Lavatory system

• US 8,984,679 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2012
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bradley Fixtures Corporation (Bradley Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bradley Fixtures Corporation (Bradley Corporation)
• Inventors: Bayley, Graeme S., Loberger, John, Doorhy, Brendan, Mazza, Joseph, Gaza, Brian, O'Brien, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): TIETJEN, MARINA ANNETTE
• Application Number:
  US13/367,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20120131744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 251/129.04, 462/3, 430/2, 430/4, 430/5, 431/3, 307/39, 307/126, 307/132.R, 307/132.E
• US Class Current: 4/623
• 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: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target

Abstract

A lavatory is provided. The lavatory includes at least one wash station, at least one electrically operated fixture associated with the wash station, a control system configured to control a flow of a fluid through the at least one electrically operated fixture, a power source selectively coupled to the control system, and a power management system coupled to the power source to control the power provided to the control system. The power management system includes a detector configured to monitor the output voltage of the power source, and a switch configured to electrically disconnect the power source from the control system when the output voltage of the power source drops below a predetermined level.

Claims

1. A lavatory comprising:

at least one wash station;

at least one electrically operated fixture associated with the wash station;

a detection system comprising a sensor for monitoring a sensing region for the presence of a user and configured to generate and transmit a control signal;

a control system coupled to the detection system and configured to receive the control signal from the detection system and control a flow of a fluid through the at least one electrically operated fixture based upon the control signal;

a power source selectively coupled to the detection system; and

a power management system coupled to the power source to control the power provided to the detection system, the power management system comprising;

a detector configured to monitor a level of ambient light near the lavatory by monitoring an output voltage of the power source, the power source comprising at least one photovoltaic cell configured to convert the ambient light into output power; and

a switching device configured to electrically disconnect the power source from the detection system in response to the level of ambient light dropping below a predetermined ambient light level as indicated when the output voltage of the power source drops below a predetermined level.

2. The lavatory of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an infrared sensor.

3. The lavatory of claim 1, wherein the at least one photovoltaic cell comprises an array of photovoltaic cells.

4. The lavatory of claim 1, further comprising an energy storage element electrically coupled between the at least one photovoltaic cell and the switching device for storing the output voltage generated by the photovoltaic cell.

5. The lavatory of claim 4, wherein the energy storage element is a capacitor.

6. The lavatory of claim 1, wherein the power source is further selectively coupled to the control system, wherein the switching device is further configured to electrically disconnect the power source from the control system when the output voltage of the power source drops below the predetermined level.

7. A control system for use with a lavatory system having at least one wash station and at least one electrically operated fixture, the control system comprising:

a detection system configured to monitor a sensing region for the presence of a user and generate a transmit a control signal;

a fixture actuation system coupled to the detection system and configured to receive the control signal from the detection system and control a flow of a fluid through the fixture based upon the control signal;

a power source selectively coupled to the detection system; and

a power management system coupled to the power source to control the power provided to the detection system, the power management system comprising;

a detector configured to monitor a level of ambient light near the lavatory by monitoring an output voltage of the power source, the power source comprising at least one photovoltaic cell configured to convert the ambient light into output power; and

a switching device configured to electrically disconnect the power source from the detection system in response to the level of ambient light dropping below a predetermined ambient light level as indicated when the output voltage of the power source drops below a predetermined level.

8. The control system of claim 7, wherein the detection system comprises a control circuit that is operable during a first period during which the sensing region is monitored for the presence of the user followed by a second period during which the power consumption of the control circuit is reduced.

9. The control system of claim 8, wherein the detection system comprises a sensor coupled to the control circuit, the sensor comprises a transmitter and a receiver for monitoring the sensing region.

10. The control system of claim 7, wherein the at least one photovoltaic cell comprises an array of photovoltaic cells.

11. The control system of claim 7, further comprising an energy storage element electrically coupled between the at least one photovoltaic cell and the switching device for storing the output voltage generated by the photovoltaic cell.

12. The control system of claim 11, wherein the energy storage element is a capacitor.

13. A power supply system for a lavatory system having a control system for operating a fixture, the power supply system comprising:

a power source configured to be electrically coupled to the control system and to provide an output voltage; and

a power management system coupled to the power source, the power management system comprising;

a detector configured to monitor a level of ambient light near the lavatory by monitoring the output voltage of the power source, the power source comprising at least one photovoltaic cell configured to convert the ambient light into output power; and

a switch configured to electrically disconnect the power source from a detection system in response to the level of ambient light dropping below a predetermined ambient light level as indicated when the output voltage of the power source drops below a predetermined level, wherein the detection system comprises a sensor for monitoring a sensing region for the presence of a user and is configured to transmit a control signal to the control system, wherein the control signal is configured to cause the control system to control a flow of a fluid through the fixture based on the control signal.

14. The power supply system of claim 13, wherein the at least one photovoltaic cell comprises an array of photovoltaic cells.

15. The power supply system of claim 13, further comprising an energy storage element electrically coupled between the at least one photovoltaic cell and the switch for storing the output voltage generated by the photovoltaic cell.

16. The power supply system of claim 15, wherein the energy storage element is a capacitor.

17. The power supply system of claim 13, further comprising a regulator for adjusting the output voltage of the power source before being received by the control system.