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US 12,543,705 B2Granted
Electronic body caliper for sows
AssigneeSwineTech, Inc.
InventorJesse Bries
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A first plate with a first downwardly extending member and a second plate with a second downwardly extending member. The second plate moves with respect to the first plate to define a change in a relative angle between the first downwardly extending member and the second downwardly extending member. A position sensor is coupled between the first plate and the second plate to measure a relative change in angle between the first plate and the second plate.
Claims15
An electronic body caliper for animals, comprising:
- a first plate comprising a first downwardly extending member a second plate comprising a second downwardly extending member, wherein the second plate moves with respect to the first plate corresponding to a change in a relative angle between the first downwardly extending member and the second downwardly extending member;
- a position sensor coupled between the first plate and the second plate to measure a relative change in angle between the first plate and the second plate;
- a computing device in communication with the position sensor to receive signals therefrom and to translate the relative change in position between the first plate and the second plate to a value corresponding to one of a set of values representing a body condition for the animal;
- and wherein the set of values are arranged into one of three ranges corresponding to “thin”, “ideal”, and “fat” for the body condition of the animal.
1 more element
A method for determining a body condition of an animal, the method comprising:
- creating a lookup table to translate a set of values to the body condition of the animal;
- measuring the body condition of the animal with a mechanical body caliper;
- translating the measurement of the body condition of the animal to a numerical value;
- comparing the numerical value to the set of values in the lookup table wherein the set of values are arranged into one of three ranges corresponding to “thin”, “ideal”, and “fat” for the body condition of the animal;
- outputting one of the “thin”, “ideal”, and “fat” for the body condition of the animal;
- and converting an analog measurement signal to a digital measurement signal with a predefined range and resolution corresponding to the set of values in the lookup table and mapping the numerical value to the set of values in the lookup table.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.