Livestock Ear Tag Heat Transfer Element for Accurate Temperature Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing animal tracking systems face issues with accurate body temperature measurement due to the presence of plastic casings that interfere with heat sensors, and movement sensors are prone to errors from parasites or flies, leading to incorrect health assessments and potential delays in treatment.
Innovation Solution
An electronic ear tag with a heat transfer element made of heat conductive material, a temperature sensor, and a processor unit that sends data via radio waves, minimizing errors by directly contacting the ear of the livestock and using high heat conductance for accurate temperature measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a heat sensor is positioned inside a plastic casing to protect it, then the sensor is protected from damage, but the plastic material prevents accurate body temperature measurement of the livestock
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two functional parts: a protective plastic casing housing for component protection, and a separate heat transfer element (ear tag portion) made of heat-conductive material that directly contacts the animal's ear. This segmentation allows the protective housing to be isolated from the temperature sensing function, resolving the contradiction between protection and measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
A heat transfer element made of heat-conductive material (such as metal) is introduced as an intermediary between the heat sensor and the livestock's ear. This intermediary efficiently transfers heat from the ear to the sensor while the plastic casing remains isolated from the thermal pathway, allowing accurate measurement without compromising sensor protection.
2Ease of operation
If an infrared heat sensor is positioned at the ear region to measure body temperature without contact, then contactless measurement is achieved, but the sensor measures skin temperature instead of body temperature due to sun exposure and variable distance
Solution Approach 1:
The optical measurement approach (infrared sensing) is replaced with a direct thermal conduction approach. Instead of using infrared sensors that measure radiation from the skin surface, the invention uses a heat-conductive ear tag that establishes direct thermal contact with the ear, allowing the internal body temperature to be measured through conduction without the issues of sun exposure or distance variability.
3Productivity
If movement sensors are positioned on the animal to track movements, then movement information is obtained, but errors occur in the information due to parasites or flies affecting the sensor
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensing function is extracted from vulnerable external positions and integrated into the ear tag structure that is firmly attached to the animal's ear. This extraction removes the sensor from environments where parasites or flies could interfere, while the ear tag's secure attachment ensures stable and reliable temperature monitoring.
4Productivity
If GPS module is positioned on the animal to track position, then location information is obtained, but high power consumption and large area requirements increase energy needs and device size
Solution Approach 1:
The GPS positioning function is extracted from the animal-worn device and relocated to the breeder's terminal or a central server. The ear tag only performs low-power temperature sensing and stores data locally, eliminating the need for continuous satellite communication and high-power GPS receivers on the animal, thus dramatically reducing energy consumption and device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The electronic ear tag provides accurate and efficient tracking of livestock health, sleep patterns, birthing times, rut periods, and behavior, reducing the risk of erroneous health assessments and enabling timely interventions.
Implementation Method 1
a heat transfer element (110) which has a heat transfer area (111) provided in a manner contacting the ear of livestock; said heat transfer area (111) is made of heat conductive material
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an animal tracking system having at least one temperature sensor associated with a heat transfer element which has a heat transfer area provided in a manner contacting the ear of livestock, in order to provide tracking of health information and behavior analyses of livestock by the breeder by an electronic ear tag fixed to the ear regions of livestock.