Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6598245
-
Patent Number
6,598,245
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, January 8, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, July 29, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Huson; Gregory L.
- Kokabi; Azadeh
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 004 623
- 004 302
- 004 303
- 004 304
- 250 330
- 340 565
- 222 52
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An automatic water feed mechanism and method is provided by equipping a lavatory with a two dimensional sensor array such as a camera unit for monitoring a target area that a user may enter. An infrared emitter and an infrared detector can also be activated at low light levels. A two dimensional image signal can be processed and compared with a stored reference signal for activating the release of water. At a low ambient light, the infrared emitter unit can be activated to emit infrared rays which can then be detected when reflected by a user by the infrared detector. Such a detection can provide an alternative release of water.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a novel automatic water feed method in lavatory and a novel automatic water feed mechanism in lavatory, using an artificial retina sensor which visually recognize an user of a lavatory and a sensor unit which has light emitting means for emitting light to the user when the ambient lightness becomes lower than a specified level, and light receiving means for receiving the light reflected from the user.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 17
shows a conventional hand washer
602
for feeding water automatically by using a light reflection system. In
FIG. 17
, a sensor unit
603
comprises light emitting means (not shown) for emitting light L
1
such as infrared ray or near infrared ray toward the user U, and light receiving means (not shown) for receiving reflected light L
2
coming from the user U. When the reflected light L
2
is received, water is supplied from a discharge pipe
602
a
installed on a mounting plane
601
of a basin
600
of the hand washer
602
.
However, since the light emitting means is set so that the light L
1
may be directed toward a bowl
604
, if the bowl
604
is made of stainless steel or other metal of high reflectivity and the bottom is shallow, similar light other than the reflected light L
2
may enter the light receiving means, which may cause a wrong detection.
On the other hand, an automatic water feed mechanism comprising an image pickup unit for taking the image of hand of the user projected to the lower part of an automatic lavatory main body is proposed (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-36396 gazette), but since the image pickup unit has a camera function, if a hand of the user is present in the water feed sensing range, it cannot be detected in a dark place or environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is devised in the light of the above background, and it is hence an object thereof to be capable of sensing the user of the lavatory securely, and also sensing the user of the lavatory even in a dark place or environment.
To achieve the object, the invention presents an automatic water feed method in a lavatory characterized by controlling the water feed action of the lavatory such as flush urinal and hand washer by visually recognizing the user of the lavatory by means of an artificial retina sensor, and also controlling the water feed action of the lavatory by a sensor unit which has light emitting means for emitting light to the user when the ambient lightness becomes lower than a specified level, and light receiving means for receiving the light reflected from the user.
According to other aspect, the invention also presents an automatic water feed mechanism in a lavatory comprising a lavatory such as flush urinal or hand washer, an artificial retina sensor for visually recognizing the user of the lavatory, a sensor unit having light emitting means for emitting light to the user and light receiving means for receiving the light reflected from the user, and a controller for controlling the water feed action of the lavatory on the basis of the output from the artificial retina sensor or the output of the sensor unit.
That is, from the viewpoint that the artificial retina sensor or camera unit can visually recognize the user only in an illuminated light place, the invention is intended to activate the sensor unit such as infrared ray sensor of light reflection system not influenced by the lightness, instead of artificial retina sensor, in a dark place. That is, the invention, if the artificial retina sensor fails to function due to power failure or the like during use of lavatory, the infrared ray sensor functions instead.
Accordingly, the controller for controlling the water feed action of the lavatory of the invention has a darkness judging function to judge if the ambient lightness is light enough to recognize the user visually by the artificial retina sensor or not.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a general structural explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2
is a structural explanatory diagram of the essential part in the embodiment.
FIG. 3
is a structural explanatory diagram showing the viewing field region of artificial retina sensor in the embodiment.
FIG. 4
is a diagram slantingly showing the water discharge pipe in the embodiment.
FIG. 5
is a flowchart showing automatic water feed process in the embodiment.
FIG. 6
is a timechart showing automatic water feed process in the embodiment.
FIG. 7
is a diagram showing an image of surface of a bowl seen from a sensing window in the embodiment.
FIG. 8
is a diagram showing an image seen from the sensing window when the user of the lavatory is washing hands in the embodiment.
FIG. 9
is also a diagram showing an image seen from the sensing window when the user of the lavatory is washing hands in the embodiment.
FIG. 10
is a diagram showing an image of the bowl surface depicting a foreign matter other than the hands of the user seen from the sensing window in the embodiment.
FIG. 11
is a structural explanatory diagram showing a processing step of an image seen from the sensing window in the embodiment.
FIG. 12
is a diagram showing an acquired image seen from the sensing window in the embodiment.
FIG. 13
is also a diagram showing an acquired image seen from the sensing window in the embodiment.
FIG. 14
is a diagram showing a change image extracting the number of dot changes in two continuous acquired images when transferring from non-use state to use state.
FIG. 15
is a diagram showing a change image extracting the number of dot changes in two continuous acquired images during use.
FIG. 16
is a flowchart showing an automatic water feed process used only an artificial retina sensor in the embodiment.
FIG. 17
is a diagram showing a water feed operation in a prior art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below while referring to the accompanying drawings. It must be noted, however, that the invention is not limited by the illustrated embodiments alone.
FIG. 1
to
FIG. 16
show one embodiment of the invention. In the embodiment, an infrared ray sensor is used in the sensor unit having light emitting means for emitting light to the user and light receiving means for receiving the light reflected from the user. Instead of the infrared ray sensor, a near infrared ray sensor may be also used.
In
FIG. 1
, FIG.
3
and
FIG. 4
, an automatic water feed mechanism mainly consists of a hand washer
1
, an artificial retina sensor
2
a
, an infrared ray sensor
2
b
and a control unit
3
for controlling the water feed operation of the hand washer
1
on the basis of the output of the artificial retina sensor
2
a
or the output of the infrared ray sensor
2
b.
Further, the hand washer
1
is composed of a basin composed of bowl
4
and a horizontal mounting plane
5
, and a faucet main body having a discharge pipe
6
installed on the horizontal mounting plane
5
. The bowl
4
is white in color. The discharge pipe
6
is installed in such that the discharge port
6
b
is inclined by a specified angle ) φ (φ being an acute angle) from a vertical plane N perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the horizontal mounting plane
5
to the bowl
4
side so as to be directed to the bowl
4
.
In the embodiment, the artificial retina sensor
2
a
and infrared ray sensor
2
b
are provided in a front panel
6
a
of a water discharge pipe
6
so that the infrared ray sensor
2
b
may be located above the artificial retina sensor
2
a
. In
FIG. 4
, reference numeral
9
a
is a sensing window of the artificial retina sensor
2
a
, which is circular in a front view. Reference numeral
9
b
is a light transmitting window of the infrared ray sensor
2
b
, which is elliptical, being long laterally in a front view. The front panel
6
a
is rectangular, being long vertically in a front view.
The artificial retina sensor
2
a
has a camera function, and is fitted to the front panel
6
a
so as to cover the viewing field region (m) of the surface
4
a
as shown in
FIG. 3
, of the surface
4
a
of the bowl
4
. In this embodiment, the artificial retina sensor
2
has 1024 (32×32) pixels (dots).
The artificial retina sensor
2
a
is mainly composed of, as shown in
FIG. 2
, a wide-angle lens
7
of a circular front view forming the viewing field region (m), a photo detector element array
8
positioned in the rear panel side of the wide-angle lens
7
, and a sensing window
9
a
of a circular front view positioned in the rear panel side of the wide-angle lens
7
. The photo detector element array
8
is formed on a circuit board
11
of a square front view mounted on a base
10
. In this embodiment, for example, 1024 photo detector elements corresponding to a 32×32 image plate are disposed on the circuit board
11
. That is, in the embodiment, the 32×32 image plate is composed of the photo detector element array
8
, circuit board
11
, and base
10
. Reference numeral
12
is a cover for surrounding the sensing window
9
a
, and
13
is a ring-shaped waterproof packing.
That is, in order to extend the viewing field region as much as possible, the wide-angle lens
7
is provided above the photo detector element array
8
. By this wide-angle lens
7
, the viewing field region (m) is set, as shown in FIG.
3
.
For example,
FIG. 7
to
FIG. 10
show input images taken by the artificial retina sensor
2
a
in a light place. That is,
FIG. 7
to
FIG. 10
show images in the viewing field region (m) visible from the sensing window
9
a.
In
FIG. 7
, B is an input image of the surface
4
a
of the bowl
4
made of, for example, white porcelain seen from the sensing window
9
a
, and a drain hole
4
c
of the bowl
4
is depicted. In
FIG. 8
, A is an input image of the user U of the hand washer
1
as object of detection in the process of washing hands. In
FIG. 9
, C is an input image of the user U of the hand washer
1
as object of detection in the process of washing hands. In
FIG. 10
, D is an input image of the surface
4
a
of the bowl
4
showing foreign matter Z other than the hands of the user U. Meanwhile, the input images A, B, C, D, etc. are those obtained in the 32×32 image plates.
