NL192772C - Reply transmitting unit for a device for detecting the rutting time of an animal. - Google Patents

Description

1 192772

Reply transmitting unit for a device for detecting the rutting time of an animal

The present invention relates to a device for detecting the rutting time of an animal comprising a motion sensor and electronic means.

Such an answering unit is known from the report in the Journal of Dairy Science, Vol. 60, No. 2, by Charles A. Kiddy of U.S. Department of Agriculture. It is described herein that cows are significantly more active during the rutting season than during other periods of the estru cycle. This has been confirmed by series of tests, in which pedometers were attached to the hind legs of a number of cows and their activity was checked over a period of time. In these 10 experiments, the pedometer counted the number of movements of the leg and the pedometer was read visually twice a day during milking of the cow. It turned out that the number of counted movements with each reading increased by a factor of three or more during the rutting season. Reading the pedometer and recording the measured values is, however, particularly cumbersome for a large herd. Although it is stated in this report that the detection of the activity of an animal should preferably be carried out by electronic means, this is not discussed in more detail.

Accurately detecting the rutting season in animals is an important factor in artificial insemination. In dairy cows, accurately detecting the rutting season is an important part of determining the total milk production of the herd.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device of the kind mentioned in opening paragraph 20, with which the rutting time of an animal is detected individually, accurately and automatically.

For this purpose, a device for detecting the rutting time of an animal, comprising a motion scanning device and electronic means according to the invention, is characterized in that the electronic means comprise an answering unit to be attached to an animal, provided with a receiving unit for receiving electromagnetic clock pulses, issued by a transceiver unit, a counting unit with a first, presettable counter for counting the received clock pulses, an adjustable device for recording an identification number assigned to the animal, of a unit for transmitting a reply message, when a number of clock pulses corresponding to the identification number has been counted in the answering unit, the movement sensor being incorporated in the answering unit and emitting electrical impulse signals, depending on a movement of the animal, of a device with the movement sensor g connected motion steiler, which counts the pulses of the motion scanning device and stores a number characteristic of the number of animal movements, of a multiplex circuit having inputs connected to outputs of the motion counter and the outputs of which are connected to bias terminals of the first counter to set a number stored in the motion steiler upon activation at the first counter, of a diode device connected to the preset terminals of the first counter, to enter the identification number upon activation, and of a second counter whose clock signal terminal is connected to the output of the first counter and whose outputs are connected to the diode device and an activating terminal of the multiplex circuit, respectively, to sequentially enter the identification number and the motion number as a preset value in the first counter to give.

The reply sending unit not only provides information identifying the relevant animal, but also information related to the activity of the animal. For this purpose, the presettable counter in the reply sending unit is alternately set to the identification number assigned to the animal and to a variable motion number which characterizes the activity of the animal. In the transceiver unit, these numerical values are stored in a corresponding manner, and the farmer can periodically and simply view these numbers to determine which animals are extremely active.

In order to ensure that an analysis is not adversely affected by disturbances, the determination of the numerical values is repeated several times per cycle and the receive information is only given further 50 when the numerical values match several times.

A device is known per se from US patent 4,129,855 with which it can be detected when and how often an animal carrying the reply sending unit is at the feeding place. This known device is provided with a transceiver unit which continuously transmits pulses and contains a resettable counter in which the transmitted pulses are counted. The reply transmitting unit 55 includes a receiving device with which the pulses are received, as well as a counter, which is individually presettable, the preset value identifying the animal in question, and a transmitter which delivers a response burst pulse when the number of counted pulses reaches the preset value.

192772 2

By this response burst pulse, the counters in the reply transmit unit and the transceiver unit are reset synchronously, so that the transceiver during the subsequent cycle is able to identify the animal from which the reply transmit unit is addressed on the basis of the counter position then reached. With this device, only information relating to the presence of the animal in question can be determined.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. Herein: figure 1 shows an electrical diagram of the bronze age detection device; Figure 2 shows an electrical diagram of the answering transmitter unit used in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a flow diagram of a suitable control program; Figure 4 is a flowchart of the ΡΙΟ interrupt auxiliary routine; figure 5 shows a schematic representation of the physical embodiment of the transceiver and transmit and receive coils of the transceiver which form part of the device according to figure 1; and figure 6 shows a memory card of the contents of a randomly accessible memory, which forms part of the device of figure 1.

In Figure 1 is shown a dotted lines reply unit 1 which is built into a molded organic plastic case (not shown in the figure) and which is attached to a chain which hangs around the neck of the animal. Figure 1 further shows a transceiver unit 2 indicated by dotted lines 20, which is built into an enclosure and is positioned near the place where the animal often passes. When the animal comes in the vicinity of the transceiver unit 2, the reply transmit unit 1 carried by the animal is interrogated by an electromagnetic signal which is processed by a counting transmitter coil 3 which is connected to the transceiver 2. The reply transmitter 1 contains a count receiver coil 4, where the reply transmitter 1 will respond to the interrogation signal in that it generates a series of reset pulses by means of a reset pulse transmitter coil 5, whereby both the identity of the animal and the activity statement of the animal is declared. The reset pulses generated by the reply transmitter 1 are received by a reset pulse receiving coil 6 which is connected to the transceiver unit 2. As will be described in more detail below, the transceiver unit 2 serves to decode the reset pulses to obtain an animal identification number and an animal activity number which are supplied in digital form to a letter and number printer 7.

The physical construction of the reply transmitter 1 with the count receive coil 4 and the reset pulse transmitter coil 5 is known per se. However, in the presently discussed embodiment, the count transmitter coil 3 associated with the transceiver unit 2 and the reset pulse receive coil 6 are not arranged at the separate feeding stations, as usual, but are located at the entrance to the milking hall. In particular, Figure 5 shows that the counting transmitter coil 3 and the reset pulse receiving coil 6 are of considerably wider design and are attached to a door frame 8, which surrounds the entrance to the milking parlor. A gate is formed by the coils 3 and 6, through which the animals pass on their way to the milking hall and during this passage the reply transmitter 1 40 carried by the animal is interrogated and the animal activity count and the animal identification number are transferred to the transceiver unit 2. The physical properties of the count transmitter coil 3 and the reset pulse receive coil 6 are summarized in the following Table A.

TABLE A

45 - count transmitter coil 3 25 turns of AWG wire number # 28, each turn covering an area of approximately 1496 cm 2.

count receiving coil 4,500 turns of AWG wire number # 36, each turn covering an area of about 31 cm2.

