Means and method for detecting the presence of at least one object to be tidied in a washroom
AssigneeSCA Hygiene Products AB
InventorsAnders Gustafsson, Eva-Li Saarväli, Urban Gabrielsson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims44
An apparatus for determining 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;
- and
- a controller configured to determine from feedback from the beam detection unit the presence of the object based on a comparison of the feedback with a detection result when the beam reflects from the surface at the first location and to issue an object to be tidied output signal indicating that an object to be tidied is present based on the determination on the presence of an object.
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus comprises a calibration option that a user interfaces with to get the apparatus to perform a calibration scan when the washroom is tidy to gather predetermined data for when the beam reflects off of the surface at the first location for use as reference data in the comparison.
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the beam supply unit is configured to direct the beam along the floor of a washroom so as to be able to interact with an object to be tidied on the floor.
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the beam supply unit is configured to direct the beam to a surface extending normally from the floor of the washroom, such as washroom walls.
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the beam supply unit is configured to direct a plurality of beams to at least one surface of the washroom at a plurality of different locations, respectively, wherein the control unit is configured to compare a reflected beam detection result for the plurality of beams to a predetermined detection result for the beams when they traveled fully to the intended reflection surface of the washroom at the respective locations, and wherein the control unit is configured to make a determination as to the presence of at least one object to be tidied based on the comparison.
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the controller is configured to require that a positive determination on the presence of at least one object to be tidied for at least two successive scans of the beam or beams in the washroom be made before an output signal is issued indicating the presence of an object to be tidied in the washroom.
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the controller is configured to perform a scan of the room to determine the presence of an object to be tidied more frequently in a detection mode than in a power save mode.
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus comprises a signal sending unit that is able to wirelessly communicate with a user interface device, wherein the controller is configured to control the signal sending unit in response to the output signal indicating that the room requires tidying to the user interface device to alert the user of a maintenance requirement.
A waste bin having the apparatus of any one of the preceding claims mounted to the waste bin.
A waste bin comprising:
- a beam supply unit for supplying a beam to a surface of a 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 at least one object in the path of the beam to the surface;
- and
- wherein the beam supply unit and the reflected beam detection unit are arranged at a bottom end of the waste bin and the beam supply unit is arranged to send the beam along the floor of the washroom to detect the presence of an object to be tidied.
A washroom system arranged with the apparatus or bin of any one the preceding claims provided therein, wherein the washroom system comprises a washroom having the apparatus located therein.
A method of detecting the presence of an object to be tidied in a washroom, the method comprising:
- directing a beam to a washroom surface at a first location;
- detecting a reflection of the beam;
- determining whether the beam has traveled a reduced travel path and has reflected from an object to be tidied in the travel path of the beam to the surface at the first location based on a comparison of the detection result of the reflected beam with an expected detection result if the beam had traveled to the surface of the washroom at the first location, to thereby determine whether at least one object to be tidied is present in the washroom.
The method of any one of claims 25 to 41, comprising switching between a power save mode and a detection mode when the washroom is empty of guests, wherein the power save mode has less frequent scans of the beam in the washroom for determining the presence of at least one object to be tidied and the detection mode has more frequent scans.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.