EP0108643A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Improved animal identification system
Assignee: Australian Meat and Live Stock Research and Development Corp
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Filing: 1983-11-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-11-08
Abstract
Abstract A remote identification system particularly suitable for animals comprises an interrogator gun (2) which generates a directional light beam which the operator can direct at a selected animal up to 30 metres away. A tag transponder (1) carried by the animal is activated only on receipt of the light beam, and transmits a coded RF signal. The signal is received by the interrogator which displays the identity of the animal derived from the coded RF signal. In its "receive" mode, the tag transponder requires minimal power, thereby prolonging battery life.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael John Yerbury
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:40
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K11/00; A01K11/006; G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/74; G01S13/76; G01S13/78; G01S17/00; G01S17/74; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/0008; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/20; G07C9/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A remote identification system suitable for use in identifying animals such as livestock, said system comprising interrogator means having light means for generating a narrow directional light beam, and a radio frequency receiver; at least one transponder adapted to be attached to a respective animal to be identified, each said transponder comprising a detector responsive to incident light, electronic circuit means connected to said detector for distinguishing between receipt of ambient light and said light beam by said detector, and transmitting means connected to said electronic circuit means for transmitting a coded radio frequency signal upon receipt of said light beam by said detector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
A remote identification system suitable for use in identifying animals such as livestock, said system comprising interrogator means having light means for generating a narrow directional light beam, and a radio frequency receiver; at least one transponder adapted to be attached to a respective animal to be identified, each said transponder comprising a detector responsive to incident light, electronic circuit means connected to said detector for distinguishing between receipt of ambient light and said light beam by said detector, and transmitting means connected to said electronic circuit means for transmitting a coded radio frequency signal upon receipt of said light beam by said detector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light beam has a diameter of not more than one metre at a range of thirty metres from said light means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said beam comprises at least one light pulse having a portion of rapidly increasing light intensity, said electronic circuit means being responsive to the portion of rapidly increasing light intensity to distinguish between said light beam and ambient light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising storage means connected to said radio frequency receiver for storing the coded RF signal transmitted by a selected transponder, and display means for displaying identity indicia for the selected animal, said identity indicia being derived from said coded RF signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as claimed in claim 4 further comprising computing means connected to said RF receiver for processing the coded RF signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
A transponder for use in an animal identification system, said transponder being adapted to be attached to an animal to be identified, and comprising a detector responsive to incident light, electronic circuit means connected to said detector for distinguishing between receipt of ambient light and a narrow directional light beam, and transmitting means connected to said electronic circuit means for transmitting a coded radio frequency signal upon receipt of said light beam by said detector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
A transponder for use in an animal identification system, said transponder being adapted to be attached to an animal to be identified, and comprising a detector responsive to incident light, electronic circuit means connected to said detector for distinguishing between receipt of ambient light and a narrow directional light beam, and transmitting means connected to said electronic circuit means for transmitting a coded radio frequency signal upon receipt of said light beam by said detector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A transponder as claimed in claim 6 wherein said light beam comprises at least one light pulse having a portion of rapidly increasing light intensity, said electronic circuit means being responsive to the portion of rapidly increasing light intensity to distinguish between said light beam and ambient light.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A transponder as claimed in claim 7, wherein said detector comprises a photovoltaic array housed in a light concentrator for concentrating incident light onto the surface of said photovoltaic array.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
80 words
A transponder as claimed in claim 8, wherein said circuit means comprises a compensating circuit for automatically adjusting the potential difference at the output of the photovoltaic array in response to variation in ambient light in order to maintain a low potential difference at the output of the array, and a triggering circuit responsive to a rapid increase in potential difference at the output of the array for triggering the transmission of said coded RF signal by the transmitting means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
A transponder as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a rechargeable energy storage device, said rechargeable energy storage device being charged by the output of said detector due to the incidence thereon of ambient light, said rechargeable energy storage device being used to power said transmitting means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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