Ultrasonic transceiver and remote controlled devices for pets

Abstract

An ultrasonic transceiver device and remote output devices controlled by the transceiver for use by domestic pets. The transceiver utilizes a fixed interval edge detect modulation system to lock out stray environmental noise thereby, avoiding false triggering and greatly increasing the working range. output devices include: a wireless pet containment system in which ultrasonic transmitters are mounted on a series of posts defining the perimeter of the containment area and a receiver device adapted to be worn by a domestic animal. Upon receiving the transmitted ultrasound the receiver device sounds a warning tone followed by an electric shock to train the animal to stay within the perimeter; a sonic alarm system to deter a domestic animal from entering a restricted area whereby, an ultrasonic transmitter is worn by the animal and a receiver with an alarm output is placed in a stationary location to sound an alarm chasing the animal from the area in which the receiver is placed; a remote pet training device whereby a hand held transmitter is carried by a human trainer and a receiver unit is worn by the pet, the receiver produces a set of training tones in response to the modulated ultrasound produced by the transmitter; and a remotely operated pet door which automatically opens under its own power when it receives a signal from an ultrasonic transmitter worn by a pet.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention pertains to an ultrasonic transceiver to control output devices for use by and for pets and more particularly to a transceiver with modulation characteristics to improve range and avoid false triggering in the control of a wireless pet containment system; a sonic alarm for area restriction; a remote pet trainer and a remotely operated, fully automatic pet door.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention has the purpose of facilitating a means by which pets can self activate automatic devices and allow humans to operate the devices remotely. The scope of this invention includes a modulated ultrasonic transceiver utilizing a fixed duration edge detect means to extend the range of the device by distinguishing between a low level transmitted signal and environmental noise. This is employed to control a wireless pet containment system; a sonic alarm for area restriction; a remote pet trainer and a remotely operated, fully automatic pet door but, its uses can easily be extended to other output devices.

PRIOR ART

Conventional devices utilizing ultrasound for remote sensing, such as ultrasonic burglar alarms, have been severely limited by the directionality, acoustical shadowing and limited range inherently characteristic of ultrasonic devices. For that reason they have been largely replaced by radio frequency and infrared transceivers.

In the pet field, electronic containment systems and remote trainers use radio frequency based transmitters and receivers. These devices are expensive to produce and severely restricted by the fact that they create interference to other radio frequency transmissions. To avoid this problem, manufacturers must use extremely low power devices, practical for only very short range operation, or subject the design to restrictions placed upon it by regulating agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission. The use of ultrasound has been largely ignored as an alternative for the reasons listed above.

Electronic pet containment systems typically employ a radio frequency transmitter and an antenna in the form of a buried cable to enclose the perimeter of the containment area. As the pet wearing an R.F. receiver approaches the buried cable, a warning tone is sounded. Then, if the animal has not retreated from the perimeter after a predetermined time, an electric shock is delivered. Such systems present certain difficulties such as having to burry the cable.

Remote trainers typically use a hand held radio frequency transmitter to activate a single output (usually an electric shock or an irritating sound pulse) at the receiver worn by the pet. The single output of conventional systems is always used as a negative reinforcing stimulus rather than a positive enforcement of a specific behavior.

Conventional systems using sound to chase intruding animals from a restricted area use either infrared detection to sense the presence of the intruder (in much the same manner as a burglar alarm) or radio frequency. In addition to the fact that both such systems are relatively expensive to manufacture, the infrared system has the disadvantage that it will trigger on any warm body including humans and is therefore not selective. A system of this type may work well in keeping the family dog off the couch but, it would also drive the people of the household away form the couch as well. The radio frequency systems are selective but, to date are limited to a range of less than four feet to avoid expense and unwanted R.F. interference.

It would therefore be desirable to create a remote transceiver system for pets to facilitate containment, training and area restriction which has relatively long range capability, which does not interfere with radio frequency devices nor is subject to the governmental restrictions of radio frequency devices, which is selective to an individual transmitted signal and which is relatively inexpensive to mass produce. The invention described herein provides such a system.

