ELECTRONIC FENCE CAPABLE OF GUIDING ANIMALS TO RETURN

• US 20090000566A1
• Filed: 09/08/2008
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DT Systems
• Original Assignee: DT Systems
• Inventors: Kim, Joon S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,841,302 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/721
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/023 Anti-evasion devices

Abstract

An electronic fence system capable of guiding animals under training to return to a predetermined restricted area. The electronic fence generates electric shocks as the animals attempt to leave the predetermined restricted area and restrains the electrical shock when the animals return to the predetermined restricted area. The electronic fence includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter transmits RF signals having a plurality of control signals such that different shock levels are generated responsive to the location of the animals within the predetermined restricted area. The receiver sets a shock wave level, selectively controls the generation of the electric shock and a high-frequency beep, automatically restrains the generation of the electric shock when an escaped animal returns to the predetermined restricted area, and generates an audible alarm and turns lamps on and off to indicate the location of the animal when it escapes from the predefined restricted area.

Claims

1. A method in receiver worn by an animal for prompting the animal to stay within a confined zone, comprising:

detecting one of a plurality defined invisible boundaries;

receiving animal control commands;

based on one of the received animal control commands, determining whether to stimulate the animal and if so, what type of stimulation based on the animal'"'"'s location in relation to the plurality of defined invisible boundaries, wherein;

a first stimulation is applied if the animal is approaching a first boundary from an internal first area surrounded by the first boundary;

a second stimulation is applied if the animal has crossed the first boundary and is approaching a second boundary and is in an area between the first and second boundaries;

wherein the first stimulation is not applied if the animal is approaching the first boundary and is in the area between the first and second boundaries; and

wherein the second stimulation is not applied if the animal is approaching the second boundary and is in an area outside of the second boundary.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first stimulation is one of a vibration or a sound.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the sound is one of a high-frequency beep and an audible alarm.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first stimulation is a shock having a first intensity level.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the second stimulation is a shock having a second intensity level that is greater than the first intensity level.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first stimulation is a shock.

7. The method of claim 1 further including transmitting an RF signal to a remote device to indicate that the animal is crossing or has crossed one of the first and second boundaries.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second stimulations are the same.

9. A training device worn by an animal for prompting the animal to stay within a confined zone, comprising:

circuitry for receiving transmitted RF signals and a control command wherein the receiver initiates a stimulation based upon the control command;

stimulation means for providing a stimulation to the animal;

circuitry for determining whether the animal is within a first boundary, between a first and a second boundary, and outside of the second boundary;

wherein, the receiver is operable to;

based on one of the received animal control commands, determine whether to stimulate the animal;

based on the animal'"'"'s location in relation to the plurality of defined invisible boundaries, determine what type of stimulation to apply to the animal, wherein;

a first stimulation is applied if the animal is approaching a first boundary from an internal first area surrounded by the first boundary;

a second stimulation is applied if the animal has crossed the first boundary and is approaching a second boundary and is in an area between the first and second boundaries;

wherein the first stimulation is not applied if the animal is approaching the first boundary and is in the area between the first and second boundaries; and

wherein the second stimulation is not applied if the animal is approaching the second boundary and is in an area outside of the second boundary.

10. The training device of claim 9 wherein the first stimulation is one of a vibration or a sound.

11. The training device of claim 10 wherein the sound is one of a high-frequency beep and an audible alarm.

12. The training device of claim 9 wherein the first stimulation is a shock having a first intensity level.

13. The training device of claim 12 wherein the second stimulation is a shock having a second intensity level that is greater than the first intensity level.

14. The training device of claim 9 wherein the first stimulation is a shock.

15. The training device of claim 9 further including circuitry for transmitting an RF signal to a remote device to indicate that the animal is crossing or has crossed one of the first and second boundaries.

16. The training device of claim 9 further including a plurality of antennas structurally arranged to define a ninety degree axial orientation relative to each other wherein the receiver is operable to determine the animal'"'"'s approach to an electronic fence from any direction.

17. The training device of claim 9 further including:

a power supply battery;

a power controller for regulating an output voltage of the power supply battery and for automatically controlling the regulated output voltage to the receiver such that the regulated output voltage is reduced after a period of inactivity;

an RF amplifier for amplifying the RF signal received by the receiving antenna to a predetermined level; and

a detector for down-converting and demodulating the RF signal coupled from the RF amplifier into the serial data signal.

18. The training device of claim 9 further including:

a microprocessor for selectively generating a plurality of function control signals, the plurality of function control signals including;

an electric shock level signal;

a lamp driver control signal;

a sound driver control signal;

a lamp driver for controlling operation of a plurality of lamps based on the lamp driver control signal;

an amplifier for amplifying the electric shock level signal based on the electric shock level signal;

a high-voltage transformer for boosting the amplified electric shock level signal to a high voltage; and

a sound driver for controlling the operations of the buzzer and the horn based on the sound driver control signal.

19. A training device worn by an animal for prompting the animal to stay within a confined zone, comprising:

circuitry for receiving transmitted RF signals and a control command wherein the receiver initiates a stimulation based upon the control command;

circuitry for determining whether the animal is within a first boundary, between a first and a second boundary, and outside of the second boundary;

a plurality of lamps for indicating selected stimulation modes;

circuitry for providing sound for at least one stimulation mode;

circuitry for providing a vibration for at least one stimulation mode;

wherein, the receiver is operable to;

based on one of the received animal control commands, determine whether to stimulate the animal;

based on the animal'"'"'s location in relation to the plurality of defined invisible boundaries, determine what type of stimulation to apply to the animal, wherein;

a first stimulation is applied if the animal is approaching a first boundary from an internal first area surrounded by the first boundary;

a second stimulation is applied if the animal has crossed the first boundary and is approaching a second boundary and is in an area between the first and second boundaries;

wherein the first stimulation is not applied if the animal is approaching the first boundary and is in the area between the first and second boundaries; and

wherein the second stimulation is not applied if the animal is approaching the second boundary and is in an area outside of the second boundary.

20. The training device of claim 19 wherein the first stimulation is one of a vibration or a sound.

21. The training device of claim 20 wherein the sound is one of a high-frequency beep and an audible alarm.

22. The training device of claim 19 further including circuitry for providing a shock wherein at least one of the first stimulation and the second stimulation is a shock having a first intensity level.

23. The training device of claim 22 wherein the first stimulation is a shock having the first intensity level and wherein the second stimulation is a shock having a second intensity level that is greater than the first intensity level.

24. The training device of claim 19 further including circuitry for transmitting an RF signal to a remote device to indicate that the animal is crossing or has crossed one of the first and second boundaries.

25. The training device of claim 19 further including:

a power supply battery; and

a power controller for regulating an output voltage of the power supply battery and for automatically controlling the regulated output voltage to the receiver such that the regulated output voltage is reduced after a period of inactivity.

26. The training device of claim 19 further including:

a microprocessor for selectively generating a plurality of function control signals, the plurality of function control signals including;

an electric shock level signal;

a lamp driver control signal;

a sound driver control signal;

a lamp driver for controlling operation of a plurality of lamps based on the lamp driver control signal;

an amplifier for amplifying the electric shock level signal based on the electric shock level signal;

a high-voltage transformer for boosting the amplified electric shock level signal to a high voltage; and

a sound driver for controlling the operations of the buzzer and the horn based on the sound driver control signal.