Multi-mode pet training device

Abstract

The pet training device comprises a handheld wireless command module, a wireless receiver module connected to an adjustable collar assembly. The wireless command module is used to select a stimulation mode, stimulation duration, a Jump mode, a Rise mode, and a stimulation intensity level through the used of one-touch digital switches located on the device front panel. The selected functions are displayed on an LCD. The stimulation commands are transmitted to the wireless receiver module where they are demodulated into control signals that trigger a shock, a beep, a vibration, or a combination thereof. When the wireless receiver is placed in the no-bark mode, the wireless receiver module will generate a shock when triggered by a bark sensor. A Jump mode is provided to instantly increase stimulation from a currently defined level. A Rise mode is provided to gradually and continuously increase the stimulation level.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless command module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a transmission message according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a display of a liquid crystal display screen of a controller according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a wireless command module according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a functional schematic diagram of the wireless command module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a functional schematic diagram of the wireless receiver module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a functional schematic diagram of the wireless receiver module showing a detailed view of an RF receiver module;

FIG. 8 is a detailed schematic diagram of a shock module;

FIG. 9 is a detailed schematic diagram of a vibrate module;

FIG. 10 is a detailed schematic diagram of a no-bark module;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are flow charts of a receiver method;

FIG. 13 is a transmitter method flow chart;

FIG. 14 illustrates a normal mode of operation;

FIG. 15 illustrates Rise or Jump mode of operation;

FIG. 16 is a flow chart of the Jump and Rise mode;

FIG. 17 is a functional block diagram of a handheld unit transmitter according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrate operation according two embodiments for Rise mode intensity reduction;

FIG. 20 is a timing diagram that illustrates operation of a random maximum stimulation period according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 21 illustrates a system that includes a receiver with a receiver safety mode according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 22 is a functional diagram that illustrates a Jump mode according to an alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 23 is a timing diagram illustrating operation according to one embodiment;

FIG. 24 is a timing diagram that illustrates an alternate approach to increasing stimulation;

FIG. 25 is a timing diagram that illustrates a comparison of the two approaches of FIGS. 23 and 24;

FIG. 26 is a signal diagram that illustrates an embodiment of delivering stimulation control information to a receiver by a controller according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 27 and 28 illustrate alternate embodiments of controllers;

FIG. 29 is a curve that illustrates an alternate embodiment for operation of the Rise mode in which the commanded intensity is gradually decreased; and

FIG. 30 is a flow chart illustrating a method according to one embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. A transmitter module in an animal behavior modification system command module comprising: means for determining an operating mode, the operating mode further comprising: means for determining a stimulation mode, wherein the selected stimulation mode is one of a shock, a beep, a vibration, or a combination thereof;means for determining a stimulation intensity level; andmeans for determining a maximum stimulation duration, wherein the maximum stimulation duration is a duration for an instantaneous stimulation above a currently defined level and a maximum stimulation reached from a continuously increasing stimulation;means for transmitting the selected stimulation mode, stimulation intensity level and stimulation duration as determined by the selected operating mode; andwherein the transmitter module is operable to detect depression of a Jump mode switch and, for the duration that the Jump mode switch is depressed, to immediately change the stimulation level from a currently defined level to a specified Jump mode level that may be higher or lower than the currently defined level.

2. The transmitter module of claim 1 further includes means for determining a selected receiver address from a group of receiver addresses, which group of receiver addresses includes at least one stored receiver address, and transmitting the selected receiver address.

3. The transmitter module of claim 1, further including comprises a switch interpretation module operably disposed to receive and interpret outputs of a plurality of one-touch switches.

4. The transmitter module of claim 1 further including means for determining that a Rise mode switch was depressed and, responsive thereto, continually increasing the stimulation level to a maximum level until the Rise mode button is released.

5. The transmitter module of claim 1, wherein means for transmitting the selected operating mode further comprises: means for processing radio signals further including means for: generating a local oscillation signal at a selected RF signal;mixing the formatted transmission message with the local oscillation signal to create a modulated RF signal;filtering the modulated RF signal to remove signal components below and above the selected RF signal;amplifying the filtered modulated RF signal; andradiating the filtered amplified modulated RF signal from a transmitting antenna.

6. The transmitter module of claim 1 further including means for providing a visual indication of the stimulation level.

7. A method, in a wireless animal behavior modification system, comprising: determining a temporary stimulation mode wherein the temporary mode is one of a Jump mode or a Rise mode;stimulating according to the temporary stimulation mode and upon release of a corresponding switch at a transmitter unit, returning to a prior stimulation mode from a time just prior to the depression of the corresponding switch;transmitting control commands that include an indication of a stimulation level to a receiver for stimulating an animal with one of a shock, a beep, a vibration, or a combination shock, beep and vibration according to the stimulation mode;

8. The method of claim 7 further including, reducing the stimulation level specified in the control commands after expiration of a random period even if the corresponding switch to activate the stimulation has not yet been released.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising, in a receiver of the system, terminating stimulation even if a stimulation control command is being received, after a specified period.