50 reset impulse transmitter coil 5 100 turns of AWG wire number # 36, each turn comprising an area of about 14 cm2 reset pulse receiving coil 6 turns of AWG wire number # 22, each turn 6 forming an area of about 103 cm2 includes.

55

The transceiver unit 2 shown in Figure 1 comprises an oscillator 10, by which clock pulses of 800 kHz are generated, which are applied to the input of a first counter dividing by 32 and 3 192772 to a second counter dividing by 32. first counter 11 consists of a pulse series with a repetition frequency of 25 kHz, which is applied to the input of an alternating current amplifier 13. A pair of output terminals 14 and 15 of the AC amplifier 13 are connected to the count transmitter coil 3, so that the count transmitter coil 3 thus emits a continuously unmodulated 25 kHz interrogation signal.

The output of the second 32 dividing counter 12 is connected through an inverting gate 16 to the clock signal terminal 17 of a seven-stage pulsating counter 18. The content of the counter 18 is thus incrementally increased at a frequency of 25 kHz, in synchronism with the 25 kHz signal transmitted by the count transmitter coil 3. The count obtained at any time occurs on a set of seven output terminals, which are connected by wires 19 to the input port of a parallel input / output circuit (PIO) 20.

The reply transmitter 1 responds to the 25 kHz signal generated by the count transmitter coil 3 by generating reset pulses which are sent to the reset pulse receive coil 6 which is connected to the transceiver 2. Each reset pulse consists of an electromagnetic energy burst of 200 kHz, which is applied to the inputs 21 and 22 of an AC amplifier and a pulse detector 23. A capacitor 24 is connected across the coil 6 so that it is tuned to 200 kHz. The 200 kHz burst is amplified by the amplifier 23 and a reset pulse of approximately 20 microseconds is derived therefrom, which is generated at the output terminal 31 of the detector. This detected reset pulse is applied to a 20 STB terminal 25 of the PIO 20, and the binary number currently present in the counter 18 is sent through a gate to the PIO 20 and stored therein. The PIO 20 responds to this by generating a logic high voltage on the RDY terminal 26, this voltage being applied to the input of a monostable relaxation circuit 27. The U output 28 of the monostable relaxation circuit 27 is connected to a reset terminal 29 of the counter 18 and to a reset terminal 30 of the divider 12 dividing by 32.

The operation of the transceiver circuits described so far is known per se. The oscillator 10 operates continuously and the content of the pulsating counter 18 is consequently continuously increased stepwise. When there is no reply transmitter 1 in the vicinity of the transceiver coils 3 and 6, the pulsing counter 18 continues to count periodically and is reset periodically to zero again, 30 but its output value is not entered in the PIO 20. However, if an animal sends a reply transmitter 1 in the '. range of the coils are carried out, the reply transmit unit 1 processes reset signals which are sent to the transceiver coil 6. The first reset pulse formed from the reset signals is applied to the PIO 20 and the contents of the pulsating counter 18 are transferred to the PIO 20. More important, however, is that the counter 18 is reset to zero by the first reset pulse so that it starts to work synchronously on a similar counter in the reply transmitter 1. The step-by-step increase of the content of the pulsating counter 18 by means of the oscillator 10 is continued and since subsequent reset signals are received from the reply transmitter 1, the content of the counter 18 is applied to the relevant input of the PIO 20 and the counter 18 is reset. Accordingly, after counter 18 has been synchronized with response transmitter 1, a series of four-bit binary numbers is input to PIO 20. This four bit byte sequence contains a flag byte, four data bytes, identifying the animal carrying the reply transmitter 1, and two data bytes indicating the activity of the animal.

The transceiver unit 2 continuously queries the reply transmit unit 1 when it is within the range of the count transmitter coil 3. The animal identification number and activity number are received repeatedly when the animal enters the milking parlor. As will be described in more detail in the following, noise insensitivity is achieved by requiring the PIO 20 to receive four identical sets of animal identification bytes and animal activity bytes before these data are recognized as valid and further processed.

The reply sending unit shown in Figure 2 is based on a basically known basic design, which, however, has been specifically adapted because it now also requires the processing of an identification number and an activity number.

The interrogation signal received in the count receiving coil 4 is applied to the input terminals of a biphasic bridge rectifier circuit 35. A 55 capacitor 38, the value of which is selected so high that the resultant resonant circuit is tuned to 25 kHz, is connected in parallel with the count receiving coil 4. One output terminal of the rectifier circuit 35 is connected to ground and the other output is connected to a positive DC power supply terminal 39. A filter capacitor 40 and a battery 41 of 5.6 volts are likewise connected to this 192772 4 positive DC power supply terminal 39.

One supply wire of the coil 4 is likewise directly connected to the clock signal terminal 36 of a pre-settable four-bit counter 37. When a 25 kHz interrogation signal is received on the reply transmit coil 4, it is rectified by circuit 35 and the positive portion of each signal cycle is applied to clock signal terminal 36 of counter 37. The presettable four bit counter 37 is set to a preselected count value by a four-terminal set of terminals D1, D2, D3 and D4, after which the counter starts counting down by means of the rectified 25 kHz interrogation signal. When the counter 37 has been reset to utility, a logic high voltage is generated at an output terminal 42, which is applied to its own biasing terminal 47.

This logic high voltage is further applied to the input of an inverting oscillator circuit consisting of the reset pulse transmitter coil 5, a capacitor 43 and a set of three inventive gates 44-46. The series resonance circuit formed by the reset pulse transmitter coil 5 and capacitor 43 is tuned to 200 kHz, and each time the output of the preset four-bit counter 37 goes high, an energy burst of 200 kHz is inductively produced by the reset pulse. transmitter coil 5 coupled to the transceiver unit 2. After such a first reset signal has been transmitted, the pre-settable counter 37 will operate synchronously on the counter 18 in the transceiver unit 2. Accordingly, the contents of the counter 37 are counted down from a preset four-bit binary number during subsequent 20 intervals between the reset signals, and the contents of the counter 18 are added up to the exact same number. In this manner, a series of binary four-bit numbers contained in the pre-settable counter 37 are effectively transmitted to transceiver 2 via terminals 0, -04 and input to PIO 20.

