GB2587195A

GB2587195A - A sensor system

Info

Publication number: GB2587195A
Application number: GB1913271.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mulcahy Brian; O'gorman Michael; O'brien Desmond
Original assignee: Herdinsights Ltd
Current assignee: Herdinsights Ltd
Priority date: 2019-09-13
Filing date: 2019-09-13
Publication date: 2021-03-24
Anticipated expiration: 2039-09-13
Also published as: GB2587195B; IE87301B1; GB201913271D0; IE20200206A1

Abstract

A two-part sensor holding system 1 for holding a sensor 2 and attaching the sensor to an animal made up of a mounting (3, Figure 8) fixable to an elongate member of the animal at a primary fixing (4) defined between the mounting and the animal and a strap 5 securable to the mounting on the animal via a secondary fixing 6, the strap being provided with a pocket 7 for removably receiving the sensor in the pocket. The primary fixing may comprise and adhesive and the secondary fixing may comprise a mechanical fixing such as a hook and loop patch. The elongate member maybe a tail. Also disclosed is a method of mounting a sensor to an animal and a tail motion sensor for detecting birth in an animal.

Description

A Sensor System

Field

s This disclosure relates to a sensor system and more particularly to a sensor holding system for attaching a sensor to an animal. The disclosure also relates to a calving sensor and to a method of securing a sensor to an animal.

Background

io Calving is a hugely important element of dairy production and knowledge of when it is likely to occur is vital for herdsmen. Historically, a herdsman used experience to judge when an animal was likely to calf and summon assistance as required. This method of predicting calving was time consuming and not exact due to differences in animal behaviour.

Accordingly, more recently, various techniques have been developed to more accurately predict calving. For example, it has been shown that a cow's body temperature drops as the onset of calving approaches. Accordingly, temperature sensors have been inserted (either rectally or vaginally) into the cow to record its temperature. However, insertion of the sensors can be difficult and invasive while it can also be difficult to extract data from the sensor.

Hormonal changes occur in the days preceding a calving event and the measurement of these changes has also been shown to be a reliable indicator of calving. However, blood samples must be taken in order to detect the changes so that its usefulness is limited as the taking of samples is both time consuming and expensive.

It has also been found that the onset of calving can be predicted by observing behavioural changes in an animal. These behaviours can include the amount of time spent standing and lying, the movement of the tail, feeding time, rumination time and the ratio of ingestion of water and dry matter. Some of these behaviours become more accented the closer one gets to the calving event.

The behaviours are monitored by sensors attached to the animal in areas such as the neck, leg or tail or around the abdomen. However, difficulties are encountered in securely attaching the sensors to the animals -in particular where the sensor is attached to the tail.

More particularly, the sensor must remain attached to the tail for several days or even weeks in what is a hostile environment as it can be subjected to all the vagaries of weather whilst having to endure random shock in terms of knocks, to bangs etc. Furthermore, the tapered nature of the bovine tail lends the device to slipping downwards.

In order to achieve a secure attachment, it has been customary to attach the devices around the tail so tightly that it does not move. However, this has been known to cause damage to the animal by causing discomfort and cutting off blood supply in the tail -it is not unknown for the animal to lose its tail as a result. As a result, some technologies advocate periodically removing the device for several hours giving rise to further perturbation to the animal during the removal and re-attachment processes -general good animal welfare practice would be that any such procedures should be carried out as infrequently as possible. In addition, the animal is not monitored while the device has been removed.

More generally, where the sensor is for use with bovine tails, it has been found that the tapered shape of the tails can lead to the sensors strapped to the tails slipping downwards.

In addition, known sensor devices require the use of either changeable or rechargeable batteries. Accordingly, the interior of known devices must be repeatedly accessed either to change batteries or break a seal to allow the connection of a charging cable causing damage to seals in the devices and giving rise to the risk of damaging water ingress. Due to the nature of the working environment opening and closing of seals significantly increases the vulnerability of the devices to failure.

British Patent Specification No. 2,503,666 describes a sensor for attachment to the tail of an animal with a resiliently deformable rubber strap which is attached directly to the sensor. The strap is wrapped around the tail to hold the sensor in position. However, the sensor and strap fail to address the problems outlined above while the casing on the sensor must be opened and closed to access batteries.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome at least some of the problems of the prior art.

