Dog behavior monitoring and training apparatus

• US 6,487,992 B1
• Filed: 08/20/2001
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Incyte Corporation, Jimmie N. Hollis
• Original Assignee: Incyte Corporation
• Inventors: Hollis, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): PRICE, RICHARD THOMAS JR
• Application Number:
  US09/933,564
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 119/712, 119/718, 119/719, 119/720, 119/721, 119/908, 119/174, 340/573.1, 340/573.3
• US Class Current: 119/712
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/021 Electronic training devices specially adapted for dogs or cats
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/022 Anti-barking devices

Abstract

An apparatus and method for behavior monitoring and training for an animal, comprising a remote unit with a microprocessor, motion sensors, global position system receivers, stimulators, and batteries. The remote unit microprocessor receives monitoring and training instructions from a host unit and signals from the motion sensors and global position system receivers. The remote unit, when placed on an animal, produces training stimuli, including sound and/or electric shock, in response to digging and jumping. When a microphone and global position system receiver are also employed in the remote unit, the remote unit can also produce training stimuli in response to barking and leaving a confined area.

Claims

1. An apparatus for behavior monitoring and training of a dog, comprising:

1) a remote unit with a microprocessor, said remote unit having one or more motion sensors, global position system receivers and antennae, and stimulators, and powered by one or more batteries, wherein said remote unit operates in the absence of a user independently and continuously;

2) a first program in said microprocessor to receive monitoring and training instructions from a user and signals from said motion sensor and said global position system receiver;

3) a second program in said microprocessor to produce one or more stimuli in response to said signals and training instructions when said unit is attached to the dog; and

4) said motion sensor being placed over the shoulder blade of the dog to detect digging and jumping.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said motion sensor is an accelerometer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said motion sensor is a gyroscope.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, said remote unit further comprising one or more voice generators and microphones.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, said remote unit further comprising one or more light dependent resistors and light emission displays.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said light dependent resistor allows said stimulators to function only during day or night.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said stimulators include one or more electric shock circuits and loud speakers.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said microphone detects vocalization, said microprocessor receiving signals from said microphone thereby producing one or more stimuli.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising a power management circuit controlled by said microprocessor to provide low power consumption for said batteries.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, said remote unit further comprising an antenna and receiver to detect containment signals from a containment system, said microprocessor producing one or more stimuli in response to said containment signals as the dog moves towards or exits said containment system.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising a host unit having a microprocessor, a keyboard input, a visual display, and one or more global position system antennae, said remote unit docking with said host unit so that said microprocessor of said remote unit may be programmed by said microprocessor of said host unit, using said keyboard and visual display.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said host unit further comprises a power supply and a charger to charge said batteries of said remote unit.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said host unit further comprises an amplifier and an external antenna, said microprocessor of said host unit generating a containment signal transmitted by said amplifier to said external antenna, said external antenna surrounding a containment area in which said animal is to be confined.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said containment signal generated by said microprocessor in said host unit is a continuous pseudo random phase encoded sinusoidal low frequency signal which allows said remote unit to permit said animal to enter said containment area without stimuli from said stimulators.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said host unit further comprises a serial port for connection to a computer to allow for remote firmware upgrades.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said global position system receiver provides to said microprocessor data to calculate the position of a dog within a containment area defined by a boundary, said microprocessor producing one or more stimuli in response to said data as the dog moves towards or exits the boundary of said containment area.

17. An apparatus for behavior monitoring and training of a dog, comprising:

a) a remote unit with a microprocessor, said remote unit having one or more motion sensors, global position system receivers and antennae, and stimulators, and powered by one or more batteries, wherein said remote unit operates in the absence of a user independently and continuously;

b) a first program in said microprocessor to receive monitoring and training instructions from a user and signals from said motion sensor and said global position system receiver;

c) a second program in said microprocessor to produce one or more stimuli in response to said signals and training instructions when said unit is attached to the dog;

d) said motion sensor being placed over the shoulder blade of the dog to detect digging and jumping; and

e) said motion sensor being coupled with an integrator to calculate the position of the dog within a containment area.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said motion sensor is an accelerometer.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17 where said motion sensor is a gyroscope.

20. The apparatus according to claim 17, said remote unit further comprising one or more voice generators and microphones.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, said remote unit further comprising one or more light dependent resistors and light emission displays.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said light dependent resistor allows said stimulators to function only during day or night.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said stimulators include one or more electric shock circuits and loud speakers.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said microphone detects vocalization, said microprocessor receiving signals from said microphone thereby producing one or more stimuli.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24 further comprising a power management circuit controlled by said microprocessor to provide low power consumption for said batteries.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, said remote unit further comprising an antenna and receiver to detect containment signals from a containment system, said microprocessor producing one or more stimuli in response to said containment signals as the dog moves towards or exits said containment system.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26 further comprising a host unit having a microprocessor, a keyboard input, a visual display, and one or more global position system antennae, said remote unit docking with said host unit so that said microprocessor of said remote unit may be programmed by said microprocessor of said host unit, using said keyboard and visual display.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27 wherein said host unit further comprises a power supply and a charger to charge said batteries of said remote unit.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28 wherein said host unit further comprises an amplifier and an external antenna, said microprocessor of said host unit generating a containment signal transmitted by said amplifier to said external antenna, said external antenna surrounding a containment area in which said animal is to be confined.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29 wherein said containment signal generated by said microprocessor in said host unit is a continuous pseudo random phase encoded sinusoidal low frequency signal which allows said remote unit to permit said animal to enter said containment area without stimuli from said stimulators.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30 wherein said host unit further comprises a serial port for connection to a computer to allow for remote firmware upgrades.

32. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said motion sensor coupled with said integrator provides to said microprocessor data to calculate the position of a dog within said containment area defined by a boundary, said microprocessor producing one or more stimuli in response to said data as the dog moves towards or exits the boundary of said containment area.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32 wherein said global position system receiver provides to said microprocessor data to reset said integrator to a known reference point for the position of the dog within a containment area.

34. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said motion sensor is an accelerometer.

35. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said motion sensor is a gyroscope.

36. A method for behavior monitoring and training of a dog, comprising:

a) inputting monitoring and training instructions into a microprocessor of a remote unit, said remote unit having one or more global position system receivers and antennae, and powered by one or more batteries;

b) attaching said remote unit to the dog;

c) attaching one or more motion sensors to the dog over the shoulder blade and connecting said motion sensor to said remote unit to monitor digging and jumping;

d) said motion sensor sending signals to said microprocessor in response to said digging and jumping and said global position system receiver sending signals to said microprocessor to calculate the position of the dog within a containment area defined by a boundary;

e) correcting unwanted digging and jumping by said remote unit producing one or more stimuli to the dog in response to said signals from said motion sensor;

f) said remote unit providing one or more stimuli in response to said signals from said global position system receiver as the dog moves towards or exits the boundary of said containment area; and

g) said remote unit operating in the absence of a user, independently, and continuously.

37. The method according to claim 36 where said motion sensor is an accelerometer.

38. The method according to claim 36 wherein said motion sensor is a gyroscope.

39. The method according to claim 36 wherein said remote unit has one or more voice generators and microphones.

40. The method according to claim 39 wherein said remote unit has one or more light dependent resistors and light emission displays.

41. The method according to claim 40 wherein said light dependent resistor allows said stimulators to function only during day or night.

42. The method according to claim 41 wherein said stimuli include one or more electric shocks or sounds.

43. The method according to claim 42 wherein said microphone detects vocalization, said microprocessor receiving signals from said microphone thereby producing one or more stimuli.

44. The method according to claim 43 wherein said remote unit has a power management circuit controlled by said microprocessor to provide low power consumption for said batteries.

45. The method according to claim 44 wherein said remote unit has an antenna and receiver to detect containment signals from a containment system, said microprocessor producing one or more stimuli in response to said containment signals as the dog moves towards or exits said containment system.

