Automated Urinal Sensor Positioning to Reduce False Triggers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Automated urinals face issues with false triggering due to urinal screens, cakes, or trash interfering with sensors, and moisture causing erroneous detection, leading to improper functioning.
Innovation Solution
An automated urinal system with multiple sensors positioned strategically, including one coupled to the exterior of the trapway, the rear surface of the wall, and the underside of the basin, communicating with a controller to initiate a flush only when fluid is detected accurately, reducing interference from obstructions and moisture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sensor is positioned inside the urinal basin to detect fluid introduction, then fluid detection capability is improved, but false triggering occurs due to interference from urinal screens, cakes, or trash
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is extracted from the urinal basin interior and repositioned to the exterior of the trapway. This removes the sensor from the harmful environment where it would be exposed to urinal screens, cakes, and trash that cause false triggering, while still enabling it to detect fluid introduction through the trapway wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The trapway wall acts as an intermediary medium between the sensor and the urinal basin. The sensor detects fluid introduction indirectly through this intermediary structure, avoiding direct contact with interfering objects while maintaining detection capability.
2Measurement precision
If a sensor is exposed to detect fluid introduction, then detection capability is improved, but moisture causes erroneous detection
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is extracted from direct exposure to moisture-prone environments inside the urinal basin and repositioned to the exterior of the trapway, where it can detect fluid introduction events through the wall without being directly exposed to standing water or excessive moisture that causes erroneous detection.
3Reliability
If a sensor is positioned on the exterior of the trapway to avoid interference, then false triggering from obstructions is reduced, but sensor must detect through the trapway wall
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a simple, cost-effective sensor mounting approach using basic fastening methods (screws, adhesive, or clips) to attach the sensor to the exterior of the trapway. This disposable-style installation method avoids complex positioning mechanisms while achieving reliable false-trigger reduction.
Data Source
AI summary
An automated urinal comprising a basin configured to receive a fluid; a wall; a trapway in fluid communication with the basin; a flush valve; and an automatic flush system; wherein, the automatic flush system comprises one or more sensors and a controller; the one or more sensors are selected from a group consisting of a first sensor coupled to an exterior of the trapway, a second sensor coupled to a rear surface of the wall, and a third sensor coupled to an underside of the basin; the controller is in electrical communication with the one or more sensors and is in electrical communication with the flush valve; and wherein the automatic flush system is configured to detect introduction of fluid into the basin and to send a flush signal to the flush valve to initiate a flush.