GB2071889A

GB2071889A - Anti-barking device

Info

Publication number: GB2071889A
Application number: GB8107177A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-03-07
Filing date: 1981-03-06
Publication date: 1981-09-23

Abstract

Apparatus for inhibiting barking of an animal (10) such as a dog, comprises a loudspeaker (11) for receiving sound waves of the animal's bark, a loudspeaker (19) for generating ultrasonic radiation sufficient to cause a harmless shock to the central nervous system of the animal and means (16, 17) for detecting when the noise level of the bark exceeds a predetermined level and for controlling the loudspeaker to emit said radiation. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Anti-barking device The present invention relates to apparatus for inhibiting emission beyond a predetermined level of electromagnetic radiation from an animal and particularly, but not exclusively, to apparatus for inhibiting barking of a dog.

The sound of a dog barking can constitute a public nuisance but the public usually is powerless to remove the nuisance. Even dog owners are often unable to restrain their animals from causing a public nuisance by barking.

According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for inhibiting emission beyond a predetermined level of electromagnetic radiation from an animal comprising a first transducer for receiving electromagnetic radiation from the animal and for generating signals in accordance with said radiation, a second transducer for generating electromagnetic radiation for reception by a sensor of the animal and control means for detecting when said electromagnetic radiation received by said first transducer exceeds a predetermined value and for controlling said second transducer when said value is exceeded to that, when the animal emits radiation which exceeds said value, the second transducer is controlled to emit radiation which, on receipt by the sensor of the animal, is beyond a tolerance level for the animal.

If the animal is a dog and the electromagnetic radiation is the sound of a bark of the dog, then if the noise level of the bark exceeds a predetermined level, such as 60 decibels, the control means would control the second transducer to emit ultrasonic electromagnetic radiation for a predetermined period and of sufficient powerto cause a harmless shock to the central nervous system of the animal. In this manner, successive barking by the animal at a level in excess of the predetermined level would cause successive shocks to the animal and eventualliy the animal would respond by refraining from barking or, at least, would refrain from barking at a noise level in excess of the predetermined level.

The control means may be adapted to detect a range of said predetermined values.

The control means may be adapted selectively to detect values in the said range.

The range may be 1856 KHZto 2250 KHZ.

Following is a description, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic representation, of one method of carrying the invention into effect.

In the drawing, there is shown an electrical circuit comprising a microphone 11 for receiving electromagnetic radiation in the form of audible sound waves emitted from a dog 10 when barking. The output of the microphone 11 is connected to an input of an amplifier 12, the output of which is controlled by a gain control 13, a low pass filter 14 and a rectifier 15 and is fed to an input of a threshold detector 16. The detector 16 can be adjusted to detect any of a plurality of different signals received at the input of the detector 16 the signals differing one from another in amplitude. The output of the threshold detector 16 is connected to an input of a swept ultrasonic oscillator 17. The output of the oscillator 17 is connected to an input of an amplifier 18. The output of the amplifier 18 is connected to a loud-speaker 19.

Assuming that the apparatus is to be used to inhibit barking of a dog, the sound waves eminating from the dog 10 are received by the microphone 11 and a signal indicative of the amplitude of the bark is received at the input of the detector 16. The detector 16 is adjusted so that the oscillator 17 generates a signal when the amplitude of the signal received at the input of the detector 16 is equal to or is in excess of a value determined by selective adjustment of the detector 16. The signal generated by the oscillator 17 is amplified by the amplifier 18 and fed to the loud-speaker 19 which, in response to the signal, emits ultrasonic electromagnetic radiation above a frequency level receivable by human ear but receivable by the ear of the dog 10 causing a sensation to the central nervous system of the dog in the form of an instantaneous shock to the system.The radiation emitted from the loudspeaker 19 preferably is in the range 1856 KHZ to 2250 KHZ or 120 decibeles at 1 metre.

The sensation to the central nervous system of the dog 10 caused by the radiation emitted from the loudspeaker 19, when the noise level of the bark of the dog is of an amplitude in excess of the value set at the detector 16, is repeated each time the dog barks at the same or greater noise level. In consequence, the dog receives a series of succesive harmless shocks to the central nervous system and, in a short period of time, learns to refrain from barking to avoid receiving shock sensations.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus may be adjusted to inhibit noises emitted from animals other than dogs, this being achieved by adjustment of the detector 16 to detect signals received by the other animals which signals are of an amplitude beyond a value determined by the setting of the detector 16.

It will also be appreciated that the apparatus may be arranged to emit radiation which will cause shock sensation in the central nervous systems of an animal other than an animal which emits a sound beyond a noise level which causes the apparatus to operate. For example in the case of a bird stalked by a predator, such as a fox, the apparatus may be adjusted so that a squawk of the bird, when detected by the microphone 11, causes the apparatus to operate to generate radiation which effects a shock sensation in the central nervous system of the fox thereby inhibiting the fox in persuance of the bird.

1. Apparatus for inhibiting emission beyond a predetermined level of electromagnetic radiation from an animal comprising a first transducer for receiving electromagnetic radiation from the animal and for generating signals in accordance with said radiation, a second transducer for generating electromagnetic radiation for reception by a sensor of

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Anti-barking device The present invention relates to apparatus for inhibiting emission beyond a predetermined level of electromagnetic radiation from an animal and particularly, but not exclusively, to apparatus for inhibiting barking of a dog. The sound of a dog barking can constitute a public nuisance but the public usually is powerless to remove the nuisance. Even dog owners are often unable to restrain their animals from causing a public nuisance by barking. According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for inhibiting emission beyond a predetermined level of electromagnetic radiation from an animal comprising a first transducer for receiving electromagnetic radiation from the animal and for generating signals in accordance with said radiation, a second transducer for generating electromagnetic radiation for reception by a sensor of the animal and control means for detecting when said electromagnetic radiation received by said first transducer exceeds a predetermined value and for controlling said second transducer when said value is exceeded to that, when the animal emits radiation which exceeds said value, the second transducer is controlled to emit radiation which, on receipt by the sensor of the animal, is beyond a tolerance level for the animal. If the animal is a dog and the electromagnetic radiation is the sound of a bark of the dog, then if the noise level of the bark exceeds a predetermined level, such as 60 decibels, the control means would control the second transducer to emit ultrasonic electromagnetic radiation for a predetermined period and of sufficient powerto cause a harmless shock to the central nervous system of the animal. In this manner, successive barking by the animal at a level in excess of the predetermined level would cause successive shocks to the animal and eventualliy the animal would respond by refraining from barking or, at least, would refrain from barking at a noise level in excess of the predetermined level. The control means may be adapted to detect a range of said predetermined values. The control means may be adapted selectively to detect values in the said range. The range may be 1856 KHZto 2250 KHZ. Following is a description, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic representation, of one method of carrying the invention into effect. In the drawing, there is shown an electrical circuit comprising a microphone 11 for receiving electromagnetic radiation in the form of audible sound waves emitted from a dog 10 when barking. The output of the microphone 11 is connected to an input of an amplifier 12, the output of which is controlled by a gain control 13, a low pass filter 14 and a rectifier 15 and is fed to an input of a threshold detector 16. The detector 16 can be adjusted to detect any of a plurality of different signals received at the input of the detector 16 the signals differing one from another in amplitude. The output of the threshold detector 16 is connected to an input of a swept ultrasonic oscillator 17. The output of the oscillator 17 is connected to an input of an amplifier 18. The output of the amplifier 18 is connected to a loud-speaker 19. Assuming that the apparatus is to be used to inhibit barking of a dog, the sound waves eminating from the dog 10 are received by the microphone 11 and a signal indicative of the amplitude of the bark is received at the input of the detector 16. The detector 16 is adjusted so that the oscillator 17 generates a signal when the amplitude of the signal received at the input of the detector 16 is equal to or is in excess of a value determined by selective adjustment of the detector 16. The signal generated by the oscillator 17 is amplified by the amplifier 18 and fed to the loud-speaker 19 which, in response to the signal, emits ultrasonic electromagnetic radiation above a frequency level receivable by human ear but receivable by the ear of the dog 10 causing a sensation to the central nervous system of the dog in the form of an instantaneous shock to the system.The radiation emitted from the loudspeaker 19 preferably is in the range 1856 KHZ to 2250 KHZ or 120 decibeles at 1 metre. The sensation to the central nervous system of the dog 10 caused by the radiation emitted from the loudspeaker 19, when the noise level of the bark of the dog is of an amplitude in excess of the value set at the detector 16, is repeated each time the dog barks at the same or greater noise level. In consequence, the dog receives a series of succesive harmless shocks to the central nervous system and, in a short period of time, learns to refrain from barking to avoid receiving shock sensations. It will be appreciated that the apparatus may be adjusted to inhibit noises emitted from animals other than dogs, this being achieved by adjustment of the detector 16 to detect signals received by the other animals which signals are of an amplitude beyond a value determined by the setting of the detector 16. It will also be appreciated that the apparatus may be arranged to emit radiation which will cause shock sensation in the central nervous systems of an animal other than an animal which emits a sound beyond a noise level which causes the apparatus to operate. For example in the case of a bird stalked by a predator, such as a fox, the apparatus may be adjusted so that a squawk of the bird, when detected by the microphone 11, causes the apparatus to operate to generate radiation which effects a shock sensation in the central nervous system of the fox thereby inhibiting the fox in persuance of the bird. CLAIMS

1. Apparatus for inhibiting emission beyond a predetermined level of electromagnetic radiation from an animal comprising a first transducer for receiving electromagnetic radiation from the animal and for generating signals in accordance with said radiation, a second transducer for generating electromagnetic radiation for reception by a sensor of the animal, and control means for detecting when said electromagnetic radiation received by said first transducer exceeds a predetermined value and for controlling said second transducer when said value is exceeded to that, when the animal emits radiation which exceeds said value, the second transducer is controlled to emit radiation which, on receipt by the sensor of the animal, is beyond a tolerance level for the animal.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the control means is adapted to detect a range of said predetermined values.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the control means is adapted selectively to detect values in the said range.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the range is 1856 KHZto 2250 KHZ.

5. Apparatus for inhibiting emmision of electromagnetic radiation from an animal beyond a predetermined level substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.