Devices and methods for analyzing animal behavior
First Claim
1. A device for detecting and recording animal behavior, the device comprising:
- at least one corral defining a contained field, a base surface of the at least one corral being sensitive to a footprint of the animal; and
an image capturing device cooperating with the base surface to capture a first video frame in which at least one of a tail, body and head of the animal is illuminated by a light below the animal and a second video frame in which both a profile of a full footprint of the animal and a profile of a toe print of the animal when the animal is standing on its toes is illuminated by a light that is totally internally reflected within the base surface;
a control system arranged to control the image capturing device to capture the first and second video frames, the control system being further arranged to identify a paw in the first video frame and measure a corresponding luminance of the identified paw in the second frame.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for detecting and recording animal behavior is provided. The device includes at least one corral that defines a contained field, the base surface of the at least one corral being sensitive to the animal'"'"'s footprint. The device also includes an image capturing device that cooperates with the base surface to capture a first video frame in which at least one of a tail, body and head of the animal is illuminated by a light below the animal and a second video frame in which both a profile of a full footprint and a profile of a toe print of the animal when the animal is standing on its toes is illuminated by a light that is totally internally reflected within the base surface. A control system is arranged to control the image capturing device to capture the first and second video frames.
35 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A device for detecting and recording animal behavior, the device comprising:
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at least one corral defining a contained field, a base surface of the at least one corral being sensitive to a footprint of the animal; and an image capturing device cooperating with the base surface to capture a first video frame in which at least one of a tail, body and head of the animal is illuminated by a light below the animal and a second video frame in which both a profile of a full footprint of the animal and a profile of a toe print of the animal when the animal is standing on its toes is illuminated by a light that is totally internally reflected within the base surface; a control system arranged to control the image capturing device to capture the first and second video frames, the control system being further arranged to identify a paw in the first video frame and measure a corresponding luminance of the identified paw in the second frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of collecting behavior information of an animal, the method comprising:
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capturing a first image of at least one of a head, body and tail of the animal when the animal is illuminated with a first light; capturing a second image of both a profile of a full footprint of the animal and a profile of a toe print of the animal when a second light is totally internally reflected within the base surface to generate evanescent light between the footprint and the toe print of the animal and the base surface; identifying a first footprint in the first image; and measuring a corresponding evanescent light generated between the identified first footprint and the base surface in the second image. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A device for detecting and recording animal behavior, the device comprising:
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at least one corral defining a contained field, a base surface of the at least one corral being sensitive to a footprint of the animal; and an image capturing device cooperating with the base surface to capture both a profile of a full footprint of the animal and a profile of a toe print of the animal when the animal is standing on its toes; wherein a first light is totally internally reflected within the base surface; wherein a second light illuminates at least one of a tail, body and head of the animal from below the animal. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification