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US 5,566,702 AGranted
Adaptive faucet controller measuring proximity and motion
OwnerHarald Philippinventor
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OwnerHarald Philippinventor
Estimating the term…
An electronically controlled automatic faucet has a pulsed infrared beam intersecting the water stream discharged by the faucet. Infrared signals reflected from the water stream are thus detected in addition to any signals reflected from a user's hand(s). A reasonable approximation of the signal received from the water stream alone is subtracted from the sum of all detected signals whenever water is flowing in order to provide a compensated proximity signal. This compensation method, which may be implemented in hardware or software, prevents a shift in the sensor's sensitivity during periods when water is flowing, and eliminates the possibility that water flow might "lock-on" once initiated. Compensating for water flow improves sensor performance by allowing the infrared detection field to encompass a larger volume of space where a user's hands might be found. In addition, the same, or similar, hardware can be used to detect a user's hand motion. The disclosed motion detection method can be used alone, or it can be used as an adjunct to the water stream compensation method, in which case it prevents extended intervals of water flow that could otherwise occur when foreign objects are left in view of the sensor.
In an automatic faucet controller comprising an emitter emitting electromagnetic radiation, a detector detecting said electromagnetic radiation and having as an output an electrical signal corresponding to the intensity of said detected radiation, and an electrically operated valve, said controller acting to open said valve when a user's hands proximate said faucet reflect said electromagnetic radiation from said emitter to said detector and thereby provide a said signal exceeding a threshold value, an improvement comprising
In a motion-sensing controller for a faucet having an output stream of water reflecting pulsed electromagnetic radiation from an emitter thereof to a detector thereof, said detector having an output signal value corresponding to the intensity of said pulsed electromagnetic radiation, said controller opening an electrically actuated valve if said output signal varies by more than a first predetermined amount during a predetermined interval, an improvement comprising
A method of operating a faucet controller comprising an emitter of optical radiation, a detector of optical radiation having as an output an electrical signal corresponding to the intensity of said radiation received, a computer having computer memory associated therewith, and an electrically actuated valve controlled by said computer, said method comprising the steps of
A method of operating a controller for a faucet, said controller comprising an emitter of optical radiation, a detector of optical radiation having as an output an electrical signal corresponding to the intensity of radiation received, signal processing circuitry processing said detected signal, and an electrically actuated valve controlled by said signal processing circuitry, a stream of water from said faucet reflecting said radiation from said emitter to said detector, said method comprising the steps of
A method of adapting an automatic faucet controller to environmental changes, the controller comprising an emitter emitting electromagnetic radiation, a detector detecting reflected electromagnetic radiation from the emitter, the detector having as an output an electrical signal corresponding to the intensity of the detected radiation;
A motion-sensing faucet controller comprising an emitter and a detector of pulsed electromagnetic radiation, the detector having an output signal corresponding to the intensity of the pulsed electromagnetic radiation reflected from an object proximate the faucet, the controller comprising timing means and memory means, the controller receiving the output signal from the detector and storing, in the memory means, a value equal to the output signal at a first time, the controller subsequently opening an electrically actuated valve at a second time when the output signal varies from the stored value by more than a predetermined amount, the timing means initiating a first interval having a first predetermined duration when the output signal varies by more than the first predetermined amount from the stored value, the controller holding the valve open during the duration of the first interval and, if the output signal differs from the stored value by less than the predetermined amount at all times during the first interval, closing the valve at the expiration of the first interval and holding the valve closed for a second interval having a second predetermined duration.
A method of adapting an automatic faucet controller to environmental changes, the controller comprising an emitter emitting electromagnetic radiation;
A method of operating an automatic faucet controller comprising an emitter emitting electromagnetic radiation, a detector detecting electromagnetic radiation from the emitter, the detector having as an output an electrical signal corresponding to the intensity of the detected radiation;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.