Abstract: A load-activated electronic animal control system is provided for detecting an animal load across actuating conductors. In response to detecting such a load, an electrical stimulus is delivered to the animal load across the actuating conductors. The control system may be used on avian structures such as bird feeding or nesting structures or on electric fences for livestock or other animals. Specifically, a load-activated electronic animal control system delivers an electrical stimulus to animals greater than a predetermined size when such animals contact defined actuating surfaces of the structure. Prior to activation, the control system maintains the system circuitry in a low-power state. Further, the electrical stimulus is only delivered to the actuating surfaces when a load is detected across such actuating surfaces.

Abstract: A programmable boundary pet containment system is provided for controlling the access of animals to areas outside of programmed boundaries. A programmable relay collar is provided on an animal to transmit positional data as detected from positional satellites to a remotely located processing station. The processing station calculates the relayed data to determine the position of the animal relative to a configuration data file establishing confinement area boundaries. Animals that are detected as venturing beyond the programmed boundaries are subject to a correction stimulus, such as a mild shock or audible signal, delivered to the animal by the relay collar as enabled by the remotely located processing station.

Abstract: A transmitter for an electronic animal control system of the type employing a boundary wire antenna for radiating a predetermined radio frequency signal, is provided with phase detection circuitry for detecting a phase difference between the applied radio frequency signal and the electrical current within the antenna. Phase control circuitry is provided for adjusting the phase of the voltage with respect to the current in response to detecting a phase difference.

Abstract: A disruption generator is provided for use in an electronic animal confinement system for preventing undesirable correction of the animal in the vicinity of incidental conductive structures capable of coupling and re-radiating a transmitter signal for controlling the animal. The disruption generator produces a disruption signal for masking, preventing, or otherwise interfering with reception of the transmitter signal by an animal control receiver device mounted on the animal. The disruption generator can be connected to such incidental conductive structures as utility conduits, door frames, household wiring, and the like, to prevent undesirable correction of the animal in the vicinity thereof due to inductive or resonant coupling of the transmitter signal by such structures.

Abstract: A portable programming apparatus is employed for a programmable animal control device carried by an animal having a receiver for receiving a radio signal, a transducer for applying a stimulus to the animal in response to the radio signal, and a programmable controller responsive to selected control parameters for controlling operation of the animal control device. The programming apparatus includes a connector probe for insertion into a battery compartment of the animal control device. The connector probe includes probe terminals for mating with the battery terminals of the animal control device. The programming apparatus includes a controller for establishing communication with the animal control device via the probe terminals and for transferring the control parameter between the programming apparatus and the animal control device.

Abstract: A battery pack assembly is removably insertable into a receptacle on a housing of an electronic receiver carried by an animal to control the movement of the animal relative to a predetermined area. The battery pack assembly supplies power to the electronic receiver. The receptacle for the battery pack has internal guide grooves and detentes along the guide grooves. The battery pack has lugs which slide within the guide grooves to guide the battery pack into position within the receptacle. The detentes cooperate with the movement of the lugs to lock the battery pack in position within the receptacle housing. A spring contained within the battery pack biases the battery pack relative to the receptacle to prevent the battery pack from inadvertently disengaging from the housing.

Abstract: A battery pack assembly is removably insertable into a receptacle on a housing of an electronic receiver carried by an animal to control the movement of the animal relative to a predetermined area. The battery pack assembly supplies power to the electronic receiver. The receptacle for the battery pack has internal guide grooves and detents along the guide grooves. The battery pack has lugs which slide within the guide grooves to guide the battery pack into position within the receptacle. The detents cooperate with the movement of the lugs to lock the battery pack in position within the receptacle housing. A spring contained within the battery pack biases the battery pack relative to the receptacle to prevent the battery pack from inadvertently disengaging from the housing.

Abstract: A system for controlling an animal includes a radio signal receiver unit which is attached to the animal. The receiver includes an antenna assembly, a resonant filter, an amplifier, and a transducer for applying a motivational stimulus to the animal. A microcontroller selectively activates the components of the receiver according to a control sequence. The microcontroller performs a multi-stage authentication procedure in order to determine the presence of characteristic properties of the received signal prior to operating the transducer. The transducer includes a speaker circuit for applying audible stimulation, and a transformer circuit for applying electrical stimulation. The type of stimulation and the duration of stimulation may be selected according to control parameters used in conjunction with the control sequence. The control parameters can be initially selected and/or downloaded to the microcontroller from an external programming device.

