US-12616189-B2 - Game decoy system

US12616189B2US 12616189 B2US12616189 B2US 12616189B2US-12616189-B2

Abstract

A game decoy system comprising a remote controller and a game decoy. The remote controller includes a communication element configured to transmit a wireless signal representing an input. The game decoy includes a body, a propulsion mechanism, a communication element, and a controller. The body has a shape resembling a game animal. The propulsion mechanism is configured to propel the game decoy. The communication element is configured to receive the wireless signal from the remote controller. The controller is configured to instruct the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy according to the input.

Inventors

Brian A. Bruns

Assignees

DAM DECOY COMPANY

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20231218

Claims (10)

1 . A game decoy comprising: a body having a shape resembling a game animal; a propulsion mechanism for propelling the game decoy in or on a body of water; and a control system configured to determine positions of the game decoy, the control system including: a controller configured to instruct the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy; a first input communicatively connected to the controller so that the controller establishes a low energy return point according to a first position of the game decoy as determined by the control system when the first input is activated so that the controller instructs the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy to the low energy return point when an energy level of the game decoy drops to a predetermined threshold; and a second input communicatively connected to the controller so that the controller establishes a travel center point according to a second position of the game decoy as determined by the control system when the second input is activated so that the controller instructs the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy at least partially based on the travel center point, wherein the first input and the second input are push buttons on the body.
2 . The game decoy of claim 1 , wherein the control system further includes a global positioning system module communicatively connected to the controller for determining the positions of the game decoy.
3 . The game decoy of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to instruct the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy in at least a partially random first direction for at least a partially random first amount of time and subsequently to instruct the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy in at least a partially random second direction for at least a partially random second amount of time when the first amount of time has elapsed.
4 . The game decoy of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to establish a travel radius centered on the travel center point according to an activation of the second input.
5 . The game decoy of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to transmit a signal representing at least one of a status of the game decoy and a position of the game decoy.
6 . The game decoy of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to enter a manual override mode in which the control system receives a signal representing operating commands and instructs the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy according to the operating commands.
7 . The game decoy of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to wirelessly communicate with additional game decoys to coordinate movement of the game decoy and the additional game decoys.
8 . The game decoy of claim 7 , wherein the control system is further configured to transmit a signal representative of at least one of the positions of the game decoy as determined by the control system such that the game decoy is configured to act as a master decoy.
9 . The game decoy of claim 1 , further comprising a battery pack configured to receive replaceable batteries for powering the game decoy to provide the energy level of the game decoy.
10 . A game decoy comprising: a body having a shape resembling a game animal; a propulsion mechanism for propelling the game decoy in or on a body of water; and a control system including: a controller configured to instruct the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy; a GPS module communicatively connected to the controller for determining positions of the game decoy; a first input communicatively connected to the controller so that the controller establishes a low energy return point according to a first position of the game decoy as determined by the control system when the first input is activated so that the controller instructs the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy to the low energy return point when an energy level of the game decoy drops to a predetermined threshold; and a second input communicatively connected to the controller so that the controller establishes a travel center point according to a second position of the game decoy as determined by the control system when the second input is activated so that the controller instructs the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy at least partially based on the travel center point, wherein the first input and the second input are push buttons on the body, the controller being further configured to: instruct the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy in at least a partially random first direction for at least a partially random first amount of time and subsequently to instruct the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy in at least a partially random second direction for at least a partially random second amount of time when the first amount of time has elapsed; establish a travel radius centered on the travel center point according to an activation of the second input; transmit a signal representing at least one of a status of the game decoy and a position of the game decoy; enter a manual override mode in which the control system receives a signal representing operating commands and instructs the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy according to the operating commands; and wirelessly communicate with additional game decoys to coordinate movement of the game decoy and the additional game decoys.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) patent application and claims priority benefit with regard to all common subject matter of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/582,680, titled “GAME DECOY SYSTEM”, filed Jan. 24, 2022. The contents of application Ser. No. 17/582,680 are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND Game decoys are used to lure game animals via visual resemblance, movement, and aural cues. Some game decoys move by themselves such as on a swivel or powered by wind, but their motion is not very convincing. Other game decoys provide more realistic movement but they require a user to pull a jerk cord or provide other physical input. This must be performed frequently or for a long time and may cause fatigue or otherwise is monotonous and not enjoyable. SUMMARY Embodiments of the present invention solve the above-mentioned problems and other problems and provide a distinct advancement in the art of game decoys. More particularly, the invention provides a game decoy system that more behaves more realistically with less user effort. An embodiment of the invention is a game decoy system broadly comprising a game decoy and a remote controller. The game decoy broadly comprises a body, a controller, a memory, a sensor, a communication element, and a propulsion mechanism. The body is shaped to resemble a game animal. To that end, the body is molded or formed accordingly and may include colorations, markings, or other features suggesting the game animal. The controller may comprise one or more processors, microprocessors (single-core or multi-core), microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), analog and/or digital application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or the like, or combinations thereof. The controller may also include or be in communication with a global positioning system (GPS) module configured to receive a GPS signal from which GPS coordinates can be obtained or derived. The memory is embodied by devices or components that store data in general, and digital or binary data in particular, and may include exemplary electronic hardware data storage devices or components such as read-only memory (ROM), programmable ROM, erasable programmable ROM, random-access memory (RAM) such as static RAM (SRAM) or dynamic RAM (DRAM), cache memory, hard disks, floppy disks, optical disks, flash memory, thumb drives, universal serial bus (USB) drives, or the like, or combinations thereof. The sensor is communicatively coupled with the controller and is configured to detect obstacles, dead-ends, outer boundaries, and the like. The sensor may be a proximity sensor, a motion sensor, a visible light sensor, an infrared sensor, and a limit switch (i.e., a mechanical component that closes a portion of an electrical circuit when contacting an obstacle). The communication element allows communication between the controller and the remote controller and may include a signal or data transmitting and receiving circuit or component such as an antenna, amplifier, filter, mixer, oscillator, digital signal processor (DSP), and the like. The propulsion mechanism is configured to propel the game decoy on or in a body of water, on land, or in air. To that end, the propulsion mechanism includes a water propeller, a paddle, a water jet, a fin, an air propeller, a rotor, an airfoil, a set of wheels, a set of tracks, or the like, an electric motor or other drive mechanism, and a battery, solar panel, or other power component. The propulsion mechanism may also include a steering component such as a rudder. Additionally or alternatively, multiple propulsion mechanisms may be used for differential steering. The remote controller broadly comprises a processor, a memory, a communication element, and an interface. The remote controller may be a cell phone, tablet, personal digital assistant (PDA), or other mobile device, a laptop computer, a videogame-style controller or joystick, a remote control “RC” car or airplane style controller, a television remote-style controller, a wand, or any other suitable remote controller. The processor may comprise one or more processors, microprocessors (single-core or multi-core), microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), analog and/or digital application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or the like, or combinations thereof. The processor may generally execute, process, or run instructions, code, code segments, code statements, software, firmware, programs, applications, apps, processes, services, daemons, or the like. The processor is configured to wirelessly communicate with the controller of the game decoy via the communication elements. The memory is similar to the memory described above and is embodied by devices or components that store data in general, and digital or binary data in particular, and may include exemplary electronic hardwa