Sanitary Device Seat with Surface-Mounted Capacitive Occupancy Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sanitary device seats with capacitive proximity sensing require large capacitor modules, making them complex to manufacture and difficult to reduce in thickness, as they need to be divided and reassembled.
Innovation Solution
A capacitive element is integrated directly onto the surface of the seat body and covered by an overlay coating, fixed by in-mold-decoration or the coating itself, allowing for a thin, flat design and simplified manufacturing without the need for dividing the seat body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a capacitive module with integrated signal processing is arranged in the seat body, then occupancy sensing is achieved, but the seat body must be divided into two pieces laterally requiring complex assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitive element is segmented from the traditional integrated capacitive module, allowing it to be placed directly on the seat body surface without requiring division of the seat body itself. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by separating the sensing function from the structural integrity requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitive element is transitioned from a three-dimensional module embedded within the seat body to a two-dimensional surface-mounted element. This dimensional change eliminates the need for lateral division of the seat body while maintaining sensing functionality.
2Reliability
If a capacitive module is integrated into the seat body, then occupancy sensing is provided, but the thickness of the seat body increases
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitive element is implemented as a thin film or flexible conductive layer deposited on the seat body surface, rather than a bulky three-dimensional module. This allows occupancy sensing while maintaining minimal seat body thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
By moving the capacitive element to a two-dimensional surface configuration, the thickness requirement is eliminated, allowing the seat body to maintain its minimal required thickness for mechanical stability.
3Ease of manufacture
If the seat body is divided into two pieces to accommodate the capacitive module, then the module can be installed, but the production process becomes very complex
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitive element is segmented and placed on the seat body surface rather than requiring the seat body to be segmented. This reversal of segmentation maintains production efficiency while enabling module installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitive element is prepared separately as a standalone component that can be pre-manufactured and then applied to the seat body surface, eliminating the need for complex assembly operations during seat body production.
4Reliability
If a thick capacitive module is used for sensing, then reliable occupancy detection is achieved, but the overall seat thickness increases and visibility from exterior occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitive element is implemented as an ultra-thin conductive layer or foil that provides reliable sensing through its surface area and electrical properties rather than its thickness, making it invisible from the exterior while maintaining detection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing mechanism transitions from relying on the thickness of the capacitive module to relying on the surface area, conductivity, and permittivity of the thin capacitive element, allowing reliable detection with minimal thickness.
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 approach results in a sanitary device seat with reduced thickness and simplified manufacturing, maintaining mechanical stability while providing reliable occupancy sensing without visible capacitive elements.
Implementation Method 1
The capacitor module detects a change of the permittivity resulting from an approach of a human body to the sanitary device seat
Data Source
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Figure 6~8
AI summary
Sanitary device seat, comprising a ring- or U-shaped seat body (17) and at least one capacitive element (7) adapted to provide a sensing signal processible to a seat occupancy information, whereby the capacitive element (7) is arranged at the seat body (17) and covered by an overlay (18) coating the seat body (17).