The output terminal 42 of the presettable four-bit counter 37 is likewise connected to a clock signal terminal 48 on a tens counter 49. The tens counter 49 contains ten output terminals Q0-Q9 and a transfer output terminal 50. The tens counter 49 is used as a ring counter, in which a logic high voltage is propagated each time along the output terminals Q0-Qg that a logic terminal 48 high voltage is received. That is, when there is a "one" at output Q0, it is shifted to output Q when a logic high voltage is applied to clock signal terminal 48. This "one" is shifted to the output terminal Q2 when a next logic high voltage is applied to the clock signal terminal 48, and this "one" is advanced along the remaining output terminals Q3-Q9 when subsequent signals are applied to the clock signal terminal 48. When the "one" reaches the output terminal Q5, a logic high voltage is generated on the transfer terminal 50, and the appropriate logic high voltage will remain on this terminal until the "one" returns to the output terminal along the remaining output terminals Q6-Qg. Q0 is slid.

The tens counter 49 serves to successively supply four-bit data bytes to the preset terminals D, -D4 of the counter 37, the preset outputs D, -D3 are via a pair of lines 51-53 with the outputs of a two to a one multiplex circuit 54 connected for three channels and with a set 40 of three voltage reset resistors 55-57. That is, the bias inputs D, -D3 are maintained at a logic low voltage by resistors 55-57 unless a logic high voltage is applied thereto by the multiplex circuit 54 or the selectively switched diodes by the tens counter 49.

The Q0 output of the tens counter 49 is connected, for example, by means of three diodes 58 to the 45 relevant preset input terminals D3-D3 and by means of an inverting gate 59 to the preset input terminal D4. When the "one" on the Q0 output terminal circulated by the tens counter 49 occurs, the bias terminals D, -D3 are brought to a logic high voltage and the bias terminal D4 is brought to a low voltage. Thus, the preset four bit counter 37 is preset to the number 7 and no logic high voltage 50 will be generated at the counter output terminal 42 until seven pulses of 25 kHz are applied to its clock signal terminal 36. If this is the case, the tens counter 49 will be advanced so that its "one" is generated on the Q output terminal. The first data byte (i.e. the number 7) serves as a flag byte, indicating the beginning of the next series of bytes.

The next four outputs Q, -Q4 of the tens counter 49 are "programmed" by means of the diodes 60-62 55 such that they generate four data bytes comprising an unambiguous identification number. In the preferred embodiment and shown in figure 2, the output Q is connected to no lines 51-53, the output Q2 is connected via the diodes 60 to the lines 5 192772 51 and 53, the output Q3 is connected via a diode 61 is connected to line 53, and output Q4 is connected to line 52 via a diode 62. Accordingly, when the "one" is circulated along the output terminals Q1-Q4 of the tens counter, the digits "zero", "five", "four", and "two" (e.g., identification number 1320) are sequentially assigned to the preset input terminals D ^ Dg of 5, the preset counter 37 is supplied and coupled to the transceiver 2 in an operative manner. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that by selectively switching diodes between the output terminals Qn-Q4 of the tens counter and the three leads 51-53, each animal identification number from 0 to 4095 can be programmed in this way.

After the "one" has passed successively through the tens counter along its outputs Q0-Q4 and the flag byte and the four animal identification bytes have been coupled to the transceiver, the "one" is passed further along the counter outputs Q5 and Q6. When this occurs, two three-bit bytes of the six-bit "activity number" are fed to the preset counter 37. More specifically, the output Q6 of the tens counter 49 is connected to the selection terminal 65 of the multiplex circuit 54 and the transfer output terminal 50 of the tens counter 49 is connected to the activating terminal 66 of the multiplex circuit 54. The three input terminals 67 of the multiplex circuit 54 are connected to the output terminals 68 for the three highest digits of a 14-bit binary counter 69, and the second three input terminals 70 of the multiplex circuit 54 are to the output terminals 71 for the next three highest digits of the binary counter 69 connected.

When the "one" of the tens counter 49 is generated on its output terminal Q5, a logic high voltage is generated on its transfer output terminal 50, which is fed to the multiplex circuit 54 to bring it into an active operating state. The logic terminal 65 of the multiplex circuit has a logic low voltage and as a result, the three lowest digits of the six highest digits stored in the binary 14 bit counter 69 are coupled via the input terminals 70 of the multiplex circuit to lines 51-53, which are control lines for the preset 25 inputs Ο -, - Dg of the preset counter 37 serve. After the three-bit number has been counted down to zero by the counter 37, the "one" of the tens counter 49 is fed further to the output terminal Q6 and a logic high voltage is applied to the selection terminal 65 of the multiplex circuit 54. As a result, the three highest digits stored in the binary 14-bit counter 69 are coupled to leads 51-53 through input terminals 67 of the multiplex circuit and are fed to the preset input 0 - Dg 30 of the preset counter 37. In this manner, a six-bit binary coded activity number is transmitted to the transceiver 2. after it has received the flag byte and the animal identification number.

The binary 14-bit counter 69 is controlled by a motion sensor, each time generating a logic high voltage applied to a clock signal input terminal 72, which carries a significant movement by the animal carrying the reply transmitter 1. That is, more specifically, one supply wire from a mercury switch 73 is connected through a filter to the clock signal terminal 72, which consists of the capacitor 74 and the resistor 75. The other supply wire from the mercury switch 71 is connected to the positive DC power supply terminal 39, while a reset terminal 76 of the binary 14-bit counter 69 is connected to ground. The mercury switch 73 consists of a commercially available product with a glass envelope 77 containing a mercury droplet 78.

The reply sending unit 1 is preferably secured with a chain around the neck of the animal, and when the animal is walking the reply sending unit 1 oscillates back and forth. The mercury droplet 78 will alternate back and forth in the casing 77 through this reciprocating motion, opening and closing the switch 73 through the bridging action of the mercury over the two 45 fixed terminals 79 and 80. Each time the switch 73 is closed, a logic high pulse is applied to binary 14-bit counter 69, and the 14-bit binary contained therein is then incremented by one. The content of the 14-bit binary counter 69 is consequently continuously increased, and when the animal approaches the transceiver 1, the six highest digits of the counter 69 are read and coupled to the transceiver 1. The binary counter 69 is not reset 50 after each read operation but instead is automatically reset to zero when the counter reaches its maximum count value.

