Automatic flusher with bi-modal sensitivity pattern
First Claim
1. An automatic-toilet system comprising:
- A) a toilet including a toilet bowl;
B) a flusher, operable to flush the toilet bowl in response to flusher-control signals applied thereto;
C) a radiation-based object sensor forming a sensitivity pattern directed toward a region in front of the toilet, the component of the sensitivity pattern in a plane normal to a vertical plane having a minimum within a central region thereof that is less than 80% of values of pattern maxima on both sides of the central region; and
D) a control circuit responsive to the sensor system for operating the flusher in response to characteristics of objects that the object sensor detects.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an automated flush system (10), a control circuit (12) controls a flusher (16) in response to the output of a sensor (14). The vertical sensitivity pattern (24) of the sensor (14) is angled downward. Consequently, radiation that the sensor (14) emits tends to be reflected away from the sensor (14) by relatively specular vertical enclosure surfaces such as that of a stall door (18), while more-diffuse deflectors, such as a user that the sensor (14) is intended to detect, tend to reflect greater percentages of the sensor radiation back to the sensor (14). Similarly reduced sensitivity to enclosure surfaces results from a horizontal sensitivity pattern (40) having a reduced-sensitivity central region. The sensor system can thereby more reliably avoid confusing enclosure surfaces with users, on whose detection the system'"'"'s automatic flush strategy is based.
90 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An automatic-toilet system comprising:
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A) a toilet including a toilet bowl;
B) a flusher, operable to flush the toilet bowl in response to flusher-control signals applied thereto;
C) a radiation-based object sensor forming a sensitivity pattern directed toward a region in front of the toilet, the component of the sensitivity pattern in a plane normal to a vertical plane having a minimum within a central region thereof that is less than 80% of values of pattern maxima on both sides of the central region; and
D) a control circuit responsive to the sensor system for operating the flusher in response to characteristics of objects that the object sensor detects. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An automatic flusher adapted for installation into a toilet that includes a toilet bowl, the flusher comprising:
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A) a flusher, operable in response to flusher-control signals applied thereto to flush the toilet bowl of a toilet in which it is installed;
B) a radiation-based object sensor forming a sensitivity pattern directed toward a region in front of the toilet, the component of the sensitivity pattern in a plane normal to a vertical plane having a minimum within a central region thereof that is less than 80% of values of pattern maxima on both sides of the central region; and
C) a control circuit responsive to the sensor system for operating the flusher in response to characteristics of objects that the object sensor detects. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification