SHOWERHEAD PRESENCE DETECTION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A system for automatically controlling the water flow in a showerhead in a showering environment comprising:
- a showerhead, the showerhead further includes a presence detector,a showerhead height adjuster, wherein the showerhead height adjuster is capable of vertically adjusting the height of the showerhead,wherein the accuracy of said presence detector is improved by using the showerhead height adjuster to adjust the height of the showerhead.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for accurately detecting the presence of a person in a shower by combining presence detection technology, such as an infrared sensor in the showerhead, with a mechanical height adjustment of the showerhead, so that the optimal distance between the sensor and showering person can be maintained for persons of different heights. Alternative embodiments include an electronic control unit to provide power consumption management and safety features. When the electronic control unit is combined with presence detection to predict the identity of a showering person, personal services customized for the identified person are provided. An alternate embodiment teaches a process for intelligently conserving water by intelligently blocking water flow at appropriate times, based on predictable behavior of a contemplated showering person.
-
Citations
29 Claims
-
1. A system for automatically controlling the water flow in a showerhead in a showering environment comprising:
-
a showerhead, the showerhead further includes a presence detector, a showerhead height adjuster, wherein the showerhead height adjuster is capable of vertically adjusting the height of the showerhead, wherein the accuracy of said presence detector is improved by using the showerhead height adjuster to adjust the height of the showerhead. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A system for automatically controlling the water flow in a showering environment comprising:
-
a presence detector for detecting the presence of a person within the showering environment, a showerhead, a distance estimator for providing an estimate of the distance between the showerhead and a person within the showering environment, wherein said estimate is used to predict the identity of a person within the showering environment, wherein customized personal services based on the predicted identity are provided. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
-
-
8. A system for conserving power to a presence sensor in a showering environment comprising:
-
an electronic control unit, the electronic control unit is interfaced to the presence sensor, the electronic control unit is configured to be able to switch the power of the presence sensor off and on, a sensor group comprising at least one environmental sensor, wherein each environmental sensor is capable of detecting the presence of an associated sensor-specific environmental condition of the showering environment, wherein whenever at least one environmental sensor detects a presence of its sensor-specific environmental condition, the electronic control unit switches the power of the presence sensor on. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A system for maintaining the temperature of water from a hot water supply and a cold water supply flowing to a showerhead in a showering environment within a specified range comprising:
-
a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of water flowing from the showerhead, an electronic control unit, wherein the temperature sensor is interfaced to the electronic control unit, the electronic control unit is configured to be able to switch the hot water supply to the showerhead off and on, the electronic control unit is configured to be able to switch the cold water supply to the showerhead off and on, wherein whenever said temperature sensor detects a temperature above a third predetermined temperature set point, the electronic control unit switches the hot water supply off. wherein whenever said temperature sensor detects a temperature below a fourth predetermined temperature set point, the electronic control unit switches the cold water supply off.
-
-
18. A method for conserving water in a showering environment having a water supply, a showerhead, an activation detector, a water valve capable of being opened and closed wherein, when the water valve is opened, water flow between the water supply and the showerhead is permitted, otherwise, waterflow to the showerhead is blocked, a temperature sensor capable of detecting when the temperature of water between the water supply and the showerhead reaches or exceeds a given threshold, a person detector capable of predicting when person is correctly positioned in said showering environment comprising the steps of:
-
step 1. if the water valve is opened, close the water valve, step 2. if the activation detector fails to detect an activation event, repeat this step until the activation detector detects an activation event, step 3. open the water valve, step 4. if said temperature sensor detects that the water flow between the water supply and the showerhead has exceeded a first threshold, proceed to next step, otherwise, repeat this step, step 5. if the person detector predicts a person is correctly positioned in the showering environment, open the water valve, otherwise close the water valve, step 6. proceed to step 5. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
Specification