In summary, the operation boils down to the following: When the reply transmitter 1 comes within range of the transceiver 2, interrogation pulses are applied to the four-bit preset counter 37 in the reply transmitter 1. These 25 kHz pulses are simultaneously applied to the 55 counter 18 in the transceiver unit 2. These two counters are synchronized with each other after the contents of the preset counter 37 have been counted down to zero and the first reset pulse has been generated and sent back to the transceiver unit 2. The presettable counter 37 is immediately preset to another number 192772 6, and when this value is counted down to zero again by the pulses of 25 kHz, the contents of the counter 18 in the transceiver 2 are counted synchronously from zero. At that time when the preset counter 37 reaches zero and thereby sends a reset pulse back to transceiver unit 2, counter 18 has reached the same count value that was present in the preset counter 37. This count value is transferred to the PIO 20 and processed by the microprocessor system, which will be described in more detail below. In this manner, the four byte data bytes supplied to the preset terminals 0 ^ 4 of the preset counter 37 are sequentially transferred to the PIO 20 and then further processed to obtain an animal identification number and an animal activity number. The number "seven" applied to the preset counter 37 when the "one" is generated at the output Q0 of the tens counter 49 serves as a flag or key byte. That is, the four data bytes which follow this key byte, the animal identification number, and the next two data types form the activity number.

When the answering transmitter 1 is within range of the transceiver 2, the data processing system continuously cycles through the sequence in which the flag byte, the four identification bytes, the two animal activity bytes and the three unused bytes (ie energizing the outputs Q7-Q9 of the tens counter 49 are transmitted Preferably, this data is not further processed until four identical signal cycles are received, as a result of which the device is relatively insensitive to electrical noise, which usually occurs in the vicinity of a farm and otherwise the transmission and reception of a single byte could be disrupted.

The four-bit data bytes transferred successively in the PIO 20 are processed by a microprocessor-based data processing system, shown in Figure 1, which is connected to an eight-bit data transfer beam 80 and a sixteen-bit address transfer beam 81. This uses a microprocessor Z-80 manufactured by Zilog, which is coupled directly to the PIO 20 via the data transmission beam 80, the address transmission beam 81 and a set of control lines generally indicated by 82. The operation of the elements of the data processing system as a function of time is coordinated by means of a single phase clock 89 operating at a frequency of 2 mHz. Likewise, the microprocessor 84 is connected via the bus lines 80 and 81 and via selected control lines to a read-only memory 83 of 8 bits at 2K. Likewise, an 8 bit random access memory 85 by 512 rows is coupled to the microprocessor 84. In the read-only memory 83, the machine instructions are stored, which are executed by the microprocessor 84 to perform the data processing functions, which will be further described hereinafter, and the random access memory 85 stores the data processing functions. data that is processed during the operation of the data processing system.

An I / O control circuit 86 (SiO) acting as a series circuit is controlled by a clock signal 89 of 1200 kHz and is likewise connected to the data transmission beam 80 and the address transmission beam 81. This SIO 86 is connected via an RS-232-C control actuator 87 to an alpha-numeric 40 printer 7 and when this SlO circuit 86 is addressed via the address transmission beam 81 and is in the active operating state by means of the control lines WR and IORQ , an ASCII character of seven bits is hereby delivered to the printer 7 on its outputs. The adaptation circuit 86 serves to generate the ASCII character of seven bits in series form and transmit it over a line 88, this line being up to 15 meters long. As a result, the printer 745 can be located at a far distance from the transceiver unit 2, which is particularly advantageous in the area of a farm.

The microprocessor 84 sequentially reads machine instructions from the memory 83 to be read only, and as a result of operational codes in these instructions a number of functions are performed thereby. These functions include reading data bytes from the PIO 20, performing the calculations with such data and writing partial results into the random access memory 85. The final results of these calculations, i.e. the animal identification number and the animal activity number are to the printer 7.

The detailed functions performed by the data processing system are best illustrated by the flow charts shown in Figures 3 and 4. These flow 55 diagrams contain the functions performed by microprocessor 84 which are executed as a result of the machine instructions stored in memory 83 to be read only, for a detailed list of these machine instructions refer to Appendix A of this description is referenced.

7 192772

Referring in particular to Figure 3, after the microprocessor 84 has executed a series of instructions causing an operating initial state as indicated by the process execution block 90, the data processing system will enter a quiescent state and wait for an interrupt instruction such as this. is indicated by the process execution block 91. When a data byte 5 is input to the PIO 20, an interrupt request is generated and supplied to the microprocessor 84, under which a jump can be made under circumstances to perform a PIO interrupt finish routine, indicated in Figure 3 by a process execution block 92. A flow chart of the P10 interrupt finish routine 92 is shown in Figure 4, and this flow chart will now be described in conjunction with the memory card 85 of the random access memory 85 shown in Figure 6.

The PlO interrupt finishing routine first disables further interrupt instructions and then stores the contents of the microprocessor registers in a safe location as indicated by the process execution block 93. The eight bit data byte from the PIO 20 is then input to the microprocessor 84, as indicated by the input block 94, and then the lowest value bit (i.e., the bit associated with the power coefficient zero) of a bit is the random register 85 recorded status register 98, as indicated by decision block 95, is examined to determine whether this bit is equal to one. This particular bit in the status register 98 indicates whether or not the flag byte has been previously received from a response transmitter, and if so, the value of the currently received byte is determined as determined by decision blocks 101 and 102 indicated. On the other hand, if the bit 0 of the status register 98 is not equal to one, the currently received byte is examined as indicated by the decision block 96 to determine whether it creates the flag byte. If not, the data has no meaning and the routine is returned to the actual program by means of a set of instructions, which is indicated in the process execution block 97. However, if it is found that the flag byte has been received, the bit zero of the status register 98 is set to "one" and a byte counter 99 also included in the random access memory 85 is set to zero. The machine instructions by which these functions are performed are collectively indicated in Figure 4 by a process execution block 100. After these functions have been performed, the data processing system as indicated by the process execution block 97 30 returns to its starting point, which includes instructions, allowing subsequent interrupt instructions to operate again, and the microprocessor registers are again filled with the data that it contains. moment „that the PlO interrupt finishing routine was first started.

Referring again to Figure 3, it will be seen that when the data processing system of the P10 interrupt interrupting routine returns, the instructions indicated by decision block 103 are performed to determine whether bit 1 of status register 98 is set to one. As will be explained below, this is not the case until the flag byte the four bytes for the animal identification number and the two bytes for the animal activity number are successfully received, the data processing system returns to the process execution block 91 by means of a branch and wait for the next 40 interrupt instruction from the PIO 20.

