Not Applicable
Not Applicable
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to a device for training an animal. More particularly, this invention pertains to a device for activation a stimulus delivery device that is carried by an animal and adapted to deliver a stimulus to the animal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional animal training systems typically include a transmitter unit and a receiver unit. The transmitter unit is commonly a handheld device having at least one switch, such as a pressable button. The receiver unit is carried by an animal, is in wireless communication with the transmitter unit, and delivers a stimulus to the animal in response to the switch of the transmitter unit being operated. Some conventional animal training systems include a plurality of switches, whereby each switch corresponds to a particular stimulus. For example, one conventional transmitter unit includes a first switch and a second switch. When the first switch is operated, the receiver unit delivers an electrostatic stimulus to the animal, and when the second switch is operated, the receiver unit delivers an audible stimulus to the animal. In another example, the conventional transmitter unit is in communication with a first receiver unit carried by a first animal and a second receiver unit carried by a second animal. When the first switch is operated, the first receiver unit delivers a stimulus to the first animal. Similarly, when the second switch is operated, the second receiver unit delivers a stimulus to the second animal.
Conventional animal training systems are limited in that the delivered stimuli cannot be adjusted to meet the demands presented by the various characteristics of various animals and various circumstances. Stated differently, the parameters of the stimuli delivered by conventional animal training systems are pre-set at the manufacturing stage and cannot be customized by a user of the system. This limitation is substantial because the size and sensitivity of a given animal is different from another and even varies within the same animal over a period of time. Additionally, certain animals are more responsive to certain types of stimuli and less responsive to others. Consequently, a system that delivers a customized stimulus is desired.
In accordance with the various features of the present invention, there is provided an animal training device having a menu-driven user interface, a programmable stimulus delivery switch, and the capability to activate a stimulus delivery device such that it delivers a customized stimulus to an animal. Generally, the animal training device includes a display, a menu navigation control, a stimulus delivery switch, and a transmitter. The display is adapted to present a series of menus having menu options, the menu options being related to programmable parameters of the customized stimulus. A user of the animal training device operates the menu navigation control to navigate the menus and to select the menu options, thus defining the programmable parameters. The customized stimulus is associated with the stimulus delivery switch, which is operable by the user. When the stimulus delivery switch is operated, the animal training device transmits a stimulus request signal by way of the transmitter. The stimulus request signal includes information indicative of the defined parameters of the customized stimulus.
The stimulus delivery device is adapted to be carried by the animal, to receive the stimulus request signal, and to deliver the customized stimulus to the animal. When the stimulus delivery device receives the stimulus request signal, it analyzes the signal and determines the defined parameters of the customized stimulus. After determining the defined parameters, the stimulus delivery device delivers the customized stimulus to the animal. As a result, after the stimulus delivery switch is programmed, the user is able to deliver a stimulus that is tailored to a given animal and circumstance to the animal by merely operating the stimulus delivery switch.
The above-mentioned features of the invention will become more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the invention read together with the drawings in which:
a illustrates one embodiment of the animal training device operating in the stimulus delivery mode;
b illustrates one embodiment of the animal training device operating in the stimulus programming mode;
c is another illustration of the animal training device of
d is yet another illustration of the animal training device of
e is yet another illustration of the animal training device of
The present invention provides an animal training device having a menu-driven user interface, a programmable stimulus delivery switch, and the capability to activate a stimulus delivery device such that it delivers a customized stimulus to an animal. More specifically, the menu-driven user interface enables a user to define the programmable parameters of a customized stimulus and to associate the customized stimulus with the stimulus delivery switch such that when the stimulus delivery switch is operated, the animal training device transmits a stimulus request signal, which includes information indicative of the defined parameters. The stimulus delivery device is responsive to the stimulus request signal to the extent that when the stimulus delivery device receives the stimulus request signal, it determines the defined parameters and delivers the customized stimulus to the animal. A block diagram of one embodiment of the animal training device constructed in accordance with the various features of the present invention is illustrated generally at 10 in
a-2e illustrate one embodiment of the animal training device 10 in accordance with the various features of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the animal training device 10 is a handheld device adapted to be carried by a user, such as an animal trainer or handler. The display 14 presents a series of menus perceivable and navigable by the user. The menus include selectable menu options, which are related to programmable parameters of a customized stimulus. The user navigates the menus and selects the menu options using the menu navigation control 16. Accordingly, the user defines the parameters of the customized stimulus using the navigation control 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the menu navigation control 16 includes a SELECT key and a directional keypad. However, it should be noted that a menu navigation control 16 other than the illustrated embodiment thereof, such as a touch-screen display, can be used without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention. It should also be noted that the display 14 can be any display capable of displaying the series of menus, such as a dot matrix display, without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.
