Transmitter loop monitor

• US 20070109135A1
• Filed: 11/01/2006
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dogwatch Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Dogwatch Incorporated
• Inventors: Peterson, Frederic
• Application Number:
  US11/591,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20070109135A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.300
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2477 Antenna or antenna activator circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0202 Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child

Abstract

A device for monitoring the integrity of an antenna wire loop, such as for a pet containment system, and a system using the monitoring device are disclosed. The device can be incorporated in the transmitter portion of the pet containment system or can be a stand-alone device electrically and operationally coupled thereto. The device includes a current monitoring portion that monitors the current driven in the antenna wire loop and a display portion that displays the intensity of the electromagnetic field in appropriate units, such as feet.

Claims

1. A device for continuously monitoring the integrity of an antenna wire used in conjunction with a pet containment system, the device comprising:

a current monitoring portion for monitoring the magnitude of a current applied to the antenna wire to generate an electromagnetic field of a desired intensity about said antenna wire; and

a display portion for displaying a visual signal corresponding to the intensity of the electromagnetic field.

2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the current monitoring portion includes a filter and a voltage peak detector.

3. The device as recited in claim 2, wherein the filter is a Low-pass filter for filtering higher frequency components.

4. The device as recited in claim 2, wherein the voltage peak detector converts a filtered signal from the filter to an analog voltage output.

5. The device as recited in claim 4, wherein the analog voltage output drives the display portion.

6. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the display portion includes a linear analog display and a display driver device.

7. The device as recited in claim 6, wherein the linear analog display is a bar-type or dot-type display comprising a plurality of light-emitting devices.

8. The device as recited in claim 7, wherein the display driver device illuminates more of the plurality of light-emitting devices when the intensity of the electromagnetic field is relatively high and illuminates fewer of the plurality of light-emitting devices when the intensity of the electromagnetic field is relatively low.

9. The device as recited in claim 7, wherein the display driver device illuminates each of the plurality of light-emitting devices one at a time as the intensity of the electromagnetic field increases.

10. A transmitter for monitoring the integrity of an antenna wire for a pet containment system, the transmitter comprising:

a signal source for generating continuous electrical signals;

a current driver and loop detector for driving the continuous electrical signals on an antenna wire of the containment system;

a power amplifier for amplifying the continuous electrical signals before said electrical signals are applied to the antenna wire;

a device for continuously monitoring the integrity of the antenna wire, the device including;

a current monitoring portion for monitoring the magnitude of a current applied to the antenna wire to generate an electromagnetic field of a desired intensity about said antenna wire; and

a display portion for displaying a visual signal corresponding to the intensity of the electromagnetic field.

11. The device as recited in claim 10, wherein the current monitoring portion includes a filter and a voltage peak detector.

12. The device as recited in claim 11, wherein the filter is a Low-pass filter for filtering higher frequency components.

13. The device as recited in claim 11, wherein the voltage peak detector converts a filtered signal from the filter to an analog voltage output.

14. The device as recited in claim 13, wherein the analog voltage output drives the display portion.

15. The device as recited in claim 10, wherein the display portion includes a linear analog display and a display driver device.

16. The device as recited in claim 15, wherein the linear analog display is a bar-type or dot-type display comprising a plurality of light-emitting devices.

17. The device as recited in claim 16, wherein the display driver device illuminates more of the plurality of light-emitting devices when the intensity of the electromagnetic field is relatively high and illuminates fewer of the plurality of light-emitting devices when the intensity of the electromagnetic field is relatively low.

18. The device as recited in claim 16, wherein the display device illuminates each of the plurality of light-emitting devices one at a time as the intensity of the electromagnetic field increases.

19. A pet containment system comprising:

a buried antenna wire for radiating an electromagnetic field as electrical current passes through the antenna wire;

a transmitter having a device for continuously monitoring the integrity of the antenna wire for predicting problems therewith, the device including;

a current monitoring portion for monitoring the magnitude of the electrical current applied to the antenna wire to generate an electromagnetic field of a desired intensity about said antenna wire, and

a display portion for displaying a visual signal corresponding to the intensity of the electromagnetic field; and

a receiver for providing an audible alert when the electromagnetic field exceeds a first pre-determined intensity level or an electrical stimulation when the electromagnetic field exceeds a second pre-determined intensity level.

20. The pet containment system as recited in claim 19, wherein the transmitter further includes:

a signal source for generating continuous electrical signals;

a current driver and loop detector for driving the continuous electrical signals on the antenna wire; and

a power amplifier for amplifying the continuous electrical signals before said electrical signals are applied to the antenna wire.

21. The pet containment system as recited in claim 19, the system further comprising a power source for providing the electrical current.