Infrared Sensor Array for Non-Invasive Rodent Behavior Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring rodent behavior, such as video tracking and invasive techniques like EEG and EMG recordings, face challenges including high bandwidth data, lighting requirements, and computational complexity, which can alter rodent behavior and are resource-intensive. Additionally, passive infrared pyroelectric sensors are limited in detecting subtle movements like those during sleep due to environmental adaptation.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing an infrared sensor array with thermocouples or thermopiles to detect and track rodent behavior by capturing infrared radiation, providing a low-bandwidth alternative that automatically segments the image scene without altering the rodent's behavior, and correlates temperature data with the rodent's position and activity levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If video tracking is used to monitor rodent behavior, then movement and behavior can be tracked, but high bandwidth data accumulates quickly and computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the relevant information (temperature data indicating behavior states) from the full video data stream. By using infrared sensors to detect temperature changes associated with rodent behavior, the system obtains behavioral information without processing the entire video feed, thereby reducing computational complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified thermal representation (copy) of the rodent's thermal signature rather than processing the complete visual information. This thermal map copy contains sufficient behavioral information but requires far less computational resources to analyze than the original video data.
2Illumination intensity
If additional lighting is provided for video tracking, then image quality improves, but the rodent behavior may be altered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical system of visible light illumination with a thermal detection system. Instead of using lights to illuminate the rodent for video tracking, the system uses infrared sensors to detect thermal radiation emitted by the rodent's body, thereby obtaining image quality without introducing lighting that could alter behavior.
3Productivity
If PIR sensors are used for detection, then movement can be detected, but the sensor becomes blind to resting subjects after environmental adaptation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the detection task into multiple independent infrared sensor elements arranged in an array, where each element monitors a specific spatial zone. This segmentation allows the system to detect temperature changes in localized areas without requiring the entire sensor to adapt to the ambient environment, thereby maintaining reliability for detecting resting subjects while preserving overall detection capability.
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
This approach allows for accurate and non-invasive monitoring of rodent behavior, effectively detecting movement and activity levels without the drawbacks of video tracking or invasive methods, providing a reliable and efficient means to analyze rodent behavior over time.
Implementation Method 1
Mammalian skin, irrespective of its color, radiates as a near perfect black-body. Similarly, the surface of an avian body also emits infrared radiation. Furthermore, the energy radiated by a black-body at room temperature is mostly infra-red, which can be captured and converted to an image using an infrared (IR) sensor.
Implementation Method 2
Mammalian skin, irrespective of its color, radiates as a near perfect black-body. Similarly, the surface of an avian body also emits infrared radiation.
Implementation Method 3
providing a first infrared sensor array including a thermometer and at least two infrared sensing elements including, but not limited to, respective thermocouples or thermopiles
Implementation Method 4
providing a first infrared sensor array including a thermometer and at least two infrared sensing elements including, but not limited to, respective thermocouples or thermopiles
Data Source
AI summary
Detecting infrared radiation from a rodent in a cage using an infrared sensor array with a field of view that corresponds to a moving area of the rodent to determine position, velocity, head position, etc. and determining a behavior of the rodent based on the detected infrared radiation.