Passive sensors and control algorithms for faucets and bathroom flushers
First Claim
1. A system for controlling a valve of an electronic faucet or bathroom flusher, comprising:
- a first light detector optically coupled to a first input port and constructed to detect ambient light arriving to said first detector from a first field of view;
a second light detector optically coupled to a second input port and constructed to detect ambient light arriving to said second detector from a second field of view;
a control circuit for controlling opening and closing of a flow valve, said control circuit being constructed to receive first data from said first light detector corresponding to the detected ambient light from said first field of view, and to receive second data from said second light detector corresponding to the detected ambient light from said second field of view, said control circuit being constructed to determine each said opening and closing of said flow valve based on a background level of said ambient light and a light level caused by a user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical system includes one or several passive optical detectors sensitive to ambient (room) light for controlling, for example, the operation of automatic faucets or automatic bathroom flushers. The passive optical sensors provide signals to flow controllers, including control electronics and flow valves and require only very small amounts of electrical power for sensing users of bathroom facilities, and thus enable battery operation for many years. To control the operation of automatic faucets or automatic bathroom flushers based on ambient light, the controller executes novel algorithms.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A system for controlling a valve of an electronic faucet or bathroom flusher, comprising:
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a first light detector optically coupled to a first input port and constructed to detect ambient light arriving to said first detector from a first field of view; a second light detector optically coupled to a second input port and constructed to detect ambient light arriving to said second detector from a second field of view; a control circuit for controlling opening and closing of a flow valve, said control circuit being constructed to receive first data from said first light detector corresponding to the detected ambient light from said first field of view, and to receive second data from said second light detector corresponding to the detected ambient light from said second field of view, said control circuit being constructed to determine each said opening and closing of said flow valve based on a background level of said ambient light and a light level caused by a user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 24, 25, 26)
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6-23. -23. (canceled)
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27. The system of claim 1 wherein said determination is performed using a predictive algorithm on optical data from said light detector.
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27-39. -39. (canceled)
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40. A sensor-based faucet system, comprising:
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a faucet body including a water conduit having at least one inlet for receiving water and at least one outlet for providing water; an optical sensor for generating sensor output signals provided to an electronic control circuit; and a main valve controlled by an actuator constructed to receive control signals from said electronic control circuit for switching between an open state of said valve and a closed state of said valve;
said open state permitting water flow, and said closed state of said valve preventing water flow from said outlet. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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43. A sensor-based automatic faucet system, comprising:
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a faucet body including a water conduit having at least one inlet for receiving water and at least one outlet for providing water to an aerator; two sensors generating sensor output signals; a control circuit arranged to control operation of said optical sensors and receive said sensor signals, and a main valve controlled by an actuator receiving control signals from said control circuit for switching between an open state of said valve and a closed state of said valve;
said open state permitting water flow, and a closed state of said valve preventing fluid flow from said outlet.
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44-45. -45. (canceled)
Specification