Patent Publication Number: US-2022232801-A1

Title: Programmable electronic pet trainer

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/140,370, filed Jan. 22, 2021, which application is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to pet training devices. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Aspects of the invention comprise methods and systems for training pets, such as by generating audible commands. 
     In one embodiment, a pet training system comprises one or more base stations and one or more wearable pet devices. The base station is configured to record one or more voice commands and transmit a signal which, when received by the wearable pet device, causes the wearable pet device to generate an audible output of the command. 
     In one embodiment, the base stations comprises a housing, a controller, a microphone for receiving at least one command, a memory for storing the at least one command, and a communication interface configured to transmit a signal comprising a selected command. 
     In one embodiment, the wearable pet device comprises a housing, a processor, a communication interface and a speaker, the wearable pet device configured to cause the speaker to audibly emit the command in response to receiving the signal from the base station. 
     In one embodiment, the base station stores at least a first command and a second command, wherein the commands may be voice commands which are input to the microphone and stored in the memory of the base station. The base station may include at least one input device for selecting a designated one of the at least one commands. 
     The system may comprise a plurality of base stations, such as located in different locations. The wearable pet device may comprise a collar, or might comprise an element which is configured to be connected to a collar, harness or the like worn by a pet. 
     In one embodiment, a pet owner may record one or more voice commands for their pet. The owner may then place a base station in a location such that when the pet approaches the base station, the wearable pet device emits the owner&#39;s voice command. The voice command might comprise a warning command, for example, thus warning the pet to avoid a particular area or activity. The voice command might alternatively comprise a praise command. In this embodiment, the owner&#39;s own voice is used in reinforcement to training of the pet, such as when the owner is not present. 
     Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention over the prior art will become apparent from the detailed description of the drawings which follows, when considered with the attached figures. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a system of the invention in an exemplary environment of use; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate a base system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate a wearable pet device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are schematic illustrations of example configurations of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough description of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the invention. 
     Embodiments of the invention comprise methods, devices and systems for training pets. 
     One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . As illustrated, a system  20  of the invention comprises at least one base station or unit  22  and at least one wearable pet device  24 . 
     One configuration of the base station  22  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 2A and 2B . In one embodiment, the base station  22  comprises a housing  100  for housing or supporting various components thereof. The housing  100  might be constructed, for example, from plastic or the like. 
     In one embodiment, means may be provided for supporting the base station  22  on another object. For example, a clip  102  may be attached to the housing  100  or might be formed as part of the housing. A hanger  104  (such as a hook, loop of material, etc.) might also be provided, such as extending from a top of the housing  100 . Of course, other means might be provided for connecting the housing  100  to another object, such as a bracket, etc. 
     The housing  100  may have various shapes. While the housing  100  is illustrated as being rectangular prism shaped, but might be various shapes. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2B , in one embodiment, the base station  22  comprises a controller  108 , a memory  110  (such as for storing recorded commands), one or more input devices  112 , a microphone  114 , a speaker  116 , and a communication interface  118  (which may comprise a transmitter/receiver and/or transceiver for transmitting/emitting and/or receiving one or signals or data). The communication interface  118  may, for example, comprise a wireless communication interface, such as a Bluetooth, radio frequency or other interface. In a preferred embodiment, the communication interface  118  comprises or supports Wi-Fi communications. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2B , the base station  22  may be powered in various manners. In one embodiment, the base station  22  might be powered by a wired power source (12V power cable, etc.). However, in a preferred embodiment, the base station  22  is preferably “cordless” and is either powered by one or more batteries or other power sources  120 . The batteries  120  might be rechargeable, such as to be recharged by from a power source, such as a 12V power cable, via a USB cable, etc., such as by a power port  122 . The power source might also be wirelessly chargeable, such as by induction charging. The base station  22  might also include other power sources, such as a solar panel or the like. The base station  22  might have an on/off or power button (not shown) for controlling power from the power source  120 . 
     The base station  22  may include various input devices  112 . Referring to  FIG. 2A , the input devices might comprise one or more buttons, touch screens, sliders or other elements. For example, the base station  22  may include a record button  123 , such as for initiating a record function described below, a playback button  124 , such as for initiating a playback function as described below, a volume button  126 , a playback option button or slider  128 , and a range selector  130 . Of course, additional buttons or other input devices might be provided, or various input devise might permit multiple inputs. 
     One configuration of the wearable pet device  24  is illustrated in  FIG. 3A . In one embodiment, the wearable pet device  24  comprises a housing  200  that supports or contains various features of the wearable pet device. 
     Preferably, the wearable pet device  24  is configured to be associated with a pet, such as worn by the pet so as to travel with the pet. In one embodiment, the housing  200  may be configured to be connected to a pet or an item worn by the pet, such as being selectively connectable to a collar PC, or a harness or clothing worn by the pet. For example, the housing  200  might be configured to be connected to a collar of a pet, such as by including an opening for accepting the collar therethrough, by including a connector therefor. In other embodiments, the housing  200  might be formed integrally with such items, such as by being integrally formed with a special collar that includes the components of the pet device  24  (such as where the housing  200  is integrated into the collar and not designed to be separated therefrom). In other embodiment, wearable pet device  24  might be configured to be worn by a pet by a special element, such as a special type of neck-encircling member, etc. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3B , the wearable pet device  24  preferably also includes a processor or controller  202 , a memory  204  and a communication interface  206 . The communication interface  206  may again comprise a wireless communication interface, such as a Bluetooth, radio frequency or other interface. In a preferred embodiment, the communication interface  206  is configured to communicate with the base station  22  and thus comprises or supports Wi-Fi communications. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3B , the wearable pet device  24  may be powered in various manners. Since the wearable pet device  24  moves with the pet, it is preferably “cordless” and is either powered by one or more batteries or other power sources  208 . The batteries might be rechargeable, such as to be recharged by from a power source, such as a 12V power cable, via a USB cable, etc., such as by a power port  210 . The power source might also be wirelessly chargeable, such as by induction charging. The wearable pet device  24  might also include other power sources, such as a solar panel or the like. The wearable pet device  24  might have an on/off or power button (not shown) for controlling power from the power source  208 . 
     In one embodiment, the wearable pet device  24  preferably also includes a speaker  212  or other audio generating device. 
     In one embodiment, the system  20  may include multiple base stations  22  and might include one or more wearable pet devices  24 , such as worn by different pets. 
     Additional aspects of the system  20  will be appreciated from a description of the use/operation thereof. In one embodiment, a user programs the base stations  22 , such as by recording one or more voice commands using the input devices of the base station  22 , including the microphone  114 . For example, the user may use the playback selector  128  to select a particular option (for example, the playback selector  128  might permit a user to select between 2 or more, such as 4, different options; those options might be referred to as Command A, Command B, Command C and Random (a random selection of the available commands)). The user might then select the record button  123  to record a voice command which is received by the microphone  114  and stored in the memory  110  (stored in association with the selected option, such as “Command A”). The user might play back the recorded command, such as by selecting the particular playback option, such as one corresponding to Command C, causing the controller  108  to play back the recorded command via the speaker  116 . In this manner, the user can listen to the command to ensure it is satisfactory. In one embodiment, if the user desires, they can simply record a new command over the earlier one by repeating the steps. Further, in this manner, the base station  22  is configured to allow the user to record one or more different voice commands (or other sounds/instructions). 
     In one embodiment, the user may also select a range for the base station  22 , such as a number of feet/meters, etc. In one embodiment, the range of the base station  22  may be varied based upon a strength of signal output by the transmitter which is associated with the communication interface  118 . For example, the range selector  130  might permit the user to select from two or more ranges, such as 2 ft, 4 ft and 6 ft. In other embodiment, the base station  22  might not include a range selector. 
     The user may then place the base station  22  in a desired location. When there are multiple base stations  22 , the base stations  22  may be placed in different locations. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a user might locate the base station  22  on or near a Christmas tree T. However, this is just one example, and the user might locate the base station  22  in various locations. The user associates the wearable pet device  24  with their pet, such as a dog D, such as by placing the collar on their pet or connecting the wearable pet device  24  to the collar. 
     In one embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 4A , when the pet comes into range of one of the base stations  22 , the signal transmitted thereby (which includes the selected voice command) is received by the wearable pet device  24 . This causes the wearable pet device  24  to generate an audible output (via the speaker  212  thereof) of the command C which is being transmitted by the base station  20   
     In another embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 4B , the system  20  could be configured so that the wearable pet device  24  transmits a signal which is detected by the base station  22 , thus causing the base station  22  to generate the audible output of the selected command C. In this configuration, the wearable pet device  24  might not need to include a speaker. 
     In yet alternate versions, both the base station  22  and wearable pet device  24  might generate the audible output. Further, in some embodiments, the base station  22  might be configured to “detect” the wearable pet device  24 . For example, the base station  22  might send out a signal which triggers a response from the wearable pet device  24  when it is within a designated range, which thus triggers the base station  22  to generate the audible output of the command. 
     The system  20  has particular advantages in training and controlling a pet, including training a pet. For example, the system  20  may be used to train a pet to avoid certain areas or to reward them for going to certain areas, and is particularly useful in automatically training a pet when the user is not available. Relative to the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 , if the user desires for their pet to avoid the Christmas tree, the user places the base station  22  near the tree and may program it and/or select an option corresponding to a “Leave It” command. Then if the pet approaches the Christmas Tree, the base station  22  and/or wearable pet device  24  then generates an audible “Leave It” command, thus instructing the pet to avoid the tree. On the other hand, a base station  22  might be placed close to a dog bed and programmed with a “Good Dog” voice command, thus praising a dog that travels to its dog bed. 
     One advantage of the invention is that a pet owner&#39;s own voice can be recorded to provide the command(s), thus causing the pet to hear their owner&#39;s actual voice. Of course, in some variants, certain commands might be pre-recorded or pre-programmed (though such may then not be in the owner/user&#39;s own voice) or the user might record their command on another device (such as phone) and then upload the command (such as by a .wav file, etc.) to the memory of the device (such as wirelessly, via USB, etc.) 
     Of course, other variations of the invention are possible. For example, in one embodiment, the wearable pet device  24  might be programmed with one or more voice commands. In such an embodiment, when the wearable pet device  24  comes into range of a base station  22 , the signal emitted by the base station  22  might cause the wearable pet device  24  to play the selected voice command (where the base station  22  might be provided with a selector that causes the transmitted signal to cause one particular recorded command to play—such as where “Command A” is selected at the base station  22  and the receipt of this signal from the base station causes the remote unit  26  to play “Command A” which is recorded/stored at the remote unit, or where the wearable pet device  24  includes such a selector and thus the base station  22  simply triggers the wearable pet device  24  to generate the selected option). 
     As indicated, the system  20  might include other features or elements. For example, the base station  22  might include a display with a touch screen, whereby various options may be presented on the display, such as by a menu, and where a user might make selections via the touch screen. For example, the features of selecting command options, range, record, playback and other inputs might all be made by the single display in this manner. 
     It will be understood that the above described arrangements of apparatus and the method there from are merely illustrative of applications of the principles of this invention and many other embodiments and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.