Power operation of intelligent devices

• US 10,663,938 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2018
• Issued: 05/26/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kohler Company
• Original Assignee: Kohler Company
• Inventors: Rexach, Rafael, Schroeder, Jessica, Arciniega, Miguel, Springer, Ashley, Zhang, Shi Chao, Plate, Eric, Estiban, Marwan
• Primary Examiner(s): Jerez Lora, William A
• Application Number:
  US16/126,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20190090056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 381110, 381122, 381124, 381315
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 17/00 Other equipment , e.g. separate apparatus for deodorising, disinfecting or cleaning devices without flushing for toilet bowls, seats or covers; Holders for toilet brushesportable urinating aids A61F5/4556; devices for receiving spittle A61J19/00 ; disinfecting apparatus for medical, surgical or hygienic purposes A61L; cleaning devices with flushing for toilet bowls, seats or covers E03D9/00; for emptying or cleaning chamber-pots, bed pans, bed urinals or the like E03D11/025
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/50 by addition or application of a germicide or by oligodynamic treatment C02F1/4606, C02F1/467, C02F1/76 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/685 Devices for dosing the additives
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/006 comprising a software program or a logic diagram
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/008 comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2307/06 Mounted on or being part of a faucet, shower handle or showerhead
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00881 network configurations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/009 alarms, e.g. audible
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/1826 organic contamination in water
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 Communications between instruments or with remote terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23027 Database with information on how to control or test different appliances
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23462 No local entry panel, only central remote programmer for all appliances
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/0208 Noise filtering
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/406 microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 : Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/005 : for combining the signals of two or more microphones specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 : for correcting frequency response
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/027 : Spatial or constructional arrangements of microphones, e.g. in dummy heads
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 : Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 : Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 : in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A voice controlled device comprises a plurality of microphones, a communication interface, and a controller. The plurality of microphones are configured to receive voice inputs from one or more users for operation of the voice controlled device. The communication interface is configured to receive sensor data from an external device, the sensor data describing an environment of the voice controlled device. The controller is configured to operate a first subset of the plurality of microphones in response to first sensor data and a second subset of the plurality of microphones in response to second sensor data.

Claims

1. A voice controlled device comprising:

a plurality of microphones configured to receive voice inputs from one or more users for operation of the voice controlled device;

a communication interface configured to receive sensor data from an external device, the sensor data describing an environment of the voice controlled device; and

a controller configured to operate a first subset of the plurality of microphones independent of the voice inputs and in response to first sensor data and a second subset of the plurality of microphones independent of the voice inputs and in response to second sensor data.

2. The voice controlled device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to select a low power mode for the voice controlled device in response to the first sensor data and the controller is configured to select a full power mode for the voice controlled device in response to the second sensor data.

3. The voice controlled device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to operate in a dormant mode in response to the first sensor data and operates in a listening mode in response to the second sensor data.

4. The voice controlled device of claim 1, wherein the first sensor data is configured to indicate user activity in proximity to the voice controlled device.

5. The voice controlled device of claim 1, wherein the external device is a water consuming device.

6. The voice controlled device of claim 1, wherein the external device is a water faucet, a toilet, or a shower, and the sensor data includes a sound characteristic of the water faucet, the toilet, or the shower.

7. The voice controlled device of claim 1, wherein the external device is a fan and the sensor data describe humidity in a proximity of the fan.

8. The voice controlled device of claim 1, wherein the first sensor data describes a flow of water.

9. The voice controlled device of claim 1, wherein the voice controlled device is associated with a first appliance, and the first sensor data describes operation of a second appliance.

10. A system of voice controlled devices comprising:

a plurality of microphones distributed across multiple voice controlled devices, the plurality of microphones configured to receive voice inputs from one or more users;

a sensor configured to collect sensor data describing an environment of a voice controlled device; and

a controller configured to operate a first subset of the plurality of microphones independent of the voice inputs and in response to a first sensor data and a second subset of the plurality of microphones independent of the voice inputs and in response to a second sensor data.

11. The system of voice controlled devices of claim 10, wherein the sensor is an accelerometer or a light sensor.