US-12616169-B2 - Livestock ear tag system

Abstract

A livestock ear tag system is disclosed herein. An example tag includes a flexible substrate having a first end and a second end, a solar panel coupled to the first end on a first surface, a rigid housing associated with the second end, an electronics assembly associated with the rigid housing, a sensor housing that extends from the rigid plate, the sensor housing comprising two pin receivers that extend in opposing directions relative to one another, the two pin receivers each adapted to receive a pin that secures the device to an ear of an animal.

Inventors

• Kevin N. Biffert
• Maximillion K. Cossette
• Steven J. Berlinger
• Peter S. Crowley
• Cole L. Mehring
• Keith D. Alsleben
• Braydon W. Love

Assignees

• 701x Inc.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20231221

Claims (18)

1. 1 . A device, comprising: a flexible substrate having a first end and a second end; a solar panel coupled to the first end on a first surface; a rigid housing associated with the second end; an electronics assembly associated with the rigid housing; a sensor housing that extends from the rigid housing, the sensor housing comprising two pin receivers that extend in opposing directions relative to one another, the two pin receivers each adapted to receive a pin that secures the device to an ear of an animal; and a stiffening spine that extends perpendicularly from the flexible substrate and that extends along a midline of the device.
2. 2 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising an antenna coupled to the electronics assembly.
3. 3 . The device according to claim 2 , wherein the antenna is located in housing of the electronics assembly.
4. 4 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a skin contact sensor associated with the sensor housing.
5. 5 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the stiffening spine includes a continuous portion and a sawtooth portion, wherein the sawtooth portion enables controlled bending of the flexible substrate.
6. 6 . The device according to claim 5 , further comprising another stiffening spine constructed identically to the stiffening spine and placed in parallel relationship thereto.
7. 7 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the two pin receivers are spaced apart from the rigid housing at a distance.
8. 8 . An electronic tag, comprising: a first segment with a photovoltaic element affixed on a primary side thereof; a second segment, opposite the first segment, integrating a supportive backplate; an electronics assembly mounted on the supportive backplate, comprising control circuitry; a coupling feature extending from the supportive backplate having dual engagement cavities oriented in opposite vectors, each configured to accommodate a securing element for affixation to an ear of an animal; and an elongated reinforcement rail that traverses orthogonally across the first and second segments and that is situated centrally along a longitudinal axis of the electronic tag.
9. 9 . The electronic tag of claim 8 , further including an antenna operatively connected to the electronics assembly.
10. 10 . The electronic tag of claim 9 , wherein the antenna is a multi-directional signal transmitter.
11. 11 . The electronic tag of claim 8 , further comprising an external sensor, the electronics assembly communicatively coupled to the external sensor over a wireless connection.
12. 12 . The electronic tag of claim 8 , wherein the elongated reinforcement rail is bifurcated into a solid section and an adjustable serrated section, a latter facilitating predefined articulation of the first segment.
13. 13 . The electronic tag of claim 12 , wherein the elongated reinforcement rail is duplicated and arranged in a parallel configuration for reinforced structural integrity.
14. 14 . The electronic tag of claim 8 , further comprising a heart rate sensor.
15. 15 . The electronic tag of claim 8 , wherein the electronics assembly further integrates a storage cell electrically coupled to the photovoltaic element for energy accumulation and dispensation.
16. 16 . The electronic tag of claim 8 , wherein the photovoltaic element is configured to extend past a periphery of the ear with the tag is installed.
17. 17 . The electronic tag of claim 8 , wherein the second segment includes a portion that receives indicia for identifying the animal.
18. 18 . The electronic tag of claim 8 , wherein the first segment is a flexible substrate.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Not applicable to this application. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not applicable to this application. BACKGROUND The described example embodiments in general relate to a tag, and more specifically, but not by way of limitation, to a tag that can be applied to an animal to track motion and infer behaviors. Embodiments of the tag are structurally configured with a dual pin configuration to ensure the tag and reduce rotation of the same. SUMMARY According to some embodiments, the present disclosure is directed to a tag or device. The device includes a flexible substrate having a first end and a second end; a solar panel coupled to the first end on a first surface; a rigid housing associated with the second end; an electronics assembly associated with the rigid housing; and a sensor housing that extends from the rigid housing, the sensor housing may include two pin receivers that extend in opposing directions relative to one another, the two pin receivers each adapted to receive a pin that secures the device to an ear of an animal. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding computer systems, apparatus, and computer programs recorded on one or more computer storage devices, each configured to perform the actions of the methods. Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The device may include an antenna coupled to the electronics assembly. The device may include a skin contact sensor associated with the sensor housing. The device may include a stiffening spine that extends perpendicularly from the flexible substrate, the stiffening spine also extending along a midline of the device. The stiffening spine includes a continuous portion and a sawtooth portion, where the sawtooth portion enables controlled bending of the flexible substrate. The device may include another stiffening spine constructed identically to the stiffening spine and placed in a parallel relationship thereto. The two-pin receivers are spaced apart from the rigid housing at a distance. Implementations of the described techniques may include hardware, a method or process, or computer software on a computer-accessible medium. One general aspect includes an electronic tag. The electronic tag also includes a first segment with a photovoltaic element affixed on a primary side thereof. The tag also includes a second segment, opposite the first segment, integrating a supportive backplate. The tag also includes an electronics assembly mounted on the supportive backplate, encompassing control circuitry. The tag also includes a coupling feature extending from the supportive backplate having dual engagement cavities oriented in opposite vectors, each configured to accommodate a securing element for affixation to the ear of an animal. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding computer systems, apparatus, and computer programs recorded on one or more computer storage devices, each configured to perform the actions of the methods. Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The electronic tag further includes an antenna operatively connected to the electronics assembly. The antenna is a multi-directional signal transmitter. The electronic tag may include an external sensor, the electronics assembly communicatively coupled to the external sensor over a wireless connection. The electronic tag further including an elongated reinforcement rail that traverses orthogonally across the first and second segments, situated centrally along a longitudinal axis of the electronic tag. The elongated reinforcement rail is bifurcated into a solid section and an adjustable serrated section, the latter facilitating predefined articulation of the first segment. The elongated reinforcement rail is duplicated and arranged in a parallel configuration for reinforced structural integrity. The electronic tag may include a heart rate sensor. The electronics assembly further integrates a storage cell electrically coupled to the photovoltaic element for energy accumulation and dispensation. The photovoltaic element is configured to extend past a periphery of the ear with the tag installed. The second segment includes a portion that receives indicia for identifying the animal. The first segment is a flexible substrate. Implementations of the described techniques may include hardware, a method or process, or computer software on a computer-accessible medium. A system of one or more computers can be configured to perform particular operations or actions by virtue of having software, firmware, hardware, or a combination of them installed on the system that in operation causes or cause the system to perform the actions. One or more computer programs can be configured to perform particular operations or actions by virtue of including instructions that, when executed by data processing apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the actions. There has th