Hygiene Dispenser Self-Location via Environmental Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hygiene equipment installation processes are inefficient, particularly when dealing with large numbers of units, as they require tedious manual configuration and lack adequate automated support for associating each dispenser with its location and type, making it difficult to manage and schedule refills effectively.
Innovation Solution
Hygiene equipment equipped with detectors that can identify observables from the surrounding environment, such as light, sound, or signals, to determine its location independently and communicate this information to a central server, eliminating the need for manual configuration and enabling automated refill management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual configuration is used to associate each dispenser with its location and type, then installation can be completed, but the process becomes tedious and inefficient when dealing with large numbers of units
Solution Approach 1:
The hygiene equipment automatically determines its own location by detecting observables from the surrounding environment and generates identification information without human intervention. This self-service approach eliminates the need for manual configuration of each dispenser's location and type, dramatically improving installation efficiency when deploying large numbers of units.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs location determination and identification generation as preliminary actions during the installation process itself, rather than requiring subsequent manual configuration. By automatically associating location information with each dispenser at the time of installation, the system eliminates time-consuming post-installation setup work.
2Loss of information
If manual configuration is required for each dispenser, then location information can be recorded, but the complexity of managing large numbers of units increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Each dispenser automatically generates its own identification information and location data through environmental observation, eliminating the need for manual data entry and association. This self-service mechanism ensures accurate location information is captured while simultaneously reducing management complexity, as the system handles the administrative burden automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual configuration processes with automated detection and processing systems. Sensors detect environmental observables, and a processing unit automatically generates and stores location information, substituting mechanical manual operations with automated electronic systems that reduce both information loss and management complexity.
3Ease of operation
If automated support is provided for location association, then installation efficiency improves, but the system requires detectors and processing capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The detector and processing unit serve multiple functions: they detect environmental observables for location determination, generate identification information, and communicate with central servers. By making these components multi-functional, the system achieves automated location association and improved ease of operation without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system's own detector and processing capabilities are used to automatically determine location and generate identification information, rather than requiring external manual configuration. This self-service approach simplifies installation operations while the added complexity of detection capabilities is offset by the elimination of manual configuration requirements.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C~4C
AI summary
A piece of hygiene equipment arranged to dispense or dispose of a consumable to or from a user comprising a detector arranged to detect an observable from a surrounding of the piece of hygiene equipment and to provide a corresponding detector output and a processing unit arranged to receive the detector output, to process the detector output, and to generate information for determining a location of said piece of hygiene equipment.