System for remote operation of a personal hygiene or sanitary appliance

• US 6,956,498 B1
• Filed: 11/02/2000
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sloan Valve Company
• Original Assignee: Sloan Valve Company
• Inventors: Gauthier, Jerome M., Vuong, Nhon T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, NAM V
• Application Number:
  US09/704,244
• Time in Patent Office: 1,811 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.29, 340/5.61, 340/5.62, 340/5.63, 340/5.64, 340/573, 340/565, 340/539.14, 340/539.19, 251/129.04, 236/12.12, 315/149
• US Class Current: 340/12.51
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

A system for remote operation of a personal hygiene appliance which includes any one of a toilet flush valve, a faucet, a shower head, a soap dispenser, a hand dryer, and a paper towel dispenser, includes an electric operator associated with each appliance for causing operation thereof. A radio receiver is associated with each appliance, which, upon receipt of a message unique to that appliance, will cause its operation. There is a triggering device, remote from the appliance, which may be for example an infrared sensor or a manually operated switch for signaling an intent to cause operation of the appliance. There is a transmitter and a receiver associated with the triggering device. Each triggering device associated transmitter is programmed to transmit a message unique to that specific appliance. There is an indicator located at each triggering device and a receiver associated with the indicator. When the triggering device transmits a message unique thereto, it is received at the appliance receiver which will cause operation of the appliance and will cause the appliance transmitter to send an acknowledgment message back to the triggering device receiver, which in turn will activate the indicator indicating that the transmitted message was received.

Claims

1. A system for remote operation of a personal hygiene appliance which is one of a toilet flush valve, a urinal flush valve, a faucet, a shower head, a soap dispenser, a hand dryer, and a paper towel dispenser (appliance), said system including the appliance, an electric operator for controlling operation of said appliance, an appliance radio receiver connected electrically to said operator to provide an activating signal thereto, an appliance radio transmitter connected to said appliance radio receiver,

means remote from said appliance, for signaling an intent to cause operation of said appliance, a remote radio transmitter connected to said means for signaling an intent and operable thereby, an indicator located at said means for signaling an intent, a remote radio receiver connected to said indicator to provide an operating signal therefor,

said remote radio transmitter being programmed to transmit a message unique to said means for signaling an intent (intent message), upon being activated by said means for signaling an intent, said appliance receiver being programmed to receive said intent message and upon receipt thereof to cause operation of said electric operator and to cause said appliance transmitter to send a message unique to said appliance (acknowledge message) to said remote receiver to acknowledge receipt of said intent message, said remote receiver, upon receipt of said acknowledge message, causing activation of said indicator,

wherein said intent message includes an address unique to a specific appliance, and said acknowledge message includes an address unique to a specific appliance, but differing from the address of said intent message.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for signaling an intent includes an infrared sensor.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for signaling an intent includes a manually activated switch.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for signaling an intent includes an infrared sensor and a manually activated switch.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said appliance is a flush valve connected to operate a urinal.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said appliance is a flush valve connected to operate a water closet.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said appliance is a faucet.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said appliance is a soap dispenser.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said appliance is a shower head.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said appliance is a paper towel dispenser.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said appliance is a hand dryer.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said indicator is a light emitting diode.

13. A system for remote operation of at least one personal hygiene appliance including one or more of a toilet flush valve, a urinal flush valve, a faucet, a shower head, a soap dispenser, a hand dryer, and a paper towel dispenser, the system including at least one of said appliance, an electric operator associated with each appliance for causing operation thereof, a radio receiver associated with each appliance, which, upon receipt of a message unique to that appliance will cause operation of its associated electric operator,

means, remote from and associated with each personal hygiene appliance for signaling an intent to cause operation of that appliance, a remote radio transmitter connected to each means for signaling an intent, each remote radio transmitter being programmed to transmit a message unique to its specific appliance (intent message), a central processing unit (CPU) having a microprocessor, a radio receiver and a radio transmitter connected thereto, the CPU radio receiver being capable of receiving intent messages from all remote radio transmitters and the CPU radio transmitter being capable of sending messages (operate messages) to all appliance radio receivers, the microprocessor being programmed upon receipt of an intent message from a specific transmitter, unique to that transmitter'"'"'s associated appliance, of causing the CPU transmitter to send an operating message, unique to the receiver associated with that appliance for causing operation of its electric operator.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the means, remote from an appliance for signaling an intent, includes an infrared sensor.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the means, remote from an appliance for signaling an intent, includes a manually activated switch.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the means, remote from an appliance for signaling an intent, includes an infrared sensor and a manually activated switch.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein each intent message has an address unique to a specific appliance and each operating message has an address unique to a specific appliance, which address is different from the intent message address for that appliance.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein each means for signaling an intent has a radio receiver, each means for signaling intent has an indicator associated therewith, which is operable by the associated radio receiver, receipt of an intent message at the CPU receiver, causing the microprocessor to have the CPU transmitter send an acknowledge message to the receiver whose means for signaling an intent caused the sending of an intent message, receipt of an acknowledge message causing operation of an indicator.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein each appliance has a radio transmitter, the receipt of an operate message at an appliance radio receiver, will cause the appliance radio receiver to have its associated radio transmitter send an acknowledge message to the CPU receiver.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein each indicator is a light emitting diode.