Device for prohibiting the crossing of a zone boundary by an animal

The invention concerns a device for prohibiting the crossing of a zone boundary by an animal (2,4). This device comprises interactive means (12, 14) for locating the animal (2, 4) with respect to a control station (8), means for sanctioning (16) the use of which is dependent on means (66, 50, 52, 54) for processing and analyzing data supplied by said locating means (12, 140. The sanctioning means (16) are means for fogging a fluid, comprising an electrovalve; the actuating of the electrovalve varies in frequency, in duration and in delivery according to the distance separating the animal from the control station and the duration of the presence of the animal in the zone to be protected.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The invention is in the field of means for training the behavior of 
animals, and more particularly domestic animals, and its subject is a 
device for prohibiting the crossing of a zone boundary between an animal 
and a control station. 
Various devices are known for prohibiting an animal from approaching or 
moving away from a zone. In their generality, these devices comprise means 
for detecting the position of the animal with respect to at least one 
control station, and sanctioning means which are implemented when the 
animal is in a situation of misconduct, that is to say when it is too 
close to or too far away from the control station. 
In general, the problem to be solved for these devices lies in the 
compromise to be found between effectiveness, reliability by taking into 
account a possible acclimatization of the animal to the sanction, 
ergonomics enabling the user to exploit the device with ease, and the 
lowest possible purchase price and exploitation cost so as to make the 
device competitive. Thus, in general, the efforts of designers in the 
field and the respective inventive approaches which have stemmed therefrom 
pertain to devices implementing modes of operation and means appertaining 
thereto which seem to them to be the best answer to this compromise. 
2. Brief Description of the Background of the Invention Including Prior Art 
Certain Prior Art designers have proposed simple devices: for example, the 
U.S. Pat. No. 3980051 (FURY) describes a device contrived to be carried by 
the user and intended for keeping the animal near to him/her. The means 
for detecting the position of the animal are of the type employing 
transmission/reception of ultrasound signals, a transmitter being 
supported by the collar of the animal and a receiver being supported by a 
control station carried by the user. When the animal moves too far away 
from the user and the ultrasound signal is no longer perceived by the 
control station, an audible signal which can be heard by the animal is 
transmitted from the control station so as to call it back. Again as an 
example, the U.S. Pat. No 5501179 (CORY) proposes a device comprising 
means for detecting the approach of the animal, by detecting heat for 
example, so as to actuate a pump which sprays water. Concerning this 
latter sanctioning regime by spraying fluid, it will be noted that the 
patent FR2560003 (VINCI) discloses a sanctioning regime by spraying fluid, 
implementing an electric valve operated by means for detecting the barking 
of a dog. 
The modes of implementing the sanctioning means determine the effectiveness 
and reliability of the device, and certain Prior Art designers have 
brought their choice to bear on sanctioning means of the electric shock 
type, with a prior warning to the animal, audible in particular or 
low-intensity electric shock. Several zone boundaries correspond 
respectively to the implementation of the warning and to the application 
of the sanction. For example, reference may be made to the patents GB 
2220814 (TORRINGTON PRODUCTS VENTURE), WO9402004 (POLE ZERO CORP.), 
WO9630882 (RADIO SYSTEM CORPORATION), WO9528691 (RADIO SYSTEM 
CORPORATION), WO9604628 (YARNALL) and WO9505071 (INVISIBLE FENCE COMPANY). 
The means for detecting the position of the animal must therefore take this 
plurality of zone boundaries into account. Certain devices, such as those 
described in WO9630882 (RADIO SYSTEM CORPORATION), WO9528691 (RADIO SYSTEM 
CORPORATION), or WO9505071 (INVISIBLE FENCE COMPANY [sic]), use means for 
generating a magnetic field, by means of an inductive loop in particular, 
which circumscribes the zone and thereby constitutes the control station. 
Other devices, such as those described by GB 2220814 (TORRINGTON PRODUCTS 
VENTURE), WO 9604628 (YARNALL) or WO9402004 (POLE ZERO CORP.) use 
radiofrequency signals. In general, a first signal is transmitted to a 
sensor module which may equally well be carried on the animal or supported 
by the control station. This first signal is compared with a first 
reference signal so as to detect a crossing by the animal of a first zone 
boundary. If affirmative, a return signal is transmitted so as to 
implement the warning; the sanction is then applied in the case where, 
despite the warning given, the animal remains inside the first zone for a 
predetermined duration, or in the case where the animal crosses a second 
zone boundary, in which case the application of the sanction is operated 
by a second return signal after comparing the first signal with a second 
reference signal. 
It appears that the choice of the sanctioning means firstly, and 
subsequently the choice of the modes of implementation thereof by 
appropriate means adapted to the nature of the sanctioning means chosen, 
determine the effectiveness of the device. The problem posed by the Prior 
Art devices lies in the fact that the various inventive approaches of the 
designers have led them to bring their choice to bear on sanctioning means 
and their modes of implementation which make it possible for the animal to 
become acclimatized to the sanction, resulting therefore in a loss of 
effectiveness of the devices over time. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
1. Purposes of the Invention 
Thus, the purpose of the present invention is to propose a device for 
prohibiting the crossing of a zone boundary between at least one animal 
and at least one control station, which is competitive, effective and 
reliable over time against a possible acclimatization of the animal. 
The first premise of the inventive approach of the present invention is to 
propose a device for prohibiting the crossing of a zone boundary in 
respect of an animal, whose sanctioning means are such that the modes of 
operation of the device can take into account the alteration in the 
situation of misconduct of the animal, in particular by measuring the 
distance separating the animal from the control station and by measuring 
the time of presence of the animal in the zone, so as to apply a sanction 
and vary it in proportion to the alteration in the situation of 
misconduct, and hence in proportion to the posture of the animal. The 
choice of the sanctioning means must therefore take into account the 
possibility of maintaining the sanction and of altering it continuously as 
long as the animal persists in overstepping the prohibition. 
A second premise of the inventive approach of the present invention is to 
enable the user to modify the modes of operation of the device, as a 
function of the reactions customarily made by the animal and as a function 
of its acclimatization to the operation of the device. The choice of the 
sanctioning means must therefore take into account their ability to adapt 
to a modification of their modes of implementation, without unduly 
disturbing or harming the animal. 
2. Brief Description of the Invention 
Thus, a first aspect of the invention lies in the fact that the sanctioning 
means are of the fluid spraying type, customarily neglected by the Prior 
Art designers, said sanctioning means implementing an electric valve, by 
virtue of which and of simple means for activating the electric valve 
which make the device competitive, the sanction can be maintained as long 
as the animal is in a situation of misconduct, can be adapted by the user 
in accordance with the postures and customary reactions of the animal to 
the device, and can alter in proportion to the posture of the animal after 
applying the sanction. 
Thus and according to another aspect of the invention, the device comprises 
means for operating the activation of the electric valve placed under the 
dependence of any one at least, firstly of means for detecting the 
position of the animal with respect to the control station, comprising 
means for measuring the distance separating them, and secondly of 
chronometric means measuring the time of presence or non-presence of the 
animal in the zone, so that the sanction may be varied in proportion to 
the variation in said distance and/or in proportion to the time of 
presence of the animal in the zone, or outside the latter in accordance 
with the reason for the prohibition. 
Continuing his inventive approach, the Applicant proposes to enable the 
user, by virtue of means for selecting and adjusting implementation 
thresholds, to vary the modes of application of the sanction, both those 
for activating the electric valve through a variation in the duration of 
each of the fluid sprayings, and/or through a variation in the frequency 
of these sprayings, and/or through a variation in the delivery of the 
electric valve for a given duration of activation, and those relating to 
criteria evaluating the misconduct of the animal, in accordance with the 
latter's time of presence or non-presence in the zone and/or in accordance 
with the variation in the distance separating it from the control station. 
It will be understood that according to the inventive approaches envisioned 
above, the means for detecting the position of the animal and the 
chronometric means are measuring means which supply information which 
continuously reflects the posture of the animal and which can be exploited 
so as to vary the activation of the electric valve in proportion to these 
measurements. 
Additionally, the means for detecting the position of the animal are, for 
example, means of the ultra-sound type, of the radiofrequency type or else 
of the inductive loop type, comprising a transmitter module and a receiver 
module which can equally well be carried on the animal or supported by the 
control station. However, the means of the ultrasound type are preferred 
by exploiting the amplitude of the ultrasound signal received which is 
measured so as to determine the gap between the animal and the control 
station. 
Thus the device of the invention for prohibiting the crossing of a zone 
boundary by an animal, is a device of the kind comprising: 
a low-voltage electrical energy source, 
means for detecting the position of the animal with respect to the zone 
boundary, comprising interactive means respectively carried by the animal 
and supported by a control station, 
so-called sanctioning means which generate a stimulus at the animal, and 
means for operating the implementation of the sanctioning means, placed 
under the dependence of means for processing and analyzing the information 
supplied by said detecting means. 
According to the invention, this device comprises the following 
arrangements taken alone or in combination. 
According to a first aspect of the invention, the sanctioning means are 
means for misting a fluid, comprising an electric valve and a reservoir of 
the pressurized fluid, said operating means being means for activating the 
opening of the electric valve so as to release the fluid contained in the 
reservoir. 
According to a second aspect of the invention, the implementing of the 
means for operating the sanctioning means is placed under the dependence 
of means for varying the activation of the electric valve in accordance 
with any one at least of the parameters comprising the duration between 
two successive activations, or, conversely, frequency of activation, of 
the electric valve, the duration of each of the activations of the 
electric valve, and the delivery of the electric valve at each of its 
constant-duration activations. However, a variation in the duration of 
activation and a variation in the delivery of the electric valve giving 
rise to inopportune consumption of the fluid, it is preferred to vary the 
activation of the electric valve only according to the frequency of 
activation, and to provide the device with means of user-adjustment of the 
duration of activation of the electric valve. 
Nevertheless, it will be understood that should the regime of sanction by 
misting not be chosen by a designer, the modes of operation of the device 
of the invention in accordance with said second aspect would be applicable 
to any other means of sanction whose operating means allow such variations 
of implementation of the sanction. 
According to a third aspect of the invention, the means for varying the 
sanction, therefore the activation of the electric valve, comprise means 
for measuring the distance separating the animal from the control station, 
and chronometric means for measuring the time of presence or non-presence 
of the animal in the zone. The device furthermore comprises means of 
user-selection of the implementation, so as to vary the activation of the 
electric valve, of one or other of said means for determining the 
variation of the distance or of said chronometric means. 
Preferably, said selecting means are associated with means for adjusting 
the quantum of each of the parameters for varying the sanction, such as 
the activation of the electric valve in accordance with said first aspect 
of the invention. 
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, said interactive means for 
detecting the position of the animal with respect to the control station 
comprise means for transmitting and receiving ultrasound signals 
respectively supported either by the animal, by way of a collar, for 
example, or by the control station, and means for processing and analyzing 
the ultrasound signal received comprising means for comparing between the 
ultrasound signal received and a target signal, so as to determine the 
presence or non-presence of the animal in the zone, and means for 
measuring the amplitude of the ultrasound signal received so as to 
determine the distance separating the transmitting means from the 
receiving means. 
According to a fifth aspect of the invention, said means for analyzing the 
ultrasound signal received and said means for varying the activation of 
the electric valve implement a microprocessor, whose modes of operation 
are previously selected by the user from among a plurality of stored modes 
of operation, by means, for example, of a bank of switches constituting 
said selecting and adjusting means, by combination of selection between 
the various switches. 
According to a sixth aspect of the invention, the means for processing the 
ultrasound signal received comprise means for amplifying and filtering the 
signal received, and for detecting the envelope of the signal so as to 
identify the signal received and recognize it as being the valid signal 
transmitted by the transmitting means of the device, and to transmit a 
so-called information signal to the comparing means and the means of 
measuring the amplitude of the signal received. 
Preferably, the device furthermore comprises, interposed between the 
electrical energy source and the microprocessor, means referred to as 
means for putting the device onto standby, for placing the microprocessor 
into low-consumption regime in the absence of detection of a situation of 
misconduct of the animal relating to its presence or non-presence in the 
zone. 
An operating process for a device just described, is characteristic in that 
it consists: 
in recognizing the validity of the ultrasound signal received and in 
processing it to form a so-called information signal whose amplitude 
varies according to the intensity of the ultrasound signal received, 
in comparing the information signal with a reference signal, so as to 
detect the presence or the absence of the animal in the zone, and in 
parallel with this to input the information signal into the 
microprocessor, 
in, should the presence or the absence of the animal in the zone be 
detected, inputting a second signal, referred to as the implementing 
signal, into the microprocessor so as to activate the microprocessor 
normally in the standby position, the microprocessor then measuring the 
distance separating the animal from the control station on the basis of 
the amplitude of the information signal, and 
in using the microprocessor to vary the implementation of the operating 
means as a function of the selection previously made by the user by means 
of the bank of switches, either on the basis of the implementing signal 
input into the microprocessor by way of the chronometric means, or on the 
basis of the variation in the amplitude of the information signal. 
It will be understood that according to another avenue of the invention, a 
process of the invention for prohibiting the crossing of a zone by an 
animal, is the process of the kind comprising the steps consisting in 
succession: 
in detecting the presence or non-presence of the animal in a zone whose 
boundary is preadjusted by the user, by virtue of interactive means 
respectively carried on the animal and supported by the control station, 
so as to define a situation of misconduct or otherwise of the animal on 
the basis of the information exchanged between said interactive means, and 
in effecting, should a situation of misconduct be defined, a stimulus for 
the animal using means which may equally well be supported either by the 
animal or by the of the [sic] control station. 
This process is characterized in that the stimulus is effected as soon as 
the situation of misconduct is defined, by spraying a fluid by means of an 
electric valve, the activation of which is placed under the dependence of 
the means for detecting the misconduct, and in repeating this stimulus 
with an acceleration of the frequency of spraying of the fluid, which 
frequency varies as a function of the alteration in the situation of 
misconduct in accordance with any one at least of the alteration factors 
comprising a variation of the distance separating the animal from the 
control station, and a persistence of the situation of misconduct. 
Preferably, this process comprises the prior step consisting in selecting 
the regime of operation of the device desired by the user from among a 
plurality of stored modes of operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
In the figures, a device for prohibiting the crossing of a zone boundary 
between an animal 2, 4 and a control station aims to distance an animal 2, 
4 from a zone to be protected, such as 6 in the example in FIG. 1. In this 
same example, the device associates a collar 10 worn by the animal 2, 4 
and equipped with means 12 for transmitting an ultrasound signal, with a 
control station 8, equipped with means 14 for receiving said ultrasound 
signal and with means for spraying a fluid, comprising an electric valve 
16 whose activation is placed under the dependence of operating means 
which are themselves placed under the dependence of means for processing 
and analyzing the ultrasound signal received. 
Said means for processing and analyzing the ultrasound signal received 
comprise means 18 for detecting the presence or otherwise of the animal in 
the zone, means 20 for measuring the distance separating the animal 2, 4 
from the control station 8, and chronometric means 22 for measuring the 
time for which the animal 2, 4 is present in the zone. 
The device furthermore comprises means 24 for varying the duration of 
activation of the electric valve 16, and means 26 for varying the 
frequency of activation of the electric valve 16. 
Referring to FIGS. 5 to 11, the device of the invention is such that the 
activation of the electric valve 16 varies in duration and/or in frequency 
in the course of a situation in which account is taken of the factors of 
variation of the position of the animal with respect to the control 
station, either because the former is approaching or moving away from the 
latter, or because the former is stationary in the zone to be prohibited. 
For example in FIGS. 5 to 7, and referring to the upper graph A of the 
figures, the animal approaches the control station until it reaches the 
zone boundary (span a) onwards of which the electric valve 16 is 
activated, then the animal stops (span b) and approaches again (span c). 
Referring to the lower graph B of the figures, the electric valve is 
activated as soon as the animal crosses the zone boundary and remains 
activated at constant frequency so long as the animal remains stationary 
(span b); when it approaches closer to the control station (span c), the 
activation of the electric valve varies, increasing either in duration 
(FIG. 5), or in frequency (FIG. 6), or in both duration and frequency 
(FIG. 7). 
Again, for example in FIGS. 9 to 11, and referring to the upper graph A of 
the figures, the animal, still present in the zone (span d, e, f), 
approaches the control station in a first stage (span d), then remains 
stationary (span e), then moves away in a third stage (span f). Referring 
to the lower graphs B of the figures, the activation of the electric valve 
varies so long as the animal, stationary in a posture of observation, is 
present in the zone (span e), said variation being implemented either in 
terms of frequency (FIG. 9), or in terms of amplitude (FIG. 10), or in 
terms of amplitude and frequency (FIG. 11). 
In a last example illustrated in FIG. 8, the activation of the electric 
valve varies, when the animal is approaching (spans h and i), in terms of 
amplitude and frequency for example, is halted when the animal is 
stationary (span i), or again when the animal moves away (span k), after a 
phase of approaching, even if it is still present in the zone. 
In FIGS. 3 and 4, to offer greater flexibility of use of the device of the 
invention, and to enable the user to tailor the activation of the electric 
valve as a function of his/her knowledge of the postures of the animal and 
of its acclimatization to the modes of operation of the device, the latter 
has means 28, 30, 32, 40, 42 for selecting the implementation firstly of 
the means 18 for detecting the animal in the zone, means 20 for measuring 
the distance between the animal and the control station, and chronometric 
means 22, and secondly means 24 for varying the duration of activation of 
the electric valve 16 and means 26 for varying the frequency of activation 
of the electric valve 16. The user has moreover means 34, 36, 38, 44, 46 
for respectively adjusting said means 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 for their 
initialization and for thus determining their threshold of implementation. 
It will be noted that according to a preferred embodiment, display means, 
such as light-emitting diodes (represented in the diagram of FIG. 13), are 
respectively associated with the various selecting and adjusting means 
envisioned above, so as to make the device of the invention more 
ergonomic, and especially so as to aid the user's endeavors aimed at 
adjusting the various means which he wishes to implement. 
According to the exemplary embodiment of the device of the invention as 
represented in FIGS. 1 and 3, and more particularly as applied to the 
prohibiting of the approaching of the animal toward the control station 8, 
the transmitter means 12 are supported by the collar 10 whilst the 
receiver means 14, the means for analyzing and processing the signal 
received and the means 16 for spraying fluid are supported by the control 
station 8. 
According to the exemplary embodiment of the device of the invention, 
represented in FIGS. 2 and 4, and more particularly as applied to the 
prohibiting of the moving away of the animal, the transmitter means 12 are 
supported by the control station 8, whilst the receiver means 14, the 
means of analyzing and processing the signal received and the means 16 of 
spraying fluid are supported by the collar 10. According to this exemplary 
embodiment, the user can select the chronometric means 22 so as to vary 
the sanction according to the time of absence of reception of the 
ultrasound signal, and hence the time of absence of the animal outside the 
zone, or else to select the means for determining the variation in 
distance so as to apply the sanction as soon as the animal approaches too 
close to the zone boundary not to be crossed. 
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the means 12 and 14 
for detecting the presence or non-presence of the animal in the zone 
comprise coding means 48 (FIG. 3) cooperating for reliable recognition of 
the signal, so as in particular to avoid inopportune interference in the 
information exchanged and for recognition of a signal transmitted by the 
transmitter means 12 from among a plurality of transmitter means 12 
supported by a respective collar. 
