Reprogrammable receiver collar

An animal training system including a programming apparatus and an animal training collar. The animal training collar is communicatively couplable to the programming apparatus. The animal training collar includes at least one stimulation probe and a programmable device operatively connected to the at least one stimulation probe to activate the at least one stimulation probe. The at least one stimulation probe also transferring data at least one of to and from the programming apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an animal collar assembly, and, more particularly, to an animal collar assembly including a reprogrammable processing circuit.

2. Description of the Related Art

Stimulation devices are used for the modification of behavior of an animal. The stimulation device is often associated with a collar worn by the animal and is provided to improve the behavior of the animal. Some stimulation devices include twin electrodes that are positioned against the skin of an animal, which delivers an electrical stimulus to modify the behavior of the animal. The stimulus can also be in the form of a vibration, an audible noise or other sensory stimulation to gain the attention of the animal.

It is known to replace memory chips, such as programmable read only memories (PROM) in order to reprogram a device. Often integrated circuit sockets are utilized to allow the removable insertion of a PROM. Also it is known to reprogram a device by using a reprogrammable non-volatile memory and provide a data channel by which updated programming information is delivered to the non-volatile programmable memory. Reprogramming can be done by way of a computer interfacing the memory of a device by way of direct electrical connection, such as utilizing a BNC connection. It is known to provide data ports to allow access to programmable functions within a sealed electronic circuit assembly.

What is needed in the art is a method and apparatus to accomplish a reprogramming of a sealed animal training collar.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an animal collar assembly including a sealed housing that is reprogrammable without having a programming port.

The invention comprises, in one form thereof, an animal training system including a programming apparatus and an animal training collar. The animal training collar is communicatively couplable to the programming apparatus. The animal training collar includes at least one stimulation probe and a programmable device operatively connected to the at least one stimulation probe to activate the at least one stimulation probe. The at least one stimulation probe also transferring data at least one of to and from the programming apparatus.

An advantage of the present invention is that the housing is sealed and data is transferred to the programmable device by way of a stimulation probe

Another advantage of the present invention is that the light emitting diode is utilized to transfer data from the programmable device to the programming apparatus.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the battery contact and another stimulation probe are utilized to place the programmable device into a reprogramming mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly toFIG. 1, there is shown a collar assembly10including a collar strap12and a training module14. Collar strap12is arranged to be placed about the neck of an animal and adjusted to appropriately snug training module14against a portion of the neck of the animal.

Now, additionally referring toFIG. 2, training module14includes a housing16, an electrode probe18, an electrode probe20, a battery contact22, a signal emitter24and a programmable device26. Housing16is connected to collar strap12and encloses programmable device26completely. Housing16is hermetically sealed. Additionally housing16may be molded to completely encapsulate all of the components therein. Extending from housing16are electrode probes18and20, which deliver a stimulus to the animal at appropriate times, as determined by programmable device26. Housing16includes a removable and/or rechargeable battery, not shown and housing16specifically has a battery contact22, which for the sake of clarity is illustrated as a single battery contact22without illustrating an associated battery contact.

Signal emitter24may be a light emitting diode (LED)24or an acoustic device24such as an audio speaker24or a piezoelectric sound emitter24. Signal emitter24is operatively powered by a battery, not shown, and is connected to programmable device26for the conveying of information from programmable device26by way of signal emitter24. Information conveyed by way of LED24, during normal operations of collar assembly10, may include operational status of training module14, condition of the battery and/or acknowledgment of the receipt of a message from a transceiver, not shown. Acoustic device24may be used to emit acoustic signals as instructions or warnings to the animal.

For the sake of clarity, other elements which may be included in training module14have been omitted, such as a radio transmitter and/or receiver and separate memory, which may be a part of programmable device26. Programmable device26is operatively connected to signal emitter24and electrodes18and20. The connection is simply shown as a line in the schematic rendering ofFIG. 2and it should be understood that a separate high voltage circuit is connected to electrode probe18and/or20during operational use of training module14and that the connection directly shown with programmable device26may be disconnected during the operational use of training module14.

As mentioned earlier housing16may be a completely sealed unit, which does not lend itself to replacement of memory devices therein. The construct of a sealed or molded housing16would result in a destructive disassembly of housing16in the event access to components within housing16is desired. The advantage of having a sealed and/or molded housing16is that training module14is then highly impervious to moisture and may be simpler to manufacture. It may become necessary after training module14has been manufactured to modify the function and/or performance characteristics thereof. An advantage of the present invention is that it allows the product to be reprogrammed following the manufacture when normal microprocessor programming inputs are no longer available.

A programming apparatus30is interconnected with training module14, as shown inFIG. 2. Programming apparatus30includes a signal detector32that is connected by way of conductor34. Signal detector32is positioned proximate to signal emitter24to allow information to be communicated from programmable device26to programming apparatus30. Signal detector32may be a light detector32if signal emitter24is LED24, and signal detector32is a microphone32if signal emitter24is an acoustic device24. Conductor36connects programming apparatus30to battery contact22. Conductor38connects programming device30to first electrode probe18. Conductor40connects programming apparatus30to second electrode probe20. Programming apparatus30receives information by way of signal emitter24as signal emitter24is pulsed and/or modulated by programmable device26. Information is sent to programmable device26by way of conductor38, which is communicatively connected to high voltage electrode probe18. Conductors36and40are utilized by programming apparatus30to place programmable device26into a mode that allows the reprogramming of programmable device26. For example, a voltage level and/or current is passed between battery contact22and electrode probe20to cause programmable device26to initiate method100, described later. Once programmable device26is placed into a programming mode electrical signals on conductor38allow programming apparatus30to send information through high voltage electrode probe18to programmable device26. Information in the form of acknowledgement signals or other information may be passed by way of signal emitter24through signal detector32by way of electrical signals in conductor34to programming apparatus30.

A desired program, to be placed into programmable device26, is contained within programming apparatus30and once programmable device26is placed into a programmable mode, programming apparatus30sends the new program. The information bytes of the new program are sent as an electrical signal by way of high voltage electrode probe18, which is then received by programmable device26. Programmable device26sends acknowledgement signals that the information is being received by way of signal emitter24and the information is stored in a memory, which may be a part of programmable device26or a separate memory, not shown. This allows the programming and reprogramming of programmable device26by utilizing the available electrical, acoustic and/or optical connections to interface and communicate between programming apparatus30and programmable device26.

While training module14of collar assembly10is reprogrammed by utilizing battery contact22and high voltage electrode probe18to place programmable device26in a programming mode, the use of these contacts are illustrative and other contacts may be used to accomplish this function. Programmable device26, which may be a microprocessor, is held in a reset state when voltage is applied between battery contact22and stimulation probe ground electrode20. Training module14may be powered by an internal rechargeable battery, if the replaceable battery is removed.

Now, additionally referring toFIGS. 3A-3C, there is shown a method100, which can represent an embodiment of a method carried out by programming apparatus30and programmable device26for the programming of programmable device26. At step102, programmable device26is placed into a boot load mode by action of programming apparatus30by the supplying of a voltage between battery contact22and electrode20. Time is checked at step104to determine whether a predetermined time has passed and if not a check is undertaken at step106to see if a start bit has been received. If no start bit has been received method100proceeds back to step104. If the timeout at step104is exceeded then method100goes to return150and training module14exits to the normal operational mode and executes an operational program, not illustrated. If a start bit is received at step106then a message is obtained at step108. If the message indicates a start mode then the method continues to step112and sends an acknowledge signal, which may be sent by way of signal emitter24. If the message is not a start message then the method returns to step104. In steps114through120there is a check to see if too much time has expired and if so the method proceeds to step122. If there is a start bit received at step116another message is retrieved at step118until a predetermined message count is equaled at step120. If the message count is achieved at step120method100proceeds to determining if the message indicates a programming mode is to be started, at step122. If the message is not that a programming mode should be started then method100terminates by way of step150. If a programming mode is initiated an acknowledge signal is sent at step124and then a loop that includes steps126through132is initiated to obtain messages until a byte count is equal to a predetermined number, such as 5. If the message received is an erase command then the flash memory segments of programmable device26are erased and an acknowledgement that the erase has occurred is sent at step138. If the message received is to write the data at step140then the data is written at step142and an acknowledgement is sent at step144. Method100then returns to step126to retrieve additional information. Once the information has been completed an ending message may be sent and method100ends and programming device26exits to the normal operational mode. The mechanism for ending the programming mode is for the removal of the reset signal from the device, which is a removal of a voltage level set between battery contact22and electrode probe20.

Advantageously the present invention uses a methodology to update and/or reprogram microprocessor software in sealed electronic pet training products following the completion of normal manufacturing process and tests. This allows for changes and corrections to the performance characteristics of the product long after the product has been manufactured and is accomplished without any added cost of special programming connection points, which would affect the appearance of the product. The internal microprocessor is programmed by utilizing available electrical connections and the optical indicator that otherwise have other functions in the operational mode of the pet training product. The method outlined as method100may be permanently programmed into the memory of programmable device26, thereby allowing for the initiation of method100when initiated by programming apparatus30.