# US 12,593,821 B2 · Systems and methods for determining data relating to an animal using a rechargeable device

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- Number: US 12,593,821 B2
- Document ID: US12593821B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/982,954
- Filed: 2022-11-08
- Published: 2023-05-11
- Granted: 2026-04-07
- Earliest claimed: 2021-11-11
- Assignees: Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc.
- Applicants: Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc.
- Inventors: Susan Wernimont; Jodi Vondran; Robin Thompson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12593821B2

## CPC

- A01K 11/006: {Automatic identification systems for animals, e.g. electronic devices, transponders for animals (identification systems for access to feeding pens A01K1/0209; ear tags with electronic identification means A01K11/004)}
- A01K 11/008: {incorporating global positioning system [GPS]}
- A01K 27/009: {with electric-shock, sound, magnetic- or radio-waves emitting devices}
- A01K 29/005: {Monitoring or measuring activity}
- A01K 29/007: {for pets}
- A61B 5/0022: {Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet}
- A61B 5/0031: {Implanted circuitry}
- H02J 50/00: Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
- H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
- A61B 2503/40: Animals
- A61B 2562/0219: Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
- A61B 2562/0223: Magnetic field sensors
- A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

Described herein are systems and methods for tracking an animal comprising—for example: an electronic device configured to be coupled to an animal, the electronic device comprising: one or more sensors comprising at least one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a magnetometer, the one or more sensors configured to determine location or movement information relating to the animal; a memory device configured to store the location or movement information relating to the animal; a communication interface configured to wirelessly communicate the location or movement information to an external device; and a battery device for providing power the at least one of the one or more sensors or the communication interface; and a charging device configured to wirelessly provide power to the battery device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for tracking an animal comprising:
an electronic device configured to be coupled to an animal, the electronic device comprising:
(a) one or more sensors comprising at least one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a magnetometer, the one or more sensors configured to determine location or movement information relating to the animal;
(b) a memory device configured to store the location or movement information relating to the animal;
(c) a communication interface configured to wirelessly communicate the location or movement information to an external device; and (d) a battery device for providing power to the at least one of the one or more sensors or the communication interface;
a charging device configured to detect a presence of the electronic device or the animal, and to provide power to the electronic device upon detecting the presence of the electronic device or the animal; and
wherein the electronic device and the charging device are configured to be implanted within the animal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is housed within at least one of a contact lens, an earring, a tag, or a tooth crown for the animal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the communication interface receives the location or movement information from the external device at substantially the same time as the battery receives power from charging device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is configured to be implanted within the animal and the charging device is configured to be located outside the animal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the charging device provides power to the battery device via Bluetooth.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the charging device is positioned within at least one of a food dish of the animal, a bedding of the animal, a waste area of the animal, or a grooming tool of the animal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the charging device is positioned about a collar worn by the animal.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the charging device provides power to the battery device via at least one of inductive coupling, magnetic resonance coupling, or microwave/RF ultrasonic techniques.

### Claim 9

A method for tracking an animal comprising:
coupling an electronic device to an animal, the electronic device comprising:
(a) one or more sensors comprising at least one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a magnetometer;
(b) a memory device operably coupled to the one or more sensors;
(c) a communication interface operably coupled to the memory device or the one or more sensors; and
(d) a battery device for providing power to at least one of the one or more sensors or the communication interface;
detecting, by a charging device, a presence of at least one of: the electronic device, or the animal;
providing power, via the charging device, to the electronic device upon the detecting the presence of the at least one of: the electronic device, or the animal;
determining, using the one or more sensors, location or movement information relating to the animal;
storing, by the memory device, the location or movement information; wirelessly communicating, by the communication interface, the location or movement information to an external device; and
wherein the electronic device and the charging device are implanted within the animal.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the electronic device is housed within at least one of a contact lens, an earring, a tag, or a tooth crown for the animal.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the communication interface receives the location or movement information from the external device at substantially the same time as the battery receives power from charging device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the electronic device is implanted within the animal and the charging device is located outside the animal.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the charging device provides power to the battery device via Bluetooth.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the charging device is positioned within at least one of a food dish of the animal, a bedding of the animal, a waste area of the animal, or a grooming tool of the animal.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the charging device is positioned about a collar worn by the animal.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the charging device provides power to the battery device via at least one of inductive coupling, magnetic resonance coupling, or microwave/RF ultrasonic techniques.