Means and method for detecting the presence of at least one object to be tidied in a washroom
First Claim
1. An apparatus for determining a presence of an object to be tidied in a washroom, comprising:
- a beam supply unit for supplying a beam to a surface of the washroom at a first location;
a reflected beam detection unit to receive the beam reflected from the surface of the washroom or to receive the beam reflected from an object in the path of the beam to the surface, the object in the path of the beam including the object to be tidied; and
a controller configured to (i) determine from a measured detection result from the reflected beam detection unit the presence of the object to be tidied based on a comparison of the measured detection result with a predetermined detection result previously obtained when the beam reflected from the surface at the first location, and to (ii) issue an object to be tidied output signal indicating that the object to be tidied is present based on the determination on the presence of the object to be tidied,wherein the beam supply unit is configured to direct the beam along and parallel to a floor of a washroom so as to be able to interact with the object to be tidied on the floor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining presence of an object to be tidied in a washroom. A beam is supplied to a surface of the washroom at a first location. A reflected beam received from the surface of the washroom or received from an object in the path of the beam to the surface is detected. The presence of the object is determined from feedback from the beam based on a comparison of the feedback with a detection result when the beam reflects from the surface at the first location. An object to be tidied output signal is issued indicating that an object to be tidied is present based on the determination on the presence of an object.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. An apparatus for determining a presence of an object to be tidied in a washroom, comprising:
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a beam supply unit for supplying a beam to a surface of the washroom at a first location; a reflected beam detection unit to receive the beam reflected from the surface of the washroom or to receive the beam reflected from an object in the path of the beam to the surface, the object in the path of the beam including the object to be tidied; and a controller configured to (i) determine from a measured detection result from the reflected beam detection unit the presence of the object to be tidied based on a comparison of the measured detection result with a predetermined detection result previously obtained when the beam reflected from the surface at the first location, and to (ii) issue an object to be tidied output signal indicating that the object to be tidied is present based on the determination on the presence of the object to be tidied, wherein the beam supply unit is configured to direct the beam along and parallel to a floor of a washroom so as to be able to interact with the object to be tidied on the floor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of detecting a presence of an object to be tidied in a washroom, the method comprising:
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directing an electromagnetic beam to a washroom surface at a first location using a beam supply unit; detecting a reflection of the beam using a reflected beam detection unit; and determining whether the beam has travelled a reduced travel path and has reflected from the object to be tidied in a full travel path of the beam to the washroom surface at the first location based on a comparison of a measured detection result of the reflected beam with an expected detection result if the beam had travelled to the washroom surface at the first location, to thereby determine whether the object to be tidied is present in the washroom, by utilizing a triangulation algorithm, a time of flight algorithm, and/or a phase shift algorithm; wherein the method comprises directing the beam along and parallel to a floor of the washroom to the washroom surface at the first location in order to reflect off of any object to be tidied that is on the floor and in the way of the beam the any object to be tidied including the object to be tidied. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification