Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation of pending continuation-in-part application Ser. No. 09/110,486 filed Jul. 6, 1998 now abandoned with the same title and inventors and claims priority from provisional application No. 60/051,900 filed on Jul. 8, 1997 for all of which priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. Section 120 and Section 119(e). 
    
    
     The invention was made with government support under contract 98-33610-5977 awarded by the United States Department of Agriculture. The United States government may have certain rights in this invention. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention discloses a method and apparatus for electronic distribution of small accurately metered amounts of materials which can control behavior of insects and pests for the benefit of mankind. 
     2. Background of Related Art 
     Pheromone dispensing is being widely studied as a means to control pests and has been used in orchards and other agricultural environments for this purpose. Control of pathogenic pests that attack crops, forests, people, pets, and livestock is a monumental universally important task. Blanket spraying of toxic pesticides has caused environmental damage, which is now just beginning to be halted or reversed because of dangers and unanticipated consequences. Biotechnology is being employed in emerging “green” methods of pathogen control with discrete, precisely timed and monitored application of substances for control. Continued precision targeting of natural chemicals or chemical which mimic natural chemicals will be the key to a minimally-disruptive pest control system. The ultimate version of this approach is the use of insect pheromones, of which a mere few hundred molecules can suffice to lure pathogenic organisms into traps or away from target crops. Disruption of mating can reduce or even eliminate the next generation of insect pests. Pheromones can also be used to lure predatory and beneficial insects into a field for crop protection. These non-toxic environmentally safe developments promise an exciting new era in crop protection. 
     Most of the common damaging insects, such as the codling moth, do their damage in the adult stage after mating. They penetrate developing fruit in large numbers to lay eggs which develop into larva which produce unsalable product at harvest time. Emergence of the adults is sometimes referred to as the biofix point which is usually based upon a certain number of degree days. The female moths emerge in different orchards, as many as four or five days apart. Females release pheromones which form a plume in wind that spreads and dilutes as it flows downstream. Females may harbor up to a picogram of pheromone when active, according to some researchers. Males have species-specific binding proteins which detect these pheromones and lead to mate seeking activity. It has been reported that males initiate upwind direct flight or “zig zag” flight in an attempt to reach the source of the sensory sensation. It is known that insect flight for mating occurs mainly in the dusk-to-dawn period and not during daylight hours. Cost effective control has been reported on a commercial scale despite the very high cost of pheromones which are sometimes referred to as semiochemicals. A discussion of semiochemicals and a specific delivery system is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,844, incorporated herein by reference. 
     Presently, pheromones are dispensed by “dumb”, generally “passive” systems that provide no control over timing or amount of pheromone dispensed. Typical dispensing systems are passive “wick” type devices or slowly evaporating mixtures of pheromones and matrix from which the pheromone is passively volatilized into the air at a relatively steady but decreasing state until depleted. Some examples of this approach include PVC/twine dispensers, novel sesquiterpene epoxides for embedding volatiles, cuticular waxes, polymeric laminated flakes (Hercon), polymer impregnated time-released dispensers, and others mentioned in the aforesaid patent reference. Some specific examples of commercial dispensing systems are known by the following names are: Sentry, Heliothis, IPS Unitrap, Multipher I, and Hartstack Wiretrap. 
     Such devices rely upon such processes as diffusion, breaking down of chemical bonds or degradation processes, with volatility as the only mechanism to control the amount or timing of pheromone releases. The rate at which these processes operate is usually temperature dependent. They speed up during the day when actually no usefulness is obtained with respect to night flying insects, and slow down at night when they are most needed. Once such devices are set out, there is no way to control or stop the dispersion of expensive chemicals. More pheromone is needed initially to account for natural decreases which occur as chemicals are depleted with time. 
     An intermittent spray of material has been proposed as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,064. This device amounts to an aerosol can with an electrically operated cam which operates a lever to open a valve. Some have referred to such devices as an aerosol “puffer”. The pressurized aerosol dispenser has a mechanically actuated push valve. Puffer devices are fairly large and also influenced by temperature. They require a propellant which may not be compatible with some pheromones. They are subject to clogging and canister failure problems. Puffer devices do enable the use of a timer to permit dispensing during the desired period and not dispensing during other periods. Droplet size control is nearly nonexistent with a wide variety of drop sizes produced. The output may vary as internal pressure in the canister drops during use. There is also a piezoelectric “buzzer” that is used to assist in the dispersement of the pheromone material into the air. 
