Interactive display device

• US 10,178,928 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2017
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OP hygiene IP Gmbh
• Original Assignee: OP hygiene IP Gmbh
• Inventors: Ophardt, Heiner, Duncan, David, Ophardt, Hendrik
• Primary Examiner(s): CRANE, LAUREN ASHLEY
• Application Number:
  US15/423,996
• Publication Number:
  US 20170215655A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 4623
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2210/00 Combinations of water taps, soap dispensers and hand dryers
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 3/281 Accessories for showers or bathing douches, e.g. cleaning devices for walls or floors of showers A47K3/30, A47K3/38, A47K3/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1202 dispensing dosed volume A47K5/1201 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1211 using pressure on soap, e.g. with piston A47K5/1201 takes precedence; by squeezing A47K5/122
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/00 Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught B67D3/00 takes precedence; apparatus for making beverages A47J31/00
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0872 Aesthetics, advertising
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0404 Constructional or functional features of the spout
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0408 Water installations especially for showers E03C1/06 takes precedence; shower heads B05B1/18
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/046 Adding soap, disinfectant, or the like in the supply line or at the water outletpreventing contamination of drinking-water pipes E03C1/10
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/14 Wash-basins connected to the waste-pipe
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2001/0418 having temperature indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0005 the light guides being of the fibre type G02B6/0003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 : using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 : Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 : Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 : Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback

Abstract

The invention provides a bathroom fixture in the form of an electronic mirror with a touchlessly operated fluid dispenser. The device provides visual cues to assist in the touchless operation thereof.

Claims

1. A material dispensing device dispensing selected materials onto a user'"'"'s hand wherein the selected materials include a first material and a second material,

the device comprising:

an electronic display configured to display to a user in front of the electronic display computer generated graphics;

at least one sensor configured to touchlessly detect an object placed in proximity to the electronic display;

a computer system configured to determine a position of the object relative to the electronic display based on detection data received from the at least one sensor,

characterized by;

a spout body

having a fluid outlet,

the fluid outlet including a first material dispenser outlet,

a first material dispenser operable when activated to discharge the first material from the first material dispenser outlet; and

the electronic display is configured to display as the computer generated graphics a first graphic element representing the first material;

the computer system is configured to activate the first material dispenser when the position of the object is determined to be within a preselected zone in proximity to the first graphic element,

the fluid outlet including a second material dispenser outlet,

a second material dispenser operable when activated to discharge the second material from the second material dispenser outlet; and

wherein the electronic display is configured to display as the computer generated graphics a second graphic element representing the second material;

wherein the computer system is configured to activate the second material dispenser when the position of the object is determined to be within a preselected zone in proximity to the second graphic element,

a light guide running between the electronic display and the fluid outlet on the spout body;

the electronic display and the light guide are configured to provide a first path of light between the first graphic element and the fluid outlet, and

the electronic display and the light guide are configured to provide a second path of light between the second graphic element and the fluid outlet,

wherein the first path of light between the first graphic and the fluid outlet is illuminated as a function of when the position of the object is determined to be within the preselected zone in proximity to the first graphic element, and

wherein the second path of light between the second graphic and the fluid outlet is illuminated as a function of when the position of the object is determined to be within the preselected zone in proximity to the second graphic element.

2. The material dispensing device of claim 1 wherein:

the selected materials include a third material,

the fluid outlet includes a third material dispenser outlet,

a third material dispenser operable when activated to discharge the third material from the third material dispenser outlet;

wherein the electronic display is configured to display as the computer generated graphics a third graphic element representing the third material; and

the computer system is configured to activate the third material dispenser when the position of the object is determined to be within a preselected zone in proximity to the third graphic element;

the electronic display and the light guide are configured to provide a third path of light between the third graphic element and the fluid outlet, and

wherein the third path of light between the third graphic and the fluid outlet is illuminated as a function of when the position of the object is determined to be within the preselected zone in proximity to the third graphic element.

3. The material dispensing device of claim 1 wherein the at least one first material is a material capable of flowing selected from the group of water, a first-hand cleaner, a second hand cleaner, a hand lotion and drying air, and the second material is a material capable of flowing selected from the group of water and the first hand cleaner.

4. The material dispensing device as claimed in claim 3 wherein:

the first material comprises a first-hand cleaning fluid,

the first material dispenser comprising a first-hand cleaning fluid reservoir containing the hand cleaning fluid and a first-hand cleaning fluid pump operable to discharge the first hand cleaning fluid from the first hand cleaning fluid reservoir out the first material dispenser outlet for the first hand cleaning fluid.

5. The material dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the first material comprises a first-hand cleaning fluid,

the first material dispenser comprising a first-hand cleaning fluid reservoir containing the hand cleaning fluid and a first-hand cleaning fluid pump operable to discharge the first hand cleaning fluid from the first hand cleaning fluid reservoir out the first material dispenser outlet for the first hand cleaning fluid, and

the second material comprises water,

the second material dispenser a water supply supplying the water and a water valve controlling the discharge of the water from the second material dispenser outlet.

6. The material dispensing device of claim 1 wherein:

the object is a first hand of the user,

the first material outlet located relative to the electronic display such that when the position of the first hand is determined to be within the preselected zone in proximity to the first graphic element, a second hand of the user is capable of being placed at the first material discharge outlet to receive the first material discharged by the first material dispenser, and

the second material outlet located relative to the electronic display such that when the position of the first hand is determined to be within the preselected zone in proximity to the second graphic element, the second hand of the user is capable of being placed at the second material dispenser outlet to receive the second material discharged by the second material dispenser.

7. The material dispensing device as claimed in claim 6 including:

an upwardly open basin,

the basin disposed below the electronic display,

the first material dispenser outlet located for discharge of the first material into the basin with space between the first material dispenser outlet and the basin for one of the user'"'"'s hands to be placed under the first material dispenser outlet to receive the first material dispensed, and

the second material dispenser outlet located for discharge of the second material into the basin with space between the second material dispenser outlet and the basin for one of the user'"'"'s hands to be placed under the second material dispenser outlet to receive the second material dispensed.

8. The material dispensing device of claim 6 wherein:

the computer system is configured to identify the first graphic element representing the first material as a selected graphic based on the position of the object relative to the first graphic element representing the first material; and

the computer system is configured to activate the first material dispenser when the first graphic element representing the first material dispenser is the selected graphic and the location of the object is determined to be within the preselected zone in proximity to the first graphic element, and

the computer system is configured to identify the second graphic element representing the second material as a selected graphic based on the position of the object relative to the second graphic element representing the second material; and

the computer system is configured to activate the second material dispenser when the second graphic element representing the second material is the selected graphic and the location of the object is determined to be within the preselected zone in proximity to the second graphic element.

9. The material dispensing device of claim 1 including an imaging device that displays to the user in front of the electronic display an image of the user.

10. The material dispensing device of claim 9 wherein the imaging device is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) the electronic display which displays to the user in front of the electronic display the image of the user as an electronic image of the user, and

(b) a one-way mirror that displays to the user in front of the electronic display the image of the user as a reflected image of the user with the electronic display arranged behind the one-way mirror, and configured to display the computer generated graphics visible through the one-way mirror.

11. The material dispensing device of claim 6 including a proximity sensor to detect the presence of one of the user'"'"'s hands below the fluid outlet,

the computer system is configured to activate the first material dispenser and the second material dispenser as a function as to whether the proximity sensor detects the presence of one of the user'"'"'s hands below the fluid outlet.

12. The material dispensing device according to claim 1 wherein the first path of light has a first color, and the second path of light has a second color that is different from the first color.

13. The material dispensing device according to claim 1 wherein the first path of light is illuminated gradually beginning near the first graphic element and then extending towards the first material outlet and/or the second path of light is illuminated gradually beginning near the second graphic element and then extending towards the second material outlet.

14. The material dispensing device according to claim 1 characterized in that the light guide comprises a first light guide and a second light guide;

wherein the electronic display and the first light guide are configured to provide the first path of light between the first graphic element and the first material outlet when the first graphic element is the selected graphic; and

wherein the electronic display and the second light guide are configured to provide the second path of light between the second graphic element and the second material outlet when the second graphic element is the selected graphic.

15. The material dispensing device of claim 7 including a proximity sensor to detect the presence of one of the user'"'"'s hands below the fluid outlet,

the computer system is configured to activate the first material dispenser and the second material dispenser as a function as to whether the proximity sensor detects the presence of one of the user'"'"'s hands below the fluid outlet.

16. The material dispensing device as claimed in claim 15 including:

an upwardly open basin,

the basin disposed below the electronic display,

the first material dispenser outlet located for discharge of the first material into the basin with space between the first material dispenser outlet and the basin for the user'"'"'s hands to be placed under the first material dispenser outlet to receive the first material dispensed,

the second material dispenser outlet located for discharge of the second material into the basin with space between the second material dispenser outlet and the basin for the user'"'"'s hands to be placed under the second material dispenser outlet to receive the second material dispensed.

17. The material dispensing device of claim 16 including an imaging device that displays to the user in front of the electronic display an image of the user;

wherein the imaging device is selected from the group consisting of;

(a) the electronic display which displays to the user in front of the electronic display the image of the user as an electronic image of the user, and

(b) a one-way mirror that displays to the user in front of the electronic display the image of the user as a reflected image of the user with the electronic display arranged behind the one-way mirror, and configured to display the computer generated graphics visible through the one-way mirror.

18. The material dispensing device of claim 1 including a proximity sensor to detect the presence of one of the user'"'"'s hands below the fluid outlet,

the computer system is configured to activate the first material dispenser and the second material dispenser as a function as to whether the proximity sensor detects the presence of one of the user'"'"'s hands below the fluid outlet.

19. The material dispensing device of claim 1 wherein the spout body projects outwardly from the electronic display.

20. The material dispensing device of claim 15 wherein:

the computer system is configured to identify the first graphic element representing the first material as a selected graphic based on the position of the object relative to the first graphic element representing the first material; and

the computer system is configured to activate the first material dispenser when the first graphic element representing the first material is the selected graphic and the location of the object is determined to be within the preselected zone in proximity to the first graphic element, and

the computer system is configured to identify the second graphic element representing the second material as a selected graphic based on the position of the object relative to the second graphic element representing the second material; and

the computer system is configured to activate the second material dispenser when the second graphic element representing the second material is the selected graphic and the location of the object is determined to be within the preselected zone in proximity to the second graphic element.