High Voltage Circuit for Animal Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric stimulus control devices for animals are bulky due to transformer size, suffer from high primary current demands, and lack control over stimulus current shape, limiting their integration in collars and functionality such as battery charging.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves storing stimulus energy in a capacitor instead of a transformer, using a high-frequency isolated DC/DC converter and a current-limiting circuit with MOSFET or BJT transistors to control the stimulus current, allowing for smaller device size and multiple electrode configurations, enabling precise control of current shape and allowing battery charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a transformer is used to store stimulus energy, then the stimulus energy can be stored, but the device size becomes very large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of energy storage from magnetic field (transformer) to electric field (capacitor). This parameter change allows the same energy storage function to be achieved with a dramatically smaller component size, as capacitors have much higher energy density for pulse applications compared to transformers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the transformer-based magnetic energy storage system with a capacitor-based electric energy storage system. This substitution eliminates the need for large magnetic cores and windings, replacing them with compact capacitor structures that achieve the same stimulus energy delivery function.
2Power
If a transformer is used to generate high voltage stimulus, then the stimulus can be delivered, but the primary current becomes excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic charging cycles where the capacitor is rapidly charged to high voltage and then discharged through the stimulus electrodes. This periodic action allows energy accumulation during charging phases and controlled delivery during discharging phases, limiting peak current while maintaining high voltage output capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitor serves as an intermediary energy storage element between the power source and the stimulus delivery system. It decouples the high current charging process from the high voltage stimulus delivery process, allowing current limiting during charging while maintaining high voltage output during discharge.
3Reliability
If the transformer stores energy in magnetic field, then stimulus energy is available, but the battery cannot be charged through electrodes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the electrodes universal by enabling them to serve dual functions: delivering stimulus current during operation and charging the battery during non-stimulus periods. The capacitor-based architecture allows the electrodes to be disconnected from stimulus delivery and connected to battery charging without requiring additional circuitry or functional separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic switching capability that allows the electrode connections to be reconfigured in real-time. The electrodes can dynamically switch between stimulus delivery mode and battery charging mode, providing adaptability and versatility that static transformer-based systems cannot achieve.
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
This approach reduces the device size by nearly two orders of magnitude, allows precise control over stimulus current shape and intensity, and enables the use of electrodes for battery charging, while maintaining peak current control, thus addressing the limitations of prior art.
Implementation Method 1
an isolated DC/DC converter having a low voltage input powered by an energy source and a high voltage output connected to a storage capacitor suitable to be charged with stimulus energy by said converter
Implementation Method 2
a storage capacitor suitable to be charged with stimulus energy by said converter; a first electrode and a second electrode configured to be in contact with the animal for delivering to it high voltage stimulus current and connected to the respective ends of said storage capacitor
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a remote-receiving circuit (1) for providing and controlling an electric stimulus applied to an animal, the circuit (1) comprising : - an isolated DC/DC converter (4) having a low voltage input powered by an energy source (3) and a high voltage output connected to a storage capacitor (8) suitable to be charged with stimulus energy by said converter (4) ; - a first electrode (5) and a second electrode (6) configured to be in contact with the animal for delivering to it high voltage stimulus current and connected to the respective ends of said storage capacitor (8) ; - a current-limiting circuit (9) connected in series with the storage capacitor (8) to control the stimulus current delivered to the animal through the electrodes (5, 6).