Directional object sensor for automatic flow controller
US6127671A · kind A · utility
76Cited by
16References
30Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 28, 1998 |
| Grant date | Oct 3, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 28, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S7/4818
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In response to a infrared-radiation sensor assembly (12), a control circuit controls an electromechanical valve (18) in an automatic faucet (16). Reflector surfaces (44, 46) so form a sensor beam as to cause the sensor to be insensitive to the presence of a sink (24). The ratio of the resultant radiation pattern's horizontal extent to its vertical extent is greater than it would be in the absence of the reflector surfaces (44, 46). The control circuit is battery-powered, and the electromechanical valve (18) is of the latching variety so as to conserve the battery's energy.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.