Granted Patent B2

US 12,593,821 · App. 17/982,954 · Granted Apr 7, 2026

Inventors: Susan Wernimont (Lawrence, KS); Jodi Vondran (Wamego, KS); Robin Thompson (Northumberland, GB)

Assignee: Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc.

A01K11/006A01K11/008A01K27/009A01K29/005A61B5/0022A61B5/0031H02J50/00H04W4/80A61B2503/40A61B2562/0219A61B2562/0223

Abstract

Claims (32)

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.

2 . 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.

3 . 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.

4 . 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.

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

6 . 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.

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

8 . 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.

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.

10 . 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.

11 . 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.

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

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

14 . 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.

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

16 . 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.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (4)

References Cited (156)