Toilet closure systems

Abstract

A device can include one or more inputs, which, in operation, receive one or more signals indicative of toilet-lid positions and one or more signals indicative of user-toilet proximity; and control circuitry coupled to the one or more inputs. The control circuitry can, in operation, determine a position of a toilet lid based on the one or more signals indicative of toilet-lid positions; respond to a determination that the toilet lid is in a closed position by entering a power-save mode of operation; and respond to a determination that the toilet lid is not in a closed position by selectively generating, based on the one or more signals indicative of user-toilet proximity, toilet-lid-actuator control signals to cause a toilet-lid-actuator to move the toilet lid toward a closed position. Related methods and systems are also provided.

1 . A device, comprising:
 one or more inputs, which, in operation, receive one or more signals indicative of toilet-lid positions and one or more signals indicative of user-toilet proximity; and   control circuitry coupled to the one or more inputs, wherein the control circuitry, in operation:
 determines a position of a toilet lid based on the one or more signals indicative of toilet-lid positions; 
 responds to a determination that the toilet lid is in a closed position by entering a power-save mode of operation; and 
 responds to a determination that the toilet lid is not in a closed position by selectively generating, based on the one or more signals indicative of user-toilet proximity, toilet-lid-actuator control signals to cause a toilet-lid-actuator to move the toilet lid toward a closed position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  comprising one or more proximity sensors that sense user-toilet proximity. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  comprising one or more electrical energy storage devices, wherein the control circuitry selectively removes delivery of power from the one or more electrical energy storage devices to the one or more proximity sensors in the power-save mode of operation. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the control circuitry selectively generates one or more proximity-sensor-power control signals to deliver power from one or more electrical energy storage devices to the one or more proximity sensors over one or more defined time intervals. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  comprising one or more electrical energy storage devices, wherein the control circuitry removes supply of power from the one or more electrical energy storage devices to the toilet-lid-actuator in the power-save mode of operation. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  comprising one or more electrical energy storage devices, wherein the control circuitry delivers power from the one or more electrical energy storage devices to the toilet-lid-actuator based on the one or more signals indicative of user-toilet proximity. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  comprising the toilet lid and a housing mounted to the toilet lid, wherein the toilet-lid-actuator and the control circuitry are contained within the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  comprising one or more position sensors that determine the position of the toilet lid. 
     
     
         9 . A system, comprising:
 an actuator, which, in operation, rotatably moves a toilet lid from an open position toward a closed position;   one or more electrical energy storage devices;   one or more sensors, which, in operation, generate one or more signals indicative of toilet-lid positions and one or more signals indicative of user-toilet proximity;   control circuitry coupled to the actuator, the one or more electrical energy storage devices, and the one or more sensors, wherein the control circuitry, in operation:
 determines a position of a toilet lid based on the one or more signals indicative of toilet-lid positions; 
 responds to a determination that the toilet lid is in a closed position by entering a power-save mode of operation; and 
 responds to a determination that the toilet lid is not in a closed position by selectively generating toilet-lid-actuator control signals to cause the toilet-lid-actuator to move the toilet lid toward the closed position based on the one or more signals indicative of user-toilet proximity. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , comprising the toilet lid and a housing mounted to the toilet lid, wherein the actuator, the one or more electrical energy storage devices, at least one of the one or more sensors, and the control circuitry are contained within the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , comprising a toilet. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the control circuitry selectively generates one or more proximity-sensor-power signals to remove delivery of power from the one or more electrical energy storage devices to the one or more sensors that generate indications of user-toilet proximity in the power-save mode of operation. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the control circuitry selectively generates one or more power-actuator-signals to remove delivery of power from the one or more electrical energy storage devices to the actuator in the power-save mode of operation. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the control circuitry selectively generates one or more power-actuator-signals to deliver power from the one or more electrical energy storage devices to the actuator based on the one or more signals indicative of user-toilet proximity. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the control circuitry selectively generates one or more proximity-sensor-power control signals to deliver power from one or more electrical energy storage devices to the one or more sensors that generate indications of user-toilet proximity over one or more defined time intervals. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the actuator, in operation, only rotatably moves a toilet lid from the open position toward the closed position. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the actuator, in operation, does not rotatably move the toilet lid from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 determining by a toilet closure system, a position of a toilet lid;   determining by the toilet closure system, a user-toilet-proximity;   responsive to the toilet lid being in a closed position, entering a power-save mode of operation; and   responsive to the toilet lid being in an open position and the user-toilet-proximity, selectively causing a toilet-lid-actuator to move the toilet lid toward a closed position.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  comprising selectively removing delivery of power from one or more electrical energy storage devices to one or more proximity sensors in the power-save mode of operation. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  comprising selectively removing delivery of power from one or more electrical energy storage devices to the toilet-lid-actuator in the power-save mode of operation. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  comprising selectively delivering power from one or more electrical energy storage devices to the toilet-lid-actuator based on user-toilet-proximity. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18  comprising selectively delivering power from one or more electrical energy storage devices to one or more proximity sensors over one or more defined time intervals.