Smart Collar Geo-fencing with Wireless Transmitter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pet containment systems, such as correction collars and wireless fences, face limitations including reliance on continuous owner observation, labor-intensive installation, susceptibility to power outages, limited range, and inability to customize boundaries effectively, leading to inefficiencies and safety concerns for both pets and owners.
Innovation Solution
A smart collar system with geo-fencing capabilities, incorporating a strap, power source, memory, processor, communication interface, accelerometer, and geolocation sensor, which provides corrective actions via light, vibration, audible warnings, or electronic stimuli to maintain pets within designated areas and guide them back, while also offering adjustable modes for different environments and behaviors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If in-ground wired systems are used to provide precise electronic boundaries, then boundary accuracy is improved, but installation complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex in-ground wiring component from the system and replaces it with a portable wireless transmitter that can be easily moved and repositioned without requiring installation in the ground, thereby maintaining boundary accuracy while eliminating installation complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical in-ground wire system with a wireless electromagnetic field-based system, eliminating the need for physical installation while maintaining the ability to define precise electronic boundaries through software-controlled transmitter positions
2Manufacturing precision
If in-ground wired systems are used to provide precise electronic boundaries, then boundary accuracy is improved, but adaptability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic boundary definition through a portable wireless transmitter that can be freely moved and repositioned to create different boundary configurations, allowing the system to adapt to changing property lines or pet containment needs while maintaining precise electronic boundaries through software control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal system where the same portable wireless transmitter can define multiple different boundaries at different locations and configurations, making the system adaptable to various property shapes and sizes without requiring reinstallation
3Reliability
If hard-wired correction collar systems are used, then reliability is improved, but vulnerability to power outages increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-contained portable transmitters with internal power sources that operate independently of external power infrastructure, allowing the system to maintain reliability during power outages through autonomous battery-powered operation
4Ease of operation
If short-range RF transmitter systems are used, then ease of operation is improved, but operational range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the operational range by utilizing wide-area wireless communication networks (cellular, satellite) that operate on different transmission dimensions and protocols, allowing the collar to maintain communication and receive correction commands over much longer distances than traditional short-range RF systems
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed technology includes a collar comprising, a strap configured to be worn by an animal, an accelerometer configured to detect movement and output movement data, memory storing instructions, and one or more processors in communication with the accelerometer and the memory. The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, can be configured to cause the collar to detect, based at least in part on the movement data, a behavior of the animal selected from among a plurality of predetermined behaviors of the animal, and output one or more corrective actions based at least in part on detecting the behavior.