Passive sensors for automatic faucets and bathroom flushers

• US 7,396,000 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2005
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arichell Technologies Inc. (Sloan Valve Company)
• Original Assignee: Arichell Technologies Inc. (Sloan Valve Company)
• Inventors: Zhang, Yue, Mo, Xiaoxiong, Parsons, Natan E., Herbert, Kay, Guler, Fatih, Wu, Haiou
• Primary Examiner(s): Fristoe, Jr.; John K.
• Application Number:
  US11/145,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20060289819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 251/129.04, 462/3, 430/2, 430/4, 431/3, 4DI/G 3
• US Class Current: 251/129.04
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/105 touchless, e.g. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 19/006 Specially adapted for faucets
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0675 Electromagnet aspects, e.g. electric supply therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0058 Optical means, e.g. light transmission, observation ports F16K37/0075 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention is directed to novel optical sensors and novel methods for sensing optical radiation. The novel optical sensors and the novel optical sensing methods are used, for example, for controlling the operation of automatic faucets and flushers. The novel sensors and flow controllers (including control electronics and valves) require only small amounts of electrical power for sensing users of bathroom facilities, and thus enable battery operation for many years. A passive optical sensor includes a light detector sensitive to ambient (room) light for controlling the operation of automatic faucets or automatic bathroom flushers.

Claims

1. A system including optical sensor for controlling a flow valve of an electronic faucet or bathroom flusher, comprising

an optical element located at an optical input port and arranged to partially define a detection field having a selected size and orientation that eliminate invalid targets;

a light detector optically coupled to said optical element and said input port, said light detector being constructed to detect ambient light; and

a control circuit for controlling opening and closing of said flow valve, said control circuit being constructed to receive periodically signal from said light detector corresponding to the detected ambient light and to control said opening and closing by executing a detection algorithm employing detection of increases and decreases of said ambient light due to the presence of a user within said detection field for several time intervals and background levels of said ambient light.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said control circuit is constructed to execute a calibration routine that accounts for size and orientation of said detection field by said optical element.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said control circuit is constructed to sample periodically said detector based on the amount of previously detected light.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said control circuit is constructed to open and close said flow valve based on first detecting arrival of a user and then detecting departure of said user.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said control circuit is constructed to open and close said flow valve based on detecting presence of a user.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said optical element includes an array of pinholes.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said valve controls a bathroom flusher.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said optical element is further constructed to provide said detection field angled below the horizontal (H).

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said optical element is further constructed to provide said detection field angled below the horizontal and symmetrically with respect to a toilet or urinal.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said optical element is further constructed to provide said detection field angled below the horizontal and asymmetrically with respect to a toilet or urinal.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said optical element is further constructed to provide said detection field angled above the horizontal (H).

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said light detector is constructed to detect light in the range of 400 to 1000 nanometers.

13. A method of controlling a flow valve of an electronic faucet or bathroom flusher using an optical sensor, comprising

providing an optical element located at an optical input port and arranged to partially define a detection field having a selected size and orientation that eliminate invalid targets;

providing a light detector optically coupled to said optical element and said input port,

detecting ambient light arriving at said light detector by periodically sampling said light detector;

providing a signal corresponding to said detected light from said light detector to a control circuit; and

controlling opening and closing of said flow valve using said control circuit and said signal corresponding to the detected ambient light, said controlling including executing a detection algorithm employing detection of increases and decreases of said ambient light due to the presence of a user within said detection field for several time intervals and background levels of said ambient light.

14. The method of controlling a valve according to claim 13 including and executing a calibration routine that accounts for size and orientation of said detection field by said optical element.

15. The method of controlling a valve according to claim 14 wherein said control circuit is constructed to constructed to perform said periodic sampling of said detector based on the amount of the amount of light previously detected.

16. The method of controlling a valve according to claim 13 including determining by said control circuit said opening and closing of said flow valve based on a background level of said ambient light and a present level of said ambient light.

17. The method of controlling a valve according to claim 13 wherein said control circuit is constructed to adjust a sample period based on the detected amount of light after determining whether a facility is in use.

18. The method of controlling a valve according to claim 13 wherein said control circuit is constructed to cycle sleep and measurement periods.

19. A sensor-based automatic flusher system, comprising:

a flusher body including a water conduit having at least one inlet for receiving water and at least one outlet for providing water to a toilet of a urinal;

an optical sensor constructed and arranged to generate sensor output signals corresponding to detected ambient light;

a control circuit arranged to control operation of said optical sensor and receive periodically from said optical sensor a signal corresponding to the detected ambient light; and

a main valve controlled by an actuator receiving control signals from said control circuit for switching between an open state of said valve and a closed state of said valve;

said open state permitting water flow, and a closed state of said valve preventing fluid flow from said outlet, said control circuit being constructed to control said opening and closing by executing a detection algorithm employing increases and decreases of said ambient light due to presence of a user within a detection field of said optical sensor for several time intervals and based on background levels of said ambient light.

20. The sensor-based automatic flusher system of claim 19 wherein said control circuit is constructed to execute a calibration routine that accounts for size and orientation of said detection field by said optical element.

21. The sensor-based automatic flusher system of claim 20 wherein said control circuit is constructed to sample periodically said optical sensor based on the amount of previously detected light.

22. The sensor-based automatic flusher system of claim 19 wherein said control circuit is constructed to open and close said flow valve based on first detecting arrival of a user and then detecting departure of said user.

23. The sensor-based automatic flusher system of claim 19 wherein said control circuit is constructed to open and close said flow valve based on detecting presence of a user.

24. The sensor-based automatic flusher system of claim 19 wherein an optical element is further constructed to provide said detection field angled below the horizontal (H).

25. The sensor-based automatic flusher system of claim 19 wherein an optical element is further constructed to provide said detection field angled below the horizontal and symmetrically with respect to a toilet or urinal.

26. The sensor-based automatic flusher system of claim 19 wherein an optical element is further constructed to provide said detection field angled below the horizontal and asymmetrically with respect to a toilet or urinal.

27. The sensor-based automatic flusher system of claim 19 wherein an optical element is further constructed to provide said detection field angled above the horizontal (H).

28. The sensor-based automatic flusher system of claim 19 wherein said optical sensor is constructed to detect light in the range of 400 to 1000 nanometers.