RF-Sensed Urinal Control for Blockage and Valve Fault Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing urinal systems struggle to accurately detect malfunctions such as blockages or valve defects, leading to unnecessary water consumption and inadequate cleaning, as conventional sensors cannot differentiate between user presence and actual use, and require manual intervention for diagnosis.
Innovation Solution
A urinal system equipped with HF motion sensors, pressure sensors, and flow sensors, coupled with a data processing system that analyzes sensor data using AI algorithms to adapt the inlet valve's opening time and frequency based on detected liquid flow patterns, enabling real-time detection and prevention of malfunctions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automatic touchless flushing is equipped in public facilities with large number of users, then water consumption increases due to blockages or malfunctions not being detected, but manual detection requires user intervention which is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The urinal system performs self-diagnosis by automatically detecting blockages and malfunctions through sensors and evaluation unit, eliminating the need for manual user intervention. The system monitors its own operational status and triggers flushes or error messages based on detected conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors sensor signals from capacitive sensors and evaluates them to detect changes indicating blockages or malfunctions. This feedback loop allows the system to adapt its operation by triggering flushes when blockages are detected or generating error messages when malfunctions occur.
2Extent of automation
If capacitive sensors are used to detect urinal use, then automatic flushing is achieved, but malfunctions such as blockages cannot be registered
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitive sensor system is enhanced to perform multiple functions: it detects both normal urinal use for automatic flushing and abnormal conditions such as blockages. The evaluation unit analyzes sensor signals to distinguish between legitimate use patterns and malfunction indicators, making the system universally applicable for both purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors sensor signals and evaluates them to detect changes indicating blockages or malfunctions. This feedback loop allows the system to adapt its operation by triggering flushes when blockages are detected or generating error messages when malfunctions occur.
3Extent of automation
If proximity sensors trigger flush when user is present, then automatic flushing is achieved, but flush is triggered even when user does not use urinal leading to water waste
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts its flushing behavior based on sensor signal evaluation. Instead of triggering flushes based solely on user presence, it monitors changes in sensor signals over time to determine actual usage, adapting the flushing decision to match real-world conditions and avoiding unnecessary water consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors sensor signals and evaluates them to detect changes indicating actual urinal use. This feedback loop allows the system to distinguish between mere presence and actual usage, triggering flushes only when use is detected and avoiding unnecessary water consumption.
4Measurement precision
If multiple sensors and data processing system are added to detect malfunctions, then detection accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The existing capacitive sensor system is enhanced to perform multiple functions: it detects both normal urinal use for automatic flushing and abnormal conditions such as blockages. The evaluation unit analyzes sensor signals to distinguish between legitimate use patterns and malfunction indicators, making the system universally applicable for both purposes without adding separate sensor systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors sensor signals and evaluates them to detect changes indicating blockages or malfunctions. This feedback loop allows the system to adapt its operation by triggering flushes when blockages are detected or generating error messages when malfunctions occur, achieving high detection accuracy through intelligent signal processing rather than additional hardware.
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 identifies and addresses urinal malfunctions, reducing water waste and improving maintenance efficiency by automatically adjusting valve operations and providing timely error notifications.
Implementation Method 1
at least one HF motion sensor provided on the urinal bowl and/or the urinal outlet
Implementation Method 2
at least one pressure sensor or at least one flow sensor in the liquid inlet
Implementation Method 3
at least one pressure sensor or at least one flow sensor in the liquid inlet
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating a urinal system, a urinal system, and a water consumer system with such a urinal system.A urinal control unit of the urinal system (10) has a data processing system (9) and/or is connected to a data processing system which is configured to query and/or receive data acquired from one or at least one RF motion sensor (5) provided at a urinal bowl (1) and/or a urinal drain (4) of the urinal system, to evaluate the data computationally and, based on the evaluated data, to detect one of the following errors and/or to trigger an action to avoid the following error: - that the RF motion sensor (5) has failed, and/or, based on the evaluated data, to detect a predefined urinal usage situation and/or frequency and, based on this, to adjust an opening time and/or an opening position and/or an opening frequency of the inlet valve (3) accordingly during a subsequent urinal flushing process.