A pet door and an induction control device and method thereof

Abstract

The application discloses a pet door and an induction control device and method thereof. The method comprises: forming a directional detection area in the passing direction of the pet door by the first detection unit, and detecting whether a target enters the directional detection area and meets a preset distance condition; in response to the target entering the directional detection area and meeting the preset distance condition, waking up the second detection unit in a low-power state; performing identity verification on the target by the second detection unit; and in response to the identity verification passing, controlling the pet door to open. The application forms a directional detection area by the first detection unit to limit an effective passing path, and identity verification is started only after the target enters the directional area; even if the omnidirectional signal of the second detection unit covers a non-passing area, the second detection unit cannot trigger the door to open alone, effectively avoiding invalid door opening caused by the pet staying at the side, back or corner of the passage, and the triggering accuracy is greatly improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a pet door and its sensing control device and method. Background Technology

[0002] With the increasing demand for pet ownership, automatic pet gates have become a common pet accessory, allowing pets to enter and exit indoor and outdoor spaces independently without manual assistance. Current automatic pet gate technologies primarily rely on single-sensor solutions, using infrared or microwave sensors to detect an object and trigger the door to open. However, these solutions cannot identify the target and are easily affected by environmental factors such as pedestrians, debris, and changes in temperature and humidity, resulting in a high false trigger rate. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The main objective of this invention is to provide a pet door and its sensing control device and method, which aims to solve the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention proposes a pet door control method, applied to a pet door equipped with a first detection unit and a second detection unit, the pet door control method comprising:

[0005] The first detection unit forms a directional detection zone in the direction of passage of the pet door and detects whether the target enters the directional detection zone;

[0006] If the target enters the directional detection area, the second detection unit, which is in a low-power state, is activated;

[0007] The target's identity is verified by the activated second detection unit;

[0008] In response to successful identity verification, the pet door is opened.

[0009] In one embodiment, the first detection unit includes a microwave radar sensor or a millimeter-wave radar sensor, and the second detection unit includes a wireless communication module;

[0010] The omnidirectional communication coverage of the second detection unit is larger in physical space than the directional detection area of ​​the first detection unit.

[0011] In one embodiment, the first detection unit is configured to retain a preset angle range as the effective detection angle, and the angle range outside the effective detection angle is the shielding angle; the effective detection angle and the sensing distance of the first detection unit define the directional detection area as a fan-shaped area where the detection angle is the effective detection angle;

[0012] The wireless communication module is a Bluetooth module, which sends a dedicated Bluetooth broadcast signal at a fixed period. The identity verification includes receiving and matching the dedicated Bluetooth broadcast signal.

[0013] In one embodiment, the direction of passage includes a first direction from outdoors to indoors and a second direction from indoors to outdoors;

[0014] The first detection unit forms directional detection zones on both the inner and outer sides of the pet door to simultaneously cover the first direction and the second direction.

[0015] In one embodiment, the first detection unit includes a single detection module with bidirectional transmission capability, the detection module simultaneously transmitting detection signals to both the inner and outer sides to form the directional detection area;

[0016] Alternatively, the first detection unit may include two unidirectional detection modules arranged back to back, which emit detection signals toward the inside and outside of the pet door, respectively, to form the directional detection area.

[0017] In one embodiment, after controlling the opening of the pet door, the method further includes:

[0018] Determine whether the target has completely passed through the pet gate;

[0019] In response to determining that the target has completely passed through the pet door, the pet door is closed and the second detection unit returns to the low-power state.

[0020] In one embodiment, the step of determining whether the target has completely passed through the pet door includes at least one of the following methods:

[0021] The change in the occlusion state of the target is detected by a photoelectric sensor or infrared pair installed on the pet door;

[0022] Based on the tracking of the target's movement trajectory by the first detection unit, it is determined whether the target has moved out of the directional detection area;

[0023] After the pet door has been open for a preset delay time, it is determined that the target has completely passed through.

[0024] In addition, the present invention also provides a pet door control system for use in pet doors, including a main control module, a first detection unit and a second detection unit;

[0025] The first detection unit is configured to form a directional detection zone in the direction of passage of the pet door;

[0026] The second detection unit is configured to perform identity verification;

[0027] The main control module is communicatively connected to the first detection unit and the second detection unit, respectively, and is configured to execute the sensing control method described above.

[0028] In one embodiment, the sensing control device is installed on the top or side of the pet door, and the detection surface of the first detection unit faces the inner and outer sides of the pet door.

[0029] In addition, the present invention also provides a pet door, characterized in that it includes a door body and a sensing control device as described above, wherein the sensing control device is installed on the door body.

[0030] In the technical solution of this invention, the first detection unit forms a directional detection zone to limit the effective passage path, and identity verification is only initiated after the target enters the directional zone; even if the omnidirectional signal of the second detection unit covers the non-passage area, it cannot trigger the door to open on its own, effectively avoiding invalid door opening caused by pets staying on the side, back, or corner of the passage, and greatly improving the triggering accuracy. Attached Figure Description

[0031] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0032] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the pet door control system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the sensing angle of the pet door according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the radar sensor detection area according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the pet door control method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] The following are the diagram labels: 1. Pet door main body; 1-1. Main control module; 1-2. First detection unit; 1-3. Second detection unit; 2. Pet wearing end; 2-1. Pet collar.

[0037] The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0038] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0039] It should be noted that all directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in the embodiments of the present invention are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.

[0040] Furthermore, in this invention, descriptions involving "first," "second," etc., are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0041] Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other, but only if they are based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by the present invention.

[0042] like Figures 1-4 As shown, the application system corresponding to this application includes two parts: the main body of the pet gate 1 and the pet wearing end 2. The sensing control device is integrated into the main body of the pet gate 1, and the pet wearing end 2 is carried by the pet and is used to send a unique identification signal. Specifically, the pet wearing end 2 can be a pet collar 2-1 worn on the pet or a built-in chip.

[0043] The sensing control device is installed on the pet door body and specifically includes the receiving parts of the main control module 1-1, the first detection unit 1-2, and the second detection unit 1-3.

[0044] The main control module 1-1 is the core control unit of the system, with built-in storage and logic operation circuits. It is electrically connected to the first detection unit 1-2 and the second detection unit 1-3 respectively, and is responsible for signal processing, identity comparison, instruction issuance and door drive control.

[0045] The first detection unit 1-2 uses a microwave radar sensor or a millimeter-wave radar sensor to emit detection signals and form a directional detection area, which can detect the distance of the target in real time.

[0046] The receiving part of the second detection unit 1-3 is a low-power Bluetooth receiver module, which is normally in a deep low-power standby state. When it is woken up, it can scan and receive surrounding Bluetooth broadcast signals.

[0047] The pet wearable device 2 includes a pet collar 2-1 and a built-in Bluetooth broadcast module. The Bluetooth broadcast module uses a low-power Bluetooth chip, which permanently identifies the pet and broadcasts a Bluetooth signal carrying the identification information in a fixed 500-millisecond cycle. It does not require pre-pairing with the main device and can be recognized by the main device after the pet wears it, achieving immediate use.

[0048] The pet door sensor control method described in this embodiment is as follows:

[0049] During the standby phase, under normal system conditions, the first detection unit 1-2 remains continuously operational, forming a directional detection zone in the direction of pet passage and monitoring targets within the zone in real time. The second detection unit 1-3 is in a deep low-power standby state, disabling scanning and signal reception functions, retaining only the wake-up response interface, and maintaining the overall standby power consumption at an extremely low level. Simultaneously, the Bluetooth broadcast module of the pet wearable device 2 continuously sends dedicated Bluetooth broadcast signals at fixed intervals.

[0050] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, when a pet carrying the wearable device approaches the pet gate and enters the directional detection area, the first detection unit 1-2 identifies it as a valid target and sends a trigger signal to the main control module 1-1. The first detection unit can retain a preset angle range as the effective detection angle, and angles outside the effective detection angle are considered shielded angles. The effective detection angle and the sensing distance of the first detection unit define the directional detection area as a fan-shaped region where the detection angle is the effective detection angle. (Reference) Figure 3 α represents the effective detection angle, and angles other than α are shielding angles. Specifically, the directional detection area can be a 60° fan-shaped area extending along the passage direction, covering only the passage path directly in front of the passage, physically shielding non-passage areas such as the sides and rear of the passage; the preset sensing distance supports continuous adjustment from 0.5 meters to 5 meters, which can be set by the user through the buttons and knobs on the device itself, or through the accompanying mobile terminal APP. In response to the user's operation of setting the sensing distance through the above-mentioned buttons, knobs, or APP, the transmission power and detection threshold of the radar sensor are adjusted accordingly, thereby realizing the setting and adjustment of the sensing distance.

