Automatic flow controller employing energy-conservation mode
First Claim
1. An automatic flow controller comprising:
- A) an electric valve operable by application of control signals thereto between a closed state, in which it prevents water flow therethrough, and an open state, in which it permits water flow therethrough; and
B) a control circuit, including a switch operable between first and second switch states and an object sensor that generates a sensor output, for normally operating the object sensor and responding thereto by so applying control signals to the valve as to open the valve when the sensor output meets predetermined target criteria but refraining from operating the object sensor when the switch has remained in its second switch state for more than a predetermined minimum hold time.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic flusher includes an object sensor. When the object sensor detects a target meeting certain criteria, battery-powered control circuitry causes the flusher'"'"'s valve to open. By pressing a push button, a user can make the circuit open the flusher'"'"'s valve. If the circuit has been pressed continually for an extended period, the control circuit assumes a sleep mode, in which its power consumption is negligible. A button actuator in the flusher'"'"'s container keeps the button pressed while the container is closed. As a consequence, the flusher can be packed with the control circuit'"'"'s batteries installed without draining those batteries significantly during shipping and storage.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. An automatic flow controller comprising:
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A) an electric valve operable by application of control signals thereto between a closed state, in which it prevents water flow therethrough, and an open state, in which it permits water flow therethrough; and
B) a control circuit, including a switch operable between first and second switch states and an object sensor that generates a sensor output, for normally operating the object sensor and responding thereto by so applying control signals to the valve as to open the valve when the sensor output meets predetermined target criteria but refraining from operating the object sensor when the switch has remained in its second switch state for more than a predetermined minimum hold time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An automatic flow controller comprising:
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A) an electric valve operable by application of control signals thereto between a closed state, in which it prevents water flow therethrough, and an open state, in which it permits water flow therethrough; and
B) a control circuit, including a switch operable between first and second switch states and an object sensor that generates a sensor output, for normally operating the object sensor and responding thereto by so applying control signals to the valve as to open the valve when the sensor output meets predetermined target criteria but refraining from applying control signals to the valve when the switch has remained in its second switch state for more than a predetermined minimum hold time. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An automatic-flow-controller kit comprising:
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A) an automatic flow controller that includes;
i) an electric valve operable by application of control signals thereto between a closed state, in which it prevents water flow therethrough, and an open state, in which it permits water flow therethrough; and
ii) a control circuit, including a switch and an object sensor that generates a sensor output, for normally operating the object sensor and responding thereto by so applying control signals to the valve as to open the valve when the sensor output meets predetermined target criteria but refraining from operating the object sensor when the switch has remained in its second switch state for more than a predetermined minimum hold time;
B) a push button that operates the switch to its second switch state when it is pressed and to its first switch state when it is released; and
C) a container in which the automatic flow controller is disposed, the container including a button actuator that so bears against the push button when the container is closed as to keep the push button pressed. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An automatic-flow-controller kit comprising:
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A) an automatic flow controller that includes;
i) an electric valve operable by application of control signals thereto between a closed state, in which it prevents water flow therethrough, and an open state, in which it permits water flow therethrough; and
ii) a control circuit, including a reed switch operable by application of a magnetic field thereto form a first switch state to a second switch state and an object sensor that generates a sensor output, for normally operating the object sensor and responding thereto by so applying control signals to the valve as to open the valve when the sensor output meets predetermined target criteria but refraining from operating the object sensor when the reed switch has remained in its second switch state for more than a predetermined minimum hold time; and
B) a container that includes a magnet and in which the automatic flow controller is disposed with the reed switch so positioned with respect to the magnet as to be kept in the second switch state by the magnet'"'"'s magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. An automatic-flow-controller kit comprising:
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A) an automatic flow controller that includes;
i) an electric valve operable by application of control signals thereto between a closed state, in which it prevents water flow therethrough, and an open state, in which it permits water flow therethrough; and
ii) a control circuit, including a switch operable between first and second switch states and an object sensor that generates a sensor output, for normally operating the object sensor and responding thereto by so applying control signals to the valve as to open the valve when the sensor output meets predetermined target criteria but refraining from applying control signals to the valve when the switch has remained in its second switch state for more than a predetermined minimum hold time;
B) a push button that operates the switch to the second switch state when it is pressed and to the first switch state when it is released; and
C) a container in which the automatic flow controller is disposed, the container including a button actuator that so bears against the push button when the container is closed as to keep the push button pressed. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
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40. An automatic-flow-controller kit comprising:
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A) an automatic flow controller that includes;
i) an electric valve operable by application of control signals thereto between a closed state, in which it prevents water flow therethrough, and an open state, in which it permits water flow therethrough; and
ii) a control circuit, including a reed switch operable by application of a magnetic field thereto form a first switch state to a second switch state and an object sensor that generates a sensor output, for normally operating the object sensor and responding thereto by so applying control signals to the valve as to open the valve when the sensor output meets predetermined target criteria but refraining from applying control signals to the valve when the reed switch has remained in its second switch state for more than a predetermined minimum hold time; and
B) a container that includes a magnet and in which the automatic flow controller is disposed with the reed switch so positioned with respect to the magnet as to be kept in the second switch state by the magnet'"'"'s magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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44. An automatic flow controller comprising:
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A) an electric flush valve operable by application of control signals thereto between a closed state, in which it prevents water flow therethrough, and an open state, in which it permits water flow therethrough; and
B) a control circuit, adapted for coupling thereto of a power source by which the control circuit is thereby powered, for responding to initial coupling thereto of a power source meeting a predetermined criterion by applying a plurality of times to the flush valve control signals for operating the flush valve to its closed state.
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Specification