JP2024513282A - Methods of operating ToF sensor elements, uses of ToF sensor elements, sanitary devices, and computer programs - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for operating a ToF sensor element (1) for identifying a person within an application area (2) of a sanitary device (3), comprising at least the steps of: providing a ToF sensor element (1) with at least one sensor (4, 5) and at least one transmitter diode (12) operable by a control unit (6), and selectively activating the at least one sensor (4, 5) or the at least one transmitter diode (12) to deactivate or reduce unnecessary functions of the ToF sensor element (1). Furthermore, a use of the ToF sensor element, a sanitary device and a computer program are presented.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for operating a ToF sensor element, a use of a ToF sensor element, a hygiene device, and a computer program.

Electrically operable sanitary plumbing installations with a motion sensor with a large reception range and a further sensor with a small range are known, in which case the motion sensor with a large range is , the electronic control unit is configured to transition from sleep mode to work mode when the presence of a user is detected. In this case, sensors with a small range can be activated via the control unit and the plumbing equipment can be switched depending on the situation.

If a sensor with a small range, for example a so-called ToF sensor (ToF = Time of Flight), is installed, for example in a plumbing system, this sensor is not connected to the power supply, but rather is connected to a battery or accumulator. It is often desired to be operated by However, since these batteries or accumulators have a limited lifespan or must be recharged after a certain period of time, power consumption can be reduced to avoid having to replace plumbing equipment too frequently. It is desirable and advantageous to keep it as small as possible.

In principle, it is also conceivable for sensors with a small range to be operated via batteries or accumulators. Such sensors with a small coverage area can basically be integrated into the plumbing system. However, it is also possible for a sensor with a small coverage area to be arranged in a further sensing area of the sanitary device not in the vicinity of the plumbing system, but for example in the vicinity of the door or on the ceiling in the entrance area.

Once a sensor with a small coverage area has made a predetermined detection, it can switch the human sensor from a standby mode to an operating mode. That is, the motion sensor can be in standby mode in the absence of a user and wait until the user reaches a further grasp area of the sanitary device. If a user is present, this user is first detected by a sensor with a small coverage area. The occupancy sensor is then transferred into an operating mode by a corresponding signal of the sensor with a small coverage area, where it can be detected whether a user also appears in the first spatial area. Here too, if a user is present, the occupancy sensor detects a switching process in which the sanitary device is activated or at least enabled for activation, e.g. when a flushing part or a water tap is switched on or activated for operation. A switching process can be triggered, whereby the discharge of water can be started or switched on.

However, ToF sensors require too much energy for battery applications to perform measurements continuously. Therefore, strategies are needed to reduce energy demand.

Starting from this, the object of the invention is to at least partially solve the problems mentioned with respect to the prior art. In particular, it would be desirable to provide a technically simple solution that allows energy-efficient and reliable monitoring and/or operation of sanitary devices.

These objects are solved by a method, a use, a sanitary device and a computer program according to the independent claims. Advantageous developments are described in the respective dependent claims. The features recited in the claims can be combined with one another in any technically significant manner and can optionally be refined further by the features described in the description. The invention will be illustrated with particular reference to the figures and further embodiments will also be presented.

To address the above-mentioned problems, there is provided a method for operating a ToF sensor element to identify a person within the usage area of a sanitary device, the method comprising at least the following:
- providing a ToF sensor element comprising at least one sensor and at least one transmitting diode actuatable by the control unit;
- selectively activating at least one sensor or at least one transmitting diode to deactivate or reduce unnecessary functionality of the ToF sensor element.

The method is used to identify a person within the usage area of a sanitary device. The sanitary device may be a water fixture, such as a faucet, a shower, a bathtub, etc. An area of use is therefore, in particular, an area adjacent to or adjacent to the sanitary device where the sanitary device is switched to the ready state and/or activated (the water supply) upon the entry of a person (e.g. a human hand). means the (predetermined) peripheral area around the sanitary device.

The identification of a person's entry into such an area of use is here carried out automatically by at least one ToF sensor element. A plurality of ToF sensor elements may be provided (interconnected as an array). Preferably, exactly one or only one ToF sensor element is provided for the identification of a person within the usage area of the sanitary device.

ToF sensor elements enable contact-free detection of the presence of, or measurement of the distance to, physical objects and people. A ToF sensor element measures the distance to a target object by temporally detecting the round trip of photons from the sensor to the object or person, or conversely from the object or person to the sensor. The ToF sensor element can be configured to include an array of Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) and Single Photon Avalanche Photodiodes (SPADs). The ToF sensor element can implement multiple, e.g. three, range mode functions, e.g. close mode, intermediate mode and short range mode. The ToF sensor element can, for example, communicate distance measurements with a resolution of 1 mm (millimeter) to a higher-level control unit via a digital I ² C interface, which is also used as a control terminal of the sensor.

