Animal sensory stimulation with fur impedance detection
AssigneeGPSip, Inc.
InventorsRodney P. Landers, Kevin L. Nieuwsma
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A collar-mounted location sensor and stimulation unit includes a body. A generally planar stimulation unit and impedance-based fur detector in combination protect the animal from harmful stimulation. At least one sensory stimulator is configured to provide at least one of auditory, kinesthetic, and visual stimulation responsive to an output of a location sensor. One or more of a voltage, current, oscillation frequency, extent of modulation, or other output characteristic of the stimulation unit output is varied responsive to the detected fur impedance to protect and benefit both the body and mind of the animal.
Claims20
A collar-mounted animal sensory stimulation unit with fur impedance detection, comprising:
- a body supporting an exposed electrode sheet having a plurality of exposed and generally coplanar stimulation electrodes;
- an electrical stimulation generator having an electrical stimulation output electrically coupled to at least a first one of said plurality of exposed and generally coplanar stimulation electrodes;
- at least two impedance detector electrodes;
- and
- an impedance detector electrically coupled to said at least two impedance detector electrodes and configured to detect a magnitude of impedance between said at least two impedance detector electrodes;
- said electrical stimulation generator configured to alter said electrical stimulation output responsive to said detected magnitude of impedance.
A method of providing electrical animal sensory stimulation through animal fur responsive to impedance detection, comprising the steps of:
- electrically coupling stimulation electrodes to said animal fur;
- measuring impedance between stimulation electrodes;
- determining said measured impedance represents that said stimulation electrodes are coupled to said animal fur;
- applying electrical stimulation through said stimulation electrodes to said animal fur responsive to said determining step, and
- extinguishing said electrical stimulation through said stimulation electrodes to said animal fur absent said determining step.
A method of providing electrical animal sensory stimulation through animal fur responsive to impedance detection, comprising the steps of:
- electrically coupling stimulation electrodes to said animal fur;
- detecting a magnitude of impedance between said stimulation electrodes;
- varying an output of an electrical stimulation generator responsive to said detected magnitude of impedance;
- and
- applying said electrical animal sensory stimulation through said electrical stimulation electrodes to said animal fur subsequent to said output varying step.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.