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US5381129A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Wireless pet containment system

Assignee: Radio Systems Corp
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Filing: 1994-03-23
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Granted: 1995-01-10
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Expires: 2014-03-23
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Abstract

Abstract A pet containment system uses a transmitter for transmitting a series of electromagnetic signals, and a receiver removably attached to the pet for receiving the series of electromagnetic signals from the transmitter. The transmitter includes means for modulating the electromagnetic signals, means for transmitting the resulting non-random patterns of electromagnetic energy, and at least one transmitting antenna. The receiver includes at least one receiving antenna, means for comparing the signal level of the received electromagnetic signals from said transmitter with a predetermined level and for producing an electronic indication of a loss of signal, means for comparing the phase of the received electromagnetic signals from said transmitter with a reference phase and for producing an electronic indication of a loss of phase, means for producing a warning stimulus to the pet, and means for producing a control stimulus to the pet. The present invention also provides a method for producing an area for the containment of a pet.

Inventors

  • 👤 Allen H. Boardman

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 07:58
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K15/00; A01K15/02; A01K15/021; A01K15/023

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 332 words
A pet containment system comprising: (a) a transmitter for transmitting a series of electromagnetic signals, wherein said transmitter further includes: (1) means for modulating the electromagnetic signals, wherein the signals are modulated to produce non-random patterns of electromagnetic energy, (2) means for transmitting the non-random patterns of electromagnetic energy, and (3) at least one transmitting antenna; and (b) a receiver removably attached to the pet, said receiver for receiving the series of electromagnetic signals from said transmitter, wherein said receiver further includes: (1) at least one receiving antenna, (2) means for comparing the signal level of the received electromagnetic signals from said transmitter with a predetermined level and for producing an electronic indication of a loss of signal, wherein if the signal level of the received electromagnetic signals from said transmitter is less than the predetermined level then the electronic indication of a loss of signal is produced, (3) means for comparing the phase of the received electromagnetic signals from said transmitter with a predetermined phase and for producing an electronic indication of a loss of phase, wherein if the phase of the received electromagnetic signals from said transmitter are not substantially in phase with the reference phase then the electronic indication of a loss of phase is produced, (4) means for producing a warning stimulus to the pet, and (5) means for producing a control stimulus to the pet, such that when there is no electronic indication of a loss of signal and there is no electronic indication of a loss of phase, then there is no warning stimulus and there is no control stimulus to the pet, when there is an electronic indication of a loss of signal and there is no electronic indication of a loss of phase, then there is a warning stimulus to the pet, and when there is an electronic indication of a loss of signal and there is an electronic indication of a loss of phase, then there is a control stimulus to the pet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 332 words
A pet containment system comprising: (a) a transmitter for transmitting a series of electromagnetic signals, wherein said transmitter further includes: (1) means for modulating the electromagnetic signals, wherein the signals are modulated to produce non-random patterns of electromagnetic energy, (2) means for transmitting the non-random patterns of electromagnetic energy, and (3) at least one transmitting antenna; and (b) a receiver removably attached to the pet, said receiver for receiving the series of electromagnetic signals from said transmitter, wherein said receiver further includes: (1) at least one receiving antenna, (2) means for comparing the signal level of the received electromagnetic signals from said transmitter with a predetermined level and for producing an electronic indication of a loss of signal, wherein if the signal level of the received electromagnetic signals from said transmitter is less than the predetermined level then the electronic indication of a loss of signal is produced, (3) means for comparing the phase of the received electromagnetic signals from said transmitter with a predetermined phase and for producing an electronic indication of a loss of phase, wherein if the phase of the received electromagnetic signals from said transmitter are not substantially in phase with the reference phase then the electronic indication of a loss of phase is produced, (4) means for producing a warning stimulus to the pet, and (5) means for producing a control stimulus to the pet, such that when there is no electronic indication of a loss of signal and there is no electronic indication of a loss of phase, then there is no warning stimulus and there is no control stimulus to the pet, when there is an electronic indication of a loss of signal and there is no electronic indication of a loss of phase, then there is a warning stimulus to the pet, and when there is an electronic indication of a loss of signal and there is an electronic indication of a loss of phase, then there is a control stimulus to the pet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 16 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic signals transmitted by said transmitter are frequency modulated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