     Substances to be dispensed will include pheromones, semiochemicals, and any other chemicals which have usefulness for the control of pest behavior. These materials can be synthesized from the constituent amino acids in the case of peptide pheromones and purchased from a relatively large number of commercial pheromone producers such as Ciba Geigy, Concep, Hercon and Ecogen for instance. There are three fundamental ways pheromones and related chemicals are typically used for pest control, although additional ways are not precluded. 
     One way pheromones are used is to lure pests to traps for simple killing or for trapping for subsequent counting. The puffer device shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,064 employs an electrified grid which electrocutes the insects when they try to reach the source of attractant. Counting the number of a particular species of insect is important in determining the level of infestation as well as identifying the biofix time. The attract-and-kill method and the attract-trap-count technique both use pheromones the will attract an insect species. The most straight forward version of this approach is, for example, the use of a female insects sex lure to attract conspecific males for trapping, killing or counting. In this case, the pheromone would be naturally occurring scent materials either harvested from the females or synthesized as exact replicas of the naturally-occurring pheromone. 
     A second way pheromones can be used for crop protection is to dispense pheromones or seriochemicals that will lure predators to the field which naturally attack and kill pests for which control is sought. 
     A third approach for pest control through use of pheromones is called the “disruption” approach briefly mentioned above. Pheromones which will disrupt mating or maturation of the pest in the field are dispensed, thus stopping the production of pests that are attacking the crop. If a female sex lure causes all of the males to mate or seek to mate with the pheromone dispenser instead of mating with real females, the breeding cycle will be disrupted and real mating will not occur. In all of these cases, optimum control of these pests would be obtained by dispensing minute amounts (pico- or nano-liter volumes) of the controlling pheromone or semiochemical in an intermittent pattern that is optimally interactive with time of day, time of year and other climactic and environmental conditions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention comprises an improved apparatus and method for controlled “jetting” of pheromones “on demand” at the highest useful concentration at precisely the times and places that will maximally disrupt mating. It is useful for improved efficiency and control in the other pest control methods as well. The invention is a “smart” system which will dispense pheromones in a discrete, micro-drop-by-micro-drop fashion, as required, under direct digital control. It is the application of controlled ink jet technology to dramatically increase effectiveness of these non-toxic pest control methods. Electronically actuated dispensers are provided having an ejection device with an orifice in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir containing a pest specific volatile fluid in the reservoir. A unique coiled tube reservoir is disclosed. 
     The fluid is selected to predictably alter the physiology or behavior of pests. 
     Although the main use of this invention is expected to be the attraction or modification of behavior of insects that are detrimental to plants, it should be understood that the pheromone distribution system and apparatus could be used to attract beneficial insects such as pollinators or even to attract predators of insects which are harmful to plants. The term “pests” as used herein, should be construed with these additional connotations in mind. 
     The electronically actuated ejection device is selected from the group consisting of piezoelectric, magnetorestrictive, inductive, thermal and fast solenoid valve dispensing devices. The dispensing devices are configured to eject a series of uniform individual micro-droplets within a range of diameters between about 2 to about 500 microns. These may be referred to herein as Agjets. Agjets in the preferred embodiment employ solid state piezoelectric dispensing jets. The Agjet dispensers can dispense individual droplets of pheromone as small as 20 trillionths of a liter in size. Agjets can dispense 20 picoliter (pl) or larger droplets at rates from 1 to 5,000 drops per second, for precise controlled dispensing. Requiring only trivial amounts of power to dispense, Agjets can be battery- or solar-powered and triggered by remote radio-control. 
     Agjet control systems can generate any arbitrary pattern of pheromone delivery that would be optimum for control of pests. Moreover, by broadcasting weather conditions and other data to a central control station, Agjets equipped with sensors and transceivers can inform central processing systems when the optimum conditions for dispensing can or cannot be obtained. A control unit is used to actuate the dispenser during a selected time interval or intervals to produce successive individual micro-droplets of a selected uniform size within a desired range of droplet sizes. The Agjet dispenser is operated through the control unit. Droplets of a selected uniform size within the desired range of diameters are ejected from the orifice at a rate sufficient to release a desired amount of the volatile material from the reservoir over a selected time interval at a uniform rate in order to control pests. Although Agjet dispensers may deposit the ejected micro-droplets onto a wick for more efficient volatilization, it is the digital control of the device which is important. 
