US 6,271,757 B1Granted

Satellite animal containment system with programmable Boundaries

AssigneeInvisible Fence Company, Inc.

InventorsScott F. Touchton, Richard D. Mellinger, Donald L. Peinetti

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An electronic containment system using positional satellites is provided for controlling the movement of animals relative to a selected confinement area. A portable programming transceiver is used to program the boundary of a selected confinement area as the device is moved along such boundary. A programmable collar transceiver worn by the animal provides GPS signals from the satellite to a remotely located control station. The control station tracks the movement of the animal relative to the boundary. If the animal crosses the boundary, the station transmits a stimulus activation signal to the collar so that a corrective stimulus may be produced for the animal. Tracking and containment of objects are accomplished by providing GPS-defined, user-programmable containment areas.

An electronic containment system for at least one animal comprising:

(a) at least one GPS source for producing a first transmitted signal having a first predetermined characteristic;
(b) a portable transceiver for programming at least one containment perimeter of a predetermined area, the portable transceiver having,
(i) a first receiver for receiving the first transmitted signal from the at least one GPS source;
(ii) a first controller for producing a first control signal in response to the first transmitted signal received by the portable transceiver,
(iii) a first transmitter for transmitting a second transmitted signal having a second predetermined characteristic in response to the first control signal produced by the first controller;
(c) at least one transceiver, attached to at least one animal, the at least one transceiver having,
(i) a second receiver for receiving the first transmitted signal from the at least one GPS source;
(ii) a second controller for producing a second control signal in response to the first transmitted signal received by the at least one transceiver;
(iii) a second transmitter for transmitting a third transmitted signal having a third predetermined characteristic in response to the second control signal produced by the second controller,
(d) a control station, remote from the portable transceiver, the control station having,
(i) a third receiver for receiving the second transmitted signal produced by the portable transceiver;
(ii) a forth receiver for receiving the third transmitted signal produced by the at least one transceiver;
(iii) a third controller for producing a third control signal in response to the second transmitted signal and the third transmitted signal received by the control station;
(iv) a third transmitter for transmitting a forth transmitted signal having a forth predetermined characteristic in response to the third control signal produced by the third controller.

11 more elements

Facts

Application

09/358,622Filed 21 Jul 1999 · continuation in part

Priority

19 Dec 1997

Granted

7 Aug 2001

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

G08B 21/028
Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child: communication between parent and child units via…
A01K 15/02
Devices for taming animals, e.g. nose-rings or hobbles; Devices for overturning animals in general; Training or exercising equipment; Covering…
A01K 15/023
Electronic training devices specially adapted for dogs or cats: anti-evasion devices
G08B 21/023
Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child: power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up…

Abstract

Claims32