Solar Powered Animal Containment/Repellent System
Described is an animal containment/repellant system for containing and animal within or repelling an animal from a designated area and for optimizing an integral power source of the system. More specifically, the animal containment/repellant system supplements the operating power provided by its internal power source with power derived from solar energy and charges its power source using the derived power. Additionally, the animal containment/repellant system employs a power conservation scheme to minimize the use of its internal power source.
1 . An animal containment/repellant system comprising:
a base unit comprising:
base unit electronics that generate an activation signal;
a rechargeable power source in electrical communication with said base unit electronics, said power source provides said base unit electronics with operating power;
a photovoltaic (PV) array in electrical communication with said power source, said PV array converts solar energy into electrical energy, said power source is recharged by electrical energy converted by said PV array; and
an antenna in electrical communication with said base unit electronics, said base unit electronics drive the activation signal into said antenna such that the activation signal radiates from said antenna, the activation signal defines a designated area; and
a rover unit adapted to be carried by an animal, said rover unit comprising:
a receiver responsive to the activation signal; and
a stimulus delivery device in electrical communication with said receiver, said stimulus delivery device being adapted to deliver a stimulus to the animal when the signal strength of the activation signal at said receiver reaches a predetermined threshold.
2 . The animal containment/repellant system of claim 1 wherein said PV array is in electrical communication with said base unit electronics, electrical energy converted by said PV array provides said base unit electronics with operating power, supplementing the operating power provided by said power source.
3 . The animal containment/repellant system of claim 1 wherein said base unit further comprises power regulation electronics in electrical communication with said PV array, said base unit electronics, and said power source, said power regulation electronics regulate the amount of electrical energy converted by said PV array that is received by said base unit electronics and said power source.
4 . The animal containment/repellant system of claim 3 wherein said power regulation electronics route electrical energy converted by said PV array to said base unit electronics.
5 . The animal containment/repellant system of claim 1 wherein said base unit further comprises a presence detector in electrical communication with said base unit electronics, said presence detector detects the presence of the animal when the animal is proximate to the perimeter of the designated area, said presence detector generates a presence signal when it detects the presence of the animal, said base unit electronics deactivate various electrical components of said base unit when said presence detector does not generate the presence signal, said base unit electronics activate electrical components of said base unit when said presence detector generates the presence signal.
6 . The animal containment/repellant system of claim 5 wherein the electrical components of said base unit consume nominal amounts of power when deactivated.
7 . The animal containment/repellant system of claim 1 wherein said antenna is a coil disposed within said base unit.
8 . The animal containment/repellant system of claim 1 wherein said antenna is a wire loop adapted to be disposed at the perimeter of the designated area.
9 . The animal containment/repellant system of claim 1 wherein the designated area is a restricted area such that said animal containment/repellant system repels the animal from the restricted area.
10 . The animal containment/repellant system of claim 1 wherein the designated area is a containment area such that said animal containment/repellant system contains the animal within the containment area.
11 . The animal containment/repellant system of claim 1 wherein said stimulus delivery device is adapted to deliver a warning stimulus and a correction stimulus.
12 . The animal containment/repellant system of claim 1 wherein said base unit further comprises a housing.
13 . The animal containment/repellant system of claim 12 wherein said housing is weatherproof.
14 . The animal containment/repellant system of claim 12 wherein said housing is designed to have aesthetic appeal.
15 . The animal containment/repellant system of claim 14 wherein said housing has the appearance of a gnome, a yard ornament, or a stone.
16 . An animal containment/repellant system comprising:
a base unit comprising:
a housing having a PV array window, the PV array window permitting substantially unrestricted passage of solar energy;
a photovoltaic (PV) array disposed within said housing and proximate the PV array window, said PV array converts solar energy to electrical energy;
power regulation electronics disposed within said housing, said power regulation electronics being in electrical communication with said PV array;
a power source disposed within said housing, said power source being in electrical communication with said power regulation electronics, said power source being rechargeable, said power regulation electronics recharge said power source using electrical energy converted by said PV array;
base unit electronics disposed within said housing, said base unit electronics being in electrical communication with said power source and said power regulation electronics, said power source provides said base unit electronics with operating power, said power regulation electronics provide said base unit electronics with operating power, the operating power provided by said power regulation electronics being electrical energy converted by said PV array, said base unit electronics generate an activation signal; and
an antenna in electrical communication with said base unit electronics, said base unit electronics radiating the activation signal from said base unit by way of said antenna, the radiated activation signal defines a designated area; and
a rover unit adapted to be carried by the animal, said rover unit comprising:
a receiver adapted to receive the activation signal;
a processor in electrical communication with said receiver, said processor verifies reception of the activation signal and determines the signal strength thereof; and
a stimulus delivery device in electrical communication with said processor, said processor activates said stimulus delivery device when said processor determines that the signal strength of the activation signal satisfies a predetermined threshold, said stimulus delivery device delivers a stimulus to the animal when activated.
17 . The animal containment/repellant system of claim 16 wherein said base unit further comprises a presence detector in electrical communication with said base unit electronics, said presence detector detects the presence of the animal and generates a presence signal when the presence of the animal is detected, said base unit electronics deactivate at least one electrical component of said base unit when said presence detector does not generate the presence signal, said base unit electronics activate the electrical components of said base unit when said presence detector generates the presence signal.
18 . The animal containment/repellant system of claim 17 wherein the electrical components of said base unit consume nominal amounts of power when deactivated.
19 . The animal containment/repellant system of claim 16 wherein the designated area is a restricted area such that said animal containment/repellant system repels the animal from the restricted area.
20 . The animal containment/repellant system of claim 16 wherein the designated area is a containment area such that said animal containment/repellant system contains the animal within the containment area.
21 . The animal containment/repellant system of claim 16 wherein said antenna is a coil disposed within said housing.
22 . The animal containment/repellant system of claim 16 wherein said antenna is a wire loop adapted to be disposed at the perimeter of the designated area.