Electronic confinement system for animals using modulated radio waves
First Claim
1. An animal confinement arrangement comprising:
- home base transmitting means for transmitting a modulated signal from a first signal-emitting wire, the first signal-emitting wire disposed around a confinement area and the modulated signal having a signal strength;
receiver means for receiving the modulated signal, said receiver means having an antenna with a ferrite core having at least four protruding legs and a single length of wire wound around each one of said protruding legs;
demodulator means for demodulating the received modulated signal to produce a demodulated signal;
comparator means for comparing the demodulated signal to a reference signal to determine if the received modulated signal was transmitted from the first signal-emitting wire; and
deterrent means, responsive to a strength level of the received modulated signal, for producing a deterrent signal which is applied to the animal if the comparator means determined that the received modulated signal was transmitted from the first signal-emitting wire.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An animal confinement arrangement including a home base for transmitting a modulated signal and a receiver for receiving the modulated signal. The received modulated signal is demodulated using a demodulator. The demodulated signal is compared to a reference signal to produce a comparator signal indicating if the received modulated signal was transmitted by the home base. Also provided is variable sensitivity deterrent circuitry which is responsive to a strength level of the received modulated signal and to the comparator signal for producing a variable deterrent signal which is applied to an animal if the comparator signal indicates that the received modulated signal was transmitted by the home base. Communication circuitry and an antenna design allow the user to communicate with the animal. A low battery strength indicator for the battery in the receiver is also provided.
35 Citations
39 Claims
-
1. An animal confinement arrangement comprising:
-
home base transmitting means for transmitting a modulated signal from a first signal-emitting wire, the first signal-emitting wire disposed around a confinement area and the modulated signal having a signal strength; receiver means for receiving the modulated signal, said receiver means having an antenna with a ferrite core having at least four protruding legs and a single length of wire wound around each one of said protruding legs; demodulator means for demodulating the received modulated signal to produce a demodulated signal; comparator means for comparing the demodulated signal to a reference signal to determine if the received modulated signal was transmitted from the first signal-emitting wire; and deterrent means, responsive to a strength level of the received modulated signal, for producing a deterrent signal which is applied to the animal if the comparator means determined that the received modulated signal was transmitted from the first signal-emitting wire. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An animal confinement arrangement comprising:
-
home base transmitting means for transmitting a modulated signal from a first signal-emitting wire, the first signal-emitting wire disposed around a confinement area and the modulated signal having a signal strength; receiver means for receiving the modulated signal and having; a) a battery, and b) battery strength detection means for detecting a strength level of said battery and transmitting said strength level to said home base transmitting means; demodulator means for demodulating the received modulated signal to produce a demodulated signal having a second signal strength which corresponds to the first signal strength; comparator means for comparing the demodulated signal to a reference signal to determine if the received modulated signal was transmitted from the first signal-emitting wire; and deterrent means, responsive to a strength level of the received modulated signal, for producing a deterrent signal which is applied to the animal if the comparator means determined that the received modulated signal was transmitted from the first signal-emitting wire. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. An animal confinement arrangement comprising:
-
a) a first signal-emitting wire disposed around a confinement area; b) a second signal-emitting wire disposed adjacent to a home base transmitting means, said second signal-emitting wire disposed within the confinement area defined by said first signal-emitting wire; c) said home base transmitting means for transmitting a first modulated signal from the first signal emitting wire and a second modulated signal different from said first modulated signal from the second signal emitting wire, said home base transmitting means having an alarm which is activated by an alarm activation signal; and d) a receiver responsive to said first modulated signal and said second modulated signal, said receiver including; (i) deterrent means responsive to a first strength level of said first modulated signal emitted from said first signal-emitting wire for producing as an output a deterrent signal which is applied to the animal, (ii) disconnect and alarm means responsive to a second strength level of said first modulated signal emitted from said first signal-emitting wire, said second strength level being higher than said first strength level, said disconnect and alarm means producing as an output a signal to disconnect said deterrent means and to produce and broadcast to said first signal-emitting wire the alarm activation signal, (iii) reconnect means responsive to said second modulated signal for producing as an output a signal to reconnect said disconnected deterrent means, and (iv) an antenna for receiving and transmitting a plurality of signals, said antenna having a ferrite core with at least four protruding legs and a single length of wire wound around each one of said protruding legs. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
-
-
34. An animal confinement arrangement comprising:
-
a) a first signal-emitting wire disposed around a confinement area; b) a second signal-emitting wire disposed adjacent to a home base transmitting means, said second signal-emitting wire disposed within the confinement area defined by said first signal-emitting wire; c) said home base transmitting means for transmitting a first modulated signal from the first signal emitting wire and a second modulated signal different from said first modulated signal from the second signal emitting wire, said home base transmitting means having an alarm which is activated by an alarm activation signal; and d) a receiver responsive to said first modulated signal and said second modulated signal, said receiver including; (i) deterrent means responsive to a first strength level of said first modulated signal emitted from said first signal-emitting wire for producing as an output a deterrent signal which is applied to the animal, (ii) disconnect and alarm means responsive to a second strength level of said first modulated signal emitted from said first signal-emitting wire, said second strength level being higher than said first strength level, said disconnect and alarm means producing as an output a signal to disconnect said deterrent means and to produce and broadcast to said first signal-emitting wire the alarm activation signal, (iii) reconnect means responsive to said second modulated signal for producing as an output a signal to reconnect said disconnected deterrent means, and (iv) a battery, and (v) battery strength detection means for detecting a strength level of said battery and transmitting said strength level to said home base transmitting means. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
-
Specification