Summary

According to the invention there is provided a sensor holding system for attachment to an elongate member of an animal comprising: a mounting fixable to the elongate member at a primary fixing; a strap configured to wrap around and grip the elongate member securable to the mounting at a secondary fixing, and a pocket on the strap for removably receiving a sensor.

Preferably, the primary fixing comprises an adhesive.

Preferably, the secondary fixing comprises a mechanical fixing. More preferably, the mechanical fixing comprises a hook/loop fixing.

Suitably, the mounting comprises a mounting hook/loop patch and the secondary fixing comprises a complementary hook/loop patch. Preferably, the complementary hook/loop patch is provided on the pocket.

Advantageously, the strap comprises a fastener. Preferably, the fastener comprises a hook and eye fastener.

Suitably, the pocket comprises a chamber for removably receiving a sensor.

Preferably, the pocket comprises a window to view a sensor.

s The invention also extends to a sensor holding system further comprising a sensor.

Preferably, the sensor comprises a motion sensor. Suitably, the sensor comprises a housing defining a permanently sealed interior for electronic o components of the sensor.

Preferably, the sensor comprises an inductively or wirelessly charged power source.

Advantageously, the sensor comprises movement sensors to detect that the sensor holding system and/or the sensor has fallen from an elongate member.

Preferably, the sensor comprises an alert mechanism to alert the user that the sensor has fallen from the animal so that the sensor can be retrieved.

Advantageously, the sensor is configured to alert a user to its approximate location. Preferably, the sensor is configured to alert a user to its approximate location via a Global Positioning System (GPS).

Optionally, the sensor is configured to receive a message from a user and emit an audible signal in response to the message to locate the sensor.

Preferably, the sensor is configured to receive a message from a user to and activate a light in response to the message to locate the sensor.

In a preferred embodiment, the sensor holding system is a bovine tail sensor holding system.

The invention also extends to a method of securing a sensor to an animal comprising: placing a primary fixing on an elongate member of an animal; fixing a mounting to the primary fixing; inserting the sensor in sensor receiving pocket on a strap, and securing strap to the mounting at a secondary fixing.

Preferably, the sensor is insertable in and removable from the pocket.

Advantageously, the primary fixing comprises an adhesive.

In a preferred method of the invention, the animal is a cow, the elongate member is a cow's tail and the sensor is a motion sensor to detect calving.

In a further embodiment the invention extends to a tail motion sensor for detecting birth in an animal comprising a housing defining a permanently sealed interior for electronic components of the sensor.

Suitably, the sensor comprises movement sensors to detect that the sensor has fallen from the animal.

Advantageously, the sensor comprises an alert mechanism to alert the user that the sensor has fallen from the animal so that the sensor can be retrieved.

Preferably, the sensor is configured to alert a user to its approximate location. More preferably, the sensor is configured to alert a user to its approximate location via a Global Positioning System (GPS).

Suitably, the sensor is configured to receive a message from a user and emit an audible signal in response to the message to locate the sensor.

Optionally, the sensor is configured to receive a message from a user to and activate a light in response to the message to locate the sensor.

The sensor holding system of the invention succeeds in keeping sensors in place on an animal tail whilst not causing damage or distress to the animal. The o sensor can be removed from and replaced in the sensor holding system without detaching the sensor holding system of the invention from the animal. In addition, the combination of the sensor and the sensor holding system results in a lightweight solution than can be adapted for use in a range of applications in a number of different areas with different animal species.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the front of the strap and pouch/pocket of the sensor holding system of the invention with a sensor held in the pocket of the sensor holding system and visible through the pocket cut-out or window; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the strap and pocket of the sensor holding system of Figure 1 with the sensor removed from the pocket; Figure 3 is a perspective view from above and one side of the sensor removed from the pocket of the sensor holding system; Figure 4 is a further top plan view of the front of the strap and pocket of the sensor holding system with the sensor removed from the pocket; Figure 5 is a side elevation of the strap and pocket of the sensor holding system of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a top plan view of the rear of the strap and pocket of the sensor holding system; Figure 7 is an exploded view of the strap and pocket of the sensor holding system, and io Figure 8 is a perspective view from above and one side of the sensor holding system of the invention mounted on an elongate member in the form of a replicating a tail.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

Figures 1 to 8 show a sensor holding system generally indicated by reference numeral 1 for holding a sensor 2 and attaching the sensor 2 to an animal. The sensor holding system 1 is a two-part sensor holding system 1 made up of a mounting 3 fixable to an elongate member of the animal at a primary fixing 4 defined between the mounting 3 and the animal and a strap 5 securable to the mounting 3 on the animal via a secondary fixing 6, the strap 5 being further provided with a pocket 7 for removably receiving the sensor 2 in the pocket 7. Accordingly, the sensor holding system 1 is separate and independent of the sensor 2 so that the sensor 2 can be inserted in and removed from the sensor holding system 1 as required without disturbing the animal i.e. without requiring removal and re-attachment of the sensor holding system 1.

In the following description, reference is made to the sensor holding system for use on the tails of calving cows in which the sensor 2 is a (tail) motion sensor 2. However, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the invention is suitable for use with other animals including humans and on other elongate member body parts such as limbs, the neck and the like. Similarly, the invention is suitable for use with other sensor types.

In the present embodiment, the mounting 3 is a hook/loop patch (i.e. a Velcro (Trade Mark) patch) while the primary fixing 4 is an adhesive fixing 4.

The strap 5 and pocket 7 on the strap 5 have a top face 9 and a rear face 10 s with the strap 5 extending laterally outwards from the pocket 7 and being provided with a fastener 11 for fastening the strap 5 about a cow's tail. The fastener 11 is made up of a pair of hooks 12 (e.g. 9mm trousers hooks) on the rear face of the strap 10 engageable with oppositely disposed complementary bars 13 (e.g. metal trousers bars) located on the top face 9 of a pocket side io panel 14 extending laterally outwards from the pocket 7 in an opposite direction to the strap 5.

The pocket 7 is formed from a generally rectangular back panel 15 and a complementary top panel 16 secured to the back panel 15 with peripheral stitching 17. The top panel 16 is subdivided into a lower sub-panel 18 and an upper sub-panel 19 which meet at a pocket opening 20 defined between the sub-panels 18,19 through which the sensor 2 can be inserted in and removed from the pocket 7. The lower sub-panel 18 is provided with a cut-out sensor window 21 though which the sensor 2 can be viewed in use. The back panel 15 and the complementary top panel 16 therefore define a sensor holding chamber 22 for receiving and holding the sensor 2 which can be inserted in the holding chamber 22 through the pocket opening 20 and removed from the holding chamber 22 through the pocket opening 20. Accordingly, the sensor 2 can be removed from the animal's tail and replaced on the animal's tail without requiring removal and re-attachment of the sensor holding system.

The rear face of the pocket 7 is provided with a secondary fixing 6 in the form of a hook/loop patch 23 (e.g. a Velcro (Trade Mark) patch) complementary with the hook/loop patch 8 of the mounting 3 so that the pocket 7 can be fixed to and removed from the mounting 3 with ease as required. The hook/loop patch 23 is attached to the rear face 10 of the pocket 7 with stitching 24.

As shown particularly in Figure 3, the (motion) sensor 2 is made up of a substantially box-like outer housing 25 defining a sealed interior for the electronic components of the sensor 2 while, externally, the housing 2 is provided with an off-switch 26 and an operating light 27 such as a multi-coloured LED light 27. In one embodiment, the LED 27 might be one colour when the sensor 2 is working normally and might flash a second colour when charging and then change to a constant second colour when charging is complete.

io As indicated above, the sensor window 21 also allows the user to access the on/off switch 26 which allows the sensor 2 to be switched on or off. Alternatively, a sequence of on/off switch 27 presses can be used to force the sensor 2 into a test mode where it would send a message to the user.

The electronic components of the sensor 2 include movement sensors known in the art. In addition, the electronic components include movement sensors which will detect and recognize that the sensor holding system 1 and/or the sensor 2 has fallen off e.g. though the absence of movement if the sensor 2 is immobile. The electronic components are also provided with an alert mechanism to alert the user that the sensor 2 has fallen from the animal so that the sensor 2 can be retrieved.

In addition, the electronic components can include a plurality of sensors that can not only detect a fallen sensor 2 but alert the user to its approximate location via a Global Positioning System (GPS). Where the accuracy of the GPS system may not be enough to allow the sensor 2 to be located precisely, in another embodiment the user can send a message to the sensor 2 telling it to emit an audible signal e.g. using a piezoelectric transducer.

In another embodiment, the user can send a message to the sensor instructing the electronic components to activate or flash the light 2. This allows the user to walk to the device and pick it up even if it is concealed in a hedge, ditch or long grass.

As indicated above, for the sensor 2 to remain reliable and to maintain a respectable lifetime it should not have its innards vulnerable to unwanted ingresses which can quickly cause sensor failure by compromising the seals of the sensor 2.

The electronic components of the sensor 2 are therefore provided with a power source that is an inductively or wirelessly charged power source. Accordingly, the sensor 2 is constructed so that the housing 25 is initially and permanently o sealed and that seal is not required to be broken for charging purposes so that there is never a path from the outside to the inside of the sensor 2.

In use, the sensor holding system 1 is attached to a tail as follows (Figure 8 shows the sensor holding system attached to an elongate member in the form of a pole by way of example). Firstly, the animal tail is cleaned with a brush and the primary fixing 4 in form of an adhesive is applied to the tail.

The mounting 3 in the form of the hook/loop patch 8 is then placed on the adhesive 8. The sensor 2 is then placed in the pocket 7 of the of the sensor holding system 1 and secured. The sensor holding system 1 is then positioned on the hook/loop patch 8 to match with the complementary hook/loop patch 23 on the pocket 7. The strap 5 is then secured around the tail using with the fastener 11.

The sensor 2 is then switched on using the on/off switch 26. When the sensor 2 is switched on, the internal electronics can connect to a mobile phone network using a standard Internet Of Things (loT) protocol and obtain the time from the network. The time is then used to initialize its own internal real-time clock. The sensor 2 then begins taking tail motion readings and from these infers movement of the tail.

If the tail behaviour is indicative of the onset of calving a message (or alert) is sent to the cloud and is in turn received by the user's mobile phone. The inclusion of the real-time clock on the sensor means the user knows exactly when the alert was generated and makes irrelevant any delays in relaying the alert (for example the user's phone may have had no signal for a time). The above usage is normal usage.

However, additionally, the sensor 2 is equipped with a number of enhanced features. One feature is that the sensor can detect if its battery is running low and send an alert that it needs to be charged. As indicated above, an additional feature is that the sensor 2 can detect if it has fallen off the animal and send an io alert to the user with the approximate location obtained from its internal GPS sensor. If the missing sensor 2 cannot be located the user can send it a message to emit a sound and/or activate the light 27.

In another embodiment, a wireless charger can be located in the area of the animal's feeding trough and the sensor 2 can be mounted on the neck of the animal in the sensor holding system 1. Here the sensor 2 can obtain some charge when the cow is feeding, thereby increasing the length of time the sensor 2 can be worn before it has to be removed for charging. In this scenario, there even exists the possibility that there is never a need to remove the sensor 2 for charging.

The unique and novel construction of the system lends itself to multiple applications. For example, in the current embodiment the sensor holding system 1 and sensor 2 is described as being attached to the tail of a bovine but because of its flexibility and low weight it could easily be adapted for attachment to another part of the animal such as the leg, ankle or neck. Moreover, in contrast with known devices, the lightweight sensor holding system 1 of the invention is suitable for use with other smaller animals such as ovines or swine.

