Control device for a sanitary fixture

• US 5,743,511 A
• Filed: 01/24/1996
• Issued: 04/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Friedrich Grohe AG & Co. KG (LIXIL Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Friedrich Grohe AG (LIXIL Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Rudrich, Hans-Peter, Ludewig, Hans-Jurgen, Eichholz, Heinz-Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US08/590,583
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 251/129.04, 251/129.01, 4/623, 4/304, 4/DIG. 3
• US Class Current: 251/129.04
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors

Abstract

A sanitary fixture permits a battery to be packaged with a control and evaluation circuit and a proximity detector for automatic control of a valve. The circuit is set at the factory after final testing with the battery in place to an energy-sparing mode which is maintained, e.g. by a sticker over the receiver of the infrared proximity detector. The normal mode is activated by an infrared signal applied when the unit is installed.

Claims

1. A control device for a sanitary fixture comprising:

a detection unit responsive to presence of a user of a sanitary fixture and including at least an electrically operated transmitter and a receiver responsive to signals from said transmitter;

a control and evaluating circuit connected to said detection unit for controlling electrical energization thereof and evaluating an output from said receiver for operating the sanitary fixture in a normal mode of operation;

an electric energy source packaged with said unit and said circuit and connected to said circuit for supplying electrical energy for said detection unit and said circuit;

means connected with said circuit for activating an energy-sparing mode of operation of said device in response to initiation of said energy-sparing mode of operation by a fabricator of the device; and

means for operating said circuit and said unit in said energy-sparing mode at low drain of said source substantially below a current drain during said normal mode, said energy-sparing mode being deactivated upon installation of the device for operation thereof in said normal mode.

2. The control device for a sanitary fixture defined in claim 1 wherein said control and evaluating circuit has a microprocessor with a rest current consumption in said energy-sparing mode of operation of about 0.3 to 1.0 microampere and about one hundredth of the current drain during said normal mode.

3. The control device for a sanitary fixture defined in claim 1 wherein said control and evaluating circuit has a microprocessor with a power-down mode and interrupt control of said power-down mode.

4. The control device for a sanitary fixture defined in claim 1, wherein said means for activating said energy-sparing mode comprises means connected to said control and evaluating circuit for user switchover selectively between said modes.

5. The control device for a sanitary fixture defined in claim 1 wherein said means for operating said circuit and said unit in said energy-sparing mode is constructed to maintain said energy-sparing mode during shielding of at least said receiver of said unit.

6. The control device for a sanitary fixture defined in claim 5, further comprising a removable adhesive mask on said receiver and opaque to radiation to which said receiver is sensitive.

7. The control device for a sanitary fixture defined in claim 1 wherein said control and evaluating circuit is programmed to respond to a predetermined signal after a delay time to initiate said energy-sparing mode, thereby terminating activity of said circuit except for monitoring an input at said receiver, the circuit being activated to normal mode by application of a sufficient infrared level at said receiver.

8. The control device for a sanitary fixture defined in claim 7 wherein said delay is about 60 seconds.

9. The control device for a sanitary fixture defined in claim 7 wherein the application of a sufficient infrared level at said receiver is the application of daylight to said receiver.

10. The control device for a sanitary fixture defined in claim 7 wherein the application of a sufficient infrared level at said receiver is the striking of a match.

11. The control device for a sanitary fixture defined in claim 1 wherein said control and evaluating circuit is programmed to respond to a direct reflection of light from said transmitter to said receiver after a delay time to initiate said energy-sparing mode, thereby terminating activity of said circuit except for monitoring an input at said receiver, the circuit being activated to normal mode by application of a sufficient infrared level at said receiver.

12. The control device for a sanitary fixture defined in claim 1 wherein said control and evaluating circuit is programmed to switchover between said modes automatically by evaluation of infrared light in a region of said detection unit and after comparison thereof with software-provided intensity levels.

13. The control device for a sanitary fixture defined in claim 1 wherein said transmitter is an infrared light emitter and said receiver is responsive to infrared light.

14. The control device defined in claim 1, further comprising an electrically operable valve connected to said circuit and operable by said circuit to cause water flow to said fixture.

15. The control device defined in claim 1 wherein said source is at least one battery.

16. A method of installing and operating a sanitary fixture, comprising the steps of:

(a) at a location remote for an installation site, fabricating a control device for a sanitary fixture by packaging together a detection unit responsive to presence of a user of a sanitary fixture and including at least an electrically operated transmitter and a receiver responsive to signals from said transmitter, a control and evaluating circuit connected to said detection unit for controlling electrical energization thereof and evaluating an output from said receiver for operating the sanitary fixture in a normal mode of operation, and an electric energy source connected to said circuit for supplying electrical energy for said detection unit and said circuit;

(b) after said packaging in step (a) subjecting said device to final tests using said source to supply electric current thereto;

(c) upon finding said device to satisfy said tests, terminating the normal mode of operation of said device and thereafter activating an energy-sparing mode of operation of said circuit for operating said circuit and said unit at low drain of said source substantially below a current drain during said normal mode;

(d) thereafter packing said device as a finished product, storing the packed device and shipping the packed device to said installation site;

(e) removing packing from said device at said installation site;

(f) thereafter installing said device at said site; and

(g) then deactivating said energy-sparing mode of operation of said circuit and initiating said normal mode.

17. The method defined in claim 16 wherein the activating of said energy-sparing mode of operation of said circuit in step (c) includes placing an adhesive mask over said receiver, said receiver being sensitive to infrared light.

18. The method defined in claim 17 wherein the deactivating of said energy-sparing mode of operation of said circuit and initiating said normal mode in step (g) includes removing said adhesive mask from said receiver.

19. The method defined in claim 18 wherein the deactivating of said energy-sparing mode of operation of said circuit and initiating said normal mode in step (g) includes exposing said receiver to daylight.

20. The method defined in claim 18 wherein the deactivating of said energy-sparing mode of operation of said circuit and initiating said normal mode in step (g) includes exposing said receiver to light from a striking of a match.