Infrared sensor flushing control method and plumbing fixture flushing system

• US 7,127,749 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2004
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ligong Ling
• Original Assignee: Ligong Ling
• Inventors: Ling, Ligong
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Khoa D.
• Application Number:
  US10/888,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20050028260A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 4303-305, 466/1, 431/3, 440/6, 4DI/G 3
• US Class Current: 4/304
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/105 touchless, e.g. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 4/03 Electric flushing

Abstract

An infrared sensor flushing control method and the plumbing fixture flushing system. The realization of flushing with two different jets is achieved by using the infrared sensor and MCU to control the electromagnetic-controlled valves. The MCU preinstalled with three different solid waste flushing procedures and one liquid waste flushing procedure, providing the water-saving consumption according to the requirements of each individual and the automatic discrimination of the usage. The integrated design also accomplishes the purpose of convenient installation and space saving.

Claims

1. An infrared sensitive flushing method adapted for flushing a toilet bowl in an automatic mode, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a pulse signal for an infrared sensor through a microprocessor control unit (MCU) installed with a liquid and solid waste flushing system;

b) amplifying the pulse signal adapted for directing the pulse signal to an object in a detection area, and generating an infrared signal in response to the amplified pulse signal; and

c) amplifying a reflected infrared signal reflected by the object in the detection area and transmitting the reflected infrared signal to the MCU;

wherein the reflected signal is analyzed by the MCU by a process of detecting and analyzing signal comprising the steps of;

a′

) generating a command signal in response to the reflected signal, wherein the command signal is a first signal of performing a liquid waste flushing procedure for a command-operating unit when the object stays in the detection area for shorter than or equal to a first default period of time, wherein the command signal is a second signal of performing a solid waste flushing procedure for a command-operating unit when the object stays in the detection area for longer than a second default period of time; and

b′

) amplifying the command signal wherein the process of detecting and analyzing signal further comprises a step of generating a preliminary command signal which is a starting signal of preliminary rinsing for the command-operating unit when the object stays in the detection area for a default period of time longer than or equal to 5 seconds before step (a′

) such that the command-operating unit starts performing a rinsing process, wherein in the process of detecting and analyzing signal the first default period of time is 60 seconds and the second default period of time is 60 seconds, adapted for transmitting to a command-operating unit such that the command operating unit conduct a flushing according to the command signal.

2. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the pulse signal has 10% duty cycle in frequency 1 Hz and the command-operating unit is selected from the group of a set of two independent electro-magnetic-controlled valves and a set of one-in-two-out two-series electromagnetic-controlled valve.

3. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the rinsing process comprises a step of commanding an upper jet of the toilet bowl to discharge a quantity of water to rinse an inner surface of the toilet bowl, wherein the liquid waste flushing process comprises a step of commanding a lower jet of the toilet bowl to discharge a quantity of flushing water adapted for draining a liquid waste out through a trapway prior to the upper jet discharging a quantity of flushing water so as to rinse the inner surface of the toilet bowl, wherein the solid waste flushing process comprises the steps of conducting a rinsing action, a draining action and a refilling action respectively.

4. The method, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a step of providing a high operating mode, a medium operating mode and a low operating mode adapted for providing a high flushing power, a medium flushing power and a low flushing power respectively in accordance to a predetermined purpose of flushing and a predetermined hydraulic pressure condition determined by a user.

5. The method, as recited in claim 4, further comprising a step of disabling the pulse signal in step (a) and providing a mechanical method of flushing such that the command operation unit is disabled and the flushing is controlled by the user.

6. The method, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a step of disabling the pulse signal in step (a) and providing a mechanical method of flushing such that the command operation unit is disabled and the flushing is controlled by the user.