SYSTEM AND METHOD OF AUTOMATIC DYNAMIC CALIBRATION FOR INFRARED SENSING DEVICE

• US 20040104340A1
• Filed: 11/17/2003
• Published: 06/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas J. Watson
• Original Assignee: Thomas J. Watson
• Inventors: Watson, Thomas J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,768,103 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/252.1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/00 Programme-control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/06 with selective dispensing of different fluids or materials or mixtures thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/07 Arrangements for monitoring or testing transmission systems; Arrangements for fault measurement of transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/114 Indoor or close-range type systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1143 Bidirectional transmission

Abstract

A method for dynamically calibrating automatic infrared sensing devices in commercial use having an IR detector. Randomly reflected emitted IR radiation is detected by the IR detector which sends as IR detector output to a control module. The control module measures whether the detector output is too high or too low compared to a standard range of output values stored in the control module. An IR emitter input value is then determined to maintain IR detector output within the standard output range of values. This IR emitter input value is stored in the control module as a calibration standard until the next calibration cycle.

Claims

1. A method for automatic calibration of infrared sensing devices, comprising the steps of:

emitting infrared radiation from an infrared emitter;

detecting infrared radiation via an infrared detector, said infrared radiation detected by said infrared detector comprising at least a portion of said infrared radiation emitted from said infrared emitter;

generating a first value indicative of an amount of infrared radiation detected via said detecting step;

comparing said first value to a threshold;

determining a second value based on said comparing step;

storing said second value; and

automatically causing said infrared emitter to emit a pulse of infrared radiation based on said second value, wherein an amplitude of said pulse corresponds to said second value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said infrared emitter and said infrared detector are attached to a collar of a faucet.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of controlling a faucet based on infrared radiation detected by said infrared detector.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of inputting said second value to said infrared emitter.

5. An infrared sensing device, comprising:

an infrared emitter configured to emit infrared radiation;

an infrared detector configured to detect an infrared radiation sample, said infrared radiation sample comprising at least a portion of said infrared radiation emitted by said infrared emitter, said infrared detector configured to output a first value indicative of an amplitude of said infrared radiation sample; and

a control module configured to perform a comparison between said first value and a threshold and to generate a second value based on said comparison, said control module further configured automatically cause said infrared emitter to emit a pulse of infrared radiation based on said second value, wherein an amplitude of said pulse corresponds to said second value.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said infrared emitter and said infrared detector are attached to a collar of a faucet.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein said control module is further configured to control a faucet based on infrared radiation detected by said infrared detector.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein said control module is further configured to input said second value to said infrared emitter.