Electronic Pet Door Flap Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pet doors do not provide a means to automatically grant access to selected animals while denying access to non-selected animals, leading to unwanted entry and potential security and privacy issues.
Innovation Solution
An electronic pet door with a frame and flap mechanism that uses a locking system, where the flap is shifted between locked and unlocked positions based on a wireless signal from a transmitter carried by the selected animal, ensuring only authorized animals can access the through-way.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional pet door is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot automatically distinguish between selected and non-selected animals, allowing unwanted entry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical access control with an electronic system comprising a receiver, transmitter, and locking mechanism. The electronic system automatically detects animal presence via wireless signal and controls flap position accordingly, eliminating the need for manual operation or complex mechanical differentiation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The pet door system performs automatic access control without human intervention. The receiver detects transmitter signals from authorized animals and automatically actuates the locking mechanism to grant or deny access, enabling the system to serve itself through automated electronic detection and response.
2Reliability
If the flap is always locked, then security is improved, but access for authorized animals is denied
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism dynamically adjusts the flap position based on real-time detection of authorized animals. When the receiver detects a transmitter signal, the locking mechanism automatically moves the flap to an unlocked position, allowing access. When no signal is detected, the flap remains locked, providing security.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors for transmitter signals from authorized animals and uses this feedback to automatically adjust the locking mechanism's position. The receiver-transmitter communication loop provides real-time feedback that triggers appropriate access control responses, ensuring both security and ease of access for authorized animals.
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 electronic pet door effectively grants access to selected animals while denying access to non-selected animals, enhancing security and privacy by automatically controlling the flap's position based on the presence of the authorized animal.
Implementation Method 1
a transmitter in wireless communication with the receiver and carried by the selected animal
Data Source
AI summary
Described is an electronic pet door for automatically granting a selected animal access to a through-way defined by the electronic pet door and denying a non-selected animal access to the through-way. The selected animal carries a transmitter. The electronic pet door includes a corresponding receiver and a frame that defines the through-way, which has a tapered contour. A flap, which has a tapered contour corresponding to the through-way, is disposed within the through-way and is capable of a locked position and an unlocked position. When in the locked position, the flap denies access to the through-way. When unlocked, the flap grants an animal access to the through-way. The flap is locked and unlocked by way of a locking mechanism that shifts the flap longitudinally between the less tapered and most tapered portions of the through-way. The locking mechanism shifts the flap in response to the receiver.