ToF sensor elements are substantially one-dimensional. Although individual ToF sensor elements cannot distinguish the direction of one-handed gestures, e.g. 1/2 taps (moving the hand downwards to touch the ToF sensor element) and/or 1/2 Identification of simple gestures such as wiping (moving the hand through the detection area of the ToF sensor element) is possible. Multiple ToF sensors can also be interconnected to detect gestures and movements in multiple dimensions.

The at least one ToF sensor element is coupled to or connected to the sanitary device in such a way that its detection area substantially coincides with the predetermined area of use or is at least partially covered. Applies to.

Since sanitary devices are often used only occasionally or sporadically, and complete monitoring by such ToF sensor elements would lead to potentially undesirable high energy consumption, we here describe the use of ToF sensor elements (e.g. It is proposed to at least temporarily deactivate the functions and/or components (for sleep operation). In this way, it is possible to significantly reduce the energy demand of the ToF sensor element over a long period of time.

Here, for example, the detection area of the ToF sensor element can be set to be selectively narrowed (temporarily or after a predetermined period of time). For this purpose, for example, an instruction can be used to switch off individual SPADs (sensors) in an array of ToF sensor elements. If the SPAD array of the proximity sensor contains, for example, 256 photodiodes in a 16x16 array, then this type of instruction activates each square or rectangular part of the array (but possibly at least a 4x4 array). be able to. By reducing the number of active sensors, the detection area of the ToF sensor element is reduced, which in turn narrows the available area detected by the ToF sensor element.

"Selectively adjustable" means that the sensor of the ToF sensor element can be adjusted, in particular, by commands via the control unit (possibly via correspondingly pre-installed software, e.g. by external data query and/or external This means that the individual sensors can be switched off/on (by means of switches) and/or that the operation of the sensors is made possible by respective different drive signals or drive currents.

In other words, this means that a (complete) ToF measurement is optionally performed only if an object or person is present in the detection area. The (initial or initial) identification as to whether something is present within the detection area is done in a way that requires very little energy. The identification can be performed by the same ToF sensor element and can ultimately also be used for (complete) ToF measurements. In general, a ToF sensor element consists of a sensor complex of a number of individual sensors (eg SPAD) and (individual) transmitting diodes (eg VCSEL, IR diode or laser diode). The individual functions ( measurements), which allows operation with less energy. Thus, with a small amount of energy, it is possible to first identify whether something is present in the detection area (e.g. during sleep operation) and then to detect another component and/or measurement method (function). After activation, the operation itself can be performed (in a wake-up operation).

At least one function of the ToF sensor element when placed in the sanitary device can be permanently deactivated. In this way, functions that are not required permanently can be switched off via the control unit on command, taking into account, for example, the environmental situation at the time of installation of the ToF sensor element and/or the expected intensity of use. This allows sustained energy-saving operation of the ToF sensor element (in sleep and wake-up operations).

Thus, a "distance measurement" function that is at least temporarily deactivated (particularly during sleep operation) is considered a capacity-saving state. Therefore, the distance to the ToF sensor element cannot be determined/calculated with the deactivated functionality.

A further measure of energy saving is found in adjusting or setting differently at least the number of activated sensors.

The operation of the at least one transmitting diode is adjusted using current duration, current intensity and/or pulse pattern so as to maintain its (reduced) functionality over a set period of time with lower energy requirements. In this case, further means are available.

Regarding the selectively activated or deactivated functional range of the ToF sensor element (and/or sensor), the current state of charge of the battery of the ToF sensor element can be taken into account. This applies in particular if the ToF sensor element is supplied with electrical energy exclusively via a battery. At least one further function may be activated when the state of charge exceeds the first threshold. At least one further function may be deactivated when the state of charge falls below a second threshold, which may be different from the first threshold.

In particular, it is proposed that during sleep operation a reduced functional range of the ToF sensor element is provided, and during wake-up operation a full functional range of the ToF sensor element is provided.

According to another aspect, the use of a ToF sensor element with at least one selectively adjustable sensor is proposed for energy-efficient identification of a person within the usage area of a sanitary device. In particular, the use is proposed for carrying out the identification of a person in the usage area of a sanitary device exclusively by means of one or more ToF sensor elements. For further features of the use, reference may be made in its entirety to the description of the further aspects of the invention.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a sanitary device is proposed having an area of use monitored by at least one ToF sensor element comprising at least one sensor. In this case, the sensors are selectively actuatable by the control unit, in which case the ToF sensor elements are (exclusively) connected to the (at least one) battery. For further features of the sanitary device, reference may be made entirely to the description of the further aspects of the invention. The sanitary device is configurable to perform the methods proposed herein. The method proposed herein can be carried out using the sanitary device disclosed herein.

Another aspect relates to a computer program that includes instructions for causing a sanitary device to perform the method steps described herein. For further features of the computer program product, reference may be made entirely to the description of further aspects of the invention.

The use of ToF sensor elements is especially provided for the detection of people near a sink, urinal or toilet. Based on the energy problem, several solutions have been proposed to enable battery operation.

The invention and the technical environment will be explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. It should be noted that the invention should not be limited to the described embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, it is also possible to extract partial aspects of the factual content shown in the figures and combine them with other constituent parts and other findings of this specification. It should be noted that the figures, in particular the scale shown, are only schematic.

1 shows a sanitary device with a ToF sensor element; FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a ToF sensor element.

In FIG. 1 a sanitary device 3 with a single ToF sensor element 1 is shown. In this case, the sanitary device 3 is constructed in the form of a sanitary water system, which can emit water into a sink positioned in front, for example. The ToF sensor element 1 is capable of monitoring the use area 2 in which the sanitary device 3 is set, and in particular identifies when a person (or object) enters the use area 2. It is located. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the sanitary device 3 with the ToF sensor element 1 is operated (exclusively) by a battery 7.

FIG. 2 is used to explain a possible structure of a ToF sensor element 1 suitable for carrying out the method proposed here. The ToF sensor element 1 has, for example, a housing with an internal space defined by a partially transparent panel 9. The interior space accommodates a plurality of sensors 4, 5 (for example SPADs) and (individual) transmitting diodes 12 (for example VCSELs, IR diodes or laser diodes). The light emitted by the transmitting diode 12 can be reflected at various interfaces (for example the panel 9) and/or at objects 8 in the detection area outside the ToF sensor element 1. The reflected beam can be detected by a plurality of sensors, where for example the first sensor 4 is located further from the transmitting diode 12 than the second sensor 5. The number or position of the sensors 4, 5 used can be selected and/or the current duration, current intensity and/or optionally the pulse pattern of the transmitting diode 12 can be adjusted. In this way, individual functions (F1, F2 or measurements) can be executed or deactivated as required via the control unit 6, which is optionally supplied with energy solely by the battery 7; This allows operation with low energy.

Accordingly, a solution is presented herein that at least partially solves the problems mentioned with respect to the prior art. In particular, a technically simple solution is presented which allows energy-efficient and reliable monitoring and/or operation of sanitary devices.

1 ToF sensor element 2 Application area 3 Sanitary device 4 First sensor 5 Second sensor 6 Control unit 7 Battery 8 Object 9 Panel 10 Transmitter 11 Drive line 12 Transmission diode

Claims (10)

A method of operating a ToF sensor element (1) for identifying a person within an application area (2) of a sanitary device (3), comprising at least:
providing a ToF sensor element (1) comprising at least one sensor (4, 5) actuatable by a control unit (6) and at least one transmitting diode (12);
selectively activating said at least one sensor (4, 5) or said at least one transmitting diode (12) to deactivate or reduce unnecessary functionality of said ToF sensor element (1); Including, methods. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one function of the ToF sensor element (1) is permanently deactivated when placed in the sanitary device (3). 3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein distance measurement is deactivated. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least the number of activated sensors (4, 5) is adjusted. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the transmitting diode (12) is adjusted by current duration, current intensity or pulse pattern. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the current state of charge of the battery (7) of the ToF sensor element (1) is taken into account. 7. Any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein in sleep operation a reduced functional range of the ToF sensor element (1) is provided and in wake-up operation a full functional range of the ToF sensor element (1) is provided. The method described in Section 1. ToF sensor element (1) with at least one selectively adjustable sensor (4, 5) for energy-efficient identification of a person within the usage area (2) of the sanitary device (3). use. having a utilization area (2) that is monitorable by at least one ToF sensor element (1) with at least one sensor (4, 5) selectively actuatable using a control unit (6);
the ToF sensor element (1) is connected to a battery (7);
Sanitary equipment (3). Computer program product comprising instructions for causing a sanitary device (3) according to claim 9 to carry out the method steps according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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