GB2553843A

GB2553843A - Light tags for wildlife monitoring

Info

Publication number: GB2553843A
Application number: GB1615860.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Goodwin Dominic; Williams Robert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-09-16
Filing date: 2016-09-16
Publication date: 2018-03-21
Also published as: GB201615860D0

Abstract

An electronic tag may be fitted to or worn by an animal. The tag may provide data or information regarding the animals location or physiological status. Signals may be sent at certain times or dates. Optical signals may be sent via the visible light spectrum and/or via infrared for night use. Signals may be encoded, using Morse code. The tag may act as a transceiver and may receive optical signals to, amongst other commands, activate it from a period of sleep. A PCB 1 is connected via contact 2 to a battery 3. A microcontroller 4, an infrared LED 5 and light sensor 6 may be fitted to the PCB. The entire device may be encapsulated within clear epoxy resin 9.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Light tags for wildlife monitoring

Abstract Title: Electronic animal tag having Morse code light signaller (57) An electronic tag may be fitted to or worn by an animal. The tag may provide data or information regarding the animal’s location or physiological status. Signals may be sent at certain times or dates. Optical signals may be sent via the visible light spectrum and/or via infrared for night use. Signals may be encoded, using Morse code. The tag may act as a transceiver and may receive optical signals to, amongst other commands, activate it from a period of sleep. A PCB 1 is connected via contact 2 to a battery 3. A microcontroller 4, an infrared LED 5 and light sensor 6 may be fitted to the PCB. The entire device may be encapsulated within clear epoxy resin 9.

Figure 1

Figure 1

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Figure 2

Light Tags for Wildlife Monitoring

This invention relates to monitoring wildlife.

According to this invention there is provided an electronic tag for attaching to animals to locate and identify them from a sequence of flashes of light emitted by the tag.

The device typically emits light flashes using Morse code to allow a viewer to read data from the tag, such as an identification number, at a distance, without the need for radio equipment or complex receiving equipment. The tag may also emit other data, such as movement or temperature data using Morse encoded light signals.

The device may emit flashes of visible and/or infrared light which can be observed using an infrared night-vision scope.

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The device may emit light at predetermined signalling times to avoid poachers and to extend battery life.

-j—13 Optionally, the device may also be activated or configured by receiving flashes of ^^14 light, typically also in Morse code, for example to wake it from sleep mode, to set

-5 internal parameters such as a clock time, identification code, signalling times and dates, signalling modes, or to put it into sleep mode. These control signals may be encoded by a device such as a smart phone running a Morse-code app with a built in

LED light.

The device will typically be fully sealed with its battery in a clear waterproof coating and activated by means of a light signal.

Figure 1 depicts an overview of a preferred embodiment of this device.

Figure 2 depicts a possible circuit schematic for this embodiment.

The embodiment shown in Figure 1 with schematic circuit diagram in Figure 2 comprises a small printed circuit board 1, connected by battery contacts 2 to a “button cell” battery 3 (BT1), and supporting a microcontroller 4 (Ul), an Infrared Light

Emitting Diode 5 (LED1), a visible light emitting diode (which also functions as a light sensor) 6 (LED2), a crystal to stabilise a real-time-clock 7 (XTL1) and auxiliary passive components 8 (reset pullup resistor Rl, measurement resistor R2, smoothing capacitor Cl) set into a block of clear epoxy resin for waterproofing 9.

The device operates as follows:

At any moment in time the visible light LED (LED2) may operate either as an indicator light, or as a light sensor. Under programmatic control the functions of the multiplexed microcontroller pins Pl.0 and Pl. 1 are switched between being Digital

Outputs (to function as an indicator) and Comparator Inputs (to function as a light sensor).

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The default mode of operation for the visible light LED (LED2) is to be a light sensor, waiting for control signals to be transmitted in Morse code from an external light source. In this mode the pins function as comparator inputs; the tiny photovoltaic current generated in the LED (LED2) by an external light source, passing through the measurement resistor (R2), is compared to an internal diode voltage reference with the comparator, whose output is used as an input to the microcontroller’s timer module. The rising and falling edges of the light signal are used to determine lengths of On/Off periods of the light source. Morse code decoding logic is then used to read and interpret the incoming light pulse lengths relative to a predefined standard Morse code unit length.

A special start sequence of light pulses, such as Morse “AAAAA”, i.e. “.- .- .- .- is used to put the device into a setup mode where it will listen for certain keywords shone at the device in Morse Code. The visible LED is temporarily switched to being an indicator light and flashes to the user to show that it is ready to receive setup codes.

Decoded incoming light pulse sequences are then compared to a set of predefined keywords, such as SETDATE, SETTIME, SETID, SETFLASHDAY,

SETFLASHTIME, SETFLASHCOUNT, START, STOP, SLEEP, etc. and the characters which follow each keyword are used to configure the corresponding options in the microcontroller.

The keyword START will set the device out of Setup Mode and into Running Mode, and the visible LED (LED2) and Infrared LED (LED1) will both send out the ID sequence using Morse encoding for the user to verify for a small number of repetitions.

In Running Mode, using alarm features of the Microcontroller’s Real Time Clock, the

Infrared LED only will flash out the ID sequence using Morse encoding at the times and dates set by the user during setup.

The Keyword SLEEP will put the device into a sleep mode, where it will remain using a very low power, powering up the comparator for a short time at regular intervals to test whether a light source is present.

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Claims

1. An electronic animal tag which uses a flashing light to send information to an observer.

2. An electronic tag according to claim 1 characterised in that it uses an infrared flashing light to send information to an observer.

3. An electronic tag according to claim 1 characterised in that it sends Morse encoded light signals to an observer.

4. An electronic tag according to claim 1 characterised in that it uses a light emitting diode to send a Morse encoded identity code to an observer.

5. An electronic tag according to claim 1 characterised in that it uses a light emitting diode to send Morse encoded data, such as temperature or movement data, to an observer.

6. An electronic tag according to claim 1 characterised in that it uses an Infrared light emitting diode to send Morse encoded light signals to an observer.

7. An electronic tag according to claim 1 characterised in that it may be configured to emit signals at certain times of day.

8. An electronic tag according to claim 1 characterised in that it may be configured to emit signals on certain days.

9. An electronic tag according to claim 1 characterised in that it can be activated or configured using an external light source.

10. An electronic tag according to claim 1 characterised in that it can be activated or configured using Morse encoded signals.

11. An electronic tag according to claim 1 characterised in that it can be activated or configured using Morse encoded signals from an external light source.

12. An electronic tag according to claim 1 that uses a light emitting diode to both emit and receive light signals.

13. An electronic tag according to claim 1 characterised in that it features both a visible light LED and an Infrared LED.

14. A reptile tag by any preceding claim.

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Application No: GB1615860.2