US3897753A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Means and method for selectively controlling animals
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-01-31
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Granted: 1975-08-05
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Expires: 1994-01-31
Abstract
Abstract An arrangement is provided for controlling animals on a selective basis such as for feeding, watering, and for providing access to controlled areas. A sensor arrangement selectively identifies particular animals, a signal processor processes sensed signals to generate output signals, and an output arrangement provides the control for such animals. In a preferred embodiment, a cat feeding arrangement is provided to permit a pet cat to eat from a controlled food dispenser and to preclude other cats from feeding from such dispenser. In such an arrangement, a cat may wear a collar having a conductor embedded therein for changing an electric field provided by an excitation arrangement. Monitoring of field characteristics with a sensor provides an indication whether the cat is wearing the proper identification collar and should therefore be permitting to feed or whether the cat is not wearing the proper identification collar and should therefore be precluded from feeding. An output device such as an electrical shock device is used to discourage a cat that is not wearing a proper identification collar from feeding. Other sensor arrangements are provided to identify selected animals and other output devices are provided to perform various other output operations. For example, an output actuator may be used to mechanically dispense food, unlatch a door, or provide other desired operations on a selective basis.
Inventors
- 👤 Barry Thomas Lee
- 👤 Gilbert Peter Hyatt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 21:43
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K11/00; A01K11/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
A system for selectively controlling access of an animal, said system comprising: identification means for identifying a selected animal; detecting means for generating an identification signal in response to the identification means; means for controlling access in response to the identification signal, said controlling means including means for generating an electric shock in response to the identification signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
58 words
A system for selectively controlling access of an animal, said system comprising: identification means for identifying a selected animal; detecting means for generating an identification signal in response to the identification means; means for controlling access in response to the identification signal, said controlling means including means for generating an electric shock in response to the identification signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
The system as set forth in claim 1 above wherein said system is an animal feeding system; wherein said system further comprises means for containing food; wherein said identification means includes a collar; wherein said collar includes means for attaching to an animal and means for detection with said detecting means; and wherein said controlling means includes means for controlling access to food in said containing means in response to detection of said collar.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
125 words
An access control system comprising: excitation means for generating an electric field, said excitation means including oscillator means for generating an oscillator signal and means for providing the field in response to the oscillator signal; key means for modifying the electric field, wherein the modication of the electric field is related to the position of said key means; sensor means for generating a sensor signal in response to the electric field, wherein said sensor signal is related to the position of said key means; signal processing means for generating an output signal in response to the sensor signal; and output means for generating an output operation in response to the outpput signal, wherein said output operation is related to the position of said key means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
125 words
An access control system comprising: excitation means for generating an electric field, said excitation means including oscillator means for generating an oscillator signal and means for providing the field in response to the oscillator signal; key means for modifying the electric field, wherein the modication of the electric field is related to the position of said key means; sensor means for generating a sensor signal in response to the electric field, wherein said sensor signal is related to the position of said key means; signal processing means for generating an output signal in response to the sensor signal; and output means for generating an output operation in response to the outpput signal, wherein said output operation is related to the position of said key means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system as set forth in claim 3 above wherein said key means includes a conductive loop.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The conductive loop as set forth in claim 4 above including means for providing conduction that is related to a frequency of the electric field and wherein the modification of the electric field is related to a frequency of the oscillator signal and is further related to a position of said key means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system as set forth in claim 3 above wherein said system is an animal control system and wherein said key means includes a conductive loop arranged as an animal collar.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The output means as set forth in claim 3 above including shock means for providing a shock signal in response to the output signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system as set forth in claIm 3 above wherein said field providing means includes an excitation coil, wherein said sensor means includes a sense coil, wherein said excitation coil is larger than said sense coil, and wherein said sense coil is mounted within a portion of the field that is internal to said excitation coil.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system as set forth in claim 8 above further comprising containing means for containing a consumable, wherein said containing means is mounted at least partially within said sense coil.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The signal processing means as set forth in claim 3 above further comprising phase detector means for generating the output signal in response to a phase related condition of the sensor signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The output means as set forth in claim 3 above including means for containing a consumable and means for dispensing the consumable in response to the output signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
145 words
An animal control system comprising: oscillator means for generating an oscillator signal; excitation coil means for generating an electric field in response to the oscillator signal; identifying means for identifying an animal including means for attaching to an animal and including a closed conductive loop for modifying the electric field in response to a position of said identifying means; sense coil means for generating a sense signal in response to the electric field, said sense signal being related to a position of said identifying means in the electric field, said sense coil means having a smaller dimension than said excitation coil means, and said sense coil means being mounted within the internal electric field of said excitation coil means; processor means for generating an output signal in response to the sense signal; and output means for controlling an animal in response to the output signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
145 words
An animal control system comprising: oscillator means for generating an oscillator signal; excitation coil means for generating an electric field in response to the oscillator signal; identifying means for identifying an animal including means for attaching to an animal and including a closed conductive loop for modifying the electric field in response to a position of said identifying means; sense coil means for generating a sense signal in response to the electric field, said sense signal being related to a position of said identifying means in the electric field, said sense coil means having a smaller dimension than said excitation coil means, and said sense coil means being mounted within the internal electric field of said excitation coil means; processor means for generating an output signal in response to the sense signal; and output means for controlling an animal in response to the output signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system as set forth in claim 12 above wherein said output means includes shocker means for generating an electrical shock in response to the output signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system as set forth in claim 12 above wherein the said closed conductive loop includes a shorted turn circuit for the modifying of the electric field.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
An identification system comprising: excitation means for generating an electric field; a shorted turn circuit for modifying the electric field; sensor means for sensing the modification of the electric field in response to the shorted turn circuit; and identification means for generating an identification signal in response to the sensing of the modification of the electric field.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
57 words
An identification system comprising: excitation means for generating an electric field; a shorted turn circuit for modifying the electric field; sensor means for sensing the modification of the electric field in response to the shorted turn circuit; and identification means for generating an identification signal in response to the sensing of the modification of the electric field.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system as set forth in claim 15 above wherein said shorted turn circuit includes means for mounting the shorted turn circuit as a collar for an animal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system as set forth in claim 15 above wherein said identification means includes a phase sensitive demodulator for generating the identification signal in response to a phase of the electric field.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
74 words
An animal control system comprising: excitation means for generating an electric field in response to an excitation signal; oscillator means for generating the excitation signal; a collar for mounting on an animal, said collar including an electric circuit loop being arranged around ssid collar for modifying the electric field; detector means for generating a detector signal in response to the electric field; and means for controlling an animal in response to the detector signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
74 words
An animal control system comprising: excitation means for generating an electric field in response to an excitation signal; oscillator means for generating the excitation signal; a collar for mounting on an animal, said collar including an electric circuit loop being arranged around ssid collar for modifying the electric field; detector means for generating a detector signal in response to the electric field; and means for controlling an animal in response to the detector signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system as set forth in claim 18 above wherein said electric circuit loop includes a shorted turn.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system as set forth in claim 18 above wherein said detector means includes a phase sensitive demodulator for generating a phase related signal in response to a phase related characteristic of the electric field and further includes means for generating the detector signal in response to the phase related signal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system as set forth in claim 18 above wherein said controlling means includes shock means for generating an electric shock to control an animal in response to the detector signal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system as set forth in claim 18 above, wherein said system is a cat control system and wherein said system further comprises structural means for mounting said excitation means and said detector means in relation to the form of a cat.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
79 words
A system for controlling an animal, said system comprising: means for containing food; oscillator means for generating an excitation signal; an excitation coil for generating an electrical field in response to the excitation signal; containing mounting means for mounting said containing means within said excitation coil; means for identifying a selected animal; means for generating an identification signal in response to said identifying means; and means for controlling access to said containing means in response to the identification signal.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
79 words
A system for controlling an animal, said system comprising: means for containing food; oscillator means for generating an excitation signal; an excitation coil for generating an electrical field in response to the excitation signal; containing mounting means for mounting said containing means within said excitation coil; means for identifying a selected animal; means for generating an identification signal in response to said identifying means; and means for controlling access to said containing means in response to the identification signal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
40 words
The identification signal generating means as set forth in claim 23 above including: a sensor coil for generating a sensor signal in response to said identifying means and sensor mounting means for mounting said sensor coil within said excitation coil.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system as set forth in claim 24 above wherein said sensor coil is concentric about said containing means and wherein said excitation coil is concentric about said sensor coil.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-04 | 1979-02-03 | 1979-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-04 | 1983-02-03 | 1983-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-04 | 1987-02-03 | 1987-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |