Control system for automatic control of a water rinsing system
First Claim
1. A control system for automatically controlling on-off operation of a water rinsing system including a water supply system having electrically actuated actuating means for actuation thereof to cause water flow therefrom, said on-off operation being responsive to approach and withdrawal of a user, said control system comprising:
- visible light sensor means for generating an electrical current responsive to the presence of said user;
control circuit means including an infrared transmitter and an infrared receiver energized by said electrical current from said visible light sensor means for providing proximity signals indicating close proximity of said user to said water rinsing system, and microcontroller means for effecting operational control of said system, said transmitter being disposed for transmitting infrared energy for reflection by a user to said infrared receiver to provide electric signals to said microcontroller means for operational control of said electrically actuated actuation means.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method for automatically controlling on-off operation of a battery-driven water rinsing system including a water supply system having electrically actuated actuation means for actuation of the water supply system to cause water flow therefrom. The on-off operation is responsive to approach and withdrawal of a user of the water rinsing system. A control circuit including an infrared transmitter, an infrared receiver, and control means is provided. The transmitter transmits infrared energy to a user in the vicinity of the water rinsing system for reflection from the user to an infrared receiver which transmits electric signals to the control circuit and control means for controlling actuation of the water supply system. A visible light sensor is provided for generating an electrical current responsive to the presence of the user, and this generated current is disposed for energizing the control circuit.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A control system for automatically controlling on-off operation of a water rinsing system including a water supply system having electrically actuated actuating means for actuation thereof to cause water flow therefrom, said on-off operation being responsive to approach and withdrawal of a user, said control system comprising:
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visible light sensor means for generating an electrical current responsive to the presence of said user; control circuit means including an infrared transmitter and an infrared receiver energized by said electrical current from said visible light sensor means for providing proximity signals indicating close proximity of said user to said water rinsing system, and microcontroller means for effecting operational control of said system, said transmitter being disposed for transmitting infrared energy for reflection by a user to said infrared receiver to provide electric signals to said microcontroller means for operational control of said electrically actuated actuation means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A control system for automatically controlling on-off operation of a battery-driven water rinsing system including a water supply system having electrically actuated actuating means for actuation thereof to cause water flow therefrom, said on-off operation being responsive to approach and withdrawal of a user, said control system comprising:
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visible light sensor means for generating an electrical current responsive to the presence of said user; control circuit means including an infrared transmitter and an infrared receiver energized by said electrical current from said visible light sensor means for providing proximity signals indicating close proximity of said user to said water rinsing system, and microcontroller means for effecting operational control of said system, said transmitter being disposed for transmitting infrared energy for reflection by a user to said infrared receiver to provide electric signals to said microcontroller means for operational control of said electrically actuated actuating means, said microcontroller means further including a first, active mode of operation wherein said visible light sensor is polled to detect said presence of said user, and a second, power conserving stop mode wherein said microcontroller means is essentially inactive, said stop mode being activated after each polling of said visible light sensor; and means for switching said microcontroller means between said power conserving stop mode and said active mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of automatically controlling on-off operation of a water rinsing device including a water discharge device having an electrically controlled valve which is automatically actuated at predetermined times and control circuit means including a microcontroller having an active processing mode and a power conserving mode, said control circuit means further including a visible light sensor to detect an object in substantial proximity to said water rinsing device, and a paired infrared transmitter and receiver operating to detect said object in close proximity to said water rinsing device for actuation of said electrically controlled valve, said method comprising the steps of:
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(1) polling said visible light sensor for an indication of said object being substantially proximate to said water rinsing device and if said object is not substantially proximate to said water rinsing device; (2) placing said microcontroller in said power conserving mode for a predetermined interval before again polling said visible light sensor and if said object is detected substantially proximate to said water rinsing device by said visible light sensor; (3) generating an electrical current responsive to the presence of said object in substantial proximity of said water discharge device, said electrical current disposed for actuating said paired infrared transmitter and receiver to detect said object closely proximate to said water rinsing device; (4) testing the receiver of said paired infrared transmitter and receiver at said predetermined intervals, detecting and monitoring the presence or absence of said object in close proximity of said water discharge device responsive to actuation by said electrical current of said paired infrared transmitter and receiver; (5) energizing said electrically actuated valve to control water flow therethrough at said predetermined times responsive to the detection of the presence of said object in close proximity of said water rinsing device by said infrared receiver; and (6) deenergizing said electrically actuated valve subsequent to detection of removal of the presence of said object from said water rinsing device, said deenergization being responsive to removal of the presence of said object from said water rinsing device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for controlling water flow in a faucet responsive to hands of a user moving thereunder and comprising the steps of:
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(1) testing, at predetermined intervals, visible light sensor means for sensing the approach of said user to said faucet; (2) initiating operation of means for sensing said hands of said user moving to receive water from said faucet responsive to a sensed approach of said user; (3) testing said means for sensing said hands for a condition of said hands being positioned to receive said flow of water; (4) initiating said flow of water responsive to sensed said hands being positioned to receive said flow of water; (5) terminating said flow of water responsive to said means for sensing said hands detecting movement of said hands away from said faucet; and (6) placing said means for sensing said hands in a stop mode to conserve power responsive to terminating said flow water. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification