Not Applicable
Not Applicable
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to a solar powered system for containing an animal within or repelling an animal from a designated area.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is common for a pet owner to have a need to contain a pet within or restrict a pet from a particular area without having to use a physical aesthetically unpleasing barrier. For example, a pet owner may have an ornamental flower garden, from which he wishes to restrict the pet. Because the garden is ornamental, that is for aesthetic appeal, a physical structure, such as a fence, is not a viable solution to restricting the pet from the garden. To address this type of situation, conventional pet repellant systems have provided an intangible means for restricting a pet from an outdoor restricted area. More specifically, conventional pet repellant systems typically include a transmitter unit and a receiver unit. The transmitter unit generates and transmits a signal, and the receiver unit, which is carried by the pet, delivers a stimulus to the pet when it receives the transmitted signal. The transmitter unit is positioned within the restricted area, typically at the center thereof, such that the signal radiates from the transmitter unit to at least the perimeter of the area, thus having a presence within the restricted area. Consequently, when the pet approaches the restricted area, the receiver unit detects the signal and delivers a stimulus to the pet, discouraging the pet from approaching the restricted area.
Conventional pet repellant systems are limited in that providing the transmitter unit with sufficient operating power is problematic. More specifically, it is not reasonable for the transmitter unit to have a power cord in electrical communication with a conventional AC outlet because running a cord from the restricted area to the outlet is unsightly and would detract from any aesthetic appeal associated with the restricted area. Additionally, because the restricted area is typically within the pet owner's lawn, the cord would necessarily run from the restricted area, across the lawn, and to a structure having the AC outlet. As a result, the cord poses a hazard to anyone walking in the lawn and must be tended to every time the lawn is mowed. Another limited solution provided by conventional systems is to provide the transmitter unit with batteries for supplying operating power. However, because the transmitter unit is continuously transmitting the signal, the batteries become discharged within a short period of time. This limitation is significant because, unless the pet owner is extremely diligent in exchanging the batteries, the conventional pet repellant systems have frequent periods of unintended inoperability. Additionally, continuously exchanging the batteries presents an inconvenience for the pet owner. More specifically, because the transmitter unit is positioned at the center of the restricted area, the pet owner must enter the restricted area to retrieve and to reposition the transmitter unit each time the batteries are replaced. Additionally, repeatedly disturbing the restricted area potentially detracts from any aesthetic appeal associated with the area. Consequently, a system that repels a pet from a restricted area and that maximizes an internal power source is desired.
In accordance with the various features of the present invention there is provided an animal containment/repellant system for containing an animal within or repelling an animal from a designated area and for optimizing an internal power source of the system. More specifically, the animal containment/repellant system includes a base unit and a rover unit. The base unit includes a photovoltaic (PV) array, power regulation electronics, a rechargeable power source, base unit electronics, and an antenna. The PV array converts solar energy to electrical energy, and the power regulation electronics use the electrical energy to charge the power source and to provide the base unit electronics with operating power, the power source also providing the base unit electronics with operating power. The base unit electronics generate an activation signal and radiate the activation signal from the base unit by way of the antenna. The radiated activation signal defines the designated area. The rover unit is carried by the animal and includes a receiver and a stimulus delivery device. The receiver is adapted to receive the activation signal, and when the signal strength of the activation signal at the receiver reaches a predetermined threshold, the stimulus delivery device delivers a stimulus to the animal. As a result, when the base unit is disposed at the center of an area within which the animal is to be contained, the rover unit delivers a stimulus to the animal when the animal moves a predetermined distance from the base unit. More specifically, as the animal moves further from the base unit, the signal strength of the activation signal at the receiver decreases until it reaches the threshold, at which time the rover unit delivers a stimulus to the animal, discouraging the animal from continuing to move away from the base unit and thus moving beyond the designated area. Additionally, when the base unit is disposed at an area desired to be inaccessible by the animal, the rover unit delivers a stimulus to the animal when the animal approaches the area. More specifically, as the animal approaches the base unit, the signal strength of the activation signal at the receiver increases until it reaches the threshold, at which time the rover unit delivers a stimulus to the animal, discouraging the animal from continuing to approach the base unit and thus the designated area.
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:
The present invention provides an animal containment/repellant system for containing an animal within or repelling an animal from a designated area and for optimizing an internal power source of the system. More specifically, the animal containment/repellant system supplements the operating power provided by its internal power source with power derived from solar energy and charges its power source using the derived power. Additionally, the system employs a power conservation scheme to minimize the use of its internal power source. A block diagram of one embodiment of the animal containment/repellant system constructed in accordance with the various features of the present invention is illustrated generally at 10 in
The animal containment/repellant system 10 includes a base unit 12 and a rover unit 14. Generally, the base unit 12 generates and radiates an activation signal. The rover unit 14 is adapted to be carried by an animal and is responsive to the activation signal such that when the signal strength of the activation signal at the rover unit 14 reaches a predetermined threshold, the rover unit 14 delivers a stimulus to the animal. As a result, the locations at which the activation signal has a signal strength equal to the predetermined threshold define the perimeter of a designated area, which can be a containment area or a restricted area. Accordingly, when the designated area is a containment area and the animal carries the rover unit 14 outside the containment area, the rover unit 14 delivers a stimulus to the animal, discouraging the animal from moving beyond the containment area. Similarly, when the designated area is a restricted area and the animal carries the rover unit 14 within the restricted area, the rover unit 14 delivers a stimulus to the animal, discouraging the animal from entering the restricted area.
The base unit 12 includes a PV array 16, power regulation electronics 18, base unit electronics 20, an antenna 22, and a power source 24. The PV array 16 is in electrical communication with the power regulation electronics 18, which is in electrical communication with the base unit electronics 20 and the power source 24, the power source 24 also being in electrical communication with the base unit electronics 20, which is in electrical communication with the antenna 22. The base unit electronics 20 generate the activation signal and radiate the activation signal by way of the antenna 22 in accordance with the above discussion. The PV array 16 is an array of photovoltaic cells, or solar cells, that is adapted to convert solar energy into electrical energy. In one embodiment, the PV array 16 is manufactured using an epoxy encapsulation process that provides the array 16 with UV inhibitors, maximizing the convertible solar energy at the array 16. The converted electrical energy is received by the power regulation electronics 18, which output the electrical energy as regulated electrical power to both the base unit electronics 20 and the power source 24. More specifically, the power regulation electronics 18 regulate the received electrical energy such that the respective power output to the base unit electronics 20 and the power source 24 is not greater than the respective component is designed to manage.
The power source 24 is rechargeable and adapted to provide operating power to the base unit electronics 20. The power source 24 receives its charge from the electrical energy converted by the PV array 16 by way of the power regulation electronics 18. In one embodiment, the power source 24 includes a plurality of rechargeable 1.2V AA Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) batteries. In one embodiment, when the power source 24 is fully charged and the PV array 16 is converting energy, the energy is channeled to the base unit electronics 20, in accordance with the above discussion, such that the PV array 16 provides the base unit electronics 20 with at least a portion of its operating power, supplementing the operating power provided by the power source 24 and preserving the power in the power source 24. In another embodiment, the power regulation electronics 18 trickle charge the power source 24 while providing operating power to the base unit electronics 20.
A block diagram of one embodiment of the power regulation electronics 18 in electrical communication with the PV array 16 and the power source 24 is illustrated at
Considering again
In the illustrated embodiment, the antenna 22 is a coil disposed within the housing 40. As a result, the activation signal is effectively radiated from the housing 40 of the base unit 12. In an alternate embodiment, the antenna 22 is a single wire loop that extends from the housing 40 and defines an enclosure, the wire being positioned at the desired perimeter of the designated area. The activation signal is radiated from the wire such that the perimeter of the designated area is defined at the wire.
In the illustrated embodiment of
In one embodiment, the housing 40 of the base unit 12 is designed for aesthetic appeal. For example, the base unit 12 can have a housing 40 that resembles a stone, yard gnome, a decorative mushroom, a pathway stone, or any other ornament that coordinates with the decor of the surrounding landscape.
From the foregoing description, those skilled in the art will recognize that an animal containment/repellant system for containing and animal within or repelling an animal from a designated area offering advantages over the prior art has been provided. More specifically, the animal containment/repellant system supplements the operating power provided by its internal power source with power derived from solar energy and charges its power source using the derived power. Additionally, the system employs a power conservation scheme to minimize the use of its internal power source.
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.