The field of the present invention is remote training devices for animals.
In the training of animals since the late 1960's, owners/handlers/trainers (hereinafter “user”) have employed various electronic techniques and technologies to encourage and/or discourage an animal's actions. From this, an animal can learn desired behaviors. These electronic aides, whether remotely controlled by the user, manually controlled by sensor inputs or automatically controlled by the animal's own actions, have advanced throughout the years to gain prominence in today's electronic world.
Different kinds of electronic cue signals have been employed using varying degrees, or levels, of sounds, vibrations, and electrical impulses. With these tools and through experience gained through the years, focus has been on making these cue signals fit specific events while improving the animal's acceptance in learning its tasks more easily. This experience has been predominately been with dogs; although the application of such devices are not specifically limited only to dogs.
During this evolution, manufacturers offered users the capability to select different levels of cue signals at a given moment from a hand-held transmitter to the dog's collar at a distance and from one to over one hundred different levels. From this vantage, what has been learned is that one level is not always the appropriate level. Rather, many levels are useful and depend upon the temperament and distraction level of each individual dog at any given moment. It is advantageous to have the means to quickly adjust the level to match the dog's current focus. Yet, even a selector dial with many levels to select from may not be enough as the available levels may not properly match the dog's adrenal releases and distractions.
Therefore a device was needed which provides incremental gradual levels that can be quickly adjusted just as the volume control in ones car radio—fitting the individual's hearing quality while overcoming background noise levels. In this manner, the device's output needs to finitely change to match the dog's adrenaline and background distractions at any given moment and at appropriate distances. Not only to go up in level but to instantly come down in level, therein never overwhelming the dog or causing any over reactions by the dog.
The present invention is directed to a remote control for animal training including a remote controller held by a user and a training device worn by an animal coupled by radio frequency (RF) communication. The remote controller has a stimulation mode selection button, a control for setting the level of electrical impulse stimulation to be applied to the animal which includes a three-terminal potentiometer for volume control. A voltage-to-frequency converter converts a voltage level set by the volume control to a corresponding frequency signal proportional to the voltage level. RF communication circuitry transmits signals including the kind and mode of stimuli and the level of electrical impulse stimulation to the training device through a transmitting antenna.
Additional features are selectively contemplated including a buzzer and an LED on the training device controlled by the remote controller. Battery charge status of the power sources on the two devices are contemplated for the remote controller. A GPS locator and a detachable antenna are also contemplated.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved animal training device. Other and further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description.
A remote control for animal training includes a user hand-held transmitter for transmitting coded command signals. The command signals are transmitted via a microprocessor amplified through a RF system and outputted through an antenna. The remote control further includes a training device worn by the animal to be trained. An RF receiver receives command signals with individual output levels of three different styles of stimuli to the sensory system of the animal in order to allow the animal to properly react or respond to these levels of stimuli.
A hand-held transmitter uses a voltage frequency converter (VFC) for converting input from a three-terminal potentiometer voltage to a frequency proportional thereto. The frequency signal is input to a microprocessor. The microprocessor has a security code function to limit control of the training device to that of the remote controller. Five function switches allow for the selection of one of five types of stimulation, 1) brief electrical impulse stimulation, 2) continuous electrical impulse stimulation, 3) boost continuous electrical impulse stimulation, at a preset level above the continuous stimulation setting, 4) magnetic buzzer stimulation, and 5) light stimulation. The switches are connected to the RF circuitry to produce and amplify signals denoting the selected stimulation then delivered to an antenna driver and in turn to a tuned broadcast antenna.
An animal collar receiver receives the RF transmitted coded signals from the transmitter. A detector circuit detects the coded signals and sends them to an on-board microprocessor. The microprocessor converts the coded signals and activates one of five driver circuits for then outputting the selected stimuli and the appropriate level to the animal. The same RF circuitry on both the remote controller and the training device can function as paired transceivers to broadcast intelligent data back to the hand-held transmitter.
A stimulator adjustment control includes a voltage divider network with a three-terminal potentiometer. The potentiometer is coupled to a voltage to frequency converter circuit (VFC) which converts the voltage level into individual separate frequencies. These separate frequencies allow the microprocessor to send the appropriate signal to the individual stimuli drivers for the five different outputs at the animal collar to articulate many different gradual levels of output from each of the five individually selectable stimuli.
Both the transmitter and receiver employee a DC battery pack for operating each system through an on-board regulator and power switch. In one embodiment, rechargeable batteries and their charging circuits are installed.
On/off power switches are provided in each the transmitter and the receiver to activate and deactivate each system independently. In one embodiment, an LCD screen is employed in the transmitter and offers the user the capability to observe in a visual display the level setting, the state of the transmitter battery and which one of the five select function buttons is powered up when that particular button is pressed, preferably by icon.
With the capability to adjust gradual levels upward and downward while also providing different styles of stimulation, the control offers the animal opportunities to be successful while allowing the user to build a more meaningful relationship with the animal. To allow greater potential for successful training results, these sensory detectors and their drive circuitry would include utilizing optical, photo, infrared, air flow, vibration, tilt, pressure, reflective, magnetic, temperature, voltage, current, frequency, and percussion transducer/sensors of all sorts and kinds.
Such electronic control activations would include utilizing the following signal types as cues:
Looking more specifically to the figures,
A stimulation adjustment control 130 uses a potentiometer as a “volume” (magnitude) control which allows precise control or gradual change of the stimulation level suitably for an animal, differently from the prior art. A conventional stimulation adjustment means uses a mechanical selector switch, and such a selector switch cannot subdivide a stimulation level precisely.
120: Buttons (or, switches)
121: Brief Stimulation Button
122: Continuous Stimulation Button
123: +20 Level Boost Continuous Stimulation Button
124: Buzzer Button
125: Light Button
130: Volume Control
132: V/F Converter
110: Microprocessor
140, 142: Display
151: Oscillator//Modulator
152: RF Amplifier
153: RF Output
154: Low-pass Filter
155: Antenna
156: RF Control
161: Regulator & Power Switch
162: Battery
163: Charging Device
170: GPS Module (in the second embodiment)
180: Two-way Receiver (in the second embodiment)
221: Antenna
222: High-frequency Amplifier
223: OSC
224: Mixer
225: Intermediate-frequency Amplifier
226: Filter
227: Detector
210: Microprocessor
231: D/A Converter
232: Electrical Impulse Stimulation Generator
233: Stimulation Terminals
234: Stimulation Generating Circuit Control
241: Buzzer Driver
242: Magnetic Buzzer
251: Light Driver
252: LED
261: Regulator & Power Switch
262: Battery
263: Charging Means
270: GPS (in the second embodiment)
280: Two-way Transmitter (in the second embodiment)
Thus, an improved animal training device has been disclosed. While embodiments and applications of this invention have been shown and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The invention, therefore is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.
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