[0051] In this application, the sensing distance of the radar sensor is the preset distance to the pet door. Once the radar sensor detects a pet, the distance requirement is met, and the second detection unit 1-3 can be activated. Of course, in other embodiments, other types of sensors can be used to detect the target, and a combination of distance detection from distance sensors can be employed.

[0052] Optionally, in some embodiments, a preset distance threshold requirement can be added as a requirement for waking up the second detection unit. The second detection unit will only be woken up if a valid target is detected and the distance between the target and the radar is within the preset distance threshold. Specifically, after the radar detects that a target has entered the directional detection area, it further detects the target's distance value and compares the real-time distance detection value with the preset distance threshold. If the real-time distance detection value is less than the preset distance threshold, the second detection unit is woken up.

[0053] Optionally, the sensing distance of the radar sensor can be adjusted to accommodate different pet gate installations.

[0054] After receiving the trigger signal from the first detection unit 1-2, the main control module 1-1 immediately sends a wake-up command to the second detection unit 1-3 to wake up the Bluetooth receiver module, which is in a low-power state, and put it into active scanning mode.

[0055] The awakened Bluetooth receiver module scans for surrounding Bluetooth broadcast signals, captures the unique identity broadcast sent by the pet wearer 2, and matches the identity information with the list of authorized identities stored in the main control module 1-1. If a match is successful, the identity verification is considered successful; if no valid authorized identity is found within a preset timeout period, the verification is considered unsuccessful, and the main control module 1-1 controls the Bluetooth receiver module to return to a low-power standby state. In other embodiments, the Bluetooth module can also be replaced with a 2.4G module, Zigbee, Wi-Fi, NB-IoT, etc.

[0056] After the identity verification is successful, the main control module 1-1 sends an opening command to the door drive mechanism, which drives the pet door to open and allows the pet to pass through.

[0057] After the passage is completed and the gate is reset and opened, the system continuously monitors whether the pet has completely passed through the passage. Once it is determined that the pet has completely passed through, the main control module 1-1 controls the gate to close automatically, and at the same time sends a sleep command to the second detection unit 1-3, causing the Bluetooth receiving module to immediately return to a deep low-power standby state, completing a complete passage process.

[0058] In this embodiment, bidirectional passage for pets is supported, covering two scenarios: "outdoors entering indoors" and "indoors exiting outdoors." The first detection units 1-2 form directional detection zones on both the inner and outer sides of the pet door. The detection parameters and verification logic are the same in both directions, and will not be described again here. The hardware implementation of the bidirectional detection zone can adopt the following two equivalent methods:

[0059] Method 1: Use a single radar module with bidirectional transmission capability. The module integrates a bidirectional antenna array and simultaneously transmits detection signals to the inside and outside of the channel, forming directional detection zones on both sides at the same time.

[0060] Method 2: Two identical unidirectional radar modules are fixedly installed back-to-back on the main body of the channel, emitting detection signals towards the inside and outside of the channel respectively, each forming a directional detection zone on one side.

[0061] Both implementation methods can achieve bidirectional symmetrical detection, and both directions of passage adopt the above-mentioned dual verification logic of "directional detection trigger + Bluetooth identity verification". Both directions have the same anti-accidental touch and low power consumption characteristics.

[0062] Furthermore, in the above steps, determining whether the pet has completely passed through the passage can be achieved using any one or more combinations of the following methods:

[0063] Photoelectric detection method: A photoelectric sensor or infrared photocell is installed at the door frame of the pet door. When a pet passes through, it will block the light path. When the light path returns to an unblocked state after being blocked, and remains stable for a preset time, it is determined that the pet has completely passed through.

[0064] Tracking method: The first detection unit 1-2 continuously tracks the movement trajectory of the pet. When the pet is detected to be moving continuously along the direction of passage and completely moving out of the directional detection area, it is determined that the pet has passed through completely.

[0065] Delay judgment method: The duration for which the door is open is preset. When the door is open for the preset delay time, it is directly judged that the pet has completely passed through.

[0066] Furthermore, in this application, the sensing control device can be integrated and installed on the top of the pet door or on the side of the door. During installation, it is necessary to ensure that the detection surfaces of the first detection unit 1-2 face the inner and outer sides of the passage to ensure that the directional detection area completely covers the passage paths on both sides. The device can be powered by a battery or by an external power supply. Thanks to its graded low-power design, it can achieve long-lasting operation in battery-powered mode.

[0067] The pet door described in this embodiment includes a door body and the aforementioned sensing and control device, which is fixedly installed on the door body. The door body can adopt various mechanical structures such as sliding and swing types. This invention does not limit the specific structure, material, or driving form of the door body.

[0068] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. All equivalent structural transformations made under the concept of the present invention using the contents of the present invention specification and drawings, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A pet gate control method, characterized in that, The pet door control method is applied to a pet door control system equipped with a first detection unit and a second detection unit, and includes: The first detection unit forms a directional detection zone in the direction the pet travels and detects whether the target enters the directional detection zone; If the target enters the directional detection area, the second detection unit, which is in a low-power state, is activated; The target's identity is verified by the activated second detection unit; In response to successful identity verification, the pet door is opened.

2. The pet gate control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first detection unit includes a microwave radar sensor or a millimeter-wave radar sensor, and the second detection unit includes a wireless communication module; The omnidirectional communication coverage of the second detection unit is larger in physical space than the directional detection area of ​​the first detection unit.

3. The pet gate control method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first detection unit is configured to retain a preset angle range as the effective detection angle, and the angle range outside the effective detection angle is the shielding angle; the effective detection angle and the sensing distance of the first detection unit define the directional detection area as a fan-shaped area where the detection angle is the effective detection angle; The wireless communication module is a Bluetooth module, which sends a dedicated Bluetooth broadcast signal at a fixed period. The identity verification includes receiving and matching the dedicated Bluetooth broadcast signal.

4. The pet gate control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The directions of passage include a first direction from outdoors to indoors and a second direction from indoors to outdoors; The first detection unit forms directional detection zones on both the inner and outer sides of the pet door to simultaneously cover the first direction and the second direction.

5. The pet gate control method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first detection unit includes a single detection module with bidirectional transmission capability, which simultaneously transmits detection signals to both the inner and outer sides to form the directional detection area; Alternatively, the first detection unit may include two unidirectional detection modules arranged back to back, which emit detection signals toward the inside and outside of the pet door, respectively, to form the directional detection area.

6. The pet gate control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, After the pet door is opened, the method further includes: Determine whether the target has completely passed through the pet gate; In response to determining that the target has completely passed through the pet door, the pet door is closed and the second detection unit returns to the low-power state.

7. The pet gate control method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The step of determining whether the target has completely passed through the pet gate includes at least one of the following methods: The change in the occlusion state of the target is detected by a photoelectric sensor or infrared pair installed on the pet door; Based on the tracking of the target's movement trajectory by the first detection unit, it is determined whether the target has moved out of the directional detection area; After the pet door has been open for a preset delay time, it is determined that the target has completely passed through.

8. A pet gate control system, characterized in that, Applied to pet gates, it includes a main control module, a first detection unit, and a second detection unit; The first detection unit is configured to form a directional detection zone in the direction of passage of the pet door; The second detection unit is configured to perform identity verification; The main control module is communicatively connected to the first detection unit and the second detection unit, respectively, and is configured to execute the sensing control method as described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The pet door control system according to claim 8, characterized in that, The sensing control device is installed on the top or side of the pet door, and the detection surface of the first detection unit faces the inner and outer sides of the pet door.

10. A pet gate, characterized in that, It includes a door body and a pet door control system as described in claim 8 or 9, wherein the pet door control system is installed on the door body.

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