U.S. patent application number 12/686698 was filed with the patent office on 2010-07-22 for method and electronic control apparatus for contactlessly controlling a sanitary facility.
This patent application is currently assigned to GEBERIT INTERNATIONAL AG. Invention is credited to Rene ELSENER, Peter STEINER, Roman THALLER, Raffael ZINGG.
Application Number | 20100180367 12/686698 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40840071 |
Filed Date | 2010-07-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100180367 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ELSENER; Rene ; et
al. |
July 22, 2010 |
METHOD AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL APPARATUS FOR CONTACTLESSLY
CONTROLLING A SANITARY FACILITY
Abstract
In the method for contactlessly controlling a sanitary facility,
a transmitter, a receiver, an evaluation unit and a control unit
are used to monitor an area (2) of the sanitary facility (1) and to
control at least one actuator (5) of the sanitary facility. The
area (2) is monitored using a time-of-flight distance measurement.
In particular, the spatial position and/or the speed and/or the
direction of movement of objects (7) in the area (2) being
monitored is/are detected.
Inventors: |
ELSENER; Rene; (Uster,
CH) ; THALLER; Roman; (Bulach, CH) ; ZINGG;
Raffael; (Rapperswil, CH) ; STEINER; Peter;
(Jona, CH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
GEBERIT INTERNATIONAL AG
Jona
CH
|
Family ID: |
40840071 |
Appl. No.: |
12/686698 |
Filed: |
January 13, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/302 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01S 17/42 20130101;
G01S 7/4802 20130101; G01S 17/88 20130101; G01S 7/497 20130101;
G01S 17/04 20200101; E03D 5/105 20130101; E03C 1/057 20130101; G01S
17/87 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/302 |
International
Class: |
E03D 13/00 20060101
E03D013/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 20, 2009 |
EP |
09 405 012.7 |
Claims
1.-14. (canceled)
15. Method for contactlessly controlling a sanitary facility, with
a transmitter, a receiver, an evaluation unit and a control unit
which are used to monitor an area of the sanitary facility and to
control at least one actuator of the sanitary facility, wherein the
area is monitored using a time-of-flight distance measurement.
16. Method according to claim 15, wherein the spatial position
and/or the speed and/or the direction of movement of objects in the
area being monitored is/are detected.
17. Method according to claim 15, wherein in order to measure the
distance, the amplitude of a transmitted infrared signal is
modulated with a signal and the phase shift of the received
modulation signal with respect to the transmitted signal is
measured.
18. Method according to claim 15, wherein on the basis of the
monitoring, a night light is switched on as soon as a person enters
the area being monitored.
19. Method according to claim 15, wherein the sanitary facility has
a plurality of sanitary systems in the same area, in that control
outputs of these sanitary systems are logically combined, and in
that this combination is used to monitor the area for the presence
of objects and, if necessary, to control a superordinate system,
for example a building control system.
20. Method according to claim 15, wherein predefined movements
and/or movement sequences of objects, for example a hand, are
detected.
21. Method according to claim 15, wherein signals are suppressed if
they come from a predetermined place in the area being monitored,
with the result that no function or action is triggered on the
basis of such signals.
22. Method according to claim 15, wherein the posture of people,
for example sitting or standing, is detected in the area being
monitored, and in that corresponding actions, for example a
corresponding flushing quantity, are triggered on the basis of a
detected posture.
23. Method according to claim 15, wherein after the sanitary
facility has been installed, the control unit uses the static
objects, their position in the area being monitored and/or their
shape as a basis for automatically detecting the type of sanitary
facility in which it is used and for correspondingly parameterizing
universal hardware and software.
24. Electronic control apparatus for contactlessly controlling a
sanitary facility, with a transmitter, a receiver, an evaluation
unit and a control unit which can be used to monitor an area of the
sanitary facility and to control at least one actuator of the
sanitary facility, wherein it has means for monitoring the area
using a time-of-flight distance measurement.
25. Control apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the
transmitter, the receiver, the evaluation unit and the control unit
are arranged on an electronic module.
26. Control apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the receiving
unit has an infrared image sensor which determines the distance
using reflected infrared signals for each pixel and thus generates
a three-dimensional image of the area being monitored.
27. Control apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the
transmitter, the receiver, the evaluation unit and the control unit
are integrated as a unit on a chip.
28. Control apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said unit is
installed in a visible surface of a part of the sanitary facility,
for example in a surface of a button, a pushbutton plate or a
covering plate.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a method for contactlessly
controlling a sanitary facility, with a transmitter, a receiver, an
evaluation unit and a control unit which are used to monitor an
area of the sanitary facility and to control at least one actuator
of the sanitary facility. Such a method and such a control
apparatus have been disclosed as prior art in EP-B-0670504 by the
applicant. In this case, the sanitary facility is a urinal, in
particular. In order to measure the distance by means of
triangulation, the device has two receivers which are arranged at
different distances from the transmitter. This control device can
be used to detect a user and to trigger flushing. Reflections from
a background can be masked.
[0002] Contactless control devices having an infrared light sensor
which is installed in a water fitting are also known. When a hand
is introduced into the detection zone of this light sensor, the
latter responds and opens an outlet valve. The use of radar probes
which detect direction and respond to an approach as well as to a
subsequent movement is also known.
[0003] Control apparatuses having a camera, which, in conjunction
with image analysis, can detect a degree of soiling in a toilet
system, for example, are also known.
[0004] The methods and devices mentioned are each specifically
designed for a particular sanitary facility and are comparatively
complicated.
[0005] The invention is based on the object of providing a method
and an electronic control device of the type mentioned, which are
also suitable for very different sanitary facilities.
[0006] In the case of a method of the generic type, the object is
achieved by virtue of the fact that the area is monitored using a
time-of-flight distance measurement. Monitoring using a
time-of-flight distance measurement enables three-dimensional
measurement of the area being monitored. In this area, it is
possible to determine, for example, the location, the direction of
movement and the speed of an object, for example a user. The method
and the control apparatus according to the invention are therefore
essentially suitable for all types of sanitary facilities in which
an actuator, for example an outlet valve, a flushing valve of a
fitting or the like, must be controlled. The actuator is, in
particular, a fitting. The control apparatus according to the
invention also has the advantage that it can be implemented in the
form of a very small, cost-effective and universal electronic
module. Such a module can be integrated in a button or the like,
for example.
[0007] According to one development of the method according to the
invention, on the basis of the monitoring, a night light is
switched on as soon as a person enters the area being
monitored.
[0008] According to one development of the invention, the sanitary
facility has a plurality of sanitary systems in the same area. The
control outputs of these sanitary systems are logically combined
with one another. This combination is used to monitor the area for
the presence of objects and, if necessary, to control a
superordinate system, for example a building control system. For
example, it can be used to control a facility which has a plurality
of urinals in one area, for example. Since people can be detected
as such using three-dimensional measurement of the area,
interference can be largely excluded. For example, triggering by an
animal or by interfering infrared sources can be largely avoided.
This is particularly important in relatively large facilities.
[0009] According to one development of the invention, predefined
movements and/or movement sequences of objects, for example a hand,
are detected. This makes it possible, for example, to detect the
approach of a hand for triggering flushing. Since the direction of
movement can also be detected, flushing by means of a hand movement
which does not have the predefined movement or the predefined
movement sequences can be excluded in this case. The immunity to
interference is also improved in this case and water can thus be
saved.
[0010] According to one development of the invention, the posture
of people is monitored in the area being monitored. For example, it
is possible in this case to distinguish between a person who is
standing and a person who is sitting in a toilet. A small quantity
of water or a larger quantity of water for flushing can accordingly
be triggered an automatic manner. Flushing water can essentially be
saved in this case too.
[0011] According to one development of the invention, after the
sanitary facility has been installed, the control device uses the
static objects, their position in the area being monitored and/or
their shape as a basis for automatically detecting the type of
sanitary facility in which it is used and for correspondingly
parameterizing universal hardware and software. The same control
apparatus can then be used for different sanitary facilities. Said
control apparatus itself detects the type of sanitary facility and
automatically carries out corresponding parameterization. The
control device can detect, for example, whether a urinal bowl, a
toilet bowl or a sink is in its vicinity. The control apparatus
thus adapts its parameters to the control of a flushing valve for a
urinal, a flushing valve for a toilet or an outlet valve. Since the
same control apparatus can essentially be used for very different
sanitary facilities, this results in considerable cost advantages,
and installation can also be considerably simplified.
