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Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure include devices for monitoring and indicating the completion of eradication of a pest infestation in a space in which heating is utilized for eradication. In an exemplary embodiment, a device includes a sensor configured to sense temperature proximate

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure include devices for monitoring and indicating the completion of eradication of a pest infestation in a space in which heating is utilized for eradication. In an exemplary embodiment, a device includes a sensor configured to sense temperature proximate the device, and a visual indicator configured to provide indication of status. The device further includes a processor that is connected to the sensor and visual indicator. The processor is configured to determine whether the sensed temperature exceeds the MINIMUM LETHAL TEMPERATURE, and configured to determine occurrence of completion of a minimum heating duration required for eradication in which the sensed temperature exceeds the MINIMUM LETHAL TEMPERATURE. The processor is further configured to activate the visual indicator subsequent to completion of the minimum heating duration, to thereby provide visible indication that the minimum heating duration for eradication of a pest infestation has elapsed.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A device adapted to monitor a space being heated for the purpose of eradicating a pest infestation, the device comprising: a sensor configured to sense the temperature proximate the sensor and to provide a signal that is indicative of the sensed temperature proximate the sensor;a visual indicator

1. A device adapted to monitor a space being heated for the purpose of eradicating a pest infestation, the device comprising: a sensor configured to sense the temperature proximate the sensor and to provide a signal that is indicative of the sensed temperature proximate the sensor;a visual indicator configured to provide a visible indication of status; anda microprocessor connected to the sensor, the microprocessor being configured to determine whether the sensed temperature exceeds a minimum lethal temperature and to responsively activate the visual indicator to provide a visible indication of minimum lethal temperature, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to determine whether completion has occurred of a minimum heating duration during which the sensed temperature exceeds the minimum lethal temperature, and to responsively activate the visual indicator to provide a visible indication that the minimum heating duration required for eradication of a pest infestation has elapsed;wherein the microprocessor is configured to determine completion of the minimum heating duration for eradication by determining from each sensed temperature received from the sensor a count value that is based on the sensed temperature value, and by determining when a sum of the count values has reached a predetermined minimum count required for eradication of the pest infestation. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is configured to determine completion of the minimum heating duration for eradication by determining whether a predetermined period of time has elapsed in which the sensed temperature exceeds the minimum lethal temperature, wherein the predetermined time period is between about one-half hour and about ten hours. 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is configured to assign a weight factor based on the sensed temperature and use the weight factor in calculating a count value for each segment of time in which a sensed temperature is received. 4. A device for indicating the eradication of a pest infestation, the device comprising: a sensor configured to sense the temperature proximate the sensor and provide a signal that is indicative of the sensed temperature proximate the sensor;a visual indicator configured to provide a visible indication of the status of the device; anda microprocessor connected to the sensor and configured to periodically receive from the sensor a signal that is indicative of the sensed temperature, the microprocessor being further configured to determine the occurrence of: a sensed temperature that exceeds a minimum lethal temperature, andcompletion of a minimum heating duration for eradication during which the sensed temperature exceeds the minimum lethal temperature;a connector configured to connect the device to an external device, to permit communication to the device of information relating to programming of the microprocessor and information relating to calibration of the sensor;wherein the microprocessor is configured to activate the visual indicator subsequent to a determination of completion of the minimum heating duration for eradication, to thereby provide a visible indication that the minimum heating duration required for eradication of a pest infestation has elapsed. 5. The device of claim 4, wherein the microprocessor is configured to determine completion of the minimum heating duration for eradication by determining whether a predetermined period of time has elapsed in which the sensed temperature exceeds the minimum lethal temperature, wherein the predetermined time period is between about one-half hour and about ten hours. 6. The device of claim 4, wherein the device further includes a printed circuit board that connects the microprocessor, the sensor, and the visual indicator. 7. The device of claim 4, further comprising a display device in communication with the microprocessor, wherein the display device is configured to display at least one of a sensed temperature value and an elapsed time value. 