US 12,010,984 B2
System and method for capturing a target animal
Graham Patterson, Austin, TX (US); and Brian Quispe, Bethlehem, PA (US)
Assigned to Ocutrap Inc., Austin, TX (US)
Filed by Graham Patterson, Austin, TX (US); and Brian Quispe, Bethlehem, PA (US)
Filed on Nov. 2, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/453,198.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/111,814, filed on Nov. 10, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0142144 A1, May 12, 2022
Int. Cl. A01M 23/18 (2006.01); A01K 29/00 (2006.01); A01M 23/02 (2006.01); G06V 40/10 (2022.01)
CPC A01M 23/18 (2013.01) [A01K 29/005 (2013.01); A01M 23/02 (2013.01); G06V 40/10 (2022.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for capturing a target animal, the device comprising:
a portable enclosure having a gate configured to move between an open position and a closed position;
a motor unit connected to the gate of the enclosure and configured to drive the gate between the open position and the closed position;
a wireless communication unit operatively coupled to the motor unit;
a controller;
a camera unit operatively connected to the controller; and
a motion detector unit operatively connected to the camera unit;
wherein the controller is configured, in response to a detection from the motion detector unit indicating motion within the enclosure, to carry out a set of steps,
wherein the set of steps comprises, in an autonomous mode, in the order listed:
(a) alerting a user device of the detection of an animal inside the enclosure via the wireless communication unit;
(b) causing the camera unit to take a photo of the enclosure interior, generating an image;
(c) uploading the image to a server via the wireless communication unit, the server having an image database of other images of target animals stored therein;
(d) in response to step (c), receiving a message from the server indicating whether a target animal is detected in the image; and
(e) if the target animal is detected, causing the motor unit to close the gate and retain the target animal in the enclosure and, if the target animal is not detected, maintaining the gate in an open condition and emitting a stimulus to encourage the animal to leave the enclosure.