Power-saving controller for toilet flushing

• US 5,224,685 A
• Filed: 10/27/1992
• Issued: 07/06/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chin-Hua Hsieh
• Original Assignee: Chin H. Hsieh, Sing Chiang
• Inventors: Chiang, Sing, Hsieh, Chin H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenthal, Arnold
• Application Number:
  US07/967,171
• Time in Patent Office: 252 Days
• Field of Search: 251/129.04, 4/623, 4/DIG. 3, 4/304
• US Class Current: 251/129.04
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/105 touchless, e.g. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 4/03 Electric flushing

Abstract

A power-saving controller for toilet flushing includes a passive pyroelectricity detecting device connected to a microcomputer, which is further connected to an active infrared detecting device, and a switch device such that when a user is nearby the toilet in a relatively long distance, the passive detecting pyroelectricity detecting device will respond to generate a first triggering signal to the microcomputer, which in turn generates a second triggering signal to actuate the active infrared detecting device to detect whether a user is using the toilet, if so, then the active infrared detecting device will respond to generate a third triggering signal to feed back to the microcomputer, which in turn enables a timer to count therein, until the user leaves the toilet position, causing the third triggering signal to terminate, which in turn triggers the microcomputer to programmably generate a fourth triggering signal to turn on the switch device, which in turns activates a pumping motor connected thereto to pump water to flush the toilet.

Claims

1. A power-saving controller for a toilet flushing device comprising:

a DC power supply for providing required power for the whole controller having a 5-volt output and a 9-volt output;

a pyroelectricity detecting means (20) for sensing temperature from a user nearby and responding to generate a first triggering signal;

a microcomputer (10) coupled to said pyroelectricity detecting means (20) for responding to said first triggering signal and generating a second triggering signal;

an active infrared detecting means (30) coupled to said microcomputer (10) for responding to said second triggering signal and being activated to detect whether a user is in toilet position, such that when a user is in toilet position, said active infrared detecting means (30) will respond to generate a third triggering signal and feed the third triggering signal to said microcomputer (10) to start a program for time counting until the user leaves, beyond the sensing range of said infrared detecting means (30), eliminating said third triggering signal, stopping counting of said timer, and causing said microcomputer (10) to output a fourth triggering signal;

a switch means (40) having a triggering terminal (41) coupled to said microcomputer (10) for responding to said fourth triggering signal and being activated to be conductive to a ground;

a pumping motor (50) including an eccentric shaft (4) having a positive terminal connected to said 9-volt terminal of said DC power supply (60) and a negative terminal connected to said switch means (40) such that when said switch means (40) is conductive to ground, said pumping motor (50) rotates as long as said switch means (40) is conductive.

2. A power-saving controller for a toilet flushing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said microcomputer (10) comprises:

a timer being programmably controlled to count when the third triggering signal is fed from said active infrared detecting means (30) to said microcomputer (10) and stop to count when the third triggering signal disappears;

a first input terminal (RB7) for responding to said first triggering signal and further triggering a program therein to enable said timer to count;

a reset terminal (MCLR) for responding to a low input to clear said timer therein;

a first output terminal (RB4) for outputting said second triggering signal when said microcomputer (10) receives said first triggering signal;

a second input terminal (RB0) for receiving said third triggering signal and responding to trigger said timer to start to count;

a second output terminal (RB6) for outputting said fourth triggering signal with a predetermined duty cycle to enable said motor (50) to rotate for a half circle after said third triggering signal terminates.

3. A power-saving controller for a toilet flushing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pyroelectricity detecting means (20) comprises a pyroelectricity sensor (21) connected to a first triggering terminal of a first transistor (25) which has an output terminal connected to a converter (22) which has an output terminal (LED) connected to a cathode of a light emitting diode (26) and also to a triggering terminal of a second transistor (23) which has a first output terminal connected to said first input terminal (RB7) of said microcomputer (10) and a second output terminal connected to a triggering terminal of a third transistor (24) which has an output terminal connected to said reset terminal (MCLR) of said microcomputer (10), such that when a user comes nearby, said pyroelectricity sensor (21) detects the presence of the user, causing a pulse to be sent to said converter (22), which in turn generates a low pulse to activate said light emitting diode (26) on, and to trigger said second transistor (23) and said third transistor (24) on, said second transistor (23) on, generating said first triggering signal and coupling said first triggering signal to said first input terminal (RB7), said third transistor (24) on, generating a low input to reset said microcomputer (10).

4. A power-saving controller for a toilet flushing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said active infrared detecting means (30) comprising a fourth transistor (31) having a triggering terminal connected to said first output terminal (RB4) of said microcomputer (10) and an output terminal connected to an infrared transmitter 32, which further couples to an infrared receiver 33 by reflected infrared from a user in toilet position, said infrared receiver 33 being coupled to three cascaded filters (34, 35, and 36) which is further connected to an amplifier (37) and further connected to said second input terminal (RB0) of said microcomputer (10), such that after said second triggering signal is outputted from said first output terminal (RB4) of said microcomputer (10) and triggers said fourth transistor (31) to be on, Which in turn triggers said infrared transmitter (32) to transmit an infrared signal to a user'"'"'s body and be reflected therefrom and received by said infrared receiver (33), said third triggering signal is generated through said filters (34, 35, and 36) and said amplifier (37) and is coupled to said second input terminal (RB0) of said microcomputer (10) to start said timer to count until said third triggering signal disappears after the user leaves the toilet position.

5. A power-saving controller for a toilet flushing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said switch means (40) is an NPN transistor, with its base connected to second output terminal of said microcomputer (10), emitter connected to ground, and connector connected to said negative terminal of said motor (50).

6. A power-saving controller for a toilet flushing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said active infrared detecting means (30) further comprises a multi-switch (38) connected to a plurality of reference resistors (39) for providing a gain control of said amplifier (37).

7. A power-saving controller for a toilet flushing device as claimed in claim 1 further comprises a mechanical adapter device for engaging the controller to a well known tankless-type toilet flushing device which has a handle (601) pivotally engaged to a tubular body portion (602) of the toilet flushing device for being depressed to provide water to the toilet, wherein said mechanical adapter device comprises:

a mounting means (61) having an arcuate recess portion (611) at a bottom side thereof for mating with the tubular body portion (602) of the toilet flushing device and a flat surface (612) at the top side thereof having a first pair of through holes (610) from the bottom side to the top side;

a casing means (63) for receiving said pumping motor (50) therein having a second pair of through holes (630) at the bottom thereof substantially mating with said two through holes (610) of said mounting means (61) and a limiting hole (631);

a U-shaped fastening member (62) penetrating said first and second pair of through holes (610,

     630) to secure said casing means (63) on said mounting means (61);

a hammer (66) allowing to be moved up and down in a line trace limited by said limiting hole (631) of said casing (63);

a connecting rod (65) having a first end thereof pivotally engaged to the eccentric shaft (501) and a second end thereof pivotally engaged to the hammer (66); and

a lever means (67) having a socket portion (672) therein for receiving said handle (601) and a readjustable screw (671) arranged in adjacent to said socket portion (672) exactly below and in alignment with the hammer (66).