     The Agjet dispensing apparatus is comprised of one or more of the following components: (a) one or a plurality of reservoirs to hold pheromones or other behavior-modifying chemicals in volumes ranting from 1 ul to 100 ml. (b) chemical additives including but not limited to antioxidants that extend the life-span of stored pheromones or other chemicals in the reservoirs (c) one or a plurality of fluid conduits providing a means to convey fluids from said reservoirs to one or a plurality of dispensing devices (d) one or a plurality of electronically-actuated dispensing devices providing a means to dispense into the air drops of fluid ranging in size from 2 um to 500 um in diameter (e) a controlling electronic circuit providing a means to dispense one or more drops from one or more of the dispensing devices at rates from 0 to 4,000 drops per second (f) a means to convey or store electronic charge for the purpose of powering the electronic control circuit (g) an electromagnetic signal receiver providing a means for electromagnetic signals (e.g., laser, radio, microwave) to control the dispensing of drops (h) solar-cells for charging batteries or directly driving the electronic circuitry (i) apparatus providing a means to measure variables such as wind speed, wind direction, humidity, ambient temperature, ambient light, (j) an apparatus providing the means to broadcast the data mentioned in “i” to receiving equipment by any of the mechanisms described in “g”. Agjet dispensers can be dispersed within a field or greenhouse with or without environmental condition sensors and hard wired into a programmed controller or equipped with what may be referred to as “transceivers” which operate on an electromagnetic frequency signal sent to or received from a remote programmed controller in a central processing system. Orchards, vineyards and greenhouses are well suited for a permanent or semi-permanent installation of dispersed pheromone dispensers. In row crops, dispensers mounted on stakes are installed after planting and removed before harvest. 
     An interactive real time system of dispersed dispensers is equipped with electromagnetically-activated receivers and driving circuits which operate the dispensers. A remote electromagnetic transceiver and programmed digital computing device connected to the transceiver comprises a remote control unit. One or more environmental monitoring stations which communicates with a transceiver is capable of monitoring an environmental condition parameter and transmitting a signal representative of the condition to the remote control unit or even to individual Agjet dispensers that are equipped with receivers and appropriate control circuits. For example, sensing of excessive wind speed during a timed dispensing cycle could result in a signal being sent to the individual Agjet dispensers to cease dispensing. At some intermediate wind speed, a signal could be sent to increase the amount of pheromone material dispensed by increasing the frequency of electrical pulses being delivered to the dispensing unit. The preferred system uses a master control station which communicates with the environmental station and then the master control station sends signals to control the individual dispensers. 
     Compared to passive “wick” style pheromone delivery systems, radio-controlled Agjets can provide the following advantages: (a) optimizing timing of pheromone releases to accomplish the desired pest control objective with smaller amounts of expensive pheromone; (b) the inventive dispensers dispense from a sealed reservoir which allows long term operation (a year or more) without the need for replenishing the pheromone; (c) precise control of drop size and rate of drop production permits precisely controlled dispensing which saves expensive pheromones and allows instantaneous adjustment of the amount of pheromone dispensed or cessation of dispensing in response to the condition of environmental parameters; (d) a control system, such as radio-control, which permits interactive dispensing with respect to season, crop status, weather (wind speed and direction, humidity, temperature), presence of pests or predators, etc. and (e) interactive dispensing through use of a control system allows geographically-staggered units to be activated in sequence, thus “leading” insects in a desired direction. 
     In addition to these advantages as compared to existing “puffer” technology employing mechanical activation of pressurized aerosol spray cans, the ink-jet style miniature dispensers referred to as Agjets offer advantages in the following respects: (a) there are no pressurized containers to maintain or replace; (b) the Agjet package even including a transceiver is a much smaller package for storing, dispensing and controlling dispensing as compared to aerosol spray can systems which is on the order of {fraction (1/20)}th the overall size of the package; (c) electronically controlled individual dispensers, such as piezoelectric dispensers, operate in response to an electrical pulse which does not have the reliability problem of mechanical actuators; (d) there are no environmentally-threatening propellants necessary or problems associated with compatibility between propellants and sensitive pheromones; (e) although the preferred piezoelectric dispensers move slightly with each electrical pulse to disperse individual droplets, the movement is a bulk material movement and does not involve any mechanical moving parts. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view with the side cover removed of a dispensing device equipped with a piezoelectric ejection device schematically shown with a self-contained power source and equipped with radio-type receiver antenna and control circuitry for converting radio signals into pulses which operate the ejection device and schematically indicated sensors which can interact with a control system to operate the device; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the dispenser of FIG. 1 with the top cover of the unit removed; 
     FIG. 2 a  schematically illustrates a shutter used to cover and uncover the orifice; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic arrangement of a system for controlling pests which includes a central computing station, an environmental sensing station and a pheromone dispenser representing a plurality of pheromone dispensers interacting via a communication satellite; 
     FIG. 4 is another schematic illustration of a pest control system wherein the plurality of pheromone dispensers are distributed in a remote field containing an environmental sensing station which communicates through a communication satellite with a main central control and computing station that utilizes insect-control software and information from other fields as well as historical data to generate optimum pheromone dispensing programs through radio signals delivered to individual dispensers via satellite. 
