Systems and Methods for Electrified Fish Barriers

Abstract

The inventive subject matter describes an electrical barrier for the deterrence of fish having an, the electrical barrier with a computer system capable of executing a modified soft-start algorithm, the computer system further having a detector input and a switch output; a bio-electric fish proximity detector, the bio-electric fish proximity detector having a anode-cathode detecting pair input and a signal output, wherein said signal output is connected to the detector input; a time varying voltage source.

1 . An electrical barrier for the deterrence of fish which comprises:
 a soft start pulsator unit; the soft start pulsator unit having a anode and a cathode, the anode and cathode capable of generating an energy increasing electrical field;   an electrode array, the electrode array electrically connected to the soft start pulsator unit; wherein the electrode array has a plurality of anode leads and a plurality of cathode leads, the anode leads electrically connected to the anode and the cathode leads connected to the cathode;   a support structure, the support structure mechanically connected to the electrode array, such that the anode leads and the cathode leads are separated and generate the energy increasing electrical field when the anode leads and the cathode leads are immersed in water;   such that when the energy increasing electrical field is generated between the anode leads and the cathode leads a fish will be deterred by the electrical barrier.   
     
     
         2 . The electrical barrier for the deterrence of fish according to  claim 1 , wherein the energy increasing field further comprises:
 a constant current source;   a time varying voltage source, the time varying voltage source increasing from a minimum potential to a maximum potential;   such that the product of the constant current source and the time varying voltage source will transfer increasing amounts of energy to the fish wherein the fish exhibits a physiological response.   
     
     
         3 . The electrical barrier for the deterrence of fish according to  claim 1  wherein the time varying voltage source is selected from a group having sine-like waveforms, triangle-like waveforms, and rectangular-like waveforms. 
     
     
         4 . The electrical barrier for the deterrence of fish according to  claim 1  wherein the energy increasing field further comprises:
 a time varying pulse-width modulated voltage source, the time varying pulse-width modulated voltage source increasing from a minimum potential to a maximum potential and having pulse widths that increase from a smaller width to a longer width;   a time varying current source, the time varying current source increasing from a minimum potential to a maximum potential;   such that the product of the time varying voltage source and the time varying current source will transfer increasing amounts of energy to the fish thereby evoking a flight response.   
     
     
         5 . The electrical barrier for the deterrence of fish comprising:
 a computer system capable of executing a modified soft-start algorithm, the computer system having a detector input and a switch output;   a bio-electric fish proximity detector, the bio-electric fish proximity detector having a anode-cathode detecting pair input and a signal output, wherein said signal output is connected to the detector input;   a time varying voltage source, the time varying current source increasing from a minimum potential to a maximum potential;   a time varying current source, the time varying current source increasing from a minimum potential to a maximum potential;   a controllable A-B switch having an A electrical path, a B electrical path, a common output, and a control input, such that the control input can select either the A electrical path or the B electrical path to be connected to the common output; the A electrical path electrically coupled to the signal output of the bio-electric fish proximity detector, the B electrical path electrically coupled to the electrode array;   whereby the computer system sets the control input of the controllable A-B switch to the A electrical path to connect the bio-electric fish proximity detector signal out to the detector input;   such that when the bio-electric fish proximity detector detects a fish, the computer system the computer system sets the control input of the controllable A-B switch to the B electrical path and initiates the modified soft-start algorithm.   
     
     
         6 . The electrical barrier for the deterrence of fish according to  claim 5  wherein the energy increasing field further comprises:
 a constant current source;   a time varying voltage source, the time varying voltage source increasing from a minimum potential to a maximum potential;   such that the product of the constant current source and the time varying voltage source will transfer increasing amounts of energy to the fish thereby evoking a flight response.   
     
     
         7 . The electrical barrier for the deterrence of fish according to  claim 5  wherein the time varying voltage source has a sine-like waveform. 
     
     
         8 . The electrical barrier for the deterrence of fish according to  claim 5  wherein the time varying voltage source has a triangle-like waveform. 
     
     
         9 . A method for the electric field controlled deterrence of fish comprising:
 monitoring the presence of a fish proximate to an electrode array, activating a electrical energy field with a minimal amount of output energy,   increasing the electrical energy field over time until a maximal amount of output energy is reached,   such that the fish will exhibit a flight reaction away from the electrode array in response to the electrical energy field.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  for the field controlled deterrence of fish whereby the increasing energy field further comprises:
 setting the current at a constant value;   increasing the voltage from a minimal value to a maximal value;   such that the energy field is increased over time from a minimal value to a maximal value.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  for the field controlled deterrence of fish whereby the increasing energy field further comprises:
 varying the pulse width of the voltage from a minimal value to a maximum value;   such that the energy field is increased over time from a minimal value to a maximal value.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  for the field controlled deterrence of fish whereby the increasing energy field further comprises:
 varying the pulse width of the voltage from a minimal value of 11 microseconds to a maximum value of 250 microseconds in 9 microsecond intervals over a 500 microsecond period;   such that the energy field is increased over time from a minimal value to a maximal value.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  for the field controlled deterrence of fish whereby the increasing energy field further comprises:
 varying the waveform of the voltage from a group consisting of sine-like waveforms and triangle-like waveforms.