Custom-Shaped Wireless Dog Fence Using Segmented Boundaries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless dog fence systems face challenges such as labor-intensive installation, signal interference, and inability to define custom-shaped containment areas, leading to unwanted corrections and inaccuracies in tracking the dog's location.
Innovation Solution
A wireless fence system with dual-antenna collars and base units, utilizing NANOLOC™ chipsets and power amplification, allows for a custom-defined containment area, visualization software for validation, and exclusion zones, with filtering and smoothing algorithms to improve signal strength and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireless fence systems use signal-saturated spherical volume to define containment area, then the system is easier to install and operate, but the containment area is limited to a generally circular shape which does not allow customization for specific geographic aspects
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the containment area definition into multiple boundary segments that can be individually positioned and connected. Instead of using a single spherical signal volume, the system creates a polygonal boundary composed of multiple line segments, allowing the containment area to be customized to match specific geographic features and property lines while maintaining wireless operation.
2Measurement precision
If the system uses multiple base units and dual-antenna collars with power amplification, then the signal strength and tracking accuracy are improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines multiple base units into a coordinated network that shares processing and communication responsibilities. The dual-antenna collars integrate multiple functions including signal reception, location calculation, and correction delivery within a single wearable unit. This merging reduces overall system complexity while maintaining high tracking accuracy through distributed signal processing.
3Reliability
If the system uses filtering and smoothing algorithms to process location data, then unwanted corrections are reduced and tracking accuracy is improved, but the processing time and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies filtering and smoothing algorithms at periodic intervals rather than continuously processing every location data point. Location updates are processed in batches at defined intervals, allowing the system to maintain high reliability in reducing unwanted corrections while minimizing computational overhead and processing time between updates.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively reduces unwanted corrections and improves the accuracy of tracking the dog's location within the containment area, providing a user-friendly and robust solution for custom-shaped containment.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the base units ranges with the collar using an integrated circuit (IC) chipset contained within each of the base units and the collar to determine a distance between the collar and each of the base units
Data Source
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AI summary
A custom-shaped wireless fence system is provided that contains one or more dogs in a user-defined containment area without the need for a physical fence or underground wire. The system, which is easy to set up and use, includes at least three base units and at least one collar and, preferably, a remote controller. A virtual fence is defined around the containment area, as well as around optional exclusion zones within the containment area, during system set up through communication between the base units and a trackable device as the user walks around the desired border. Visualization software enables the user to verify that the location of the fence is as desired and that the system is operating property using a computing device having a display screen.