Variable voltage electronic pet training apparatus

• US 8,011,327 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2006
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Radio Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Radio Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Lee, Albert L. IV, Mainini, Christopher E., Lawrence, Steven L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Son T
• Application Number:
  US11/386,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20070221138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,994 Days
• Field of Search: 119/712, 119718-720, 119/859, 119/908
• US Class Current: 119/720
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/021 Electronic training devices specially adapted for dogs or cats
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 27/009 with electric-shock, sound, magnetic- or radio-waves emitting devices

Abstract

A variable voltage electronic pet training apparatus. The variable voltage electronic pet training apparatus controls the intensity of the stimulation by the controlling the voltage level present at the primary side of the transformer while maintaining a fixed signal to the correction pulse switch. A trigger signal contains information about the desired stimulus intensity level. A controller interprets the trigger signal and produces a voltage control signal associated with the desired energy level. Application of the voltage control signal to a power converter keeps the voltage level applied to an energy storage capacitor sufficient to produce the desired stimulation intensity.

Claims

1. A variable voltage electronic pet training apparatus comprising:

a controller producing a correction pulse switch activation signal, said controller producing a power converter drive signal corresponding to a selected stimulus intensity;

a power converter in communication with said controller, said power converter producing a first voltage corresponding to said power converter drive signal;

a transformer having a primary and a secondary, said primary in communication with said power converter, said secondary having an output representing a correction stimulus at said selected stimulus intensity;

a correction pulse switch in communication with said controller, said correction pulse switch in communication with said primary, said correction pulse switch selectively connecting said primary to one of said first voltage and a second voltage and producing a primary voltage across said primary equal to the difference between said first voltage and said second voltage wherein said correction stimulus is controlled by adjusting said primary voltage as a result of varying said first voltage using said power converter; and

a pair of electrodes connected to said secondary, said pair of electrodes transferring said correction stimulus to an animal.

2. The variable voltage electronic pet training apparatus of claim 1 wherein said transformer is in switched communication with said power converter.

3. The variable voltage electronic pet training apparatus of claim 2 wherein said correction pulse switch selectively connects said first voltage and said primary.

4. The variable voltage electronic pet training apparatus of claim 1 wherein said correction pulse switch selectively connects said second voltage and said primary.

5. The variable voltage electronic pet training apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second power converter in communication with said controller, said second power converter producing said second voltage in response to a second power converter drive signal produced by said controller.

6. The variable voltage electronic pet training apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second voltage is a voltage selected from the group consisting of a ground voltage and a supply voltage.

7. The variable voltage electronic pet training apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a peak hold detector in communication with said power converter and said controller, said peak hold detector providing feedback of said first voltage allowing said controller to adjust said power converter drive signal to maintain a selected said first voltage.

8. The variable voltage electronic pet training apparatus of claim 1 wherein said correction pulse switch activation signal is identical for each said selected stimulus intensity.

9. The variable voltage electronic pet training apparatus of claim 1 wherein said correction pulse switch activation signal varies based on said selected intensity to improve energy transfer efficiency between said power converter and said transformer.

10. The variable voltage electronic pet training apparatus of claim 1 wherein said power converter is a single-ended primary inductance converter.

11. The variable voltage electronic pet training apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an energy storage circuit in communication with said power converter and said transformer.

12. The variable voltage electronic pet training apparatus of claim 11 further comprising an energy recovery circuit in communication with said energy storage circuit and said controller.

13. The electronic animal training apparatus of claim 1 wherein said correction pulse switch activation signal does not vary with the selected intensity.

14. A variable voltage electronic pet training apparatus comprising:

a controller producing a correction pulse switch activation signal, said controller producing a power converter drive signal corresponding to a selected stimulus intensity;

a power converter in communication with said controller, said power converter producing a first voltage corresponding to said power converter drive signal;

a transformer having a primary and a secondary, said primary in communication with said power converter, said secondary having an output representing a correction stimulus at said selected stimulus intensity;

a correction pulse switch selectively completing a circuit including said power converter and said transformer wherein said first voltage is applied to one side of said primary and a second voltage is applied to the other side of said primary wherein said correction stimulus is controlled by adjusting the voltage across the primary as a result of varying said first voltage using said power converter; and

a pair of electrodes connected to said secondary, said pair of electrodes transferring said correction stimulus to an animal.

15. The variable voltage electronic pet training apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a second power converter in communication with said controller, said second power converter producing said second voltage in response to a second power converter drive signal produced by said controller.

16. The variable voltage electronic pet training apparatus of claim 14 wherein said second voltage is a voltage selected from the group consisting of a ground voltage and a supply voltage.

17. The variable voltage electronic pet training apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a peak hold detector in communication with said power converter and said controller, said peak hold detector providing feedback of said first voltage allowing said controller to adjust said power converter drive signal to maintain a selected said first voltage.

18. The variable voltage electronic pet training apparatus of claim 14 wherein said correction pulse switch activation signal is identical for each said selected intensity.

19. The variable voltage electronic pet training apparatus of claim 14 wherein said correction pulse switch activation signal varies based on said selected intensity to improve energy transfer efficiency between said power converter and said transformer.

20. The variable voltage electronic pet training apparatus of claim 14 wherein said power converter is a single-ended primary inductance converter.

21. The variable voltage electronic pet training apparatus of claim 14 further comprising an energy storage circuit in communication with said power converter and said transformer.

22. The variable voltage electronic pet training apparatus of claim 21 further comprising an energy recovery circuit in communication with said energy storage circuit and said controller.

23. The electronic animal training apparatus of claim 14 wherein said correction pulse switch activation signal does not vary with the selected intensity.