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Abstract

An RF signaling system and system for controlling the whereabouts of animals utilizing same functions, in a preferred embodiment, by efficiently establishing well-defined electronic boundaries using small, battery powered transmitters transmitting constant envelope RF signals in a near-field regime by repetitively delivering trains of brief, low duty cycle pulses of electrical energy to a resonant circuit which includes an antenna at a low RF carrier frequency corresponding to the resonant frequency of the circuit. During intervals between pulses, the resonant circuit is effectively isolated from the circuit delivering the pulses to minimize loading effects. Further energy efficiency is achieved by interposing inactive interals between at least some successive transmissions of the RF signals represented by the pulse trains. The RF signals emitted by the transmitters are digitally encoded as are those emitted from a wire loop coupled to an optional wire loop unit to define a wire loop boundary. A unit affixed to the animal selectively administers appropriate aversive stimuli effective to deter encroachment of the boundaries in accordance with predetermined conditions based on the coding and timing of RF signals received from the transmitters and/or the wire loop. In the event of a break in the wire loop, the wire loop unit automatically switches excitation of the wire loop to an AM signal thereby facilitating location of the site of the break for repair purposes using a conventional AM radio receiver. A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

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First Claim