The system of claim 2 wherein the frequency modulated electromagnetic signals transmitted by said transmitter are modulated in a pulse train having a particular nonrandom pattern.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 97 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for comparing the signal phase of the electromagnetic signals transmitted by said transmitter further includes (i) demodulating means for demodulating the received electromagnetic signals transmitted by said transmitter, thereby producing a demodulated signal, and (ii) at least one phase-locked loop for receiving the demodulated signal and for producing an electronic indication of a loss of phase, wherein when the phase-locked loop indicates that the phase of the demodulated received signal is different than a reference phase then the phase-locked loop generates an electronic indication of a loss of phase.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 19 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the receiver further comprises a speaker and the warning stimulus includes a sound.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the receiver further comprises a light source and the warning stimulus includes a light.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the receiver further comprises electrodes and the control stimulus includes a shock to the pet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic energy of the non-random patterns of electromagnetic energy is radio frequency energy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 18 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic energy of the non-random patterns of electromagnetic energy is light.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 298 words
A method for producing an area for the containment of a pet, the method comprising: (a) transmitting a series of electromagnetic signals, further including: (1) modulating the electromagnetic signals, wherein the signals are modulated to produce non-random patterns of electromagnetic energy, and (2) transmitting the non-random patterns of electromagnetic energy; (b) attaching a releasable electromagnetic energy receiver to a pet; and (c) receiving the series of electromagnetic signals with the releasable electromagnetic energy receiver: (d) comparing the signal level of the received electromagnetic signals received with the releasable electromagnetic energy receiver with a predetermined level and producing an electronic indication of a loss of signal, wherein if the signal level of the received electromagnetic signals with the releasable electromagnetic energy receiver is less than the predetermined level then the electronic indication of a loss of signal is produced; (e) comparing the phase of the received electromagnetic signals received with the releasable electromagnetic energy receiver with a reference phase and producing an electronic indication of a loss of phase, wherein if the phase of the received electromagnetic signals with the releasable electromagnetic energy receiver are not substantially in phase with the reference phase then the electronic indication of a loss of phase is produced; (f) producing no warning stimulus and no control stimulus to the pet when there is no electronic indication of a loss of signal and there is no electronic indication of a loss of phase; (g) producing a warning stimulus to the pet when there is an electronic indication of a loss of signal and there is no electronic indication of a loss of phase; and (h) producing a control stimulus to the pet when there is an electronic indication of a loss of signal and there is an electronic indication of a loss of phase.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 298 words
A method for producing an area for the containment of a pet, the method comprising: (a) transmitting a series of electromagnetic signals, further including: (1) modulating the electromagnetic signals, wherein the signals are modulated to produce non-random patterns of electromagnetic energy, and (2) transmitting the non-random patterns of electromagnetic energy; (b) attaching a releasable electromagnetic energy receiver to a pet; and (c) receiving the series of electromagnetic signals with the releasable electromagnetic energy receiver: (d) comparing the signal level of the received electromagnetic signals received with the releasable electromagnetic energy receiver with a predetermined level and producing an electronic indication of a loss of signal, wherein if the signal level of the received electromagnetic signals with the releasable electromagnetic energy receiver is less than the predetermined level then the electronic indication of a loss of signal is produced; (e) comparing the phase of the received electromagnetic signals received with the releasable electromagnetic energy receiver with a reference phase and producing an electronic indication of a loss of phase, wherein if the phase of the received electromagnetic signals with the releasable electromagnetic energy receiver are not substantially in phase with the reference phase then the electronic indication of a loss of phase is produced; (f) producing no warning stimulus and no control stimulus to the pet when there is no electronic indication of a loss of signal and there is no electronic indication of a loss of phase; (g) producing a warning stimulus to the pet when there is an electronic indication of a loss of signal and there is no electronic indication of a loss of phase; and (h) producing a control stimulus to the pet when there is an electronic indication of a loss of signal and there is an electronic indication of a loss of phase.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising frequency modulating the transmitted electromagnetic signals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising modulating in a pulse train having a particular nonrandom pattern.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 90 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said comparing the signal phase of the electromagnetic signals received with the releasable electromagnetic energy receiver further includes (i) demodulating the received electromagnetic signals, thereby producing a demodulated signal, and (ii) receiving the demodulated signal in at least one phase-locked loop and producing an electronic indication of a loss of phase, wherein when the phase-locked loop indicates that the phase of the demodulated received signal is different than a reference phase then the phase-locked loop generates an electronic indication of a loss of phase.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 20 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the electromagnetic energy of the non-random patterns of electromagnetic energy is radio frequency energy.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 18 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the electromagnetic energy of the non-random patterns of electromagnetic energy is light.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3478344A Cited
US3589337A Cited
US3753421A Cited
US3753421B1 Cited
US4675656A Cited
US4898120A Cited
US5121711A Cited
US5067441A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1998-01-09 1998-07-11 1999-01-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2002-01-09 2002-07-11 2003-01-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2006-01-09 2006-07-11 2007-01-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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