Communications system for monitoring the presence of animals in a natural feeding environment
First Claim
1. A system for detecting the presence of animals, and gathering and analyzing information about said animals, comprising:
- a. a computer;
b. a computer interface;
c. a sender for sending address information to said animals over an unterminated conductive medium and also to said computer over said interface; and
d. a responder on at least one animal providing a response to said computer when the responder receives an address and said responder is within a set proximity to said communications medium.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communications system permits animal carried transponders, such as ear tag transponders, to be selectively addressed and detected when an animal is proximate to an unterminated wire. Addresses impressed on a frequency carrier on the unterminated wire are coupled to an animal'"'"'s transponder using a near field coupling, such as an electrical field coupling. When an animal'"'"'s address is detected, the animal'"'"'s transponder responds with a data stream carrying a tone or with a signal of different frequency coupled to the unterminated wire. Coupling is enhanced by connecting signals to be transmitted and a receiver for signals to be received to the animal'"'"'s body. The unterminated wire can be positioned along a feeding/water trough in an agricultural environment to detect when a particular animal feeds or around a gate to detect when an animal passes through the gate.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for detecting the presence of animals, and gathering and analyzing information about said animals, comprising:
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a. a computer; b. a computer interface; c. a sender for sending address information to said animals over an unterminated conductive medium and also to said computer over said interface; and d. a responder on at least one animal providing a response to said computer when the responder receives an address and said responder is within a set proximity to said communications medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for proximity detecting the presence of tagged animals comprising the steps of:
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a. sending one or more addresses of animals on an unterminated conductive medium; and b. detecting a response from a tag associated with an animal having an address sent if the tag having the address sent is within a predetermined proximity to said unterminated conductive medium. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of applying stimulation to an animal comprising the steps of:
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a. using an unterminated conductive medium to detect proximity of said animal to an eating area; and b. applying stress to said animal when the detected proximity of said animal is less than a given threshold, wherein said stress is of a type which encourages said animal feed at said eating area.
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Specification