Apparatus and methods for the volumetric and dimensional measurement of livestock
AssigneeGeissler Technologies, LLC
InventorMarshall S. Kriesel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for measuring the physical characteristics of livestock animals such as cattle and hogs. The apparatus of the invention includes a plurality of strategically positioned cameras that are used to obtain data concerning volumetric, curvilinear (surface) and linear measurements of livestock animals such as cattle and hogs and the full carcasses thereof. In accordance with the method of the invention, the data is analyzed to provide information that substantially assists the commercial producer of livestock animals in producing a high-quality end product for the consumer while adding profitability to the enterprise.
Claims19
A method for measuring the physical characteristics of an animal having a frame size, a thickness, first and second sides and a back, said animal being positioned within a target zone having first and second sides, an upper portion and a bottom portion using an apparatus comprising means for defining the target zone, a first camera disposed on said first side of said target zone, a second camera disposed on said second side of target zone, a third camera disposed proximate said upper portion of said target zone and data processing means operably associated with said first, second and third cameras for processing data received from said cameras, said first, second and third cameras, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning the animal within the target zone;
- (b) using the first camera, obtaining a range of images of at least a portion of the first side of the animal;
- (c) using the third camera, obtaining a range of images of at least a portion of the back of the animal;
- and
- (d) entering into the data processing means, said range images to produce a plurality of entered range images and processing said plurality of entered range images to form a three-dimensional set representing at least a portion of the surface of the animal.
A method for measuring the physical characteristics of an animal having first and second sides, a rear portion, and a back portion, said animal being positioned within a target zone having first and second sides, an upper portion, a rear portion and a bottom using an apparatus comprising an animal positioning device for defining the target zone, a first camera disposed on a selected one of said first and second sides of said target zone, a second camera disposed proximate a selected one of said upper portion of target zone and said rear portion of said target zone and data processing means operably associated with said cameras for processing data received from said cameras, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning the animal within the target zone;
- (b) using the first camera, obtaining range images of a selected one of the first and second sides of the animal;
- (c) using the second camera, obtaining range images of a selected one of the back portion and the rear portion of the animal;
- and
- (d) entering into the data processing means said range images to produce a plurality of entered range images and processing said plurality of entered range images to obtain a data set representing at least a portion of the surface of the animal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.