Geolocation Pet Collar for Virtual Boundary Guidance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pet containment systems, such as correction collars and wireless fences, face limitations including high installation costs, susceptibility to power outages, limited range, interference from RF signals, and inability to customize boundaries to match property shapes, leading to ineffective pet containment and potential escape risks.
Innovation Solution
A collar with geolocation capabilities that provides geo-fencing and corrective actions based on predetermined geographical areas, including warnings and shocks, and can guide pets back to safe zones using geolocation and magnetometer data, with customizable boundaries and adjustable corrective actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If in-ground wired systems are used to provide precise electronic boundaries, then boundary accuracy is improved, but installation complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical in-ground wire system with a wireless electronic boundary system using RF transmitters and receivers. The wireless system eliminates the need for physical installation of buried wires while maintaining boundary definition capabilities through electronic signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the physical boundary through electronic signals. The RF transmitter emits signals that define the boundary zone without requiring physical markers or wires, allowing the boundary to be replicated digitally across the property area.
2Measurement precision
If in-ground wired systems are used to provide precise electronic boundaries, then boundary accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical installation process of burying wires with a wireless system that requires no ground penetration or physical infrastructure installation. The system can be deployed by simply placing RF transmitters in appropriate locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the boundary definition function into separate wireless components (transmitters and receivers) that operate independently. This segmentation allows flexible placement and configuration without requiring continuous physical infrastructure like buried wires.
3Ease of operation
If RF transmitters are used for remote actuation, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to limited range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the collar receiver continuously monitors RF signal presence and pet location relative to the boundary. The system provides real-time feedback about boundary proximity and automatically activates corrections when the pet approaches the electronic boundary zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by providing warning corrections before the pet actually crosses the boundary. The system detects approach to the boundary zone and issues preliminary warnings (audible/visual signals) to prevent boundary crossing before it occurs.
4Reliability
If correction intensity is increased to prevent boundary crossing, then containment effectiveness is improved, but harmful factors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic action through progressive correction intensities. The system starts with mild warnings and gradually increases correction intensity only if the pet continues to approach or cross the boundary, rather than applying maximum intensity from the start.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by using multiple levels of correction intensity appropriate to the situation. Mild corrections (audible warnings, gentle vibrations) are used for initial boundary approaches, while stronger corrections are reserved only for repeated boundary violations.
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
Effectively contains pets within designated areas by providing real-time corrective actions and guiding them back, enhancing pet safety and owner control without continuous observation, and adaptable to various environments.
Implementation Method 1
a geolocation sensor configured to determine a position of the collar
Implementation Method 2
a magnetometer, and the magnetometer is configured to determine a direction in which an animal wearing the collar is facing
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed technology includes a pet collar that can be configured to determine its geolocational position and evaluate that position with respect to the geo-fence of a predetermined, geo-fenced “safe” zone. If the collar determines that its position is inside a safe zone but is near the geo-fence, the collar may be configured to provide a warning correction. If the collar determines that it is outside a predetermined safe zone, the collar can also be configured to provide a stronger correction to discourage the pet from continuing away from the safe zone. The collar may also be configured to guide the pet back to the safe zone such as by varying the strength and/or type of correction provided based at least in part on the distance of the collar from the geo-fence.