Barking dog sound alarm system

• US 5,886,631 A
• Filed: 02/04/1997
• Issued: 03/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leo N. Ralph
• Original Assignee: Leo N. Ralph
• Inventors: Ralph, Leo N
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huang, Sihong
• Application Number:
  US08/794,918
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 340/541, 340/692, 340/573, 340/565, 340/566, 340/693, 369/19
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/002 with occupancy simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

A new barking dog sound alarm system for scaring away intruders using the menacing sounds of a dog. The inventive device includes a microphone for detecting noise, a device to compare the detected noise level to a reference level so as to determine whether the detected noise is a potential intruder, a plurality of sound recordings of different excited dogs, a speaker for broadcasting one of the recordings, and a controller for activating one of the sound recordings when the detected noise is determined to be a potential intruder.

Claims

1. A barking dog sound alarm system, comprising:

a noise detection means being for detecting noise;

a screening means being adapted for determining whether a detected noise indicates the potential presence of an intruder;

a prerecorded response having at least one recording of sounds of at least one agitated dog;

at least speaker for broadcasting said at least one recording;

a control means responsive to said screening means, said control means for activating said prerecorded response for broadcast by said at least one speaker; and

volume adjustment means for adjusting a broadcast volume of the at least one speaker, said volume adjustment means being adapted for automatically adjusting the volume during broadcast of said at least one sound recording in order to simulate a dog moving about an interior of a dwelling.

2. The barking dog sound alarm system of claim 1, further including pick-up control means for controlling the pick-up sensitivity of said noise detection means.

3. The barking dog sound alarm system of claim 1, wherein said prerecorded response includes a plurality of sound recordings from a plurality of different types of dogs which are agitated.

4. The barking dog sound alarm system of claim 3, further including a selection means for selecting one of said plurality of sound recordings for broadcast from said at least one speaker.

5. The barking dog sound alarm system of claim 1, further including a timer means for controlling operation of the alarm system based upon the day and the time of day.

6. The barking dog sound alarm system of claim 1, wherein the noise detection means, the screening means, the prerecorded response, the at least one speaker, and the control means are all disposed within an alarm housing, said alarm housing further including a keypad, said keypad being for controlling the operation of the alarm system.

7. The barking dog sound alarm system of claim 6, further comprising a display screen for displaying operating conditions of the alarm system.

8. The barking dog sound alarm system of claim 6, further comprising a battery within the alarm housing for providing electrical power to the alarm system, a monitoring means for monitoring the voltage level of the battery, and a voltage indicating means for indicating when the voltage drops below a predetermined level.

9. A barking dog sound alarm system, comprising:

a noise detection means for detecting noise;

a screening means for determining whether a detected noise indicates the potential presence of an intruder;

a prerecorded response having at least one recording of sounds of at least one agitated dog;

at least one speaker for broadcasting said at least one recording;

a control means responsive to said screening means, said control means for activating said prerecorded response for broadcast by said at least one speaker;

a pick-up control means for controlling the pick-up sensitivity of said noise detection means;

said prerecorded response including a plurality of sound recordings from a plurality of different types of dogs which are agitated;

a selection means for selecting one of said plurality of sound recordings for broadcast from the at least one speaker;

a volume adjustment means for adjusting a broadcast volume of the at least one speaker;

said volume adjustment means being adapted for automatically adjusting the volume during broadcast of one of said plurality of sound recordings in order to simulate a dog moving about an interior of a dwelling;

a timer means for controlling operation of the alarm system based upon the day and the time of day;

wherein the noise detection means, the screening means, the prerecorded response, the at least one speaker, and the control means are all disposed within a housing, said housing further including a keypad for controlling the operation of the alarm system;

a display screen for displaying operating conditions of the alarm system;

a battery within the alarm housing for providing electrical power to the alarm system;

a monitoring means for monitoring the voltage level of the battery; and

a voltage indicating means for indicating when the voltage drops below a predetermined level.