Apparatus and method of wireless data transmission

• US 6,955,333 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2001
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Geberit International Ag (Geberit AG)
• Original Assignee: Geberit Technik AG
• Inventors: Watson, Thomas J., Patterson, Wade C.
• Primary Examiner(s): KEASEL, ERIC S
• Application Number:
  US10/037,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20050082503A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 251/129.04, 250/338.1, 250/339.02, 250/349, 250/339.2, 462/3, 455/92
• US Class Current: 251/129.04
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/065 for drink preparation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof

Abstract

A remotely managed electronically operated dispensing apparatus having a transmitter for transmitting a detection signal and a communication signal is disclosed. When the detection signal is reflected from an object, the dispensing apparatus opens a valve allowing fluid to flow. The communication signal may contain maintenance, status and other information and is received by a communication device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for automatic control of fluid flow in response to the proximity of an object to the apparatus and for communicating with a communication device, the apparatus comprising:

a single infrared transmitter for selectively, alternately transmitting both an infrared detection signal and a transmitted infrared communication signal;

an infrared receiver for receiving a reflected infrared detection signal;

an infrared receiver for receiving a received infrared communication signal; and

logic operatively connected to drive said transmitter to transmit said infrared detection signal and said transmitted infrared communication signal, said logic also being operatively configured to receive said reflected infrared detection signal and said received infrared communication signal from said receivers, said logic being configured to include, in said transmitted communication signal information indicative of an operational state of the apparatus, said logic also being configured to control fluid flow based upon the reflected detection signal.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said infrared detection signal comprises a sequence of pulses.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said logic is configured to exclude simultaneous transmission of said infrared detection signal and said transmitted infrared communication signal.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said infrared detection signal comprises pulses having a repetition rate of between two and ten Hertz.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said transmitted and received infrared communication signals each comprise a sequence of pulses representing data.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the data rate for said transmitted and received infrared communication signals is approximately 9600 bits per second.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the coupling between the logic and said transmitter comprises a digital-to-analog converter and an infrared driver.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said infrared receiver for receiving said reflected infrared detection signal and said infrared receiver for receiving said received infrared communication signal are configured in a back-to-back arrangement.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said infrared receiver for receiving said reflected infrared detection signal and said infrared receiver for receiving said received infrared communication signal each comprise a photo detector.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said infrared receiver for receiving said reflected infrared detection signal and said infrared receiver for receiving said received infrared communication signal together comprise a single photo detector.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, additionally comprising a threshold detector for comparing said reflected infrared detection signal to a threshold value and providing the result of the comparison as an output to said logic.

12. An apparatus for automatic control of fluid flow when an object is in proximity with said apparatus and for communicating with a communication device, said apparatus comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting a detection signal and a communication signal;

a receiver for receiving a reflected detection signal; and

logic configured to control fluid flow based upon said reflected detection signal;

wherein said receiver comprises an infrared detector having a hole, wherein said apparatus further comprises another infrared detector such that an infrared signal may pass through said hole and be received by said other infrared detector.

13. An apparatus for automatic control of fluid flow in response to the proximity of an object to the apparatus and for communicating with a communication device, the apparatus comprising:

a transmitter device for selectively, alternately transmitting both a detection signal and a transmitted communication signal;

a receiver device for receiving a reflected detection signal and a received communication signal; and

logic operatively connected to drive said transmitter device to transmit said detection signal and said transmitted communication signal, said logic also being operatively configured to receive said reflected detection signal and said received communication signal from said receiver device, said logic being configured to include, in said transmitted communication signal, information indicative of an operational state of the apparatus, said logic also being configured to control fluid flow based upon the reflected detection signal.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein each of said signals comprises an infrared signal.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein each of said signals a sequence of digital pulses.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said logic is configured to exclude simultaneous transmission of said detection signal and said transmitted communication signal.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said receiver device comprises a single photo detector.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said receiver device comprises a receiver for receiving said reflected detection signal and a receiver for receiving said received communication signal.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein said receiver for receiving said reflected infrared detection signal and said receiver for receiving said received infrared communication signal are configured in a back-to-back arrangement.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 13, additionally comprising a threshold detector for comparing said reflected detection signal to a threshold value and providing the result of the comparison as an output to said logic.

21. An apparatus for automatic control of fluid flow in response to the proximity of an object to the apparatus and for communicating via bidirectional telemetry with an external communication device, the apparatus comprising:

a transmitter device for transmitting both a detection signal and a transmitted communication signal for receipt by an external communication device;

a receiver device for receiving a detection signal reflected from an object in proximity to the apparatus and a received communication signal received from an external communication device; and

logic operatively connected to drive said transmitter device to transmit said detection signal, said logic also being operatively configured to communicate bidirectionally with an external communication device by causing said transmitter device to transmit said transmitted communication signal and receiving said received communication signal from said receiver device, said logic also being configured to control fluid flow based upon the reflected detection signal.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein each of said signals comprises an infrared signal.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein each of said signals a sequence of digital pulses.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said logic is configured to exclude simultaneous transmission of said detection signal and said transmitted communication signal.

25. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said receiver device comprises a single photo detector.

26. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said receiver device comprises a receiver for receiving said reflected detection signal and a receiver for receiving said received communication signal.

27. An apparatus as defined in claim 26, wherein said receiver for receiving said reflected infrared detection signal and said receiver for receiving said received infrared communication signal are configured in a back-to-back arrangement.

28. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, additionally comprising a threshold detector for comparing said reflected detection signal to a threshold value and providing the result of the comparison as an output to said logic.