Methods for managing power consumption for a hands-free dispenser
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for managing power consumption of a battery-powered device, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for managing power consumption of a battery-powered device comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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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. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
Specification