# US 2020/0399873 A1 · IoT CONNECTED HANDWASHING MONITORING AND COMPLIANCE FOR VARIOUS APPLICATIONS

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- Number: US 2020/0399873 A1
- Document ID: US20200399873A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/012,840
- Filed: 2020-09-04
- Published: 2020-12-24
- Earliest claimed: 2019-02-22
- Assignees: Zurn Industries, LLC
- Applicants: Zurn Industries, LLC
- Inventors: Arindam Chakraborty; Long Larry Le; Michael Pynn; Thushan Kapilajith Hemanchandra
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200399873A1

## CPC

- E03C 1/0412: {Constructional or functional features of the faucet handle (valve actuating members as such F16K31/60)}
- G01K 7/42: Circuits effecting compensation of thermal inertia; Circuits for predicting the stationary value of a temperature
- E03C 1/046: Adding soap, disinfectant, or the like in the supply line {or at the water outlet}(preventing contamination of drinking-water pipes E03C1/10)
- E03C 1/055: {Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like}
- G01F 9/001: {with electric, electro-mechanic or electronic means (G01F9/008 and G01F9/02 take precedence)}
- G01F 15/06: Indicating or recording devices
- G01F 15/068: {with electrical means (G01F15/063 takes precedence)}
- G01K 13/02: for measuring temperature of moving fluids or granular materials capable of flow
- G01P 13/0006: {of fluids or of granulous or powder-like substances}
- G01P 13/04: Indicating positive or negative direction of a linear movement or clockwise or anti-clockwise direction of a rotational movement
- G04F 10/10: by measuring electric or magnetic quantities changing in proportion to time
- E03C 2001/0418: {having temperature indicating means}
- E03C: DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER (not connected to either water-supply main or to waste pipe A47K; devices of the kind used in the ground E03B, E03F); SINKS
- G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00)
- G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
- G01P: MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT (measuring or recording blood flow A61B5/02, A61B8/06; monitoring speed or deceleration of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L3/00; vehicle lighting systems adapted to indicate speed B60Q1/54; determining position or course in navigation, measuring ground distance in geodesy or surveying G01C; combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement G01C23/00; measuring velocity of sound G01H; measuring velocity of light G01J7/00; measuring direction or velocity of solid objects by reception or emission of radiowaves or other waves and based on propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effect, propagation time, direction of propagation, G01S; measuring speed of nuclear radiation G01T; measuring acceleration of gravity G01V; {measuring or recording the speed of trains B61L23/00; speed indicators incorporated in motor vehicles B60K35/00; measuring frequency or phase G01R; traffic control G08G})
- G04F: TIME-INTERVAL MEASURING (measuring pulse characteristics G01R, e.g. G01R29/02; in radar or like systems G01S)

## Abstract

A plumbing fixture assembly including a fluid flow detection system for monitoring fluid flow and flow characteristics through plumbing fixtures without contacting the fluid. The fluid flow detection system communicates collected data related to the plumbing fixtures to a water management system, which analyzes the data and provides information to a user through a portal and user interface. The fluid flow detection system also tracks users of the plumbing fixtures for compliance with a hand washing routine. The hand washing compliance data is communicated to the water management system as well.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-20. (canceled)

