Patent · US Active

Conductivity sensor and urinal with conductivity sensor

US8479324B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by
3References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 17, 2009
Grant dateJul 9, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 26, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE03D5/105
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

The present invention discloses a urinal with a conductivity sensor, which includes the conductivity sensor arranged at the location where a reservoir of the urinal is curved and adapted to detect urine, a control unit (MCU), a power battery, and an electromagnetic valve adapted to control a discharge of water, wherein the conductivity sensor is adapted to detect a conductivity to determine whether urine is present. After the conductivity sensor detects presence of urine, the control unit opens the electromagnetic valve. The conductivity sensor includes electrodes dipped inside the location where the reservoir is curved to contact urine. The conductivity sensor further includes an anti-polarization-of-electrode circuit based upon the principle of an alternating power supply. Thus, the sensor can achieve more reliable sensing and a longer lifetime.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.