Animal monitoring system
First Claim
1. A method of determining when a mare has assumed a foaling position within a stall, comprisinga) directing one or more electromagnetic beams in a path across the stall where the mare is located;
- b) directing the one or more electromagnetic beams horizontally over an area of the stall at a height above a foaling position such that when the mare is standing in the stall at least one electromagnetic beam will be interrupted;
c) continuously directing the one or more electromagnetic beams across the stall;
d) detecting that the mare has assumed the foaling position by detecting that all of the electromagnetic beams have become uninterrupted because the mare is not standing in the path of the one or more electromagnetic beams; and
e) generating a signal apprising that the mare has assumed the foaling position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An animal monitoring system comprises a plurality of sensors positioned in a containment area and emitting infrared light across the containment area. A plurality of infrared light-detecting sensors receive said infrared light from said transmitters and provides a signal indicating such reception to a controller. The controller monitors the presence of interruptions in said light beams and infers that, in the presence of said interruptions, the animal is standing. If no interruption is present for a predetermined amount of time, an alarm may be generated to alert an individual monitoring the animal.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A method of determining when a mare has assumed a foaling position within a stall, comprising
a) directing one or more electromagnetic beams in a path across the stall where the mare is located; -
b) directing the one or more electromagnetic beams horizontally over an area of the stall at a height above a foaling position such that when the mare is standing in the stall at least one electromagnetic beam will be interrupted;
c) continuously directing the one or more electromagnetic beams across the stall;
d) detecting that the mare has assumed the foaling position by detecting that all of the electromagnetic beams have become uninterrupted because the mare is not standing in the path of the one or more electromagnetic beams; and
e) generating a signal apprising that the mare has assumed the foaling position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification