# US 9,520,728 B2 · Diagnostic charging cradle and methods of using the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,520,728 B2 - Document ID: US9520728B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/478,607 - Filed: 2014-09-05 - Published: 2016-03-10 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-05 - Assignees: Perimeter Technologies Incorporated - Applicants: Scott F. Touchton; Daniel A. Morris - Inventors: Scott F. Touchton; Daniel A. Morris - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9520728B2 ## CPC - A01K 15/023: {Anti-evasion devices} - G01R 31/50: Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections (testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58) - H02J 7/00: Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries - H02J 7/70: characterised by the mechanical construction - H02J 7/731: {specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence)} - H02J 7/825: {Detection of fully charged condition} - H02J 7/90: Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage - H01M 10/4257: {Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries} - H02J 7/42: with electronic devices having internal batteries, e.g. mobile phones - H02J 7/82: Control of state of charge [SOC] - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A device and method for charging and testing an animal stimulus receiver is provided herein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A charger for charging and testing an animal stimulus receiver, wherein the animal stimulus receiver comprises a stimulus generator adapted to deliver a stimulus to an animal, the charger comprising: a. a power supply connector configured to communicate with a power supply; b. charging circuitry in communication with the power supply connector that is configured to apply a charging voltage to the animal stimulus receiver; and c. stimulus detection circuitry configured to receive a stimulus from the animal stimulus receiver and determine a stimulus status of the animal stimulus receiver. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The charger of claim 1, wherein the stimulus detection circuitry comprises shock detection circuitry configured to receive a shock stimulus from the animal stimulus receiver. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The charger of claim 1, comprising an auditory stimulus detector configured to detect an auditory stimulus of the animal stimulus receiver. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The charger of claim 1, comprising an animal receiver fault detector configured to determine a fault status of the animal stimulus receiver, wherein the fault status comprises a short circuit fault status, a wire corrosion fault status, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The charger of claim 1, wherein the charging circuitry is configured to detect a battery charge status of at least one battery of the animal stimulus receiver. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The charger of claim 1, comprising an output indicator configured to indicate an output of the charger, the output comprising a battery charge status, a fault status, or the stimulus status of the animal stimulus receiver. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The charger of claim 6, wherein the output indicator is in communication with at least one of the charging circuitry and the stimulus detection circuitry, the output indicator configured to display at least one of the battery charge status and stimulus status. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The charger of claim 6, wherein the battery charge status is at least one of a charge in process status, a battery fault status, and a battery charge complete status. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The charger of claim 1, comprising a receiver stimulus actuator configured to provide an actuation signal adapted to cause the animal stimulus receiver to generate the stimulus. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The charger of claim 9, wherein the stimulus comprises at least one of a shock stimulus, auditory stimulus, and a vibrational stimulus. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The charger of claim 9, wherein the receiver stimulus actuator comprises at least one of a magnetic field transmitter and a radio wave transmitter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The charger of claim 9, wherein the actuation signal comprises an actuation signature and an actuation amplitude. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The charger of claim 1, wherein the stimulus detection circuitry comprises shock detection circuitry. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The charger of claim 13, wherein the shock detection circuitry comprises level detection circuitry configured to determine whether the shock stimulus includes a level of shock indicative of normal operation. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The charger of claim 13, wherein the shock detection circuitry comprises voltage measuring circuitry configured to verify that the shock stimulus was produced. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The charger of claim 15, wherein the voltage measuring circuitry is configured to apply a load to a stimulus prong of the animal stimulus receiver, the load indicative of a load provided by animal flesh. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The charger of claim 1, comprising a voltage supply circuit configured to activate at least one of the charging circuitry and the shock detection circuitry when the animal stimulus receiver is placed in communication with the voltage supply circuit. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The charger of claim 17, wherein the voltage supply circuit comprises a time delay circuit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The charger of claim 1, comprising a control processor in communication with at least one of the charging circuitry and stimulus detection circuitry, the control processor configured to monitor an output from the charging circuitry, stimulus detection circuitry, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 20 A method for charging and testing an animal stimulus receiver with a charger having charging circuitry and stimulus detection circuitry, the method comprising the steps of: a. activating at least one of the charging circuitry and stimulus detection circuitry; b. applying an actuation signal to the animal stimulus receiver, the actuation signal selected to cause the animal stimulus receiver to generate a selected stimulus at the stimulus detection circuitry; c. detecting whether the selected stimulus was generated at the stimulus detection circuitry; and d. charging a battery of the animal stimulus receiver with the charging circuitry for a selected period of time. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, comprising the step of removably connecting the animal stimulus receiver to the charger. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the step of applying the actuation signal comprises applying a shock stimulus actuation signal, an auditory stimulus actuation signal, a vibrational actuation signal, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the step of detecting the selected stimulus comprises detecting a shock stimulus, an auditory stimulus, a vibrational stimulus, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, comprising the step of modifying the actuation signal where the selected stimulus was not generated at the stimulus detection circuitry to provide a modified actuation signal. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, comprising applying the modified actuation signal to the animal stimulus receiver, the modified actuation signal selected to cause the animal stimulus receiver to generate a modified selected stimulus at the stimulus detection circuitry. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein the step of modifying the actuation signal comprises modifying at least one of an actuation signature and an actuation amplitude. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the step of charging the battery of the animal stimulus receiver comprises applying a preliminary charge to the animal stimulus receiver. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, comprising detecting whether the battery of the animal stimulus receiver is fully charged. ### Claim 29 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the step of charging the battery of the animal stimulus receiver comprises charging the battery for an interval selected to fully charge the battery of the animal stimulus receiver. ### Claim 30 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, comprising the step of producing a fault status of the animal stimulus receiver at an animal receiver fault detector, the fault status comprising a short circuit fault status, a wire corrosion fault status, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 31 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, comprising the step of detecting a battery charge status of the battery of the animal stimulus receiver, the battery charge status comprising at least one of a charge in process status, a battery fault status, and a battery charge complete status.