EP1579136A4 - Optical sensors and algorithms for controling automatic bathroom flushers and faucets - Google Patents

Optical sensors and algorithms for controling automatic bathroom flushers and faucets

Info

Publication number
EP1579136A4
EP1579136A4 EP03808568A EP03808568A EP1579136A4 EP 1579136 A4 EP1579136 A4 EP 1579136A4 EP 03808568 A EP03808568 A EP 03808568A EP 03808568 A EP03808568 A EP 03808568A EP 1579136 A4 EP1579136 A4 EP 1579136A4
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
valve
optical sensor
algorithms
faucets
optical sensors
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP03808568A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1579136A1 (en
Inventor
Fatih Guler
Natan E Parsons
Yue Zhang
Xiaoxing Mo
Kay Herbert
Haiou Wu
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.)
Arichell Technologies Inc
Original Assignee
Arichell Technologies Inc
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
Priority claimed from PCT/US2002/041576 external-priority patent/WO2003058102A1/en
Priority claimed from PCT/US2003/020117 external-priority patent/WO2004005628A2/en
Application filed by Arichell Technologies Inc filed Critical Arichell Technologies Inc
Publication of EP1579136A1 publication Critical patent/EP1579136A1/en
Publication of EP1579136A4 publication Critical patent/EP1579136A4/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
    • E03D—WATER-CLOSETS OR URINALS WITH FLUSHING DEVICES; FLUSHING VALVES THEREFOR
    • E03D5/00—Special constructions of flushing devices, e.g. closed flushing system
    • E03D5/10—Special constructions of flushing devices, e.g. closed flushing system operated electrically, e.g. by a photo-cell; also combined with devices for opening or closing shutters in the bowl outlet and/or with devices for raising/or lowering seat and cover and/or for swiveling the bowl
    • E03D5/105—Special constructions of flushing devices, e.g. closed flushing system operated electrically, e.g. by a photo-cell; also combined with devices for opening or closing shutters in the bowl outlet and/or with devices for raising/or lowering seat and cover and/or for swiveling the bowl touchless, e.g. using sensors
    • 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

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Sanitary Device For Flush Toilet (AREA)
  • Domestic Plumbing Installations (AREA)
  • Geophysics And Detection Of Objects (AREA)

Abstract

An automatic toilet room flusher (100) includes a valve having a valve body (512) and, a valve member, and a controller (500). The valve body includes an inlet 112, an outlet 113, and a valve seat inside the body. The valve member (e.g., a flexible diaphragm, a piston or a fram piston) is cooperatively arranged with the valve seat. The valve member is constructed and arranged to control water flow between the inlet and the outlet. The flusher may include a passive optical sensor or an active optical sensor. The active optical sensor includes a light emitter and a light detector. The passive optical sensor includes only a light detector sensitive to ambient (room) light for providing a signal to a controller. The controller executes one or several novel algorithms.
EP03808568A 2002-12-26 2003-12-26 Optical sensors and algorithms for controling automatic bathroom flushers and faucets Withdrawn EP1579136A4 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (9)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
WOPCT/US02/41576 2002-12-26
PCT/US2002/041576 WO2003058102A1 (en) 2001-12-26 2002-12-26 Bathroom flushers with novel sensors and controllers
PCT/US2003/020117 WO2004005628A2 (en) 2002-06-24 2003-06-24 Automated water delivery systems with feedback control
WOPCT/US03/20117 2003-06-24
US51372203P 2003-10-22 2003-10-22
US513722P 2003-10-22
PCT/US2003/038730 WO2004051011A1 (en) 2002-12-04 2003-12-04 Passive sensors for automatic faucets and bathroom flushers
WOPCT/US03/38730 2003-12-04
PCT/US2003/041303 WO2004061343A1 (en) 2002-12-26 2003-12-26 Optical sensors and algorithms for controling automatic bathroom flushers and faucets

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1579136A1 EP1579136A1 (en) 2005-09-28
EP1579136A4 true EP1579136A4 (en) 2009-12-09

Family

ID=32713735

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03796714A Expired - Lifetime EP1567730B1 (en) 2002-12-04 2003-12-04 Passive sensors for automatic faucets and bathroom flushers
EP03808568A Withdrawn EP1579136A4 (en) 2002-12-26 2003-12-26 Optical sensors and algorithms for controling automatic bathroom flushers and faucets

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03796714A Expired - Lifetime EP1567730B1 (en) 2002-12-04 2003-12-04 Passive sensors for automatic faucets and bathroom flushers

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (2) EP1567730B1 (en)
JP (2) JP4999273B2 (en)
AT (1) ATE328164T1 (en)
AU (2) AU2003297994B2 (en)
CA (2) CA2507504C (en)
DE (1) DE60305732T2 (en)
WO (2) WO2004051011A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7549436B2 (en) * 2001-07-27 2009-06-23 Arichell Technologies System and method for converting manually operated flush valves
EP1698817B1 (en) 2005-03-05 2013-08-21 Sloan Valve Company Electromagnetic apparatus and method for controlling fluid flow
US8438672B2 (en) 2005-11-11 2013-05-14 Masco Corporation Of Indiana Integrated electronic shower system
US7867172B1 (en) 2006-11-09 2011-01-11 Dingane Baruti Combination toothbrush and peak flow meter system
ITMI20080473A1 (en) * 2008-03-19 2009-09-20 Osmoteck S N C CANE, PARTICULARLY FOR WASHBASINS AND THE LIKE, WITH AN AUTOMATIC ACTIVATION DEVICE FOR A VALVE BODY.
JP2011002335A (en) * 2009-06-18 2011-01-06 Inax Corp Infrared optical fiber type sensor and automatic faucet using the same
JP5686514B2 (en) * 2009-12-10 2015-03-18 株式会社Ｌｉｘｉｌ Automatic faucet
US9032565B2 (en) 2009-12-16 2015-05-19 Kohler Co. Touchless faucet assembly and method of operation
EP2768365A2 (en) * 2011-10-19 2014-08-27 Bobrick Washroom Equipment, Inc. Automated fluid dispensing system
US9228334B2 (en) * 2011-12-19 2016-01-05 Defond Components Limited Liquid-operated actuator assembly, particularly for a flush toilet, and flush toilet incorporating the assembly
US10754357B2 (en) 2018-06-19 2020-08-25 International Business Machines Corporation Optimizing a water recovery system
CN111990242A (en) * 2020-08-11 2020-11-27 南京汉尔斯生物科技有限公司 Seed culture system
CN112702008A (en) * 2020-12-24 2021-04-23 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 Cleaning robot
US12493355B2 (en) 2022-04-14 2025-12-09 Kohler Co. Touchless plumbing control system
KR102492011B1 (en) * 2022-05-04 2023-01-26 지병욱 Automatic sterilization faucet

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5361802A (en) * 1991-09-30 1994-11-08 Herion-Werke Kg Valve block
US5918855A (en) * 1993-12-20 1999-07-06 Toto Ltd. Automatic faucet

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4011553A (en) * 1973-10-24 1977-03-08 Luis Delgado Barri Remote detector to indicate leakage of liquids in toilet tanks
WO1985005648A1 (en) * 1984-05-31 1985-12-19 Robotronics Limited Flush control apparatus
US4998673A (en) * 1988-04-12 1991-03-12 Sloan Valve Company Spray head for automatic actuation
JP3569988B2 (en) * 1993-12-28 2004-09-29 東陶機器株式会社 Human body detection device
JPH07301680A (en) * 1994-05-06 1995-11-14 Tokai Rika Co Ltd Object detecting device
JP3684970B2 (en) * 1995-07-27 2005-08-17 オムロン株式会社 Passive detection device
US5984262A (en) * 1996-07-31 1999-11-16 Arichell Technologies, Inc. Object-sensor-based flow-control system employing fiber-optic signal transmission
DE29717352U1 (en) * 1997-04-09 1998-01-08 Brandenburger, Markus, 56479 Liebenscheid Moisture protection for opto-sensor
WO1999004283A1 (en) * 1997-07-18 1999-01-28 Kohler Company Advanced touchless plumbing systems
US5915417A (en) * 1997-09-15 1999-06-29 T&S Brass And Bronze Works, Inc. Automatic fluid flow control apparatus
US5966076A (en) * 1998-03-13 1999-10-12 Cantrell; Kevin E. Fluid leak detector and shut-off device

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5361802A (en) * 1991-09-30 1994-11-08 Herion-Werke Kg Valve block
US5918855A (en) * 1993-12-20 1999-07-06 Toto Ltd. Automatic faucet

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2006509200A (en) 2006-03-16
JP2011242384A (en) 2011-12-01
WO2004051011A1 (en) 2004-06-17
EP1567730A1 (en) 2005-08-31
CA2507504A1 (en) 2004-06-17
AU2003297994B2 (en) 2010-01-21
CA2511809A1 (en) 2004-07-22
EP1567730B1 (en) 2006-05-31
CA2507504C (en) 2015-01-27
DE60305732T2 (en) 2007-05-31
WO2004061343A1 (en) 2004-07-22
JP4999273B2 (en) 2012-08-15
AU2003303592A1 (en) 2004-07-29
DE60305732D1 (en) 2006-07-06
AU2003297994A1 (en) 2004-06-23
JP5580229B2 (en) 2014-08-27
ATE328164T1 (en) 2006-06-15
EP1579136A1 (en) 2005-09-28

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20050627

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL LT LV MK

DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: MO, XIAOXING

Inventor name: HERBERT, KAY

Inventor name: PARSONS, NATAN, E.

Inventor name: WU, HAIOU

Inventor name: ZHANG, YUE, C/O ARICHELL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor name: GULER, FATIH

A4 Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched

Effective date: 20091111

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: E03D 5/10 20060101ALI20091105BHEP

Ipc: E03C 1/05 20060101AFI20091105BHEP

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20100706

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20170722

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: E03D 5/10 20060101ALI20091105BHEP

Ipc: E03C 1/05 20060101AFI20091105BHEP