Automatic feeding system having animal carried transmitter which transmits feeding instructions to feeder

• US 6,044,795 A
• Filed: 06/30/1998
• Issued: 04/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electronics Corp (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Fujii, Eiji, Mori, Kazuhiro, Matsuura, Taketoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRENCH, FREDRICK T
• Application Number:
  US09/107,345
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 119/52.1, 119/51.11, 119/51.12, 119/53, 119/53.5, 119/54, 119/51.02, 342/40-51, 367/139
• US Class Current: 119/51.02
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/004 with electronic identification means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/02 Automatic devices automatic identification devices for stock A01K11/006
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/0275 with mechanisms for delivery of measured doses A01K5/0233 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0343 to be carried on the body

Abstract

An automatic feeding system includes a tag attached to a body of a pet; and an automatic feeding apparatus for automatically feeding the pet. The tag includes a receiving device for receiving an electromagnetic wave from the automatic feeding apparatus; an information memory device storing information on the feeding of the pet and outputting the information in response to an output from the receiving device; and a sending device for sending the information which is output from the information memory device to the automatic feeding apparatus using an electric wave. The automatic feeding apparatus includes a receiving device for receiving the electric wave from the tag; an information reading device for reading the information on the feeding of the pet in response to an output from the receiving device of the automatic feeding apparatus; a feeding device for supplying feed based on the information; and a sending device for sending an instruction to read the information on the feeding of the pet to the tag using an electric wave.

Claims

1. An automatic feeding system, comprising:

a tag capable of being attached to a body of a pet and having;

(a) means for storing information on the feeding of the pet,

(b)means responsive to instructions from an automatic feeding apparatus for reading and outputting the information on the feeding of the pet, and

(c) means for transmitting the information on the feeding of the pet which is outputted from the storing means; and

an automatic feeding apparatus for automatically feeding the pet and having;

(a) means for transmitting instructions to the tag to read and output the information on the feeding of the pet,

(b) means for receiving from the tag the information on the feeding of the pet which is outputted from the storing means, and

(c) means responsive the information on the feeding of the pet for supplying feed based on the information.

3. An automatic feeding system according to claim 1, wherein the sending device of the automatic feeding apparatus sends the instruction to the tag periodically until the presence of the pet is confirmed.

4. An automatic feeding system according to claim 1, wherein the automatic feeding apparatus further includes a feeding memory device for storing information on a history of feeding times.

5. An automatic feeding system according to claim 1, wherein the information on the feeding of the pet includes information on an amount of feed to be given to the pet and the times to feed the pet.

6. An automatic feeding system according to claim 1, wherein the tag is attached to the pet by implantation into the body of the pet.

7. An automatic feeding system according to claim 1, wherein the tag is attached to the pet by attachment to a collar worn by the pet.

8. An automatic feeding system according to claim 1, wherein said sending device periodically sends, until the presence of the pet is confirmed, an instruction to read the information on the feeding of the pet to said tag.

9. An automatic feeding system according to claim 1, wherein said automatic feeding apparatus further includes a feeding memory device for storing the information on the feeding of the pet, including information on an amount of feed to be given to the pet and the times to feed the pet.

10. An automatic feeding system according to claim 1, wherein:

(a) said receiving device of said tag receives the electromagnetic wave from said automatic feeding apparatus independent of an orientation of said receiving device of said tag to said automatic feeding apparatus,

(b) said receiving device of said automatic feeding apparatus receives the electromagnetic wave from said tag independent of an orientation of said receiving device of said automatic feeding apparatus to said tag, and

(c) said sending device periodically sends, until the presence of the pet is confirmed, an instruction to read the information on the feeding of the pet to said tag, and

(d) said automatic feeding apparatus further includes a feeding memory device for storing the information on the feeding of the pet, including information on an amount of feed to be given to the pet and the times to feed the pet.

11. An automatic feeding system according to claim 1, wherein said automatic feeding apparatus also includes means for changing the information on the amount of feed to be given to the pet and the times to feed the pet to an updated form so as to prevent spoilage of the feed.

12. An automatic feeding system according to claim 1, wherein said tag is adapted for attachment by implantation into the body of the pet.

13. An automatic feeding system according to claim 1, wherein said tag is adapted for attachment to a collar worn by the pet.

2. An automatic feeding system, comprising:

a tag capable of being attached to a body of a pet; and

an automatic feeding apparatus for automatically feeding the pet, wherein;

said tag includes;

a receiving device for receiving an electromagnetic wave from the automatic feeding apparatus;

an information memory device storing information on the feeding of the pet and outputting the information in response to an output from the receiving device; and

a sending device for sending the information which is output from the information memory device to the automatic feeding apparatus using an electromagnetic wave, and

said automatic feeding apparatus includes;

a receiving device for receiving the electromagnetic wave from the tag;

an information reading device for reading the information on the feeding of the pet in response to an output from the receiving device of the automatic feeding apparatus;

a feeding device for supplying feed based on the information; and

sending device for sending an instruction to read the information on the feeding of the pet to the tag using an electromagnetic wave.