Remote low power indicator for battery driven apparatus

• US 4,916,613 A
• Filed: 10/13/1988
• Issued: 04/10/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Lange, Jurgen, Von Vignau, Ralph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jerry
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUNTLEY, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/257,240
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 4/302, 4/304, 323/909, 324/426, 340/636, 364/400
• US Class Current: 700/90
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/10 operated electrically E03D5/01, E03D5/12 take precedence, e.g. by a photo-cell; also combined with devices for opening or closing shutters in the bowl outlet and/or with devices for raising/or lowering seat and cover and/or for swiveling the bowl
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/497 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/941 using an optical detector H03K17/968 takes precedence

Abstract

An arrangement for the control and remote control of a battery driven apparatus is switched on and off upon the approach and withdrawal, respectively, of a user. The arrangement finds particular use in a water-rinsing system, which comprises an electrical adjustment member which can be activated upon the approach of the user. The apparatus transmits infrared detection pulses which are received again after reflection by the user. In response to the reflected pulses a control circuit (2) interrogates the measured charge state of the battery, conditions the adjustment member (7) to be switched on only if the battery (5) has a charge state such that the adjustment member can be switched off again, and transmits infrared state pulses instead of the detection pulses. The state pulses contain information about the charge state of the battery and can be received by an additional remotely located infrared reception unit (12) for evaluation.

Claims

1. An arrangement for control and remote control of a battery-driven apparatus that can be switched on and off upo approach and withdrawal, respectively, of a user, more particularly a water rinsing system, comprising:

an electrical adajustment member which can be activated upon approach of the user,

a control circuit which drives an infrared transmitter for transmitting detection pulses and conditions the adjustment member for switching-on after reception in an infrared receiver of the detection pulses reflected by a user, and

a test unit for measuring the charge state of the battery,

wherein, after reception of the reflected detection pulses, the control circuit

interrogates the test unit as to the measured charge state of the battery,

conditions the adjustment member for switching-on only if the battery has a charge state such that the adjustment member can be switched off again, and

subsequently causes the infrared transmitter to transmit state pulses instead of the detection pulses, which state pulses contain information about the charge state of the battery, for reception by a transmit/receive unit which comprises an evaluation circuit for evaluating the state pulses and an indication device for indicating the charge state of the battery.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein after reception of the reflected detection pulses a checking unit indicates the condition of the adjustment member upon interrogation by the control circuit and wherein the control circuit supplies to the state pulses additional information about the condition of the adjustment member.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein after reception of infrared control pulses, which are supplied by said transmit/receive unit and which serve for programming purposes, the control circuit

causes the infrared transmitter not to transmit any detection or state pulses, and

addresses a storage device which, upon activation, stores information present in the control pulses for controlling the adjustment member.

4. an arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein after reception of infrared adjustment pulses supplied by said transmit/receive unit, the control circuit

causes the infrared transmitter to transmit infrared test pulses, which are reflected by a reflector arranged in front of the infrared transmitter and receiver, and

adjusts the power output of the infrared transmitter and/or infrared receiver by means of a driving circuit and as a function of the strength of the reflected test pulses.

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein, after reception of infrared control pulses supplied by said transmit/receive unit and which serve for programming purposes, the control circuit

causes the infrared transmitter not to transmit any detection or state pulses, and

addresses a storage device which, upon activation, stores information present in the control pulses for controlling the adjustment member.

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5 wherein, after reception of infrared adjustment pulses supplied by said transmit/receive unit, the control circuit

causes the infrared transmitter to transmit infrared test pulses, which are reflected by a reflector arranged in front of the infrared transmitter and receiver, and

causes an adjustment of the power output of the infrared transmitter and/or infrared receiver by means of a driving circuit and as determined by the strength of the reflected test pulses.

7. A battery-powered apparatus comprising:

a control unit which comprises,

an electrical adjustment member activated and deactivated by the approach and withdrawal of a user, respectively,

a transmitter for transmitting detection pulses,

a receiver responsive to detection pulses reflected by said user,

a test unit coupled to the battery for monitoring the battery voltage,

a control circuit coupled to said transmitter, said receiver, and the test unit, said control circuit being operative to cause the transmitter to transmit detection pulses and, in response to user-reflected detection pulses supplied by said receiver, to interrogate the test unit as to the voltage level of the battery and to condition the adjustment member for activation only if the battery voltage level is sufficient to insure that the adjustment member can be deactivated again upon withdrawal of the user, said control circuit thereafter causing the transmitter to transmit state pulses which indicate the voltage level of the battery, and

a remotely located transmit/receive unit arranged to receive said state pulses, said transmit/receive unit comprising,

an evaluation circuit for evaluating the state pulses, and

an indication device controlled by said evaluation circuit for indicating the battery voltage level.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said control unit further comprises,

a checking unit coupled to said adjustment member and controlled by said control circuit to indicate, after reception by the control unit of said reflected detection pulses, the operability of the adjustment member, and wherein

the control circuit modifies the state pulses to provide, in addition to information as to the battery voltage level, further information as to the operability of said adjustment member.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said control unit further comprises,

a pulse generator for selectively generating under control of the control circuit said detection pulses and said state pulses, and

a time control circuit having an output coupled to an input of said pulse generator for controlling the operation of the pulse generator.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said transmitter and receiver are adapted to transmit and receive infrared energy, respectively, and wherein said transmit/receive unit includes an infrared receiver and an infrared transmitter for exchanging information between said control unit and said transmit/receive unit via the infrared transmitters and receivers.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said control unit further comprises,

an information storage device which stores programming information for operation of the control circuit, and

said transmit/receive unit further comprises,

a keyboard device for generating programming information which is transmitted by a transmitter in said transmit/receive unit and is supplied to said storage device via said receiver in the control unit.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said adjustment member comprises a water valve which controls the flow of water to a water utilization device.