Circuit arrangement for a sanitary apparatus

• US 5,627,375 A
• Filed: 11/06/1995
• Issued: 05/06/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chin-Hua Hsieh
• Original Assignee: Chin-Hua Hsieh
• Inventors: Hsieh, Chin-Hua
• Primary Examiner(s): Glick, Edward J.
• Application Number:
  US08/554,299
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 250/338.3, 250/342, 250/DIG. 1, 4/304, 4/623
• US Class Current: 250/338.3
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• 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

Abstract

A circuit arrangement for controlling a sanitary device in a non-contact manner includes a pyroelectric sensing circuit for detecting a temperature in a predetermined location and outputting a signal, a microprocessor for receiving a signal from the pyroelectric sensing circuit and outputting a triggering signal when the signal received by the microprocessor is judged as a result of body heat, a driving circuit for receiving the triggering signal and actuating a motor-operated control valve.

Claims

1. A circuit arrangement for controlling a sanitary device in a non-contacting manner, comprising:

a pyroelectric detecting means for detecting heat radiating from a human body part within a predetermined location and outputting a signal in response to such detection;

a programmable means for;

receiving the signal from the pyroelectric detecting means;

converting the received signal into a corresponding digital data;

reading the converted digital data in bytes;

logically exclusively ORing two sequential bytes and acquiring a resultant byte; and

outputting a triggering signal from an output terminal thereof when two sequential resultant bytes have three "1" bits or more; and

a driving means for receiving the triggering signal from the programmable means to activate a valve in the sanitary device.

2. A circuit arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said valve is driven by a motor.

3. A circuit arrangement according to claim 2 wherein said driving means comprises an oscillator for outputting an oscillating signal, a switching device connected between the output terminal of the programmable means and the oscillator, an ON/OFF switch activated by the motor and having a normally closed contact and a normally open contact, a flip-flop connected between the switching device and the ON/OFF switch, a transistor connected between the ON/OFF switch and the motor.

4. A circuit arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said driving means further comprising a manual activating means for activating the driving means.

5. A circuit arrangement according to claim 3 wherein said driving means further comprising a manual activating means for activating the driving means.

6. A circuit arrangement according to claim 5 wherein said manual activating means comprises a NAND gate having a first input connected to the oscillator and a second input connected to a positive voltage via a switch and an output connected to the flip-flop via a diode.

7. A circuit arrangement according to claim 6 wherein said manual activating means further comprises a resistor and a capacitor connected between the second input and a ground potential.