8. The device of claim 4, further comprising a switch coupled to an electrical power source and the microprocessor, wherein the switch is configured to selectively connect the electrical power source to the microprocessor to activate the microprocessor, and configured to selectively disconnect the electrical power source from the microprocessor to cause the microprocessor to reset when the switch is actuated for more than a predetermined amount of time. 9. The device of claim 4, wherein the microprocessor is configured to operate in a sleep mode that conserves electrical power by at least intermittently deactivating the visual indicator after a predetermined time of continuous device operation. 10. The device of claim 4, further comprising a transmitter that is coupled to the microprocessor and configured to wirelessly transmit signals, to allow download of sensed temperature data to a remote monitoring device. 11. The device of claim 4 in combination with a heating device for heating a space, where upon completion of the minimum heating duration required for eradication of a pest infestation, the device is configured to communicate a signal that causes the heating device to discontinue heating operation. 12. The device of claim 4, wherein the connector comprises a programming jack that allows for connection of a computer cable to the device for transmission of programming instructions to the microprocessor. 13. The device of claim 4, wherein the visual indicator comprises one or more light emitting devices connected to the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor is configured to activate at least one of the one or more light emitting devices to provide indication of operating status. 14. The device of claim 13, wherein the microprocessor is configured to activate at least one light emitting device to provide an indication that the sensed temperature is above the minimum lethal temperature or an indication that the minimum application of heat required for eradication has elapsed. 15. A device for indicating the eradication of a pest infestation, the device comprising: a sensor configured to sense the temperature proximate the sensor and provide a signal that is indicative of the sensed temperature proximate the sensor;a visual indicator configured to provide a visible indication of the status of the device; anda microprocessor connected to the sensor and configured to periodically receive from the sensor a signal that is indicative of the sensed temperature, the microprocessor being further configured to determine the occurrence of: a sensed temperature that exceeds a minimum lethal temperature, andcompletion of a minimum heating duration for eradication during which the sensed temperature exceeds the minimum lethal temperature;wherein the microprocessor is configured to activate the visual indicator subsequent to a determination of completion of the minimum heating duration for eradication, to thereby provide a visible indication that the minimum heating duration required for eradication of a pest infestation has elapsed; andwherein the microprocessor is configured to determine completion of the minimum heating duration for eradication by determining from each sensed temperature received from the sensor a count value that is based on the sensed temperature value, and by determining when a sum of the count values has reached a predetermined minimum count required for eradication of the pest infestation. 16. The device of claim 15, wherein the microprocessor is configured to determine the count value at time intervals of between about 10 seconds and about 2 minutes. 17. The device of claim 16, further comprising an electronic memory associated with the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor is configured to store the sum of the count values in the electronic memory in a manner such that each time a sensed temperature is received from the sensor, the microprocessor determines a present count value associated with the sensed temperature and thereafter determines an updated sum of the present count value and a previously stored sum, which updated sum is stored in the electronic memory. 18. A device for indicating the eradication of a pest infestation, the device comprising: a sensor configured to sense the temperature proximate the sensor and provide a signal that is indicative of the sensed temperature proximate the sensor;a visual indicator configured to provide a visible indication of the status of the device; anda microprocessor connected to the sensor and configured to periodically receive from the sensor a signal that is indicative of the sensed temperature, the microprocessor being further configured to determine the occurrence of: a sensed temperature that exceeds a minimum lethal temperature, andcompletion of a minimum heating duration for eradication during which the sensed temperature exceeds the minimum lethal temperature;a cover secured to the device, wherein the sensor is a temperature probe that depends from the cover and is connected to a control via a connector port that connects the sensor and the microprocessor;wherein the microprocessor is configured to activate the visual indicator subsequent to a determination of completion of the minimum heating duration for eradication, to thereby provide a visible indication that the minimum heating duration required for eradication of a pest infestation has elapsed. 19. The device of claim 18, further comprising a connector configured to connect the device to an external device, to permit communication to the device of information relating to programming of the microprocessor and information relating to calibration of the sensor. 