Touchless flushing systems and methods
First Claim
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1. A touchless actuation system for a toilet, the system comprising:
- a touchless sensor;
a motor assembly; and
a processing circuit configured to receive a signal from the touchless sensor and to detect an object within a detection region based on the signal, wherein the touchless sensor lacks an optical path to the detection region;
wherein the processing circuit is configured to activate the motor assembly upon detecting the object and wherein the motor assembly is configured to actuate flushing of the toilet when activated by the processing circuit;
wherein the actuation system is completely concealed within a closed reservoir for the toilet;
wherein the touchless sensor is a projected capacitive sensor configured to project an electromagnetic field through a surface of the closed reservoir, wherein the electromagnetic field defines the detection region outside the reservoir;
wherein the object is a hand or forearm of a user and the user flushes the toilet by moving said hand or forearm into the detection region without touching the toilet, the reservoir, or the actuation system.
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Abstract
A touchless actuation system for a toilet includes a touchless sensor, a motor assembly, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive a signal from the touchless sensor and to detect an object within a detection region based on the signal. The touchless sensor lacks an optical path to the detection region. In some embodiments, the touchless sensor is a projected capacitive sensor. The processing circuit is configured to activate the motor assembly upon detecting the object and the motor assembly is configured to actuate flushing of the toilet when activated by the processing circuit.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A touchless actuation system for a toilet, the system comprising:
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a touchless sensor; a motor assembly; and a processing circuit configured to receive a signal from the touchless sensor and to detect an object within a detection region based on the signal, wherein the touchless sensor lacks an optical path to the detection region; wherein the processing circuit is configured to activate the motor assembly upon detecting the object and wherein the motor assembly is configured to actuate flushing of the toilet when activated by the processing circuit; wherein the actuation system is completely concealed within a closed reservoir for the toilet; wherein the touchless sensor is a projected capacitive sensor configured to project an electromagnetic field through a surface of the closed reservoir, wherein the electromagnetic field defines the detection region outside the reservoir; wherein the object is a hand or forearm of a user and the user flushes the toilet by moving said hand or forearm into the detection region without touching the toilet, the reservoir, or the actuation system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A toilet, comprising:
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a projected capacitive sensor; a motor assembly; a processing circuit configured to receive a signal from the sensor and activate the motor assembly based on said signal; and a reservoir, housing flush water and a flush valve, enclosing the projected capacitive sensor, the motor assembly, and the processing circuit, wherein the motor assembly is configured to actuate flushing of the toilet when activated by the processing circuit and wherein the projected capacitive sensor is completely concealed behind an optically opaque surface of the reservoir;
wherein the projected capacitive sensor is configured to project an electromagnetic field through the opaque surface, wherein the electromagnetic field defines a detection region on a side of the surface opposite the sensor, wherein the projected capacitive sensor is located within a closed reservoir for the toilet and lacks an optical path to the detection region;wherein said signal is indicative of the presence of an object within the detection region; wherein the object is a hand or forearm of a user and the user flushes the toilet by moving said hand or forearm into the detection region without touching the toilet, the reservoir, or the projected capacitive sensor.
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17. A method for installing a touchless flush system to a toilet, comprising:
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attaching a positioning bracket inside a toilet reservoir; placing within the toilet reservoir a projected capacitive sensor, a motor assembly, and a processing circuit; moving the projected capacitive sensor relative to the positioning bracket to define a detection region in relation to the toilet reservoir; coupling the motor assembly to a flush valve; covering the toilet reservoir, wherein the projected capacitive sensor lacks an optical path to the detection region; sensing an object in the detection region and activating the motor assembly in response to a signal from the projected capacitive sensor; and flushing the toilet, wherein the flush valve is opened by the movement of the motor assembly and closed by the motor assembly.
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Specification