EP3064661A1 - Sanitary fitting with bar code reader - Google Patents

Abstract

Sanitary fitting (1), comprising a sensor (2) for detecting an opto-electronically readable writing (3), wherein the sensor (2) is data-conducting with a microprocessor (4) for evaluating an opto-electronic writing (3) detected in the sensor (2) ) is connected, so that the information for setting the sanitary fitting (1) is usable. In addition, a method for setting a sanitary fitting (1) is given.

Description

The present invention relates to a sanitary fitting, which is regularly used in connection with sinks, sinks, showers and / or baths use. Such sanitary fittings are used in particular to provide a mixed water with a desired mixed water temperature.

From the state of the art, electronic sanitary fittings with a factory presetting are known. The factory default setting of the sanitary fitting must often be adjusted to the customer's request or due to country-specific requirements. The factory setting may, for example, be a maximum mixing water temperature, a limitation / adjustment of the flow rate and / or the flow time of the mixed water through an outlet of the sanitary fitting. The adjustment of the default can be done in known sanitary fittings, for example, by covering an optical sensor, wherein a change in the default setting takes place as a function of a duration of the cover of the optical sensor. Disadvantages of this include, inter alia, the inaccurate or limited adjustment options and the susceptibility to errors. In addition, the adjustment of the preset by a remote control or computer-aided software applications is known. The disadvantage here is that each user must obtain costly programming tools for the adjustment of the default settings.

The object of the invention is therefore to solve the problems described with reference to the prior art at least partially and in particular to provide a sanitary fitting and a method for setting a sanitary fitting, with which the sanitary fitting is simple and inexpensive adjustable.

These objects are achieved with a sanitary fitting and a method for adjusting a sanitary fitting according to the features of the independent claims. Further advantageous Embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent formulated claims. It should be noted that the features listed individually in the dependent formulated claims can be combined with each other in any technologically meaningful manner and define further embodiments of the invention. In addition, the features specified in the claims are specified and explained in more detail in the description, wherein further preferred embodiments of the invention are shown.

For this purpose, a sanitary fitting, which has a sensor for detecting an opto-electronically readable font, wherein the sensor is data-conducting connected to a microprocessor for evaluating an information contained in the optoelectronic writing detected by the sensor, so that the information for setting the sanitary fitting is usable.

The proposed sanitary fitting is used in particular in the context of sinks, sinks, showers and / or bathtubs. The sanitary fitting may have a fitting body which is preferably at least partially made of metal and / or plastic. The sanitary fitting is used in particular to provide a mixed water with a desired mixed water temperature. For this purpose, the sanitary fitting may have at least one mixing valve, with which a cold water and a hot water to the mixed water with the desired mixed water temperature are miscible. To set the mixed water temperature and to control an outlet of the mixed water from an outlet of the sanitary fitting, the sanitary fitting may have a lever for actuating the at least one mixing valve.

The sanitary fitting is an electronic sanitary fitting in which at least one function is electronically controllable. The at least one function may be, for example, a) a preset (minimum and / or maximum) mixed water temperature, b) a preset (minimum and / or maximum) discharge duration from the outlet and / or c) act a preset (minimum and / or maximum) discharge amount of the mixed water from the spout. Furthermore, the functions could affect operating phases of the sanitary fitting, such as the activation and deactivation of a "standby phase" and / or the activation and deactivation of the use phase of the sanitary fitting, in particular concerning a sensitivity of the sanitary fitting (detection space, sampling rates, etc.).

The sanitary fitting also has a sensor for detecting an opto-electronically readable font. The sensor is in particular an optical sensor with which the opto-electronically readable text can be detected or read. To capture the opto-electronically readable writing, the opto-electronically readable writing is to be guided in particular in a sensor region of the sensor. The opto-electronically readable font is, in particular, a 2D code, for example in the manner of a bar code or QR code. In particular, the bar code consists of a plurality of differently wide, parallel bars and gaps. QR codes are for example from the EP 0672 994 A1 known. The opto-electronically readable font is used, in particular, to map information using binary symbols. The sensor is data-conducting, for example, by means of a bus system, connected to a microprocessor for evaluating an information contained in the optoelectronic writing detected by the sensor. For this purpose, the opto-electronically readable font can be converted by the sensor, in particular into electrical signals, which can be evaluated by the microprocessor. The information contained in the optoelectronic writing is in particular data for setting the sanitary fitting or for changing a presetting of the sanitary fitting. This may be, for example, a program code or software, such as software updates. With the information in particular data in a memory of the sanitary fitting can be changed, which is also, in particular via the bus system, data-connected to the microprocessor. With the information contained in the optoelectronic font in particular the previously mentioned functions of the electronic sanitary fitting are adjustable. These functions are in particular by at least one electrically controllable mixing valve, such as a solenoid valve, and / or at least one electrically controllable flow rate regulating valve, with which a flow rate of the mixed water is controllable from the outlet, executable. For this purpose, the microprocessor may be data-conducting, in particular via the bus system, to the at least one electrically controllable mixing valve and / or the at least one electrically controllable flow rate regulating valve. The sanitary fitting is thus adjustable without programming devices and without special knowledge for covering an optical sensor. In addition, it is possible to make software updates by the subsequent transmission of optoelectronic characters, for example by SMS.

It is also advantageous if the sensor is a line sensor. A line sensor is, in particular, a photosensitive or radiation-sensitive sensor, which in particular comprises a one-dimensional arrangement of photosensors.

It is particularly advantageous if the line sensor has a resolution of 50-500 × 1-50 pixels and preferably of 128 × 1 pixels. This number of pixels is already completely sufficient and inexpensive to produce for the present task.

In addition, it is advantageous if the sensor is attached to a fitting housing. The sensor can be arranged in particular below an outlet of the sanitary fitting.

1. a) Erfassen einer optoelektronisch lesbaren Schrift mit einem an der Sanitärarmatur befestigten Sensor;
2. b) Auswerten einer in der optoelektronisch lesbaren Schrift enthaltenen Information; und
3. c) Einstellen der Sanitärarmatur unter Verwendung der Information.

In accordance with another aspect of this solution, there is also provided a method of adjusting a sanitary fitting having at least the following steps:

1. a) detecting an opto-electronically readable font with a sensor attached to the sanitary fitting;
2. b) evaluating information contained in the opto-electronically readable font; and
3. c) Setting the sanitary fitting using the information.

With the proposed method, in particular the sanitary fitting proposed here is adjustable. The technical features and processes explained in conjunction with the sanitary fitting can also be used here, and vice versa.

First, according to step a), an opto-electronically readable writing is detected with a sensor attached to / in the sanitary fitting and converted by the sensor, in particular into an electrical signal. For this purpose, the opto-electronically readable writing is guided in particular into a sensor region of the sensor. By means of the electrical signal, information contained in the opto-electronically readable font can be evaluated in particular by means of a microprocessor (possibly also a component of the sanitary fitting). Subsequently, this information according to step c) for setting the sanitary fitting (see above functions, for example by means of presets at least one valve of the sanitary fitting) can be used.

In addition, it is advantageous if the setting of the sanitary fitting in step c) comprises a programming or a software update (with regard to the microprocessor).

• Fig. 1: eine Sanitärarmatur mit einem Sensor.

The invention and the technical environment will be explained in more detail with reference to the figure. It should be noted that the figure shows a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, but this is not limited thereto. It shows schematically:

• Fig. 1 : a sanitary fitting with a sensor.

The Fig. 1 shows a sanitary fitting 1 with a fitting housing 5. The fitting housing 5 has an outlet 9 for a mixed water. A mixed water temperature of the mixed water and a flow rate of the mixed water from the outlet 9 are manually via a lever 8 and additionally via a not shown here electrically controllable mixing valve and a electrically controllable flow control valve controllable. In the fitting housing 5, a microprocessor 4 is also arranged, which is connected via a bus system 7 in terms of data with a sensor 2 and a memory 6. With the sensor 2, an opto-electronically readable font 3 can be detected and fed via the bus system 7 as electrical signals to the microprocessor 4. An information contained in the opto-electronic font 3 can be evaluated by the microprocessor 4 and used to set the sanitary fitting 1. For this purpose, for example, data in the memory 6 can be changed.

By the present invention, a sanitary fitting is particularly simple and inexpensive adjustable.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

plumbing fixture

2

sensor

3

Opto-electronically readable font

4

microprocessor

5

fitting housing

6

Storage

7

bus system

8th

lever

9

outlet

Claims (6)

Sanitary fitting (1), comprising a sensor (2) for detecting an opto-electronically readable writing (3), wherein the sensor (2) is data-conducting with a microprocessor (4) for evaluating an opto-electronic writing (3) detected in the sensor (2) ) is connected, so that the information for setting the sanitary fitting (1) is usable. Sanitary fitting (1) according to claim 1, wherein the sensor (2) is a line sensor. Sanitary fitting (1) according to claim 2, wherein the line sensor has a resolution of 50-500 x 1-50 pixels, and preferably of 128 x 1 pixels. Sanitary fitting (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor (2) is attached to a fitting housing (5). Method for adjusting a sanitary fitting (1), comprising at least the following steps: a) detecting an opto-electronically readable font (3) with a sensor (2) attached to the sanitary fitting (1); b) evaluating an information contained in the opto-electronically readable font (3); and c) Setting the sanitary fitting (1) using the information. The method of claim 5, wherein adjusting the sanitary fitting (1) in step c) comprises programming or software updating.

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