Electronic confinement system for animals or people transmitting digitally encoded signals

• US 5,808,551 A
• Filed: 02/27/1996
• Issued: 09/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert G. Yarnall Jr, Robert G. Yarnall Sr
• Original Assignee: Robert G. Yarnall Jr, Robert G. Yarnall Sr
• Inventors: Yarnall, Robert G. Jr., Yarnall, Robert G. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US08/607,397
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573, 340/693, 340/870.16, 340/825.49, 340/539, 455/89, 455/90, 455/575, 119/721, 119/908, 128/903, 429/127
• US Class Current: 340/573.4
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/023 Anti-evasion devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 119/908 Electrical animal control or handling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

An electronic containment system that confines an animal or a person to a predetermined confinement area. The system has a home base that transmits data on a partially modulated signal to a transceiver worn by an animal or a person. When the animal'"'"'s or person'"'"'s transceiver detects the data on the partially modulated carrier wave, the transceiver activates one of a number of different features of the transceiver unit. The electronic containment system deters the animal or person from leaving the predetermined outer perimeter, by activating an annoying noise, a deterrent shock, or both. The transceiver can also transmit a digitized word and data pertaining to the transceiver, battery power, and telemetry reading of the animal or person. The home base detects and reads the data transmitted from the receiver.

Claims

1. An electronic containment system for one of an animal or person comprising:

home base means for encoding a first signal with first digitally encoded data and for transmitting the encoded first signal; and

a transceiver having components and;

(a) means for receiving the encoded first signal,

(b) means for determining whether the received encoded first signal was transmitted from the home base means,

(c) means for activating the components in the transceiver if the determining means determines that the received encoded first signal was transmitted from the home base means; and

(d) means for producing a deterrent signal which is applied to one of an animal and a person at a specified strength level if the determining means determines that the received encoded first signal was transmitted from the home base means.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first digitally encoded data includes data values specifying an adjustment in the specified strength level and wherein the transceiver further has means for adjusting the specified strength level in response to the data values.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein (a) the first digitally encoded data includes data values identifying the home base means and (b) the determining means determines whether the received encoded signal was transmitted from the home base means by examining the data values.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the transceiver further has means for (a) generating a second signal, (b) encoding a second signal with second digitally encoded data, and (c) transmitting the encoded second signal to the home base means.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein (a) the second digitally encoded data includes data values identifying the transceiver and (b) the home base means further comprises means for receiving the encoded second signal and for determining whether the received encoded second signal was transmitted from the transceiver.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the transceiver further has a telemetry probe measuring at least one vital sign of one of a person and an animal and producing telemetry data values of the measured vital sign where the second digitally encoded data includes the telemetry data values.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the measured vital sign includes one of the blood pressure, the body temperature, and the perspiration level.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the transceiver further has a flexible battery for providing power to the transceiver.

9. An electronic confinement system for one of an animal and a person comprising:

home base means for transmitting a first signal; and

a transceiver having;

(a) means for receiving the first signal,

(b) means for determining whether the received first signal was transmitted from the home base means,

(c) a telemetry probe measuring at least one vital sign of one of the person and the animal, and

(d) means for producing a deterrent signal which is applied to one of the animal and the person at a specified strength level if the determining means determines that the received first signal was transmitted from the home base means.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the transceiver further has means for encoding a second signal with digitally encoded data and for transmitting the encoded signal to the home base means.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the transceiver further has means for producing first data values from the measured vital sign and wherein the digitally encoded data includes the data values.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the digitally encoded data includes transceiver data values identifying the transceiver and the home base means further has means for receiving the encoded second signal and for determining whether the received encoded second signal was transmitted from the transceiver.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the measured vital sign includes one of the blood pressure, the body temperature, and the perspiration level.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the transceiver further has a flexible battery for providing power to the transceiver.

15. An electronic containment system for one of an animal and a person comprising:

home base means for transmitting a signal;

transceiver having an identification value and including;

(a) means for receiving the signal, and

(b) means for transmitting a status signal having status data values;

(c) means for determining whether the received signal was transmitted from the home base means,

(d) deterrent means for producing a deterrent signal which is applied to one of an animal and a person at a specified strength level if the determining means determines the received signal was transmitted from the home base means, and

(e) means for producing a deterrent data value if the deterrent signal is applied to one of the person and the animal,

wherein the status data values include the identification value and the deterrent data value;

said home base means further comprising means for receiving the status signal; and

computer means, coupled to the home base means, for storing the status signal.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the transceiver has an identification value and further has a battery with a strength level value, wherein the status data values include the identification value and the strength level value.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the transceiver has an identification value and further has a telemetry probe (a) measuring at least one vital sign of one of a person and an animal and (b) producing a vital sign data value, wherein the status data values include the identification value and the vital sign data value.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the computer means stores a strength data value specifying the specified strength level.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the computer means records the date and time whenever the deterrent data value is received in the status data values by the computer means.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the computer means plays a status message in response to the status data values.

21. The system of claim 15 wherein the computer means transmits a status message using one of a facsimile apparatus and a modem to a remote location in response to the status data values.

22. The system of claim 15 wherein the transceiver further has a flexible battery providing power to the transceiver.

23. An electronic containment system for one of an animal and a person comprising:

home base means for transmitting a signal; and

a transceiver having;

(a) means for receiving the signal,

(b) means for determining whether the received signal was transmitted from the home base means,

(c) a second housing having an extending member, and

(d) a first housing coupled to the second housing and having a U-shaped member for receiving the extending member.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the extending member and the U-shaped member each have an opening extending therethrough, the transceiver further having a pin disposed in the opening.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein the transceiver further has a battery and the first housing contains the determining means and the second housing contains the battery.

26. An electronic containment system for one of an animal and a person comprising:

home base means for transmitting a signal; and

a transceiver having;

(a) means for receiving the signal,

(b) a microprocessor with a wake mode and a sleep mode,

(c) interrupt means for switching the microprocessor from the sleep mode to the wake mode in response to the received signal,

(d) means for determining whether the received signal was transmitted from the home base means, and

(e) deterrent means for producing a deterrent signal which is applied to one of the animal and the person at a specified strength level if the deterrent means determines the received signal was transmitted from the home base means.

27. An electronic containment system for one of an animal and a person comprising:

home base means for transmitting a signal that defines a predetermined confinement area;

a transceiver having an identification value and;

(a) means for receiving the signal,

(b) means for transmitting a status signal having status data values;

(c) means for determining whether one of a person and an animal has escaped the predetermined confinement area in response to the received signal, and

(d) means for generating an escape data value if one of the person and the animal has escaped the predetermined confinement area;

wherein the status data values include the identification value and the escape data value; and

said home base means further comprising means for receiving the status signal;

computer means, coupled to the home base means, for storing the status signal; and

said computer means stores a strength data value specifying a specified strength level.

28. An electronic containment system for one of an animal and a person comprising:

home base means for transmitting a signal; and

a transceiver having;

(a) means for receiving the signal,

(b) means for determining whether the received signal was transmitted from the home base means,

(c) a first housing having a first coupling end; and

(d) a second housing coupled to the first housing and having a second coupling end which overlaps the first coupling end;

the first coupling end and the second coupling end each having an opening therethrough, wherein the transceiver further has a pin disposed in the opening.