FI12015U1 - Sensor device mounted on the ear of the animal - Google Patents

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device which is attached to the ear of an animal for monitoring the animal.

BACKGROUND

In agriculture, passive ear tags that identify the animal are used to identify the animal. However, if continuous monitoring of the animal's condition is desired, an active measuring device is required. Monitoring can be performed, for example, by a neck-mounted collar with integrated measurement technology. However, such collars can cause undue harm to the animal throughout the life of the collar. In addition, installing and removing the collar may require restraining the animal for several minutes.

SHORT DESCRIPTION

The device according to the invention is characterized by what is stated in the protective claim 1. The animal can be monitored by an active sensor device which is placed in the ear of the animal. For example, the sensor device may be adapted to determine its position and measure movement and / or temperature of the ear to verify the animal's health. In the event of a deterioration in the health of an animal, the device may indicate its position so that the individual can be reached as quickly as possible for further action.

A sensor device such as the one described can be made compact, lightweight and easy to install, but still having a reasonably long battery life. The device placed in the ear is more reliable in the animal's ear than the collar attached to the neck and does not pose a risk of entrapment or strangulation. In addition, the device can be mounted and disassembled on the animal's ear with the aid of a dedicated clamp in seconds, thus minimizing the stress on the animal.

LIST OF FIGURES

Fig. 1 shows an example of an electrical sensor device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The animal individual can be monitored by an in-ear electrical sensor device which is self-powered and comprises means for wirelessly detecting the position of the sensor device and wirelessly indicating the position, for example, to a monitoring system.

The transducer may also comprise means for measuring at least one vital function of the animal from the ear of the animal with the transducer mounted to the ear and may be adapted to monitor the value of at least one vital function and to indicate the position of the transducer if the value of the at least one vital function monitored.

For example, a sensor device such as that described above may be a device pressed through the ear of an animal, such as a reindeer, and adapted to measure different quantities of the animal by skin contact. The device contains a power supply that provides energy for operating the device. The power source can be a battery. For example, the device may have an integrated battery, or the device may be powered by an energy trap or battery that is removably attached to the device.

The transducer may be adapted to monitor the animal's vital functions, such as body temperature, pulse rate, oxygen saturation, blood pressure and / or motion activity in the animal's ear. For this purpose, the sensor device comprises at least one measuring sensor adapted to measure at least one vital function. Preferably, the sensor device may comprise at least a thermometer for measuring the temperature of the animal. The sensor device may further or alternatively comprise at least one optical sensor for measuring pulse, oxygen saturation and / or blood pressure. In addition, the sensor device may be adapted to sense its own position and / or motion, which during use corresponds to the position and movement of the animal's ear. For this purpose, for example, the device may comprise at least one accelerometer.

The transducer comprises means for monitoring the value of at least one vital function and indicating the location of the transducer if the value of the at least one vital function being monitored meets a predetermined condition. For example, the sensor device may be adapted to the temperature and / or movement of the animal and to indicate its location to the owner of the device / animal if the temperature and / or activity is below a predetermined threshold.

For example, the transducer may be adapted to detect the death of an animal and thereby indicate the site of death.

The sensor device can locate its location in many ways. For example, the transducer may comprise means adapted to locate the transducer location by triangulation over an LTE network (OG, 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G and / or 5G) or an LPWAN ("Low-Power Wide-Area Network"). Positioning can also be based on satellite positioning, for example, the sensor device may comprise a positioning module adapted to locate its position by means of satellites (GPS, GNSS, Galileo) .The highest mounting point in the animal's ear enables better positioning of the sensor device.

In order for the sensor device to be able to indicate any changes in the condition of the animal, the sensor device comprises means for wirelessly detecting the position of the sensor device. These means may be arranged to communicate their location using the above LTE or LPWAN networks. The data produced by the measuring sensors can also be transmitted by these means. For example, the sensor device may send measurement data from the animal to a server for storage and / or further processing. In this way, the data produced by the measuring devices of the transducer can be utilized without disconnecting the device.

