GB2376977A - Pet door controlled by sub-dermal device - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronically controlled pet door, which reads the identification code stored within a sub-dermal device injected under an animal's skin. The identification codes of animals permitted to pass through the pet door are stored in an electronic memory; the door will automatically unlock if the code read from an animal's identification device is matched with an entry in the memory.

Description

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Selective entry pet door controlled by sub-dermal identification device This invention relates to an electronically controlled pet door, which reads the identification code stored within a sub-dermal device injected under an animal's skin (it is common practice to inject pets with such devices to provide a permanent and reliable means of positive identification). The identification codes of animals permitted to pass through the pet door are stored in an electronic memory; the door will automatically unlock if the code read from an animal's identification device is matched with an entry in the memory.

Other selective entry pet doors using magnetic, electromagnetic or electronic means to control access are well known, but may suffer from a number of disadvantages.

These include- Requirement for animals to wear identification devices or collars Mechanical complexity Unreliable moving parts Limited number of key codes Only a small number of animals may be permitted access through a particular door Complex set-up and programming procedures High cost The object of this invention is to provide a device, which overcomes all of the disadvantages listed above.

Accordingly this invention provides a pet door incorporating a coil or aerial, which transmits a signal produced by a control circuit. The transmission is received by the animal's sub-dermal identification device, which in turn transmits its identification code back to the control circuit. The pet door is normally locked, but on matching a received identification code with an entry in its memory, the control circuit drives a

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mechanism to unlock it. The door automatically re-locks once the animal has passed through it.

The pet door may have provision to limit either all or specific animals registered in its memory to passing only in a specified direction through the door (for example, a particular animal may be allowed only to enter a building, and not to leave it again).

It may also incorporate a clock or timer to control the access granted to either all or specific animals registered in its database at different times of day. The control circuit may keep a log of the animals passing through the pet door, enabling indication of whether specific animals are inside or outside.

A preferred implementation of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing on page 5 in which- FIGURE 1 shows the principal components of the pet door FIGURE 2 shows the pet door installed in the door of a building, illustrating its mode of operation.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the pet door is made up of five principal components.

Plastic housing 1 is mounted in the door, window or wall of a building and has an aperture size appropriate to the type of animal for which the pet door is intended.

Transmitter and receiver coil 2 encircles the perimeter of plastic housing 1. Door 3 is mounted in plastic housing 1 and is hinged along its top edge. Lock solenoid 4 is positioned directly below door 3, allowing it to be locked and unlocked ; its design also allows door 3 to latch shut after an animal has passed through. User control panel 5 enables animals'identification codes to be programmed into the memory and allows different modes of operation to be selected. The pet door may either be powered from internal batteries or from an external power source.

FIGURE 2 shows a typical installation in the door 6 of a building. The pet door 7 transmits a signal at regular intervals, the range of the signal being limited to a short

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distance. When an animal comes within range of the pet door 7, its identification device 8 receives the signal and transmits its identification code. If the code is found in the pet door's memory, the door is unlocked allowing the animal to pass through.

Claims (6)

1. CLAIMS 1. A door allowing selective controlled access to a specific animal or animals by reading the identification code from the animal's sub-dermal identification device, and unlocking if the code has previously been stored in the door's electronic memory.
2. 2. A door allowing selective controlled access as claimed in Claim 1, wherein either all or specific animals, whose identification codes have previously been stored in the door's electronic memory, are allowed to pass only in a specified direction through the door.
3. 3. A door allowing selective controlled access as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, which incorporates a means to control the access granted to either all or specific animals, whose identification codes have previously been stored in the door's electronic memory, at different times of day.
4. 4. A door allowing selective controlled access as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2 or Claim 3, which incorporates a log of the animals passing through it, enabling indication of whether a specific animal is inside or outside.
5. 5. A door allowing selective controlled access as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2, Claim 3 or Claim 4, which is intended for use by domestic or non-domestic animals or livestock.
6. 6. A door allowing selective controlled access substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.