Methods for managing power consumption for a hands-free dispenser

• US 10,203,711 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2015
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Wegelin, Jackson W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kasenge, Charles R
• Application Number:
  US14/606,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20150142199A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/941 using an optical detector H03K17/968 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/945 Proximity switches H03K17/96 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/0036 Means reducing energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 Programmer or timer

Abstract

Methods for managing power consumption of a battery-powered device such as a fluid dispenser are disclosed. One method includes setting a duty cycle of a sensor used by the device to a first range and setting a timer upon detection of a triggering event and also setting the duty cycle to a triggering event and also setting the duty cycle to a second range. The method continues by checking for another triggering event during the second range. The checking step is repeated if the timer has not lapsed, but if the timer has lapsed the process returns to the setting step. Related methods may be used to adjust the duty cycle based upon a detected characteristic such as light, sound, motion or time.

Claims

1. A method for managing power consumption of a battery-powered device, comprising:

providing a battery-powered device that must remain in a condition to detect the presence of a user with a sensor so as to dispense a product, wherein detection of the user is a triggering event; and

wherein the battery-powered device does not dispense a product unless a user is detected;

setting a duty cycle of said sensor to a first range;

starting a timer, setting said duty cycle of the sensor to a second range, and dispensing the product upon detection of said triggering event caused by the detection of a user;

checking for the presence of another triggering event caused by the detection of a user within said duty cycle of the sensor set to said second range;

repeating the checking step if said timer has not lapsed; and

returning to said setting said duty cycle of said sensor to said first range when said timer has lapsed.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

starting another timer upon detection of another triggering event and setting said duty cycle to a third range; and

checking for the presence of another triggering event with said duty cycle set to said third range.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

repeating the step of checking for another triggering event if said another timer has not lapsed.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

re-starting said another timer upon detection of said another triggering event; and

repeating the step of checking for another triggering event if said another timer has lapsed.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

re-starting said timer upon lapsing of said another timer; and

re-setting said duty cycle to said second range.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

setting said first range to about once every two seconds;

setting said second range to about two to four times per second; and

setting said third range to about six to eight times per second.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

setting said timer anywhere between thirty minutes to two hours; and

setting said another timer anywhere between five minutes to thirty minutes.

8. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

dispensing a product upon detection of any triggering event.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

configuring said battery-powered device as a hands-free dispenser that dispenses a fluid.

10. A method for managing power consumption of a battery-powered device comprising:

providing a battery-powered device that must remain in a condition to detect the presence of a user with a sensor so as to dispense a product, wherein detection of the user is a triggering event; and

wherein the battery-powered device does not dispense the product unless a user is detected;

setting a duty cycle of said sensor to a first range;

returning to the providing step if the presence of the user is not detected;

starting a timer, dispensing the product, and setting said duty cycle of the sensor to a second range upon detection of said triggering event caused by the detection of a user wherein said second range of said duty cycle of the sensor increases from said first range of said duty cycle of the sensor;

checking for the presence of another triggering event caused by the detection of a user with said duty cycle of the sensor set to said second range and setting said sensor to an elevated duty cycle upon detection of said another triggering event to more quickly dispense product, but if said another triggering event caused by the detection of a user is not detected the method further comprises;

repeating the checking step if said timer has not lapsed; and

returning the setting of said duty cycle of said sensor to said first range when said timer has lapsed.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

starting another timer upon detection of said another triggering event and setting said elevated duty cycle to a third range wherein said third range of said duty cycle increases from said second range of duty cycle; and

checking for the presence of yet another triggering event with said duty cycle set to said third range.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

repeating the step of checking for another triggering event if said another timer has not lapsed.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

re-starting said another timer upon detection of said another triggering event; and

repeating the step of checking for another triggering event if said another timer has lapsed.

14. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

configuring said battery-powered device as a hands-free dispenser that dispenses a fluid.

15. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

providing a sonic or capacitive type sensor for said sensor.

16. A method for managing power consumption of a battery-powered device comprising:

providing a battery-powered device that must remain in a condition to detect the presence of a user with a sensor so as to dispense a product, wherein detection of the user is a triggering event; and

wherein the battery-powered device does not dispense the product unless a user is detected;

setting a duty cycle of said sensor to a first range;

returning to the providing step if the presence of the user is not detected;

starting a timer, dispensing the product, and setting said duty cycle to a second range upon detection of said triggering event caused by the detection of a user wherein said second range of said duty cycle increases from said first range of said duty cycle;

checking for the presence of another triggering event caused by the detection of a user with said duty cycle set to said second range and setting said sensor to an elevated duty cycle upon detection of said another triggering event to more quickly dispense product, but if said another triggering event caused by the detection of a user is not detected the method further comprises;

repeating the checking step if said timer has not lapsed; and

returning to said setting of said duty cycle of said sensor to said first range when said timer has lapsed;

starting another timer upon detection of said another triggering event;

setting said elevated duty cycle to a third range wherein said third range of said duty cycle increases from said second range of duty cycle;

checking for the presence of yet another triggering event with said duty cycle set to said third range;

repeating the step of checking for another triggering event if said another timer has not lapsed;

re-starting said another timer upon detection of said another triggering event;

repeating the step of checking for another triggering event if said another;

timer has lapsed

re-starting said timer upon lapsing of said another timer; and

re-starting said duty cycle to said second range.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

setting said first range to about once every two seconds;

setting said second range to about two to four times per second; and

setting said third range to about six to eight times per second.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

setting said timer to anywhere between thirty minutes to two hours; and

setting said another timer anywhere between five minutes to thirty minutes.

19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

dispensing a product upon detection of any triggering event.