Figure 1 is a simplified cross-sectional view of an electrical sensor device according to the invention. The sensor device 10 of Figure 1 consists of a first half I and a second half 12 which are mounted on both sides of the animal's ear. The halves 11 and 12 are connected by a connecting pin 13 extending outwardly from the first half 11, which is pushed through the animal's ear to the second half 12 when the sensor device 10 is mounted.

In Figure 1, the second half 12 is fitted with a battery 14. The first half 11 is fitted with a circuit board 15 having electronics which provides means for wirelessly determining and locating the sensor device 10. By coupling the halves 11 and 13 with the connector pin 13 when the sensor device 10 is mounted on the animal's ear, a galvanic connection is established between the battery 14 and the circuit board 15 via the connector 13, whereupon the electronics of the circuit board 15 are powered by the battery 14.

The sensor device 10 may also include means for measuring at least one vital function of the animal from the ear of the animal. In Fig. 1, a measuring sensor 16 is fitted to the connecting pin 13. The measuring sensor 16 can be, for example, a temperature sensor or an optical sensor for measuring pulse, oxygen saturation, and / or blood pressure. The electronics of the circuit board 15 may be adapted to measure at least one vital function or vital functions by means of a measuring sensor 16. The electronics of the circuit board 15 may also comprise at least one accelerometer for measuring the animal's activity. The electronics of the circuit board 15 in Fig. 1 may be adapted to monitor the value of at least one vital function and to indicate the location of the sensor device 10 if the value of the at least one vital function monitored meets a predetermined condition.

Claims (5)

PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS 1. Elektrisk sensoranordning som placeras i et Djurs otra, tännetecknad därav, att sensoranordningen är självdriven och innefattar medel - för att bestämma sensoranordningens læstlöst - för att ange sensoranordningens lærl trådlöst. An electrical sensor device for mounting on an animal's ear, characterized in that the sensor device is self-powered and comprises means for - wirelessly determining the location of the sensor device and - wirelessly detecting the position of the sensor device. 2. Sensoranordning enligt skyddskrav 1, kännetecknad därav, att sensoranordningen därtill innefattar medel - för att mare that Djurs åtminstone en livsfunction från djurets när sensoranordningen and installer ör an tion sensor sensor sensor sensor sensor sensor sensor sensor sensor sensor sensor sensor sensor sensor sensoranordningens slag, ifall den bevakade åtminstone ena livsfunktionens Värde uppfyller et förutbestämt villkor. Sensor device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor device further comprises: - means for measuring at least one vital function of the animal from the animal's ear with the sensor device mounted to the ear, the sensor means adapted to monitor the value of the at least one vital function a predetermined condition. 3. Sensoranordning enligt skyddskrav 2, kännetecknad därav, att sensoranordningen är anpassad att set that Djurs tempur och / eller rörelseactivet, och ange here, ifall tempuren och / eller rörelseactiveten underskrider et förutbestämän. Sensor device according to the protection claim 2, characterized in that the sensor device is adapted to measure the temperature and / or movement activity of the animal and to indicate its position if the temperature and / or movement activity falls below a predetermined threshold. 4. Sensoranordning enligt något föregående skyddskrav, kännetecknad därav, att sensoranordningen innefattar medel för att bestämma sensoranordningens close genom att triangle med hjälp av en LTE-nät eller et LPWAN-nät. Sensor device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor device comprises means for determining the position of the sensor device by triangular measurement by means of an LTE network or an LPWAN network. A transducer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transducer and transducer comprise means for indicating the location of the transducer via an LTE or LPWAN network. Skyddskrav 5. Sensoranordning enligt något föregående skyddskrav, kännetecknad därav, att sensoranordningen innefattar medel för att ange sensoranordningens download med to LTE-eller LPWAN.