Apparatus and method for detecting and storing information relating to an animal

• US 6,402,692 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2000
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Morford, Chris L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Astorino, Michael C
• Application Number:
  US09/666,005
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300-301, 600/309, 600/481, 128/903, 128/904, 128/920-925, 705/2-3, 705/9, 365/52, 365/63, 365/151, 369/100, 369/101
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/008 incorporating GPS
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

An apparatus for and method of detecting, storing, and retrieving information relating to an animal over a period of time is disclosed. The method includes electrically coupling an atomic resolution storage device to a detecting device within a single unit. The single unit is attached to an animal, such as a mammal or a fish. At least one monitored parameter, such as a location of the animal, a heart rate of the animal, a blood flow rate of the animal, or a temperature of the animal, is stored in the storage device over a period of time. The information stored within the storage device is retrieved from the single device after a period of time.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting and storing data relating to an animal, the apparatus comprising:

at least one detection component capable of detecting information regarding at least one parameter of the animal; and

an atomic resolution storage device electrically coupled to the at least one detection component for storing the information regarding the at least one parameter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detection component further comprises:

a clocking device electrically coupled to the storage device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the detection component further comprises:

a receiver associated with a global positioning system electrically coupled to the storage device; and

wherein the storage device stores information relating to a location of the animal at distinct times.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the detection component further comprises:

a heart monitoring device electrically coupled to the storage device, the heart monitoring device capable of monitoring a parameter of the heart; and

wherein the storage device stores information relating to the parameter of heart at distinct times.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the detection component further comprises:

a blood flow monitoring device electrically coupled to the storage device, the blood flow monitoring device capable of monitoring the blood flow within the animal; and

wherein the storage device stores the information relating to the blood flow of the animal at distinct times.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the detection component further comprises:

a temperature sensor electrically coupled to the storage device, the temperature sensor capable of sensing a temperature of the animal; and

wherein the storage device stores information relating to the temperature of the animal at distinct times.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising:

an energy source capable of providing energy to the at least one detection component and to the storage device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising:

a microprocessor electrically coupled to the at least one storage component at to the storage device, the microprocessor capable of manipulating the information regarding the at least one parameter and providing data to the storage device based upon the manipulated information.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the atomic resolution storage device further comprises:

a field emitter fabricated by semiconductor microfabrication techniques capable of generating an electron beam current; and

a storage medium in proximity to the field emitter and having a storage area in one of a plurality of states to represent the information stored in the storage area.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein an effect is generated when the electron beam current bombards the storage area, wherein the magnitude of the effect depends upon the state of the storage area, and wherein the information stored in a storage area is read by measuring the magnitude of the effect.

11. A method of monitoring information relating to parameters of an animal, the method comprising:

electrically coupling an atomic resolution storage device to a detecting device within a single unit;

attaching the single unit to an animal;

storing information relating to at least one detected parameter in the storage device over a period of time; and

retrieving the information stored within the storage device after the period of time.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of storing information relating to at least one monitored parameter further comprises:

storing information relating to a heart of the animal in the storage device over a period of time.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of storing information relating to at least one monitored parameter further comprises:

storing information relating to blood flow of the animal in the storage device over a period of time.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of storing information relating to at least one monitored parameter further comprises:

storing information relating to a temperature of the animal in the storage device over a period of time.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of storing at least one monitored parameter further comprises:

storing information relating to a position of the animal in the storage device over a period of time.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of attaching the single unit to an animal further comprises:

implanting the single unit within the animal.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of attaching the single unit to an animal further comprises:

securing the single unit to a collar device, which is secured to the animal.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of retrieving information stored within the storage device further comprises:

transferring the information stored within the storage device to a microprocessor via a radio frequency link.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of retrieving information stored within the storage device further comprises:

transferring the information stored within the storage device to a microprocessor via a satellite link.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of retrieving information stored within the storage device further comprises:

transferring the information stored within the storage device to a microprocessor via an electrical link.

21. An apparatus for detecting and storing data relating to an animal, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver associated with a global positioning system capable of detecting a location of the animal at an associated point in time; and

a storage component electrically coupled to the receiver for storing information regarding the location of the animal at the associated point in time, wherein the storage component further includes an atomic resolution storage device.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, and further comprising:

a heart monitoring device electrically coupled to the storage component, the heart monitoring device capable of monitoring a parameter of the heart; and

wherein the storage component stores information relating to the parameter of the heart at distinct times.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, and further comprising:

a blood flow monitoring device electrically coupled to the storage component, the blood flow monitoring device capable of monitoring the blood flow within the animal; and

wherein the storage component stores the information relating to the blood flow of the animal at distinct times.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, and further comprising:

a temperature sensor electrically coupled to the storage component, the temperature sensor capable of sensing a temperature of the animal; and

wherein the storage component stores information relating to the temperature of the animal at distinct times.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, and further comprising:

an energy source capable of providing energy to the receiver and to the storage component.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, and further comprising:

a microprocessor electrically coupled to the receiver and to the storage component, the microprocessor capable of manipulating the information regarding the receiver and providing data to the storage component based upon the manipulated information.