Concealed Capacitive Toilet Flushing for Touchless Actuation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional toilet flushing systems require direct contact with the flush handle, lacking touchless actuation capabilities and often require modifications to the toilet's structure for sensor installation, which can be aesthetically unappealing and inconvenient.

Innovation Solution

A touchless actuation system incorporating a projected capacitive sensor that projects an electromagnetic field through the toilet reservoir's surface, detecting objects without an optical path, and activating a motor assembly to flush the toilet, with a wheel assembly connected to a flushing mechanism, ensuring complete concealment within the reservoir.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional flush handle is used, then the toilet can be flushed, but it requires direct contact which is unhygienic and lacks touchless actuation capabilities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouchless operationVSAvoidcontact contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical flush handle system with a touchless sensor system that detects objects (hands) and triggers flushing automatically. This eliminates the need for physical contact with the flush mechanism, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and contact contamination by substituting mechanical interaction with automated sensing and actuation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables the toilet to flush itself automatically upon detecting a hand in the detection region, without requiring manual activation. This self-service capability eliminates contact contamination while maintaining ease of operation, as the toilet performs the flushing action autonomously based on sensor input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If sensors are installed on the toilet surface, then touchless detection is enabled, but it requires modifications to the toilet structure which are aesthetically unappealing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouchless detectionVSAvoidaesthetic appearance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor system is nested within the existing toilet reservoir structure, specifically utilizing the space behind the reservoir or within the bowl geometry. This nesting approach enables touchless detection functionality without adding external components that would compromise aesthetic appearance, as the sensors are concealed within the existing form factors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a projected capacitive sensor that can detect objects through non-conductive surfaces like the reservoir lid or bowl material. This multi-functional capability allows the same sensor technology to work whether positioned inside or outside the reservoir, enabling flexible installation that maintains aesthetic appearance while achieving touchless detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Shape

If the sensor lacks an optical path to the detection region, then complete concealment within the reservoir is achieved, but electromagnetic field projection through the surface is required

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveconcealmentVSAvoidelectromagnetic field projection

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes optical sensing mechanisms with electromagnetic field-based projected capacitive sensing. This substitution allows the sensor to detect objects through non-conductive surfaces (reservoir lid, bowl material) without requiring optical paths or visible openings, achieving complete concealment while the electromagnetic field projection complexity is managed through integrated circuit design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables hands-free flushing without visible components, maintaining the toilet's original appearance and functionality while providing a hygienic and convenient operation.

Implementation Method 1

The first touchless sensor is a projected capacitive sensor. The projected capacitive sensor may project an electromagnetic field through a surface of the closed reservoir, defining a detection region outside the reservoir.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic field projection: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

The processing circuit may be configured to detect the presence of an object (e.g., an electromagnetic field-absorbing object or an electrically conductive object) within the detection region

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitive sensing: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS11560702B2Touchless flushing systems and methods

Publication Date: 2023.01.24 KOHLER CO(US)

AI summary

A touchless actuation system for a toilet includes a touchless sensor, a motor assembly, and a processing circuit. The touchless sensor is located within a closed reservoir of the toilet. The processing circuit is configured to receive a signal from the touchless sensor and to detect an object within a detection region based on the signal. The detection region is external to the closed reservoir. The processing circuit is configured to facilitate flushing of the toilet through interaction with the motor assembly when the object is detected.