DEVICE FOR IDENTIFYING AN ANIMAL

Description

[0001] The invention described below relates to a device for identifying a first animal, which device is coupled to a control unit for actuating a drive for opening and / or closing a door and for emitting a sound by a sound output unit.

[0002] US2756466 discloses a pet door, which is part of a conventional door intended for people. US2756466 does not contain any reference to a drive for opening and / or closing the door depending on the presence of an animal or for issuing a signal depending on the presence of an animal.

[0003] WO2009128870 concerns an animal flap. WO2009128870 contains no reference to a drive for opening or closing the animal flap or a control system for this drive. Likewise, the device described in WO2009128870 does not include a device for emitting a signal depending on the presence of an animal.

[0004] US5992096 describes an animal flap comprising a detection unit for detecting the presence of an animal and a reading unit for reading the animal's ID. The device according to US5992096 locks or unlocks the animal flap depending on the read ID.

[0005] DE202008000934 mentions a device for opening a door depending on a read ID of an animal approaching the door.

[0006] DE19708262 discloses a door element that can be inserted into a door opening and which door element can be locked or latched.

[0007] DE202005014531 describes an automatically operated gate that is opened by a control system based on a read code. The device described in DE202005014531 is based on RFID technology.

[0008] US6560926 describes a pet door that can be remotely controlled by a user.

[0009] US2006101738A1 describes an animal door comprising no control or drive for opening it.

[0010] EP2484856 describes a pet door characterized by good thermal properties. Furthermore, EP2484856 demonstrates a method for detecting animals, which essentially requires only parts of the code to be readable.

[0011] US20080036611, US6297739B1 and DE102014101167A1 do not disclose the comparison of images of the approach of the animal to the device according to the invention with reference images.

[0012] US20160255807 discloses a device for granting access control to an animal, wherein a person decides on granting access (see US20160255807

[0023] ).

[0013] KR20030037910 discloses a method for detecting the movement of an animal. The method disclosed in KR20030037910 is unsuitable for distinguishing a first animal from a second animal. This is neither the task of KR20030037910 nor can this task be derived from KR20030037910, which is why the necessary steps for identification cannot be derived from KR20030037910.

[0014] US6297739 discloses a method and device for automatically granting access control, wherein the automatically generated decision is made by reading and comparing an ID tag. This decision process can be simulated based on the detection of movement and / or weight.

[0015] US2017273277 discloses a feeding station in which doors are opened depending on the presence of an identified animal. US2017273277 does not disclose a query using image data and a pressure sensor to determine whether the animal is holding prey in its mouth.

[0016] US2015022666 discloses a system and method for scalable video cloud services.

[0017] US2015216145 discloses a bird feeding station with exclusive food dispensing to certain birds.

[0018] DE10201401167 discloses an intelligent cat flap based on image processing.

[0019] The above-cited prior art documents disclose devices for opening a door to allow an animal to enter after reading a code and comparing it with a reference code. However, reading a code is difficult to implement in practice, especially since it requires that the entire code or—as disclosed in EP2484856—at least significant parts of the code can be read.

[0020] Nevertheless, reading codes in animals is a difficult undertaking, as it requires that the animal actually carries the storage medium containing the code and that contact can be established between the storage medium and the reader. For this reason, the inventors believe that comparing codes is not suitable as a primary decision criterion.

[0021] The invention disclosed here has the object of improving the devices known from the prior art for identifying animals in order to open an animal flap or emit a signal based on the clear identification of the animal.

[0022] According to the invention, this is achieved by claim 1.

[0023] A person, and also an animal, identifies a first animal primarily by its appearance. The present invention aims to mimic this primary identification of a first animal, known from nature, using technical means.

[0024] The device according to the invention for identifying an animal comprises an image recording device for recording images of an animal located in the vicinity of the device, a database in which database reference images of the appearance of a first animal and / or usual processes of approach of the first animal are stored, wherein a degree of correspondence between the images and the reference images and / or between features of the images and features of the reference images is determined and wherein, depending on the correspondence value, a drive for opening a door is actuated via a control device and / or a signal unit for emitting a warning tone or an attracting noise is activated and / or an output unit for dispensing food is activated.

[0025] The image capture device can be a state-of-the-art still camera or video camera. State-of-the-art thermal imaging cameras can also be used.

[0026] The images and the reference images may comprise image data, based on which parameters such as the shape of the first animal, the color of the first animal or the predominant color of the first animal, the pattern of the first animal's fur, and the manner of the animal's approach can be determined using state-of-the-art methods. Biometric data, preferably characteristic biometric data of the first animal, can be determined from the image data.

[0027] A similarity measure to a reference parameter is calculated using one or preferably several of the parameters listed above as examples.

[0028] The calculation of a similarity measure between an image and a reference image is considered, in the context of the discussion of this invention, to be equivalent to the calculation of a similarity measure between a parameter and a reference parameter, especially since the parameter and the reference parameter are determined from the image and from the reference image, respectively.

