Game alert system

• US 10,076,111 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2016
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hogman-Outdoors, LLC
• Original Assignee: Hogman-Outdoors, LLC
• Inventors: Hays, DeWayne L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Zhen Y
• Application Number:
  US15/366,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20170079260A1
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 3405732
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 31/002 Detecting animals in a given area
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/008 Leisure, hobby or sport articles, e.g. toys, games or first-aid kits; Hand tools; Toolboxes
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/38 Telescopic sights specially adapted for smallarms or ordnance telescopic sights in general G02B; Supports or mountings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A game alert system includes a device mountable on a game feeder that detects motion in a target area and automatically sends an electronic signal to a user, or a hunter, in a remote location to notify the hunter of movement in the area, without alerting or startling animals that triggered the device. The system may include one or more cameras (which may be 360 degree cameras) and/or one or more GPS systems for obtaining photographs and/or video and/or collecting geographic data. The system may further include multiple motion sensors and a hub which wirelessly communicate with one another and which may communicate wirelessly with a user device such as a smartphone, tablet, night vision equipment, or other device.

Claims

1. A system for stealth hunting, the system comprising:

a motion detector module comprising;

a housing having a recess area;

an electronic circuit contained in the housing;

a power source or a connector for a power source connected to the electronic circuit;

a motion sensor having a detection zone and operable to detect an animal in the detection zone, the sensor being connected to the electronic circuit and at least partially contained in the housing;

a notification device connected to the electronic circuit, the notification device being operable to, in response to a first signal from the sensor, activate a light emitting diode (LED), wherein the LED is located in the recess area of the housing, wherein the LED is configured to be visible at a location at least 50 yards from the LED, and wherein the recess area shields light from the LED to exclude the detection zone from illumination by the LED; and

a wireless communication device connected to the electronic circuit, the wireless communication device enabled for electronic activation in response to a second signal from the motion sensor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is operable in darkness.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor comprises at least one of:

a night time motion sensor, a passive infrared heat sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a microwave sensor, an acoustic wave sensor, and a vibration sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is effective to sense motion within a 360°

perimeter.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is configurable to transmit the first signal in response to detecting the motion of an animal within a selected range of body profile area.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the motion sensor is configurable to transmit the first signal in response to detecting the motion of animals having at least 3 square feet in body profile area.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the LED emits a pulse of light having a duration from 1 to 20 seconds when activated.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the LED emits red light visible for at least 500 yards when activated.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a battery.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device comprises a radio frequency (RF) transmitter adapted to transmit a wireless signal to a night vision device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the RF transmitter transmits at a frequency of 900 MHz.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a magnet effective to attach the housing to a metal surface.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device comprises a cellular transmitter.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a hub device, the hub device further comprising:

a second wireless communication device configured to receive wireless communications from a plurality of motion detector modules, including the motion detector module;

a plurality of indicator lights respectively corresponding to at least one of the plurality of motion detector modules;

a vibrator device;

a short range wireless transmitter; and

a second electronic circuit configured to respond to the motion detector modules by activating at least one of the vibrator device and the indicator lights,

and by transmitting over the short range wireless transmitter.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein each of the motion detector modules is assigned an identifier and wherein the identifier is transmitted by the wireless communication device.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the short range transmitter has a range of at least 100 yards.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the short range wireless transmitter is pairable to a portable electronic device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the portable electronic device is one of:

a cellular phone, a smart phone, a tablet, a pad, a pager, a laptop, and a watch.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the portable electronic device is a wearable electronic device.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the second electronic circuit is configured to generate an error message when the same identifier is received from two or more motion sensor modules.

21. The system of claim 14, further comprising a scope-mountable flashlight.

22. A system for stealth hunting, the system comprising:

(a) a plurality of motion detector modules, each motion detector module further comprising;

(i) motion sensor;

(ii) a wireless communication device electronically activatable by the motion sensor;

(iii) an indicator light source electronically activatable by the motion sensor, wherein the indicator light is visible from a distance of at least 100 yards, and wherein the indicator light is located in a recess area of the motion detector module and the recess area shields the indicator light to exclude a ground area around the motion detector module from illumination by the indicator light;

(iv) an electronic circuit configured to control the motion sensor, and to control the interaction of the light source and the wireless communication device with the motion sensor; and

(b) a hub device, the hub device further comprising;

(i) a second wireless communication device configured to receive wireless communications from a plurality of motion detector modules, including the motion detector module;

(ii) a plurality of indicator lights, each of the indicator lights corresponding to at least one of the plurality of motion detector modules;

(iii) a vibrator device;

(iv) a short range wireless transmitter; and

(v) a second electronic circuit configured to respond to the motion detector modules by activating at least one of the vibrator device and the indicator lights, and by transmitting over the short range wireless transmitter.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the wireless communication device comprises a radio frequency (RF) transmitter.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the RF transmitter transmits at a frequency of 900 MHz.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the short range transmitter has a range of up to about 100 yards.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the short range wireless transmitter is pairable to a portable electronic device.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the portable electronic device is one of:

a cellular phone, a smart phone, a tablet, a pad, a pager, a laptop, and a watch.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the portable electronic device is a wearable electronic device.

29. The system of claim 22, further comprising the plurality of motion detector modules,

wherein each of the motion detector modules transmits an identifier code that is indicative of the motion detector module;

wherein the hub device receives the identifier code; and

wherein the second electronic circuit is configured to identify a first motion detector module associated with the identifier code and to activate a first indicator light respectively corresponding to the first motion detector module.

30. The system of claim 22, further comprising a scope-mountable flashlight.

31. A device for providing an alert of the presence of one or more animals comprising:

a housing having a recess area;

a sensor located at least partially within said housing and operable over an arc of at least 300 degrees to detect the presence of one or more animals and connected to one or more processors executing software, wherein said sensor is configured to transmit a signal in response to the detection of one or more animals;

a notification device located at least partially within the recess area of said housing and connected to at least one of said one or more processors and operable to receive a signal therefrom in response to a signal from said sensor, wherein the recess area shields light from said notification device so said notification device does not illuminate a ground area underneath a detection zone of said sensor and wherein said notification device is operable to wirelessly transmit a signal to at least one user communication device at a location remote from said sensor and said notification device.

32. The device according to claim 31 wherein said at least one user communication device comprises at least one of a smartphone, a computer, a smart watch, a tablet, night vision goggles, a night vision scope, a night vision monocular or binoculars, or a scope.

33. The device according to claim 31 further comprising at least one camera located at least partially within said housing and operable to take still or moving images over an arc of at least 300 degrees.

34. The device according to claim 33 wherein said camera is operable to take still or moving images over an arc of 360 degrees.

35. The device according to claim 34 wherein said camera is operable to take still or moving images in response to a signal indicating that said sensor has detected the presence of one or more animals.

36. The device according to claim 35 further comprising non-volatile memory connected to said camera and operable to store still or moving images taken by said camera.