Dogwatch Inc.

Whistler Corporation

Norval D Stapelfeld

Frederic T Peterson

Thomas Mariner

Craig R Autio

E Thomas Mariner

Cortland G Sandberg

Lauren L L'Esperance

A receiver for an animal control system having a correction monitor which indicates that the animal has attempted to challenge the system, as determined by the occurrence of one or more correction events within a specified period of time. A correction event occurs when a stimulus is applied to the animal. The stimulus may be an audible alert, or may be an electrical shock. The correction monitor is operative to monitor correction events and to provide an indication that an event has occurred. In one embodiment, the correction event can be signaled to a user at the receiver by use of an LED or other indicator or display which is latched on for a defined period of time. In another embodiment, the correction event can be signaled to a user at a central location, such as by an indicator or display in the animal owner's house. The correction event may also be signaled remotely via a communications path or network, and displayed in any suitable manner at one or more remote locations. The time of correction events and location information can be provided in association with the event indication.

Animal control system having correction monitor

The present invention provides an automatic correction system and technique for a pet containment system in which the correction levels of the electrical stimulus and/or audio or visual warning are adaptively adjusted in accordance with the behavior of a particular dog or other animal. In one mode of operation, the system is set to a baseline correction level at which a predetermined warning such as an audible beep is provided when the animal enters a first detection zone, and a predetermined electrical stimulus is provided when the animal enters a second detection zone. The correction levels are automatically adjusted in response to one or more parameters of the animal's behavior. One example of animal behavior to be corrected is repeated challenge by the animal to the system by repeated entry into the first or second detection zone within a defined period of time. Another example of behavior to be corrected is the animal remaining in a detection zone beyond a specified time period. Yet another example is the animal escaping from the defined perimeter. The system can automatically adjust the warning, the electrical stimulus or both. The auto-correction system is embodied as part of the receiver which is typically worn by the animal on a collar. The parameters of the auto-correction program can be set by control data transmitted to the receiver by the system transmitter. According to another aspect of the invention, data can be downloaded from the receiver for providing status and performance information. The receiver can be interrogated via a remote control device for example, to obtain the status data. A display or indicator can be provided at the receiver or can be associated with the receiver for display of system status.

Adaptive pet containment system and method

An animal control system is provided in which an AM transmission signal includes qualification criteria which upon proper decoding provides intended stimuli to an animal. The transmit signal comprises modulated pulses having a first amplitude and a second amplitude which upon decoding represent logic zero and logic one states. The receiver employs microprocessor based digital circuitry for decoding and processing of the AM transmit signal. The transmit signal is transmitted in alternating odd and even frames, each of which has particular characteristics and which upon proper decoding by the receiver causes successive weak and strong stimuli to be provided to the animal.

Animal control system

An improved animal control system for controlling the movement of an animal includes a transmitter/control unit for generating a frequency modulated transmit signal, an antenna defining an area and for radiating the transmit signal, and a battery-powered receiver/stimulus unit for receiving and discriminating the transmit signal and for applying a stimulus to the animal upon qualification of the received transmit signal. The system may be used to contain an animal within, or restrict an animal from, the defined area.

An improved animal control system for controlling the movement of an animal includes a transmitter/control unit for generating a Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) transmit signal, an antenna defining an area and for radiating the FSK transmit signal, and a battery-powered receiver/stimulus unit for receiving and discriminating the FSK transmit signal and for applying a stimulus to the animal upon qualification of the received FSK transmit signal. The system may be used to contain an animal within, or restrict an animal from, the defined area.

An apparatus and method for training an animal and confining the animal to a defined area includes a magnetically actuated switch. The apparatus further includes a housing removably attached to the animal and a transducer mounted to the housing for delivering a stimulus to the animal. The magnetically actuated switch is disposed within the housing and is coupled to the transducer. The magnetically actuated switch is used for controlling at least one of a type of stimulus delivered by the transducer to the animal, a rate of stimulus delivered by the transducer to the animal, and an intensity of stimulus delivered by the transducer to the animal.

Animal training apparatus and method

A vehicle security system including a remote control communicating with the system via an RF link for remotely arming and/or disarming the system. Modes of system operation include an armed mode in which sensor outputs are monitored for intrusion indicating conditions and an RF receiver is monitored for remote commands, an alarm mode in which a siren is sounded in response to a detection of an intrusion indicating condition during the armed mode, a disarmed mode in which sensor monitoring for intrusion conditions is disabled, a programming mode in which features of the system are programmable, a valet mode in which only selected sensor outputs are monitored, and a pre-arming mode following system disarming and prior to passive arming, in which the door switch is monitored. A display facilitates programming by providing an indication of the present position within the programming sequence. A customizable auxiliary feature is operable with the remote control during both the armed and disarmed modes and is disabled during the valet mode of operation. The remote control includes a combination vehicle locator/personal safety feature and a power reserving time-out feature. The remote control battery status is indicated both on the remote and on a display located in the vehicle. The vehicle security system includes a memory device for storing system status information so that, upon power up, the system resumes the mode of operation preceding the previous power interruption. The programmable features include adjustable siren chirp volume and selectable siren alarm patterns.

Growing community of inventors

Brookline, NH, United States of America

Norval D Stapelfeld