Patent No. 5868103 Method and apparatus for controlling an animal
Patent No. 5868103
Method and apparatus for controlling an animal (Boyd, Feb 9, 1999)
Abstract
An apparatus for controlling an animal wherein the animal receives a control stimulus of the release of a substance having an adverse effect upon the animal as a corrective measure. The apparatus includes a transmitter for producing a transmitted field, and a releasable collar for attaching to the neck of the animal. The collar includes a receiver for receiving the transmitted field and for producing a received signal, a control circuit for determining when the received signal indicates that the animal requires a corrective measure and for producing a control signal, a container for containing the substance having an adverse effect upon the animal, and a mechanism for releasing the substance from the container into the presence of the animal upon the production of the control signal by the control circuit. In use, the transmitter is set to produce the transmitted field and the collar is attached to the neck of the animal. As the animal moves about, the receiver in the collar receives the transmitted field and produces a received signal. The control circuit determines when the received signal indicates that the animal requires a corrective measure. A control signal is produced by the control circuit when the determination is made that the animal requires a corrective measure. Upon the production of the control signal, the substance having an adverse effect upon the animal is released from the container and into the presence of the animal.
Notes:
SUMMARY
OF THE INVENTION
Having regard to the above and other objects and advantages, the present invention
generally provides for an apparatus for controlling an animal wherein the animal
receives a control stimulus of the release of a substance having an adverse
effect upon the animal as a corrective measure. The apparatus comprises a transmitter
for producing a transmitted field, and a releasable collar for attaching to
the neck of the animal. The collar includes a receiver for receiving the transmitted
field and for producing a received signal, a control circuit for determining
when the received signal indicates that the animal requires a corrective measure
and for producing a control signal, a container for containing the substance
having an adverse effect upon the animal, and means for releasing the substance
from the container into the presence of the animal upon the production of the
control signal by the control circuit.
In the use of the present invention, the transmitter is set up to produce the
transmitted field and the collar is attached to the neck of the animal. As the
animal moves about, the receiver in the collar receives the transmitted field
and produces a received signal. The control circuit, also in the collar, determines
when the received signal indicates that the animal requires a corrective measure.
A control signal is produced by the control circuit when the determination is
made that the animal requires a corrective measure. Upon the production of the
control signal, the substance having an adverse effect upon the animal is released
from the container and into the presence of the animal.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the transmitter produces
an electromagnetic field and it is further preferred that the transmitter produces
a magnetic field. When the transmitter produces an electromagnetic field, it
is preferred that the transmitter includes an electromagnetic field generator,
means for transmitting an electromagnetic field, and an electromagnetic field
transmitting antenna. It is also preferred that the receiver includes an electromagnetic
field receiving antenna, an electromagnetic field detector for detecting the
presence of ate transmitted field, and a means for producing a received signal
in response to the detected presence of the transmitted field. It is further
preferred that the received signal is produced at a level that is directly related
to the level of the received transmitted field and that the control circuit
includes a comparator circuit for comparing the level of the received signal
to a predetermined level, and means for producing a control signal when the
level of the received signal is less than the predetermined level, or that the
control circuit includes a comparator circuit for comparing the level of the
received signal to a predetermined level, and means for producing a control
signal when the level of the received signal is greater than the determined
level. In addition, it is preferred that the control circuit includes means
for producing a control signal when the received signal is present.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the transmitter produces
an ultrasonic field. In such an embodiment of the present invention, it is preferred
that the transmitter includes an ultrasonic field generator, means for transmitting
an ultrasonic field, and an ultrasonic field transmitting speaker. It is further
preferred that the receiver includes an ultrasonic field receiving microphone,
an ultrasonic field detector for detecting the presence of the transmitted field,
and means for producing a received signal in response to the detected presence
of the transmitted field. Also, there is a preferred embodiment of the present
invention wherein the received signal is produced at a level that is directly
related to the level of the received transmitted field. It is more preferred
that the control circuit include a comparator circuit for comparing the level
of the received signal to a predetermined level, and means for producing a control
signal when the level of the received signal is less than the predetermined
level or the control circuit includes a comparator circuit for comparing the
level of the received signal to a predetermined level, and means for producing
a control signal when the level of the received signal is greater than the predetermined
level. In another embodiment of the present invention, the control circuit includes
means for producing a control signal when the received signal is present.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the transmitter produces
an electromagnetic field and an ultrasonic field. It is further preferred that
the transmitter includes an electromagnetic field and an ultrasonic field. It
is further preferred that the transmitter include an electromagnetic field generator,
means for transmitting an electromagnetic field, an electromagnetic field transmitting
antenna, an ultrasonic field generator, means for transmitting an ultrasonic
field, and an ultrasonic field transmitting speaker. It is further preferred
that the receiver includes an electromagnetic field receiving antenna, an electromagnetic
field detector for detecting the presence of the transmitted electromagnetic
field, means for producing a first received signal in response to the detected
presence of the transmitted electromagnetic field, an ultrasonic field receiving
microphone, an ultrasonic field detector for detecting the presence of the transmitted
ultrasonic field, and means for producing a second received signal in response
to the detected presence of the transmitted ultrasonic field. In such a preferred
system, the control circuit includes, a comparator circuit for comparing the
time between the receiver of the first received signal and the receipt of the
second received signal, and means for producing a control signal when the time
between the receipt of the first received signal and the receipt of the second
received signal is less than a predetermined time or the control circuit includes
a comparator circuit for comparing the time between the receipt of the first
received signal and the receipt of the second received signal, and means for
producing a control signal when the time between the receipt of the first received
signal and the receipt of the second received signal is greater than the predetermined
level.
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Having
thus described various preferred embodiments of the invention and several of
its benefits and advantages, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill
that the foregoing description is merely for the purpose of illustration and
that numerous substitutions, rearrangements and modifications may be made in
the invention without departing from the cope and spirit of the appended claims.
The appended claims set forth various novel and useful features of the invention.
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