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.