Optical barrier to pests

摘要

A device generates a light barrier that can be used for different purposes. The barrier consists of one or more surfaces (or volume) exhibiting an abrupt change in light intensity. In some embodiments the change in intensity affects animals, including insects, approaching or crossing it. In some embodiments, the light generates thermal or density variations in the air that cause air movements that perturb particles, such as pollen, or other pests to human activity. In some embodiments, an approach includes an optical barrier generator configured to emit light of an optical waveform above a threshold power in a portion of space positioned relative to the generator. The optical waveform above the threshold power is effective at perturbing a pest to human activity.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising an optical barrier generator configured to emit light of an optical waveform above a threshold power in a portion of space positioned relative to the generator, wherein
the optical waveform above the threshold power is effective at perturbing a pest to human activity so that the pest is unlikely to cross the portion of space along an axis through the portion of space; and the optical barrier generator comprises an optical shaping component configured to shape the portion of space such that the axis has a spatial extent in a range based on a product of a time for the pest to change direction in response to a wavelength in the optical waveform and a travel speed of the pest.