Infrared detector with beam path adjustment

• US 5,950,983 A
• Filed: 07/10/1995
• Issued: 09/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sloan Valve Company
• Original Assignee: Sloan Valve Company
• Inventors: Jahrling, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Charles E.
• Application Number:
  US08/500,033
• Time in Patent Office: 1,527 Days
• Field of Search: 4/DIG. 3, 4/313, 4/623, 251/129.04
• US Class Current: 251/129.04
• 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 7/4812 transmitted and received beams following a coaxial path
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 4/03 Electric flushing

Abstract

An electrical control system for operating a toilet flushing device includes an electric operator, a source of power for the operator and a detection system for detecting the presence of a user of a toilet device and upon detection thereof connecting the source of power to the electric operator. The detection system includes an infrared transmitter and an adjacent infrared receiver, with the receiver being sensitive to infrared radiation reflected from a toilet device user. There is a refracting element positioned in front of the transmitter and receiver to bend the transmitted infrared radiation beam to a desired angle relative to the initial direction of the transmitted beam and to bend a reflected beam from a toilet device user to a direction wherein it is generally parallel to the initial transmitted beam.

Claims

1. An infrared detection system for use in sensing the presence of a user of a toilet room device including an infrared transmitter for sending a beam of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared spectrum, a receiver responsive to infrared radiation reflected from an object in the path of said transmitted radiation, and refracting means located in front of and adjacent the transmitter and receiver for bending the transmitted beam to a desired angle relative to the initial direction of the transmitted beam, said refracting means bending a reflected beam so that the reflected beam, after refraction, is generally parallel to the transmitted beam prior to refraction, said refracting means including a housing, a thin film having a plurality of adjacent prisms positioned in front of said transmitter and a thin film having a plurality of adjacent prisms positioned in front of said receiver, said housing including means separating said thin films to prevent a transmitted beam from being reflected directly back to the receiver, and a focusing lens positioned between said transmitter and the thin film of adjacent prisms positioned in front of said transmitter and a focusing lens positioned between said receiver and the thin film of adjacent prisms positioned in front of said receiver.

2. The detection system of claim 1 further characterized in that said adjacent prisms are generally parallel.

3. The detection system of claim 1 further characterized in that said film is formed of a polymethyl methacrylate blend.

4. An electrical control system for operating a toilet flushing device including a cover, a toilet flushing device electric operator positioned within said cover, a source of power for said electric operator, a detection system for detecting the presence of a user of a toilet device and upon detection thereof connecting the source of power to the electric operator, said detection system including an infrared transmitter and an adjacent infrared receiver, both positioned within said cover, said receiver being sensitive to infrared radiation reflected from a toilet device user, refracting means positioned within said cover and in front of said transmitter and receiver to bend the transmitted infrared beam to a desired angle relative to the initial direction of the transmitted beam and to bend a reflected beam from a toilet device user to a direction wherein it is generally parallel to the initial direction of the transmitted beam, said refracting means including a housing, and a transparent film having a plurality of generally parallel prisms positioned in said housing in front of said transmitter, a transparent film having a plurality of generally parallel prisms positioned in said housing and in front of said receiver, said housing including a recess, with each of said films being positioned within said recess, said housing including a portion thereof separating said transparent films to prevent reflection of a transmitted infrared beam from being reflected directly back to said receiver from said cover or from said housing.

5. The control system of claim 4 further characterized in that said source of power is at least one battery mounted adjacent to said electric operator.

6. The control system of claim 4 further characterized in that said source of power is commercially available electric power.

7. The control system of claim 4 further characterized in that the toilet flushing device operates a urinal.

8. The control system of claim 4 further characterized in that said toilet flushing device operates a water closet.