For example, in FIGS. 1 and 3 the coding means 48 make it possible to 
identify the dog 4 and the cat 2, and automatically to adapt the 
activation of the electric valve 16 as a function of the animal 2, 4 which 
is approaching: in FIG. 1, the activation of the electric valve 16 cuts in 
for a specified position of the dog with respect to the control station 8, 
while it is not implemented for a same position of the cat 4. It will be 
understood that in this case there must be an equivalent number of 
analyzing means 18, 20, 22 and of operating means 24, 26 as number of 
harnesses 10. 
It will be noted that FIGS. 12 to 15 illustrate embodiments of the 
invention within a digital, or logic regime of operation, implementing a 
microprocessor; nevertheless, it will be understood that these embodiments 
are given merely by way of example and that in an equivalent manner the 
electronic means implemented by the invention could be means which 
determine an analog regime of operation, comprising in particular 
potentiometers for adjusting the various thresholds of the analyzing and 
operating means. 
Referring more particularly to the diagram of FIG. 15, in conjunction with 
those of FIGS. 12 to 14, which illustrate simple exemplary embodiments of 
a device of the invention, three ultrasonic sensors 14 are arranged in 
accordance with 120.degree.0 concurrent orientations so as to offer 
omnidirectional reception of the ultrasound signals transmitted. For each 
sensor 14, means 50 for processing the signal received amplify and filter 
the latter, which then undergoes envelope detection for identification 
thereof. The three signals thus processed are grouped together on a single 
output, their amplitude corresponding to the intensity of the ultrasound 
signal received, and hence to the distance separating the transmitter 
means 12 and the sensors 14. 
The processed signal is applied to the microcontroller 52 and to a 
comparator 54 of the processed signal with respect to a target signal 
corresponding to the zone boundary. It will be noted that this target 
signal can be adjusted by means of a potentiometer 56 for example, so as 
to enable the user to define a zone boundary lying for example between 0.5 
m and 6 m approximately. When the signal applied to the comparator 54 
oversteps the threshold of the target signal, the output of the comparator 
54 triggers the operation of the microcontroller 52, by way of means 68 
for putting the device onto standby. It will thus be noted that when there 
is no signal at the output of the comparator 54, the microcontroller 52 is 
placed in a low-consumption regime, and that it is put onto standby, 
following a period of activity, after the signal is absent for more than 
500 ms for example. 
The modes of operation of the microcontroller 52 are multiple and may be 
selected by the user from a bank of switches 58. 
According to a first example of operation selected, the microcontroller 52 
measures the amplitude of the signal which it receives, and, by way of the 
operating means 66, operates the activation of the electric valve 16 with 
an activation frequency which varies as a function of this amplitude, and 
hence as a function of the distance separating the animal from the control 
station 8. According to a second example, as long as the signal is present 
at the input of the microcontroller 52, the electric valve is activated 
with a variation in activation frequency. 
It will be understood that the variation in the frequency of the 
activations of the electric valve is effected through a reduction in the 
fraction of time separating two successive activations of the electric 
valve, said fraction of time being chosen by the user by virtue of said 
means for selecting a regime of operation of the device from among a 
plurality of stored regimes of operation. 
By virtue of the bank of switches 58, the user can adjust the duration of 
each of the activations of the electric valve 16, between 40 ms and 320 ms 
for example, the frequency, or the variation in frequency, between two 
activations of the electric valve 16, between 0.5 s and 8 s for example, 
and the maximum duration of action of the device after detecting a 
situation of misconduct, for example up to 30 s. 
It will be noted that the switches of the bank 58 can advantageously be 
replaced with transponders which can be actuated via a remote control with 
buttons for selecting programs from among a plurality of stored programs, 
corresponding to a respective regime of operation of the device. 
The device comprises a battery 60 which directly powers an energy saving 
circuit 62, the role of which is to optimize the electrical consumption 
with each activation of the electric valve 16. The other circuits of the 
device are powered via a regulator 64 so as not to be subjected to the 
voltage variations caused by the activation of the electric valve.