JP2003166274A - System for remote control of personal hygiene or sanitary equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: Provided is a system for remote control of personal hygiene equipment, comprising an electric operator associated with each equipment including a toilet flush valve and the like. A wireless receiver is associated with each facility and operates upon receiving a message specific to the facility. There is an activation device (eg, an infrared sensor or a manually operated switch) remote from the facility for sending an instruction signal to activate the facility. Each activation device associated with the transmitter is programmed to transmit a message specific to that particular facility. There is an indicator located at each activation device, and a receiver associated with the indicator. When the activation device sends a message specific to it,
The message is received at the equipment receiver, the equipment is activated, and the equipment transmitter returns an acknowledgment message to the initiator receiver, activating the indicator to indicate that the message has been received.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for operating equipment such as a cleaning valve and a faucet. More specifically, the invention relates to a system between a starter of such equipment and an electric operator who operates the equipment. Regarding the use of wireless communication links.

[0002]

The present invention relates to a system for remote control of one or more sanitary installations commonly used in public toilets. Such equipment includes urinal flush valves, flush toilet flush valves, faucets, shower heads, soap dispensers,
It may include a paper towel dispenser, a hand dryer, or any other equipment used in such an environment. Generally, such equipment is operated artificially via sensors or manual switches installed in the equipment and wired to the electrical operator of the equipment.

There are environments in which a hardwire connection between a starter that operates the equipment and the equipment itself is not possible or desirable. For example, when the electric operator of the flush valve in a flush toilet is behind a partition wall and it is not practical to wire the activation device to the flush valve. Similarly, there may be cases where the flush valve for the urinal is behind the wall and the device start-up operation of the flush valve and the wiring connection to the flush valve itself are not cost effective. The present invention provides a wireless link that replaces the hardwired connection. Further, the present invention includes the ability to acknowledge receipt of an operational message so that regardless of whether the activation device is an infrared sensor or a push button,
At the activation device, the user can get a visual confirmation that the message to activate the equipment has been received and acknowledged.

Further, in certain toilet environments, such as in public facilities, it may be desirable to have a main control function that monitors the usage and operation of all sanitary equipment within a particular area. Even in such an example, it is desirable to remove the wiring connection and replace it with a wireless communication link. The use of hardwire connections can be difficult in such environments, and the wires can be subject to damage, corrosion, and malfunction. Replacing hardwired connections with wireless links has a number of advantages including cost, security, and reliability.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a wireless communication between a single personal hygiene or sanitary installation of the type described above and an activation device, whether a sensor or a mechanically operated switch. A control system for links and a plurality of such devices within a given area is provided. All connections between the equipment itself and the means that cause its operation are by wireless links. Similarly, if a plurality of such devices, and a computer control or microprocessor that determines when and how long these facilities operate, is used, the communication link is still performed wirelessly.

[0006]

The first object of the present invention is to:
Personal hygiene and / or the wiring between the sensor or activation device and the equipment itself has been removed and replaced with a wireless communication link
Or to provide an operating system for sanitary equipment.

Another object is to have a plurality of equipment controlled by a single microprocessor via a wireless communication link.
It is a control system for the equipment as described above. The other purpose is
It is made clear in the description, figures and claims herein.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In most public toilets, including those found in public facilities, various types of sanitary equipment and / or water flow control water supply / drainage systems are today hard-wired to starters that activate them. It is an implementation method. More specifically, in such an environment, taking a toilet flush valve as an example, between the electric operator of the valve and the activation device, the activation device is a sensor such as an infrared sensor, or the user of the device manually operates. Wiring is connected regardless of whether the push button is operated to confirm the operation. The flush valve may be associated with the urinal or the flush urinal. Similarly, faucets, shower heads, soap dispensers, paper towel dispensers,
And there are hardwire connections to operate other equipment such as hand dryers. The present invention, regardless of any personal hygiene and / or sanitary equipment of the type described above, and sensors, such as infrared sensors, or switches manually operated by the individual attempting to utilize the equipment,
It can be applied to the activation device. In particular, the present invention replaces hardwire connections with wireless communication links. 1A, 1B and 1C show two different types of equipment and activators of this type, one an infrared sensor and the other a push button. Either activator can be used in any facility, and in some cases both activators can be utilized in such a facility, using the manual device as an auxiliary manual device or for maintenance purposes.

