METHOD AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL APPARATUS FOR CONTACTLESSLY CONTROLLING A SANITARY FACILITY

• US 20100180367A1
• Filed: 01/13/2010
• Published: 07/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Geberit International Ag (Geberit AG)
• Original Assignee: Geberit International Ag (Geberit AG)
• Inventors: ZINGG, Raffael, THALLER, Roman, STEINER, Peter, ELSENER, René
• Application Number:
  US12/686,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20100180367A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/302
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/105 touchless, e.g. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S17/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/87 Combinations of systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4802 using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/497 Means for monitoring or calibrating

Abstract

In the method for contactlessly controlling a sanitary facility, a transmitter, a receiver, an evaluation unit and a control unit are used to monitor an area (2) of the sanitary facility (1) and to control at least one actuator (5) of the sanitary facility. The area (2) is monitored using a time-of-flight distance measurement.

In particular, the spatial position and/or the speed and/or the direction of movement of objects (7) in the area (2) being monitored is/are detected.

Claims

1-14. -14. (canceled)

15. Method for contactlessly controlling a sanitary facility, with a transmitter, a receiver, an evaluation unit and a control unit which are used to monitor an area of the sanitary facility and to control at least one actuator of the sanitary facility, wherein the area is monitored using a time-of-flight distance measurement.

16. Method according to claim 15, wherein the spatial position and/or the speed and/or the direction of movement of objects in the area being monitored is/are detected.

17. Method according to claim 15, wherein in order to measure the distance, the amplitude of a transmitted infrared signal is modulated with a signal and the phase shift of the received modulation signal with respect to the transmitted signal is measured.

18. Method according to claim 15, wherein on the basis of the monitoring, a night light is switched on as soon as a person enters the area being monitored.

19. Method according to claim 15, wherein the sanitary facility has a plurality of sanitary systems in the same area, in that control outputs of these sanitary systems are logically combined, and in that this combination is used to monitor the area for the presence of objects and, if necessary, to control a superordinate system, for example a building control system.

20. Method according to claim 15, wherein predefined movements and/or movement sequences of objects, for example a hand, are detected.

21. Method according to claim 15, wherein signals are suppressed if they come from a predetermined place in the area being monitored, with the result that no function or action is triggered on the basis of such signals.

22. Method according to claim 15, wherein the posture of people, for example sitting or standing, is detected in the area being monitored, and in that corresponding actions, for example a corresponding flushing quantity, are triggered on the basis of a detected posture.

23. Method according to claim 15, wherein after the sanitary facility has been installed, the control unit uses the static objects, their position in the area being monitored and/or their shape as a basis for automatically detecting the type of sanitary facility in which it is used and for correspondingly parameterizing universal hardware and software.

24. Electronic control apparatus for contactlessly controlling a sanitary facility, with a transmitter, a receiver, an evaluation unit and a control unit which can be used to monitor an area of the sanitary facility and to control at least one actuator of the sanitary facility, wherein it has means for monitoring the area using a time-of-flight distance measurement.

25. Control apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the transmitter, the receiver, the evaluation unit and the control unit are arranged on an electronic module.

26. Control apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the receiving unit has an infrared image sensor which determines the distance using reflected infrared signals for each pixel and thus generates a three-dimensional image of the area being monitored.

27. Control apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the transmitter, the receiver, the evaluation unit and the control unit are integrated as a unit on a chip.

28. Control apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said unit is installed in a visible surface of a part of the sanitary facility, for example in a surface of a button, a pushbutton plate or a covering plate.