Device, system and method for monitoring animal posture pattern

• US 20080204255A1
• Filed: 05/05/2008
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: S.A.E. Afikim Milking Systems Agricultural Cooperative Ltd.
• Original Assignee: S.A.E Afikim
• Inventors: Flexer, Hagai, Heimlich, Eli
• Granted Patent: US 8,111,166 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.7
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/00 Other apparatus for animal husbandry
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 17/002 for detecting period of heat of animals, i.e. for detecting oestrus for humans A61B10/0012

Abstract

A device for determining a posture pattern of an animal comprises a housing configured and adapted to be attached to a part of the animal; the housing comprises a posture sensor operative to sense an orientation of the part of the animal indicating the posture of the animal; and an interface unit operative to output the orientation information.

Claims

1. A device for determining a posture pattern of an animal comprising:

a housing configured and adapted to be attached to a part of the animal, the housing comprising;

a posture sensor operative to sense an orientation of the part of the animal indicating the posture of the animal; and

an interface unit operative to output the orientation information.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the posture sensor is operative to sense a tilt in the orientation of the part of the animal indicating that the animal is laying down.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the posture sensor includes a tilt switch to sense a tilt in orientation above an operating angle.

4. The device according claim 1 wherein the posture sensor includes an omni-directional tilt switch to sense a tilt in orientation above an operating angle.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein the posture sensor includes a tip-over switch to sense a tilt in orientation above an operating angle.

6. The device according to claim 3 wherein the operating angle is 60°

.

7. The device according to claim 1 comprising:

a controller operative to control output from the posture sensor; and

a transmitter operative to transmit data from the posture sensor to a central communication unit.

8. The device according to claim 7 wherein the controller is operative to initiates an interrupt when the posture sensor senses a change in the orientation.

9. The device according to claim 7 wherein the controller is operative to determine a number of times the animal has assumed a laying posture.

10. The device according to claim 7 wherein the controller is operative to determine an overall time period that the animal has sustained a laying posture.

11. The device according to claim 7 wherein the controller is operative to determine a number of times the animal has assumed a standing posture.

12. The device according to claim 7 wherein the controller is operative to determine an overall time period that the animal has sustained a standing posture.

13. The device according to claim 7 wherein the controller includes an ID tag identifying the animal and is operative to transmit data from the ID tag.

14. The device according to claim 7 wherein the transmitter is an RF transmitter.

15. The device according to claim 7 wherein the transmitter is an IR transmitter.

16. The device according to claim 7 wherein the transmitter is a BlueTooth transmitter.

17. The device according to claim 7 wherein the transmitter includes a receiver to received data from a central communication unit.

18. The device according to claim 17 wherein the receiver is an RF receiver.

19. The device according to claim 1 comprising a memory unit operative to store data from the posture sensor.

20. The device according to claim 1 comprising a movement sensor operative to sense movement of the animal.

21. The device according to claim 1 wherein the interface unit comprises a display.

22. The device according to claim 1 wherein the interface unit comprises audio output.

23. The device according to claim 7 wherein the controller is operative to control transmission of data in response to a wake-up signal received from a central communication unit.

24. A system for determining a posture pattern of animals comprising:

at least one device according to claim 1; and

a central processing unit that receives and processes information from the device.

25. The system according to claim 24 and including a central communication unit comprising a central receiver to receive data from one or more devices.

26. The system according to claim 25 wherein the central communication unit includes a central transmitter operative to transmit a signal to the device.

27. The system according to claim 26 wherein the central transmitter is operative to transmit a signal to the device, wherein the signal is operative to wake-up the device.

28. The system according to claim 25 wherein the central receiver is a RF receiver.

29. The system according to claim 25 wherein the central communication unit is configured to communicate with the at least one device at a range of approximately 30 cm or less.

30. The system according to claim 24 wherein the central processing unit comprises:

a central processor operative to process data received from the at least one device;

a central memory operative to store data received from the at least one device;

a central interface unit operative to relay information to a user regarding the data received from the at least one device; and

a user input operative to input user commands to the central processing unit.

31. The system according to claim 25 wherein the central processing unit includes a personal computer operative to communicate with the central communication unit and to process data received from the central communication unit.

32. The system according to claim 24 comprising a plurality of central communication units in communication with a single central processing unit.

33. The system according to claim 24 wherein the central processing unit comprises a display for displaying data corresponding to a laying pattern of the animals.

34. A method for determining a posture pattern of an animal, the method comprising:

sensing a tilt of part of the animal above an operating angle;

determining if the tilt is sustained for a first pre-defined period; and

recording a laying posture status if the tilt is sustained for at least the pre-defined period.

35. The method according to claim 34 wherein the pre-defined period is 3 minutes.

36. The method according to claim 34 comprising:

determining if the tilt is sustained for less than the first pre-defined period; and

recording a motion status if the tilt is sustained for less than the pre-defined period.

37. The method according to claim 34 comprising:

sensing a tilt of the animal that is below the operating angle;

ending the laying posture status upon sensing the posture of an animal that is below the operating angle; and

recording a time period during which a laying posture status is maintained.

38. The method according to claim 37 comprising:

determining if the tilt of the animal below the operating angle is sustained for a second pre-defined period; and

recording a standing posture status if the tilt below the operating angle is sustained for at least second pre-defined period.

39. The method according to claim 38 wherein the second pre-defined period is 1 minute.

40. The method according to claim 38 comprising:

determining if the tilt of the animal below the operating angle is sustained for less than the second pre-defined period; and

recording a motion status if the tilt below the operating angle is sustained for less than the second pre-defined period.