Abstract: A system for controlling an animal includes a radio signal receiver unit which is attached to the animal. The receiver includes an antenna assembly, a resonant filter, an amplifier, and a transducer for applying a motivational stimulus to the animal. A microcontroller selectively activates the components of the receiver according to a control sequence. The microcontroller performs a multi-stage authentication procedure in order to determine the presence of characteristic properties of the received signal prior to operating the transducer. The transducer includes a speaker circuit for applying audible stimulation, and a transformer circuit for applying electrical stimulation. The type of stimulation and the duration of stimulation may be selected according to control parameters used in conjunction with the control sequence.

Abstract: An electrode device is provided for use with an electric shock generator carried on the collar of an animal. The electric shock generator produces an electric shock for output to the animal under predetermined conditions to control the movement of the animal. The electrode device includes a snap-on electrically insulative electrode casing which is removably mountable on the animal collar remote from the shock generator. The electrode casing mounts on the animal collar in a manner which permits the electrode casing to freely glide along the animal collar. An electrode is supported on the electrode casing in position to engage the animal in order to transmit the electrical shock produced by the electric shock generator to the animal under the predetermined conditions. A flexible electrical connector electrically connects the shock generator with the electrode. The flexible connector has a flexible wireless conductive path on a flexible insulator.

Abstract: An animal collar arrangement is provided having an electric shock generator carried on the collar of an animal for producing an electrical shock to the animal under predetermined conditions to control the movement of the animal. The electric shock generator includes a pair of electrodes which are removably insertable into respective receptacle openings on the electric shock generator. The collar for the animal carries the electric shock generator so that the electrodes are positioned to engage the animal. The collar has a pair of holes which are aligned with the receptacle openings in the shock generator. A relatively thin back strip member includes a flexible grommet support strip which holds a pair of grommets in proper position to respectively align with the pair of holes in the collar. The grommet support strip properly positions and holds the grommets within the respective collar holes.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling the movement of a golf cart relative to a selected restricted area on a golf course, such as a green. A signal transmitter having a transmitting antenna is postioned in the vicinity of the selected restricted area. A transmission signal is produced from the transmitting antenna at the selected restricted area. A signal receiver having a receiving antenna is positioned on the golf cart for receiving the transmission signal when the golf cart moves into the vicinity of the transmitting antenna. An alarm on the golf cart is activated when the transmission signal received by the receiving antenna reaches a predetetermined level for indicating to an operator of the golf cart that the cart has moved into the restricted area on the golf course. The activation period of the first alarm is timed so that a second alarm on the golf cart can be activated after the expiration of a predetermined time period of activation of the first alarm.

Abstract: An animal control system with a lightning arrester is provided for controlling the movement of an animal relative to a predetermined outdoor area. A signal transmitter produces an output signal of predetermined frequency. A wire loop transmitting antenna is electrically connected with the transmitter and is positioned at the predetermined outdoor area to transmit the output signal from the transmitter. A portable receiver responsive to the signal from the antenna is carried by the animal. The portable receiver produces an animal control output in the form of an annoying tone or an electrical shock to the animal when the animal moves into a selected vicinity of the antenna. A lightning arrester is electrically connected between the transmitter and the antenna. The lightning arrester includes a pair of choke coils respectively connected from the transmitter to opposite sides of the antenna.

Abstract: A system for controlling the movement of an animal relative to an area is provided having a signal transmitter with a transmitting antenna associated with said area. A loop of wire serves as the transmitting antenna and defines the boundary of the area. An electronic receiver carried by the animal is responsive to a signal produced by the transmitting antenna for producing an animal control output, such as an annoying tone or an electrical shock, to the animal whenever the animal moves into the vicinity of the transmitting antenna.The electronic receiver has first and second orthogonal receiving antennas for receiving the signal produced by the wire loop antenna. Each antenna receives a respective component of the transmitted signal. Selection circuitry selects which of the respective components has greater magnitude and produces an actuating output to identify such component.Switch circuitry receives the respective components of the transmitted signal from each of the respective receiving antennas.