US5570869A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-calibrating water fluid control apparatus
Assignee: T and S Brass and Bronze Inc
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Filing: 1994-12-20
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Granted: 1996-11-05
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Expires: 2014-12-20
Abstract
Abstract A self-calibrating fluid flow control apparatus for use with a fluid flow source is provided. A detection area is defined wherein the interposition of an object therein causes a control device to activate the fluid flow source. A calibrating device is configured to continuously define, at a predetermined rate, a steady state boundary of the detection area, wherein the steady state boundary conforms to objects interposed within said detection area so that a new detection area is defined which is free of interposed objects capable of activating the fluid flow source. An object left indefinitely within the detection area will not, therefore, cause the control device to indefinitely activate the fluid flow source nor, after deactivation by a timing mechanism, prevent the fluid flow source's subsequent reactivation.
Inventors
- 👤 Alexander R. Diaz
- 👤 Ronald L. Roush
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 14:28
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03C; E03C1/00; E03C1/02; E03C1/05; E03C1/055; E03C1/057
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A continuously self-calibrating fluid flow control apparatus for utilization with a fluid flow source, comprising: an infrared signal source configured to repeatedly emit, at a predetermined rate, an infrared signal into a defined detection area; an infrared receiver configured to receive reflections of said infrared signals from objects within said detection area and generate electrical signals corresponding to said reflections; a calibrating mechanism in communication with said infrared receiver and said infrared signal source and configured to compare said received infrared signal to at least one predetermined reference signal and adjust, responsive to said comparison, the intensity of infrared signals subsequently emitted by said infrared signal source so that the subsequent electrical signals corresponding to reflections therefrom approach said at least one predetermined reference signal; and a control mechanism in communication with said infrared receiver and configured to output, responsive to said electrical signals, fluid flow source control signals to the fluid flow source, wherein said control mechanism is further configured so that when said electrical signals approximate said at least one reference signal, the fluid flow source is not activated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
A continuously self-calibrating fluid flow control apparatus for utilization with a fluid flow source, comprising: an infrared signal source configured to repeatedly emit, at a predetermined rate, an infrared signal into a defined detection area; an infrared receiver configured to receive reflections of said infrared signals from objects within said detection area and generate electrical signals corresponding to said reflections; a calibrating mechanism in communication with said infrared receiver and said infrared signal source and configured to compare said received infrared signal to at least one predetermined reference signal and adjust, responsive to said comparison, the intensity of infrared signals subsequently emitted by said infrared signal source so that the subsequent electrical signals corresponding to reflections therefrom approach said at least one predetermined reference signal; and a control mechanism in communication with said infrared receiver and configured to output, responsive to said electrical signals, fluid flow source control signals to the fluid flow source, wherein said control mechanism is further configured so that when said electrical signals approximate said at least one reference signal, the fluid flow source is not activated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The continuously self-calibrating fluid flow control apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising an interface device operatively disposed between said control mechanism and the fluid flow source and configured to present said fluid flow source control signals to the fluid flow source in a form actable upon by the fluid flow source.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
79 words
The continuously self-calibrating fluid flow control apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said control mechanism further comprises a timing mechanism in communication with said control mechanism and configured to deactivate the fluid flow source after a predetermined activation period and to prevent the subsequent activation of the fluid flow source until at least one of the removal of said objects from said detection area and the approximation of said electrical signals to said at least one predetermined reference signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
118 words
A water faucet assembly, comprising: a faucet operatively connected to a water source; a valve configured to selectively permit water flow from said water source to said faucet; and a continuously self-calibrating water flow control apparatus operatively connected to said valve; comprising: a control device configured to open said valve, thereby activating said faucet, upon the interposition of an object within a defined detection area relative to said faucet; and a calibrating device in communication with said control device and configured to continuously define, at a predetermined rate, a steady state boundary of said detection area conforming to objects interposed within said detection area such that said conforming steady state boundary excludes objects capable of activating the faucet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
118 words
A water faucet assembly, comprising: a faucet operatively connected to a water source; a valve configured to selectively permit water flow from said water source to said faucet; and a continuously self-calibrating water flow control apparatus operatively connected to said valve; comprising: a control device configured to open said valve, thereby activating said faucet, upon the interposition of an object within a defined detection area relative to said faucet; and a calibrating device in communication with said control device and configured to continuously define, at a predetermined rate, a steady state boundary of said detection area conforming to objects interposed within said detection area such that said conforming steady state boundary excludes objects capable of activating the faucet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The water faucet assembly as in claim 4, wherein said control device further comprises a timing mechanism configured to deactivate the water flow source after a predetermined activation period.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The water faucet assembly as in claim 5, further comprising a power source operatively connected to said continuously self-calibrating water flow control apparatus.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