[0012] According to one development of the invention, the distance
is determined on the basis of the time difference between the
transmitted signal pulse and the received signal pulse. In
addition, according to one development of the invention, the
modulated signal is not transmitted continuously but rather is
transmitted in the form of pulse packets with the duration of a
fixed number of modulation periods.
[0013] According to one development of the invention, missing
signals of a known contour are detected and an action is triggered
on the basis of such missing signals. In addition, signals are
preferably detected when they come from a predetermined place in
the area being monitored and satisfy predefined criteria such as
contour or residence time.
[0014] According to one development of the invention, the control
apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that the
transmitter, the receiver, the evaluation unit and the control unit
are arranged on an electronic module. With the exception of the
active transmitting element, said units are integrated on a chip,
in particular according to one development of the invention. The
control apparatus can thus be implemented in a very small area and
can be installed or mounted in a simple manner.
[0015] Further advantageous features emerge from the dependent
patent claims and the following description.
[0016] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more
detail below using the single FIGURE. This FIGURE diagrammatically
shows a layout of an area having a sanitary facility according to
the invention.
[0017] The single FIGURE shows a building 10 having an area 2 in
which a sanitary facility 1 is arranged. The latter has a sanitary
body 3 which is a sink, for example. Arranged on this sanitary body
3 is a fitting 5 which is, in particular, a contactless washing
fitting with an outlet valve. The fitting 5 is connected to a
control apparatus 4 via a signal line 6. The sanitary facility 1
can alternatively also be a urinal facility with a urinal bowl, for
example. In this case, the fitting 5 would be a flushing valve.
Furthermore, the sanitary facility 1 may also be a toilet, for
example. In this case too, the fitting 5 would be a valve, in
particular an outlet fitting. The control apparatus 4 can
essentially be the same in all cases. If the fitting 5 is in the
form of a tap, the control apparatus 4 can be directly arranged in
the fitting 5. In the case of a toilet, the control apparatus 4 can
be arranged, for example, in a button. A plurality of sanitary
facilities 1, for example a plurality of urinal facilities and a
sink, may also be arranged in the area 2.
[0018] The control apparatus 4 has an electronic module (not shown
here) on which a transmitter, a receiver, an evaluation unit and a
control unit are arranged. With the exception of the active
transmitting element, said elements may be integrated, in
particular, in a chip. These elements which are not shown here are
known per se to a person skilled in the art and therefore do not
need to be explained here. The transmitter is an infrared
transmitter, in particular. The transmitter is used to emit a light
signal for active illumination. If the light pulse strikes, for
example, an object 7 in the area 2, said pulse is reflected there
and is finally detected by the receiver. The control apparatus is
designed for time-of-flight distance measurement. The emission of
the pulse simultaneously starts a high-resolution clock in the
receiver. The distance between the control apparatus 4 and the
object 7 can be determined using the distance-dependent signal
propagation time of the pulse. The emission of the pulse
simultaneously starts a high-resolution clock in the receiver. The
time is measured by measuring the phase shift, for example. The
measurement is preferably carried out in such a manner that a
so-called 3D distance measurement is possible. For this purpose,
the object 7 can be scanned using a modulated directional beam, for
example. In this case, it is possible to serially measure point by
point of the object 7.
[0019] According to one development of the invention, the
measurement of a phase shift is used to measure the time. For this
purpose, the amplitude of the transmitted infrared light is
modulated. The distance to the reflected object can be inferred
from the phase shift between the transmitted light and the received
light. The distance measurement method is used for each sensor
element in the receiver. Mapping the area to a two-dimensional
arrangement of sensor elements provides the three-dimensional
information together with the distance associated with each
element.
[0020] However, other means and methods are also conceivable here
for a spatial distance measurement. Apart from the position in the
area, the speed and shape of the object 7, this also makes it
possible to determine the direction of movement, for example
according to arrow 8.
[0021] The control apparatus 4 can detect, for example, that the
object 7 is approaching the sanitary facility 1 at a particular
speed. The control apparatus 4 can thus distinguish between a
moving object and a stationary object, for example. In one case,
the object 7 is, for example, a person who is approaching the
sanitary facility 1 and, in the other case, the object is, for
example, a permanently installed mirror. However, the control
apparatus 4 may also distinguish between an entering object and a
departing object, for example. The control apparatus 4 can also
distinguish between a person and an animal, for example, on the
basis of shape detection. However, the control apparatus 4 also
makes it possible, for example, to detect a door 9 as such and also
to determine whether the latter is opening or closing.
[0022] The control apparatus can also detect when an object which
has a known contour and does not reflect any light passes in front
of the background. The missing light from the background makes it
possible to infer an object which may be, for example, a person who
is dressed all in black.
[0023] If the sanitary facility 1 is a sink, the control apparatus
4 can detect an approaching hand and can then open a valve of the
fitting 5 when the hand is at a particular distance from the
fitting 5. If the control apparatus 4 detects that the hand is
moving away from the sanitary body 3, the outlet valve is closed
via the signal line 6. The action of the control apparatus 4 may be
different depending on the application. If the control apparatus 4
in a sink interprets the object as dirt or as a known contour, for
example a vessel, it can cause water to be delivered for a defined
amount of time, for example.
[0024] If the sanitary facility 1 is a urinal, flushing is
triggered when the user moves away from the sanitary facility 1.
Apart from flushing, area illumination may also be controlled, for
example, on the basis of the monitoring of the area 2. For example,
a night light may be switched on as soon as a person enters the
area being monitored. However, it is also possible to switch off
illumination as soon as the control apparatus 4 determines that
there is no person in the area 2. If, for example, a plurality of
urinals are arranged in the area 2, the control outputs of these
urinals may be logically combined with one another. This
combination makes it possible to monitor the entire area for the
presence of a person, for example. A superordinate system, for
example a building control system, can be controlled on the basis
of such monitoring. For example, ventilation may be switched on and
off.
[0025] If the sanitary facility 1 is a toilet facility, the latter
is contactlessly flushed using the control apparatus 4, for
example. In this case, the control apparatus 4 can distinguish, in
particular, whether the facility is being used in a standing or
sitting manner. A small or large quantity of water for flushing is
accordingly triggered by the control apparatus 4. Triggering can be
effected contactlessly, for example by virtue of a hand approaching
the control apparatus 4. In this case, it is again important that
the control apparatus 4 can detect a direction of movement and can
also detect, for example, whether the approaching object 7 is a
hand or another item.
[0026] The control apparatus 4 may be integrated in a button. As a
result, operation of the button also enables mechanical triggering
by moving the button. The control apparatus 4 can also detect, for
example, whether the door 9 is being opened. If opening of the door
9 is detected, area illumination can be switched on using the
control apparatus 4. The area illumination is then accordingly
switched off upon closing of the door 9.
[0027] Monitoring the area 2 thus enables various and different
actions. These actions are, for example, the switching on and off
of illumination, the switching on and off of ventilation and the
flushing of the sanitary facility 1. A further action would be, for
example, the triggering of an alarm. Such an alarm is triggered,
for example, if a movement of an object 7 is determined in the area
2 within a particular blocking period.
[0028] The control apparatus 4 is designed in such a manner that,
after it has been installed, it detects the type of sanitary
facility 1 in which it is used. It detects, for example, that the
sanitary body 3 is a sink, a urinal or a toilet bowl. The
distinction is made on the basis of the different shapes of these
sanitary bodies 3. If the control apparatus 4 has detected the
sanitary facility, the universal hardware and software is
correspondingly parameterized in an automatic manner. In the case
of a urinal, these parameters are, for example, the flushing time,
the flushing duration, the flushing quantity and electrical values
such as voltage and duration of actuator control. The control
apparatus can therefore be used in any desired sanitary facility 1
with universal hardware and software. The corresponding
parameterization is then carried out automatically. On the one
hand, it is possible to use the same control apparatus 4, for
example a corresponding electronic module, for a plurality of
different sanitary facilities 1 and, on the other hand, the
comparatively complicated parameterization by the installer is
dispensed with. It is also possible to avoid an incorrect control
apparatus 4 being used in a sanitary facility 1.
LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS
[0029] 1 Sanitary facility [0030] 2 Area [0031] 3 Sanitary body
[0032] 4 Control apparatus [0033] 5 Fitting [0034] 6 Signal line
[0035] 7 Object [0036] 8 Arrow [0037] 9 Door [0038] 10 Building
* * * * *