Referring again to Figure 4, when the wavy data bytes from the PIO 20 are input, they will be examined by instructions indicated by decision blocks 101 and 102 to determine the value of this byte. If this value, as indicated by decision block 101, is greater than 15, an error has occurred and the data processing system 45 is branched to a set of instructions indicated by process execution block 104. These instructions reset the bit 0 of the status register to zero, so that a different flag byte must be received as a result if the sequence of program steps is to be restarted. Likewise, an error has occurred if the received byte as indicated by the decision block 102 is less than 7, after which the data processing system returns to its starting point via a branch through 50 the process execution block 104 and the process execution block 97.

On the other hand, if the value of the data byte is greater than seven, this creates a valid data and is held in a "storage register" of the microprocessor.

Then, the instructions indicated by the decision blocks 105 and 106 are executed to determine which byte of the six data bytes is formed by the respective byte. This is determined by examining the 55 value of the byte counter 99 contained in the random access memory 85. If, according to decision block 106, the content of the byte counter is less than 4, the data is part of the animal identification number. In such a case, the byte counter 99 as indicated by the 192772 8 process execution block 107 is incremented one step and the last three bits of the received byte are located in the upper end of the B and C registers (not shown in the figures) of the microprocessor moved. According to the process execution block 97, the system then returns to its home position and awaits receipt of the next interrupt instruction from the PIO 20.

After the four bytes containing the animal identification number have been captured and inserted into the microprocessor B and C registers, the contents of the byte counter upon reaching the decision block 106 by the system will be greater than four. The next two data bytes generate the animal activity number, and this is shifted into the microprocessor D register (not shown in the figures) as indicated by the process execution block 109. According to the process execution block 110, the content of the byte counter 99 is incremented one step and when it reaches the value 6 as indicated by the decision block 105 for the following interrupt instructions, the system is branched out to a set of instructions which is passed through the process execution block 111 are indicated. These instructions serve to identify the animal identification number in the B and C registers and the animal activity number! in the D-register as correct. As indicated by the process execution block 112, 15 bit one of the status register 98 is then set to one to indicate that a complete transmission of signals has occurred. The animal identification number is then stored in the location 113 in the random access memory 85 and the activity number is stored in the place 114 in the random access memory 85 in the same manner. The data processing system then returns to its starting point via process execution blocks 104 and 97.

Referring again to Figure 3, when a full transfer of signals has occurred and bit one of the status register 98 has been set by the PIO interrupt finishing routine 92, the decision block 103 will arrive at a branch point where it is determined whether there are indeed five successive, identical signal transfers of the animal identification number and the animal activity number have taken place. More specifically, by means of an instruction indicated by the decision block 116, the contents of a signal transfer counter 120 are examined to determine whether its value constitutes the first successful data transfer. If so, the data processing system is branched directly to a set of instructions indicated by the process execution block 117, whereby the identification number stored in the register 113 is transferred to a register 118 included in the random access memory 85, which is a previous identification number. and transferring the activity number at position 114 to a register 119 for a previous activity number. The transfer counter 120 is then incremented by one step as indicated by the process execution block 121 and its contents are then examined by the instructions indicated by the decision block 122 to determine whether a fifth successful data transfer has occurred.

If not, the data processing system returns via branch to process execution block 91 to wait for the next interrupt instruction from PIO 20.

After successive complete transfers of the animal identification number and the animal activity number have taken place as determined according to decision block 103, the data processing system arrives at a branch point to determine whether the transferred data is identical to 40 data transfers that have previously taken place. More specifically, the newly received animal identification number is first compared according to a set of instructions indicated by the decision block 123 with the previously received animal identification number stored in the register 118. If these are identical, the operation of the data processing system is continued by a second set of instructions, indicated by decision block 124, comparing the newly received animal activity number with the activity number previously received and stored in register 119. If the comparison of these two numbers does not yield an identical result, the data processing system is passed through a branch to a set of instructions indicated by the process execution block 125, resetting the transfer counter to zero and recirculating the system. enters the process execution block 91 to wait for 50 the next interrupt instruction from the PIO 20. That is, when an error has occurred in the transfer, the data processing system is reset so that the entire process is repeated.

When five consecutive identical transfers of the animal identification number and the animal activity number have occurred as determined by decision block 122, these numbers and numbers are assumed to be correct 55, after which the data processing system at decision block 122 enters a branch point and the the process execution blocks 126, 127, and 128 are outputted, outputting the appropriate digit and number to the printer 7 9 192772. More specifically, according to the instructions indicated by the process execution block 126, the activity number is first subtracted from the activity number previously transmitted, which was transmitted when the animal's answering transmitter was previously interrogated. It is recalled that the binary 14 bit counter 69 in the reply transmitter is not reset after each successful transmission 5, so that the difference between the last reading and the instantaneous reading is the value which is valid for measuring the activity of the animal . This calculated activity number and the animal identification number are then converted to binary-coded decimal numbers and input to a printer buffer as indicated by the process execution block 127. Then a printer control routine is called up to supply these numbers to the printer 7 in the correct order and in the correct form.

It will be understood that numerous variations of the above-described and preferred embodiments can be derived. A microprocessor-based transceiver is preferred because it provides an inexpensive and reliable means of performing the necessary calculations and error detection functions. Likewise, circuits designed differently can also be used. Furthermore, it is desirable to make use of time-division multiplex transfers of three-bit bytes for the animal identification number and the animal activity number because of the large number of animals to be identified. In the case of a smaller number of animals, for example sixteen, the activity number of six bits and an identification number of four bits can be entered into a single ten-bit preset counter included in the answering transmitter. This whole number can then be sent back to the transceiver in its entirety when the interrogation takes place. However, when a large number of animal identification numbers are required, it takes too long to count down the large preset adjustable counter resulting from this large number. Dividing the numbers into bytes, which are successively sent to the transceiver and put back together, considerably shortens the time required for the transfer of the two numbers. This also provides the opportunity to interrogate the animal's sender many times as it passes along the transceiver coils, and as a result, it is possible to use extra bit transfers as a means to allow correction of erroneous data.

30 LIST OF COMPONENTS

Reference Manufacturer and Description reference Model No.

No.

35 - 7 Centronics alpha-numeric printer

Microprinter-Sl 10 oscillator 11 & Motorola 7-stage pulsating counter 40 12 MC14024 13 AC amplifier 18 Motorola 7-stage pulsating counter MC14024 20 Zilog MK3881 parallel operating I / O control circuit for the Z-80 45 23 amplifier and detector 27 Motorola monostable relaxation circuit MC14528 37 Motorola Preset Four Bit Counter MC14526 50 49 Motorola Tens Counter / Divider MC14017 54 Motorola Data Selection / Multiplexer MC14053 69 Motorola Binary 14 Bit Counter 55 MC14020 192772 10 LIST OF COMPONENTS (cont.)

Reference Manufacturer and Description reference Model No.

5 No.

73 Micro Switch mercury switch

AS 408 PO

83 Intel Corpora two ultraviolet light erasable PROMs 1K x 8 of small 10 tion 2758 power 84 Zilog Z-80 eight-bit microprocessor 85 Fairchild 3539 two random access MOS memories 256 x 8 86 Zilo series-operable I / O control circuit for the Z-80 87 Motorola RS-232-C actuator.

MC1488

APPENDIX A

ABSOLUTE RAM ADDRESSES OR DATA 20 OFFSET: EQU -1000H

INTPT: EQU 03H

PRT: EQU 0800H

IDAK: EQU 0802H

ADATA: EQU 1800H

BUFRTP: EQU 181 OH

MIN: EQU 1812H

HR: EQU 1813H

DAY: EQU 1814H

MON: EQU 1815H

30 IDA: EQU 181 AH

ACTA: EQU 181EH

COW: EQU 1830H

ACTIV: EQU 1832H

BY: EQU 1834H

DATA: EQU 1836H

COWBIN: EQU 1838H

ACTBS: EQU 1840H

BUFRBS: EQU 2000H

STACK: EQU 20FFH

40; RELATIVE RAM ADDRESSES STAT: EQU 00H

GPCONT: EQU 01H

ID: EQU 02H

PRID: EQU 04H

45 ACT: EQU 06H

PRACT: EQU 07H

IDCT: EQU 08H

PRCOW: EQU OAH

VECT20: EQU 0F0H

50 VECT28: EQU 0F8H

VECT2A: EQU OFAH

VECT34: EQU OFCH

; ASCII CHARACTER DEFINITION CR: EQU ODH

55 LF: EQU OAH

11 192772 APPENDIX A (continued)

RS: EQU 1EH

; INITIALIZATION

5 START: LD IX, ADATA

LD IY, BDATA

LD SP, STACK

LD HL, ADATA

LD DE, ADATA + 1

10 LD BC, 511D

LD (HL), 00H

LDIR; SET ALL RAM TO OOH

LD A, INTPT

LD I, A; LOAD INTERRUPT TABLE POINTER

LD HL, BUFRBS

LD (BUFRTP), HL; INITIALIZE TOP OF BUFFER

; INITIALIZATION SIO CHANNEL B.

; PORT 32H = DATA

; PORT 33H = COMMAND

20; ASYCHRONOUS FORMAT, 7 BIT CHARACTER, 1 PARITY BIT, 2 STOP BITS

LD HL, SIO35 + 0FFSET; LOAD DATA POINTER

LD C, 33H; LOAD PORT POINTER

LD B, 10D; LOAD COUNTER

OTIR; INITIALIZE SIO, CHANNEL B

25; INITIALIZATION OF PIO CHANNEL A AND B

; PORT 28H = DATA, PORT 29H = COMMAND (BY A); PORT 2AH = DATA, PORT 2BH = COMMAND (BY B)

LD A, 4FH; SET TO INPUT MODE OUT 29H, A 30 OUT 2BH, A

LD A, 87H; ENABLE INTERRUPT

OUT 29H, A

OUT 2BH, A

LD A, VECT28; LOAD INTERRUPT

35 VECTOR

OUT 29H, A

LD A, VECT2A; LOAD INTERRUPT

VECTOR

OUT 2BH, A

40; PRINT HEADING FOR DATA

CALL PRT CALL IDAK

HALT: IM 2

El

45 HALT

BIT 1, (IX + STAT); IF BIT 1 OR STATUS

CALL NZ, CHKA + OFFSET REG. = 1; THEN

COMPARE PRESENT ID WITH PREVIOUS ID

50 JR HALT

; PIO INTERRUPT SERVICE ROUTINE

; INPUT ONE BYTE WHICH CONTAINS THREE BITS OF INFORMATION; CHECK FOR ERRORS; ASSEMBLE THREE BIT CODE 55;

DRA: Dl; DISABLE ALL INTERRUPTS

192772 12 APPENDIX A (continued)

EXX; EXCHANGE BC, DE, HL EX AF, AF "; EXCHANGE AF

5 IN A, (28H); INPUT BYTE

BIT 0, (IX + STAT)

JR N2, DRA1; JUMP IF BIT 0 = 1, FLAG BYTE HAS

; LEG DETECTED

CP 07H; CHECK IF THIS IS THE FLAG BYTE

JR NZ, DRARET; JUMP IF A NOT

EQUAL TO 7

DRA5: SET 0, (IX + STAT); BIT 0 = 1, FLAG BYTE

IS DETECTED

LD (IX + GPCONT), 00H; SET BYTE COUNTER

15 = 0

JR DRARET

DRA1: CP A, 10H; IFA> 15

JP P, DRA2 + OFFSET; THEN AN ERROR

HAS OCCURRED

20 CP 07H

JR Z, DRA5; JUMP IF A = 7, THIS IS A FLAG BYTE

JP M, DRA2 + OFFSET; JUMP IF A <7, AN

ERROR; HAS OCCURED

25 PUSH AF; SAVE THE ACCUMULATOR IN THE STACK

LD A, (IX + GPCONT)

CP 06H

JR Z, DRA4; JUMP IF GPCONT = 06, ONE CYCLE

; IS COMPLETE

30 CP 04H

JP P, DRA3 + OFFSET; JUMP IFCONT> 4,

DATA IS; ACTIVITY DATA

INC (IX + GPCONT); INCREMENT BYTE

35 COUNTER

POP AF; RECALL THREE BITS OF DATA

; ASSEMBLE ID CODE IN BC REGISTER PAIR

SRL A; BIT 0 TO CARRY

RR B; CARRY TO BIT 7 OF B

40; BIT 0 OR B TO CARRY

RR C; CARRY TO BIT 7 OF C

SRL A; REPEAT FOR BIT 1

RR B RR C

45 SRL A; REPEAT FOR BIT 2

RR B RR C JR DRARET

; ASSEMBLE ACTIVITY CODE IN REGISTER D

50 DRA3: INC (IX + GPCONT); INCREMENT BYTE

COUNTER

POP AF; RECALL THREE BITS OF DATA

SRL A; BIT 0 TO CARRY

RR D; CARRY TO BIT 7 OF D

55 SRL A; REPEAT FOR BIT 1 OF DATA

RR D

13 192772 APPENDIX A (continued)

SRL A; REPEAT FOR BIT 2 OF DATA

RR D

5 JR DRARET

; FINAL SHIFT OF ID AND ACTIVITY CODES

DRA4: POP AF; REPOSITION STACK POINTER

SRL B; SHIFT BC ONE BIT RIGHT

RR C

10 SRL B; REPEAT

RR C

SRL B; REPEAT

RR C

SRL B; REPEAT

15 RR C

SRL D; SHIFT D ONE BIT RIGHT

SRL D; REPEAT

SET 1, (IX + STAT); BIT 1 = 1, DATA

ASSEMBLED FOR

20 COMPARISON

LD (ADATA + ID), BC; PLACE ID AND

ACTIVITY IN RAM

LD (IX + ACT), D

DRA2: RES 0, (IX + STAT); RESET FLAG BYTE

25; DETECTED BIT

DRARET: EXX; RECALL BC, HL

EX AF, AF "; RECALL AF

RETI

; CLOCK ADVANCE ROUTINE 30 CLK: Dl

CALL INCMIN + OFFSET

CP 00H; IF MIN = 00

JR NZ, CLK1; THEN, INCREMENT HR

CALL INCHR + OFFSET

SET 7, B; BIT 7 = 1, PRINT HEADING

CP OOH; IF HR = 00

JR NZ, CLK1; THEN, INCREMENT DAY

CALL INCDAY + OFFSET CP 01H; IF DAY = 01

40 JR NZ, CLK1; THEN, INCREMENT MON

CALL INCMON + OFFSET

CLK1: BIT 7, B; IF BIT 7 = 1

JR Z, CLKRET; THEN DO NOT PRINT

HEADING

45 CALL PRT

CLKRET: RETI

; MINUTE INCREMENT ROUTINE INCMIN: LD A, (MIN) ADD 01H; MIN = MIN + 1

50 DAA

CP 60H

JR NZ, MINI; IF MIN = 60 XOR A; THEN MIN = 00

MINI: LD (MIN), A

55 RET

; HOUR INCREMENT ROUTINE

192772 14 APPENDIX A (continued) INCHR: LD A, (HR) ADD 01Η; HR = HR + 1

5 DAA

CP 24H

JR NZ.HR1; IF HR = 24 XOR A; THEN HR = 00

HR1: LD (HR), A

10 RET

; DAY INCREMENT ROUTINE INCDAY: LD A, (DAY) ADD 01H; DAY = DAY + 1

DAA

15 CP 32H

JR NZ, DAY1; IF DAY = 32 LD A, 01H; THEN DAY = 01

DAY1: LD (DAY), A

RET

20; MONTH INCREMENT ROUTINE INCMON: LD A, (MON) ADD 01H; MON = MON + 1

DAA

CP 13H

JR NZ, MON1; IF MON = 13, LD A, 01H; THEN MON = 01

MON1: LD (MON), A

RET

; COMPARE PREVIOUS ID AND WITH PRESENT ID AND ACT 30 CHKA: RES 1, (IX + STAT); CLEAR DATA READY

BIT IN STATUS REG.

LD HL, (ADATA + PRID); GET ID NUMBER

LD DE, (ADATA + ID); GET PREVIOUS ID

NUMBER

35 XOR A

SBC HL, DE; IF ID = PRID

LD (ADATA + PRID), DE; PRID = ID

JR NZ, CHKA1; THEN COMPARE

ACTIVITY NUMBER

40 LD A, (IX + ACT); GET ACTIVITY

NUMBER

LD B, (IX + PRACT); GET PREVIOUS

ACTIVITY NUMBER

CP B; IF ACT = PRACT

45 LD (ADATA + PRACT), A; PRACT = ACT

JR NZ, CHKA1; THEN THE TWO

; DATA ARE IDENTICAL

LD HL, (ADATA + IDCT) 50 INC HL; IDCT = IDCT + 1

LD (ADATA + IDCT), HL LD DE, 0004H XOR A

SBC HL, DE IF IDCT = 0004,

55 JR NZ, CHKA2; THEN DISPLAY AND

PRINT DATA

15 192772 APPENDIX A (continued) ID HL, (ADATA + PRID) LD DE, (ADATA + PRCOW)

5 XOR A

SBC HL, DE; IF SAME COW HAS BEEN RE-IDENTIFIED

JR Z, CHKA2 THEN DO NOT PRINT ID AND ACTIVITY

LD HL, (ADATA + PRID); GET PRID FOR CONVERSION

LD (ADATA + PRCOW), HL; SAVE COW NUMBER

10 LD (COWBIN), HL; SAVE FOR ACTIVITY CALCULATION

LD DE, IDA; GET RESULTS POINTER

CALL BCD + OFFSET; CONVERT TO FOUR BCD DIGITS

LD Η, 00H

LD L, (IX + PRACT); GET PRACT FOR CONVERSION

LD DE, ACTA; GET RESULTS POINTER

CALL BCD + OFFSET; CONVERT TO FOUR BCD DIGITS

CALL DISP + OFFSET

LD HL, (ACTA); GET ACT ACTIVITY READING

LD (DATA), HL; MOVE ACTIVITY READING FOR PRINTOUT

20 LD HL, (IDA)

LD (COW), HL; MOVE ID FOR PRINT OUT

LD A, 'A'

LD (DOOR), A; LOAD FOR FOR FOR PRINT OUT

CALL ACTIVE + OFFSET 25 CALL IDAK

CHKA2: RET

CHKA1: LD HL, 0000H

LD (ADATA + IDCT), HL; IDCT = 0000

RET

30; COMPUTE ACTIVITY AND SAVE IN RAM

ACTIVE: LD DE, ACTBS; LOAD BASE ADDRESS OF

; ACTIVITY TABLE

LD HL, (COWBIN); RECALL COW NUMBER (0 <ID <192)

ADD HL, DE

35 LD A, (DATA); RECALL PRESENT READING

LD B, (HL); GET PREVIOUS READING

LD (HL), A; SAVE PRESENT READING

CP B; IF A <B

JP M, ACT2 + OFFSET; THEN ADJUST TO OBTAIN POSITIVE RESULTS

40 ACT1: SUBB

DAA

LD (ACTIV), A; SAVE ACTIVITY FOR PRINT OUT A

RET

ACT2: ADD A, 64H

45 DAA

JR ACT1

ACT OF ROUTINE

INTERRUPT DRIVEN PRINT ROUTINE Dl 50 RES 0, (IX + STAT)

RES 0, (IY + STAT); RESET START GROUP DETECTED BITS

LD DE, BUFRBS; LOAD POINTER BUFFER BASE

LD A, (DE); GET ASCII CHARACTER

CP "S"; IF A = S "S"

55 JR Z. PRETRET; THEN DISABLE SIO

AND RETURN

192772 16 APPENDIX A (continued)

OUT (32H), A; OUTPUT CHARACTER

LD HF, BUFRBS + 1; LOAD POINTER

5 LD BC, (BUFRTP)

DEC BC; DECREMENT TOP OF BUFFER

LD (BUFRTP), BC

LD BC, 160D; LOAD LENGTH OF CHARACTER BUFFER

LDIR; SHIFT ALL CHARACTERS IN BUFFER

10 DOWN ONE LOCATION

RETI

PRTRET: LD BC, BUFRBS

LD (BUFRTP), BC; RESET TOP OF

BUFFER AT BASE OF

15 BUFFER

LD A, 28H

OUT (33H), A; RESET TRANSMITT INTERRUPT PENDING

RETI

; CONVERT 16 BIT BINARY IN HLTO FOUR BCD DIGITS.

20; THE CONTAINS THE ADDRESS AT WHICH THE BCD NUMBER IS TO BE STORED BCD: LD B, 02; LOAD LOOP COUNTER

LD C.10D; LOAD DIVISOR

BCD1: CALL DIV + OFFSET

EX DE.HL

RRD; BCD DIGIT TO RAM

EX DE, HL

CALL DIV + OFFSET EX DE, HL

RRD; BCD DIGIT TO RAM

30 EX DE, HL

INC DE; ADVANCE MEMORY POINTER

DJNZ BCD1; DECREMENT LOOP COUNTER

RET

; 16 BIT UNSIGNED DIVIDE ROUTINE 35 HL = HL / C, A = REMAINDER DIV: PUSH BC

XOR A

LD B, 17D; LOAD LOOP COUNTER

JR DIVST

40 DIVLOP: SUB C

JP P, DIVRES + OFFSET; JUMP IF NO

RESTORE

ADD C

DIVST: ADD HL, HL; ; SHIFT HL LEFT ONE BIT

45 RLA

JR DIVCON

MISCELLANEOUS: ADD HL, HL; SHIFT HL LEFT ONE BIT

RLA

INC HL

50 DIVCON: DJNZ DIVLP; DECREMENT LOOP COUNTER

RRA; RESTORE REMAINDER

POP BC

RET

INP: Dl

55 LD A, OEOH

OUT 35H, A; END INTERRUPT

Claims (3)

17 192772 APPENDIX A (continued) LD A, 50H OUT 35H.A; READ SENSORT RAM AT DIGIT 0 WITH AUTO 5 INCREMENT IN A, 934H); INPUT CLOCK ADVANCE SIGNALS LD B, A; SAVE SWITCH STATUS BIT 4, B CALL NZ, INCMIN + OFFSET 10 BIT 5, B CALL NZ, INCHR + OFFSET BIT 6, B CALL NZ, INCDAY + OFFSET BIT 7, B 15 CALL NZ, INCMON + OFFSET CALL DISP + OFFSET RETI SI035; DB 02H; POINTER SET TO REGISTER 2B DB VECT 34; LOAD INTEERUPT VECTOR 20 DB 03H; POINTER SET TO REGISTER 3B DB 40H; RECEITER DISABLED DB 04H; POINTER SET TO REGISTER 4B DB OCH; NO PARITY, 2 STOP BIT, X1 CLOCK, ASYCHRONOUS MODE 25 DB 05H; POINTER SET TO REGISTER 5B DB 28H; 7 BITS PER CHARACTER, TRANS MITTER ENABLED DB 01H; POINTER SET TO REGISTER 1B DB 02H; INTERRUPT ENABLED 30. CREATE INTERRUPT TABLE FOR PIO AND SIO rRG 1300H + VECT28 DW DRA + OFFSET, DRB + OFFSET, PRINT + OFFSET, START + OFFSET END START 35 Device for detecting the rutting time of an animal comprising a motion scanning device and electronic means, characterized in that the electronic means comprise an answering unit (1) to be attached to an animal, provided with a receiving unit (4) for receiving electromagnetic clock pulses, which are delivered by a transceiver unit (2), from a counting unit with a first, presettable counter (37) for counting the received clock pulses, an adjustable device for recording an identification number assigned to the animal, of a unit (5) for transmitting a reply message, when a number of clock pulses corresponding to the identification number 45 has been counted in the reply transmitter, the movement sensor (73) being included in the reply transmitter (1) and electrically dependent on a movement of the animal delivers pulse signals from one with the motion sensing device (73) connected movement counter (69), which counts the pulses of the movement sensor (73) and stores a number characteristic of the number of animal movements, of a multiplex circuit (54), which outputs with outputs (68, 71) of the movement counter ( 69) has connected inputs (67, 70) and the outputs of which are connected to preset terminals (Dί -Dg) of the first counter (37), in order to activate a stored counter (69) at the first counter (37) when activated to set the number of a diode device (58-62) connected to the preset terminals (D ^ Dg) of the first counter (37) to enter the identification number upon activation, and of a second counter (49) whose clock signal terminal (48) is connected to the output (42) of the first 55 counter (37) and whose outputs (Q0-Q6. 50) are connected to the diode device (58-62) and to an activating terminal (66) of the multiplex circuit (54), respectively, to sequentially enter the identification number and the motion number as the preset size in the first counter (37). 192772 18 Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second counter (49) has a first output (Q0), which is connected to a separate pre-setting channel (D4) of the first counter (37) for pre-setting a flag byte. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the multiplex circuit (54) has a selection terminal 5 (65) which is connected to an output ((¾ of the second counter (49)) and in that the multiplex circuit (54 ) in the deactivated state of the selection terminal (65) one half of the outputs of the movement counter (69) to be analyzed and in the activated state of the selection terminal (65) the other half (68) of the outputs of the movement counter to be analyzed (69) at its exits, with 5 sheets of drawing