Neck motion detector and method for bark control device

• US 7,252,051 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2004
• Issued: 08/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Tri-Tronics Incorporated (Garmin Limited)
• Inventors: Duncan, Timothy T., Napolez, Francisco J.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAYES, BRET C
• Application Number:
  US10/753,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20050145200A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• Field of Search: 119/718, 119/712, 119/719, 119/859
• US Class Current: 119/718
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/022 Anti-barking devices

Abstract

An electronic apparatus (1) for control of vocalization by a dog includes first and second stimulus electrodes (5) connected to a surface (9) of the housing, a vibration sensor (6), control circuitry in the housing having an input coupled to an output of the sensor, and a motion detector connected in substantially fixed relationship to the dog'"'"'s neck for producing a motion detection signal in response to a characteristic movement of the dog'"'"'s neck that accompanies barking and providing the motion detection signal as an input to the control circuitry. The control circuitry includes output terminals for producing aversive stimulus signals between the first and second stimulus electrodes in response to the motion detection signal and a signal produced by the vibration sensor.

Claims

1. A collar-mounted electronic apparatus for control of barking by a dog, comprising:

(a) a housing supported by a collar for attachment to the dog'"'"'s neck;

(b) first and second stimulus electrodes in contact with the dog'"'"'s skin are connected to a surface of the housing for applying aversive stimulus control signals to the dog'"'"'s neck;

(c) a vibration sensor supported by the housing in contact with the dog'"'"'s neck for sensing vibrations and generating vibration signals in response to vocalizing by the dog;

(d) a controller in the housing having an input coupled to receive the signals produced by the vibration sensor,

(e) a motion detector mounted in said housing and connected in substantially fixed relationship to the housing for producing a neck motion detection signal in response to a characteristic neck movement of the dog that characteristically accompanies barking by the dog;

(f) the controller including output terminals for producing aversive stimulus control signals and having an input coupled to receive the neck motion detection signal and operative in response to the neck motion detection signal and signals from the vibration sensor to enable the controller to produce the aversive stimulus control signals; and

(g) circuitry coupled to the controller to produce the aversive stimulus signals between the first and second stimulus electrodes in response to the aversive stimulus control signals.

2. The electronic apparatus of claim 1 including circuitry configured to reset the controller from a low-power operating mode into a normal operating mode in response to the neck motion detection signal.

3. The collar-mounted electronic apparatus of claim 1 including a battery monitor circuit coupled to a battery that powers the electronic apparatus, the battery monitor circuit including an output coupled to a reset input of the controller to reset the controller to a non-operative high impedance output mode, a first LED driver circuit having an input coupled to a first LED driver output of the controller, the first LED driver circuit including a light emitting diode having a first electrode coupled by a first resistor to the battery and a second electrode coupled by the transistor to a reference voltage, the transistor having a control electrode coupled by a second resistor to the battery, the control electrode being coupled to the first LED driver output of the controller.

4. A method for controlling vocalization by a dog, comprising:

(a) supporting first and second stimulus electrodes against the dog'"'"'s neck;

(b) using a vibration sensor for detecting vocalization by the dog and determining if such vocalizing constitutes a valid bark and producing signals in response to such valid bark;

(c) connecting a motion detector in substantially fixed relationship to the dog'"'"'s neck for producing a motion detection signal in response to a characteristic movement of the neck that characteristically accompanies vocalization by the dog; and

(d) operating control circuitry having a first input coupled to receive the signals produced by the vibration sensor in response to a valid bark and a second input coupled to receive the motion detection signal to produce aversive stimulus control signals in response to the signals produced by the vibration sensor if a motion detection signal is received concurrently with the signals produced by the vibration sensor.

5. The method of claim 4 including operating the control circuitry to switch from a low-power operating mode into a normal operating mode in response to the motion detection signal.

6. A device for controlling vocalization by a dog, comprising:

(a) means for supporting first and second stimulus electrodes against the dog'"'"'s skin;

(b) a vibrations sensor for producing signals in response to vocalizing by the dog;

(c) means for connecting a motion detector in substantially fixed relationship to the dog'"'"'s neck for producing a motion detection signal in response to a characteristic movement of the dog'"'"'s neck that characteristically accompanies vocalization by the animal; and

(d) means for operating control circuitry having a first input coupled to receive the signals produced by the vibration sensor and a second input coupled to receive the motion detection signal to produce aversive stimulus control signals in response to the signals produced by the vibration sensor if a motion detection signal is received concurrently with the signals produced by the vibration sensor.

7. The device of claim 6 including operating the control circuitry to switch from a low-power operating mode into a normal operating mode in response to the motion detection signal.