FIG. 1A shows a flush valve 10 that may be associated with a urinal or flush toilet and may be battery operated or connected to a local power source. All cleaning valves are Illinois, the assignee of the present application.
Sloan Val, Franklin Park, Oregon
US Patent No. 5,16 owned by ve Company
It may be of the type shown in 9,118 and 5,244,179. The disclosures of US '118 and' 179 are incorporated herein by reference. The flush valve 10 is powered by either a battery or a connection to a local power source and upon actuation causes the flush valve to provide a metered amount of water to either the flush bowl or urinal. Including electric operators such as. The flush valve 10 is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1A and, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, has said electrical actuation device, a battery if necessary, and a radio frequency transmitter and radio frequency receiver inside the device itself. Including. In general,
These devices operate in the 400 MHz range and the typical maximum power used in transmitters is 200 milliwatts. An effective range of about 100 feet (about 30 meters) is required.

The flush valve 10 and the infrared sensor 12 associated with the radio frequency transmitter and receiver, shown in US Pat. Nos. '118 and' 179, as part of a flush valve apparatus, are here Then, different from the flush valve,
It is shown in a distant position. The sensor 12 also includes a radio frequency transmitter and a radio frequency receiver operating in the frequency range and with the power requirements. These may be battery powered or connected to a local power source.

There is also a push button actuating device 14 which is associated with a radio frequency transmitter and a radio frequency receiver, again as described above. Both the infrared sensor 12 and the push button 14 have associated R
In addition to the F wireless device, it also has a light emitting diode indicator associated with the push button, shown at 14a, and an infrared sensor 12, shown at 12a.

In operation, if the sensor 12 detects a user in a urinal or flush toilet, the sensor will:
The sensor is programmed to activate the flush valve for a predetermined time after the sensor no longer detects a user at a particular toilet installation. In this example, the sensor sends a radio frequency signal to the flush valve 10, which has a unique address that is the unique address of the particular flush valve being actuated.
By way of example, the transmitter associated with sensor 12 has an activation address 100, which may be in digital or analog form, and number 100 is merely a descriptive number. The receiver of the flush valve 10 is set to receive this particular address. Upon receiving the address, the flush valve electric operator begins its operating cycle. At the same time, the transmitter associated with the flush valve 10 sends a message with the address represented by the number 105. The receiver of the sensor 12 is set to receive only a unique message with the address 105, which when illuminated receives this message, which is characterized as an acknowledgment message, turns on the LED 12a. In this way, the sensor operates to send an indication message to the flush valve via the RF signal. The flush valve receiver is configured to receive only this message and upon receipt of such a message responds by sending back an acknowledgment message to the sensor indicating receipt of the command.

The push button 14 device includes a sensor 12
And the address is the same for both the transmitter and the receiver. In this way, push button 1
4 can be used as a substitute device for the sensor, and is particularly effective when used as an auxiliary manual device or when the actuation of the flush valve is required for maintenance purposes.

An important point is that a message unique to a specific facility is used for both transmission of an instruction command and transmission / reception of an acknowledgment response command. In this way, the entire communication between the activation device and the equipment is carried out at an RF frequency of about 400 MHz.

FIG. 1B shows a similar arrangement for soap dispenser and faucet operation. There is a sink 16 with an electrical operator controlling the operation of the faucet 20 and a transmitter and receiver device 18 at the bottom. Soap dispenser 22
Is also associated with the sink 16, the dispenser having an electrical operator and transmitter and receiver.
The sensor is shown at 24 for the faucet and has both a transmitter and a receiver mounted in the same housing as described in connection with FIG. 1A. Similarly, soap dispenser 2
There is a sensor 26 suitable for use in H.2, which also has associated transmitters and receivers. There is an indicator 24a associated with the faucet sensor and an indicator 26a associated with the soap dispenser sensor.

Again, the same number sequence is used to represent the addresses and faucet sensor 24 may have a transmitter address 110 and a receiver address 115. The receiver of the faucet controller 18 has its address set to 110 and the transmitter address set to 115. Thus, between the two elements, the sensor and the faucet controller, only communication using the unique address for the bidirectional communication between them is carried out. The same is true for the soap dispenser and its associated sensor 26. Communication between these two elements is carried out at the address unique to the soap dispenser and its sensor,
When trying to activate a particular soap dispenser,
There is no possibility that other equipment in the toilet will work.

Similarly, there is a hand dryer 30 near the sink 16, which has a sensor 32 with a transmitter and receiver, just as the hand dryer 30 has a transmitter and receiver. There is. These particular wireless communication elements likewise have a unique address for the equipment and its sensors so that the hand dryer will only work when the electrical operator is activated by a receiver that receives a signal from the sensor 30 and will respond. Alternatively, an acknowledgment message is sent back to the sensor and the indicator 32a is activated.

Although the facility of FIG. 1B is shown to operate only with infrared sensors, a push button or other manually operated device may be a faucet, soap dispenser, hand dryer or paper towel dispenser.
It will also be appreciated that it may be associated with one or all.

FIG. 1C shows a showerhead 40 having an electrical operator and associated transmitters and receivers indicated at 42. A sensor with an indicator 44a is shown at 44. The equipment of FIG. 1C and associated sensors operate in the same manner as FIGS. 1A and 1B.
In each instance where the sensor is activated, an instruction message with an address unique to the showerhead 40 is sent to the showerhead receiver 42. The transmitter associated therewith sends an acknowledgment or reply message to the sensor and the indicator 44a is illuminated. The message has a unique address for a particular piece of equipment and its particular sensor to prevent unnecessary equipment activation and confusion in the reply system. Although LEDs are shown as indicators in this connection, voice replies or acknowledgments are equally within the scope of the invention.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a control board for use in a toilet having one or more, or all of the facilities described in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C.
Multiple wash valves, multiple faucets, multiple soap dispensers,
Multiple paper towel dispensers, multiple hand dryers and one or more showerheads may be present in a single toilet environment or public facility toilet. Such equipment is shown at 46. Of such equipment,
The activator, which is a sensor or switch, is shown at 48. The control board is shown at 50 and may include a wireless receiver 52 and a wireless transmitter 54. Within the control board is a microprocessor 56, which is the assignee of the present application, Franklin, Illinois.
US Patent Nos. 6,038,519 and 5,5 owned by Sloan Valve Company of Park.
It may be one of the types shown in 966,753. The disclosures of these two patents are incorporated herein by reference. In particular, the above disclosure provides a wired control system, where the system has multiple inputs from multiple installations and multiple outputs from a microprocessor wired to various installations to operate a particular installation. The sensor indicates that there is an indication and the microprocessor is wired from the data stored therein to determine if the equipment is operating properly and, if so, the time. In addition, this is also Sloan Valve Comp
Various flush valve jets may be programmed, as shown in US Pat. No. 5,235,706, owned by any, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. Microprocessor 56, as described in the U.S. patents,
Designed to control the operation of multiple personal hygiene or sanitary installations at a particular location, and communication with such installations is through sensors, control boards, and wiring that physically connects to the installations. The system shown in FIG.
8. Provide wireless control between control board and equipment 46. In addition, the system uses the acknowledgment or reply system of FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C. More specifically, any or all of the equipment described in these figures, or a plurality of such equipment, may all transmit radio signals received by receiver 52.
Each of these signals has a different address, the destination of the equipment, this information is passed to the processor, which in turn performs the functions associated with the operation of the equipment.

As an example, when a radio signal is received at receiver 52, microprocessor 56 determines which address issued the request. The microprocessor then directs the transmitter 54 to send an acknowledgment to its particular sensor or pushbutton, and optionally to a predetermined address to acknowledge receipt of the particular request to activate the equipment. To do.

Next, the microprocessor determines whether or not the equipment should be operated by the program stored therein, and determines how long the equipment should be operated. For example, as disclosed in US Pat. No. '706, the microprocessor may delay actuation of one or more wash valves if there is a limit to the number of wash valves that can be actuated at one time. Further, in public facility environments, it may be desirable to operate the urinal or flush toilet in accordance with a predetermined program rather than each time it is required to operate, to prevent damage problems.

When the equipment is requested to operate, the transmitter 5
The signal is transmitted by 4 to the receiver associated with the installation. The receiver supplies the reply as described in connection with FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C. The particular equipment, soap dispenser, shower head, paper towel dispenser, faucet or wash valve is then activated for a predetermined time programmed for its operation by the microprocessor 56.

Each facility has a specific address, which is identified by the microprocessor. Each reply signal is unique to a piece of equipment and the reply initially provided to the sensor has a different address than the reply sent back from the facility to the control board 50.

While the preferred form of the invention has been shown and described, it will be appreciated that numerous modifications, substitutions and alternatives thereto are possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a diagram of an individual sanitary installation with individual activation devices.

FIG. 1B is a diagram of an individual sanitary installation with individual activation devices.

FIG. 1C is a diagram of an individual sanitary installation with individual activation devices.

FIG. 2 shows a control system for a plurality of installations of the type shown in FIGS. 1A-1C.

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04Q 9/00 301 H04Q 9/00 311T 311 A47K 3/22 (72) Inventor Hong Tee. Von United States 60148 Illinois, Lombard, Queensbury Court 2061 F Term (Reference) 2D032 FA04 2D037 EA00 2D039 AA01 AA04 DB00 EA00 2D060 BB03 CA04 CA07 5K048 BA00 DB01 DC01

Claims (21)

[Claims] 1. A toilet flush valve, a urinal flush valve, a faucet,
Shower head, soap dispenser, hand dryer,
And a system for remote operation of personal hygiene equipment, which is one of paper towel dispensers (equipment), the equipment, an electric operator for controlling operation of the equipment, and an electrical connection to the operator. Equipment radio receiver for providing a start signal to, equipment radio transmitter connected to the equipment radio receiver, means for sending an instruction signal for operating the equipment, means away from the equipment, and an instruction signal A remote radio transmitter connected to said means for sending and operable by a signal, an indicator arranged on said means for sending an indicating signal, and a remote radio connected to said indicator for supplying an operating signal therefor An instruction signal (instruction message) when the remote radio transmitter is activated by the means for transmitting an instruction signal, including a receiver.
Is programmed to send a message specific to said means for sending, said equipment receiver receiving said indication message and activating said electric operator, and said equipment transmitter said A message specific to the equipment (acknowledgment message) to the remote receiver to acknowledge receipt of the instruction message
And activating the indicator when the remote receiver receives the acknowledgment message. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for sending the indicator signal comprises an infrared sensor. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for sending the instruction signal comprises a manual activation switch. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for sending the instruction signal includes an infrared sensor and a manual activation switch. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the facility is a flush valve connected to operate the urinal. 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the facility is a flush valve connected to operate the flush toilet. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the facility is a faucet. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the facility is a soap dispenser. 9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the facility is a showerhead. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the facility is a paper towel dispenser. 11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the facility is a hand dryer. 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicator is a light emitting diode. 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the instruction message includes an address unique to a particular piece of equipment, and the acknowledgment message includes an address that is unique to the particular piece of equipment but is different from the address of the instruction message. 14. A system for remote control of a plurality of personal hygiene facilities, including toilet flush valves, urinal flush valves, faucets, shower heads, soap dispensers, hand dryers, and paper towel dispensers.
One or more of, and an electrical operator associated with each facility for operating each facility, and a radio associated with each facility and operating a associated electrical operator upon receipt of a message specific to the facility. Each remote including a receiver, means associated with it for transmitting an instruction signal to operate a particular equipment, remote from the equipment, and a remote radio transmitter connected to each means for transmitting the instruction signal. A central processing unit (CPU) in which a wireless transmitter is programmed to send a unique message (instruction message) to that particular facility, and which has a microprocessor and a wireless receiver and wireless transmitter connected thereto. Including,
The CPU wireless receiver can receive instruction messages from all remote wireless transmitters, and the CPU wireless transmitter can send messages (operation messages) to all facility wireless receivers. When the microprocessor receives an instruction message from a particular transmitter specific to the equipment associated with that transmitter, the CPU
A system in which a transmitter is programmed to send operational messages specific to a receiver associated with the facility to activate its electric operator. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the means remote from the facility for sending the indicator signal comprises an infrared sensor. 16. The system of claim 14 wherein the means remote from the facility for sending the indicator signal comprises a manual activation switch. 17. The system of claim 14 wherein the means remote from the facility for sending the indicator signal includes an infrared sensor and a manual activation switch. 18. Each instruction message has an address unique to a particular equipment, and each operation message has an address unique to a particular equipment, and the address is the instruction message address of the equipment. 15. The system of claim 14, which is different. 19. Each means for sending an instruction signal has a wireless receiver, each means for sending an instruction signal has an indicator associated with it, the indicator being operated by the associated wireless receiver. Yes, the CPU
Upon receipt of the instruction message at the receiver, the microprocessor causes the CPU transmitter to send an acknowledgment message to the receiver to which the means for sending the instruction signal has sent the instruction message, and receipt of the acknowledgment message. 15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the indicator is activated at. 20. Each facility has a wireless transmitter, and when the facility wireless receiver receives an operation message, the facility wireless receiver sends a confirmation response message to the wireless transmitter associated with the facility wireless receiver. Claim 1 to be transmitted to
9. The system according to item 9. 21. The system of claim 19, wherein each indicator is a light emitting diode.