In the illustrated embodiment, the programmable parameters include the stimulus delivery device 12 to deliver the customized stimulus, the type of the customized stimulus, and the intensity of the customized stimulus. Each customized stimulus is associated with a stimulus delivery switch 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the animal training device 10 includes two stimulus delivery switches 18, namely a first stimulus delivery switch 24 and a second stimulus delivery switch 26. The animal training device 10 operates in at least a stimulus delivery mode and a stimulus programming mode, each mode subsequently discussed in detail. When the stimulus generation unit 10 is operating in the stimulus delivery mode, the display 14 presents the defined parameters of each customized stimulus, as illustrated at
In one embodiment of the animal training device 10, the user switches the mode of operation from the stimulus delivery mode to the stimulus programming mode by pressing the SELECT key of the menu navigation control 16. When the animal training device 10 is operating in the stimulus programming mode, the display 14 presents the previously discussed series of menus, as illustrated at
After the user selects the stimulus delivery switch 18 to be programmed, the display 14 presents a menu including the programmable parameters of the customized stimulus, as illustrated at
When the user selects the “Stimulus Delivery Device” option, the display 14 presents a menu including the various stimulus delivery devices 12 operating with the animal training device 10, as illustrated at
It should be noted that the specific menus and menu options discussed above are for illustrative purposes only and that the number, style, and structure of the menus and the various menu options can vary from those of the illustrated embodiment without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention. For example, in one embodiment, the first stimulus delivery switch 24 and the second stimulus delivery switch 26 can be programmed to activate the same stimulus delivery device 12, whereas the first stimulus delivery switch 24 is associated with a vibration stimulus and the second stimulus delivery switch 26 is associated with an electrical stimulus such that the user is able to deliver a warning stimulus (the vibration stimulus) to the animal prior to delivering a corrective stimulus (the electrical stimulus). In another embodiment, the display 14 indicates the stimulus delivery device 12 to deliver the stimulus by providing a distinguishable backlighting corresponding to each stimulus delivery device 12. For example, when the first stimulus delivery device 12a is to deliver the customized stimulus, the display 14 provides a green backlighting, and when the second stimulus delivery device 12b is to deliver the customized stimulus, the display 14 provides a yellow backlighting. The user toggles among the various stimulus delivery devices 12 using the menu navigation control 16 when the animal training device 10 operates in the stimulus delivery mode. Accordingly, the user activates the desired stimulus delivery device 12 to the extent that the stimulus delivery device 12 delivers the customized stimulus by toggling to the corresponding backlighting and operating the stimulus delivery switch 18.
When the parameters of the customized stimuli have been satisfactorily defined by the user, the user sets the animal training device 10 to operate in the stimulus delivery mode. As previously discussed, the display 14 presents the defined parameters of each customized stimulus such that the parameters are visually associated with the corresponding stimulus delivery switch 18. Considering again
Considering again
The stimulus delivery device 12 includes a receiver 28, a second processor 30, and a stimulus delivery mechanism 32, the second processor 30 being in electrical communication with the receiver 28 and the stimulus delivery mechanism 32. The receiver 28 is adapted to receive the stimulus request signal such that the second processor 30 receives the information indicative of the defined parameters of the customized stimulus. The second processor 30 determines the defined parameters and, if in accordance with the defined parameters, activates the stimulus delivery mechanism 32 such that it delivers the customized stimulus to the animal. Accordingly, the stimulus delivery mechanism 32 is adapted to the deliver all possible permeations of the customized stimulus. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the stimulus delivery mechanism 32 is adapted to deliver an electrical, a vibration, and an audible stimulus, each of various intensities. More specifically, when the animal training device 10 transmits the first stimulus request signal and the first stimulus delivery device 12a receives the signal, the second processor 30 of the first stimulus delivery device 12a activates the stimulus delivery mechanism 32 of the first stimulus delivery device 12a such that it delivers an electrical stimulus having an intensity level of 73 to the animal carrying the first stimulus delivery device 12a. When the animal training device 10 transmits the first stimulus request signal and the second stimulus delivery device 12b receives the signal, the second processor 30 of the second stimulus delivery device 12b determines that the first stimulus delivery device 12a is defined as the device to deliver the first customized stimulus and takes no further action. Similarly, when the animal training device 10 transmits the second stimulus request signal and the first stimulus delivery device 12a receives the signal, the second processor 30 of the first stimulus delivery device 12a determines that the second stimulus delivery device 12b is defined as the device to deliver the second customized stimulus and takes no further action. When the animal training device 10 transmits the second stimulus request signal and the second stimulus delivery device 12b receives the signal, the second processor 30 of the second stimulus delivery device 12b activates the stimulus delivery mechanism 32 of the second stimulus delivery device 12b such that it delivers a vibration stimulus having an intensity level of 21 to the animal carrying the second stimulus delivery device 12b.
It should be noted that when the animal training device 10 is in communication with multiple stimulus delivery devices 12, the stimulus delivery devices 12 do not have to have identical stimulus delivery capabilities to remain within the scope and spirit of the present invention. However, when the stimulus delivery devices 12 do have differing stimulus delivery capabilities, the animal training device 10 must account for the differing capabilities when defining the customized stimuli. For example, if the first stimulus delivery device 12a is not capable of delivering a vibration stimulus, when the user selects the “First Stimulus Delivery Device” option from the “Stimulus Delivery Device” menu, the animal training device 10 does not present the “Vibration” option under “Stimulus Type” menu.
Although the above-discussed embodiment of the animal training device 10 includes a first and second stimulus delivery switch 24, 26, it should be noted that the animal training device 10 can have one or more stimulus delivery switches 18 without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Additionally, although the above-discussed embodiment of the animal training device 10 operates with a first and second stimulus delivery device 12a, 12b, it should be noted that the animal training device 10 can operate with one or more stimulus delivery devices 12 without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.
From the foregoing description, those skilled in the art will recognize that an animal training device having the capability to activate a stimulus delivery device such that it delivers a customized stimulus to an animal having advantages over the prior art has been provided. More specifically, the animal training device includes a menu-driven user interface that enables a user to define the programmable parameters of a customized stimulus and to associate the customized stimulus with a stimulus delivery switch such that when the stimulus delivery switch is operated, the animal training device transmits a stimulus request signal, which includes information indicative of the defined parameters. The stimulus delivery device is responsive to the stimulus request signal to the extent that when the stimulus delivery device receives the stimulus request signal, it determines the defined parameters and delivers the customized stimulus to the animal.
While the present invention has been illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicant's general inventive concept.