Automated Toilet System

Abstract

An automated toilet system includes at least one toilet with a toilet bowl fluidly coupled via a flush valve to a source of water, a seat pivotally coupled to one of the toilet bowl, wall, or structural member; a seat mechanism; at least one seat position sensor configured to detect a position of the seat; a user detection sensor configured to detect at least one attribute of a user; and a sanitization system. A processor is communicatively coupled to at least one of the flush valve, the seat mechanism, the at least one seat position sensor, the user detection sensor, and the sanitization system. A computer memory includes instructions that cause the processor to perform functions including actuating: the flush valve; the seat mechanism, to one of raise the seat and lower the seat; and the sanitizing system to sanitize at least one of the toilet bowl and the seat.

1 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . An automated toilet system comprising:
 at least one toilet, including:
 a toilet bowl fluidly coupled via a flush valve to a source of water; 
 a seat pivotally coupled to one of the toilet bowl, a wall, and a structural member; 
 a seat mechanism coupled to the seat and configured to raise and to lower the seat; 
 at least one seat position sensor configured to detect a position of the seat in a raised position and a lowered position; 
 a user detection sensor configured to detect at least one attribute of a user of the automated toilet system; 
 a sanitization system; 
   a toilet control system that includes:
 a processor configured to implement a plurality of computer executable instructions, the processor being communicatively coupled to at least one of the flush valve, the seat mechanism, the at least one seat position sensor, the user detection sensor, and the sanitization system; 
 a computer memory communicatively coupled with the processor and storing the plurality of computer executable instructions that, when implemented by the processor, cause the processor to perform functions including:
 at least one of actuating the flush valve; actuating the seat mechanism to one of raise the seat and lower the seat; and actuating the sanitizing system to sanitize at least one of the toilet bowl and the seat. 
 
   
     
     
         36 . The automated toilet system of claim  21 , wherein the processor is communicatively coupled by at least one of a) a wireless connection and b) a wired connection to at least one of the flush valve, the seat mechanism, the at least one seat position sensor, the user detection sensor, and the sanitization system. 
     
     
         37 . The automated toilet system of claim  21 , wherein the at least one toilet comprises a plurality of toilets. 
     
     
         38 . The automated toilet system of claim  21 , wherein at least one of the processor and the computer memory is remotely located from the toilet bowl. 
     
     
         39 . The automated toilet system of claim  21 , further comprising at least one database communicatively coupled to the processor, the database configured to store at least one datum representative of actuating the seat mechanism to one of raise the seat and lower the seat, actuating the sanitizing system to sanitize at least one of the toilet bowl, detecting the user, and the position of the seat. 
     
     
         40 . The automated toilet system of claim  21 , further comprising a voice detection system configured to receive a verbal instruction from the user, the voice detection system being communicatively coupled to the processor. 
     
     
         41 . The automated toilet system of claim  21 , further comprising an application installed on a user's mobile device, the application being communicatively coupled to the processor. 
     
     
         42 . The automated toilet system of claim  21 , further comprising at least one of a toilet height adjustment mechanism and a seat height adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a height of at least one of the toilet bowl and the seat, respectively, relative to a floor. 
     
     
         43 . The automated toilet system of claim  21 , further comprising a bidet with a nozzle fluidly coupled to the source of water. 
     
     
         44 . The automated toilet system of  claim 43 , wherein the bidet further comprise at least one bidet position sensor configured to detect a position of the bidet relative to the user and a bidet adjustment mechanism, the at least one bidet position sensor and the bidet adjustment mechanism being communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the computer executable instructions that, when implemented by the processor, cause the processor to perform functions including adjusting the position of the bidet relative to the user. 
     
     
         45 . The automated toilet system of claim  21 , further comprising at least one sensor communicatively coupled to the processor, the at least one sensor being configured to detect at least one of a voice; a user's motion; a light (analog/digital), a weight of a user; a discharge from a user; a flow of water into the toilet bowl; a temperature; a proximity of the user relative to the toilet bowl; an infrared (active and passive) source; a pressure; a sound; a touch made by the user; a location of the user relative to the toilet; a smell; a magnetic field; a visual scene; a position of at least one of the toilet and the seat relative to a floor; or a gender identification generated by a facial recognition camera. 
     
     
         46 . The automated toilet system of claim  21 , wherein the sanitization system comprises at least one of a) an ultraviolet light source configured to sanitize at least one of the toilet, the toilet bowl, the seat, and an area proximate the toilet with ultraviolet radiation and b) a dispenser configured to dispense a cleaning agent at least one of i) into the toilet bowl and ii) onto the seat. 
     
     
         47 . The automated toilet system of claim  21 , wherein the computer executable instructions that, when implemented by the processor, cause the processor to perform functions including, adjusting at least one of a volume and a flow velocity of water entering the toilet bowl when the processor actuates the flush valve. 
     
     
         48 . The automated toilet system of  claim 47 , wherein the adjusting the at least one of a volume and a flow velocity of water is a function of whether a user deposited a solid in the toilet bowl. 
     
     
         49 . The automated toilet system of claim  21 , further comprising a door configured to allow the user to access a space where the toilet is located, and wherein a lock on the door is communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the computer executable instructions that, when implemented by the processor, cause the processor to at least one of lock and unlock the lock on the door as a function of a position of the user relative to the door. 
     
     
         50 . The automated toilet system of claim  21 , further comprising a heater communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the computer executable instructions that, when implemented by the processor, cause the processor to actuate the heater to raise a temperature of the seat relative to an ambient temperature. 
     
     
         51 . The automated toilet system of claim  21 , wherein the sanitization system is further configured to sanitize at least one of a stall, a bathroom, a toilet handle, a door, and a grab bar. 
     
     
         52 . A method of operating an automated toilet comprising:
 at least one toilet, including:
 a toilet bowl fluidly coupled via a flush valve to a source of water; 
 a seat pivotally coupled to one of the toilet bowl, a wall, and a structural member; 
 a seat mechanism coupled to the seat and configured to raise and to lower the seat; 
 a sanitization system; 
   using a processor configured to implement computer executable instructions to perform the steps of:   determining a presence of a user and an orientation of the user relative to the toilet bowl;   positioning the seat in one of a raised position and a lowered position as a function of the orientation of the user;   actuating the flush valve to adjust at least one of a volume and a flow velocity of water entering the toilet bowl as a function of whether a user deposited a solid in the toilet bowl;   determining that the user is no longer present proximate the toilet bowl; and,   actuating the sanitization system.   
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising storing at least one datum representative of actuating the seat mechanism to one of raise the seat and lower the seat, actuating the sanitizing system to sanitize at least one of the toilet bowl, detecting the user, and the one of the raised position and the lowered position of the seat with at least one database communicatively coupled to the processor. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising adjusting a height of at least one of the toilet bowl and the seat, respectively, relative to a floor.