Patent ID: 7834769

Claim:
An apparatus for discouraging an animal from an area, said apparatus comprising: a mat having a top surface, said mat fabricated from an electrically non-conductive material, said mat carrying a first conductor and a second conductor, said first conductor being electrically isolated from said second conductor, said first conductor and said second conductor being exposed at said top surface of said mat, said first conductor and said second conductor arranged so that the animal engaging said mat establishes an electrical connection between said first conductor and said second conductor; a signal generator in electrical communication with said first conductor and said second conductor, said signal generator adapted to produce a detection pulse and a deterrent pulse, said deterrent pulse being selected to have a deterrent effect when received by the animal, said detection pulse being substantially unnoticeable to an animal, said detection pulse having an amplitude; a signal monitor in electrical communication with said first conductor and said second conductor, said signal monitor producing an output corresponding to said detection pulse, said signal monitor output having an amplitude; and a logic circuit in communication with said signal monitor and said signal generator, said logic circuit comparing said signal monitor output to an upper threshold, said upper threshold being less than said detection pulse amplitude when said first conductor and said second conductor remain electrically isolated and greater than said detection pulse amplitude when an animal makes contact with both said first connector and said second connector, said logic circuit causing said signal generator to produce said deterrent pulse when said signal monitor output amplitude is less than said upper threshold.