Pet Door Alert System Using Infrared Proximity Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pet monitoring systems often produce false alarms due to wide and deep fields of view, making it difficult for pet owners to recognize when their pets are waiting at or approaching a door for exit, and similar issues exist for alerting individuals with physical impairments or children near dangerous areas.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a wearable pet unit that transmits a wireless proximity signal and an exit unit positioned at the structure's exit, which includes a receiver to detect the signal and produce a perceptible alert, using infrared signals to minimize false alarms and ensure accurate detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a wide field of view sensor is used to detect pet proximity, then the detection coverage is improved, but false alarms increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor's field of view is restricted to a specific local area (the exit doorway) rather than covering a wide area. This is achieved by positioning the sensor to detect pets within a predetermined distance of the exit, creating a focused detection zone that reduces false alarms while maintaining effective coverage of the critical area
Solution Approach 2:
The detection space is segmented into multiple zones: a restricted zone near the exit where alerts are triggered, and other areas where movement does not trigger alerts. The sensor is configured to monitor only the restricted zone, dividing the overall space into functional segments with different detection requirements
2Loss of time
If the sensor detection range is extended to detect pets from farther away, then early warning is improved, but false alarms from unrelated movement increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is configured with a specific detection distance parameter that defines a predetermined distance from the exit. This creates a localized detection buffer zone that provides early warning without extending to areas where unrelated movement would cause false alarms
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor detects pets at a partial distance range - not too far to cause false alarms, but sufficiently far to provide early warning. The detection range is optimized to cover only the necessary buffer zone before the pet reaches the exit
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If traditional motion sensors are used, then motion detection capability is provided, but the system produces false alarms that lead to owner ignoring
Solution Approach 1:
The motion sensor is configured to detect movement only within the restricted zone near the exit, not throughout the entire house. This localized detection maintains motion detection capability while eliminating false alarms from movement in other areas
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to the owner through alerts that are triggered only by relevant motion in the restricted zone. This selective feedback mechanism maintains alert effectiveness by ensuring that notifications are meaningful and not ignored due to false alarms
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 notifies pet owners of a pet's proximity to an exit without false alarms, allowing timely recognition and access, and can be adapted for alerting individuals with impairments or children near hazardous areas.
Implementation Method 1
using infrared signals to minimize false alarms and ensure accurate detection
Implementation Method 2
a receiver configured to receive a said wireless proximity signal transmitted by a said pet unit
Implementation Method 3
an emitter configured to emit radiation outwardly from the exit unit, and the emitter being configured to emit the radiation from the exit unit in free air
Implementation Method 4
the pet unit may include a reflector element configured to reflect radiation emitted from the emitter when the radiation reaches the reflector element
Data Source
AI summary
A system for notifying occupants of a structure that a pet is proximate to an opening of a structure. The system may include a pet unit wearable on the pet's body and including a transmitter configured to transmit a wireless proximity signal from the pet unit. The system may further include an exit unit positionable at an exit of the structure. The exit unit may include a receiver configured to receive a said wireless proximity signal transmitted by a pet unit, with the receiver being configured to produce an alert signal when a said wireless proximity signal is received. The exit unit may also include an alerting assembly configured to provide a presence alert when the receiver receives a said wireless proximity signal. The alerting assembly may comprise a perceptible alerting mechanism configured to produce a perceptible presence alert which is perceptible to a sense of a human.