Animal monitoring system

• US 5,818,354 A
• Filed: 04/28/1997
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Timothy G. Gentry
• Original Assignee: Timothy G. Gentry
• Inventors: Gentry, Timothy G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US08/845,909
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.16, 340/870.07, 340/870.05, 340/870.09, 340/573, 340/539, 340/825.54, 340/825.72, 119/220, 119/715, 600/549, 128/903
• US Class Current: 340/870.16
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/006 Automatic identification systems for animals, e.g. electronic devices, transponders for animals identification systems for access to feeding pens A01K1/0209; ear tags with electronic identification means A01K11/004
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 27/009 with electric-shock, sound, magnetic- or radio-waves emitting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating

Abstract

An animal collar with a pair of sensors for detecting the heartrate and temperature of the animal, an encoder for encoding the information for a specific animal, and a radio frequency transmitter for relaying the information to a receiver contained within a handheld monitor. The monitor decodes the information and displays it on a liquid crystal or light emitting diode display. The receiver may also include a keyboard for selecting specific codes for the decoder when more than one animal is to be monitored. A preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes a coded signal, transmitted by the handheld monitor and received by the collar device, for turning the collar transmitter on and off so as to conserve power. The handheld monitor also includes an alarm beeper or vibrator to alert the person monitoring the animal of a dangerous situation.

Claims

1. An apparatus for remotely monitoring the health of a plurality of domestic animals consisting of:

(a) a plurality of animal collars wherein each of said plurality of domestic animals is provided with an animal collar having a first sensor for measuring and providing a signal based upon a first physical characteristic of an animal upon which said collar is secured, said collar further including an encoder for encoding said signal and a transmitter for transmitting said encoded signal;

which includes an animal identification code individually assigned to each one of said plurality of domestic animals;

a second sensor for measuring and providing a second signal based upon a second physical characteristic of said animal, and a multiplexer for multiplexing said first signal and said second signal before encoding; and

(b) a monitor having a receiver for receiving said transmitted encoded signals, a decoder for decoding said encoded signals, and a display for displaying said decoded signals;

a demultiplexer for demultiplexing said first signal and said second signal after decoding and a display for displaying said decoded signals including the animal identification code.

2. The apparatus as claim 1 wherein said monitor further includes a warning alarm activated by said decoded signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said monitor further includes a keyboard for selecting one of a plurality of codes for said decoder.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said monitor further includes a display which is dependent on said selected code.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said monitor further includes means for encoding and transmitting an on/off signal, and said collar further includes means for receiving and decoding said on/off signal and applying said signal to said collar transmitter.