Method for controlling the operation of a water valve

• US 5,943,712 A
• Filed: 12/05/1996
• Issued: 08/31/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Sanitary Ware Manufacturing CY SA
• Original Assignee: International Sanitary Ware Manufacturing CY SA
• Inventors: Van Marcke, Karel Carl
• Primary Examiner(s): Fetsuga, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US08/759,480
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 4/623, 4/624, 4/DIG. 3, 250/347, 250/DIG. 1, 251/129.01, 251/129.04
• US Class Current: 4/623
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/05 Arrangements of devices on wash-basins, baths, sinks, or the like for remote control of taps remote control of taps or the like per se F16K
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/02 electric F16K31/004 takes precedence; magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 4/03 Electric flushing

Abstract

A method for controlling the operation of a water valve in response to the presence of a human body part by providing a passive detecting apparatus to produce a human-presence-indicating signal in response to variation in radiation by the body part, detecting with a first level detector circuit having an input coupled to the passive detecting apparatus whether the human-presence-indicating signal is between a first upper threshold level and a first lower threshold level, producing with a first circuitry responsive to the first level detector circuit a first active mode signal if the human-presence-indicating signal is either higher than the first upper threshold level or lower than the first lower threshold level, opening the water valve with a second circuitry responsive to the first active mode signal, after production of the first active mode signal, further detecting with a second level detector circuit more sensitive to the presence of a human body part than the first level detector circuit and having an input coupled to the passive detecting apparatus whether the human-presence-indicating signal provided by the passive detecting apparatus is between a second upper threshold level and a second lower threshold level, further producing with a third circuitry responsive to the second level detector circuit a passive mode signal if the human-presence-indicating signal is between the second upper threshold level the second lower threshold level, and closing the water valve with a fourth circuitry responsive to the passive mode signal.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the operation of a water valve in response to the presence of a human body part, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a passive detecting apparatus to produce a human-presence-indicating signal in response to variation in radiation by the body part;

(b) detecting with a first level detector circuit having an input coupled to the passive detecting apparatus whether the human-presence-indicating signal is between a first upper threshold level and a first lower threshold level;

(c) producing with a first circuitry responsive to the first level detector circuit a first active mode signal if the human-presence-indicating signal is either higher than the first upper threshold level or lower than the first lower threshold level;

(d) opening the water valve with a second circuitry responsive to the first active mode signal;

(e) after production of the first active mode signal, further detecting with a second level detector circuit more sensitive to the presence of a human body part than the first level detector circuit and having an input coupled to the passive detecting apparatus whether the human-presence-indicating signal provided by the passive detecting apparatus is between a second upper threshold level and a second lower threshold level;

(f) further producing with a third circuitry responsive to the second level detector circuit a passive mode signal if the human-presence-indicating signal is between the second upper threshold level and the second lower threshold level; and

(g) closing the water valve with a fourth circuitry responsive to the passive mode signal.

2. The method set forth in claim 1 including the step of setting first sensitivity adjustment apparatus coupled to the first level detector circuit to the first upper threshold level and the first lower threshold level to a first pair of values, and the step of further setting second sensitivity adjustment apparatus coupled to the second level detector circuit to the second upper threshold level and the second lower threshold level to a second pair of values.

3. The method set forth in claim 1 including the step of producing a second active mode signal with the third circuitry if the human-presence-indicating signal is either higher than the second upper threshold level or lower than the second lower threshold level, and the step of allowing the water valve to remain open with the fourth circuitry in response to the second active mode signal.

4. The method set forth in claim 1 including the step of producing a control signal with circuitry responsive to the first active mode signal if the water valve has been open less than a predetermined amount of time and the step of enabling the second level detector circuit to detect whether the human-presence-indicating signal is between the second upper threshold level and the second lower threshold level in response to the control signal.

5. The method set forth in claim 3 including the step of activating a dryer with circuitry responsive to the first or second active mode signal.

6. The method set forth in claim 1 including the step of closing the water valve with a fail-safe battery checking circuitry if a battery voltage is less than a predetermined value.

7. The method set forth in claim 3 including the step of producing the second active mode signal with circuitry if a programmable fixed water valve on time is set.

8. A method of operating a control system for controlling the operation of a water valve in response to the presence of a human body part, which system has a passive detecting apparatus to provide a human-presence-indicating signal in response to variation in radiation by the body part, a first valve control circuit responsive to a first control signal to open the water valve, and a second valve control circuit responsive to a second control signal to close the water valve, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) applying the human-presence-indicating signal from the passive detecting apparatus to an input of a first level detector circuit to detect whether the human-presence-indicating signal is between a first upper threshold level and a first lower threshold level;

(b) producing a first active mode signal if the human-presence-indicating signal is not between the first upper threshold level and the first lower threshold level;

(c) further applying the first control signal to the first valve control circuit to open the water valve in response to the first active mode signal;

(d) yet further applying the human-presence-indicating signal from the passive detecting apparatus to a second level detector circuit more sensitive to the presence of the human body part than the first level detector circuit to detect whether the human-presence-indicating signal is between a second upper threshold level and a second lower threshold level;

(e) further producing a passive mode signal if the human-presence-indicating signal from the passive detecting apparatus is between the second upper threshold level and the second lower threshold level; and

(f) still further applying the second control signal to the second control circuit to close the water valve in response to the passive mode signal.

9. The method set forth in claim 8 including the step of adjusting a first sensitivity adjustment apparatus by adjusting a first threshold selection input to set the first upper threshold level and the first lower threshold level to a first pair of values, and the step of further adjusting a second sensitivity adjustment apparatus by adjusting a second threshold input to set the second upper threshold level and the second lower threshold level to a second pair of values.

10. The method set forth in claim 8 including the step of producing a second active mode signal if the human-presence-indicating signal from the passive detecting apparatus is not between the second upper threshold level and the second lower threshold level, and the step of allowing the water valve to remain open in response to the second active mode signal.

11. A method for controlling the operation of a water valve in response to the presence of a human body part, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a human-presence-indicating signal with a passive detecting apparatus in response to variation in radiation by the body part;

(b) detecting with a first level detector circuit having an input coupled to the passive detecting apparatus whether the human-presence-indicating signal is greater than a first upper threshold level;

(c) producing with a first circuitry responsive to the first level detector circuit a first active mode signal if the human-presence-indicating signal from the passive detecting apparatus is greater than the first upper threshold level;

(d) opening the water valve with a second circuitry responsive to the first active mode signal;

(e) after exercise of said step of opening, further detecting with a second level detector circuit more sensitive to the presence of the human body part than the first level detector circuit and having an input coupled to the passive detecting apparatus whether the human-presence-indicating signal is greater than a second upper threshold level;

(f) further producing with a third circuitry responsive to the second level detector circuit a passive mode signal if the human-presence-indicating signal is lower than the second upper threshold level and yet further producing a second active mode signal if the human-presence-indicating signal is greater than the first upper threshold level; and

(g) closing the water valve with a fourth circuitry responsive to the passive mode signal, and retaining the water valve open with the fourth circuitry in response to the second active mode signal.

12. A method for controlling the operation of a water valve in response to the presence of a human body part, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a human-presence-indicating signal from a passive detecting apparatus in response to variation in radiation by the body part;

(b) detecting with a first level detector circuit having an input coupled to the passive detecting apparatus whether the human-presence-indicating signal is lower than a first threshold level;

(c) producing a first active mode signal with a first circuitry responsive to the first level detector circuit if the human-presence-indicating signal from the passive detecting apparatus is lower than the first threshold level;

(d) opening the water valve with a second circuitry responsive to the first active mode signal;

(e) after exercise of said step of opening further detecting with a second level detector circuit more sensitive to the presence of the human body part than the first level detector circuit and having an input coupled to the passive detecting apparatus whether the human-presence-indicating signal is lower than a second threshold level;

(f) further producing a passive mode signal with a third circuitry responsive to the second level detector circuit if the human-presence-indicating signal is greater than the second threshold level and yet further producing a second active mode signal if the human-presence-indicating signal is lower than the second threshold level; and

(g) closing the water valve with a fourth circuitry in response to the passive mode signal, and retaining the valve open with the fourth circuitry in response to the second active mode signal.

13. A method for controlling the operation of a water valve in response to the presence of a human body part, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a human-presence-indicating signal from a passive detecting apparatus in response to variation in radiation by the body part;

(b) detecting with a first level detector circuit having an input coupled to the passive detecting apparatus whether the human-presence-indicating signal is greater than an upper threshold level;

(c) producing a first active mode signal with first circuitry responsive to the first level detector circuit if the human-presence-indicating signal from the passive detecting apparatus is greater than the upper threshold level;

(d) opening the water valve with second circuitry responsive to the first active mode signal;

(e) after exercise of said step of opening, further detecting whether the human-presence-indicating signal is lower than a lower threshold level of a second level detector circuit more sensitive to the presence of a human body part than the first level detector circuit and having an input coupled to the passive detecting apparatus;

(f) further producing a passive mode signal with a third circuitry responsive to the second level detector circuit if the human-presence-indicating signal is greater than the lower threshold level and yet further producing a second active mode signal if the human-presence-indicating signal is lower than the lower threshold level; and

(g) closing the water valve with a fourth circuitry in response to the passive mode signal, and retaining the water valve open with the fourth circuitry in response to the second active mode signal.

14. A method for controlling the operation of a water valve in response to the presence of a human body part, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a human-presence-indicating signal with a passive detecting apparatus in response to variation in radiation by the body part;

(b) detecting whether the human-presence-indicating signal is lower than a lower threshold level with a first level detector circuit having an input coupled to the passive detecting apparatus;

(c) producing a first active mode signal with a first circuitry responsive to the first level detector circuit if the human-presence-indicating signal from the passive detecting apparatus is lower than the lower threshold level;

(d) opening the water valve with a second circuitry responsive to the first active mode signal;

(e) after exercise of said step of opening, further detecting whether the human-presence-indicating signal is greater than an upper threshold level with a second level detector circuit more sensitive to the presence of a human body part than the first level detector circuit and having an input coupled to the passive detecting apparatus;

(f) further producing a passive mode signal with a third circuitry responsive to the second level detector circuit if the human-presence-indicating signal is lower than the upper threshold level and yet further producing a second active mode signal with the third circuitry if the human-presence-indicating signal is greater than the upper threshold level; and

(g) closing the water valve with a fourth circuitry responsive to the passive mode signal, and retaining the valve open with the fourth circuitry in response to the second active mode signal.

15. A method for controlling the operation of a fluid flow control valve in response to the presence of a human body part, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a human-presence-indicating signal with a passive detecting apparatus indicating variations in heat radiation caused by the body part;

(b) when the valve is in a closed position, detecting with a first level detector circuit having an input coupled to the passive detecting apparatus whether the human-presence-indicating signal is on an active mode side of a first threshold level;

(c) producing an active mode signal with a first circuitry responsive to the first level detector circuit if the human-presence-indicating signal is on the active mode side of the first threshold level;

(d) opening the valve with second circuitry responsive to the active mode signal;

(e) when the valve is in an open position, further detecting with a second level detector circuit having an input coupled to the passive detecting apparatus whether the human-presence-indicating signal is on a passive mode side of a second threshold level different from the first threshold level to make the second level detector circuit more sensitive to the presence of the human body part than the first level detector circuit;

(f) further producing a passive mode signal with a third circuitry responsive to the second level detector circuit if the human-presence-indicating signal remains on the passive mode side of the second threshold level during a predetermined number of excessive detections; and

(g) closing the valve with fourth circuitry responsive to the passive mode signal.

16. The method set forth in claim 15 including when the valve is in a closed position, the step of yet further detecting with the first level detector circuit whether the human-presence-indicating signal is either higher than a first upper threshold level or lower than a first lower threshold level, and yet further producing the active mode signal with the first level detector circuit if the human-presence-indicating signal is either higher than the first upper threshold level or lower than the first lower threshold level.

17. The method set forth in claim 15 including when the valve is in an open position, the step of yet further detecting with the second level detector circuit whether the human-presence-indicating signal is between a second upper threshold level and a second lower threshold level, and yet further producing the passive mode signal with the third circuitry if the human-presence-indicating signal remains between the second upper threshold level and the second lower threshold level during a predetermined number of successive detections steps.

18. The method set forth in claim 17 wherein the first upper threshold level is higher than the second upper threshold level, and wherein the first lower threshold level is lower than the second lower threshold level.

19. The method set forth in claim 15 including the step of switching with a further level detector circuit including the first level detector circuit and the second level detector circuit between the first threshold level and the second threshold level in response to the active mode signal and the passive mode signal.

20. The method set forth in claim 15 including the step of yet further producing a further active mode signal with the third circuitry if the human-presence-indicating signal is not on the passive mode side of the second threshold level, and the step of delaying production of the passive mode signal until after a predetermined period of time after production of the further active mode signal.

21. The method set forth in claim 15 including the step of setting with first sensitivity adjustment apparatus responsive to a first threshold selection input the first threshold level to a first value, and the step of further setting with second sensitivity adjustment apparatus responsive to a second threshold input the second threshold level to a second value.

22. The method set forth in claim 20 including the step of activating an external fixture with further circuitry responsive to any of the active mode signal, the further active mode signal, or the passive mode signal.

23. The method set forth in claim 15 including the step of delaying the production of the passive mode signal until after a predetermined period of time after production of the active mode signal.

24. The method set forth in claim 15 including the step of yet further producing the passive mode signal after a predetermined period of time after production of the active mode signal.

25. The method of set forth in claim 16 including when the valve is in an open position, the step of still further detecting whether the human-presence-indicating signal is between a second upper threshold level and a second lower threshold level, and the step of still further producing the passive mode signal if the human-presence-indicating signal remains between the second upper threshold level and the second lower threshold level during a predetermined number of successive detections.

26. The method set forth in claim 25 including the step of setting with first sensitivity adjustment apparatus responsive to a first threshold selection input the first upper threshold level and the first lower threshold level to a first pair of values, and the step of further setting with second sensitivity adjustment apparatus responsive to a second threshold input the second upper threshold level and the second lower threshold level to a second pair of values.

27. The method set forth in claim 26 wherein the first upper threshold level is higher than the second upper threshold level, and wherein the first lower threshold level is lower than the second lower threshold level.