Minimizing paper waste carousel-style dispenser apparatus, sensor, method and system with proximity sensor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A paper dispenser comprising:
- a housing having an inner chamber adapted to support a roll of paper and having a dispensing aperture;
a motor module adapted to dispense paper from the roll of paper through the dispensing aperture;
a proximity detection module comprising;
an antenna;
an oscillator circuit adapted to provide an oscillating charge to the antenna;
a buffer for receiving an antenna signal from the antenna and for outputting a buffered antenna signal in response thereto;
a detector for outputting a detection signal in response to changes in the buffered antenna signal; and
a comparator for outputting a motor actuation signal to the motor module in response to the detection signal; and
a battery module for supplying power to the motor module and the proximity detection module;
whereinthe housing has a front portion adapted to be accessible to a user and a rear portion adapted to be attached to a vertical support surface;
the proximity detection module is located at the front of the inner chamber and has a top surface defining a floor portion of the inner chamber; and
the antenna extends lengthwise across at least two thirds of the front portion of the housing.
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Abstract
A paper dispenser having a proximity detector for dispensation of paper therefrom. The dispenser includes a housing having an inner chamber adapted to support a roll of paper. The housing also has a dispensing aperture. A motor is adapted to dispense paper from the roll through the dispensing aperture. The dispenser also includes a proximity detection circuit, which comprises an antenna, an oscillator circuit to charge the antenna, an operational amplifier operated as a unity gain follower which receives an antenna signal from the antenna, a detector circuit which detects changes in the antenna signal, and a comparator which actuates the motor in response to changes in the antenna signal.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A paper dispenser comprising:
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a housing having an inner chamber adapted to support a roll of paper and having a dispensing aperture; a motor module adapted to dispense paper from the roll of paper through the dispensing aperture; a proximity detection module comprising; an antenna; an oscillator circuit adapted to provide an oscillating charge to the antenna; a buffer for receiving an antenna signal from the antenna and for outputting a buffered antenna signal in response thereto; a detector for outputting a detection signal in response to changes in the buffered antenna signal; and a comparator for outputting a motor actuation signal to the motor module in response to the detection signal; and a battery module for supplying power to the motor module and the proximity detection module; wherein the housing has a front portion adapted to be accessible to a user and a rear portion adapted to be attached to a vertical support surface; the proximity detection module is located at the front of the inner chamber and has a top surface defining a floor portion of the inner chamber; and the antenna extends lengthwise across at least two thirds of the front portion of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of dispensing paper comprising:
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supporting a roll of paper, a battery and a battery powered motor within a housing, the housing including a dispensing aperture; affixing an antenna to a lower front portion of the housing, the antenna extending lengthwise across at least two thirds of the housing; charging the antenna with an oscillating signal to thereby produce a periodic antenna signal, the antenna having an associated fixed time constant determined by a predetermined capacitance and a predetermined resistance, and a variable time constant that is longer than the fixed time constant by an amount determined by an external capacitive load, the variable time constant being on the order of twice the fixed time constant when the external capacitive load is a hand of a person in proximity to the antenna, the oscillating signal having a periodicity greater than the fixed time constant; detecting low frequency changes in the antenna signal representative of changes in the external capacitive load on the antenna caused by a moving hand in proximity to the antenna; generating a low frequency detection signal component in response to the low frequency changes in the antenna signal; selectively amplifying the low frequency detection signal component and rejecting a higher frequency noise component to thereby produce an amplified and filtered detection signal component; compensating for slow environmental changes in the amplified and filtered detection signal component to thereby provide a compensated detection signal with increased sensitivity to transient signals representative of a waving hand in proximity to the antenna; and actuating the battery powered motor in response to the compensated detection signal, wherein the battery powered motor is adapted to dispense paper from the roll of paper through the dispensing aperture upon actuation. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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Specification