Pets enrich the lives of families and individuals around the world, providing companionship, love, protection, and entertainment. For many pet owners, nothing is more important than the safety, comfort, and well-being of their pets. For many, pets occupy a position comparable to children.
Unlike children, however, pets have specific needs that are not shared with their owners. Common household pets, such as dogs and cats, may live largely indoors, but need to be let outside to relieve themselves, exercise, or just to avoid boredom. Busy owners, however, may not be able to let the pets in and out conveniently, due to being at work or traveling.
Simple care for such pet needs is often resolved by family members, neighbors, or hired help. These solutions, however, rely on humans, which are prone to forgetting about their obligations, leaving the pets stranded inside or outside. Pet doors, on the other hand, allow the pets to let themselves in and out, but present a potential security risk. Pet doors also let the pets in and out regardless of the owner's wishes. For example, if work is being done in the yard in the afternoon, the owner may wish to allow the pets to access the yard in the morning but keep them in the house in the afternoon to be sure they do not bother or harm the workers or possibly escape through an open gate in the yard. To meet this need, the owner again requires human on-site assistance.
In various representative aspects, and apparatus for controlling pet access according to various aspects of the present invention generally comprise a locking mechanism configured to selectively lock and unlock a pet door. A controller connected to the locking mechanism controls the locking mechanism in response to a control signal. A wireless receiver connected to the controller conveys the control signal to the controller.
A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the following illustrative figures. In the following figures, like reference numbers refer to similar elements and steps throughout the figures.
Elements and steps in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been rendered according to any particular sequence. For example, steps that may be performed concurrently or in different order are illustrated in the figures to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
The present invention may be described in terms of functional block components and various processing steps. Such functional blocks may be realized by any number of hardware or software components configured to perform the specified functions and achieve the various results. For example, a system according to various aspects of the present invention may employ transmitters, receivers, doors, the like, which may carry out a variety of functions. In addition, the present invention may be practiced in conjunction with any number of access systems and animal control systems, and the system described is merely one exemplary application for the invention. Further, a system according to the present invention may employ any number of conventional techniques for wireless communications, door control, and the like.
Methods and apparatus for controlling pet access may operate in conjunction with a pet access control system 100, for example to control a pet door. Referring now to
More particularly, referring to
The locking mechanism 210 controls whether the door 110 may move. The locking mechanism 210 may comprise any suitable system for selectively inhibiting movement of the door 110. For example, the hinge 212 and/or door 110 may have a locked state and an unlocked state, such that the door 110 moves or may be moved in the unlocked state, and the door 110 is immobilized in the locked state. The transition between the locked state and the unlocked state may occur in response to a signal, such as an electrical signal, mechanical force, or other signal. For example, in the present embodiment, the hinge 212 includes an actuator responsive to the controller 112 to facilitate locking the hinge 212 in position to prevent rotation and inhibit movement of the door 110. The actuator may also respond to the controller 112 to unlock the hinge 212 to permit the door 110 to swing. Alternatively, the lock may be separate from the hinge 212, such as a bar, clamp, bolt, or other mechanism that may selectively inhibit movement of the door 110. In another embodiment, the locking mechanism 210 may be incorporated into another system, such as a motor for moving the door 110.
The controller 112 controls the locking mechanism 210 to control whether the locking mechanism 210 is in the locked or unlock state. The controller 112 may comprise any appropriate system for controlling the locking mechanism 210. For example, the controller 112 may comprise a conventional processor, logic circuit, analog circuit, or other control system connected to the locking mechanism 210. In the present embodiment, the controller 112 includes a microprocessor connected to the locking mechanism 210 to provide control signals to the locking mechanism 210. The controller 112 is may also be connected to the wireless transceiver 114 to receive instructions. Alternatively, the controller 112 may be self-contained and operate without instructions from a wireless transceiver 114 or other source, such as in conjunction with a program. The program may operate the locking mechanism 210 in any suitable manner, such as a time-based program to lock and unlock the locking mechanism 210 at selected times or the like.
In the present embodiment, the controller 112 is connected to the wireless transceiver 114 to receive signals for controlling the locking mechanism 210. The wireless transceiver 114 is configured to receive signals via a wireless connection and provide corresponding signals to the controller 112. The wireless transceiver 114 may comprise any suitable system for transmitting and/or receiving wireless signals, such as a cellular receiver, an IEEE 802.11 compliant receiver, an infrared receiver, or the like.
The wireless transceiver 114 may be controlled in any suitable manner. For example, the wireless transceiver 114 may comprise an IEEE 802.11 compliant transceiver configured to transmit and receive signals to communicate with other wireless systems, such as a wireless router. Referring again to
Access to the controller 112 via the wireless transceiver 114 may performed in any suitable manner. For example, the controller 112 may include a computer that may be controlled from other computers 118 without connecting to the remote computer 116. In one embodiment, the functions of the remote computer 116 may be integrated into the controller 112.
The pet access control system 100 may also include any other suitable systems associated with pets, pet access, pet monitoring, or other functions. For example, the pet access control system 100 may include a camera 120 connected directly or indirectly to the wireless transceiver 114. In the present embodiment, the camera 120 is configured to monitor one or both sides of the pet door 110, such as to monitor the status of the pet. The camera 120 may monitor an area for a pet wishing to pass through. The camera 120 may be connected to the wireless transceiver 114 via the controller 112, such as to send image data to the remote computer 116 and/or other computers 118 via the wireless transceiver 114 so that a user may monitor an area. The camera 120 may also receive signals from the controller 112, for example to activate and deactivate the camera 120, zoom, pan, or otherwise operate the camera 120.
The pet access control system may also include an audio system, such as a microphone 122 and/or a speaker 124. The audio system may be connected to the controller 112, for example to communicate with the user via the remote computer 116 and the wireless transceiver 114. The audio system may perform any suitable functions. For example, signals may be transmitted from the user to the speaker 124, such as to talk to pets or provide audible signals from the user or the controller 112. In addition, the microphone 122 may transmit signals corresponding to sounds to the controller 112 and/or user, such as to monitor a pet's condition.
The pet access control system may also include a treat dispenser 126, for example to provide training incentives and/or remotely feed pets. The treat dispenser 126 may comprise any suitable system, such as a hopper for containing treats or other food and a dispenser for releasing the treats for consumption. The treat dispenser 126 is suitably connected to the controller 112 to control the treat dispenser 126, for example in response to a program for regular feeding of the pet and/or signals from the user via the remote computer and/or the wireless transceiver 114.
In operation, the pet access door 110 may be in a locked state with the pet inside a room on one side of the door 110. Referring to
To allow the pet outside, the user may change the state of the locking mechanism 210 to an unlocked state (316) via the remote computer 116, such as by pressing a corresponding web interface button. The instruction may transmitted to the controller 112, for example from the remote computer 116 via a wireless network and the wireless transceiver 114. The user and/or controller 112 may also encourage the pet to exit via the door 110 (318), for example by providing a verbal command, ringing a bell or emitting a corresponding sound via the speaker 124, or the like. The user may also confirm the exit of the pet via the camera 120 (320). When the pet exits, the controller 112 and/or the user may leave the door 110 unlocked or change locking mechanism 210 to a locked state (322). If the pet is likely to be outside for a significant amount of time, the user may wish to leave the website and log off (324).
Referring to
When the pet enters, the user and/or controller 112 may monitor the pet's return (422) and lock the door 110 (424). The user and/or controller 112 may also provide any appropriate feedback to the pet, such as verbal rewards or a treat from the treat dispenser 126 (426).
In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments. Various modifications and changes may be made, however, without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims. The specification and figures are illustrative, rather than restrictive, and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined by the claims and their legal equivalents rather than by merely the examples described.
For example, the steps recited in any method or process claims may be executed in any order and are not limited to the specific order presented in the claims. Additionally, the components and/or elements recited in any apparatus claims may be assembled or otherwise operationally configured in a variety of permutations and are accordingly not limited to the specific configuration recited in the claims.
Benefits, other advantages and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to particular embodiments; however, any benefit, advantage, solution to problem or any element that may cause any particular benefit, advantage or solution to occur or to become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required or essential features or components of any or all the claims.
As used herein, the terms “comprise”, “comprises”, “comprising”, “having”, “including”, “includes” or any variation thereof, are intended to reference a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, composition or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements recited, but may also include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, composition or apparatus. Other combinations and/or modifications of the above-described structures, arrangements, applications, proportions, elements, materials or components used in the practice of the present invention, in addition to those not specifically recited, may be varied or otherwise particularly adapted to specific environments, manufacturing specifications, design parameters or other operating requirements without departing from the general principles of the same.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/738,257, filed Apr. 20, 2007, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/745,185, filed Apr. 20, 2006, and incorporates the disclosure of that application by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60745185 | Apr 2006 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 11738257 | Apr 2007 | US |
Child | 15158017 | US |