     FIG. 5 is a high level flow chart which illustrates the controlled process of a simple system based upon time; 
     FIG. 6 is a high level flow chart which illustrates a more complex process which includes changes in the dispensing of fluid from the dispensers on the basis of measured environmental parameters, in addition to time; 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram showing preferred components of an “Agjet” dispenser which includes in dotted outline, a sensor and sensor signal conditioner which could be added to monitor and communicate the condition of an environmental parameter; 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram showing preferred components of a station for monitoring and transmitting the condition or status of environmental parameters; 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram showing preferred components for a master control station which will be understood to include any necessary input/output interfaces for the computing devices; 
     FIG. 10A is a schematic arrangement for a simple wired dispenser arrangement which may be controlled by a simple switch or timing device; 
     FIG. 10B is a schematic arrangement for a wireless system illustrating one way communication between a master control station and dispensers equipped with receivers; 
     FIG. 10C is a schematic arrangement for a wireless system illustrating two way communication between the master control station of FIG.  10 B and dispensers equipped with transceivers for two way radio frequency communication using paging technology; 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic drawing of an actual prototype in size reference to a coin, the prototype having two pheromone dispensers, each equipped with a coiled tubing fluid reservoir. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The invention applies technology used in the ink-jet printing industry and control systems for electronic dispensing of pheromones, semiochemicals and other fluids the purpose of modifying the activity or behavior of insect, viral or bacterial pests for pest control in large areas. The ink-jet printing dispensing methods could include dispensing by piezoelectric methods, thermal methods, magnetorestrictive methods or inductive methods. Digital control of the dispensers permits turning them off or on, adjusting their output or operating them in a pattern in response to signals transmitted by wire or wireless devices. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates the dispenser using the piezoelectric method pheromones or other volatile fluids for pest control. In FIG. 1, a schematic dispenser has a preferred piezoelectric ejection device  1  located in a case mounted on a stake support  14  suitable for driving into the soil. Drops  3  are ejected from glass center tube  2 . Electrical leads  8  for delivering operating pulses to dispensing device  1  are operably connected to an electronic dispenser control system  9  which has an internal battery power supply and drive electronics for generating pulses for controlling operation of jetting or ejection device  1 . Included in FIG. 1 is a radio-type radio antenna  10  which extends from a radio receiver or transceiver operably connected to circuitry in control unit  9 . Control unit  9  includes a digital computing device and a means for converting signals received by the receiver or transceiver into operating commands. In this context, the term receiver refers to a radio control device that receives and converts signals from a remote source in one-way communication. The term transceiver connotes a radio device that receives and converts signals which can be used by the control system to operate the ejection device and is capable of transmitting information to a remote station in two-way communication. The communication systems themselves are conventional. The preferred communication system is offered by Motorola Inc.&#39;s FLEX™ Architecture Solutions Division, Boynton Beach, Fla. 33426-8622. CreataLink™ (one-way) and CreataLink2™ (two-way) receiver/transceivers use Motorola&#39;s FLEX™ paging protocols including FLEX™ one-way, ReFlex™ two-way and InFLEXion™ voice transmission technologies. Motorola offers a robust product portfolio of pagers, components, infrastructure, test equipment, application protocols and software which are believed to be well suited to use to handle communications within this invention. 
     Piezoelectric dispensing device  1  has a glass center tube  2  that lies concentrically within a piezoelectric tube. The fluid to be dispensed is contained in a small “sealed” reservoir  7  which is connected by means of a fluid conduit  6 . As is conventional, the reservoir is not usually absolutely sealed, but contains a vent or valve in fluid communication with the reservoir through a tortuous path so that atmospheric pressure can be maintained on the fluid to prevent vacuum blockage from occurring. Therefore the term “sealed reservoir” is understood to include a vent. Tube  2  may comprise a channel made of piezoelectric material or is overlaid on one or more side by piezoelectric material. Flexion of the piezoelectric material produced by introducing a voltage against the piezoelectric material compresses the fluid-containing compartment within tube  2 . The result is that a drop of fluid is ejected from the fluid-containing compartment through a precisely machined orifice which is typically about 60 μm in diameter or less as illustrated by microdrops  3  of fluid which are deposited onto a permeable wick  4  from which a vapor cloud  5  of pheromone or other insect behavior-controlling substance emanates. Repeated droplet production maintains the cloud which plumes away downwind for a considerable effective distance. Also schematically illustrated are climate-monitoring devices connected to control unit  9  including wind speed monitoring device  11 , temperature monitoring device  12 , and humidity monitoring device  13 . Alternately, the environmental monitoring devices could be included in a separate environmental control station shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic top view showing some of the components of the dispenser of FIG. 1 without the environmental sensors  11 ,  12 ,  13  or the antenna  10 . A round case is illustrated. A complete unit can be made which is not appreciably larger than a Motorola pocket pager. 
     FIG. 2 a  schematically illustrates the use of a shutter  31  which moves to the dotted position  31  “prime” in response to an actuator  29  operated by electrical connections  27  and a control unit  9 . A shutter schematically illustrated in FIG. 2 a  or a variation thereon is preferably used to close the orifice  2  to protect it from dust, dirt or any other foreign objects when dispensing is not underway. The shutter is open before dispensing begins and closed after dispensing ends. 
     FIG. 3 shows a pheromone dispensing device  15 , for example from FIG. 1, representative of a plurality of such devices. In one embodiment, dispensing unit  15  receives dispense commands via a communication satellite  16  which in turn receives climatic data representing one or more environmental parameters from an environmental sensing Agjet station  17 . Satellite  16  is also in two way communication with a central computing/control station  18  that has received via satellite  16  the data on local climatic conditions from environmental sensing station  17  as well as data from other sources which control station  18  may have in its data bank. Control station  18  is a master control station which processes the data received from environmental sensing station  17  and transmits back to the dispensing units  15 , signals that control pheromone dispensing by dispensers  15 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a plurality of AgJet dispensing units  15  dispensed throughout many acres of a cultivated field in which climatic sensing station  17  has been placed. Climatic data sensed by station  17  is relayed by communications satellite  16  to the main control station  18  from which commands are issued back via satellite  16  to control the pheromone dispensing units. Dispensing unit commands are generated at main control station  18  by central control/computing computers that utilize insect-control software, information from other fields (like FIG. 4) and other/historical data, to generate optimum pheromone dispensing programs. 
     Climate-sensing equipment in the Agjet system can be incorporated into one or several “master” dispensing units  15 , in a communication loop with many non-sensing dispensers. In effect, these “master” dispensing units can substitute for a separate environmental sensing station. Temperature can be monitored by thermistor, humidity by a hygroscopic crystal that changes electrical resistance with ambient humidity, wind speed by a strain-gauge type instrument which changes electrical resistance when deflected by the wind, and wind direction by a series of wind-speed monitors mounted in slits oriented to the compass points. The broadcast of this information from the Agjet system to the receiving station can be by conventional communication links as used in cellular telephones, two-way radios, and so forth. One skilled in the art could find many other devices capable of measuring and generating a signal representative of these parameters. 
     In an alternate embodiment schematically illustrated in FIGS. 10A-C, the pheromone dispensing system differs in that commands are generated and sent via wire or radio frequency or equivalent signals without the use of the satellite. 
     The wireless control system contemplated is used in commonly known pagers utilizing paging technology mentioned above developed by Motorola and other companies. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,053,100, 5,092,864, 5,193,738, 5,435,060, 5,208,980, 5,235,352, 5,227,813 and 5,433,809 show some of the details of design and manufacturing of such a piezoelectric fluid pumping device and are incorporated herein by reference. Further information about the design and manufacture of piezoelectric fluid dispensing devices can be found in the following publications: (“Application of Ink-Jet Technology to Dispensing in the Electronics an Semiconductor Industries”, D. B. Wallace and D. J. Hayes, presented at the ISHM 1987 Microelectronics Interconnect Conference, August 1987. “Application of Ink-Jet Technology to Adhesive Dispensing”, D. B. Wallace and D. J. Hayes, presented at the SME Adhesive &#39;87 Conference, September 1987. “Overview of Small Holes,” D. J. Hayes and D. B. Wallace, invited paper, SME Nontraditional Machining Conference, November 1989. “Hot Bar Thermoelectric Analysis,” presented at the 2nd ISHM Joint Technology Conference, April 1991. “Study of Orifice Fabrication Technologies for the Liquid Droplet Radiator,” D. B. Wallace, D. J. Hayes and J. M. Bush, NASA Contractor Report 187114, May 1991. “Biomedical Applications of Piezoelectric Fluid Dispensing Jets,” C. J. Frederickson, D. B. Wallace, R. Cox, and D. J. Hayes, Abstracts of the Tenth Annual Conference on Biomedical Engineering Research in Houston, 1992. “Picoliter Solder Droplet Dispensing,” D. J. Hayes, D. B. Wallace, and M. T. Boldman,  Proceedings, ISHM  &#39;92, October 1992.) 
     The piezoelectric-type electronic dispenser has an electronic drive system that controls the dispenser with a circuit that generates a brief (20-100 microsecond) monophasic pulse of 2-20 volts, with a rise time of 1-10 microseconds and a fall time of 1-10 microseconds. Once such pulse (amplified to 20-30 volts) is delivered to a piezoelectric bending or squeezing element it generates a brief pressure transient sufficient to eject one drop in the picoliter volume range from a piezoelectric drop dispenser ejector jet. More details are given in the papers cited above and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,648 incorporated herein by reference. Drive circuitry of this sort can be designed or controlled to produce trains of pulses up to 4,000 per second, which in turn will produce discreet drops of fluid of rates up to 4,000 drops per second. 
     One skilled in the art would understand that the number of molecules of the pheromone or other volatile fluids for pest control dispensed into the air could be obtained with different setting of various variables. These could include: concentration of pheromones or other volatile fluids for pest control in the droplets; droplet size; droplet rate; number of orifices used for jetting; and evaporation rate; etc. 
     Optimizing these variables requires experimentation for short bursts at very high frequencies (i.e. 25 Khz) followed by quiet times may prove to be similar to long bursts at lower frequencies (i.e. 2.5 Khz). Smaller droplets at high frequencies may be similar to larger drops at lower frequencies. Smaller drops of concentrated fluids may be similar to larger droplets of dilute fluids. Multiple orifices at lower frequencies may be similar to single orifices at high frequencies. 
     The energy used to power the electronic drive circuitry described above can come from a battery, from a solar-charged battery, or from the electronic main supply in indoor installations. The orifice from which the drops emanate from tube  2  of ejection device or jetting device  1  is extremely small and may be located at a surface provided with a movable shutter (not shown) also connected to control unit  9  wherein the shutter is operated by another piezoelectric actuator. The motion required to move a shutter over the orifice to protect it from dust, moisture or debris may be provided by a piezoelectric Bimorph® actuator that may be obtained from Morgan Matroc Inc., Electro Ceramics Division, 232 Forbes Road, Bedford, Ohio 44146. These devices are discussed in a “Guide to Modern Piezoelectric Ceramics” by Morgan Matroc. 
     The shutter actuator operates in an on/off mode to uncover the orifice when jetting of fluid from reservoir  7  is to be initiated and cover the orifice again when jetting is stopped. 
     Perhaps the simplest use of pheromone dispensers of the invention is in the wired system of FIG. 10A where a plurality of dispensers each having an ejection device or devices and drive electronics are dispersed over an area to be protected and wired to a remote control unit which comprises a programmable controller with a suitable power source and operating circuitry connected into the wired system. The programmable controller could be as simple as a timer that generates operating signals which are transmitted through the wires to each dispenser to turn the dispensers on at night and turn them off again during the day. FIG. 10A represents a simple wired system where the individual dispensers and wiring system can be permanently or semi-permanently installed which may be suitable for a greenhouse or vineyard, for example. Pheromone dispensers  15  represented by “D” are hard wired to a control station  24  which could be a switch and a timer to turn dispensers D on or off. FIGS. 10B and 10C represent a more complex system in which dispensers “D” are operated respectively in one way or two way wireless communication from master control station  18  which is in two way wireless communication with environmental sensing station  17 . The operating signals could provide intervals of on and off dispensing periods during an operating cycle. 
     Control of the electronic drive system can be via a radio-receiver that operates in the same general fashion as a radio-controlled model plane or car. A separate sending station will generate an amplitude or frequency-modulated radio signal with carrier frequency corresponding to the frequency to which the receiver is tuned. In its simplest format, the radio transmission will include a series of digital pulses, each one of which would cause the electronic (typically ink-jet-like) fluid dispenser to eject one drop of fluid. In more complex forms, the Agjet system could contain digital programmable circuitry which could be reprogrammed or initialized by transmitted messages from the sending station. For example, the sending station could send a message to begin operating the dispensers which are pre-programmed to dispense at a selected operating rate and send a second message to discontinue dispensing when the desired dispensing time has elapsed. Operation of the pheromone dispensers can be dependent upon one or a plurality of environmental condition parameters. Dispensing may be futile if wind is still or wind velocity is too high. Still wind does not allow a “plume” of pheromone vapor to trail out over the orchard to reach emerging insects. High wind simply blows the plumes away and dispenses them in the air. Target insects may be inactive unless the temperature is above a certain temperature or the humidity is too high (raining, for example). If a wind is blowing from one side of the field, the sending station could, for example, send signals to trigger operation of the dispensers on the windward side and not operate the last row or last several rows of dispensers on the downwind side, in order to economize on the use of expensive pheromones. 
     FIG. 5 is an exemplary simple process which utilizes the fact that many pests do their mating in the period from dawn to dusk but not during the daytime. From start block  100 , the system moves to block  102 . Block  102  determines if start time T 1  has arrived. If start time T 1  has arrived, a dispensing command is generated at block  103  and communicated to a plurality of dispensers and the process moves to block  106  and recycles until the stop time T 2  has arrived. When stop time T 2  has arrived, the process generates and communicates to the dispensers a stop dispensing command at the block  108  and returns to start block  100 . 
     FIG. 6 is an exemplary process which illustrates how signals from environmental sensing/monitoring station  17  can be utilized to control operation of a plurality of dispensers  15  in the system of FIGS. 3,  4  and  10 B-C. It is understood that the absolute values of temperature, wind speed and wind direction are arbitrarily set in FIG. 6 for illustration purposes. In actuality, these values would be determined by experimentation in relation to a specific one of the many pests. Different pests may become active or inactive at different temperatures. The kind and amount of pheromone needed to be an effective amount may be greater for one pest than another. FIG. 6 contemplates a system with operating environmental sensors as in FIG. 1, or as is more likely for cost efficiency, in a system with an environmental sensing station  17  and a remote master/main control unit  18 . 
     From start block  26  the system proceeds to block  28 . Block  28  determines if time has reached start time T 1 . When time is T 1 , the system moves to block  30 . At block  30  station  17 , for example, checks a temperature sensor at the field where the dispensers are located. If the temperature is at or above a pre-selected limit, the process moves to block  32 . At block  32  a humidity sensor at the dispensing area is checked to determine if humidity is within a pre-defined desired range. If humidity is within a desired range, the process moves to block  34 . At block  34  a wind speed sensor in the dispensing area is checked to determine if wind speed is below a maximum desired velocity. If wind speed is below the maximum desired velocity, the process moves to block  36 . At block  36 , the wind speed sensor is checked to determine if the wind speed is near zero (still). If wind speed is not zero, the process moves to block  38 . At block  38  the wind speed sensor in the dispensing area is checked to determine if the wind speed is below a first control velocity, in this case 6 miles per hour. If wind speed is below the first control velocity, the process continues to block  48 . If wind speed is not below the first control velocity, the process moves to block  40 . At block  40  the wind speed sensor is checked to determine if wind speed in the dispensing area is below a second control velocity, in this case 12 miles per hour. If wind speed is below 12 miles per hour, a signal is sent to adjust the dispensers to increase the dispense rate at block  42  and the process moves to block  48 . (The signal to increase the dispense rate may simply be stored to be sent if and when a dispensing command is generated at main control  18 .) If wind speed is not below the second control velocity, the process moves to block  44 . At block  44  the wind speed sensor is checked to determine if wind speed is below a third control velocity, in this case 18 miles per hour. If wind speed exceeds 18 miles per hour, the process returns to start block  26 . If not, the process moves to block  46  and a command to increase the dispense rate is either sent to set the dispensing units or stored to be sent later if and when a dispensing command is issued, and the process moves to block  48 . At block  48 , the environmental station  17  checks a wind direction sensor at the dispensing area and reports to the main control unit  18 . If the wind direction is from the “north”, the process moves to block  50 . At block  50 , a dispensing command is generated from the main control unit  18  and sent to the dispensers to dispense from all but the last two rows, for example. If the wind is not from the “north” the process moves to block  52 . At block  52 , the environmental station  17  checks the wind direction sensor at the dispensing area and reports to the main control unit  18 . If the wind direction is from the “south”, the process moves to block  54 . At