Patent Application
20070095297
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
1. Field of Invention
This invention pertains to devices for watering pets. More particularly, this invention pertains to systems of this type which require minimum attention.
2. Description of the Related Art
Pet water fountains which dispense water to the pet on an as used basis are in common usage. Certain pet fountains include electronically driven pumps which move water from a reservoir, through a filter, thence introduce the water to the pet as a stream overflowing from the upper end of a drinking spout. These devices suffer the deleterious characteristics of: (1) required continuous operation of the pump to ensure that flowing water is available at all times for the pet, (2) running dry of water with continued operation of the pump, hence likely damage to the pump of a magnitude which requires its replacement, noise in the form of gurgling or the like when the water in the reservoir runs low, with concomitant fear and/or confusion by the pet, and other undesirable factors.
Water level indicators positioned in the reservoir have been employed in an effort to shut off the pump when such water level is too low for the pump to function. This leads to confusion of the pet when it seeks a drink of water from the device, and causing the pet to seek other source(s) of water, possibly from undesirable sources.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a pet fountain wherein water or pet food stored in a reservoir is dispensed from the reservoir and delivered to a receptacle accessible to the pet only on demand initiated by the physical presence of the pet in the proximity of the fountain.
the system is provided with at least one proximity sensor system associated with the fountain and which functions to activate flow of drinking water from a reservoir of water to a drinking spout or the like and to continue such flow for such time as the pet is within the effective range of the sensor or for some preselected limited period of time. Notably, the water pumping action is commenced and water flow begins before the pet arrives at the drinking spout, thereby providing a time period within which the system can commence operation and generate water flow from the drinking spout shortly before or substantially immediately upon the pet arriving in position to drink water from the drinking spout. As noted, in the present system, water flow is continued for the duration of the pet's visit to the system and is halted upon the pet exiting the proximity of the system or after a preselected time period.
Further, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the limitation of the operating time of the pump expands the life span of the pump, reduces the rate of buildup in the filter, reduces the time between cleanings of the device, and other benefits.
Another embodiment provides multiple motion sensors are provided at spaced apart locations about the perimeter of the device to provide for the desired early detection of the approach of a pet toward the device, irrespective of which direction the pet uses in its approach to the device.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides coding capable of distinguishing between pets (dog or cat, for example), thereby limiting the use of the fountain to a preselected one or a class of users.
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:
Referring to
In operation of the embodiment depicted in
In the illustrated embodiment of
In the embodiment of
Passive infrared (PIR) sensors are one common type of motion detector. A PIR sensor reacts to the infrared heat energy emitted by people and animals. Triggering occurs when the PIR sensor detects a change in infrared levels, such as when a warm object moves in or out of the sensor's field of view. PIR sensors are line-of-sight devices. They will not detect motion around corners and a person will not be detected if there is an obstruction, such as a partition, between the person and the detector.
A PIR sensor is a passive device that detects radiation but does not emit it. The PIR sensors used for the proximity-activated pet fountain are designed to be sensitive to objects emitting heat energy at a wavelength of around 10 microns, which is the peak wavelength of the heat energy emitted by warm-blooded animals. As a general rule, PIR sensors are not prone to false triggering.
PIR sensors are not very demanding of image quality. The objectives used to focus energy on the detector are typically unsophisticated reflective or refractive optics. Inexpensive sensors typically use refractive optics, such as a polyethylene Fresnel lens. Polyethylene is often used because it is one of the few inexpensive materials that transmit far infrared wavelengths. Unfortunately, polyethylene has a fairly high transmission loss. Using the Fresnel lens configuration allows a thinner lens that minimizes the loss. Other materials capable of transmitting far IR wavelengths include germanium, silicon, sapphire, and various exotic salts and minerals.
In addition to passive sensors, active sensors may be used to detect motion. Active sensors emit energy into the environment and measure changes in the reflected energy. Common types of active motion sensors emit light, sound, or microwave energy. By way of example, ultrasonic sensors (US) emit a high-frequency sound, above human and animal audibility, and listen for a change in frequency of the reflected sound. Active sensors are generally more sensitive that PIR sensors. In addition, active sensors are capable of monitoring larger areas than PIR sensors. The benefits of improved sensitivity and larger detection area, however, are somewhat offset by the disadvantage of increased false triggers. Because of the sensitivity, movement in the air due to opening or shutting a door or the cycling of an HVAC system can trigger an active sensor that is improperly placed or poorly adjusted. Hybrid sensors combine both active and passive sensors to obtain increased sensitivity but reduce the occurrence of false triggers.
Because pet fountains are commonly stationary, the type and weight of the power source can be of less than major significance. In one embodiment, the pet fountain is powered from line voltage. In another embodiment long-life batteries are used as weight is not a primary limiting factor. Because of the ready availability of power, the pet fountain is the active device in many embodiments. Generally, the pet fountain broadcasts a request-for-identification signal. As the pet approaches the pet fountain, the RFID tag carried by the pet receives the request-for-identification signal and broadcasts a response containing the identifier. Upon receipt of a proper response, the pet fountain activates the pump to circulate the water. Because the communication between the pet fountain and the RFID tag continues while the RFID tag remains in close proximity to the pet fountain and does not rely on movement of the pet, the activation of the pump need not be regulated with a controller, although a controller or timer can be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The proper response depends upon the sophistication of the discernment between pets. The most basic embodiment uses a single code for all RFID tags, i.e., the RFID tag is linked to the brand or model of the pet fountain. All pets having the proper RFID tag will activate the pet fountain. In other embodiments, each RFID tag has a unique code and each pet fountain is programmed to accept only certain codes. This allows the pet fountains to have limited access. In other words, a dog wearing an RFID tag with one code can not activate the pet fountain linked to a differing code associated with the cat's RFID tag. The use of unique codes also allows separate profiles to be established for the pets. For example, the pet fountain is programmed to provide a thirty-second water flow when a first code is received and a forty-five second water flow in response to a second code.
Both active and passive RFID tags are suitable for use with the present invention.
Active RFID tags, such as that illustrated in
It will be further recognized by one skilled in the art that the fountain of the present invention may be employed for dispensing of pet foods in lieu of, or concomitantly with, the dispensing of water. More specifically, by substituting a source of food, for example particulate food, for the water discussed hereinabove, and substitution of a motorized feed screw, for example, for the pump and directing the output from the feed screw to a feed bowl or the like, one can readily dispense food to a pet. In this embodiment, the sensing and timing of the operation of the motorized feed screw may be controlled as by means of one or more of the systems depicted in the several Figures. Particularly useful for this purpose would be the RFID tag system depicted in
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.
