Pet Door Alert System Using Wearable Transmitter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pet door alert systems often produce false alarms due to wide and deep sensor fields of view, making it difficult for pet owners to recognize when their pets are waiting to exit or enter the house.
Innovation Solution
A pet door alert system comprising a wearable pet unit that transmits a wireless proximity signal with a limited range, and an exit unit positioned at the door that receives this signal to produce a perceptible alert, such as an auditory, visual, or tactile notification, minimizing false alarms by ensuring the alert is only triggered when the pet is close to the exit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a wide and deep sensor field of view is used to detect pet proximity, then the detection range is improved, but false alarms increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a focused detection zone with specific angular limits (horizontal and vertical fields of view) rather than using a wide omnidirectional sensor. The sensor is positioned and configured to detect only within a specific local region near the door, filtering out detections from distant or irrelevant areas that would cause false alarms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses optical simulation to create a virtual model of the physical environment, including digital representations of the door frame, wall surfaces, and detection zones. This virtual copy allows the system to predict and filter out false detections by comparing actual sensor readings against the simulated environmental model.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If motion sensors are used to detect pet activity, then pet detection capability is improved, but false alarms from other moving objects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by positioning sensors in specific locations (e.g., upper corners of the door frame) and configuring them with specific detection parameters (angular fields, distance ranges) to focus only on the immediate door area, excluding detections from other moving objects in the broader environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual environmental model that includes digital representations of the door structure, wall surfaces, and expected pet movement patterns. This model is used to filter and validate sensor detections, comparing actual readings against the simulated environment to distinguish legitimate pet detections from false alarms caused by other moving objects.
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 accurately notifies pet owners of the pet's proximity to the door, reducing false alarms and ensuring timely recognition of the pet's intention to exit or enter, thereby improving pet owner awareness without unnecessary alerts.
Implementation Method 1
a transmitter configured to transmit a wireless proximity signal from the pet unit
Implementation Method 2
a receiver configured to receive a wireless proximity signal transmitted by a pet unit
Implementation Method 3
an emitter configured to emit radiation outwardly from the exit unit
Implementation Method 4
a detector configured to receive a reflection of the radiation emission of the emitter
Implementation Method 5
the pet unit may include a reflector element configured to reflect radiation emitted from the emitter
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 my also include an alerting assembly configured to provide a presence alert when the receiver receives a said wireless proximity signal. T alerting assembly may comprise a perceptible alerting mechanism configured to produce a perceptible presence alert which is perceptible to a sense of a human.