The current state of the art with respect to electronic pet doors is limited to devices which are operated by a magnet or a very low power R.F. transmitter worn on a pet's collar. The limited range of these transmitters restricts the design to smaller units suitable only for cats or small dogs. The transmitter used in this type of device merely acts to unlock a hinged panel to be physically pushed open by the pet and returned by gravity or a spring mechanism. The pet door device presented here uses the transmitted ultrasound to trigger the activation of an electric motor and transport mechanism to move a panel in and out of the door opening in a somewhat similar fashion to that of a power car window thereby, facilitating added security from intruders and weather and automatic operation requiring no human effort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention makes practical use of the directionality inherent in ultrasonic transmission and offers a novel means of modulating the transmitted signal to increase the working range from a conventional twenty-five feet to over three hundred feet. This is achieved by delivering the ultrasonic signal output in periodic bursts. The receiver is designed to detect these bursts by sensing a repeated low to high transition at the amplifier input at predetermined intervals corresponding to the periodic rate of generation of ultrasonic bursts at the transmitter. Thus, sporadic environmental noise in the frequency range of the transceiver is essentially filtered out allowing the amplifier in the receiver to trigger on extremely low level signals.

Applied to the development of a wireless pet containment system, the present invention requires no antenna nor buried cable and specifically optimizes and makes use of the inherent directionality of ultrasound to approximate a linear beam of ultrasound forming a wireless boundary. The signal modulation and edge detect receiver virtually eliminate the possibility of false triggering which would allow the device to needlessly shock the animal. Additionally, it is possible to simultaneously send two individually modulated ultrasonic signals, one of higher amplification for a wider transmitted beam and one of lower amplification for a narrower transmitted beam, to separately control the warning tone and shock outputs at the receiver, making it impossible for a clever animal to run through the perimeter and out of range during the time delay from warning tone to shock used by conventional devices.

The invention in its present form also provides a useful alternative to the use of R.F. transmission in the creation of a remote training device by greatly extending the range of conventional ultrasonic transceivers. The result is a remote training device with a useful range comparable to that of a conventional R.F. transceiver but, without the possibility of interfering with the reception of radio, television and other R.F. signals. The training device then uses one or more preset ultrasonic pulse rates to trigger one or more tones for use in obedience training of pets.

The directional characteristics of ultrasound are of great value applied to the operation of an automatic pet door by allowing an acceptable frontal activation range when the pet is facing and approaching receiver but, greatly reducing the probability of false triggering of the receiver when the pet is just passing by at even closer range than the frontal activation distance. The modulated pulsed signal and edge detect receiver technique are employed to create an ultrasonic key code so that the device may be operated only by the pet wearing a transmitter with those specific modulation characteristics to be sensed by the receiver. This type of pet door achieves the advantages of preventing stray animals and intruders from entering the home through the pet door (a common problem with conventional mechanical pet doors) and provides protection against strong wind which can easily blow through the hinged flap of a conventional pet door.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the ultrasonic pet containment system.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the sonic alarm used for area restriction.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the remote pet trainer.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the automatic pet door.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section of the automatic pet door taken along lines FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the automatic pet door controlled by the transceiver of FIGS. 7(a) and (b) utilizing a transmitter arrangement identical to that of FIG. 2 wherein the transmitter of FIG. 7(a) is mounted within housing 72 and attached to a domestic animal by strap 76 with buckle 77 looping through the receiver casing and around the animal's neck. FIG. 16 shows the a typical working circuit of one embodiment of the automatic pet door. Here there is no need to use discrete transistors in the receiver to conserve power since the device is ultimately powered by household alternating current.

FIG. 4 illustrates an automatic pet door that is controlled by the transceiver of FIGS. 7(a) and (b). The door utilizes a transmitter arrangement identical to that of FIG. 2 wherein the transmitter of FIG. 7(a) is mounted within housing 72. For attachment, housing 72 is attached to strap 76 and strap 76 is looped around the animal's neck and secured with buckle 77 as discussed above. Receiver 82 is mechanically attached to pet door as shown in FIG. 4 and discussed below. With respect to the electrical configuration for receiver 82, FIG. 16B shows a typical working circuit of one embodiment of receiver 82 for the automatic pet door shown in FIG. 4. Note that for the pet door there is no need to use discrete transistors in the working circuit for the receiver to conserve power. This is because receiver 82 for the pet door is ultimately powered by household alternating current.

FIG. 5 shows that door casing 80 houses all of the elements of the receiver and door assembly. In this embodiment, an output device of FIG. 7(a) is a normally open relay 124, FIG. 16B, which routes power to motor 96, FIG. 5, when the transmitter signal is received by microphone 82. Movable panel 81, which is normally within opening 83 and completely obstructing it, is then guided upwards to allow the animal to pass through opening 83. FIG. 5 shows that door casing 80 of FIG. 4 is constructed by joining left frame member 90, right frame member 92, top frame member 91 and bottom frame member 93. Said frame members, in this embodiment, are custom wood mouldings but, could easily be made from extruded aluminium or plastic. Grooves 94 and 95 shown in FIG. 6, in left and right frame members 90 and 92 respectively, act to guide movable panel 81 along its path. Electric motor 96 is held in position by mounting bracket 97 and drives spool 98, which is rigidly fixed to motor shaft 99 with set screw 100. Cable 101 is thereby wound around spool 98 upon the counter-clockwise motion of electric motor 96. Cable 101 is looped around pulley 102 and prevented from slipping off pulley 102 by cable guide 103. Pulley 102 and cable guide 103 are rigidly attached to movable panel 81 with shoulder screw 104. Cable 101 is then fed to one end of locking pin 105, looped through a hole in that end and held in place by cable crimp 106. Locking pin 105 is held in place by bracket 108 and allowed to translate linearly in holes 106 and 107. Bracket 108 is rigidly fixed to movable panel 81 by screws 109 and 110. Compression spring 111 fitted around stepped shaft of locking pin 107 act to push locking pin 107 toward left frame member 90 and into hole 101 thus, preventing the movable panel from being moved out of opening 83 while there is slack in cable 101 as when motor 96 is idle. Thus, it is not possible for an intruder to manually lift movable panel 81. As cable 101 is wound around spool 98 when motor shaft 99 is rotated, the weight of movable panel 81 acts to create tension in cable 101. Said tension acts against compression spring 111 pulling locking pin 107 away from left frame member 90 and out of hole 101 freeing movable panel 81 and allowing it to move upward with cable 101. Front and rear plates 112 and 113, FIG. 6, respectively are locked into grooves 127 and 114 respectively and act to enclose the assembly. Holes 115, 116, 117, 118, 119 and 120, FIG. 5, are provided to mount the assembly to a household door or wall.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-6, the pet door of the present invention is shown in greater detail. Specifically, door casing 80 is constructed by joining the opposing ends top frame member 91 to one end of left frame member 90 and one end of right frame member 92. The other respective ends of left frame member 90 and right frame member 92 are attached to opposing ends of bottom frame member 93 (See FIG. 5). With this configuration, the door casing defines a door opening 83, and movable panel 81 is slidably mounted to door casing 82 within door opening 83. To do this, vertical grooves (not shown) are formed in the respective inner surfaces of left frame member 90 and right frame member 92. These vertical grooves interfit with movable panel 81 and act to guide movable panel 81 vertically along its upward/downward path. Left frame member 90, right frame member 92, top frame member 91 and bottom frame member 98 are preferably custom wood moldings, but could easily be made from aluminum or plastic materials.

The pet door of the present invention further includes an electric motor 96 that is fixed to top frame member 91 with mounting bracket 97. Motor shaft 99 extends outwardly from motor 96, and spool 98 is rigidly fixed to motor shaft 99 with set screw 100 (See FIG. 5) so that spool 98 rotates with motor shaft 99 during operation. To raise and lower movable panel 81, cable 101 is attached to motor 96 and to movable panel 81. More specifically, one end of cable 101 is attached to spool 98. Cable 101 is then looped around a pulley 102 and a cable guide 103 that are rigidly attached to movable panel 81 with shoulder screw 104. The other end of cable 101 is fed to one end of locking pin 105 and attached with cable crimp 106. Cable guide 103 prevents cable 101 from slipping off pulley 102 during operation of the pet door.

