US 11,917,981 B2
Apparatus for identifying an animal
Wolfgang Berndorfer, Natternbach (AT); and Jürg Hofmann, Rubigen (CH)
Assigned to RAMSEIER COATINGS AG, Rubigen (CH)
Appl. No. 17/252,968
Filed by RAMSEIER COATINGS AG, Rubigen (CH)
PCT Filed Jun. 18, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/066083
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 16, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/243361, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 26, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. A 50485/2018 (AT), filed on Jun. 18, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0127633 A1, May 6, 2021
Int. Cl. A01K 11/00 (2006.01); E06B 7/32 (2006.01); G07C 9/37 (2020.01)
CPC A01K 11/006 (2013.01) [E06B 7/32 (2013.01); G07C 9/37 (2020.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for determining whether to at least one of open and unlock a door for an animal, comprising:
an image recording device adapted to capture images of an approach procedure of the animal located in proximity to the device, the approach procedure comprising a trajectory of the animal;
a pressure sensor in proximity to the door configured to capture a weight;
a database adapted to store reference images of a reference trajectory of characteristic procedures of approach of the animal; and
a control device coupled to the database and the image recording device, the control device determining a degree of matching between the trajectory and the reference trajectory and actuating a drive for at least one of opening and unlocking the door if the degree of matching exceeds a threshold value;
wherein the control device is further configured to determine if the animal is holding a captured animal in jaws of the animal by at least one of:
comparing the images and the reference images; and
comparing the weight captured by the pressure sensor with a reference weight of the animal; and
wherein the drive for opening the door is actuated only if the animal is identified as not holding the captured animal in the jaws.