Electronic animal trainer with temperament learning

p00001Electronic trainer for animals with temperament learning

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

<dl><dt>1. </dt><dd>Field of the Invention </dd></dl>

The invention relates to an electronic device for training animals. More specifically, this invention relates to an electronic animal training apparatus that adjusts the intensity of the correction stimulus applied based on the animal's temperament.

<dl><dt>2.</dt><dd> Description of Related Technique </dd></dl>

p00003In its simplest form, electronic animal training involves the application of a correction stimulus to an animal in response to undesirable behavior. A device designed to provide a single intensity corrective stimulus cannot be adapted to the situation, and therefore it is not always effective or sometimes excessive, as the case may be. For example, a correction stimulus may be too much for a shy dog ​​or one with a low pain threshold. That same correction stimulus may not be enough to get the attention of a larger, more aggressive dog. In addition to the physical and mental characteristics of the dog, the situation characteristics are also important for the adequacy of the intensity of the correction stimulus. For example, a dog in a high stress situation, where hormones such as adrenaline are active, can completely ignore a correction stimulus that would normally get the dog's attention.

p00004The most sophisticated training devices offer the ability to manually adjust the intensity of the correction stimulus, which allows the trainer to adjust the training to adapt the physical / mental characteristics of the dog. However, a manual adjustment cannot be adapted to the changes demanded by the situation at the time of correction. Examples of existing electronic component training devices for animals can be found in US 2005/145196 and US 4 887 549.

p00005An additional refinement for electronic component animal training devices is to provide an automatic adjustment of the intensity of the correction stimulus until the desired behavior is achieved. In general, automatic intensity adjustment with unattended electronic component devices for animal training, such as bark control collars, is desired. Currently available bark control collars use a simple method to linearly increase the intensity of the correction stimulus while continuing active behavior (barking). Although finally effective, increases in linear intensity are not always favorable to good training practices. Basically, the delay in reaching an effective intensity to deter barking results in a variable amount of time in which the dog is allowed to bark without effective deterrence. According to the above, the dog does not learn quickly or easily that only a few barks are accepted.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

p00007An electronic trainer for animals with temperament learning according to claim 1 is described and shown here. The electronic trainer for animals with temperament learning learns and remembers the animal's response pattern to the correction stimulus to provide a personalized training profile. .

p00008The center of the electronic animal trainer is the processing unit. An activation device, such as a bark detector, is connected to the processing unit. The electronic trainer for animals with temperament learning also includes a stimulus generator and a stimulus supply system. The stimulus generator produces the stimulus impulse signal. The stimulus delivery system is the interface that transfers the stimulus from the electronic components to the dog.

p00009For temperament learning, the electronic trainer for animals with temperament learning includes a bark counter, an episode counter, an episode timer, a timeout timer, a base correction intensity storage unit, and a correction intensity storage unit applied. The bark counter keeps track of the progressive number of barks that occurs during a single barking episode. The episode counter keeps track of the total number of barking episodes that occur. The episode timer is used to measure the duration of

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p00011A barking episode The timeout timer is used to avoid excessive stimulation of the animal. The base correction intensity storage unit maintains the value of the base correction intensity. The base correction intensity is the starting point for the correction intensity. By adjusting the base correction intensity, the electronic trainer for animals with temperament learning provides a correction profile that is customized for the animal. The corrections begin at an intensity that is historically likely to get the dog's attention. Omitting ineffective correction intensities results in more effective training and more quickly dissuades the dog from undesirable behavior. The applied correction intensity storage maintains the value of the instantaneous correction intensity. Starting from the base correction intensity, the correction intensity applied increases during the barking episode while the dog continues to bark. This allows the intensity to vary in response to the dog's behavior, that is, an immediate cessation of barking results in a lower intensity correction and a continuous barking episode guarantees a stronger correction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DIFFERENT VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

p00013The aforementioned features of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the invention read together with the drawings in which:

p00014Figure 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an electronic animal training device having temperament learning;

p00015Figure 2 is a flow chart of the full temperament learning method;

p00016Figure 3 is a flow chart of the portion of the temperament learning method that pertains to barking episode analysis;

p00017Figure 4 is a flow chart of the portion of the temperament learning method that pertains to dog temperament learning;

p00018Figure 5 is a flow chart of the portion of the temperament learning method that pertains to increasing the base correction intensity;

p00019Figure 6 is a flow chart of the portion of the temperament learning method that pertains to reducing the intensity of base correction; and

p00020Figure 7 is a flow chart of the portion of the temperament learning method that pertains to the application of the correction stimulus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

p00022An electronic trainer for animals with learning temperament in 100 in the figures is described and shown here. The electronic trainer for animals with temperament learning 100 learns and remembers the animal's response pattern to the correction stimulus to provide a personalized training profile.

p00023Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of the electronic trainer for animals with temperament learning 100. The center of the electronic trainer for animals is the processing unit 102. The illustrated embodiment of the electronic trainer for animals with temperament learning 100 includes a bark detector 104 as the activation unit. Barking is a behavior that is easily detected and corrected without the need for human intervention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that the bark detector can be replaced with an activation unit so that other behaviors are detected and corrected without the need for human intervention without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Bark detector 104 includes the necessary electronic components based on the type of bark detection contemplated. In one embodiment, the bark detector 104 includes a microphone and the associated electronic signal conditioning components interconnect the bark detector with the processor unit 102. In another embodiment, the bark detector 104 includes a vibration sensor and the associated electronic signal conditioning components interconnect the bark detector with the processor unit 102. In still a further embodiment, the bark detector 104 includes a microphone and a vibration sensor and the associated electronic signal conditioning components interconnect the bark detector with the processor unit 102.

p00024The electronic trainer for animals with temperament learning 100 also includes a stimulus generator 106 and a stimulus supply system 108. The stimulus generator 106 produces the stimulus pulse signal. The stimulus delivery system is the interface that transfers the stimulus from the

p00025electronic components up to the dog. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the various types of stimuli that are available as deterrents can be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Examples include the use of an electric shock coupled with an associated audible alarm, an olfactory deterrent (for example, citronella sprayers), or an audible deterrent for canine / animal (for example, ultrasonic noise).

p00026For temperament learning, the electronic trainer for animals with temperament learning 100 includes a bark counter 110, an episode counter 112, an episode timer 114, a timeout timer 116, an intensity storage unit of base correction 118, and an applied correction intensity storage unit 120. The bark counter 110 keeps track of the number of progressive barks that occurs during a single barking episode. Episode counter 112 keeps track of the total number of barking episodes that occur. Episode timer 114 is used to measure the duration of a barking episode. The timeout timer 116 is used to avoid excessive stimulation of the animal. The base correction intensity storage unit 118 maintains the value of the base correction intensity. The base correction intensity is the starting point for the correction intensity. By adjusting the base correction intensity, the electronic trainer for animals with temperament learning 100 provides a correction profile that is customized for the animal. The corrections begin at an intensity that is historically likely to attract attention from the dog. Omitting ineffective correction intensities results in more effective training and more quickly dissuades the dog from undesirable behavior. The applied correction intensity storage 120 maintains the value of the instantaneous correction intensity. Starting from the base correction intensity, the correction intensity applied increases during the barking episode while the dog continues to bark. This allows the intensity to vary in response to the dog's behavior, that is, an immediate cessation of barking results in a lower intensity correction and a continuous barking episode guarantees a stronger correction.

p00027Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the block diagram in Figure 1 is not intended to show each component or interconnection of the electrical circuit. Obvious components, such as a power source, and common interconnections, such as power supply lines and routine circuits associated with basic circuit design functions, including regulation, adjustment and temporary storage have been omitted. The use and implementation of the omitted features is considered to be within the scope of a person skilled in the art.

p00028Figure 2 is a flow chart of the temperament learning method 200 applied by the electronic trainer for animals with temperament learning 100. To begin with, the temperament learning method 200 is placed 202 in a known state. Once in a known state, the electronic trainer for animals with learning temperament 100 hears 204 the barking of the training dog. If a bark is detected, bark 206 is analyzed to determine if the dog is responding to the correction. Based on the results, if necessary, the correction profile 208 is adjusted. A correction 210 is applied to the animal using the current correction profile.

p00029Figure 3 is a flow chart that examines the stage of analyzing bark 206 in more detail. To begin with, the analysis of bark 206 is determined if the dog has previously barked 300. In one embodiment, the episode counter 112 is initialized to zero when the temperament learning method 200 is placed in a known state 202. If the dog has not barked previously, episode counter 112 has a value of zero. A nonzero value in episode counter 112 means that previous barking activity has been detected. For the first bark of the first barking episode, the temperament learning method 200 performs the following stages. The temperament learning method 200 increases the episode counter 112 by 302, resets 304 the bark counter, and sets the initial value of the base correction intensity 306. In one embodiment, the initial value of the episode counter 112 is one, the initial value of the bark counter 110 is zero, and the initial value of the base correction intensity is one.

p00030For the second and subsequent barking episodes, the temperament learning method 200 checks the status 308 of the 1ww episode timer. In one embodiment, the episode timer is used to measure intervals of 30 seconds corresponding to a single barking episode. Various implementations are available for episode timer 114 that include a countdown timer that counts backward for 30 seconds, an ascending timer that counts forward the time of the entire barking episode. If the specific time, for example, 30 seconds, passes from the last bark detected, the barking episode is considered closed and the dog's temperament 310 is learned. If the barking continues before the specific time elapses, the temperament learning method 200 intensifies the corrections for the dog 312.

p00031Figure 4 is a flow chart that examines the learning stage 310 the dog's temperament in more detail. When learning the dog's temperament, the first stage is to calculate 400 the barking factor. In one embodiment, the barking factor is calculated by dividing the value of the bark counter by two and rounding the result.

p00032to the nearest whole. The resulting barking factor is compared 402 to determine the appropriate action for the new barking episode. If the barking factor is greater than zero, the base correction intensity value is set using the barking factor 404. In one embodiment, the new base correction intensity is equal to the current base correction intensity plus the barking factor. . Because more than 30 seconds have passed since the previous barking, this is considered the start of a new barking episode and the bark counter is reset

p00033406 Then the applied correction intensity 408 is configured using the new values ​​of the base correction intensity and the bark counter. On the contrary, if the barking factor is zero, the base correction intensity 410 is reduced.

p00034Figure 5 is a flow chart examining the step of intensifying the response in more detail 312. Initially, the bark counter 500 is increased to keep track of the number of barks that occur within the barking episode. Then, the applied correction intensity 502 is configured. In one embodiment, the applied correction intensity is equal to the base correction intensity plus the value of the bark counter. The value of the base correction intensity 504 is compared with the maximum allowed value. If the base correction intensity equals the maximum, the value of the bark counter 506 is compared with the maximum value allowed within a selected period of time, a correction timeout sequence 508 is initiated. The correction timeout sequence prevents the dog from continuing to receive stimuli at the highest intensity level during extended barking episodes. In one embodiment, the maximum number of barks allowed is 15 barks within a period of one minute. In general, if the dog receives 15 corrections at the maximum intensity within one minute, that is, one every four seconds, it turns out that the correction stimuli are not having the desired deterrent effect or a problem occurs with the device. The correction timeout sequence usually results in a three-minute sleep period where no correction stimuli are emitted. Following the correction timeout sequence, the device resets to the initial conditions. The applied correction intensity 510 is reset. The bark counter 512 is reset. Finally, the base correction intensity 514 is reset. In one embodiment, the applied correction intensity is set to 0, the bark counter 110 is set. at 0, and the base correction intensity is set to 1.

p00035Figure 6 is a flow chart that examines the step of reducing the base correction intensity 410 in more detail. Being the start of a new barking episode, the barking counter 110 is reset 600. The temperament learning method 200 determines 602 if the base correction intensity value is already at the minimum value. If so, the base correction intensity is left at the minimum value. If it is greater than the minimum value, the base correction intensity 604 is reduced. The correction intensity applied is set 606 using the new base correction intensity.

p00036Depending on the type of stimulus applied, intensity is measured in various units. For example, with an electric shock, changes in intensity occur that are carried out by changes in characteristics such as voltage. Using a canine audible deterrent includes changes in intensity that are carried out by changes in characteristics such as amplitude, duration or frequency. By using an olfactory deterrent, intensity changes are made by changes in characteristics such as volume.

p00037The apparatus and method described herein may vary in other embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. For example, you can remove the episode counter and simply initialize the base correction intensity value to a minimum value. However, historical information about the number of barking episodes would not be available.

p00038An electronic trainer for animals with temperament learning and the accompanying method has been shown and described. The electronic trainer for animals with temperament learning includes a processing unit, an activation unit (for example, a bark detector) a stimulus generator and a stimulus supply system, a bark counter, an episode counter, an episode timer, a timeout timer, a base correction intensity storage unit, and an applied correction intensity storage unit. By adjusting the base correction intensity, the electronic trainer for animals with temperament learning provides a correction profile that is customized for the animal and varies the correction intensity in response to the dog's behavior.

p00039Although the present invention has been illustrated by the description of various embodiments and although the illustrative embodiments have been described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the claims attached to said detail. Additional modifications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the appended claims.