Animal containment system

• US 5,608,381 A
• Filed: 09/23/1994
• Issued: 03/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Industrial Automation Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Industrial Automation Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Shockey, Kenneth B., Calabrese, Frank A., McCarney, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US08/310,873
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573, 119/720, 119/721, 119/712, 119/719
• US Class Current: 340/573.3
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/023 Anti-evasion devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0221 involving a learning process
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0242 using non-visible light signals, e.g. IR or UV signals

Abstract

An animal containment system is disclosed wherein the contained animal wears a receiver which receives first and second codes in the form of frequencies which are defined in adjacent curtains of near infrared or the like light established by a transmitting device. One pair of one shots detects one frequency and a second pair of one shots detects a second frequency. When the warning frequency is detected a sounder continuously operates and when the second frequency is detected a transformer is intermittently operated to shock the animal and the sounder is intermittently operated. The transformer can be operated in three modes: high power, low power or disconnected.

Claims

1. An animal confinement system comprising

a transmitter for transmitting near infrared energy coded with pulses having first and second frequencies and

a receiver to be worn by the animal for receiving the transmitted near infrared energy coded with said pulses having said first and second frequencies, said receiver including

a sounder for producing a warning tone,

transformer means for providing a high voltage low energy shock,

first means for operating said sounder when near infrared energy is received coded with pulses having said first frequency, said operating means having first and second one shots defining a first digital bandpass filter,

second means for operating said transformer means when near infrared energy is received coded with pulses having said second frequency, said second operating means having third and fourth one shots defining a second digital bandpass filter,

said first bandpass filter being selected so that said pulses having said first frequency will be detected while said pulses having said second frequency will not be detected, and

said second bandpass filter being selected so that said pulses having said second frequency will be detected while said pulses having said first frequency will not be detected.

2. An animal confinement system according to claim 1, wherein

said first transmitted pulse frequency is 250 Hz,

said second transmitted pulse frequency is 1000 Hz,

said first received selected bandpass is 125-703 Hz, and

said second received selected bandpass is 794-15,873 Hz.

3. An animal containment system according to claim 1, wherein said receiver receives said first and second frequencies from two transmitters,

said first bandpass being selected so that only said first frequency will be detected even in the presence of asyncronous first frequencies, and

said second bandpass being selected so that only said second frequency will be detected even in the presence of asyncronous first and second frequencies.

4. An animal containment system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second operating means each further includes light receiving diode means and an RC circuit for reducing current consumption when said diode means receives infrared energy which is not transmitted by said transmitters.

5. An animal confinement system comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting a first code in one zone and a second code in an adjacent second zone, a receiver to be worn by the animal for receiving near infrared energy coded with said first and second codes, said receiver including

a sounder,

transformer means for providing a high voltage low energy shock,

means for continuously operating said sounder when near infrared energy is received having said first code, said operating means including a first transistor, and a comparator having an output controlling the operation of said transistor,

an oscillator having an output operating said transformer means when near infrared energy is received having said second code, and

means for connecting the output of said oscillator to the output of said comparator for intermittently operating said sounder when near infrared energy is received having said second code.

6. An animal containment system according to claim 5, wherein said transformer means includes a second transistor controlled by the output of said oscillator means.

7. An animal containment system according to claim 6, wherein said transformer means further includes a pair of animal engaging metallic posts.

8. An animal containment system according to claim 6, further comprising a battery circuit for operating said transformer means including a first battery, a second battery receiving receptacle in said battery circuit, a current conducting slug selectively sized for placement in said receptacle and a second battery for placement in said receptacle so that said transformer means maybe disconnected by leaving said second battery receiving receptacle empty;

2. be powered by said first battery when said slug is placed in said receptacle; and

3. be powered by both batteries when said second battery is placed in said receptacle.

9. An animal containment system according to claim 6, further comprising

a battery circuit connected to said second transistor,

said circuit including battery,

a second battery circuit interconnecting said second transistor to said battery means,

said sounder selected to operate only at a voltage output of said battery means above a voltage indicative of a weak battery, whereby the failure of said sounder to sound will inform the system user that the battery means is weak.