Electronic collar for locating and training animals

A method for training an animal to maintain a desired position, comprising:

• attaching to the animal a single electronic collar assembly having a sounder and an electroshock stimulator thereon responsive to a signal from a remote transmitter, the collar assembly further including a motion sensor thereon for sending a signal indicative of the position of the animal to the stimulator and said sounder;
• transmitting a mode selection signal from the remote transmitter to a microprocessor of said collar assembly for selecting a locating mode which utilizing the sounder and a behavior controlling mode which utilizing the motion sensor, the stimulator and the sounder;
• generating a first signal from the motion sensor to cause the sounder to emit sounds when the animal assumes and remains in the desired position;
• and
• generating a second signal from the motion sensor so as to cause an interval between the sounds to decrease when the animal deviates from the desired position.

A device for locating an animal and controlling the animal's behavior, comprising:

• a hand held transmitter for selectively broadcasting distinct radio signals;
• wherein said hand-held transmitter further comprises a radio receiver, and is capable of two-way voice communication with a second similar hand-held transmitter;
• a single multi-function electronic collar assembly securable to the animal and having a radio signal receiver, a microprocessor, a sounder, and an electroshock stimulator thereon;
• the microprocessor being connected to the receiver of said collar assembly, the sounder and the stimulator;
• whereby the transmitter can selectively broadcast one of the distinct radio signals to the microprocessor through the receiver to respectively place the electronic collar assembly in any one of a plurality of operating modes including a locating mode utilizing the sounder and a behavior controlling mode utilizing the stimulator;
• and
• a motion sensor and a sound sensor mounted on the collar assembly and connected to the microprocessor, the sound sensor being utilized in the behavior controlling mode to indicate when the animal barks, the motion sensor being utilized in the behavior controlling mode to indicate when the animal is in a pointing position.

A device for locating an animal and controlling the animal's behavior, comprising:

• a hand held transmitter for selectively broadcasting distinct radio signals;
• a multi-function electronic collar assembly carried by a strap securable to the animal, the collar assembly having a radio signal receiver, a microprocessor, a sounder, a sound sensor and a motion sensor, and an electroshock stimulator thereon;
• the microprocessor being connected to the receiver;
• the sounder being operatively connected to the microprocessor for generating sounds audible to the animal in response to a signal from the microprocessor, at least some of the sounds being humanly audible and thereby indicative of the location of the animal, at least some of the sounds being pleasing to the animal;
• the sound sensor being electrically connected to the microprocessor for indicating to the microprocessor when the animal emits undesirable sounds;
• the electroshock stimulator being operatively connected to the microprocessor for applying electroshock stimulus to the animal when the animal exhibits undesirable behavior including when the animal emits said undesirable sounds;
• the motion sensor being connected to the microprocessor for indicating to the microprocessor when the animal moves;
• whereby the transmitter can selectively broadcast one of the distinct radio signals to the microprocessor through the receiver to respectively place the electronic collar assembly in any one of a plurality of modes including a locating mode and a behavior controlling mode;
• the microprocessor being receptive to signals from the transmitter and the motion sensor, in response to a first signal from the transmitter, the microprocessor commands the sounder to emit a tone at periodic intervals for locating the animal, and in response to a second signal different from the first signal, the microprocessor commands the sounder to emit a tone only when a button on a keypad of the transmitter is depressed, and in response to a third signal from the motion sensor indicating that the animal has assumed a pointing position, the microprocessor commands the sounder to emit a sound that is pleasing to the animal so as to encourage the animal to maintain the pointing position.

A programmable apparatus for use with an animal comprising:

• a collar adapted to be secured to the animal;
• a radio receiver coupled to the collar;
• a programmable hand-held transmitter having a keypad for selectively transmitting control signals to the radio receiver of said collar;
• wherein said hand-held transmitter further comprises a radio receiver, and is capable of two-way voice communication with a second similar hand-held transmitter;
• wherein said hand-held transmitter is also capable of controlling a plurality of programmable microprocessors associated with a plurality of similar collars;
• a set of probes coupled to the collar for applying electrical stimulation to the animal wearing the collar;
• a sound emitting device coupled to the collar for emitting audible sounds;
• and
• a programmable microprocessor electrically connected to the radio receiver of said collar, the set of probes, and the sound emitting device, wherein the microprocessor performs the processing steps of:
• receiving the control signals from the transmitter via the radio receiver of said collar, and
• placing the collar in one of a plurality of programmable operational modes in response to the control signals received from the transmitter, wherein each of the plurality of programmable operational modes involve the use of at least one of the set of probes and the sound emitting device.