Infrared sensor with remote control option

• US 5,769,120 A
• Filed: 03/15/1995
• Issued: 06/23/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coyne & Delany Co.
• Original Assignee: Coyne & Delany Co.
• Inventors: Davis, Steve, Capper, Robert N. Jr., Hamrick, Gary, Walters, Ryp R., Tavares, Chuck, Eichblatt, Timothy, Laverty, Martin J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US08/404,527
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 251/129.04, 4/304, 4/305, 4/623, 137/624.11
• US Class Current: 137/624.11
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/105 touchless, e.g. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/497 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 Programmer or timer

Abstract

A control system for a liquid supply fixture including a microprocessor for receiving inputs from a plurality of sources and to provide outputs to a plurality of receivers for the control of the liquid supply fixture, and a collection of inputs receivable by the microprocessor from sources activated in response to infrared rays received after transmission from an infrared transmitter associated with the microprocessor to activate a liquid supply control to control the supply of liquid to the fixture.

Claims

1. A control system for a liquid supply fixture, comprising:

a microprocessor connected to receive inputs continuously from a plurality of sources continuously supplying inputs to said microprocessor and to provide outputs to a plurality of receivers for control of the supply of liquid by said fixture, and said microprocessor being programmed to receive inputs having a preselected digital code, transmitted from the plurality of sources with said preselected digital code; and

a collection of inputs receivable by said microprocessor from the plurality of sources activated in response to infrared rays received after transmission from an infrared transmission device associated with said microprocessor for activation of means for activation of a control to supply the liquid to said fixture solely in response to infrared rays received after transmission from said infrared transmission device;

wherein said microprocessor is configured to control a solenoid valve.

2. The control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said preselected digital code is a digital security code transmitted to said microprocessor for controlling the activation thereof.

3. The control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system has an operating mode and a non-operating mode, and said electrical supply means includes a battery, battery saver means coupled with said microprocessor, and means coupled with said microprocessor and said battery for deactivation thereof when the system is in its non-operating mode to prolong the life of the battery.

4. The control system as claimed in claim 1, including a remote unit to adjust the operating parameters of said microprocessor.

5. The control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said liquid supply means includes an infrared receiver and a separate remote unit external of said liquid supply means for adjustment of the internal controls and to provide for a two-way infrared communication.

6. The control system as claimed in claim 1, including a tunnel section angled at 16°

to a horizontal reference plane to narrow the beam to which an infrared photodiode is responsive as part of a control, to control the range of the infrared beam received by said liquid supply means.

7. The control system as claimed in claim 1, including control means for controlling the range of the infrared beam received by the liquid supply means to restrict and to narrow the beam to which a photodiode is responsive as a part of a returning signal from a remote object or a person is received by said liquid supply means.

8. The control system as claimed in claim 1, including a binary coded decimal switch in said liquid supply means, and external control means external of said liquid supply means for varying the binary coded decimal switch.

9. The control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the solenoid valve is part of a powered sensor unit for detecting the presence of an individual or an object in front of a device to be remotely operated and under the control of the control system, and comprising:

means for transmitting pulses of infrared light energy with the preselected digital code towards an individual or object;

means operatively associated with said transmitting means and responsive to the digital code for receiving the infrared light energy reflected from the individual or object;

said microcontroller being responsive to operational amplifier means delivering a train of pulses for recognizing said train of pulses;

means for controlling the distance at which an object or individual can be detected;

means for determining the amplitude of the signal reflected and received by said receiving means, including means for adjustment of the amplitude; and

adjustment means coupled with said solenoid for said solenoid valve and operatively coupled with said microcontroller including means for setting a binary coded decimal switch means for controlling the duration that the sensor unit output will operate the solenoid.

10. The control system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said transmitting means includes an infrared light emitting diode for sending out pulses of infrared light energy and a current regulating circuit for maintaining the output of said infrared light emitting diode constant throughout the life of the power supply.

11. The control system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said distance controlling means for controlling the distance at which an object or an individual can be detected includes voltage comparing means, and an amplifier responsive to the reflected signal received by the photodiode;

and said voltage comparing means is responsive to said amplifier output for comparing the amplifier output to a voltage that represents a selected range setting.

12. The control system as claimed in claim 9, including visible light means associated with an impulse unit for illumination when said micro-controller detects that a power supply for the solenoid valve has dropped below a value below which the power supply replacement is considered desirable.

13. The control system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said transmitting means transmits infrared pulses of light energy at an angle approximately 16°

from the horizontal.

14. The control system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said receiving means is responsive to said detecting means and said detecting means detects signals reflected from an individual or object transmitted at an angle to displace the beam from a horizontal plane.

15. The control system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said digital code includes a security feature so that said microprocessor is selectively controlled for activation thereof, and a remote unit is provided to adjust the operating parameters of said microprocessor externally thereof and remote therefrom.

16. The control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said liquid supply means includes an infrared receiver and a remote unit external of said liquid supply means for adjustment of the internal controls, and including control means for controlling the range of the infrared beam received by said liquid supply means.

17. The control system as claimed in claim 1, including a remote control to vary the parameter of the system.

18. The control system as claimed in claim 1, including a remote control unit to control said microprocessor remote therefrom and externally thereof, said control unit including a self-contained battery powered infrared sensor.

19. The control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is associated with said liquid supply fixture and includes an automatic range adjustment function, and including a remote control unit for commanding said automatic range adjustment.

20. The control system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said remote control and said microprocessor each includes a preselected digital security code so that said microprocessor is responsive solely to said remote control.