Animal training and indicating device

Apparatus comprising:

• a portable wireless device, wherein the portable wireless device includes
• a portable output device, and
• a portable RF receiver,
• wherein the portable wireless device is operative to receive at least one RF wireless signal from a remote device positioned in an interior area of an enclosed structure in which an animal is housed, wherein the remote device includes
• a housing,
• a capacitive sensor,
• at least one circuit, wherein the at least one circuit includes an RF wireless transmitter,
• wherein the remote device is operative to cause output of the at least one wireless RF signal responsive to a contact of a nose or paw of the animal with at least a portion of the housing which contact is detectable by the capacitive sensor, wherein the animal has been trained to make the contact in response to the animal having a need to leave the interior area of the enclosed structure to perform a bodily function including at least one of urination and defecation, outside the interior area,
• wherein the portable device is operative responsive at least in part to the at least one wireless RF signal to produce through the portable output device, an indication that the animal needs to go outside the interior area of the enclosed structure to perform the bodily function.

Apparatus comprising:

• a housing, wherein the housing bounds an interior area and includes an outer surface,
• a capacitive sensor, wherein the capacitive sensor is in operative connection with the housing,
• wherein the capacitive sensor is configured to detect at least one of a paw or nose of an animal in contact with the outer surface,
• a light emitter, wherein the light emitter is in operative connection with the housing, wherein the light emitter is selectively operative to illuminate, wherein illumination of the light emitter is visible externally of the housing,
• an audio speaker, wherein the speaker is in operative connection with the housing,
• wherein the speaker is selectively operative to provide audible outputs that are perceivable externally of the housing,
• a microphone, wherein the microphone is in operative connection with the housing,
• at least one input device,
• at least one battery, wherein the at least one battery extends in the interior area, wherein the at least one battery produces a rated output voltage,
• at least one circuit, wherein the at least one circuit extends in the interior area,
• wherein the at least one circuit is in operative connection with the capacitive sensor, the at least one battery, the at least one input device, the microphone, the light emitter and the audio speaker,
• wherein the at least one circuit includes at least one Low Drop Out (LDO) regulator and a microcontroller, wherein the at least one LDO regulator is in operative connection with the at least one battery and microcontroller,
• wherein the at least one LDO regulator is operative to supply the microcontroller at a reduced voltage, wherein the reduced voltage is lower than the rated output voltage,
• wherein the at least one circuit is operative responsive at least in part to at least one input through the input device to enable the at least one circuit to capture audible signals through the microphone and to store audio data corresponding to the audible signals in a data store of the at least one circuit,
• wherein the at least one circuit is operative responsive at least in part to the capacitive sensor to detect a contact of a paw or nose of an animal with the outer surface, and responsive at least in part to the detection, the at least one circuit is operative to cause,
• the light emitter to illuminate for an illumination time period after the contact,
• the speaker to provide an audible output corresponding at least in part to the stored audio data, for a sounding time period after the contact,
• whereby the animal is enabled to provide an indication of an animal condition to an animal caretaker via the contact with the housing.

Apparatus comprising:

• a housing, wherein the housing bounds an interior area and includes an outer surface,
• a capacitive sensor, wherein the capacitive sensor is in operative connection with the housing,
• wherein the capacitive sensor is configured to detect at least one of a paw or nose of an animal in contact with the outer surface,
• a light emitter, wherein the light emitter is in operative connection with the housing, wherein the light emitter is selectively operative to illuminate, wherein illumination of the light emitter is visible externally of the housing,
• an audio speaker, wherein the speaker is in operative connection with the housing,
• wherein the speaker is selectively operative to provide audible outputs that are perceivable externally of the housing,
• a microphone, wherein the microphone is in operative connection with the housing,
• at least one input device,
• at least one circuit, wherein the at least one circuit extends in the interior area,
• wherein the at least one circuit is in operative connection with the capacitive sensor, the at least one input device, the microphone, the light emitter and the audio speaker,
• wherein the at least one circuit includes,
• at least one clock circuit,
• at least one data store, and
• an RF wireless transceiver,
• wherein the at least one circuit is operative responsive to at least in part to at least one input through the input device to enable the at least one circuit to capture audible signals through the microphone and to store audio data corresponding to the audible signals in a data store of the at least one circuit,
• wherein the at least one circuit is operative responsive at least in part to the capacitive sensor to detect a contact of a paw or nose of an animal with the outer surface, and responsive at least in part to the detection, the at least one circuit is operative to cause
• the light emitter to illuminate for an illumination time period after the contact,
• the speaker to provide an audible output corresponding at least in part to the stored audio data, for a sounding time period after the contact, whereby the animal enabled to provide an indication of an animal condition to an animal caretaker via the contact with the housing,
• wherein the at least one circuit is operative responsive at least in part to the at least one clock circuit to determine a contact time corresponding to the contact,
• wherein the at least one circuit is operative to cause the at least one data store to include event data corresponding to the contact and the contact time,
• wherein the transceiver is selectively operative to transmit signals corresponding to the event data.

Apparatus comprising:

• a housing, wherein the housing bounds an interior area and includes an outer surface, wherein the housing is configured to be positioned within an interior area of an enclosure which houses an animal and at least one human animal caretaker,
• a contact sensor, wherein the contact sensor is in operative connection with the housing,
• wherein the contact sensor is configured to detect at least one of a paw or nose of an animal in contact with the outer surface,
• a light emitter, wherein the light emitter is positioned within the interior area, wherein the light emitter is selectively operative to illuminate and illumination of the light emitter is visible externally of the housing,
• an audio speaker, wherein the speaker is positioned in the interior area,
• wherein the speaker is selectively operative to provide audible outputs that are perceivable externally of the housing,
• at least one circuit, wherein the at least one circuit extends in the interior area
• wherein the at least one circuit is in operative connection with the contact sensor, the light emitter and the speaker,
• wherein the at least one circuit is operative to detect a contact by a paw or nose of the animal with the outer surface, wherein the animal has been trained to make the contact when the animal needs to carry out a bodily function including at least one of urination and defecation, outside of the interior area of the enclosure, and responsive at least in part to the detection, the at least one circuit is operative to cause
• the light emitter to illuminate for an illumination time period after the contact,
• the speaker to provide an audible output for a sounding time period after the contact,
• wherein the light illumination and the audible outputs are perceivable by both the animal and the human caretaker within the interior area, such that through the contact the animal is enabled to provide visual and audible indications to the caretaker of the need to leave the interior area of the enclosure to perform the bodily function, whereby the caretaker in response to the indications may release the animal from the enclosure.