Pin bracket 108 is rigidly fixed to movable panel 81 by screws 109 and 110, and locking pin 105 is slidably mounted to bracket 108, as best seen in FIG. 5. This allows locking pin 105 to move in translation into locking pin hole 107 which is formed in left frame member 90. A compression spring 111 is fitted around locking pin 105 and biases locking pin 105 into locking pin hole 107, thus, preventing the movable panel from being moved out of door opening 83 while there is slack in cable 101. With this configuration, it is not possible for an intruder to manually lift movable panel 81.

Front and rear plates 112 and 114, FIG. 6, respectively interfit with grooves 127 and 113 and act to enclose the upper portion of the assembly. Door mounting holes 115-120, FIG. 5, are provided to mount the assembly to a household door or wall.

During operation, receiver 82 receives an input signal that is received from the transmitter within transmitter housing 72 only when the pet is facing the pet door, as discussed above. Receiver 82 receives this signal, and, provided the received meets the predetermined parameters also discussed above, closes normally open relay 124, FIG. 16B, which further closes to route power to motor 96. As motor 96 is activated and rotates, attached spool 98 turns, and cable 101 is wound around spool 98 when motor shaft 99 is rotated. As cable 101 is wound around spool 98, a tension force is created in cable 101. The tension force in cable 101 counteracts and overcomes the force from compression spring 111 that biases locking pin 105 into locking pin hole 107. Accordingly, locking pin 105 is pulled out of locking pin hole 107 and away from left frame member 90, which frees movable panel 81 for upward movement as cable 101 is gathered around spool 98.

In this embodiment activation of electric motor 96 ultimately acts lift movable panel 81. When power is removed from electric motor 96, as in the absence of a signal sensed by the ultrasonic receiver of FIG. 7(b), movable panel 81 will return to its initial position under the force of gravity. A shown in FIG. 16B, the speed of return may be controlled by the addition of resistor 121 and diode 122 across the legs of electric motor 96 to create an electro magnetic field in the internal coil of electric motor 96 which is resistive to the motion of motor shaft 99 in the direction of unwind thus, slowing the downward motion of the panel.

FIG. 16B further shows that the coil to relay 124 is energized upon sensing the ultrasonic signal. Timer 125 holds relay 124 on, providing power to motor 96, for a selected amount of time after the signal is lost. Electrical energy is stored in capacitor 123 on the counter-clockwise motion of motor 96 as movable panel 81 is hoisted upward. This same energy is released upon the deactivation of relay 124 providing a momentary surge of current to move motor 96 in the clockwise reverse direction in order to overcome any static friction in the system and start movable panel 81 on its downward path under the force of gravity.

Claims

1. A directional, ultrasonic transceiver for pets comprising:

an ultrasonic transmitter means for creating an ultrasonic signal within an elongated ultrasonic field envelope, said transmitter means possessing sound shaping means for further augmenting said ultrasonic field envelope to a more beam-like profile;

an ultrasonic receiver means for wearing by a pet for the detection of said ultrasonic signal within said elongated ultrasonic field envelope, said receiver means possessing means for delivering a sensory stimulus to said animal upon reception of said ultrasonic signal.

2. A directional ultrasonic pet detection system comprising:

a transmitter means for wearing by a pet, said transmitter means having a directional ultrasonic output, said ultrasonic output emitted in a direction downward toward the ground directly in front of said pet and bounced forwardly in the direction in which said pet is facing;

directional receiver means for detecting said forwardly bounced ultrasonic output, only when said pet is facing said receiver means;

means for converting said detected ultrasonic output to an electric voltage output for the activation of remote controlled apparatus for pets.

