Ear Tag Temperature Sensors for Insemination Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current livestock management systems lack effective methods to determine successful insemination and monitor animal health status, particularly in a non-invasive and efficient manner.
Innovation Solution
An ear tag assembly with a primary temperature sensor to measure the outer ear temperature of an animal and a secondary ambient temperature sensor to detect localized temperature changes, correlating these readings to determine successful insemination and health status, such as ovulation or illness, without the need for intrusive measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional intrusive methods are used to determine successful insemination and monitor animal health, then measurement accuracy may be improved, but animal distress and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces intrusive mechanical or manual examination methods with a non-invasive electronic sensing system. Temperature sensors mounted on the ear tag continuously monitor temperature changes that indicate successful insemination, eliminating the need for physical examinations or intrusive procedures that would cause animal distress.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses ear temperature as an intermediary indicator to infer internal physiological states related to insemination success. Instead of directly measuring internal conditions, the system monitors the easily accessible outer ear temperature, which correlates with internal body temperature changes, providing indirect but accurate information without causing distress.
2Reliability
If continuous monitoring of animal temperature is implemented, then health status detection is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic temperature monitoring rather than truly continuous monitoring. The control circuit is programmed to take temperature readings at specific intervals and compare them to detect trends indicating health issues or successful insemination. This periodic sampling maintains monitoring reliability while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to constant monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the animal's own body temperature as the monitoring target, requiring no external power source or additional infrastructure. The passive temperature sensing leverages the natural thermal signature of the animal, allowing the tag to function with minimal energy input while maintaining high reliability in detecting temperature changes associated with health status.
3Loss of information
If multiple sensors are integrated into the ear tag, then measurement capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple sensing capabilities into a single ear tag device that serves multiple functions. The temperature sensors can detect both successful insemination events and general health status changes, while the wireless communication module enables data transmission to various stakeholders. This multi-functionality approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate devices into one unified system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines temperature sensing, data processing, wireless communication, and power management into an integrated ear tag assembly. The control circuit merges temperature data from multiple sensors with animal identification information and transmits consolidated health records wirelessly, reducing the need for separate components and simplifying the overall system architecture despite the multiple sensing functions.
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
Enables accurate and non-invasive monitoring of animal health and reproductive status, enhancing the success rate of insemination programs and early detection of health issues like milk fever, reducing the time and distress associated with traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
A primary temperature sensor disposed within the shaft and configured to obtain an outer ear temperature of the outer ear
Implementation Method 2
An ambient temperature sensor configured to obtain an ambient temperature of a surrounding environment external to the animal
Implementation Method 3
determines a successful insemination of the animal has taken place responsive by detecting a localized increase in a magnitude of the outer ear temperature data in relation to a magnitude of the ambient temperature data over a selected time interval
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3C
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Apparatus and method for managing animals such as but not limited to livestock. An ear tag assembly (102, 400, 460, 480, 510) has a main body (120, 402), a backing member (130, 404) and a shaft (124, 408) that extends through an aperture through an outer ear (1 14, 1 86) of an animal (1 12) to interconnect the main body and the backing member. A primary temperature sensor (140, 436, 462, 484) obtains an outer ear temperature of the outer ear. An ambient temperature sensor (150, 406) obtains an ambient temperature of a surrounding environment external to the animal. A control circuit (170) receives the outer ear and ambient temperatures and determines a successful insemination of the animal has taken place by comparing the outer ear temperature and the ambient temperature over a selected time interval (506).