Universal dispenser monitor

• US 10,365,139 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2017
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smart Wave Technologies Inc. (SmartWave Technologies Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Smart Wave Technologies Inc. (SmartWave Technologies Corp.)
• Inventors: Singh, Gavin, Bondarenko, Volodimir
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Curtis J
• Application Number:
  US15/710,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20180080807A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3226 collecting data of usage
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1205 Dispensing from the top of the dispenser with a vertical piston
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 7/046 water-flow operated
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/108 Means for counting the number of dispensing strokes
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/004 comprising sensors for monitoring the delivery, e.g. by displaying the sensed value or generating an alarm B05B12/08 takes precedence; registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus in general G07C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 2201/00 Details and methods of use for water closets and urinals not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 9/08 Devices in the bowl producing upwardly-directed sprays; Modifications of the bowl for use with such devices showers A47K3/28; bathing devices for special therapeutic or hygienic purposes A61H33/00, for specific parts of the body A61H35/00 ; Bidets; Combinations of bowls with urinals or bidets; Hot-air or other devices mounted in or on the bowl, urinal or bidet for cleaning or disinfecting
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/0007 for discrete indicating and measuring G01F23/02 - G01F23/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 9/001 with electric, electro-mechanic or electronic means G01F9/008 and G01F9/02 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/00 Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 Machine learning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

A retrofit dispenser monitor is disclosed. The dispenser monitor has a connector allowing it to be connected directly to one of a number of dispensers. The dispenser monitor also comprises a sensor configured to detect the dispensing action of the attached dispenser by learning the characteristics of the dispensing action. Information corresponding to the dispensing action is then transmitted to a remote location which allows the use of the dispenser to be monitored.

Claims

1. A retrofit dispenser monitor comprising:

a connector configured to connect the dispenser monitor directly to a dispenser body of a dispenser such that there is physical contact between the dispenser monitor and the dispenser;

a sensor configured to detect the attached dispensing action of the attached dispenser;

a controller connected to the sensor, the controller being configured;

to learn characteristics of a data signature which is transmitted through the body of the dispenser directly to the physically connected dispenser monitor and which corresponds to a dispensing action of the attached dispenser; and

to recognize subsequent data signatures received from the sensor which corresponds to the learned characteristics in order to determine a measure of dispenser use; and

a transmitter configured to transmit data relating to the determined measure of dispenser use.

2. The monitor according to claim 1, wherein the connector is a releaseable connector.

3. The monitor according to claim 1, wherein the connector comprises an adhesive area;

a clamp or a magnet.

4. The monitor according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises one or more of:

a vibration sensor;

a heat sensor;

a light sensor;

an electromagnetic interference sensor;

a sound sensor;

a volume sensor;

a motion sensor; and

an orientation sensor.

5. The monitor according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to distinguish between a plurality of dispensing actions based on the received data signature.

6. The monitor according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to predict characteristics of the next data signature based on the most recent recognized signatures.

7. The monitor according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the dispenser has been refilled based on received data.

8. The monitor according to claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the dispenser has been refilled based on detecting a data signature corresponding to a refill action.

9. The monitor according to claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the dispenser has been refilled based on detecting a data signature corresponding to a full dispenser.

10. The monitor according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the dispenser has been refilled based on a user interaction.

11. The monitor according to claim 1, wherein the signature characteristics comprise one or more of:

duration of dispensing;

frequency of vibration during dispensing; and

temperature profile during dispensing.

12. The monitor according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser comprises one or more of:

a soap dispenser;

a sanitizer dispenser;

a paper towel dispenser;

a urinal; and

a toilet.

13. The monitor according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser monitor is configured to:

compare a received signature with a library of signatures of known dispensers; and

determine the type of the attached dispenser based on the comparison.

14. The monitor according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser monitor comprises a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter configured to allow the dispenser monitor to communicate with a remote device.

15. The monitor according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser monitor comprises a magnetic sensor, and wherein the dispenser monitor is configured to suspend recording or detecting signatures while the magnetic sensor is detecting a particular magnetic field.

16. The monitor according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter comprises one or more of:

a wireless transmitter;

a wired transmitter;

a Bluetooth®

transmitter;

an IR transmitter;

a cellular transmitter;

a WiFi transmitter; and

a radio-frequency transmitter.

18. A system comprising:

a plurality of retrofit dispenser monitors according to claim 1;

a remote electronic device having a receiver configured to receive data from each of the transmitters relating to the determined measure of dispenser use

wherein the remote electronic device is configured to provide a notification when the dispensers require refilling.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the remote electronic device is a portable electronic device.

17. A method, the method comprising:

connecting a dispenser monitor directly to a dispenser body of a dispenser such that there is a physical contact between the dispenser monitor and the dispenser;

detecting the attached dispensing action of the attached dispenser;

learning characteristics of a data signature which is transmitted through the body of the dispenser directly to the physically connected dispenser monitor and which corresponds to a dispensing action; and

recognizing subsequent data signatures which corresponds to the learned characteristics in order to determine a measure of dispenser use; and

transmitting data relating to the determined measure of dispenser use.

20. A retrofit dispenser monitor comprising:

a connector configured to connect the dispenser monitor directly to a dispenser body of a dispenser such that there is physical contact between the dispenser monitor and the dispenser;

a sensor configured to detect the attached dispensing action of the attached dispenser by measuring a signature which is transmitted through the body of the dispenser directly to the physically connected dispenser monitor;

a controller connected to the sensor, the controller being configured to;

compare received sensor data with a library of signatures of known dispensers;

determine the type of the attached dispenser based on the comparison; and

recognize subsequent data signatures received from the sensor which correspond to the determined dispenser type in order to determine a measure of dispenser use; and

a transmitter configured to transmit data relating to the determined measure of dispenser use.