Ultrasonic animal deterrent for protecting an area

An animal deterrent system for frightening an animal away from a protected area, said animal deterrent system including:

• a detector for detecting an external signal, said external signal representing an animal, said external signal being continuous;
• a detection signal generator responsive to said detector for generating a detection signal;
• a counter responsive to said detection signal for counting at least one said detection signal;
• a count timer for timing a summation period, said summation period being a period of time for counting said at least one detection signal;
• a deterrent signal generator responsive to said counter for generating a deterrent initialization signal after a number of said detection signals have been counted within said summation period;
• an output device responsive to said deterrent initialization signal for delivering a deterrent stimulus, said deterrent stimulus being an ultrasonic tone, said output device being a piezoelectric device configured to deliver said ultrasonic tone;
• an oscillator for varying said deterrent stimulus over a frequency range;
• a deterrent timer responsive to said deterrent initialization signal for activating the ultrasonic tone for a predetermined amount of time, thereby creating a delay between each said deterrent stimulus;
• a sensor unit housing for containing said detector, said counter, said detection signal generator, said deterrent signal generator, said output device, said oscillator, said count timer, and said deterrent timer;
• a detector cover for passing said external signal to said detector through said sensor unit housing, said detector cover defining a plurality of facets for dividing said external signal into a plurality of divided signals, each of said plurality of divided signals being being treated by said detector as said external signal, said detector cover being infrared transparent;
• and
• a base member having a first end configured to be inserted into the ground and a second end configured to be releasably secured to said sensor unit housing;
• said base member including an anti-rotation mechanism being configured to maintain a selected orientation in the ground, said anti-rotation mechanism including at least one vane extending radially from said base member.

A method for deterring an animal from entering a protected area, said method including the steps of:

• (a) dividing an external signal representing an animal into a plurality of divided signals;
• (b) detecting each of said plurality of divided signals;
• (c) generating a detection signal;
• (d) timing a summation period, said summation period having a predetermined length of time;
• (e) counting said detection signal;
• (f) generating a deterrent initialization signal after a predetermined number of said detection signals have been counted within said summation period;
• and
• (g) generating a deterrent stimulus after said deterrent initialization signal is generated.