3. A directional, ultrasonic transceiver for pets comprising:

an ultrasonic transmitter means, for creating an ultrasonic signal within an ultrasonic field envelope, said ultrasonic transmitter means possessing modulation means for the creation of one or more modulation codes in said ultrasonic signal, said modulation codes being selectively transmitted;

an ultrasonic receiver means for detection of said ultrasonic signal within said ultrasonic field envelope, said ultrasonic receiver means possessing demodulation means to differentiate between said modulation codes and means for converting the said ultrasonic signal to one or more electric voltage outputs, the output selected depending upon the particular modulation code received, for the activation of various remote controlled apparatus for pets.

4. A directional, ultrasonic transceiver for pets comprising:

an ultrasonic transmitter means, for creating an ultrasonic signal within an ultrasonic field envelope, the output of said ultrasonic transmitter means comprising a series of ultrasound bursts having a predetermined pulse duration, said bursts being emitted at a predetermined rate of bursts per unit time, ;

an ultrasonic receiver means for detection of said ultrasonic signal within said ultrasonic field envelope; said ultrasonic receiver means employing a method of rejecting environmental noise and surface reflections of the bursts by sensing the low to high transition of a first received burst then rejecting any low to high transition of a next received burst which does not occur within a predetermined, narrow window of time and further rejecting said low to high transition of said next received burst if it is not approximately equal in peak amplitude to said low to high transition of said first received burst, said receiver means further measuring the time duration between said first and next received bursts and activating an electric voltage output means, for the operation of remote controlled apparatus for pets, only when a predetermined number of bursts have been received and accepted at said predetermined rate of bursts per unit time.

5. A directional ultrasonic detection system to chase pets out of restricted areas comprising:

transmitter means for wearing around the neck of a domestic animal, said transmitter means having a directional ultrasonic output, said output downwardly pointed toward the ground directly in front of said domestic animal and bounced forwardly in the direction in which said animal is facing;

directional receiver means for detecting said ultrasonic output only when said animal forwardly approaches said receiver means on a proximate line of sight path;

means for creating a sensory stimulus at said receiver means for training said domestic animal to retreat from said receiver means upon said detection.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said sensory stimulus is a visible light ray.

7. The invention of claim 5 wherein said sensory stimulus is a sonic alarm.

8. A self opening and closing pet door to automatically open in the presence of an ultrasonic signal and automatically close in the absence of said signal comprising:

a transmitter means for wearing by a pet, said transmitter means having a directional ultrasonic output, said ultrasonic output emitted in a direction downward toward the ground directly in front of said pet, and bounced forwardly in the direction in which said pet is facing;

directional receiver means for detecting said forwardly bounced ultrasonic output, only when said pet is facing said receiver means;

means for converting said detected ultrasonic output to an electric voltage output;

a casing with opening to allow a domestic animal to pass from one side of said casing to another, ;

a movable panel normally placed within said opening to obstruct the path of the animal through said casing, ;

means for moving said movable panel out of said opening in said door casing upon reception of the transmitted ultrasonic signal by said ultrasonic receiver means, ;

means for guiding said movable panel along its path, ;

means for attaching said casing to a wall or door of a building structure.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein, said receiver means possesses means to effectively control the distance from the domestic animal at which said receiver means detects said ultrasonic output.

10. The invention of claim 8 wherein the said means to move said movable panel comprises an electric motor, ;

a spool attached to the shaft of said electric motor, ;

a cable, one end of which is attached to said spool, the other of which is attached to said movable panel for the purpose of raising said movable panel as said cable winds around said spool as said spool rotates with the shaft of said electric motor.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein, return of said movable panel to its normal position within the opening of said casing is automatically accomplished by the force of gravity once said electric motor is deactivated in the absence of reception of said ultrasonic output by said receiver means.

12. A directional, ultrasonic area restriction system for animals comprising:

an ultrasonic transmitter means and sound shaping means, for creating an ultrasonic signal within an elongated ultrasonic field envelope, said ultrasonic field envelope having an outermost boundary, said outermost boundary having its length several times greater than its width;

ultrasonic receiver means for wearing by an animal, said receiver means for detection of said ultrasonic signal when said animal, approaching from outside of said ultrasonic field envelope, crosses said outermost boundary;

means for creating a sensory stimulus to said animal upon reception of said ultrasonic signal by said receiver means, said sensory stimulus being for the purpose of training the animal to avoid crossing said outermost boundary of said ultrasonic field envelope.

