The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 30, 2004
Filed:
Jun. 12, 2002
Norval Stapelfeld, Manchester, NH (US);
Frederic Peterson, Chelmsford, MA (US);
Dogwatch, Inc., Natick, MA (US);
Abstract
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.