Control device and process for the contactless control of a unit, especially a plumbing unit

• US 5,668,366 A
• Filed: 03/01/1995
• Issued: 09/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Geberit Technik AG
• Original Assignee: Geberit Technik AG
• Inventors: Mauerhofer, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, QUE TAN
• Application Number:
  US08/396,685
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 250/221, 250/222.1, 250/222.2, 250/239, 340/555-557, 356/4.01, 356/4.06, 356/4.07, 4/302, 4/304, 4/305, 251/30.03, 251/30.05, 251/45
• US Class Current: 250/221
• 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: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/48 Active triangulation systems, i.e. using the transmission and reflection of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/14 using reflectors

Abstract

An electronic control device for the contactless control of a unit, e.g., a plumbing unit, especially a urinal, with at least one transmitter for sending directed light signals, and with a receiving device. The receiving device receives signals reflected from a scanned object and sends them to a circuit acting on the unit. The transmitter and the receiving device form an optical triangulation arrangement, wherein reflections are received from the background and from a predetermined detection zone to mask the said background.

Claims

1. An electronic control device for contactless control of a plumbing unit, comprising:

an actuating circuit connected to the unit; and

optical triangulation means including a transmitter for sending directed light signals and a receiving device for receiving signals reflected from a scanned object and for generating an actuation signal applied to said actuating circuit, said receiving device of said optical triangulation means including a background reflection portion receiving reflections predominantly from a background and a detection zone portion for receiving reflections predominantly from a predetermined detection zone, and comparison means for comparing the intensities of reflections received by said background reflection portion and said detection zone portion whereby said reflections received from said detection zone are discernable from reflections received from said background.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said receiver device background reflection portion includes a first receiver element and said receiver device detection zone portion includes a second receiver element, said first receiver element being arranged at a distance from said transmitter which distance is different from a distance from said second receiver element to said transmitter, such that a reflection from a scanned object located in said background is imaged essentially on said first receiver element and a reflection from a scanned object located in said detection zone is imaged essentially on said second receiver element.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said receiving device includes a differential diode and a receiving lens, said receiving lens being disposed such that a reflection from a scanned object is imaged on said differential diode.

4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a reference receiver arranged at a spaced location from said receiving device, said receiving device for generating a reflection signal upon sensing a reflection, said receiving device generating a receiving reflection signal upon sensing a reflection, said reference receiver being connected to switching means, said switching means for generating a switching signal only upon receiving said reference reflection signal and said receiving reflection signal simultaneously.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an additional receiver positioned for recognizing an object scanned which is close to said receiving element.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter includes adjustment means for continuously adjusting power of said transmitter based on an intensity of reflections received by said receiving device.

7. The device according to claim 3, wherein said differential diode includes a first diode, a second diode, and a third diode, said second diode and said third diode being connected in parallel to generate said actuation signal upon receiving reflected signals and said third diode being connected to said actuation circuits, said actuation circuit not generating said activation signal when said third diode is also receiving reflected signals.

8. A process for the contactless control of a plumbing unit, comprising the steps of:

transmitting directed light signals with a transmitter;

positioning a receiving device for receiving signals reflected from an object positioned in the path of said directed light signals, said receiving device including a background receiving portion and a detection zone receiving portion;

actuating the unit with a control circuit; and

detecting reflected signals, from a background zone at said background receiving portion, said background spaced a distance from the receiver and detecting reflected signals from a predetermined detection zone at said detection zone receiving portion, said detection zone being positioned closer to said receiver than said background zone, and forming a difference between signals from said two zones to discern detection zone reflection signals from background zone signals.

9. An electronic control device for contactless control of a plumbing unit comprising:

an actuating circuit connected to the unit; and

optical triangulation means, including a transmitter for sending directed light signals and a receiving device, said receiving device including a first receiver element and a second receiver element, said first receiver element being spaced a first distance from said transmitter and said second receiver element being spaced a second distance from said transmitter, whereby said first receiver element receives reflections predominantly from a background region and said second receiver element receives reflections predominantly from a detection zone, said detection zone being predefined and positioned closer to said transmitter than said background region and an actuating means for comparing the intensities of reflections received by said first receiver element and said second receiver element and generating an actuation signal when the intensity of reflection signals at said second receiver element are greater than said first.