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US-12616173-B2 - Apparatus and method for delivering an auditory stimulus

US12616173B2US 12616173 B2US12616173 B2US 12616173B2US-12616173-B2

Abstract

A device is described herein comprising one or more applications running on at least one processor. The device includes a sound generation component and a receiver, wherein the sound generation component, the receiver, and the one or more applications are communicatively coupled. The device includes the receiver for receiving a wireless activation signal. The device includes the one or more applications configured to activate the sound generation component upon receipt of the wireless activation signal by the receiver, wherein the activated sound generation component delivers an auditory stimulus at a sound pressure level, for a duration, and using a noise pattern.

Inventors

  • Richard Alan Seltzer
  • Jon Huber
  • Anita White

Assignees

  • RADIO SYSTEMS CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20200512

Claims (16)

  1. 1 . A pet training device comprising, one of more applications running on at least one processor; a sound generation component, at least one sensor, and a memory, wherein the sound generation component, the at least one sensor, the memory, and the one or more applications are communicatively coupled; the at least one sensor for detecting auditory events; the one of more applications configured to activate the sound generation component upon detection by the at least one sensor of an auditory event of the auditory events, wherein the activated sound generation component delivers an auditory stimulus at a sound pressure level, for a duration, and using a noise pattern, wherein the activating the sound generation device includes storing in the memory a time of the delivered auditory stimulus and parameters of the delivered auditory stimulus, wherein the parameters include the sound pressure level, the duration, and the noise pattern, the one or more applications configured to monitor elapsed time between occurrences of auditory events, the one or more applications configured to change at least one of the parameters when the elapsed time between occurrences falls below a first threshold value, the one or more applications configured to log an indication that parameters of a delivered auditory stimulus are effective parameters when the elapsed time between occurrences exceeds a second threshold value, wherein the activated sound generation component delivers an auditory stimulus using the effective parameters of sound pressure level, duration, and noise pattern upon a subsequent occurrence of an auditory event.
  2. 2 . The pet training device of claim 1 , wherein the pet training device is worn by an animal.
  3. 3 . The pet training device of claim 2 , wherein the auditory events include bark events.
  4. 4 . The pet training device of claim 1 , wherein the auditory stimulus comprises a broadband noise signal.
  5. 5 . The pet training device of claim 1 , wherein the noise pattern comprises periodically cycling the broadband noise signal on and off throughout the duration.
  6. 6 . The pet training device of claim 1 , wherein the noise pattern comprises randomly cycling the broadband noise signal on and off throughout the duration.
  7. 7 . The pet training device of claim 1 , wherein the sound pressure level is equal to or greater than 85 dBA.
  8. 8 . The pet training device of claim 1 , wherein the sound pressure level is equal to or less than 120 dBA.
  9. 9 . The pet training device of claim 1 , wherein the delivering the auditory stimulus comprises ramping the auditory stimulus to the sound pressure level in 10 milliseconds or less.
  10. 10 . The pet training device of claim 1 , wherein the delivering the auditory stimulus comprises periodically changing the sound pressure level throughout the duration.
  11. 11 . The pet training device of claim 1 , wherein the delivering the auditory stimulus comprises randomly changing the sound pressure level throughout the duration.
  12. 12 . The pet training device of claim 1 , wherein the duration is equal to or greater than 40 milliseconds.
  13. 13 . The pet training device of claim 1 , wherein the duration is equal to or less than 4 seconds.
  14. 14 . The pet training device of claim 1 , wherein the sound generation component comprises audio drive circuitry and speaker.
  15. 15 . The pet training device of claim 14 , wherein the audio drive circuitry comprises an analog noise source driven into an audio amplifier.
  16. 16 . The pet training device of claim 14 , wherein the audio drive circuitry comprises digital patterns driven into an audio amplifier.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation in part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/266,781, filed Feb. 4, 2019, which is a continuation in part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/078,499, filed Mar. 23, 2016, which is a continuation in part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/880,935, filed Oct. 12, 2015, which is a continuation in part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/741,159, filed Jun. 16, 2015. This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 62/625,477, filed Feb. 2, 2018. This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 62/944,994, filed Dec. 6, 2019. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not applicable. THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT Not applicable. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This section is intended to introduce various aspects of the art, which may be associated with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. This discussion is believed to assist in providing a framework to facilitate a better understanding of particular aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that this section should be read in this light, and not necessarily as admissions of prior art. As a result of work, school, and other obligations, most pet owners cannot be with their pet at every moment of every day. However, some pets, due to various conditions, behaviors, and circumstances, require some form of monitoring throughout each day or at least at particular times. This is particularly true if an owner allows a pet to freely roam a home premises in the owner's absence. At times a dog's environment may present auditory disturbances. Dogs can hear noises at a much higher frequency than humans. While humans struggle to hear anything above 30,000 Hertz, dogs can hear noises well over 40,000 Hertz. Interestingly, there is little difference between humans and dogs at the lower end of the frequency scale. Dogs have as many as 18 muscles in their ears, enabling them to direct their ears towards the sound. Such ability to detect a wider array of audible signals may induce noise phobia in dogs. There is therefore a need in the art for improved wearable sound masking systems for dogs. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE Each patent, patent application, and/or publication mentioned in this specification is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to the same extent as if each individual patent, patent application, and/or publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS So that the manner in which the present application can be better understood, certain illustrations and figures are appended hereto. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only selected embodiments and elements of the systems and methods described herein and are therefore not to be considered limiting in scope for the systems and methods as described herein may admit to other equally effective embodiments and applications. FIG. 1 shows beacons deployed at various locations in a home premises, under an embodiment. FIG. 2 shows the components of a monitoring system, under an embodiment. FIG. 3 shows an application interface providing discovery options, under an embodiment. FIG. 4 shows an application interface providing configuration options, under an embodiment. FIG. 5 shows a representative database entry of a database stored in a collar device, under an embodiment. FIG. 6 shows an application interface providing configuration options, under an embodiment. FIG. 7A shows a beacon defined interaction between beacon and collar device, under an embodiment. FIG. 7B shows a collar defined interaction between beacon and collar device, under an embodiment. FIG. 8A shows a one way communication between smartphone and collar device, under an embodiment. FIG. 8B shows two way communications between smartphone and collar device, under an embodiment. FIG. 9 shows an application interface providing user a selection among multiple beacons, under an embodiment. FIG. 10 shows a remote training application interface, under an embodiment. FIG. 11 shows a method of monitoring a subject in a premises, under an embodiment. FIG. 12 shows components of a monitoring system, under an embodiment. FIG. 13 shows a system for monitoring a subject in a premises, under an embodiment. FIG. 14 shows a system for monitoring a subject in a premises, under an embodiment. FIG. 15 shows an RF Beacon sending repetitive transmissions, under an embodiment. FIG. 16 shows the content of an RF Beacon data packet, under an embodiment. FIG. 17 shows example antennae patterns demonstrating differing signal strength levels depending on the approach angle of an RF Receiver relative to the respective RF Beacon, under an embodiment. FIG. 18 shows a transmitting RF Beacon in proximity to various RF Beacons, under an embodiment. FIG.