### Claim 21

A method of monitoring a handwashing routine, the method comprising:
detecting, with a controller, an angular position of a magnet disposed on a handle of a faucet to determine whether water is flowing through the faucet;
activating a first timer in the controller when water is flowing through the faucet;
detecting, with the controller, whether activation of a soap dispenser occurred a predetermined time after the first timer was activated;
logging a first time from the first timer, in the controller, when the soap dispenser is activated;
activating a second timer in the controller after activation of the soap dispenser is detected;
alerting a user to turn off the faucet a predetermined time after the second timer was activated;
detecting an angular position of the magnet indicating that no water is flowing through the faucet;
logging a second time from the second timer, in the controller, when the angular position indicates that no water is flowing through the faucet;
determining, with an electronic processor, whether a handwashing routine is in compliance with a predetermined standard based on the time from the first timer and the time from the second timer; and
enabling display of a first indicator representative of a compliant handwashing routine or a second indicator representative of a non-compliant handwashing routine.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, further comprising transmitting the time from the first timer and the time from the second timer to an end point device prior to transmitting the time from the first timer and the time from the second timer to a database.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, further comprising converting, at the end point, the time from the first timer and the time from the second timer into a LoRa data packet.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, further comprising transmitting the LoRa data packet to a database.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The method of claim 24, further comprising scanning a user identification upon arrival at the faucet.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, further comprising linking the time from the first timer and the time from the second timer to the user identification that was scanned when the user arrived at the faucet.

### Claim 27 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the display is positioned adjacent to the faucet, and further comprising alerting the user on the display whether the handwashing routine is in compliance with the predetermined standard or whether the handwashing routine is not in compliance with the predetermined standard.

### Claim 28 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, further comprising:
determining a total flow volume of water through the faucet for the handwashing routine; and
displaying, at a user device, the total flow volume of water through the faucet for the handwashing routine.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, further comprising:
aggregating the total flow volume of water for all handwashing routines over a period of time; and
displaying, at a user device, an aggregated total flow volume of water for the period of time.

### Claim 30 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, further comprising:
determining an output temperature of the water for the handwashing routine; and
displaying, at a user device, the output temperature of the water for the handwashing routine.

### Claim 31

A system for monitoring a handwashing routine, the system comprising:
a sensor configured to detect an angular position of a handle on a faucet;
a controller in communication with the sensor, the controller configured to
activate a first timer when water is flowing through the faucet when the angular positon of the handle indicates that water is flowing through the faucet;
detect whether activation of a soap dispenser occurred a predetermined time after the first timer was activated;
log a first time from the first timer when the soap dispenser is activated;
activate a second timer after activation of the soap dispenser is detected;
alert a user to turn off the faucet a predetermined time after the second timer was activated;
log a second time from the second timer when the angular position of the handle indicates that no water is flowing through the faucet;
determine whether a handwashing routine is in compliance with a predetermined standard based on the time from the first timer and the time from the second timer; and
enabling display of a first indicator representative of a compliant handwashing routine or a second indicator representative of a non-compliant handwashing routine.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The system of claim 31, wherein the controller is further configured to transmit the time from the first timer and the time from the second timer to an end point device prior to transmitting the time from the first timer and the time from the second timer to a database.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The system of claim 32, wherein the end point device is configured to convert the time from the first timer and the time from the second timer into a LoRa data packet.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The system of claim 33, wherein the end point device is further configured to transmit the LoRa data packet to a database.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The system of claim 34, further comprising a user identification detector in communication with the controller, the user identification detector configured to a identify a user upon arrival at the faucet.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The system of claim 35, wherein the controller is further configured to link the time from the first timer and the time from the second timer to the user identification that was detected when the user arrived at the faucet.

### Claim 37 (depends on 21)

The system of claim 21, further comprising a display positioned adjacent to the faucet, and wherein the controller is further configured to alert the user on the display whether the handwashing routine is in compliance with the predetermined standard or whether the handwashing routine is not in compliance with the predetermined standard.

### Claim 38

A portable sink comprising:
a base including a plurality of wheels;
a sink supported by the base, the sink including a faucet having a handle;
a sensor configured to detect an angular position of the handle; and
a controller in communication with the sensor, the controller configured to
determine whether water is flowing through the faucet based on the angular position of the handle, and
enable display of flow characteristics of the water.

### Claim 39 (depends on 38)

The portable sink of claim 38, further comprising a power source in electrical communication with the sensor and the controller.

### Claim 40 (depends on 38)

The portable sink of claim 38, wherein the flow characteristics of the water include temperature or flow volume.