Pet Proximity Alert System Using Directional Infrared Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pet monitoring 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 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 with a receiver to produce a perceptible alert, using infrared signals to minimize false alarms and ensure accurate detection, along with a wearable unit for individuals to alert them of proximity to objects or areas.
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, directional sensor field rather than a wide omnidirectional field. The sensor is positioned and oriented to detect motion only in the specific local area near the door, ignoring motion in other directions. This selective detection maintains adequate monitoring coverage while eliminating false alarms from unrelated motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor detection space is segmented into relevant and irrelevant zones. The system divides the overall detection volume to focus only on the critical area near the door threshold, separating the monitoring function from unnecessary wide-area detection, thereby reducing false positives while maintaining effective proximity detection.
2Extent of automation
If motion sensors are used to detect pet movement, then automation is improved, but false alarms from unrelated motion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The automated motion detection is made local and directional rather than omnidirectional. The sensor is configured to automatically detect only motion in the specific zone near the door, maintaining high automation while improving reliability by ignoring motion elsewhere in the environment.
3Reliability
If the sensor field of view is reduced to minimize false alarms, then alarm reliability is improved, but detection capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than simply reducing the field of view, the patent applies local quality by strategically positioning and orienting the sensor to create an optimized detection zone. This focused approach maintains high detection precision for the critical area near the door while naturally reducing false alarms from unrelated motion, achieving both reliability and accuracy.
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 and individuals of proximity without false alarms, ensuring timely recognition of pets at doors or individuals near restricted areas, enhancing safety and reducing unnecessary alerts.
Implementation Method 1
using infrared signals to minimize false alarms and ensure accurate detection
Implementation Method 2
The exit unit may include a receiver configured to receive a said wireless proximity signal transmitted by a said pet unit
Implementation Method 3
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.