13. The invention of claim 12 further comprising, means for attaching said ultrasonic transmitter means to a positioning post to be placed in the ground.

14. The invention of claim 12 wherein, the transmitter means alternately generates two separate modulated signals to define two independent boundaries, the receiver means thereby independently activating a warning tone output and a shock output depending upon which modulated signal is received.

15. The invention of claim 12 further comprising a variable gain control at said transmitter means to effectively control the size of said ultrasonic field envelope.

16. The invention of claim 12 wherein, said sensory stimulus comprises a sonic alarm.

17. The invention of claim 12 wherein said sensory stimulus comprises an electric shock.

18. The invention of claim 12 wherein said sensory stimulus comprises a warning tone followed by an electric shock.

19. The invention of claim 12 wherein, said ultrasonic field envelope approximates a beam transmitted along the perimeter of an area to restrict animals to roaming within said perimeter and further comprising a pair of said transmitter means attached to a positioning post to be placed in the ground to establish one corner of the restrictive perimeter.

20. The invention of claim 19 wherein, said pair of transmitter means are mounted within casings and allowed to rotate relative to one another to adjust the angle of said corner.

21. An automatic pet door system comprising:

a casing defining a door opening;

a panel movably connected to said casing within guiding means said door opening;

a motor attached to said casing;

a cable having a first cable end attached to said motor and having a second cable end attached to said panel;

a pet worn actuator;

a receiver on said casing, said motor selectively moving said panel in said guiding means to open said door in response to a signal received by said receiver from said activator; and

said motor having a rotatable drive shaft to which a spool is attached wherein said first cable end is attached to said spool so that said cable is wound around said spool during operation of said motor.

22. The door system of claim 21 further comprising a pulley attached to said panel, said second cable end being threaded through said pulley and being attached to said attachment end of said locking pin.

23. The door system of claim 21 further comprising a locking pin releasably connected to said panel and having an attachment end and a free end, said second cable end being attached to said attachment end of said locking pin.

24. The door system of claim 23 wherein said panel is in an open position when a predetermined length of said cable is wound around said spool, and said locking pin is disengaged from said locking pin hole.

25. The door system of claim 23 wherein said casing includes a locking pin hole and further comprising a means for biasing said free end into said locking pin hole, said biasing means being attached to said panel.

26. The door system of claim 25 wherein said panel has a closed position when said predetermined length of said cable is unwound from said spool and said locking pin is in said locking pin hole.

27. The door system of claim 26 wherein said panel moves from said open position to said closed position within said door opening by the force of gravity when said motor is deactivated.

28. A pet door comprising:

a panel;

a casing defining a door opening, said panel being slidably mounted to said casing for movement within said door opening;

a drive means for selectively moving said panel; said drive means including a motor attached to said casing and a cable having a first cable end attached to said motor and a second cable end attached to said panel;

a transmitter means attached to a pet, which activates said drive means only when said pet is facing said door;

a locking pin movably connected to said panel and having an attachment end and a free end, said second cable end being attached to said attachment end and

said casing including a locking pin hole with said free end being insertable into said locking pin hole, said locking pin including a biasing means for urging said free end into said locking pin hole.

29. The door of claim 28 wherein said motor has a drive shaft to which a spool is attached wherein said door is in an open position when a predetermined length of said cable is substantially wound around said spool and said locking pin is disengaged from said locking pin hole.

30. The door of claim 28 wherein said door has a closed position when said predetermined length of said cable is unwound from said spool and said locking pin extends into said locking pin hole.

31. The door of claim 28 wherein said transmitter means emits a directional ultrasonic output in a forward direction and a downward direction from said pet and further comprising a receiving means electrically connected to said motor for receiving said directional ultrasonic output.