145 words
The water faucet assembly as in claim 5, wherein said control device comprises: an infrared signal source configured to emit an infrared signal into said detection area; an infrared receiver configured to receive reflections of said infrared signals from objects within said detection area and generate electrical signals corresponding to said reflections; and a control mechanism configured to output, responsive to said electrical signals corresponding to said reflections of said infrared signals, water flow control signals to said valve capable of controlling the operation of said valve, and wherein said calibrating device comprises a calibrating mechanism configured to compare said electrical signals to at least one predetermined reference signal and adjust, responsive to said comparison, the intensity of infrared signals subsequently emitted by said infrared signal source so that the subsequent electrical signals corresponding to reflections therefrom approach said at least one predetermined reference signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
109 words
A continuously self-calibrating fluid flow control apparatus for utilization with a fluid flow system, comprising: a control device mateable with said fluid flow system and configured to activate a water flow source of the fluid flow system upon the interposition of an object within a defined detection area; and a calibrating device in communication with said control device and configured to continuously redefine, at a predetermined rate, a steady state boundary of said detection area, wherein said steady state boundary conforms to objects interposed within said detection area so that a new detection area is defined which is free of interposed objects capable of activating the fluid flow system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
109 words
A continuously self-calibrating fluid flow control apparatus for utilization with a fluid flow system, comprising: a control device mateable with said fluid flow system and configured to activate a water flow source of the fluid flow system upon the interposition of an object within a defined detection area; and a calibrating device in communication with said control device and configured to continuously redefine, at a predetermined rate, a steady state boundary of said detection area, wherein said steady state boundary conforms to objects interposed within said detection area so that a new detection area is defined which is free of interposed objects capable of activating the fluid flow system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
The continuously self-calibrating fluid flow control apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said control device is configured to activate said fluid flow source when said object is interposed at a predetermined position within said detection area and wherein the relationship between said predetermined position and the position of said boundary is preserved by said calibrating device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
93 words
The continuously self-calibrating fluid flow control apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said control device comprises: an infrared signal source configured to emit an infrared signal into said detection area; an infrared receiver configured to receive reflections of said infrared signals from objects within said detection area and to generate electrical signals corresponding to said reflections; and a control mechanism in communication with said infrared receiver and configured to output, responsive to said electrical signals corresponding to said reflections of said infrared signals, fluid flow source control signals to the fluid flow source.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The continuously self-calibrating fluid flow control apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said control device further comprises a timing mechanism in communication with said control mechanism and configured to deactivate the fluid flow source after a predetermined activation period.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
The continuously self-calibrating fluid flow control apparatus as in claim 10, further comprising an interface device operatively disposed between said control mechanism and the fluid flow source and configured to present said fluid flow source control signals to the fluid flow source in a form actable upon by the fluid flow source.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The continuously self-calibrating fluid flow control apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said control mechanism is comprised of a microprocessor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
The continuously self-calibrating fluid flow control apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said calibrating device is configured to repeatedly compare said electrical signals to predetermined criteria and calibrate, responsive to said comparison, the infrared signals subsequently emitted by said infrared signal source so that the subsequent electrical signals corresponding to reflections therefrom approach said predetermined criteria.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The continuously self-calibrating fluid flow control apparatus as in claim 14, wherein said control mechanism is configured such that when said electrical signals approximately satisfy said predetermined criteria, the fluid flow source is not activated.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The continuously self-calibrating fluid flow control apparatus as in claim 14, wherein said predetermined criteria comprise at least one reference signal corresponding to a desired intensity of said reflected signals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
97 words
The continuously self-calibrating fluid flow control apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said calibrating device is comprised of electrical circuitry configured to repeatedly compare said electrical signals to at least one predetermined reference signal and adjust, responsive to said comparison, the intensity of infrared signals subsequently emitted by said infrared signal source so that the subsequent electrical signals corresponding to reflections therefrom approach said at least one predetermined reference signal and wherein said control mechanism is configured such that when said electrical signals approximate said at least one reference signal, the fluid flow source is not activated.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
The continuously self-calibrating fluid flow control apparatus as in claim 14, wherein said calibrating device is configured to adjust the intensity of said infrared signals at a predetermined rate, wherein said predetermined rate is set to permit the activation of the fluid flow source during a desired use.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The continuously self-calibrating fluid flow control apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said calibrating device comprises a microprocessor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The continuously self-calibrating fluid flow control apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said continuously self-calibrating fluid flow control apparatus is configured to be retrofitted into a fluid flow assembly.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
52 words
The continuously self-calibrating fluid flow control apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said calibrating device is configured to repeatedly compare said electrical signals to predetermined criteria and adjust, responsive to said comparison, said predetermined criteria so that said adjusted criteria approach the electrical signals corresponding to reflections from subsequently emitted infrared signals.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
The continuously self-calibrating fluid flow control apparatus as in claim 21, wherein said calibrating device is configured such that when said electrical signals approximately satisfy said predetermined criteria, the fluid flow source is not activated.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The continuously self-calibrating fluid flow control apparatus as in claim 8, further comprising a power source operatively connected to said control device and said calibrating device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The water faucet assembly as in claim 23, wherein said power source comprises a battery.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of controlling fluid flow from a fluid flow assembly, comprising: selectively permitting, upon the interposition of an object within a defined detection area, fluid flow from the fluid flow assembly; and continuously defining, at a predetermined rate, a steady state boundary of said detection area to conform to objects interposed within said detection area so that said conforming steady state boundary excludes objects capable of activating the fluid flow assembly.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of controlling fluid flow from a fluid flow assembly, comprising: selectively permitting, upon the interposition of an object within a defined detection area, fluid flow from the fluid flow assembly; and continuously defining, at a predetermined rate, a steady state boundary of said detection area to conform to objects interposed within said detection area so that said conforming steady state boundary excludes objects capable of activating the fluid flow assembly.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method as in claim 25, wherein the fluid flow assembly is activated when said object is interposed at a predetermined position within said detection area and wherein the relationship between said predetermined position and the position of said boundary is preserved during said defining step.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method as in claim 25, wherein said permitting step further comprises the steps of: emitting infrared signals into said detection area; receiving reflections of said infrared signals from objects within said detection area and generating electrical signals corresponding to said reflections; and outputting, responsive to said electrical signals corresponding to said reflections of said infrared signals, fluid flow assembly control signals to the fluid flow assembly.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method as in claim 27, wherein said defining step further comprises the steps of: repeatedly comparing said electrical signals to predetermined criteria; and calibrating, responsive to said comparison, the infrared signals subsequently emitted during subsequent said emitting steps so that the subsequent electrical signals corresponding to reflections therefrom approach said predetermined criteria.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as in claim 28, wherein when said electrical signals approximate said predetermined criteria, the fluid flow assembly is not activated.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as in claim 28, wherein the intensity of said infrared signals is calibrated at a predetermined rate set to permit the activation of the fluid flow assembly during a desired use.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
175 words
The method as in claim 25, wherein said permitting step is further comprised of the steps of: emitting, at a predetermined rate, infrared signals into said detection area; receiving reflections of said infrared signals from objects within said detection area and generating electrical signals corresponding to said reflections; outputting, responsive to said electrical signals corresponding to said reflections of said infrared signals, fluid flow assembly control signals to the fluid flow assembly such that when said electrical signals approximate said at least one predetermined reference signal, the fluid flow assembly is not activated; and presenting said fluid flow assembly control signals to the fluid flow assembly in a form actable upon by the fluid flow assembly; and wherein said defining step further comprises the steps of comparing said received infrared signals to said at least one predetermined reference signal and adjusting, responsive to said comparison, the intensity of infrared signals subsequently emitted during subsequent said emitting steps so that the subsequent electrical signals corresponding to reflections therefrom approach said at least one predetermined reference signal.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 31, wherein said permitting step further comprises the steps of: deactivating the fluid flow assembly upon the expiration of a predetermined activation period; and preventing reactivation of the fluid flow assembly until at least one of the removal of said objects from said detection area and the approximation of said electrical signals to said at least one predetermined reference signal.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method as in claim 27, wherein said defining step further comprises the steps of: repeatedly comparing said electrical signals to predetermined criteria; and adjusting, responsive to said comparison, said predetermined criteria so that said adjusted criteria approach the electrical signals corresponding to reflections from subsequently emitted infrared signals.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as in claim 33, wherein when said electrical signals approximately satisfy said predetermined criteria, the fluid flow assembly is not activated.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method as in claim 27, wherein said defining step further comprises the steps of: repeatedly comparing said electrical signals to at least one predetermined reference signal; and adjusting, responsive to said comparison, said at least one predetermined reference signal so that said adjusted at least one reference signal approaches the subsequent electrical signals corresponding to reflections of said infrared signals, and wherein when said adjusted at least one reference signal approximates said electrical signals, the fluid flow assembly is not activated.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-11-05 | 2000-05-06 | 2000-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-11-05 | 2004-05-06 | 2004-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-11-05 | 2008-05-06 | 2008-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |