Sensor tap with integrated soap dispenser utilizing time-of-flight (TOF) sensor

Abstract

Sensor Tap with Integrated Soap Dispenser Utilizing Time-of-Flight (ToF) Sensor An automatic sensor tap having an integrated soap dispenser, the sensor tap comprising a water dispensing module; a soap dispensing module; a first Time-of- Flight (ToF) sensor configured to detect a hand of a user in a water dispensing mode; a second ToF sensor configured to detect a hand of the user in a soap dispensing mode; a controller configured to receive an input from the first or the second ToF sensor, and dispensing soap or water. This innovation enhances hygiene, reduces installation and maintenance costs, and prevents excessive resource wastage, making it ideal for commercial and residential applications.

Description

Sensor Tap with Integrated Soap Dispenser Utilizing Time-of-Flight (ToF) Sensor Field of Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to sanitary fixtures, specifically an advanced 2-in-1 sensor tap with an integrated soap dispenser that employs cooridinated Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor technology for a seamless, contactless, and efficient handwashing experience that improves detection accuracy and prevent false triggering.Background

[0002] The following discussion of the background is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present disclosure only. It should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to was published, known or is part of the common general knowledge of the person skilled in the art in any jurisdiction as of the priority date of the invention.

[0003] Conventional sensor taps and soap dispensers are typically implemented as separate units, each with their own independent sensing systems. Traditional sensorbased taps and soap dispensers often rely on infrared (IR) proximity sensors, which can be inaccurate due to ambient light interference and improper hand detection. Additionally, having separate dispensers and taps often leads to cluttered restroom designs, thereby increasing installation and maintenance expenses.

[0004] Such systems often result in failure due to false triggering due to overlapping sensing zones and cross-interference between adjacent devices. Moreover, such systems have increased installation complexity and costs. Such systems also tend to result in a poor user experience due to unintended activation. For instance, a user wishes to wash his hands may accidentally trigger the soap dispensing function and thus, have soap on his hands instead of water. Valuable resources are also wasted as a result.

[0005] It is thus contemplated to provide a sensor tap that is integrated with a soap dispenser that integrates both functions of water and soap dispensing to ensuresuperior and efficient user experience by eliminating sensor cross-talk and enhancing detection accuracy. There is also a need for an integrated sensor based tap and soap dispenser to alleviate one or more of the abovementioned problems.Summary of Invention

[0006] The disclosure was conceptualized to provide a 2-in-1 sensor tap with an integrated soap dispenser provides a comprehensive automatic hygiene solution by using two Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensors that operate in a coordinated and alternating manner such that only one sensor is active at any given time.

[0007] In a soap dispensing mode, the system dispenses a controlled amount of liquid or foam soap, when a user’s hand is detected in the proximity of the soap outlet. In a water dispensing mode, the system activates the water flow, when the user places their hands near the tap spout.

[0008] The system is a smart detection system that comprises two ToF sensors configured to precisely differentiate between the soap and water dispensing zones, thus reducing unintended activations. The two ToF sensors are configured to operate in a coordinated and alternating manner such that only on of the ToF sensors is active at any given time. Such a system eliminated sensor interference and thus prevents false triggering. This enables accuracy in detecting a user’s intent. The system minimizes water and soap wastage through controlled dispensing mechanisms. Furthermore, by combining two functions into a single compact unit, this allows simplifying installation and reducing maintenance. The integrated sensor tap may also be provided with LED indicators on the top to display the current mode of dispensation (soap or water) and pulse red when the soap is empty or running on low supply. The LED can be configured to remain red in case of a malfunction.

[0009] In an aspect of the invention, there is provided an automatic sensor tap having an integrated soap dispenser, the sensor tap comprising a water dispensing module, a soap dispensing module, a first Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor configured to detect a hand of a user in a water dispensing mode, a second ToF sensor configured to detecta hand of the user in a soap dispensing mode; a controller configured to receive an input from the first or the second ToF sensor, and dispensing soap or water.

[0010] In some embodiments, the controller is configured to differentiate between the water dispensing mode and the soap dispensing mode based on the positioning and proximity of the user’s hand, such that only one of the ToF sensors is activated at any given time.

[0011] In some embodiments, the sensor tap integrated with the soap dispenser may be powered by rechargeable batteries.

[0012] In some embodiments, the sensor tap integrated with the soap dispenser may be powered by direct power supply.

[0013] In some embodiments, the sensor tap integrated with the soap dispenser may be provided with smart connectivity such as WiFi or Bluetooth for monitoring.

[0014] In some embodiments, the sensor tap integrated with the soap dispenser may be provided with a LED light indicator that displays an active mode.

[0015] In some embodiments, the LED light indicator pulses red when the soap dispenser is empty.

[0016] In some embodiments, the LED light indicator remains red when the sensor tap is malfunctioning.

[0017] Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0019] FIG.1 is an overall illustration of the sensor tap integrated with a soap dispenser according to an embodiment; and

[0020] FIG.2A is a front view of the sensor tap of FIG.1 and FIG.2B is a side view of the sensor tap of FIG. 1 when mounted within a wall.Description of Embodiments

[0021] In various embodiments, there is disclosed an automatic sensor tap having an integrated soap dispenser, the sensor tap comprising a water dispensing module, a soap dispensing module, a first Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor configured to detect a hand of a user in a water dispensing mode, a second ToF sensor configured to detect a hand of the user in a soap dispensing mode; a controller configured to receive an input from the first or the second ToF sensor, and dispensing soap or water.. The sensor tap with an integrated soap dispenser, utilizes Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor technology for precise hand detection and automatic activation of soap or water. The system intelligently differentiates between soap and water dispensing zones, ensuring a seamless, touch-free handwashing experience. LED indicators provide real-time status updates, alerting users when soap is empty or a malfunction is detected.

[0022] The sensor tap may be a sleek faucet-like structure with separate nozzles for soap and water. With a streamlined and space-efficient design, such a sensor tap is ideal for commercial and residential restrooms.

[0023] The sensor tap 10 generally comprises a water dispensing module 40, such as a tap, a soap dispensing module 50, a first ToF sensor 60 configured to detect a hand of a user in a water dispensing mode, a second ToF sensor 70 configured to detect a hand of the user in a soap dispensing mode; a controller 20 configured to receive an input from the first or the second ToF sensor, and dispensing soap or water. The sensor tap 10 may be powered by batteries or provided with wired connections.

[0024] The controller may be configured to ensure that only one ToF sensor is active at any given time. The ToF sensors 60, 70 may be configured to operate in a time-multiplexed sequence.

[0025] For example, as an illustration, when the first ToF sensor 60 (water dispensing mdoe) is activated, the first ToF sensor is configured to detect the presence of a user’s hand. When the first ToF sensor is activated, the second ToF sensor 70 will remain inactive. After a defined interval or event, the first ToF sensor 60 is deactivated and the second ToF sensor 70 is activated.

[0026] This coordinated and alternating mechanism prevents optical interference between both ToF sensors and simultaneous signal reflections. It also prevents ambiguous detection zones.

[0027] The system thus is able to distinguish a user’s intent based on the proximity of the user’s hands from the sensor, duration of present, and detection sequence. For example, when the user’s hands are detected during the soap dispensing mode, in which the second ToF sensor 70 is activated, soap will be dispensed from the soap dispensing module 50. Similarly, if the user’s hands are detected during the water dispensing mode, in which the first ToF sensor is activated 60, water will be dispensed from the water dispensing module 40.

[0028] The ToF sensors may be a high-precision ToF sensor embedded within the spout of the sensor tap detects hand positioning with millimetre accuracy. Unlike conventional Infrared sensors, ToF sensors measure light pulse return times, ensuring accurate and reliable hand detection. The sensor’s adaptive capability ensures that soap and water are dispensed appropriately based on hand placement.

[0029] The sensor tap further employs intelligent dispensing algorithm. When a user’s hand is placed in the proximity of the soap outlet 50, the sensor tap 10 dispenses soap at the soap outlet 50. When the hand is moved within the proximity of the water outlet 40, the sensor tap 10 activates water flow.

[0030] The sensor tap 10 may operate on rechargeable lithium batteries or a low voltage direct power supply. The sensor tap may be built with WiFi and / or Bluetooth connectivity to allow remote monitoring of soap and water consumption.

[0031] The sensor tap 10 may comprise water-efficient aerator for controlled flow. The soap dispenser may be provided with adjustable soap volume settings to prevent excessive flow. The sensor tap 10 may comprise an automatic shut-off mechanism when not in use, thus reducing wastage.

[0032] With the aforementioned disclosure, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a single integrated sensor tap with a soap dispenser that utilizes ToF sensor technology for precise hand detection and automatic activation of soap or water. The usage of two ToF sensors that operate in a coordinated, alternating manner such that only one sensor is active at any given time ensures a seamless, touch-free handwashing experience. Such a system prevents false triggering by eliminating cross-talk between the sensors and improves accuracy by only allowing a single active sensing zone at any given time. Further, the integrated design combines the soap dispenser and tap into a single unit, which reduces installation and maintenance costs and complexity. This also enhances the overall user experience with its predictable and intentional activation.

[0033] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, variations, substitutions, and equivalents exist for features of the system which do not materially depart from the scope of the invention.

[0034] It should be further appreciated by the person skilled in the art that variations and combinations of features described above, not being alternatives or substitutes, may be combined to form yet further embodiments falling within the intended scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims1. An automatic sensor tap having an integrated soap dispenser, the sensor tap comprising a water dispensing module; a soap dispensing module; a first Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor configured to detect a hand of a user in a water dispensing mode; a second ToF sensor configured to detect a hand of the user in a soap dispensing mode; a controller configured to receive an input from the first or the second ToF sensor, and dispensing soap or water.

2. The sensor tap of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to differentiate between the water dispensing mode and the soap dispensing mode based on the positioning and proximity of the user’s hand, such that only one of the ToF sensors is activated at any given time.

3. The sensor tap of any one of claim 1 or 2, wherein the sensor tap is powered by rechargeable batteries.

4. The sensor tap of any one of claim 1 or 2, wherein the sensor tap is powered by direct power supply.

5. The sensor tap of any of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor tap is provided with WiFi or Bluetooth connectivity.

6. The sensor tap of any of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor tap is provided with a LED light indicator that displays an active mode.

7. The sensor tap of claim 6, wherein the LED light indicator pulses red when the soap dispenser is empty.

8. The sensor tap of any one of claim 6 or 7 wherein the LED light indicator remains red when the sensor tap is malfunctioning.

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