METHODS FOR MANAGING POWER CONSUMPTION FOR A HANDS-FREE DISPENSER

• US 20130096729A1
• Filed: 10/17/2011
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Jackson W. Wegelin
• Inventors: WEGELIN, Jackson W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,965,595 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/296
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/941 using an optical detector H03K17/968 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/945 Proximity switches H03K17/96 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/0036 Means reducing energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 Programmer or timer

Abstract

Methods for managing power consumption of a battery-powered device such as a fluid dispenser are disclosed. One method includes setting a duty cycle of a sensor used by the device to a first range and setting a timer upon detection of a triggering event and also setting the duty cycle to a triggering event and also setting the duty cycle to a second range. The method continues by checking for another triggering event during the second range. The checking step is repeated if the timer has not lapsed, but if the timer has lapsed the process returns to the setting step. Related methods may be used to adjust the duty cycle based upon a detected characteristic such as light, sound, motion or time.

Claims

1. A method for managing power consumption of a battery-powered device, comprising:

providing a battery-powered device that must remain in a condition to detect the presence of a user with a sensor so as to dispense a product;

setting a duty cycle of said sensor to a first range;

starting a timer upon detection of a user by a triggering event and setting said duty cycle to a second range;

checking for the presence of another triggering event with said duty cycle set to said second range;

repeating the checking step if said timer has not lapsed; and

returning to said setting step when said timer has lapsed.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

starting another timer upon detection of another triggering event and setting said duty cycle to a third range; and

checking for the presence of another triggering event with said duty cycle set to said third range.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

repeating the step of checking for another triggering event if said another timer has not lapsed.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

re-starting said another timer upon detection of said another triggering event; and

repeating the step of checking for another triggering event if said another timer has lapsed.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

re-starting said timer upon lapsing of said another timer; and

re-setting said duty cycle to said second range.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

setting said first range to about once every two seconds;

setting said second range to about two to four times per second; and

setting said third range to about six to eight times per second.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

setting said timer anywhere between thirty minutes to two hours; and

setting said another timer anywhere between five minutes to thirty minutes.

8. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

dispensing a product upon detection of any triggering event.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

configuring said battery-powered device as a hands-free dispenser that dispenses a fluid.

10. A method for managing power consumption of a battery-powered dispenser, comprising:

providing a battery-powered device that must remain in a condition to detect the presence of a user with a sensor so as to dispense a product;

setting a duty cycle of said sensor to a first range;

checking a detected characteristic of another sensor after checking for a triggering event by said sensor; and

adjusting said duty cycle to a second range depending upon a status of said detected characteristic present.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

dispensing a product upon detection of said triggering event by said sensor.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

detecting ambient light levels with said another sensor to determine the presence of said detected characteristic; and

detecting said triggering event with said sensor.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

detecting motion with said another sensor to determine the presence of said detected characteristic; and

detecting said triggering event with said sensor.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

detecting sound levels with said another sensor to determine the presence of said detected characteristic; and

detecting said triggering event with said sensor.

15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

detecting a time value with said another sensor to determine whether a predetermined period of time has lapsed; and

detecting said triggering event with said sensor.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

adjusting said duty cycle to said second range if said predetermined time period has lapsed; and

adjusting said duty cycle to a third range if said predetermined time period has not lapsed and said sensor detects another triggering event.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

detecting another time value with said another sensor to determine whether another predetermined period of time has lapsed; and

maintaining said third range duty cycle if said another time period has not lapsed and resetting said duty cycle to said second range if said another time period has lapsed.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

resetting said time period after said another time period has lapsed.