DE102021128980A1 - Sensor arrangement for detecting a person in a usage area of a sanitary facility - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a sensor arrangement (1) for detecting a person (8) in a usage area (2) of a sanitary facility (3), at least comprising the following steps: a) switching on a first sensor (4) of the sensor arrangement ( 1) when a second sensor (5) of the sensor arrangement (1) that differs from the first sensor (4) detects the presence of at least one person (8) in the vicinity of the sanitary facility (3), the switching on being a production of a previously completely interrupted power supply to the first sensor (4) and wherein the first sensor (4) is a ToF sensor;b) detecting at least one piece of distance information about the physical distance between the person (8) and the sanitary facility (3) using the first sensor (4), a runtime measurement of a signal emitted by the first sensor (4) being carried out;c) switching off the first sensor (4) when the presence of at least one person (8) in the vicinity of the sanitary facility (3) is no longer detected, the shutdown comprising a complete interruption of the power supply to the first sensor (4).

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating a sensor arrangement for detecting a person in a usage area of a sanitary facility, a sensor arrangement for detecting a person in a usage area of a sanitary facility, and a sanitary facility with such a sensor arrangement.

An electrically operable sanitary fitting with a presence sensor is known. Presence sensors with a comparatively large range are usually used to monitor the presence of one or more people in a usage area of the sanitary fitting over as full an area as possible. However, the large range often comes at the expense of the accuracy of these sensors. Increasingly precise measurements are required, in particular to implement advantageous functions such as automatic flushing when a person moves away from the fitting, which cannot always be implemented with long-range sensors. As a result, at least short-range sensors are also increasingly being installed in sanitary fittings.

Especially when a short-range sensor, for example a so-called ToF sensor (ToF = Time of Flight), is installed in a fitting, for example, it is often desirable that this is not connected to the mains power supply, but rather operated by a battery or an accumulator becomes. However, since this only has a limited service life or has to be recharged after some time, it is desirable and advantageous to keep the power consumption as low as possible so that the fitting does not have to be replaced too often.

However, ToF sensors in particular require too much energy for the battery application to continuously carry out measurements. Thus, a strategy is needed to reduce the energy demand.

Proceeding from this, it is the object of the invention to at least partially solve the problems described with reference to the prior art. In particular, a solution that is technically as simple as possible is to be specified, which enables monitoring and/or operation of a sanitary facility as energy-efficiently and advantageously as safely as possible.

These objects are achieved with a method, a sensor arrangement and a sanitary facility according to the independent claims. Advantageous developments are specified in the dependent claims. The features listed in the claims can be combined with one another in any technically meaningful way and can, if necessary, be further specified with features of the description. The description, in particular with reference to the figures, illustrates the invention and specifies further exemplary embodiments.

1. a) Anschalten eines ersten Sensors der Sensoranordnung, wenn ein sich von dem ersten Sensor unterscheidender zweiter Sensor der Sensoranordnung die Anwesenheit mindestens einer Person in der Umgebung der sanitären Einrichtung (insbesondere in dem Nutzungsbereich) erfasst, wobei das Anschalten ein Herstellen einer zuvor vollständig unterbrochenen Stromzufuhr zu dem ersten Sensor umfasst und wobei der erste Sensor ein ToF-Sensor ist;
2. b) Erfassen mindestens einer Distanzinformation über den räumlichen Abstand zwischen der Person und der sanitären Einrichtung mittels des ersten Sensors, wobei eine Laufzeitmessung eines von dem ersten Sensor ausgesandten Signals durchgeführt wird;
3. c) Abschalten des ersten Sensors, wenn die Anwesenheit mindestens einer Person in der Umgebung der sanitären Einrichtung (insbesondere in dem Nutzungsbereich) von insbesondere dem ersten Sensor und/oder dem zweiten Sensor nicht mehr erfasst wird, wobei das Abschalten ein vollständiges Unterbrechen der Stromzufuhr zu dem ersten Sensor umfasst. Dies bedeutet mit anderen Worten insbesondere, dass das Abschalten erfolgt, wenn keine Person mehr im Nutzungsbereich detektiert werden kann.

A method for operating a sensor arrangement for detecting a person in a usage area of a sanitary facility contributes to this, at least comprising the following steps:

1. a) Switching on a first sensor of the sensor arrangement when a second sensor of the sensor arrangement, which differs from the first sensor, detects the presence of at least one person in the vicinity of the sanitary facility (in particular in the area of use), with the switching on creating a previously completely interrupted power supply to the first sensor and wherein the first sensor is a ToF sensor;
2. b) detecting at least one piece of distance information about the spatial distance between the person and the sanitary facility by means of the first sensor, with a transit time measurement of a signal emitted by the first sensor being carried out;
3. c) switching off the first sensor when the presence of at least one person in the vicinity of the sanitary facility (in particular in the area of use) is no longer detected by the first sensor and/or the second sensor in particular, the switching off leading to a complete interruption of the power supply includes the first sensor. In other words, this means in particular that the device is switched off when it is no longer possible to detect a person in the area of use.

To carry out the method, steps a), b) and c) can be carried out, for example, at least once and/or repeatedly in the order given. The method can be carried out, for example, by means of a sensor arrangement that is also described here. The method is used to identify a person in the usage area of the sanitary facility. Furthermore, the method can contribute to or be carried out for (electronic) control, in particular triggering or activating (a water release) of the sanitary facility.

The sanitary facility can be, for example, a water fitting, e.g. B. in the manner of a faucet, a shower, a bathtub, etc. Furthermore, the sanitary facility can be, for example, a toilet or WC, a bidet and/or a urinal or a fitting for this. The area of use means in particular a (predetermined) surrounding area on or around the sanitary facility, when a person (e.g. a hand) enters the sanitary facility and/or (a water supply) is activated. The sensor arrangement or the first sensor and/or the second sensor is (or are) applied to or on the sanitary facility in such a way that its detection field roughly corresponds to the predetermined area of use or at least partially covers it.

The sensor arrangement can comprise the first sensor and the second sensor, for example in the manner of a hybrid sensor. In this context, the first sensor and the second sensor can form a hybrid sensor of the sensor arrangement. In this context, the term “hybrid sensor” means in particular that two different sensor technologies are used. In particular, the first sensor is suitable for carrying out a distance measurement. In contrast, the second sensor can only be suitable for detecting the presence of an object, such as a person, in the usage area. In particular, the first sensor and the second sensor can work according to physically different measurement principles.

The ToF (Time of Flight) sensor advantageously enables contactless detection of the presence or measurement of the distance to physical objects and people. The ToF sensor can measure the distance to a target object by timing the circulation of photons on their way from the sensor to the object or person and back (time-of-flight measurement). The ToF sensor can be implemented with vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSEL) and/or arrays with single photon avalanche photodiodes (SPAD: single photon avalanche photodiode). The ToF sensor can realize multiple, for example three, distance mode functions, for example a near, medium and short range mode. The ToF sensor can, for example, carry out distance measurements with a resolution of 1 mm [millimetre] and, in particular, report this to the control device via a digital I ² C interface, which can also serve as a control connection for the sensors. For example, the ToF sensor can be a ToF laser sensor.

Furthermore, the ToF sensor and/or the sensor arrangement can have a viewing window, which can preferably filter out light with specific wavelengths or other wavelengths (than the laser beams).

In particular, the ToF sensor can also be used to carry out several distance or distance measurements (carried out in chronological succession) for the purpose of tracking a movement of a person in the usage area or out of the usage area, for example to leave a urinal or a toilet trigger a flush.

The method advantageously contributes to the fact that a ToF measurement is only carried out when an object is located in the usage area (capture or detection area). As a result, the (total) energy requirement of the sensor arrangement can advantageously be reduced. The detection of whether something is in the detection area takes place in particular with a (second) sensor, which advantageously requires little energy. If not required, the ToF sensor can be switched off completely using suitable means (power off). In particular, a control device can use an additional sensor to check whether something is in the detection area. As soon as an object is detected in the detection area, the ToF sensor can be switched on and a distance measurement can be carried out. As soon as the control device has recognized that the detection area has been left, the ToF sensor can be switched off. Leaving the detection area can be detected both with the ToF sensor and with the additional sensor.

According to an advantageous embodiment, it is proposed that the second sensor has a lower electrical power consumption than the first sensor. Furthermore, the second sensor can have a greater range than the first sensor. In addition, the first sensor can have a greater measurement accuracy than the second sensor. For example, the second sensor can be an ultrasonic sensor or an infrared sensor. The second sensor is preferably an infrared sensor. In particular, the second sensor can be arranged independently of the first sensor (ToF sensor). The first sensor and the second sensor can be arranged directly next to one another. The first sensor and the second sensor can be arranged in a common housing.

According to an advantageous embodiment, it is proposed that the first sensor is connected to an electrical energy store of the sanitary facility in order to establish the power supply. The electrical energy store can, for example, comprise at least one electrical battery and/or at least one electrical accumulator.

According to an advantageous embodiment, it is proposed that an electronic switch is actuated to establish or interrupt the power supply to the first sensor. The switch can be arranged and set up in such a way that it can completely interrupt a power supply to the first sensor (keep the supply voltage away) and restore it if necessary. The electronic switch can be formed with at least one transistor, for example. Furthermore, the electronic switch can be actuated, for example, by a control device of the sensor arrangement. The control device can actuate the electronic switch, for example, depending on a sensor output of the second sensor. The control device can, for example, be in the form of a control unit, such as by means of a microcontroller.

In any case, the complete interruption of the power supply differs from a transition to a "standby" mode, in which a sensor would still consume electrical energy or current. Furthermore, the first sensor is advantageously always actuated here via the switches or the control device. In any case, there is no direct software command from the second sensor to the first sensor. In particular, the second sensor does not communicate with the first sensor. When switched on, the transistor can advantageously be switched through by a simple binary signal and the first sensor can be supplied with current again.

• - einen ersten Sensor, bei dem es sich um einen ToF-Sensor handelt, zum Erfassen mindestens einer Distanzinformation über einen räumlichen Abstand zwischen einer Person und der sanitären Einrichtung;
• - einen sich von dem ersten Sensor unterscheidenden zweiten Sensor zum Erfassen der Anwesenheit mindestens einer Person in der Umgebung der sanitären Einrichtung;
• - einen elektronischen Schalter zum Herstellen oder Unterbrechen einer Stromzufuhr von einer elektrischen Energiespeicher zu dem ersten Sensor;
• - eine Kontrolleinrichtung zur Betätigung des elektronischen Schalters in Abhängigkeit davon, ob mittels des zweiten Sensors die Anwesenheit mindestens einer Person in der Umgebung der sanitären Einrichtung erfasst wird.

According to a further aspect, a sensor arrangement for detecting a person in a usage area of a sanitary facility is proposed, at least comprising:

• - a first sensor, which is a ToF sensor, for detecting at least one piece of distance information about a spatial distance between a person and the sanitary facility;
• - a different from the first sensor second sensor for detecting the presence of at least one person in the vicinity of the sanitary facility;
• - An electronic switch for making or interrupting a power supply from an electrical energy storage device to the first sensor;
• - A control device for actuating the electronic switch depending on whether the presence of at least one person in the vicinity of the sanitary facility is detected by means of the second sensor.

The sensor arrangement can advantageously be set up to carry out a method described here.

According to a further aspect, a sanitary facility with a sensor arrangement described here is proposed.

The details, features and advantageous configurations discussed in connection with the method can accordingly also occur in the sensor arrangement and/or the sanitary facility presented here and vice versa. In this respect, full reference is made to the statements there for a more detailed characterization of the features.

• 1: einen beispielhaften Ablauf eines hier vorgestellten Verfahrens,
• 2: eine beispielhafte sanitäre Einrichtung mit der hier beschriebenen Sensoranordnung, und
• 3: einen beispielhaften Aufbau einer hier vorgestellten Sensoranordnung.

The solution presented here and its technical environment are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. It should be pointed out that the invention should not be limited by the exemplary embodiments shown. In particular, unless explicitly stated otherwise, it is also possible to extract partial aspects of the facts explained in the figures and to combine them with other components and/or findings from other figures and/or the present description. They show schematically:

• 1 : an example of a procedure presented here,
• 2 : an exemplary sanitary facility with the sensor arrangement described here, and
• 3 : an exemplary structure of a sensor arrangement presented here.

1 shows a schematic of an exemplary sequence of a method presented here. The method is used to operate a sensor arrangement 1 for detecting a person 8 in a usage area 2 of a sanitary facility 3 (cf. 2 , 3 ). The sequence of steps a), b) and c) represented by blocks 110, 120 and 130 is exemplary and can be run through at least once in the sequence represented in order to carry out the method.

In block 110, according to step a), a first sensor 4 of the sensor arrangement 1 is switched on if a second sensor 5 of the sensor arrangement 1, which differs from the first sensor 4, detects the presence of at least one person 8 in the vicinity of the sanitary facility 3, with the Switching on comprises establishing a previously completely interrupted power supply to the first sensor 4 and wherein the first sensor 4 is a ToF sensor. In block 120, according to step b), at least one dis is recorded dance information about the spatial distance between the person 8 and the sanitary facility 3 by means of the first sensor 4, a transit time measurement of a signal emitted by the first sensor 4 being carried out. According to step c), the first sensor 4 is switched off in block 130 if the presence of at least one person 8 in the vicinity of the sanitary facility 3 is no longer detected, the switch-off comprising a complete interruption of the power supply to the first sensor 4 .

2 1 shows a schematic of an exemplary sanitary facility 3 with the sensor arrangement 1 described here. Here, the sanitary facility 3 is designed in the manner of a sanitary fitting which, for example, can discharge water into a washbasin positioned in front of it.

3 shows schematically an exemplary structure of a sensor arrangement 1 presented here for detecting a person 8 in a usage area 2 of a sanitary facility 3. The sensor arrangement 1 comprises a first sensor 4, which is a ToF (Time of Flight) sensor. for detecting at least one piece of distance information about a spatial distance between a person 8 and the sanitary facility 3. The sensor arrangement 1 also comprises a second sensor 5, which differs from the first sensor 4, for detecting the presence of at least one person 8 in the vicinity of the sanitary facility 3 The sensor arrangement 1 further comprises an electronic switch 10 for establishing or interrupting a power supply from an electrical energy store 7 to the first sensor 4. The sensor arrangement 1 further comprises a control device 6 for actuating the electronic switch 10 depending on whether by means of the second sensor 5 the presence of at least one person 8 in the vicinity of the sanitary facility 3 is detected. By way of example, the sensor arrangement 1 here also has a pane 9 or a viewing window, behind which the sensors 4, 5 are arranged.

For example, the second sensor 5 can have a lower electrical power consumption than the first sensor 4. Furthermore, the first sensor 4 can be connected to an electrical energy store 7 of the sanitary facility 3 in order to establish the power supply. For example, the electronic switch 10 can be actuated to establish or interrupt the power supply to the first sensor 4 . In this context, the electronic switch 10 can be formed, for example, with a transistor. The electronic switch 10 can be actuated by the control device 6 of the sensor arrangement 1 . The control device 6 can actuate the electronic switch 10 depending on a sensor output of the second sensor 5 .

In particular, the sensor arrangement 1 can be designed in the form of a hybrid sensor, in which a second sensor 5 represents an additional sensor to a first (ToF) sensor 4, which requires much less energy than the first sensor 4 (main sensor). . The additional sensor is used here in particular to switch on the ToF sensor for a measurement only when required. For the rest of the time, the ToF sensor remains switched off (i.e. completely de-energized or in "Power Off"). As a result, the (total) energy requirement of the sensor arrangement 1 or of the hybrid sensor can be advantageously reduced.

Consequently, a solution has been provided here which at least partially solves the problems described with reference to the prior art. In particular, a solution that is technically as simple as possible was specified, which enables monitoring and/or operation of a sanitary facility as energy-efficiently and advantageously as safely as possible.

Reference List

1

sensor arrangement

2

usage area

3

sanitary facility

4

first sensor

5

second sensor

6

control device

7

energy storage

8th

person

9

disc

10

Switch

Claims (10)

Method for operating a sensor arrangement (1) for detecting a person (8) in a usage area (2) of a sanitary facility (3), at least comprising the following steps: a) switching on a first sensor (4) of the sensor arrangement (1) when a second sensor (5) of the sensor arrangement (1), which differs from the first sensor (4), detects the presence of at least one person (8) in the vicinity of the sanitary facility (3), with the switching on leading to the production of a previously completely interrupted power supply the first sensor (4) and wherein the first sensor (4) is a ToF sensor; b) detecting at least one item of distance information about the physical distance between the person (8) and the sanitary facility (3) by means of the device th sensor (4), a transit time measurement of a signal emitted by the first sensor (4) being carried out; c) switching off the first sensor (4) when the presence of at least one person (8) in the vicinity of the sanitary facility (3) is no longer detected, the switching off comprising completely interrupting the power supply to the first sensor (4). procedure after claim 1 , wherein the second sensor (5) has a lower electrical power consumption than the first sensor (4). procedure after claim 1 or 2 , wherein the first sensor (4) for producing the power supply with an electrical energy store (7) of the sanitary facility (3) is connected. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which an electronic switch (10) is actuated to establish or interrupt the power supply to the first sensor (4). procedure after claim 4 , wherein the electronic switch (10) is formed with at least one transistor. procedure after claim 4 or 5 , The electronic switch (10) being actuated by a control device (6) of the sensor arrangement (1). procedure after claim 6 , wherein the control device (6) actuates the electronic switch (10) depending on a sensor output of the second sensor (5). Sensor arrangement (1) for detecting a person (8) in a usage area (2) of a sanitary facility (3), at least comprising: - A first sensor (4), which is a ToF sensor, for detecting at least one piece of distance information about a spatial distance between a person (8) and the sanitary facility (3); - A different from the first sensor (4) second sensor (5) for detecting the presence of at least one person (8) in the vicinity of the sanitary facility (3); - An electronic switch (10) for producing or interrupting a power supply from an electrical energy store (7) to the first sensor (4); - A control device (6) for actuating the electronic switch (10) depending on whether the presence of at least one person (8) in the vicinity of the sanitary facility (3) is detected by means of the second sensor (5). Sensor arrangement (1) after claim 8 , Set up to carry out a method according to one of Claims 1 until 7 . Sanitary facility (3) with a sensor arrangement (1). claim 8 or 9 .

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