Control for an automatic plumbing device

• US 20060207019A1
• Filed: 03/16/2005
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masco Canada Limited (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Masco Corporation
• Inventors: Vincent, Raymond A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,614,096 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/623
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors

Abstract

A plumbing device uses electronic control circuitry with two infrared emitters and one infrared receiver to detect objects in a particular region of space. In one embodiment, detection of an object using both sensors (in sequential scans) results in the plumbing device turning on. When no object has been detected for a certain amount of time, the plumbing device is turned off. Also, when the plumbing device has run for another certain amount of time, the plumbing device is turned off regardless of whether an object is still being detected. In another embodiment, the output of the IR emitters is partially blocked by one or more mask elements to tailor the region that is covered by both IR emitters and, hence, the region that triggers the opening of the plumbing device valve.

Claims

1. An automatic plumbing device, comprising:

a plumbing body;

a first emitter oriented to yield emissions in a first region of sensitivity;

a second emitter oriented to yield emissions in a second region of sensitivity,

a receiver adapted to receive emitted returns from said first region of sensitivity and said second region of sensitivity; and

a controller in communication with said receiver and said first emitter and said second emitter, said controller operable to open and close a valve in response to said emitted returns.

2. The automatic plumbing device as described in claim 1, wherein said plumbing body is a faucet.

3. The automatic plumbing device as described in claim 1, further comprising a first mask mounted on said plumbing body.

4. The automatic plumbing device as described in claim 3, wherein said emissions of said first emitter are at least partially blocked by said first mask to define said first region of sensitivity.

5. The automatic plumbing device as described in claim 4, further comprising a second mask mounted on said plumbing body.

6. The automatic plumbing device as described in claim 5, wherein said emissions of said second emitter are at least partially blocked by said second mask to define said second region of sensitivity.

7. The automatic plumbing device as described in claim 1, wherein said first emitter and said second emitter yield said emissions in response to instructions received from said controller.

8. The automatic plumbing device as described in claim 1, wherein an overlap of said first region of sensitivity and said second region of sensitivity defines a sensitivity volume.

9. The automatic plumbing device as described in claim 8, wherein said receiver receives said emitted returns from said first emitter and said second emitter in response to an object detected within said sensitivity volume.

10. The automatic plumbing device as described in claim 1, wherein said controller communicates with a memory device containing instructions executable by said controller to open and close said valve in response to said emitted returns received by said receiver.

11. The automatic plumbing device as described in claim 1, further comprising a solenoid control, said controller communicating with said solenoid control to open and close said valve.

12. The automatic plumbing device as described in claim 1, wherein said first emitter and said second emitter are infrared emitters.

13. A method of controlling a plumbing device system, comprising:

(1) emitting a first signal and receiving a first reflection at a receiver;

(2) emitting a second signal and receiving a second reflection at the receiver;

(3) comparing the first reflection and the second reflection to determine whether an object has been detected within a sensitivity volume defined at an overlap of the first signal and the second signal; and

(4) activating the plumbing device system to an on position in response to a positive result at said step (3).

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said step (1) further comprises:

calibrating the plumbing device system.

15. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said step (1) further comprises:

pausing to allow the plumbing device system to settle and verifying that the first reflection has returned to a nominal level.

16. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said step (2) further comprises

pausing to allow the plumbing device system to settle and verifying that the second reflection has returned to a nominal level.

17. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said step (3) further comprises:

defining the sensitivity volume as an overlap of a first region of sensitivity of the first reflection and a second region of sensitivity of the second reflection.

18. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said step (4) further comprises:

maintaining the plumbing device system in an off position in response to a negative result at said step (3).

19. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

(5) determining whether the plumbing device system has been in an on position for a predetermined amount of time;

(6) activating the plumbing device system to an off position in response to a positive result at said step (5); and

(7) resetting a timer to the predetermined amount of time.

20. An automatic plumbing device, comprising:

a plumbing body;

a first IR emitter yielding emissions that are at least partially blocked by a first mask to define a first region of sensitivity;

a second IR emitter yielding emissions that are at least partially blocked by a second mask to define a second region of sensitivity,

an IR receiver adapted to receive emitted returns from a sensitivity volume defined by an overlap of said first region of sensitivity and said second region of sensitivity; and

a controller in communication with said IR receiver and said first IR emitter and said second IR emitter, said controller operable to open and close a valve in response to said emitted returns.