INFRA-RED CONTROL DEVICE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control device (1), in particular for a washroom facility, the device comprising: an actuator (2); a sensor (4) configured to detect the presence of a user in the proximity of the sensor (4); and a control circuit (6) receiving, as input, signals from the sensor (4) and configured to control the actuator (2).

The sensor (4) comprises: an emitter (10) configured to emit an infrared signal; and a receiver (8) configured to detect the infrared signal emitted by the emitter (10).

The invention also provides a washroom facility, a substance dispenser, and a hair dryer or hand dryer, including such a control device (1).

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A control device, the device comprising: an actuator; a sensor configured to detect the presence of a user in the proximity of the sensor; and a control circuit receiving, as input, signals from the sensor and configured to control the actuator; wherein the sensor comprises: an emitter configured to emit an infrared signal; and a receiver configured to detect the infrared signal emitted by the emitter; and the control device further comprising a measuring device configured to measure the return time of the infrared signal emitted by the emitter.

18. The control device according to claim 17, wherein the emitter is a laser diode.

19. The control device according to claim 18, wherein the emitter is a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser diode.

20. The control device according to claim 18, wherein the laser diode emits at 850 nm.

21. The control device according to claim 17, wherein the measuring device is mounted in the sensor or in the control circuit.

22. A washroom fixture, the fixture comprising: a body supplied by at least one water supply pipe and including a water outlet orifice; and a control device according to claim 17; wherein the actuator of the control device is a solenoid valve mounted in said at least one water supply pipe.

23. The washroom fixture according to the claim 22, wherein the solenoid valve is a bistable, monostable, or proportional solenoid valve.

24. The washroom fixture according to claim 22, wherein the emitter and the receiver are mounted in the body of the washroom fixture.

25. The washroom fixture according to claim 24, wherein the emitter and the receiver are mounted as a single element in the body of the washroom fixture.

26. The washroom fixture according to claim 22, wherein the body of the washroom fixture is configured to be mounted a bowl of a basin, and wherein the body of the washroom fixture comprises: a free distal end configured to extend over the bowl or basin and including the water outlet orifice; and a proximal end arranged remote from the distal end and configured to come into contact with the bowl or basin.

27. The washroom fixture according to claim 26, wherein the distance between the sensor and the proximal end is less than the distance between the sensor and the distal end.

28. The washroom fixture according to claim 22, selected from: a faucet; a shower; a toilet; a urinal; or a bidet.

29. A dispenser configured to dispense a substance, the dispenser comprising: a reservoir containing said substance; and a control device according to claim 17; wherein the actuator of the control device comprises a dispensing device configured to dispense said substance from the reservoir.

30. The dispenser according to claim 29, wherein the dispensing device is a pump.

31. A hair dryer or hand dryer comprising: a device configured to set air into movement; and a control device according to claim 17; wherein the actuator of the control device is a drive motor configured to drive said device configured to set air into movement.

32. The hair dryer or hand dryer according to claim 31, wherein the drive motor is a DC or AC electric motor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] The disclosure and its advantages can be better understood on reading the following detailed description of three particular embodiments given as non-limiting examples and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0044] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control device of the disclosure; and

[0045] FIGS. 2 to 4 are diagrams of three applications of the control device of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0046] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control device 1 of the disclosure.

[0047] The control device 1 serves to control an actuator 2, e.g. a solenoid valve, a pump, or indeed a drive motor.

[0048] The control device 1 thus has an infrared sensor 4, for the purpose of detecting the presence of a user in the proximity of the sensor, and a control circuit 6 that is configured to control the actuator 2 as a function of the signal received from the infrared sensor 4.

[0049] The infrared sensor 4 includes in particular an infrared receiver 8 and an infrared emitter 10 emitting an infrared signal. The infrared receiver 8 is configured to detect the infrared signal emitted by the emitter and reflected by a surface, e.g. the hand of a user.

[0050] The infrared emitter 10 may comprise a laser diode emitting in the infrared, for example, in the near infrared, e.g. at 850 nm. Furthermore, the laser diode of the infrared emitter 10 may be a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser diode, better known under the term VCSEL diode.

[0051] The infrared receiver 8 is configured to detect photons, in particular infrared photons, and may comprise one or more cells that are sensitive to infrared.

