Coordinated Touch-Free Fixture Control to Prevent False Triggering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Touch-free devices such as faucets, soap dispensers, and hand dryers often falsely trigger when used in close proximity, leading to soap wastage and accidental activation, causing messes and discomfort.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system where touch-free devices are in circuit communication, using processors and memory with logic to coordinate their operations, preventing simultaneous activation and ensuring proper sequencing based on user presence and activity detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If touch-free devices operate independently, then device complexity is reduced, but coordination between devices deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidcoordination between devices

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Each touch-free device is equipped with multi-functional capabilities including sensing, communication, and coordinated control, allowing simple individual units to achieve complex system-wide coordination through the communication network

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If simultaneous activation of multiple devices is allowed, then user convenience is improved, but resource wastage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidsoap wastage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary coordination through the communication network before activating devices, determining which device should activate based on user presence and preventing wasteful simultaneous operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Prevents false triggering and soap wastage by ensuring that only the necessary device is activated at the appropriate time, enhancing user experience and hygiene compliance.

Implementation Method 1

The object sensors may be infrared based, capacitance based, proximity based or the like

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared sensing: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 2

The object sensors may be infrared based, capacitance based, proximity based or the like

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance sensing: Capacitance

Implementation Method 3

The object sensors may be infrared based, capacitance based, proximity based or the like

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectProximity sensing:

Data Source

PatentUS10030371B2Systems and methods for controlling a plurality of touch-free devices in a coordinated manner

Publication Date: 2018.07.24 GOJO IND INC

AI summary

Exemplary embodiments of touch-free devices and systems comprising touch-free devices operating in a concerted effort are disclosed below. An exemplary touch-free device includes a spout, a processor, memory, an object sensor, a communication interface and logic stored on the memory. The logic contains processor readable instructions for causing the touch-free device to communicate with a second touch-free device. Wherein the processor readable instructions coordinate the operation of the touch-free device with respect to the second touch-free device.