System for feeding and photographing wildlife

• US 10,499,618 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2016
• Issued: 12/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Explore Scientific, LLC (Jinghua Optics & Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Explore Scientific, LLC (Jinghua Optics & Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Klein, John Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Ustaris, Joseph G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sechser, Jill D
• Application Number:
  US15/365,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20170195551A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 39/0106 for solid feed, e.g. grit-cake holders licking-stone holders for stock or game A01K5/015
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 39/012 filling automatically , e.g. by gravity from a reserve
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

Apparatus for feeding and photographing birds and other wildlife includes a housing defining one or more feeding stations. A module containing a sensor to detect the presence of birds and a camera is configured so that the sensor and the camera have overlapping fields of view. Mounting structures on the housing locate the module with respect to the one or more feeding stations to position the sensor and camera so that the area surrounding one or more of the feeding stations is within the fields of view of the sensor and the camera.

Claims

1. Apparatus for feeding and photographing wildlife comprising:

an imaging device defining a field of view;

a housing comprising a vertically oriented food storage and a bottom portion beneath the food storage;

a feeding and photographing station located at the bottom portion so that food is fed by gravity from the food storage to the feeding and photographing station, the feeding and photographing station being positioned to be within the field of view of the imaging device when the imaging device is positioned to photograph subjects;

a sensor for detecting the presence of subjects within the field of view, the imaging device being operative in response to output from the sensor for photographing subjects within the field of view;

a unitary module adapted to contain the imaging device and the sensor so the imaging device and the sensor have overlapping fields of view; and

complementary post and sleeve structure for removably holding and orienting the module within the housing so the imaging device and the sensor when held and oriented are directed toward the feeding and photographing station to photograph subjects within the field of view, the post and sleeve structure comprising post means and complementary sleeve means which mate for holding the module and the housing together with the module in position so that the area surrounding the feeding and photographing station is within the fields of view of the sensor and the imaging device, the post means being affixed to either the housing or the module and configured to extend either upwardly from the bottom portion of the housing or from the module and the sleeve means being fixed to the other of the module and the bottom portion.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the post means comprises a post extending vertically upward from the bottom portion and the sleeve means comprises a sleeve formed within the module and adapted to receive the post.

3. Apparatus for feeding and photographing wildlife comprising:

a housing comprising vertically oriented food storage and a bottom portion beneath the food storage;

means on the housing forming at least one feeding station in the bottom portion beneath the food storage so that food is fed by gravity from the food storage to the feeding station;

a removable module containing a sensor for detecting the presence of wildlife within a field of view and an imaging device operative in response to the sensor, the sensor and imaging device being arranged so that the sensor and the imaging device have overlapping fields of view; and

a mounting structure for positioning the module within the housing so an area surrounding at least one feeding station is within the fields of view of the sensor and the imaging device, wherein the mounting structure comprises a post element affixed to the housing and extending upwardly from the bottom portion adjacent the feeding station and a complementary sleeve formed in the module and adapted to receive the post element for holding the housing and the module together when the module is placed onto the housing so the sleeve aligns with and receives the post element and for permitting the module to be lifted off the post element to remove the module from the housing.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the housing comprises a reservoir for liquid food storage.

5. A system for feeding and photographing birds comprising:

a module incorporating an imaging device and a sensor for detecting the presence of birds within a field of view, the imaging device and the sensor being positioned within the module so the fields of view of the sensor and the imaging device overlap wherein the module comprises a first structural element adapted to mount and position the module; and

at least one bird feeder comprising at least one feeding station and a second structural element on the at least one bird feeder adapted to mount and position the module on the at least one bird feeder;

wherein the first and second structural elements are complementary and mate for holding together the module and the bird feeder on which the module is mounted with the module in a position so that an area surrounding the at least one feeding station of the bird feeder on which the module is mounted is within the fields of view of the sensor and the imaging device;

the first structural element comprising either a post, affixed to the module and extending therefrom, or, fixed on the module, a complementary sleeve adapted to engage the post and the second structural element comprising the other of the post, affixed to the at least one bird feeder and extending therefrom, or, fixed on the at least one bird feeder, the complementary sleeve adapted to engage the post.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein the at least one bird feeder comprises two or more bird feeders wherein each feeder comprises a second structural element adapted to mount and position the module so the at least one feeding station is within the overlapping fields of view of the sensor and the imaging device.

7. A system according to claim 5 wherein the sleeve is formed within the module and the post extends from the at least one bird feeder for engaging the module and positioning the module relative to the at least one feeding station.

8. Apparatus for feeding and photographing birds comprising:

a housing comprising a vertically oriented food storage means and one or more feeding stations beneath the storage means for receiving food from the storage means by gravity flow;

a module containing a sensor for detecting the presence of birds within a field of view and a camera operative in response to output from the sensor, the sensor and the camera being configured within the module so the sensor and the camera have overlapping fields of view;

a first structural element fixed on the housing adapted to mount the module on the housing and position the module with respect to at least one of the one or more feeding stations, the first structural element comprising either a mounting post, extending from the housing, or a complementary sleeve, formed in the housing, adapted to receive the mounting post; and

a second structural element fixed on the module and comprising the other of the mounting post extending from the module, or the complementary sleeve, formed in the module;

wherein the mounting post and complementary sleeve interconnect for holding together the module and the housing and for positioning the module on the housing so that the area surrounding at least one feeding station is within the fields of view of the sensor and the camera.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the post extends vertically upward from adjacent the one or more of the feeding stations beneath the storage means and the sleeve is formed within the module.