Device and method for automatically milking cows
US6498338B2 · kind B2 · utility
17Cited by
1References
13Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 22, 2001 |
| Grant date | Dec 24, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 22, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S17/87
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention relates to a sensor device for use, for example, in an automatic milking device and, in particular, for detecting the positions of the teats of an animal which is to be milked. The sensor device comprises a number of radiation sources which generate non-divergent radiation beams which have different positions and/or directions which are known in the control unit. The reflections from the irradiated object are detected using detectors, and there are means for distinguishing between the reflections from the various radiation sources, so that the control unit is able to establish the position of the object.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.