Monitor

Abstract

An animal monitor comprising a microcontroller; at least one three-axis accelerometer; an energy source; a charger; and a communications system, including a wireless transmitter and receiver.

What we claim is: 
     
         1 . An animal monitor comprising:
 a microcontroller;   at least one three-axis accelerometer, in communication with the microcontroller, the at least one three-axis accelerometer providing data to the microcontroller;   an energy source for powering the monitor;   a charger for charging the energy source;   a communications system, associated with the microcontroller, the communications system including a wireless transmitter and receiver; and   wherein the animal monitor is configured to attach to an animal,   wherein the microcontroller is programmed to analyse the data to calculate information on the animal with the animal monitor attached, and   wherein the information includes at least a weight of the animal determined based on monitoring movement of the animal including at least one of the animal walking or running and based on conversion of potential energy to kinetic energy during the movement of the animal, and the weight m of an animal is calculated using the formula   
       
         
           
             
               m 
               = 
               
                 K 
                 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       2 
                       · 
                       π 
                       · 
                       f 
                     
                     ) 
                   
                   2 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
       where K is the matrices of stiffness for the three degree of freedom (3DoF), and f is the frequency of the acceleration of the body during locomotion. 
     
     
         2 . The animal monitor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the monitor additionally includes a least one sound sensor in communication with the microcontroller. 
     
     
         3 . The animal monitor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the at least one three-axis accelerometer is at least two three-axis accelerometers. 
     
     
         4 . The animal monitor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the communications system is selected from one or more of the group consisting of a Wi-Fi transmitter and receiver and a cellular transmitter and receiver. 
     
     
         5 . The animal monitor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the charger is selected from the group consisting of a solar charger, a solar panel, an array of solar cells, a movement charger that obtains energy from the movement of the animal, and a radio wave charger that obtains energy from radio waves. 
     
     
         6 . The animal monitor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the form of the animal monitor is one of the group consisting of an ear tag, a collar, a necklace, and an implant. 
     
     
         7 . The animal monitor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the microcontroller is programmed to monitor characteristics of an animal. 
     
     
         8 . The animal monitor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the microcontroller is programmed to record data including at least one of the frequency of acceleration during movement and the distance travelled. 
     
     
         9 . The animal monitor as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the microcontroller is programmed to record data including at least one of the frequency of acceleration during movement and the distance travelled. 
     
     
         10 . The animal monitor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the microcontroller is programmed to receive and store data on the animal from other data sources. 
     
     
         11 . A method of monitoring at least one animal using a processor, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving data from at least one animal monitor attached to an animal;   storing the data in association with an identifier of the animal that the animal monitor is attached to; and   analysing the data to calculate information on the animal with the animal monitor attached,   
       wherein the information includes at least a weight of the animal and the weight m of an animal is calculated using the formula 
       
         
           
             
               m 
               = 
               
                 K 
                 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       2 
                       · 
                       π 
                       · 
                       f 
                     
                     ) 
                   
                   2 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
       where K is the matrices of stiffness for the three degree of freedom (3DoF), and f is the frequency of the acceleration of the body during locomotion. 
     
     
         12 . The method of monitoring at least one animal as claimed in  claim 11  including the step of receiving and storing data on the animal from other data sources. 
     
     
         13 . The method of monitoring at least one animal as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the other data sources includes a scale for measuring weight. 
     
     
         14 . An animal monitoring system comprising:
 a processor;   memory;   storage; and   a communication device,   
       the processor programmed to:
 receiving data from at least one animal monitor attached to an animal; 
 storing the data in association with an identifier of the animal that the animal monitor is attached to; and 
 analysing the data to calculate information on the animal with the animal monitor attached, 
 
       wherein the information calculated includes at least a weight of the animal and wherein the weight m of an animal is calculated using the formula 
       
         
           
             
               m 
               = 
               
                 K 
                 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       2 
                       · 
                       π 
                       · 
                       f 
                     
                     ) 
                   
                   2 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
       where K is the matrices of stiffness for the three degree of freedom (3DoF), and f is the frequency of the acceleration of the body during locomotion. 
     
     
         15 . The animal monitoring system as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the processor is programmed to receive and store data on the animal from other data sources. 
     
     
         16 . The animal monitoring system as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the other data sources includes a scale for measuring weight.