Method for controlling the water supply in a sanitary installation
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and computer program product controls the water supply in a sanitary installation having a cold water supply line and a hot water supply line, a valve battery, which is connected to a power supply, and a sensor unit, connected to the power supply. At least one proximity sensor outputs an action signal to an electronic controller when a person at least partially penetrates into the detection area. A timeslot is assigned to every action signal and, after at least one further action signal, which is triggered within the timeslot through repeated penetration of a person into the detection area, the controller outputs a command which causes the valve battery to change the temperature and/or the flow value of the water supply to the sanitary installation in relation to the number of action signals triggered, and after expiration of the last timeslot, to release the water supply into the sanitary installation.
36 Citations
38 Claims
-
1-19. -19. (canceled)
-
20. A method for controlling the water supply in a sanitary installation having a cold water supply line and a hot water supply line, a valve battery, which is connected to a power supply, for opening and/or mixing the water supply from these two water supply lines, and a sensor unit connected to the power supply, which comprises at least one proximity sensor having a detection area, the proximity sensor outputting an action signal to an electronic controller connected to the sensor unit and the valve battery when a person at least partially penetrates into the detection area, the action signal differing in potential and/or quality from a rest signal which the proximity sensor outputs to the controller, which is also connected to the power supply, without action of a person on the detection area,
wherein an individual time slot is assigned to every action signal, and wherein the controller, after at least one further action signal which is triggered within such a time slot through repeated penetration of a person into the detection area, outputs a command which causes the valve battery to change the temperature and/or the flow value of the water supply to the sanitary installation in relation to the number of further action signals triggered by these multiple penetrations of the person into the detection area, and, after expiration of the last individual time slot, to release the supply of water of the selected temperature and/or the selected flow value into the sanitary installation.
-
37. A computer program product for controlling the water supply in a sanitary installation having a cold water supply line and a hot water supply line, a valve battery, which is connected to a power supply, for opening and/or mixing the water supply from these two water supply lines, and a sensor unit, which is connected to the power supply, which comprises at least one proximity sensor having a detection area, the proximity sensor outputting an action signal to the electronic controller, which is connected to the sensor unit and the valve battery, when a person at least partially penetrates into the detection area, this action signal differing in potential and/or quality from a rest signal which the proximity sensor outputs to the controller, which is also connected to the power supply, without action of a person on the detection area, the electronic controller, which is also connected to the power supply, comprising a computer, into which this computer program product is loadable,
wherein this computer program product allows the controller to assign an individual time slot to every action signal and, after at least one further action signal, which is triggered within such a time slot through repeated penetration of a person into the detection area, to output a command which causes the valve battery to change the temperature and/or the flow value of the water supply to the sanitary installation in relation to the number of further action signals triggered by these multiple penetrations of the person into the detection area, and, after expiration of the last individual time slot, to release the supply of water of the selected temperature and/or the selected flow value into the sanitary installation.
Specification