Waste detection

• US 9,746,425 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2016
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Moore, Mark W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Kiho
• Application Number:
  US15/152,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20160334341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/00 Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light G01N3/00 - G01N19/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/63 optically excited
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/64 Fluorescence; Phosphorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/84 Systems specially adapted for particular applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/88 Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8806 Specially adapted optical and illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/94 Investigating contamination, e.g. dust G01N21/85 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/127 Calibration; base line adjustment; drift compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/12746 Calibration values determination

Abstract

One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for waste object detection. For example, a waste alert component is configured to emit ultraviolet light towards a waste detection zone, such as a bathroom floor or countertop. If a waste object, such as a paper towel or other object with a fluoresce property, exists within the waste detection zone, then the waste alert component may detect an increase in light due to the waste object fluorescing visible light in response to the ultraviolet light. If the increase in light intensity exceeds a detection threshold, then the waste alert component may provide a waste detection alert that the waste object exists within the waste detection zone (e.g., a message may be sent to a housekeeper that paper towel waste in on the bathroom countertop).

Claims

1. A system for waste object detection, comprising:

an ultraviolet light source configured to emit ultraviolet light towards a waste detection zone;

a photo detector configured to measure light intensity of light impinging on the photo detector; and

a waste identification component configured to;

obtain an initial light intensity measurement from the photo detector while the ultraviolet light source is turned off;

obtain a light intensity measurement from the photo detector while the ultraviolet light source is turned on;

determine a light intensity change based upon the initial light intensity measurement and the light intensity measurement; and

responsive to the light intensity change exceeding a detection threshold, provide a waste detection alert that a waste object exists within the waste detection zone.

2. The system of claim 1, the waste identification component configured to:

evaluate the initial light intensity measurement to determine whether an ambient light source is on or off; and

normalize the detection threshold based upon whether the ambient light source is on or off.

3. The system of claim 1, the waste identification component configured to:

determine the detection threshold based upon at least one of an ultraviolet light intensity of the ultraviolet light or a fluoresce effect of a type of waste object to be detected.

4. The system of claim 1, the waste identification component configured to:

determine the detection threshold based upon a sensitivity adjustment parameter.

5. The system of claim 1, comprising:

a visible light filter, positioned between the ultraviolet light source and the waste detection zone, configured to;

filter visible light emitted from the ultraviolet light source.

6. The system of claim 1, comprising:

responsive to the light intensity change not exceeding the detection threshold, determine that the waste detection zone is clear of waste objects.

7. The system of claim 1, the waste identification component configured to:

calibrate the detection threshold based upon a surface type of a surface within the waste detection zone, comprising;

receiving a notification that the surface is clear of waste objects;

obtaining a first calibration light intensity measurement from the photo detector while the ultraviolet light source is turned off;

obtaining a second calibration light intensity measurement from the photo detector while the ultraviolet light source is turned on; and

calibrating the detection threshold based upon the first calibration light intensity measurement and the second calibration light intensity measurement.

8. The system of claim 7, the first calibration light intensity measurement and the second calibration light intensity measurement obtained when an ambient light source is off, and the waste identification component configured to:

obtain a third calibration light intensity measurement from the photo detector while the ultraviolet light source is turned off and the ambient light source is on;

obtain a fourth calibration light intensity measurement from the photo detector while the ultraviolet light source is turned on and the ambient light source is on; and

calibrate the detection threshold based upon the third calibration light intensity measurement and the fourth calibration light intensity measurement.

9. The system of claim 1, the waste identification component configured to:

perform a sequence of detection cycles, a first detection cycle comprising obtaining the initial light intensity measurement and the light intensity measurement; and

responsive to a threshold number of light intensity changes exceeding the detection threshold during the sequence of detection cycles, provide the waste detection alert, otherwise, refrain from providing the waste detection alert.

10. The system of claim 1, the light intensity measurement corresponding to visible light fluoresced from the waste object based upon the ultraviolet light.

11. The system of claim 1, the waste detection zone corresponding to at least one of a surface of a bathroom countertop or a floor of a bathroom.

12. The system of claim 1, comprising:

an ultraviolet light filter, positioned between the photo detector and the waste detection zone, configured to;

filter ultraviolet light from reaching the photo detector.

13. The system of claim 1, the waste detection zone corresponding to at least one of a substantially circular shape or a substantially semi-circular shape.

14. The system of claim 1, the waste identification component configured to:

send the waste detection alert to a user through at least one of an email, a text message, a radio frequency identification (RFID) signal, a wireless signal, an audible alert, a visible alert, or a mobile device alert.

15. The system of claim 1, the waste identification component configured to:

display the waste detection alert within a map interface depicting a building within which the waste alert component is located.

16. A method for waste object detection, comprising:

obtaining an initial light intensity measurement from a light detection component while an ultraviolet light source is turned off;

obtaining a light intensity measurement from the light detection component while the ultraviolet light source is turned on to emit ultraviolet light towards a waste detection zone;

determining a light intensity change based upon the initial light intensity measurement and the light intensity measurement; and

responsive to the light intensity change exceeding a detection threshold, providing a waste detection alert that a waste object exists within the waste detection zone.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising:

calibrating the detection threshold based upon a surface type of a surface within the waste detection zone, the calibrating comprising;

receiving a notification that the surface is clear of waste objects;

obtaining a first calibration light intensity measurement from the light detection component while the ultraviolet light source is turned off;

obtaining a second calibration light intensity measurement from the light detection component while the ultraviolet light source is turned on; and

calibrating the detection threshold based upon the first calibration light intensity measurement and the second calibration light intensity measurement.

18. The method of claim 17, the first calibration light intensity measurement and the second calibration light intensity measurement obtained when an ambient light source is off, and the calibrating the detection threshold based upon a surface type comprising:

obtaining a third calibration light intensity measurement from the light detection component while the ultraviolet light source is turned off and the ambient light source is on;

obtaining a fourth calibration light intensity measurement from the light detection component while the ultraviolet light source is turned on and the ambient light source is on; and

calibrating the detection threshold based upon the third calibration light intensity measurement and the fourth calibration light intensity measurement.

19. The method of claim 16, comprising:

performing a sequence of detection cycles, a first detection cycle comprising obtaining the initial light intensity measurement and the light intensity measurement; and

responsive to a threshold number of light intensity changes exceeding the detection threshold during the sequence of detection cycles, providing the waste detection alert, otherwise, refrain from providing the waste detection alert.

20. A method for waste object detection, comprising:

performing a sequence of detection cycles, a first detection cycle comprising;

obtaining an initial light intensity measurement from a light detection component while an ultraviolet light source is turned off;

obtaining a light intensity measurement from the light detection component while the ultraviolet light source is turned on to emit ultraviolet light towards a waste detection zone; and

determining a light intensity change based upon the initial light intensity measurement and the light intensity measurement; and

responsive to a threshold number of light intensity changes exceeding the detection threshold during the sequence of detection cycles, providing a waste detection alert, otherwise, refraining from providing the waste detection alert.