US 12,376,581 B1
Connected bait box
Matthew Kauffman, Lancaster, PA (US)
Assigned to Woodstream Corporation, Lancaster, PA (US)
Filed by Woodstream Corporation, Lancaster, PA (US)
Filed on Mar. 22, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/613,384.
Application 18/613,384 is a continuation of application No. 17/344,221, filed on Jun. 10, 2021, granted, now 11,980,179.
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A01M 25/00 (2006.01); G01D 5/24 (2006.01); G01D 21/02 (2006.01)
CPC A01M 25/004 (2013.01) [G01D 5/24 (2013.01); G01D 21/02 (2013.01); H04Q 2209/00 (2013.01); H04Q 2209/40 (2013.01); H04Q 2209/823 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rodent bait station, comprising:
a housing defining at least one entrance;
a bait holding area for storing a quantity of rodent bait;
a bait holder adapted to hold the quantity of bait in the bait holding area; and
an electronics assembly arranged within the housing, including:
a printed circuit board arranged under a floor of the housing;
a capacitor arranged proximate the bait holding area and having a characteristic capacitance indicative of the quantity of bait in the bait holding area, the capacitor defined by a first conductor in the form of a first conductive pad formed on the printed circuit board and arranged below the bait holder;
a controller adapted to measure the characteristic capacitance of the capacitor;
a processor adapted to estimate the quantity of bait in the bait holding area according to the measured characteristic capacitance; and
a transmitter for transmitting a wireless signal indicative of one of the measured characteristic capacitance or the estimated quantity of bait in the bait holding area.