[0052] The signal from the infrared receiver 8 is processed in order to determine whether or not the control circuit 6 is to cause the actuator 2 to operate. The processing of the signal may be performed by the infrared sensor 4, by the control circuit 2, or by both of them.

[0053] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the processing of the signal from the infrared receiver 8 is performed by the infrared sensor 4 itself. In particular, the infrared sensor 4 has means 12 for measuring the return time of the infrared signal emitted by the emitter 10, and it sends a signal representative of that time to the control circuit 6. The control circuit 6 can then optionally cause the actuator 2 to operate as a function of the signal received by the sensor 4, e.g. by comparing it with a threshold value.

[0054] FIG. 2 shows a first application of a control device of the disclosure. FIG. 2 shows a wash basin having a faucet 14 and a bowl 16. The faucet 14 has a proximal end 14a resting on the top surface of a rim of the bowl 16 and connected to a water supply pipe 18, and a distal end 14b extending above the bowl 16 and including a water outlet orifice. The faucet 14 also has an infrared sensor 4 in the proximity of its proximal end 14a, the sensor 4 having an emitter 10 and a receiver 8. In the application shown in FIG. 2, the actuator 2 is a solenoid valve mounted in the water supply pipe 18.

[0055] The sensor 4 is connected to a control circuit 6 that, in the embodiment described, comprises the means 12 for measuring the return time of the infrared signal, and that controls the actuator 2 formed by the solenoid valve.

[0056] In operation, the emitter 10 sends infrared signals, e.g. modulated signals. When a user moves a hand close to the faucet 14, that hand comes into the emission zone of the emitter 10 and reflects some of the infrared emitted by the emitter 10. The receiver 8 then detects the infrared reflected by the hand. The sensor 4 then sends signals to the means 12 for measuring the infrared signal return time so as to enable those means to determine the time taken by the infrared signal to return to the receiver 8.

[0057] When the return time of the infrared signal is less than a determined value, the control circuit 6 then causes the solenoid valve to open in order to cause water to run out from the faucet 14.

[0058] Since the emitter 10 continues to emit an infrared signal either continuously or at regular intervals, when the user's hand moves away from the sensor 4, because the user is no longer using the faucet, the control circuit 6 detects that the time taken by the infrared signal to return to the receiver 8 has increased and can cause the solenoid valve to close once more.

[0059] The disclosure thus makes it possible to determine accurately the distance between the sensor and a user's hand, without any constraint concerning the background or the environment of said sensor.

[0060] FIG. 3 shows a second application example of a control device of the disclosure. FIG. 3 shows a substance dispenser 20, in particular a soap dispenser, including a reservoir 22 of said substance. The substance dispenser 20 also has a sensor 4 with an infrared emitter 10 and an infrared receiver 8, together with a control circuit 6 causing the substance contained in the reservoir 22 to be dispensed or not to be dispensed. In the application shown in FIG. 3, the actuator 2 that is controlled by the control circuit 6 is a pump mounted at the outlet from the reservoir 22.

[0061] Thus, when a user moves a hand close to the substance dispenser, the sensor 4 and the control circuit 6 detect the approaching hand and the control circuit 6 can cause the actuator 2, specifically a pump, to operate e.g. so as to deliver a determined quantity of substance.

[0062] FIG. 4 shows a third application example of a control device of the disclosure. FIG. 4 shows a hand dryer or hair dryer 24. The hand dryer or hair dryer 24 comprises: means 26 for setting air into movement, a sensor 4 with an infrared emitter 10 and an infrared receiver 8, and a control circuit 6 for optionally causing the hand dryer or hair dryer 24 to operate. In the application shown in FIG. 4, the actuator controlled by the control circuit 6 is a drive motor (not shown) for driving the means 26 for setting air into movement.

[0063] When a user's hand or head comes close to the hand dryer or hair dryer 24, the sensor 4 and the control circuit 6 detect the approaching user and the control circuit 6 can cause the actuator, specifically the drive motor, to operate so as to establish the stream of drying air.

[0064] Thus, embodiments of the disclosure enables washroom facilities or other equipment present in washrooms, in particular public washrooms, to be controlled by the user without making contact and without imposing restrictive installation or aiming conditions in order to be able to operate correctly. In particular, determining the go-and-return time of the infrared signal serves to determine accurately the distance between the item reflecting the infrared signal and the infrared sensor, and thus to cause the actuators to operate accordingly.