Directional Ultrasonic Bark Deterrence With Selective Transducer Aiming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bark deterrence systems often fail to effectively deliver sufficient sound pressure levels to deter barking behavior across a wide area due to limitations in beam spread and alignment of sound waves with the dog, particularly when using ultrasonic frequencies.

Innovation Solution

A bark detection and correction unit that incorporates a microphone array and multiple ultrasonic transducers, capable of detecting barking events and directing ultrasonic signals across a wide angular region to ensure sufficient sound pressure levels reach the dog, utilizing a processor to determine the animal's location and activate the appropriate transducers for optimal sound delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If a single ultrasonic transducer is used to deliver sound stimulus, then the device complexity is reduced, but the beam spread coverage is insufficient to effectively deter barking across a wide area

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam spread coverage areaVSAvoidnumber of transducers

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the single transducer function into multiple transducers arranged in an array, with each transducer responsible for a specific angular sector. This segmentation allows the coverage area to be expanded while maintaining manageable complexity through modular architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a single-point transducer to a distributed array across multiple spatial positions and angles. By adding the angular dimension to the coverage area, the system achieves wide-area deterrence while using multiple transducers configured to cover different sectors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If ultrasonic frequencies are used to deter barking, then the sound pressure level is sufficient to affect the dog, but the beam spread is narrow and misalignment with the dog's position reduces effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound delivery effectivenessVSAvoidangular coverage range

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically selects and activates specific transducers based on the detected bark direction. The microphone array determines the angular position of the barking source, and the system adapts by activating only the transducers whose beam spread axes align with that direction, ensuring reliable sound delivery while covering a wide angular range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the microphone array to automatically detect bark direction and self-adjust which transducers to activate. This self-service mechanism ensures that the ultrasonic sound is always delivered in the correct direction without manual intervention, maintaining both reliability and wide angular adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple transducers are activated simultaneously to cover wide area, then the angular coverage is improved, but the sound pressure level at any specific location may be insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveangular coverage rangeVSAvoidsound pressure level at target

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of uniformly activating all transducers, the system applies local quality by activating only the specific transducers whose beam spread axes align with the detected bark direction. This ensures concentrated sound pressure on the target while maintaining wide overall angular coverage through selective activation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 deters barking by ensuring that ultrasonic signals with sufficient sound pressure levels are delivered to the dog, regardless of its position, thereby reducing unwanted noise disturbances.

Implementation Method 1

Each transducer of the plurality of transducers is configured to deliver a correction signal along a transducer beam spread axis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic vibration: Ultrasonic Vibration

Implementation Method 2

One or more applications running on the at least one processor use information of the at least one signal to detect a sound event

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic detection: Acoustic Emission

Data Source

PatentUS12542150B2Systems and methods for remote multi-directional bark deterrence

Publication Date: 2026.02.03 RADIO SYST CORP

AI summary

An apparatus is described that comprises a microphone array and a plurality of transducers. The microphone array and the plurality of transducers are communicatively coupled with at least one processor. The apparatus includes the microphone array for receiving at least one signal. Each transducer of the plurality of transducers is configured to deliver a correction signal along a transducer beam spread axis, wherein the plurality of transducers is positioned on the apparatus for providing a combined transducer beam spread coverage in the horizontal plane. One or more applications running on the at least one processor use information of the at least one signal to detect a sound event. The detecting the sound event includes selecting transducers from the plurality of transducers and instructing the selected transducers to deliver a correction signal.