Method of and apparatus for training an animal

• US 5,617,814 A
• Filed: 01/08/1993
• Issued: 04/08/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Microtech Corporation
• Original Assignee: Elexis Corporation
• Inventors: Ehren, Lance, Bianco, Frank J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PRICE JR, RICHARD THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US08/002,486
• Time in Patent Office: 1,551 Days
• Field of Search: 119/908, 119/719, 119/720, 119/721, 340/573
• US Class Current: 119/720
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/023 Anti-evasion devices

Abstract

Movement of an animal into a barrier region is inhibited by fitting on the animal a collar carrying a housing including battery powered circuitry for transmitting a magnetic induction wave. A compressional wave emitter in the region responds to the magnetic induction wave to emit a compressional wave that the animal senses and which inhibits its movement into the region.

Claims

1. A method of inhibiting movement of an animal into a barrier region comprising transmitting from a source on the animal a wave having a predetermined characteristic, and emitting compressional wave energy from the region to the animal in response to receipt in the region of the wave having the predetermined characteristic, the emitted compressional wave energy having a characteristic that can be detected by the animal and when detected by the animal tends to prevent movement of the animal into the barrier region.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the wave transmitted from the source on the animal is a magnetic induction wave.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the magnetic induction wave is shaped as pulses continuously transmitted in bursts from the animal.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the wave transmitted from the source on the animal is shaped as pulses.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the pulses are continuously transmitted in bursts.

6. In combination, a housing, the housing including a receiver for a magnetic induction wave having a predetermined characteristic and a compressional wave energy emitter, the emitter being activated in response to reception by the receiver of the induction wave having the predetermined characteristic for emitting compressional wave energy.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the emitted compressional wave energy has a characteristic that can be detected by an animal and tends to prevent movement of the animal into a barrier region adjacent the housing.

8. The combination of claim 6 wherein the predetermined characteristic is frequency.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the receiver includes a resonant circuit tuned to a predetermined frequency, the predetermined frequency being the predetermined characteristic, the resonant circuit including a coil for receiving the magnetic induction wave.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein the housing further includes circuitry connected between the compressional energy wave emitter and an output derived by the resonant circuit in response to a magnetic induction wave having the predetermined frequency being received by the coil, the circuitry and compressional energy wave emitter being battery powered, the circuitry being connected to respond to the output and supplying to the emitter a pulse train for causing the emitter to derive the compressional wave energy each time a pulse of the pulse train is derived, the pulse train including a predetermined number of pulses followed by an interval substantially greater than the period between adjacent pulses of the pulse train, the pulse train being repeated after the interval has elapsed while the coil is receiving the magnetic induction wave.

11. The combination of claim 6 wherein the housing includes means for enabling the housing to be hung by a generally horizontally extending shaft.

12. The combination of claim 8 wherein the receiver includes circuitry for deriving an output in response to a magnetic induction wave having the predetermined characteristic being received by the receiver, the circuitry and compressional energy wave emitter being battery powered, the circuitry being connected to respond to the output and supplying to the emitter a pulse train for causing the emitter to derive the compressional wave energy each time a pulse of the pulse train is derived, the pulse train including a predetermined number of pulses followed by an interval substantially greater than the period between adjacent pulses of the pulse train, the pulse train being repeated after the interval has elapsed while the coil is receiving the magnetic induction wave.

13. Apparatus for inhibiting movement of an animal into a barrier region comprising a first housing including structure for enabling the first housing to be mounted on the animal, the first housing including battery powered electronic circuitry for emitting a magnetic induction wave having a predetermined characteristic;

a second housing adapted to be located in the region, the second housing including a receiver for the magnetic induction wave and a compressional wave energy emitter coupled to the receiver for emitting an output in response to the magnetic induction wave having the predetermined characteristic being received by the receiver, the emitted compressional wave energy having a characteristic that can be detected by the animal and tends to prevent movement of the animal into the barrier region.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the magnetic induction wave is shaped as pulses having a carrier frequency, the carrier frequency being the predetermined characteristic.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the receiver includes a resonant circuit tuned to the predetermined frequency, the resonant circuit including a coil for receiving the magnetic induction wave.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the receiver and emitter are battery powered circuitry causing the emitter to derive the compressional wave energy as a pulsed wave train, the pulsed wave train including a predetermined number of pulses followed by an interval substantially greater than the period between adjacent pulses of the pulsed wave train, the pulse train being repeated after the interval has elapsed while the coil is receiving the magnetic induction wave.

17. A method of training an animal comprising continuously transmitting from a source on the animal a pulsed wave train having a predetermined characteristic, and transmitting a signal from a region spaced from the animal to the animal in response to receipt in the region spaced from the animal of the pulsed wave train having the predetermined characteristic, the transmitted signal causing a training stimulus to be applied to the animal.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the pulsed wave train transmitted from the animal is a magnetic induction wave.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the signal transmitted from the region comprises a compressional wave that can be detected by the animal.

20. Apparatus for training an animal comprising a first housing including structure for enabling the first housing to be mounted on the animal, the first housing including battery powered electronic circuitry for continuously transmitting a pulsed wave train having a predetermined characteristic;

a second housing adapted to be located in a region spaced from the animal, the second housing including a receiver for the pulsed wave train and a signal emitter coupled to the receiver for transmitting an output to the animal in response to the pulsed wave train having the predetermined characteristic being received by the receiver.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the signal has a characteristic that can be detected by the animal.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the signal comprises a compressional energy wave.

23. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the pulsed wave train comprises a magnetic induction wave.

24. A method of inhibiting entry of an animal into a region within a building comprising emitting an energy field from the animal, placing a housing including a detector for the energy field in the region within the building, receiving the energy field at the detector when the animal enters the region, emitting from the housing compressional wave energy when the energy field is received by the detector, the compressional wave energy having a characteristic that can be acoustically detected by the animal and which inhibits entry of the animal into the region.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the compressional wave energy has an ultrasonic frequency so it can be acoustically detected by the animal but cannot be acoustically detected by humans.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the energy field is inductive.