Bathroom flushers with novel sensors and controllers

Abstract

A tank-type flusher is located in the water storage tank for flushing a toilet. The tank-type flusher includes an intake valve and a flush valve. The intake valve is connected to an external water source and constructed to close water flow to the water storage tank at about a predefined water level in the water tank. The flush valve is constructed to control a flush valve member between a seated state and an unseated state allowing water discharge from the water tank into a toilet bowl. The tank-type flusher may be controlled by a sensor module located at a reference location external to the water storage tank.

1 . A tank-type flusher comprising;
 an intake valve connected to an external water source and constructed to close water flow to a water storage tank at about a predefined water level in said water tank;   a flush valve constructed to control a flush valve member between a seated state and an unseated state allowing water discharge from said water tank into a toilet bowl; and   a sensor module located at a reference location external to said water storage tank; and   a control circuitry including a controller constructed to provide to and receive signals from said sensor module and constructed to actuate said flush valve member for said water discharge based on said signals, said controller executing an algorithm including several predefined target states based on a user behavior within said sensing field of said optical sensor, said algorithm identifying said user initially moving in and thus entering a first of said predefined target states and progressing through a succession of said target states and later moving away from said optical sensor; said controller being programmed to issue a flush command to actuate said flush valve member for said water discharge only after a specific sequence of said target states, and said controller being programmed to delay issuance of said flush command if specific sequence of target states did not occur.   
     
     
         2 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 1  wherein said reference location is where an input line of said external water source is coupled to said water storage tank. 
     
     
         3 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 2  wherein said water storage tank is an external tank. 
     
     
         4 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 1  wherein said water storage tank is located behind a bathroom wall. 
     
     
         5 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 1  wherein said sensor module includes a light source and a light detector. 
     
     
         6 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 1  wherein said sensor module includes a light detector operating in the range of 350 nm to 1500 nm. 
     
     
         7 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 1  wherein said sensor module provides a signal to a controller that controls hydraulic actuation of the flush valve. 
     
     
         8 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 1  wherein said flush valve is constructed for manual actuation. 
     
     
         9 . A method of operating a tank-type flusher comprising;
 providing an intake valve connected to an external water source and constructed to close water flow to a water storage tank at about a predefined water level in said water tank; and a flush valve constructed to control a flush valve member between a seated state and an unseated state allowing water discharge from said water tank into a toilet bowl;   sensing a user using a sensor module located at a reference location external to said water storage tank;   transmitting signals between said sensor module and a controller;   executing by said controller an algorithm including several predefined target states based on a possible behavior of a user over a predefined time period within a sensing field of said sensor, said controller algorithm identifying said user initially moving in and thus entering a first of said predefined target states and progressing through a succession of said target states and later moving away from said sensor module, said controller being constructed and arranged to initiate a flush command to actuate said flush valve member for said water discharge only after a specific sequence of said target states; and   actuating said water discharge based on said flush command.   
     
     
         10 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 1  wherein said intake valve includes a float which freely floats within a float cage. 
     
     
         13 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 1  wherein said intake valve is actuated by a water level detector. 
     
     
         14 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 13  wherein said water level detector includes a reed sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 1  wherein said flush valve is controlled by a solenoid. 
     
     
         16 - 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 9  further including detecting light prior to said actuating. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said actuating includes hydraulic actuation of the flush valve. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said actuating includes enabling a dual water volume flush. 
     
     
         48 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 13 , wherein said controller is constructed to initiate a dual water volume flush based on data from said water level detector. 
     
     
         49 - 58 . (canceled) 
     
     
         59 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 1  further including a water barrier located inside said water storage tank, said water barrier being constructed to reduce a volume of water discharged from said water storage tank. 
     
     
         60 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 1  further including a scent delivery unit. 
     
     
         61 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 1  further including a cleaner delivery unit 
     
     
         62 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 1  wherein said controller is programmed to execute an algorithm for selecting a water volume to be discharged from said water tank and for adjusting said drive signal provided to said electromagnetic actuator controlling discharge of said water volume by said flush valve. 
     
     
         63 . The method of operating a tank-type flusher of  claim 9  further including determining reflection-percentage changes caused by said user for progressing through said target states. 
     
     
         64 . The method of operating a tank-type flusher of  claim 9  further comprising controlling a volume of water discharged from said water tank using a barrier. 
     
     
         65 . The method of operating a tank-type flusher of  claim 9  further including delivering a cleaner into said water tank. 
     
     
         66 . The method of operating a tank-type flusher of  claim 9  further including delivering scent.