GPS PET CONTAINMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20070204804A1
• Filed: 10/02/2006
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Johnson Direct LLC
• Original Assignee: Johnson Direct LLC
• Inventors: Watson, Edward, Swanson, Scott, Mulcrone, David, Leonard, Bradley, Oberleitner, Raymond, Rydberg, John
• Application Number:
  US11/538,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20070204804A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/721
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/023 Anti-evasion devices

Abstract

Described herein is a GPS pet containment system is that generally self contained within a collar. However, the collar includes a battery power source, a microcontroller powered by the battery power source, a global positioning system (GPS) interfaced to the microcontroller and an accelerometer interfaced to the microcontroller. The GPS operates to provide collar location information on a periodic basis while the accelerometer provides collar dead reckoning location information on a substantially continuous basis. The dead reckoning location information is acquired by integrating the acceleration value provided by the accelerometer over sub-second time intervals.

Claims

1. A GPS pet containment system, comprising:

a collar, wherein said collar includes a battery power source, a microcontroller powered by said battery power source, a global positioning system (GPS) interfaced to said microcontroller and an accelerometer interfaced to said microcontroller;

wherein said GPS provides collar location information on a periodic basis and wherein said accelerometer provides collar dead reckoning location information on a substantially continuous basis by integrating the acceleration value provided by said accelerometer over sub-second time intervals.

2. The GPS pet containment system of claim 1, wherein the integration of the acceleration value provided by said accelerometer over sub-second time intervals results in a distance value and a relative heading to previous sub-second time intervals.

3. The GPS pet containment system of claim 1, wherein the elements of said system are independently and completely contained within the confines of the collar.

4. The GPS pet containment system of claim 1, further comprising a recharging cradle, wherein said recharging cradle releasably accepts and supports said collar, and recharges said battery power source.

5. The GPS pet containment system of claim 1, wherein the accelerometer provides an indication of no motion of said collar, and wherein said indication is used to turn off the GPS to preserve battery power.

6. A GPS pet containment system, comprising:

a collar, wherein said collar includes a battery power source, a microcontroller powered by said battery power source, a global positioning system (GPS) interfaced to said microcontroller and an RF receiver/transmitter interfaced to said microcontroller; and

a cradle, wherein said cradle includes an RF receiver/transmitter, and wherein said cradle RF receiver/transmitter emits a signal to create an RF bubble about said collar, wherein said RF bubble is defined by a signal strength detected by said collar RF receiver/transmitter, and upon detecting that signal strength is strong, GPS tracking is ceased to conserve battery power.

7. The GPS pet containment system of claim 6, further comprising an accelerometer interfaced to said microcontroller, wherein said GPS provides collar location information on a periodic basis and wherein said accelerometer provides collar dead reckoning location information on a substantially continuous basis by integrating the acceleration value provided by said accelerometer over sub-second time intervals.

8. The GPS pet containment system of claim 7, wherein the integration of the acceleration value provided by said accelerometer over sub-second time intervals results in a distance value and a relative heading to previous sub-second time intervals.

9. The GPS pet containment system of claim 8, wherein the accelerometer provides an indication of no motion of said collar, and wherein said indication is used to turn off the GPS to preserve battery power.

10. The GPS pet containment system of claim 6, wherein said cradle releasably accepts and supports said collar, and recharges said battery power source.

11. The GPS pet containment system of claim 6, wherein said collar comprises a stainless steel band supporting at least two electronic housings, wherein said electronic housings are connected by a flexwire, and wherein said electronic housings, said steel band, and said flexwire are overmolded to form a single unit.

12. The GPS pet containment system of claim 11, wherein said collar is overmolded with saniprene.

13. A GPS pet containment system, comprising:

a collar, wherein said collar includes a battery power source, a microcontroller powered by said battery power source, a global positioning system (GPS) interfaced to said microcontroller and an accelerometer interfaced to said microcontroller;

wherein said GPS provides collar location information on a periodic basis and wherein said accelerometer provides collar dead reckoning location information on a substantially continuous basis by integrating the acceleration value provided by said accelerometer over sub-second time intervals, wherein said collar dead reckoning location information determines whether the collar is leaving a boundary or returning to a boundary, and wherein said collar delivers a shock to the wearer upon a determination of leaving a boundary.

14. The GPS pet containment system of claim 13, wherein the integration of the acceleration value provided by said accelerometer over sub-second time intervals results in a distance value and a relative heading to previous sub-second time intervals.

15. The GPS pet containment system of claim 13, wherein the elements of said system are independently and completely contained within the confines of the collar.

16. The GPS pet containment system of claim 13, further comprising a recharging cradle, wherein said recharging cradle releasably accepts and supports said collar, and recharges said battery power source.

17. The GPS pet containment system of claim 13, wherein the accelerometer provides an indication of no motion of said collar, and wherein said indication is used to turn off the GPS to preserve battery power.

18. The GPS pet containment system of claim 13, wherein said collar comprises a stainless steel band supporting at least two electronic housings, wherein said electronic housings are connected by a flexwire, and wherein said electronic housings, said steel band, and said flexwire are overmolded to form a single unit.

19. The GPS pet containment system of claim 13, wherein said collar is overmolded with saniprene.