Poultry House Climate Control with Infrared Body Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing climate control systems in animal enclosures, such as poultry houses, fail to provide reliable and cost-effective climate control by not considering the actual body temperature of animals, leading to discomfort and potential health issues.

Innovation Solution

A climate control system equipped with infrared sensors, a processor, and climate conditioning devices that detect animal parameters like body temperature and adjust the enclosure climate in real-time to maintain animal comfort and health.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If prior art climate control systems measure only ambient air temperature, relative humidity, and air speed, then the system complexity is reduced and cost is lowered, but the measurement precision of animal comfort levels deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanimal body temperature detectionVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces contact-based temperature measurement methods with infrared sensing technology. The infrared sensor detects thermal radiation from animal bodies to obtain temperature data without physical contact, thereby improving measurement precision while avoiding the complexity of direct thermal coupling mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces infrared radiation as an intermediary carrier to transmit temperature information from animals to the sensing system. This intermediary enables non-contact temperature detection, resolving the contradiction between accurate measurement and system simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If prior art systems do not consider actual body temperature of animals, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of climate control deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclimate control accuracyVSAvoidsensor integration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where infrared sensors continuously monitor animal body temperatures, and the climate control system adjusts environmental parameters based on this real-time data. This closed-loop feedback ensures reliable climate control by directly responding to actual animal thermal states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent integrates multiple sensing functions (infrared temperature detection, ambient parameter monitoring) into a unified climate control system. This multi-functional approach improves reliability by considering both environmental conditions and animal physiological states, while sharing common processing infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If prior art systems use only ambient environmental measurements, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the adaptability to individual animal needs deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual animal climate adjustmentVSAvoidsystem operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables different zones within the enclosure to have customized climate conditions based on local animal temperature distributions. The system divides the environment into control zones and adjusts parameters locally according to detected animal needs, providing individualized care without complex manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements automated climate adjustment that operates independently based on sensor inputs. The system self-regulates environmental parameters according to detected animal physiological states, eliminating the need for manual operation while achieving high adaptability to individual animal requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Enhances animal well-being and productivity by providing tailored and accurate climate control based on real-time animal parameters, reducing health risks and associated costs.

Implementation Method 1

one or more infrared sensors...detect a parameter of the animal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared radiation: Infrared Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS12419266B2Devices and methods for managing animals in an enclosure

Publication Date: 2025.09.23 CTB INC

AI summary

Systems and methods for controlling environmental conditions within and/or around an animal enclosure are disclosed. These include a climate control system and infrared sensors in a poultry house having a first climate and housing poultry having one or more measurable parameters such as a temperature. The infrared sensors detect infrared light information emitted by a head and/or vent of poultry in the house. The climate control system processes the information to calculate an internal temperature of poultry and activates one or more climate conditioning devices in the house to change the first climate to a second climate determined by the detected information and/or calculated internal temperatures of the poultry. The systems and methods are deployed in houses that hold many poultry and include one or more climate zones. The systems and methods make one or more climate changes based on one or more different parameters.