RFID PET DOOR
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention relate to the field of pet doors, particularly selective entry pet doors based on detection of RFID tags. We describe a pet door comprising: an RFID reader to read an RFID tag on a pet; and a lock coupled to said RFID reader to control access through said pet door in response to an RFID signal from said tag; wherein said RFID reader has two modes, a first operational mode and a second, reduced power mode, and wherein said pet door further comprises: a pet proximity detector coupled to said RFID reader to identify when a pet is proximate said pet door and to control said RFID reader responsive to said identification such that when said pet is proximate said RFID is in said operational mode and such that said RFID reader is otherwise in said reduced power mode.
60 Citations
58 Claims
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1-30. -30. (canceled)
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31. An RFID pet door, the pet door comprising:
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an RFID reader to read an RFID tag on a pet; and a lock coupled to said RFID reader to control access through said pet door in response to an RFID signal from said tag; wherein said RFID reader has two modes, a first operational mode and a second, reduced power mode, and wherein said pet door further comprises; a pet proximity detector coupled to said RFID reader to identify when a pet is proximate said pet door and to control said RFID reader responsive to said identification such that when said pet is proximate said RFID is in said operational mode and such that said RFID reader is otherwise in said reduced power mode. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 46, 47)
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36. An RFID pet door, the pet door comprising:
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an RFID reader to read an RFID tag on a pet; and a lock coupled to said RFID reader to control access through said pet door in response to an RFID signal from said tag; wherein said pet door includes a tunnel through which said pet must pass to pass through the pet door, said tunnel housing an access control flap at one end; and wherein said flap is at an inside end of said tunnel when said pet door is mounted in a door or wall; wherein said lock comprises a controllable stop such that when locked said stop inhibits motion of said flap to inhibit entry of a said pet, when unlocked said stop is displaced such that a said pet can gain entry via said flap and such that when both unlocked and locked a pet can exit through said flap;
wherein said RFID reader includes a loop antenna formed around said tunnel; and
wherein, in operation, a said pet bearing a said tag in its forequarters, inserts its head into said tunnel from an outside end of said tunnel towards said flap to enable said tag to be read by said RFID reader using said antenna to unlock said lock. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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37. An RFID pet door, said pet door including a tunnel through which said pet must pass to pass through said pet door, said pet door including an RFID reader having a loop antenna for reading an RFID tag;
- and wherein said loop antenna is formed around said tunnel.
- View Dependent Claims (40)
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41. A selective entry pet door with an electric latchable lock, the lock comprising:
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a stop moveable between two positions, a first, locking position in which said stop projects to inhibit movement of a flap of said pet door to inhibit passage of a pet in at least one direction through said pet door, and a second, retracted position in which said flap is enabled to move to allow passage of said pet in said at least one direction; an arm bearing said stop and mounted on a pivot such that rotation about said pivot causes said stop to move between said first and second positions; a bias device to bias said arm towards said locking position; an electric motor; and a camming device coupled to a shaft of said motor and having a camming surface positioned to bear against said arm and said resilient bias device such that on rotation of said motor shaft said camming surface moves to move said stop between said locking and retracted positions; whereby said stop is retractable by pressure towards said retracted position when in said locking position. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45)
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48. A pet door comprising:
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a frame; a tunnel attached to said frame; a moveable flap configured to allow opening of the flap in a direction towards the tunnel and selective opening of the flap in a direction away from the tunnel, and; a lock for controlling said selective opening; an antenna disposed around the tunnel; and a receiver coupled to said antenna configured to operate said lock responsive to receiving a signal from said antenna. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A pet door for allowing selective entry into a building of an animal carrying a tag, comprising:
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a frame; a tunnel attached to the frame; a moveable flap configured to allow opening of the flap in a direction towards said tunnel and selective opening of the flap in a direction away from said tunnel; a lock for controlling said selective opening; a receiver configured to operate said lock responsive to receiving a signal from a said tag; and a proximity detector for detecting when a said animal is proximate said pet door; wherein the proximity detector is configured to apply power to said receiver responsive to said detecting. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56)
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57. A pet door comprising:
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a frame; a moveable flap configured to allow unrestricted opening of said door in a first direction and selective opening of said door in a second direction; a lock for controlling said selective opening; an arm having a catch, said arm being pivotally mounted on said pet door and having two configurations, a first configuration in which the catch is disposed to prevent opening of the door in said second direction, and a second configuration in which the catch is disposed to permit opening of the door in said second direction; and a motor having a drive shaft and a cam disposed on said drive shaft, the cam being configured to put the arm into said first configuration when the motor is driven in a first direction and to put the arm into said second configuration when said motor is driven in a second direction. - View Dependent Claims (58)
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Specification