[0029] If a defined threshold is exceeded, the animal located in the vicinity of the device according to the invention is recognized as a first animal, which first animal is to be permitted to be present in the area of the device according to the invention. The first animal can then be granted entry through a door closing an opening, for which purpose the door must be unlocked and / or opened. The device according to the invention can emit an attracting sound to ensure that the first animal continues to stay in the vicinity of the device according to the invention. An attracting sound is essentially a sound that is pleasant for the first animal.

[0030] The luring sound can entice the animal to go through the open door and / or open an unlocked door. In contrast to prior art devices, the device according to the invention is distinguished by the fact that a door opened based on a read and compared code will in no way entice the animal identified as the first to go through that door.

[0031] Analogous to the emission of an attracting sound, food can also be emitted in order to encourage the first animal to pass through the open animal flap or to open an animal flap or to remain with the device according to the invention.

[0032] The release of attracting sounds and / or the dispensing of food can be used to train the animal to open the unlocked door and / or to go through the open door. The release of the attracting sound and the dispensing of food can also be performed by a person.

[0033] The layperson will recognize that the attracting noise or the food can preferably be placed on the side of the animal flap opposite the location of the first animal in order to encourage the animal to pass through the animal flap.

[0034] If the similarity measure falls below a defined limit, the animal located in the vicinity of the device according to the invention can be recognized as a second animal.

[0035] An animal can also be recognized as a second animal if the animal that should actually be evaluated first is carrying an undesirable object, such as a killed mouse, or is dirty, for example. The device according to the invention can thus prevent an animal with prey in its mouth from passing through the animal flap and bringing this prey home. An animal with prey can be recognized if the animal, including the prey, has a shape, color, or image values that are completely different from a reference shape, a reference color, and / or reference image values.

[0036] It can also prevent a heavily soiled animal from entering the house, as a soiled animal has different color values.

[0037] A warning tone can be emitted which encourages the second animal to leave the area around the device according to the invention and, if necessary, not to pass through the animal flap.

[0038] The expert chooses the limit of the similarity measure according to his experience and the technical possibilities of identifying the animal.

[0039] The image recording device can also be used to determine how the animal approaches the device according to the invention and thus the animal flap. Applying current teachings, the trajectory along which the animal approaches the device according to the invention can be recorded. This trajectory can be compared with a reference trajectory, so that, assuming that each animal has its characteristic approach to an animal flap, the animal can be identified.

[0040] The image capture device can also be used to read a code attached to the animal using the image data. Such a visually readable code, such as a barcode or QR code, can be compared with codes stored in a database to identify the animal.

[0041] The device according to the invention can be characterized in that the device comprises pressure sensors, which pressure sensors are arranged in an area which the animal enters when approaching the device and / or the door.

[0042] The pressure sensors are used to determine the animal's weight and / or characteristic gait. Determining the weight also allows us to determine whether the animal is carrying prey and thus additional weight.

[0043] A person skilled in the art can provide the pressure sensors as a means of verifying identification according to the methods outlined above. The disclosure of the invention does not preclude the use of the pressure sensors as a simple means of identifying the animal, independent of other measurement methods.

[0044] The device according to the invention may also comprise a reader for reading a code, which code is stored in a storage medium attached to the animal.

[0045] A stored code assigned to an animal can be read using prior art methods and compared with a reference code. Reading stored codes can be used to verify other methods for identifying the animal. The device can comprise an odor sensor for determining an odor of the first animal, wherein the odor of the first animal is compared with a reference odor stored in the form of reference data.

[0046] According to current theory, animals also recognize each other through smell. State-of-the-art technology makes it possible to detect an odor using technical measurement methods. By detecting the odor, it is possible to detect not only the odor of the animal itself but also another odor from a killed animal that the animal is carrying in its mouth, thus identifying the killed animal as a second animal.

[0047] The use of odor sensors can be used to verify the identification of an animal made using other technical measurement methods. This implies the combination of measurement methods.

[0048] The device may comprise a structurally enclosed space, which facilitates the detection of odors by odor sensors, as the number of measurable odors is reduced.

[0049] The disclosure of the invention does not exclude the possibility that odor sensors can be used as simple measuring means for identifying the animal independently of other measuring methods.

[0050] The methods for animal identification listed above are generally based on determining a current measurement value of an animal, which is then compared with a reference measurement value. The current measurement value and the reference value can be an image value or a parameter derived from the image value, such as a trajectory, a shape, or a color value; a value derived from a pressure sensor; a code; or an odor value.

[0051] To ensure the reliability of the device according to the invention and the method that can be performed with it, the constant changes in the animal and its habits must be taken into account. The method can include self-learning routines. The measured values that exhibit a minimum degree of similarity to the reference values, defined by a person skilled in the art, can be stored in the database as reference values. This continuously expands the database of reference values, which also has the effect of taking changes in the animal into account.

[0052] The device may comprise a locking device for locking the door.

[0053] The subject of the invention is described in the following Figure 1 shown, where the following reference numerals identify the following elements. 1Opening 2Camera 3Signal unit for issuing a warning tone 4Door 5Wall 6Pressure sensor 7Odor sensor 8Area 9Signal unit for issuing an attractant signal 10Boundary 11Reader

[0054] Figure 1 shows a possible embodiment of the device according to the invention, which device is used in an opening 1 in a wall 5, wherein the opening 1 can be closed by a door 4. The arrangement of the door 4 in the opening 1 of the wall 5 corresponds to the prior art.

