EP0550260A1 - Automatisches Wasserhahnsystem - Google Patents

Automatisches Wasserhahnsystem Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0550260A1
EP0550260A1 EP92311779A EP92311779A EP0550260A1 EP 0550260 A1 EP0550260 A1 EP 0550260A1 EP 92311779 A EP92311779 A EP 92311779A EP 92311779 A EP92311779 A EP 92311779A EP 0550260 A1 EP0550260 A1 EP 0550260A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ultrasound
frequency
detecting
received
discharge opening
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP92311779A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0550260B1 (de
Inventor
Kenji Inax Corporation Shirai
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Inax Corp
Original Assignee
Inax Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Inax Corp filed Critical Inax Corp
Publication of EP0550260A1 publication Critical patent/EP0550260A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0550260B1 publication Critical patent/EP0550260B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
    • E03C—DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; SINKS
    • E03C1/00—Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks
    • E03C1/02—Plumbing installations for fresh water
    • E03C1/05—Arrangements of devices on wash-basins, baths, sinks, or the like for remote control of taps
    • E03C1/055—Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like
    • E03C1/057—Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like touchless, i.e. using sensors

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an automatic faucet system for automatically discharging water from a discharge opening provided at an end of a discharge pipe by detecting a hand or the like by a sensor and more particularly to an automatic faucet system for detecting a hand or the like by ultrasound.
  • an automatic faucet system is used for washing hands or the like by automatically discharging water from a discharge opening when ultrasound transmitted from an oscillator of an ultrasonic sensor which is disposed near the discharge opening is reflected by an object such as a hand and is received by a receiver.
  • the conventional ultrasonic sensor measures the time interval from when ultrasound is transmitted from the oscillator to it being received by the receiver, and the sensor computes a distance to the object based on such time.
  • the sensor judges that the object is moving, whereby it opens an electromagnetic valve or the like by a drive controller to discharge water automatically from the discharge opening provided at the end of the discharge opening pipe.
  • the ultrasonic sensor used for such prior art automatic faucet system has a problem in that water may be discharged from the discharge opening even when an object such as a hand is not stretched out due to a so-called crosstalk phenomenon, i.e. ultrasound transmitted from the oscillator may be directly received by the receiver.
  • a system for automatically discharging water by detecting an object near a discharge opening comprising: detecting means for detecting a said object near said discharge opening, said detecting means having outputting means for transmitting ultrasound and receiving means for receiving ultrasound reflected back by a said object; and water supplying means including valve means for supplying water to said discharge opening when said detecting means detects said object; said detecting means further having means for comparing a frequency f1 of the output ultrasound and a frequency f2 of the received ultrasound and for outputting a valve opening signal when the received frequency f2 is greater than the output frequency f1 due to Doppler effect caused by approaching movement of said object.
  • the sensor for detecting an object detects the object as a moving body and outputs a detection signal when a difference is generated between the frequency of the ultrasound transmitted from the oscillator and that of the ultrasound received by the receiver, so that a valve associated with the faucet is operated by being driven by a drive controller into which the detection signal is input and water is discharged to the object from the discharge opening provided at the end of the discharge opening pipe.
  • the ultrasonic sensor utilizes Doppler effect and detects an object to be a moving body only when a frequency of ultrasound received differs from that of ultrasound transmitted. It ignores the received ultrasound when a crosstalk phenomenon occurs, i.e. when the frequency of the received ultrasound is the same with that of the oscillated ultrasound.
  • a discharge opening 5 is provided on a main body of the faucet 3 provided on a washstand 2.
  • a water supply pipe 6, having an electromagnetic valve 8, is connected to the lower part of the main body of the faucet 3.
  • the reference numeral 7 denotes a wash basin.
  • An ultrasonic sensor 9 for detecting a hand 100 stretched out is provided near the discharge opening 5.
  • the ultrasonic sensor 9 is one utilizing Doppler effect constructed as shown in Fig. 2 so that it can detect the hand only when the hand 100 is moved.
  • the ultrasonic sensor 9 comprises a speaker 10 for oscillating and outputting ultrasound, a microphone 11 for receiving the ultrasound transmitted from the speaker 10 and reflected by the hand 100 and for converting and outputting the received ultrasound as an electrical signal, an oscillating circuit 12 for outputting an oscillating electric signal of frequency f1 (Hz) which is equal to that of the ultrasound transmitted from the speaker 10, a filter circuit 13 for passing the electric signal from the microphone 11 when a difference which exceeds a predetermined frequency is generated between the frequency f2 of the received signal of the receiver 11 and the frequency f1, i.e. when Doppler effect occurs, and an amplifier 14 for amplifying and outputting the electrical signal that passes through the filter circuit 13.
  • the frequency f2 of the received ultrasound is higher than the frequency f1 of the transmitted ultrasound when the hand 100 approaches the microphone 11 and contrary to that, the frequency f2 of the received ultrasound is lower than the frequency f1 of the transmitted ultrasound when the hand 100 recedes from the microphone 11.
  • the electromagnetic valve 8 When the electrical signal output from the amplifier 14 is input to a drive controller 20, the electromagnetic valve 8 is opened by the signal from the drive controller 20 and water is discharged from the discharge opening 5.
  • the sensor 9 monitors whether the hand 100 is continuously detected. That is, if the hand 100 is detected and f2 ⁇ f1, water is continuously discharged. However, if the hand 100 cannot be detected, the valve is closed. When f2 ⁇ f1 even if the hand is detected, the valve is closed because it means that the hand is receding from the discharge opening.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
  • Domestic Plumbing Installations (AREA)
EP92311779A 1991-12-30 1992-12-24 Automatisches Wasserhahnsystem Expired - Lifetime EP0550260B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP359098/91 1991-12-30
JP3359098A JP2622640B2 (ja) 1991-12-30 1991-12-30 自動水栓装置

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0550260A1 true EP0550260A1 (de) 1993-07-07
EP0550260B1 EP0550260B1 (de) 1996-10-30

Family

ID=18462738

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92311779A Expired - Lifetime EP0550260B1 (de) 1991-12-30 1992-12-24 Automatisches Wasserhahnsystem

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0550260B1 (de)
JP (1) JP2622640B2 (de)
KR (1) KR930013393A (de)
DE (1) DE69214926T2 (de)
TW (1) TW202493B (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101886713A (zh) * 2010-07-12 2010-11-17 厦门市易洁卫浴有限公司 利用超声波控制开关的龙头及其开关方法

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP6656587B2 (ja) * 2016-03-23 2020-03-04 Toto株式会社 水周り機器

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2034877B1 (de) * 1970-07-07 1971-12-30 Visolux-Elektronik Richard Siering GmbH, 1000 Berlin Auf bewegung im wasserauslaufbereich ansprechende steuereinrichtung für wasserzuführungen von waschbecken od dgl
FR2390653A1 (fr) * 1977-05-11 1978-12-08 Siemens Ag Robinet d'eau a commande sans contact du mecanisme d'arret
WO1985001337A1 (en) * 1983-09-23 1985-03-28 Parsons Natan E Ultrasonic flow-control system
WO1987005352A1 (en) * 1986-02-28 1987-09-11 Recurrent Solutions Limited Partnership Automatic flow-control device

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2034877B1 (de) * 1970-07-07 1971-12-30 Visolux-Elektronik Richard Siering GmbH, 1000 Berlin Auf bewegung im wasserauslaufbereich ansprechende steuereinrichtung für wasserzuführungen von waschbecken od dgl
FR2390653A1 (fr) * 1977-05-11 1978-12-08 Siemens Ag Robinet d'eau a commande sans contact du mecanisme d'arret
WO1985001337A1 (en) * 1983-09-23 1985-03-28 Parsons Natan E Ultrasonic flow-control system
WO1987005352A1 (en) * 1986-02-28 1987-09-11 Recurrent Solutions Limited Partnership Automatic flow-control device

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101886713A (zh) * 2010-07-12 2010-11-17 厦门市易洁卫浴有限公司 利用超声波控制开关的龙头及其开关方法
CN101886713B (zh) * 2010-07-12 2012-03-28 厦门市易洁卫浴有限公司 利用超声波控制开关的龙头及其开关方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH05179680A (ja) 1993-07-20
TW202493B (de) 1993-03-21
KR930013393A (ko) 1993-07-21
DE69214926D1 (de) 1996-12-05
DE69214926T2 (de) 1997-02-27
JP2622640B2 (ja) 1997-06-18
EP0550260B1 (de) 1996-10-30

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