Methods and systems for monitoring hand washing
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring hand washing by individuals, comprising the steps of:
- receiving at a processor a signal indicative of actuation of a cleansing product dispenser at a hand cleansing station;
receiving at said processor a signal indicative of the presence of an individual at said cleansing station, wherein the signal indicative of the presence of the individual is generated by a detector having a sensor comprising an array of thermal detector elements, the detector configured to monitor a defined area of floor space in a vicinity of said hand cleansing station, and wherein the signal indicative of the presence of the individual is received after actuation of the cleansing product dispenser when the individual is at the defined area of floor space in the vicinity of said hand cleansing station;
processing said signal to generate hand wash event data indicative of a length of a continuous period of time spent by said individual at said hand cleansing station; and
determining a hand wash quality by comparing the length of the continuous period of time spent by said individual at said hand cleansing station to a predetermined threshold of time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Using a processor to receive a signal indicative of actuation of a cleansing product dispenser at a hand cleansing station and to receive a signal indicative of the presence of an individual at said cleansing station following actuation of the cleansing product dispenser. The processor is configured to process said signals to generate hand wash event data indicative of a length of a continuous period of time spent by said individual at said hand cleansing station. Hand wash event data is collated for a plurality of hand wash events at a stand-alone hand cleansing station or a plurality of linked hand cleansing stations in order to provide an indication of hand wash quality for said plurality of hand wash events and/or an indication of a number of compliant hand wash events. A running total of compliant hand wash events may be displayed to users.
81 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring hand washing by individuals, comprising the steps of:
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receiving at a processor a signal indicative of actuation of a cleansing product dispenser at a hand cleansing station; receiving at said processor a signal indicative of the presence of an individual at said cleansing station, wherein the signal indicative of the presence of the individual is generated by a detector having a sensor comprising an array of thermal detector elements, the detector configured to monitor a defined area of floor space in a vicinity of said hand cleansing station, and wherein the signal indicative of the presence of the individual is received after actuation of the cleansing product dispenser when the individual is at the defined area of floor space in the vicinity of said hand cleansing station; processing said signal to generate hand wash event data indicative of a length of a continuous period of time spent by said individual at said hand cleansing station; and determining a hand wash quality by comparing the length of the continuous period of time spent by said individual at said hand cleansing station to a predetermined threshold of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 15)
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7. A detector for monitoring hand washing by individuals at a hand cleansing station, the detector comprising:
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a processor for receiving a signal indicative of actuation of a cleansing product dispenser; and one or more sensors having an array of thermal detector elements configured to i) monitor a defined area of floor space in a vicinity of said hand cleansing station, ii) determine the presence of an individual at said hand cleansing station and iii) output a signal indicative of the presence of the individual at said hand cleansing station, the processor adapted to process said signals to generate hand wash event data indicative of a length of a continuous period of time spent by said individual at said hand cleansing station after actuation of the cleansing product dispenser when the individual is at the defined area of floor space in the vicinity of said hand cleansing station, and determine a hand wash quality by comparing the length of the continuous period of time spent by said individual at said hand cleansing station to a predetermined threshold of time. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16)
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14. A system for monitoring hand washing by individuals, said system comprising:
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one or more hand cleansing stations, wherein the one or more hand cleansing stations each include a detector for monitoring hand washing by individuals at the one or more hand cleansing stations, each detector comprising; a processor for receiving a signal indicative of actuation of a cleansing product dispenser; and one or more sensors having an array of thermal detector elements configured to i) monitor a defined area of floor space in a vicinity of said hand cleansing station, ii) determine the presence of an individual at said hand cleansing station and iii) output a signal indicative of the presence of the individual at said hand cleansing station, the processor adapted to process said signals to generate hand wash event data indicative of a length of a continuous period of time spent by said individual at said hand cleansing station after actuation of the cleansing product dispenser when the individual is at the defined area of floor space in the vicinity of said hand cleansing station; a central station comprising a main processor and a memory; a network communicatively connecting each of said one or more hand cleansing stations to the central station, said central station being adapted to receive data from the one or more hand cleansing stations. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification