable camera  210  causes rotation of the camera servomotor shaft, which, in turn, rotates the camera  210 . The user  11  can pan the movable camera  210  to points of interest within the trap  16 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 7 , a Smartphone screenshot  700  shows a fish F being observed in the trap. The camera servomotor used in this function is connected with a Phidget Advance Servo circuit, which is compatible with the mini Visual Basic Code. 
     The electrical safety gate  18  is a simple exit gate designed to release undesired fish from the trap. It is used to set the fish free in case there is no action from the user for a certain amount of time in order to save the fish from death. It can be opened manually, as well by an “open” icon on the screen of the Smartphone  222 . 
     The bifurcated arms of gate  202 , which are separated from each other by an angular distance of 120°, can have a different angular distance, such as 90° or 60°, in order for the remote ends of the bifurcated arms to form more than one temporary enclosure to trap more than one fish. In case of 90°, two fishes can be trapped in two different enclosures, and the less the angular distance, the more trapped fishes. 
     Tension sensor can be added to the waterproof cable  14  between the fish trap and the float  12   a  on the surface in order to detect if there is an overtension of the cable  14 , and then send a signal to the user to warn him that someone is pulling the fish trap out of the water without permission. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, we can use the fish trap for birds with the same idea, only by changing the coned gate concept to a bait base concept in order to attract the bird, and the rest is the same. The power source for this project is a normal rechargeable battery, or a rechargeable battery supplied with a solar cell. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.