Hand Sanitizer Dispenser Acoustic Monitoring for Usage Compliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand cleaning fluid dispensers lack the ability to automatically monitor and communicate usage data to a central system due to the absence of electrical power sources or electronic components, resulting in incomplete compliance monitoring of hand washing practices within facilities.
Innovation Solution
A fluid dispenser equipped with a sound generator that produces a sound when activated, combined with a remote sound sensing mechanism and communication system, allowing for the transmission of data representative of the sound sensed to a central computer, enabling comprehensive compliance monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fluid dispenser is equipped with electronic components and power source to enable automatic monitoring and data communication, then compliance monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic sensors and power sources with a mechanical sound generation system. A sound generator (mechanical component) produces audible signals when the dispenser is activated, and these sounds are detected by remote acoustic sensors. This substitution eliminates the need for electronic components, batteries, and wireless communication modules within the dispenser itself, thereby maintaining monitoring capability while reducing device complexity.
2Device complexity
If previously known dispensers without electronic components are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but usage data cannot be recorded or communicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary sound generation mechanism that converts dispenser activation into audible signals. The sound generator acts as a mediator between the mechanical dispensing action and the remote acoustic sensing system. This allows usage information to be transmitted without requiring electronic communication components in the dispenser, preserving simplicity while preventing information loss.
3Loss of information
If electronic transmitters are installed in dispensers to communicate usage data, then data communication capability is improved, but power consumption and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sound generator is driven by the mechanical energy already present in the dispenser activation mechanism. When the dispenser pump is activated, this mechanical motion directly drives the sound generator to produce audible signals. No separate power source is required - the system uses the existing mechanical energy to accomplish the communication function, thereby eliminating additional power consumption.
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
This solution enables the monitoring of all hand cleaning fluid dispensers within a facility, ensuring accurate and automatic communication of usage data to a central system, enhancing compliance monitoring and improving hand hygiene practices.
Implementation Method 1
a sound generator which generates a sound when the fluid dispenser is activated
Implementation Method 2
a sound sensor to sense the sound generated by the sound generator
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
In combination a fluid dispenser for dispensing fluid and a sound sensing mechanism remote from the fluid dispenser, the fluid dispenser dispensing fluid when activated, the fluid dispenser including a sound generator which generates a sound when the fluid dispenser is activated, the sound sensing mechanism separate from and spaced from the fluid dispenser, the sound sensing mechanism including a sound sensor to sense the sound generated by the sound generator, the sound sensing mechanism including a communication system to transmit data representative of the sound sensed by the sound generator.