46. The method according to claim 45 further providing a host unit having a microprocessor, a keyboard input, a visual display, and one or more global position system antennae, said remote unit docking with said host unit so that said microprocessor of said remote unit may be programmed by said microprocessor of said host unit, using said keyboard and visual display.

47. The method according to claim 46 wherein said host unit has a power supply and a charger to charge said batteries of said remote unit.

48. The method according to claim 47 wherein said host unit has an amplifier and an external antenna, said microprocessor of said host unit generating a containment signal transmitted by said amplifier to said external antenna, said external antenna surrounding a containment area in which said animal is to be confined.

49. The method according to claim 48 wherein said containment signal generated by said microprocessor in said host unit is a continuous pseudo random phase encoded sinusoidal low frequency signal which allows said remote unit to permit said animal to enter said containment area without stimuli from said stimulators.

50. The method according to claim 49 wherein said host unit further comprises a serial port for connection to a computer to allow for remote firmware upgrades.

51. A method for behavior monitoring and training of a dog, comprising:

a) inputting monitoring and training instructions into a microprocessor of a remote unit, said remote unit having one or more global position system receivers and antennae, and powered by one or more batteries;

b) attaching said remote unit to the dog;

c) attaching one or more motion sensors to the dog over the shoulder blade and connecting said motion sensor to said remote unit to monitor digging and jumping;

d) said motion sensor being coupled with an integrator;

e) said motion sensor sending signals to said microprocessor in response to said digging and jumping and said integrator sending signals to said microprocessor to calculate the position of the dog within a containment area defined by a boundary;

f) correcting unwanted digging and jumping by said remote unit producing one or more stimuli to the dog in response to said signals from said motion sensor;

g) said remote unit producing one or more stimuli in response to said signals from said integrator as the dog moves towards or exits the boundary of said containment area; and

h) said remote unit operating in the absence of a user, independently, and continuously.

52. The method according to claim 51 wherein said motion sensor is an accelerometer.

53. The method according to claim 51 wherein said motion sensor is a gyroscope.

54. The method according to claim 51 wherein said remote unit has one or more voice generators and microphones.

55. The method according to claim 54 wherein said remote unit has one or more light dependent resistors and light emission displays.

56. The method according to claim 55 wherein said light dependent resistor allows said stimulators to function only during day or night.

57. The method according to claim 56 wherein said stimuli include one or more electric shocks or sounds.

58. The method according to claim 57 wherein said microphone detects vocalization, said microprocessor receiving signals from said microphone thereby producing one or more stimuli.

59. The method according to claim 58 wherein said remote unit has a power management circuit controlled by said microprocessor to provide low power consumption for said batteries.

60. The method according to claim 59 further providing a host unit having a microprocessor, a keyboard input, a visual display, and one or more global position system antennae, said remote unit docking with said host unit so that said microprocessor of said remote unit may be programmed by said microprocessor of said host unit, using said keyboard and visual display.

61. The method according to claim 60 wherein said host unit has a power supply and a charger to charge said batteries of said remote unit.

62. The method according to claim 61 wherein said remote unit has an antenna and receiver to detect containment signals from a containment system, said microprocessor producing one or more stimuli in response to said containment signals as the dog moves towards or exits said containment system.

63. The method according to claim 62 wherein said host unit has an amplifier and an external antenna, said microprocessor of said host unit generating a containment signal transmitted by said amplifier to said external antenna, said external antenna surrounding said containment area in which said animal is to be confined.

64. The method according to claim 63 wherein said containment signal generated by said microprocessor in said host unit is a continuous pseudo random phase encoded sinusoidal low frequency signal which allows said remote unit to permit said animal to enter said containment area without stimuli from said stimulators.

65. The method according to claim 64 wherein said host unit further comprises a serial port for connection to a computer to allow for remote firmware upgrades.

66. The method according to claim 51 wherein said global position system receiver provides to said microprocessor data to reset said integrator to a known reference point for the position of the dog within said containment area.