In the specification the terms "comprise, comprises, comprised and comprising" or any variation thereof and the terms include, includes, included and including" or any variation thereof are considered to be totally interchangeable and they should all be afforded the widest possible interpretation and vice versa.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described but may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims

Claims s 1. A sensor holding system for attachment to an elongate member of an animal comprising: a mounting fixable to the elongate member at a primary fixing; a strap configured to wrap around and grip the elongate member securable to the mounting at a secondary fixing, and io a pocket on the strap for removably receiving a sensor.
2. A sensor holding system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the primary fixing comprises an adhesive.
3. A sensor holding system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the secondary fixing comprises a mechanical fixing.
4. A sensor holding system as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the mechanical fixing comprises a hook/loop fixing.
5. A sensor holding system as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the mounting comprises a mounting hook/loop patch and the secondary fixing comprises a complementary hook/loop patch.
6. A sensor holding system as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the complementary hook/loop patch is provided on the pocket.
7. A sensor holding system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the strap comprises a fastener.
8. A sensor holding system as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the fastener comprises a hook and eye fastener.
9. A sensor holding system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8 wherein the pocket comprises a chamber for removably receiving a sensor.
10. A sensor holding system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 9 wherein the pocket comprises a window to view a sensor.
11. A sensor holding system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 10 further comprising a sensor.
12. A sensor holding system as claimed in Claim 11 wherein the sensor comprises a motion sensor.
13. A sensor holding system as claimed in Claim 11 or Claim 12 wherein the sensor comprises a housing defining a permanently sealed interior for electronic components of the sensor.
14. A sensor holding system as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 13 wherein the sensor comprises an inductively or wirelessly charged power source.
15. A sensor holding system as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 14 wherein the sensor comprises movement sensors to detect that the sensor holding system and/or the sensor has fallen from an elongate member.
16. A sensor holding system as claimed in Claim 15 wherein the sensor comprises an alert mechanism to alert the user that the sensor has fallen from the animal so that the sensor can be retrieved.
17. A sensor holding system as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 16 wherein the sensor is configured to alert a user to its approximate location.
18. A sensor holding system as claimed in Claim 17 wherein the sensor is configured to alert a user to its approximate location via a Global Positioning System (GPS).
19. A sensor holding system as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 18 wherein the sensor is configured to receive a message from a user and emit an audible signal in response to the message to locate the sensor.
20. A sensor holding system as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 18 wherein the sensor is configured to receive a message from a user to and activate a light in response to the message to locate the sensor.
21. A sensor holding system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 20 wherein the sensor holding system is a bovine tail sensor holding system.
22. A method of securing a sensor to an animal comprising: placing a primary fixing on an elongate member of an animal; fixing a mounting to the primary fixing; inserting the sensor in sensor receiving pocket on a strap, and securing strap to the mounting at a secondary fixing.
23. A method as claimed in Claim 22 wherein the sensor is insertable in and removable from the pocket.
24. A method as claimed in Claim 22 or Claim 23 wherein the primary fixing comprises an adhesive.
25. A method as claimed in any of Claims 22 to 24 wherein the secondary fixing comprises a mechanical fixing.
26. A method as claimed in Claim 25 wherein the mechanical fixing comprises a hook/loop fixing.
27. A method as claimed in any of Claims 22 to 26 wherein the animal is a cow, the elongate member is a cow's tail and the sensor is a motion sensor to detect calving.
28. A tail motion sensor for detecting birth in an animal comprising a housing defining a permanently sealed interior for electronic components of the sensor.
29. A tail motion sensor as claimed in Claim 28 wherein the sensor comprises an inductively or wirelessly charged power source.
30. A tail motion sensor as claimed in Claim 28 or Claim 29 wherein the io sensor comprises movement sensors to detect that the sensor has fallen from the animal.
31. A tail motion sensor as claimed in Claim 30 wherein the sensor comprises an alert mechanism to alert the user that the sensor has fallen from the animal so that the sensor can be retrieved.
32. A tail motion sensor as claimed in any of Claims 28 to 31 wherein the sensor is configured to alert a user to its approximate location.zo
33. A tail motion sensor as claimed in Claim 32 wherein the sensor is configured to alert a user to its approximate location via a Global Positioning System (GPS).
34. A tail motion sensor as claimed in any of Claims 28 to 33 wherein the sensor is configured to receive a message from a user and emit an audible signal in response to the message to locate the sensor.
35. A tail motion sensor as claimed in any of Claims 28 to 34 wherein the sensor is configured to receive a message from a user to and activate a light in response to the message to locate the sensor.