20. A device for indicating the eradication of a pest infestation, the device comprising: a sensor configured to sense the temperature proximate the sensor and provide a signal that is indicative of the sensed temperature proximate the sensor;a visual indicator configured to provide a visible indication of the status of the device; anda microprocessor connected to the sensor and configured to periodically receive from the sensor a signal that is indicative of the sensed temperature, the microprocessor being further configured to determine the occurrence of: a sensed temperature that exceeds a minimum lethal temperature, andcompletion of a minimum heating duration for eradication during which the sensed temperature exceeds the minimum lethal temperature;a cover secured to the device, wherein the cover encloses at least a portion of the sensor and includes at least one opening therein proximate the sensor, to allow ambient air to pass through the at least one opening and thereby permit the sensor to sense the temperature of air proximate the device;wherein the microprocessor is configured to determine completion of a minimum heating duration for eradication by determining whether a predetermined period of time has elapsed in which the sensed temperature exceeds the minimum lethal temperature, wherein the predetermined time period is between about one-half hour and about ten hours; andwherein the microprocessor is configured to activate the visual indicator subsequent to a determination of completion of the minimum heating duration for eradication, to thereby provide a visible indication that the minimum heating duration required for eradication of a pest infestation has elapsed. 21. A method for indicating the eradication of a pest infestation within space to be heated for the purpose of eradicating the pest infestation, the method comprising: periodically receiving a signal indicative of a sensed temperature within the space being heated for the purpose of eradicating the pest infestation;determining whether the sensed temperature exceeds a minimum lethal temperature;monitoring a running time duration in which the sensed temperature exceeds the minimum lethal temperature; andactivating a visual indicator when the running time duration in which the sensed temperature exceeds the minimum lethal temperature has reached a predetermined time required for eradication of the pest infestation, to thereby transform the determination of the time duration into a visible indication that the predetermined minimum time required for eradication of a pest infestation has elapsed;wherein the method includes: determining a count value based on the sensed temperature value as indicated by the periodically received signal;determining when a sum of the count values has reached a predetermined minimum count required for eradication of the pest infestation; andactivating the visual indicator when the sum of the count values has reached the predetermined minimum count required for eradication of the pest infestation. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein activating the visual indicator includes activating at least one light emitting source. 23. The method of claim 21, further comprising communicating a signal to a heating device being used for heating the space for the purpose of eradicating the pest infestation, such that the heating device discontinues the heating operation when the running time duration in which the sensed temperature exceeds the minimum lethal temperature has reached the predetermined time required for eradication of the pest infestation. 24. The method of claim 21, wherein the method includes heating the space for the purpose of eradicating the pest infestation until the running time duration in which the sensed temperature exceeds the minimum lethal temperature has reached the predetermined time required for eradication of the pest infestation. 25. The method of claim 21, wherein the method includes: determining whether a predetermined period of time has elapsed in which the sensed temperature exceeds the minimum lethal temperature; andactivating the visual indicator when the predetermined period of time has elapsed. 26. A method for controlling a device for indicating the eradication of a pest infestation, the method comprising: sensing a temperature proximate a sensor, which provides a signal indicative of the sensed temperature;using a microprocessor connected to the sensor for periodically receiving from the sensor the signal that is indicative of the sensed temperature;using the microprocessor to determine whether the sensed temperature exceeds a minimum lethal temperature;using the microprocessor to monitor a running time duration in which the sensed temperature exceeds the minimum lethal temperature; andusing the microprocessor to activate a visual indicator when the running time duration in which the sensed temperature exceeds the minimum lethal temperature has reached a predetermined time required for eradication, to thereby transform the microprocessor determination of the running time duration into a visible indication that the predetermined time required for eradication of a pest infestation has elapsed; wherein the method includes: determining a count value based on the sensed temperature value as indicated by the periodically received signal;determining when a sum of the count values has reached a predetermined minimum count required for eradication of the pest infestation; andactivating the visual indicator when the sum of the count values has reached the predetermined minimum count required for eradication of the pest infestation.