Touch-free biometric-enabled dispenser
First Claim
1. A touch-free dispenser for dispensing material from a refill container into a user'"'"'s hand comprising:
- a controller;
a pump coupled to said controller, said pump configured to receive the material from the refill container;
a local memory unit coupled to said controller, said local memory unit adapted to maintain at least one vein pattern; and
a vein-pattern sensor coupled to said controller, said vein-pattern sensor configured to detect at least a portion of the vein pattern within the user'"'"'s hand without contact therewith;
wherein said controller activates said pump to dispense the material from the refill container when said vein-pattern sensor detects at least a portion of the vein pattern of said user'"'"'s hand.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A touch-free dispenser includes a dispenser controller coupled to a memory unit, which includes a database of previously-stored vein patterns. A vein-pattern sensor maintained by the dispenser images the unique vein pattern of a user'"'"'s hand without contact. The imaged vein pattern is subsequently compared with stored vein patterns, such that if there is a match, the dispenser proceeds to dispense material, such as soap, from a refill container. Alternatively, if there is no match between the imaged vein pattern and the stored vein patterns, the dispenser enters a learn mode to allow the imaged vein pattern to be added to the database. Data associated with the use of the dispenser is also collected during its operation, which is stored and associated with the imaged vein patterns for subsequent analysis.
-
Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A touch-free dispenser for dispensing material from a refill container into a user'"'"'s hand comprising:
-
a controller; a pump coupled to said controller, said pump configured to receive the material from the refill container; a local memory unit coupled to said controller, said local memory unit adapted to maintain at least one vein pattern; and a vein-pattern sensor coupled to said controller, said vein-pattern sensor configured to detect at least a portion of the vein pattern within the user'"'"'s hand without contact therewith; wherein said controller activates said pump to dispense the material from the refill container when said vein-pattern sensor detects at least a portion of the vein pattern of said user'"'"'s hand. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A touch-free dispenser for dispensing material from a refill container into a user'"'"'s hand comprising:
-
a controller; a pump coupled to said controller, said pump configured to receive the material from the refill container; and a vein-pattern sensor coupled to said controller, said vein-pattern sensor configured to detect at least a portion of the vein pattern within the user'"'"'s hand without contact therewith; wherein said controller activates said pump to dispense the material from the refill container if said vein-pattern sensor detects at least a portion of a vein pattern in the user'"'"'s hand. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method of dispensing material in a touch-free manner comprising:
-
providing a dispenser having a vein-pattern sensor; coupling a refill container in operative communication with said dispenser, said refill container maintaining a quantity of material; placing at least one hand in proximity to said vein-pattern sensor, without making contact with said vein-pattern sensor, such that placement of the user'"'"'s hand activates the vein-pattern sensor; and dispensing said material from said refill container if a vein pattern within the user'"'"'s hand is detected by said vein-pattern sensor. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A dispenser for dispensing material from a refill container into a user'"'"'s hand comprising:
-
a controller; a vein-pattern sensor coupled to said controller, said vein-pattern sensor configured to detect a vein pattern within the user'"'"'s hand without contact therewith; and a pump coupled to said controller, said pump configured to receive the material from the refill container so as to dispense the material when said vein-pattern sensor senses the vein pattern in the user'"'"'s hand, regardless of whether said vein-pattern sensor has previously sensed the vein pattern of the same user'"'"'s hand, and further wherein said vein pattern is maintained by said controller anonymously, such that it is not associated with the user'"'"'s identity. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
-
Specification