US 5,570,869 A · Self-calibrating water fluid control apparatus

Abstract

A self-calibrating fluid flow control apparatus for use with a fluid flow source is provided. A detection area is defined wherein the interposition of an object therein causes a control device to activate the fluid flow source. A calibrating device is configured to continuously define, at a predetermined rate, a steady state boundary of the detection area, wherein the steady state boundary conforms to objects interposed within said detection area so that a new detection area is defined which is free of interposed objects capable of activating the fluid flow source. An object left indefinitely within the detection area will not, therefore, cause the control device to indefinitely activate the fluid flow source nor, after deactivation by a timing mechanism, prevent the fluid flow source's subsequent reactivation.

Claims35

Dependent claims

A continuously self-calibrating fluid flow control apparatus for utilization with a fluid flow source, comprising:

an infrared signal source configured to repeatedly emit, at a predetermined rate, an infrared signal into a defined detection area;
an infrared receiver configured to receive reflections of said infrared signals from objects within said detection area and generate electrical signals corresponding to said reflections;
a calibrating mechanism in communication with said infrared receiver and said infrared signal source and configured to compare said received infrared signal to at least one predetermined reference signal and adjust, responsive to said comparison, the intensity of infrared signals subsequently emitted by said infrared signal source so that the subsequent electrical signals corresponding to reflections therefrom approach said at least one predetermined reference signal;
and
a control mechanism in communication with said infrared receiver and configured to output, responsive to said electrical signals, fluid flow source control signals to the fluid flow source, wherein said control mechanism is further configured so that when said electrical signals approximate said at least one reference signal, the fluid flow source is not activated.

2 more elements

A water faucet assembly, comprising:

a faucet operatively connected to a water source;
a valve configured to selectively permit water flow from said water source to said faucet;
and
a continuously self-calibrating water flow control apparatus operatively connected to said valve;
comprising:
a control device configured to open said valve, thereby activating said faucet, upon the interposition of an object within a defined detection area relative to said faucet;
and
a calibrating device in communication with said control device and configured to continuously define, at a predetermined rate, a steady state boundary of said detection area conforming to objects interposed within said detection area such that said conforming steady state boundary excludes objects capable of activating the faucet.

5 more elements

A continuously self-calibrating fluid flow control apparatus for utilization with a fluid flow system, comprising:

a control device mateable with said fluid flow system and configured to activate a water flow source of the fluid flow system upon the interposition of an object within a defined detection area;
and
a calibrating device in communication with said control device and configured to continuously redefine, at a predetermined rate, a steady state boundary of said detection area, wherein said steady state boundary conforms to objects interposed within said detection area so that a new detection area is defined which is free of interposed objects capable of activating the fluid flow system.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Self-calibrating water fluid control apparatus

Life of this patent

Self-calibrating water fluid control apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims35