Ultrasonic detector with audible indication signal

Claim 1

Ultrasonic animal pregnancy detection apparatus with automatic audible pregnancy indication, comprising: (a) means for transmitting ultrasonic energy pulses and for receiving return pulses including a probe for placement on the body of the animal to be checked; (b) signal amplifier means for amplifying said pulses received by said transmitting and receiving means, said signal amplifier means having an amplification factor independent of the pulse propagation conditions within the animal's body; (c) means for generating a gating signal commencing after a predetermined time delay following the transmission of an ultrasonic energy pulse and continuing for a predetermined time interval, said time delay and time interval corresponding generally to the return pulse expected from the uterus of said animal; (d) means for generating an audible signal in response to an amplified return pulse of predetermined amplitude, said predetermined amplitude corresponding to the amplitude of a return pulse from an enlarged uterus indicating animal pregnancy; and (e) switching means for receiving said gating signal and for selectively transmitting amplified return pulses from said amplifier means to said audible signal generating means only during the time intervals defined by said gating signal, whereby the presence or absence of the expected return pulse is automatically audibly indicated.

Claim 11

The method of detecting and automatically indicating pregnancy in animals, comprising the steps of: transmitting ultrasonic energy pulses into the body of an animal to be checked by means of a probe placed on the animal's body; receiving return pulses from within the animal's body by means of said probe; amplifying received return pulses by an amplification factor independent of pulse propagation conditions within the animal's body; generating a time interval beginning a predetermined time delay after the transmission of a pulse and corresponding generally to the return pulse expected from the uterus of the animal; testing the amplitude of amplified return pulses occurring during said time interval against a predetermined amplitude corresponding to the return pulse from an enlarged uterus indicating pregnancy; and generating an audible tone when an amplified return pulse in said time interval equals or exceeds said predetermined amplitude, whereby to automatically audibly indicate detection of a pregnancy condition.

Claim 12

The method of detecting and automatically indicating pregnancy in animals, comprising the steps of: transmitting ultrasonic energy pulses into the body of an animal to be checked by means of a probe placed on the animal's body; receiving return pulses from within the animal's body by means of said probe; amplifying received return pulses by an amplification factor independent of pulse propagation conditions within the animal's body; generating a time interval beginning a predetermined time delay after the transmission of a pulse and corresponding generally to the return pulse expected from the uterus of the animal; testing the amplitude of amplified return pulses occurring during said time interval against a predetermined amplitude corresponding to the return pulse from an enlarged uterus indicating pregnancy; and generating an audible tone when an amplified return pulse in said time interval equals or exceeds said predetermined amplitude, whereby to automatically audibly indicate detection of a pregnancy condition.