[0055] The subject matter of the invention disclosed herein and the discussion of the invention primarily relates to a device for identifying an animal such that an identified animal can be lured and / or allowed or repelled through the opening 1.

[0056] The Figure 1The embodiment shown comprises a camera 2, which camera 2 serves as an image recording device for recording images of an animal located in the vicinity of the device. The area 8 of proximity is defined by the person skilled in the art by the recording range of the camera 2. The person skilled in the art can align the inclination of the camera 2 and select the focus of the camera 2 such that image data of a clearly and unambiguously defined area 8 around the opening 1 is generated by the camera 2. The area 8 is clearly delimited by its boundary 10 and by the wall 5. The boundary 10 can be defined by the image area of the camera 2 and / or by the focus area of the camera 2.

[0057] The device according to the invention further comprises a database in which reference images of the appearance of a first animal and / or usual processes of approaching the first animal are stored.

[0058] The Figure 1The database not shown includes, for example, reference image data about the Figure 1 Also not shown is a pet, which pet is usually intended to be allowed through opening 1. The image data includes views of the pet from the side, with which the pet approaches camera 2. The image data of the pet can be created with camera 2 of the device according to the invention.

[0059] The database may further comprise reference image data and data derived therefrom, such as trajectories, vectors and the like, about typical processes of the pet's approach to the opening 1.

[0060] Using prior art methods, a degree of correspondence is determined between the images or image data acquired in real time by camera 2 and the reference images or reference image data. The degree of correspondence indicates, using a numerical value, the similarity between the image or the image data derived therefrom and the reference image or the reference image data derived therefrom. Such methods for comparing an image or image data derived therefrom with a reference image or reference image data are known in the prior art.

[0061] Depending on the degree of conformity, a drive for opening an animal flap is actuated via a control device and / or a signal unit for emitting a warning tone 3 or a signal unit for emitting an attracting sound 9 is activated and / or an output unit for dispensing food is activated.

[0062] The level of compliance may meet or exceed a threshold to perform the actions listed above.

[0063] The Figure 1 The device shown comprises pressure sensors 6, which pressure sensors 6 are arranged in an area 8, which area 8 the animal enters when approaching the device and / or the door 4. The Figure 1 The embodiment shown relates to the special case that the area 8 monitored by the camera 2 and the area 8 in which the pressure sensors 6 are arranged are congruent.

[0064] The camera 2 can be activated by means of the pressure sensors 6.

[0065] Furthermore, the weight of the animal 2 entering the area 8 is determined by means of the pressure sensors 6 and the weight determined by means of the pressure sensors 6 is compared with a reference weight stored in the database in order to identify the animal.

[0066] The device comprises a reader 11 for reading a code stored in a storage medium attached to the animal. Codes in the form of ID tags are state of the art for dog identification, for example, with the animal carrying a code stored on a chip. The code can be read using state-of-the-art devices, so that the code can be used as an additional criterion for identifying the animal.

[0067] Reading a code can take a long time depending on the length of the code and the method used. It is advantageous to use the code as an additional criterion for identifying the animal in such a way that only parts of the code are read.

[0068] The device according to the invention comprises an odor sensor 7 for determining the odor of the first animal. The odor of the first animal is compared with a reference odor stored in the form of reference data, thus providing a further criterion for identifying the animal. An odor sensor 7 is known in the prior art.

Claims

1. A device for determining whether a door for an animal is being opened, comprising an image recording device for recording images of an approaching procedure of an animal being in proximity to the device, which approaching procedure comprises a trajectory, pressure sensors (6) for determining a weight of the animal, which pressure sensors (6) are arranged in a zone (8), which zone (8) the animal enters when approaching the device and / or the door (4), characterised in that the inventive device comprises a database, in which database reference images of typical approaching processes of the animal, reference images with a reference trajectory with characteristic approaches of the animal and a reference weight of the animal are stored, wherein a control unit is connected to the database and the image recording device, wherein the control unit determines a degree of matching between the trajectory and the reference trajectory and / or between features of the images and reference features of the reference images, and wherein a drive for opening a door (4) is actuated via a control device depending on said degree of matching, wherein the drive for opening the door (4) is only actuated when the animal is identified as an animal that is not carrying a capture in its mouth, wherein the control unit is further formed by comparing the measured weight with a reference weight for determining whether an animal is carrying a capture in its mouth.

2. The device of claim 1, characterised in that features of the images and, respectively, the reference features of the reference images comprise the shape of the animal and / or the colour of the animal and / or the predominant colour of the animal and / or the pattern of its fur.

3. The device of any one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the device comprises a reading device (11) for reading out a code, which code is stored in a storage medium attached to the animal.

4. The device of any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the device comprises a smell sensor (7) for determining a smell of the first animal, wherein said smell of the first animal is matched with a reference smell stored in the form of reference data.

5. The device of any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the device comprises a locking device for locking the door (4).