10. A transmitter module for an animal behavior modification system, comprising: radio front end circuitry from transmitting wireless commands to a receiver of the animal behavior modification system;circuitry for selecting a Jump mode of operation; andcircuitry for immediately changing a stimulation whenever the Jump mode is selected to instantly increase or decrease the stimulation level to a specified level from the currently defined stimulation.

11. The transmitter module of claim 10 wherein the stimulation level is changed to an increased level that is a previously specified maximum level.

12. The transmitter module of claim 10 wherein the transmitter module is operable to change the stimulation intensity level to a first Jump mode stimulation level.

13. The transmitter module of claim 10 wherein the transmitter module is operable to change the stimulation intensity level to a second Jump mode stimulation level whenever the Jump mode is activated a second time within a specified period of the Jump mode being previously activated.

14. The transmitter module of claim 13 wherein the transmitter module is operable to change the stimulation intensity level to a third Jump mode stimulation level whenever the Jump mode is activated a third time within a specified period of the Jump mode being previously activated.

15. The transmitter module of claim 10 wherein the transmitter module is operable to change stimulation intensity levels in a plurality of steps for subsequent activation of a switch that is used to select the Jump mode of operation within a specified period.

16. The transmitter of claim 10 wherein the changed stimulation level is maintained as long as the Jump mode remains selected.

17. The transmitter of claim 10 wherein a stimulation level is maintained as long as the Jump mode remains selected until expiration of a finite period.

18. The transmitter of claim 17 wherein the finite period has a random duration.

19. The transmitter of claim 17 wherein, after the finite period, the stimulation level is reduced to a specified value.

20. The transmitter of claim 10 wherein the intensity of the stimulation level is increased by increasing at least one of a number of stimulation pulses in a specified period, a width of at least one stimulation pulse, or a commanded stimulation intensity level further comprising a voltage magnitude, a power level or a current level.

21. A transmitter module for an animal behavior modification system, comprising: radio front end circuitry from transmitting wireless commands to a receiver of the animal behavior modification system;circuitry for selecting a Rise mode of operation;wherein the transmitter module is operable to gradually change a stimulation level to one of a previously defined level or to a maximum level that is defined within permanent memory of the transmitter module as long as the Rise mode remains selected;wherein the transmitter module is operable to change the stimulation level to a previously selected stimulation level after expiration of a finite period.

22. The transmitter module of claim 21 wherein the finite period has a random duration.

23. The transmitter of claim 21 wherein the maximum level is one of a maximum level of the animal behavior modification system or a previously defined level specified by the user.

24. The transmitter of claim 21 wherein the intensity of the stimulation level is increased by increasing at least one of a number of stimulation pulses in a specified period, a duration of the stimulation pulses, a commanded pulse voltage magnitude, a power level or a current level.

25. The transmitter of claim 21 wherein the intensity of the stimulation level is specified by increasing at least one of a number of stimulation pulses sent in a specified period, by increasing a duration of a the stimulation pulses, by specifying a numerical stimulation level in a control command.

26. A transmitter module for an animal behavior modification system, comprising: radio front end circuitry from transmitting wireless commands to a receiver of the animal behavior modification system;circuitry for selecting determining a stimulation level and for transmitting the determined stimulation level to a receiver of the animal modification system;wherein the transmitter module is operable to operate in a normal mode wherein a user selected intensity stimulation level is commanded while a stimulation switch remains depressed, to operate in a Rise mode wherein stimulation levels are changed in a substantially continuous mode, and to operate in a Jump mode wherein stimulation levels are changed in notable discrete levels.

27. The transmitter module of claim 26 wherein the transmitter is operable to change the pulse width in a continuous manner to change stimulation in a continuous manner in a Rise mode of operation.

28. The transmitter module of claim 26 wherein the transmitter is operable to change the pulse width in discrete sizes to change stimulation in discrete steps in a Jump mode of operation.

29. The transmitter module of claim 28 wherein the transmitter specifies a desired intensity level by generating a corresponding number of pulses in a specified period.

30. The transmitter module of claim 28 wherein the transmitter specifies a desired intensity level by generating pulses having a pulse width that corresponds to the desired intensity level.

31. The transmitter module of claim 28 wherein the transmitter specifies a desired intensity level by generating a control signal that numerically specifies a desired intensity level.

32. A transmitter module for an animal behavior modification system, comprising: radio front end circuitry from transmitting wireless commands to a receiver of the animal behavior modification system;circuitry for selecting a Jump mode of operation; andcircuitry for immediately changing a stimulation to a specified level that is different from a currently defined stimulation intensity level for normal operations whenever the Jump mode is selected.

33. A transmitter module for an animal behavior modification system, comprising: radio front end circuitry from transmitting wireless commands to a receiver of the animal behavior modification system;circuitry for entering and storing a stimulation intensity level for a No-bark mode of operation; andcircuitry for wirelessly transmitting the stimulation intensity level for the No-bark mode of operation.