Passive sensors and control algorithms for faucets and bathroom flushers
First Claim
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1. A system for controlling a valve of an electronic faucet or bathroom flusher, comprising:
- a first light detector optically coupled to a first input port and constructed to detect ambient light arriving to said first detector from a first field of view;
a second light detector optically coupled to a second input port and constructed to detect ambient light arriving to said second detector from a second field of view; and
a control circuit for controlling opening and closing of a flow valve, said control circuit being constructed to receive first data from said first light detector corresponding to the detected ambient light from said first field of view, and to receive second data from said second light detector corresponding to the detected ambient light from said second field of view, said control circuit being constructed to determine each said opening and closing of said flow valve based on a background level of said ambient light and a light level caused by a user targeted within one of said fields of view, said control circuit is further constructed to control said opening and closing by executing a detection algorithm detecting arrival of said targeted user and then detecting departure of said targeted user within one of said fields of view;
said departure of said targeted user being detected bytaking a derivative of said first data or taking a derivative of said second data, anddetecting two transition patterns in said derivative of said first data or said derivative of said second data, wherein said two transition patterns are separated by a time corresponding to said user being within one of said fields of view.
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Abstract
An optical system includes one or several passive optical detectors sensitive to ambient (room) light for controlling, for example, the operation of automatic faucets or automatic bathroom flushers. The passive optical sensors provide signals to flow controllers, including control electronics and flow valves and require only very small amounts of electrical power for sensing users of bathroom facilities, and thus enable battery operation for many years. To control the operation of automatic faucets or automatic bathroom flushers based on ambient light, the controller executes novel algorithms.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A system for controlling a valve of an electronic faucet or bathroom flusher, comprising:
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a first light detector optically coupled to a first input port and constructed to detect ambient light arriving to said first detector from a first field of view; a second light detector optically coupled to a second input port and constructed to detect ambient light arriving to said second detector from a second field of view; and a control circuit for controlling opening and closing of a flow valve, said control circuit being constructed to receive first data from said first light detector corresponding to the detected ambient light from said first field of view, and to receive second data from said second light detector corresponding to the detected ambient light from said second field of view, said control circuit being constructed to determine each said opening and closing of said flow valve based on a background level of said ambient light and a light level caused by a user targeted within one of said fields of view, said control circuit is further constructed to control said opening and closing by executing a detection algorithm detecting arrival of said targeted user and then detecting departure of said targeted user within one of said fields of view;
said departure of said targeted user being detected bytaking a derivative of said first data or taking a derivative of said second data, and detecting two transition patterns in said derivative of said first data or said derivative of said second data, wherein said two transition patterns are separated by a time corresponding to said user being within one of said fields of view. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for controlling a valve of an electronic faucet or bathroom flusher, comprising:
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a first light detector optically coupled to a first input port and constructed to detect ambient light arriving to said first detector from a first field of view; a second light detector optically coupled to a second input port and constructed to detect ambient light arriving to said second detector from a second field of view; and a control circuit for controlling opening and closing of a flow valve, said control circuit being constructed to receive first data from said first light detector corresponding to the detected ambient light from said first field of view, and to receive second data from said second light detector corresponding to the detected ambient light from said second field of view, said control circuit being constructed to determine each said opening and closing of said flow valve based on a background level of said ambient light and a light level caused by a user targeted within one of said fields of view, said control circuit is further constructed to control said opening and closing by executing a detection algorithm detecting arrival of said targeted user and then detecting departure of said targeted user within one of said fields of view;
said departure of said targeted user being detected bytaking a derivative of said first data or taking a derivative of said second data, and detecting two transition patterns in said derivative of said first data or said derivative of said second data, having the same energy of transition. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification