Plumbing Fixture Sensing Using Ambient Light Triggered IR Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional automatic sensing systems for plumbing fixtures, such as faucets and urinals, face challenges in reducing power consumption while maintaining effective detection and control, often resulting in inconvenient delays for users due to low infrared light sampling frequencies.
Innovation Solution
An automatic sensing system that incorporates an ambient light sensor to detect changes in light intensity, allowing the infrared sensor to start only when significant changes occur, thereby reducing power consumption and improving detection precision by adjusting the infrared light emission frequency based on ambient light conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the infrared sensor continuously emits infrared light at high frequency for detection, then the detection precision and response speed are improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The infrared sensor operates in periodic cycles, alternating between active detection mode (emitting infrared light at high frequency) and sleep mode (low frequency or no emission). The control unit switches between these modes based on whether user presence is detected, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining detection precision when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection using ambient light sensors or motion sensors before activating the infrared sensor. This preliminary action triggers the infrared sensor to start emitting only when there is a possibility of user presence, avoiding continuous high-frequency emission and reducing power consumption while maintaining detection precision when users are actually present.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the infrared sensor emits infrared light at low frequency to save power, then the power consumption is reduced, but the response speed and user convenience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic detection cycles with ambient light sensors or motion sensors running at low frequency to save power, while maintaining the capability to switch to high-frequency infrared detection when triggered. This ensures that the system responds quickly to user presence when detected, reducing user waiting time while maintaining low average power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection using low-power sensors (ambient light or motion sensors) that operate continuously or at low frequency. When these sensors detect potential user presence, they trigger the infrared sensor to activate at high frequency, ensuring quick response and minimal user waiting time while keeping overall power consumption low during periods of no activity.
3Measurement precision
If the infrared sensor operates continuously at high frequency, then the detection precision is improved, but the battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The infrared sensor operates in periodic cycles, switching between active detection mode (high frequency emission for precise detection) and sleep mode (low frequency or no emission to conserve battery). The control unit manages these cycles based on detection needs, ensuring detection precision is maintained when users are present while extending battery life through reduced overall operation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses preliminary detection with ambient light sensors or motion sensors to trigger infrared sensor activation only when necessary. This preliminary action ensures that the high-power infrared sensor operates only when user presence is likely, maintaining detection precision when needed while significantly extending battery life by avoiding continuous operation.
4Use of energy by moving object
If the system uses ambient light sensing to trigger detection, then the power consumption is reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces ambient light sensors or motion sensors as intermediary components that detect environmental changes and trigger the infrared sensor accordingly. These intermediaries operate at low power and simple logic, reducing the overall power consumption and complexity burden on the main infrared detection system while maintaining effective user detection capabilities.
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
The system effectively reduces power consumption while maintaining precise detection and control of plumbing fixtures, ensuring timely activation and deactivation of water flow without prolonged delays, thus enhancing user convenience and system reliability.
Implementation Method 1
an ambient light sensor which detects the ambient light intensity around the equipment
Implementation Method 2
A traditional infrared sensor comprises an infrared emitting device and infrared receiving device. The traditional infrared sensor conventionally continuously emits infrared light to the detected area
Implementation Method 3
infrared receiving device receives the reflected infrared signals
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic sensing system and a detecting method for use with plumbing equipment in the kitchen and washroom are shown and described. The automatic sensing system includes an ambient light sensor for detecting the ambient light intensity around the equipment. The system further includes a detecting sensor for detecting whether user enters the detected area. The system also includes a controller which controls the equipment based on detected signals from the detecting sensor. The controller is configured to start or change the state of the detecting sensor according to a detected value change of the ambient light intensity. The automatic sensing system advantageously saves power consumed by the detecting sensor when the ambient light sensor does not indicate use by the equipment.