Automatic water feed method in lavatory and automatic water feed mechanism in lavatory

• US 20020104159A1
• Filed: 01/08/2002
• Published: 08/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: San-Ei Faucet Mfg. Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: San-Ei Faucet Mfg. Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Nishioka, Akira
• Granted Patent: US 6,598,245 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/623
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors

Abstract

The invention presents an automatic water feed method in a lavatory and an automatic water feed mechanism in a lavatory which are capable of sensing the user of the lavatory securely, and also sensing the user of the lavatory even in a dark place or environment.

In this invention, the water feed action of a lavatory such as flush urinal and hand washer is controlled by visually recognizing the user of the lavatory by means of an artificial retina sensor, and also the water feed action of the lavatory is controlled by a sensor unit which has light emitting means for emitting light to the user when the ambient lightness becomes lower than a specified level and light receiving means for receiving the light reflected from the user.

Claims

1. An automatic water feed method in a lavatory characterized by controlling the water feed action of a lavatory such as flush urinal and hand washer by visually recognizing the user of the lavatory by means of an artificial retina sensor, and also controlling the water feed action of the lavatory by a sensor unit which has light emitting means for emitting light to the user when the ambient lightness becomes lower than a specified level and light receiving means for receiving the light reflected from the user.

2. An automatic water feed mechanism in a lavatory characterized by comprising a lavatory such as flush urinal or hand washer, an artificial retina sensor for visually recognizing the user of the lavatory, a sensor unit having light emitting means for emitting light to the user and light receiving means for receiving the light reflected from the user, and a controller for controlling the water feed action of the lavatory on the basis of the output from the artificial retina sensor or the output of the sensor unit.