block  54  a dispensing command is generated and sent from control unit  18  to the dispensers to dispense from all but the first two rows, for example. If the wind is not from the “south” the process moves to block  56 . At block  56  a dispensing command is generated and sent from the control unit  18  to the dispensers to dispense from all rows. Next the process moves to block  58  to determine if the stop dispensing time T 2  has arrived. If the stop dispensing time T 2  has arrived, a stop dispensing command is generated at block  59  and sent by the control unit to the dispensers and the process returns to the start block. If block  58  determines time T 2  has not arrived, the process returns to block  30  and replicates the previous steps from that point. It is evident that wait blocks could be added before environmental parameters are rechecked or the process could simply wait until T 2  arrives or it could re-enter the string of steps at any point below block  28  to replicate only part of the process. For example, after block  58  the process could move to a wind speed block  34  or  36  instead of block  30 , if desired. 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram to illustrate components of an “Agjet” pheromone dispenser  61 . A generic environmental parameter sensor  62  denoted “S” is shown in dotted outline with a companion signal conditioner  64  in electrical communication with a receiver or transceiver  66  for one-way or two-way communication as desired. A receiver is useful for receiving operating commands from a remote control station for a dispensing unit without the dotted outline components. A transceiver is useful for a “master” dispensing unit with environmental parameter sensors to provide feedback in the case of a limited number of such “master” dispensers scattered among dispensers without sensing equipment. The master dispenser can operate the other dispensers. The receiver or transceiver may have its own power supply  68  denominated battery/solar powered battery “B”. Dispenser  61  further includes power supply  70 , control electronics  72  in electrical communication with receiver  66  and drive electronics  74  itself in electrical communication with pheromone jetting device  76 . Pheromone jetting device  76  is preferably the piezoelectric ejection device  1  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of environmental sensing station  17 . It has a plurality of environmental parameter sensors “S”, in electrical communication with signal conditioner  64 . Power supply  78  is in electrical communication with input/output device  80 , digital computing device  82 , interface  84  and transceiver  86 . Each of these devices is in electrical communication so that signals representative of the status or condition of an environmental parameter can be converted and transmitted from environmental sensing station  17  to a master or main control station  18  in FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram showing preferred components of master control station  18 . Station  18  includes a digital computing device in electrical communication through a signal convertor  88  with its own transceiver  86 , all in electrical communication with a power supply  90 . Power supply  90  could be battery driven or connected to a power line depending on the location of station  18 , which may be remote from a field or fields containing dispensers  61  which it is intended to operate. Computing device may include database  92  and a program which can be used to generate a likely emergence date for a target pest and used to trigger a series of dispensing cycles. 
     FIG. 11 illustrates a rectangular prototype  110  with two ejection devices  1  each having its own coiled tube reservoir  112  for each dispenser, shown in relation to the size of a quarter coin  114  to illustrate the miniaturization that is possible with these devices. A rectangular case  111  contains two ejection devices  1  which dispense onto a “wick”  118  in an opening  120 . Space  122  may contain circuitry and drive electronics, chips and connections  124  for power, etc. This illustrates that an electronically activated dispenser  15 ,  61  may contain a plurality of ejection devices and a plurality of reservoirs  7 ,  112  with each ejection device in fluid communication with one of the reservoirs. Each reservoir may contain a different pest specific volatile fluid and each ejection device can operate independently in response to signals from control unit  18  so that the pest control techniques disclosed herein can be applied at different times or even at the same time to control more than one species of pest. The dispensers can have multiple orifices in a single assembly as a same or multifluid jetting device as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,162 incorporated herein by reference. 
     The special coiled tube reservoir  112  is, of course, connected in fluid communication with its jetting device. An operating advantage arises from its compactness while still holding a good quantity of pheromone fluid and from its ability to be laid flat in operation as shown in FIG. 11 so that the maximum fluid “head” developed is limited to the diameter of the tiny coils. This prevents interference with efficient and continuous jetting that can arise from a variable head of fluid which might develop as pheromone level decreases in a reservoir. The coil tube reservoir reduces the chance that jetting would cease before the fluid in the reservoir is exhausted. Further explanation of this device is included in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/837,646, filed Apr. 21, 1997, entitle “Presenting Airborne Material to the Nose” which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     Although the invention has been disclosed above with regard to a particular and preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of this invention. For instance, although the inventive method has been set forth in a prescribed sequence of steps, it is understood that the disclosed sequence of steps may be varied. It will be appreciated that various modifications, alternative,s variations, etc., may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Technology Category: 7