The control unit
3
controlls the water feed operation of the hand washer
1
on the basis of the output of the artificial retina sensor
2
a
or the output of the infrared ray sensor
2
b
, and is composed of, as shown in
FIG. 1
, a microcomputer
15
, a memory
16
including two memory units
16
a
,
16
b
, a solenoid valve
17
responsible for water discharge and stopping action of the discharge pipe
6
, a solenoid valve drive circuit
18
for driving and controlling the solenoid valve
17
, a drive power source
21
of the control unit
3
, an alarm display circuit
19
for displaying drop of supply voltage of the drive power source
21
, and a low voltage circuit and voltage monitoring circuit
20
.
Further, the microcomputer
15
has a function of judging the ambient darkness of the hand washer
1
(described below).
At first, the processing steps of input image captured by the artificial retina sensor
2
a
are shown. As the input image, an example of input image A in
FIG. 8
is explained.
In
FIG. 11
, (1) an input image A of the artificial retina sensor
2
a
is issued from the artificial retina sensor
2
a
as an output image A′, and is input to the microcomputer
15
.
(2) In the microcomputer
15
, the output image A′ is optimized, and a recognition object image is acquired. As optimizing process, for example, when binary processing (black and white processing) is done, a recognition object image A″ as shown in
FIG. 11
is obtained (see also FIG.
13
).
In the recognition object image A″ shown in FIG.
13
and
FIG. 11
, the white area corresponds to the surface
4
a
of the bowl
4
of white porcelain, and the dark area
300
corresponds to an object existing on the porcelain surface
4
a
. That is, the dark area
300
in the recognition object image A″ is an image corresponding to the hand of the user U. In the embodiment, the number of pixels (number of dots) of the artificial retina sensor
2
a
is 1024 (32×32), and the number of dots in the dark area
300
is, for example, 400.
(3) This recognition object image (hereinafter called acquired image) A″ is stored into the memory
16
from the microcomputer
15
.
Similarly, by the microcomputer
15
, the input image B in
FIG. 7
is processed as acquired image B″ (see FIG.
12
). In
FIG. 12
, the dark area
400
corresponds to the drain hole
4
c
of the bowl
4
. The input image C in
FIG. 9
is processed as acquired image C″ (not shown). The input image D in
FIG. 10
is processed as acquired image D″ (not shown).
These acquired images A″, B″, C″, D″, and so forth are processed by the recognition algorithm in the memory
16
.
Relating to the acquired image B″, acquired image A″, and acquired image C″ which are continuously in time in this order, the processing procedure by the recognition algorithm is explained. By consecutive detection of acquired image B″, acquired image A″, and acquired image C″, the hand of the user U can be recognized as the object of recognition.
As mentioned above, FIG.
12
and
FIG. 11
(
FIG. 13
) show acquired images B″ and A″ of the input image B and input image A, respectively.
In
FIG. 16
, the user U goes to the hand washer
1
to wash hands (see step
100
). First, at step
101
, the acquired image B″ while the user U is not washing hands is stored in the memory unit
16
a
(hereinafter called memory
1
).
Next, when the user U extends hands to the bowl
4
for washing, the acquired image A″ is taken, and the acquired image A″ is stored in the memory unit
16
b
(hereinafter called memory
2
) (see step
102
).
At step
103
, referring to the memory
1
and the memory
2
, the number of changes (a) of dots for composing the image is extracted. That is, in the memory
16
, the acquired image B″ stored first in time and the acquired image A″ stored later in time are compared, and only the position changed in the number of dots (difference) is extracted, so that a change image S
1
showing a dot change as shown in
FIG. 14
is obtained.
For example, in
FIG. 12
, dot d
1
in black display shown in the first acquired image B″ is also shown in the later acquired image A″ (see FIG.
13
), and hence in the change image S
1
, position p of location of dot d
1
(see
FIG. 14
) is displayed in white, which tells no change is made.
By contrast, dot d
2
in black display shown in the acquired image A″ (see
FIG. 13
) is not found at the corresponding position in the acquired image B″ (see FIG.
12
), and therefore in the change image S
1
, dot d
2
remains in black display.
This invention is designed to judge if the number of dot changes (a) recognized in the change image S
1
is within a specified range or not (see step
104
). For example, the upper limit of number of dot changes (a) is 960, and the lower limit is 128.
That is, at step
104
, when the number of dot changes (a) is judged to be within this range, a valve opening signal for opening the solenoid valve
17
is sent from the microcomputer
15
to the solenoid valve drive circuit
18
, so that water is discharged from the discharge pipe
6
(see step
105
).
(1) In this case, the acquired image B″ stored earlier than the acquired image A″ is deleted, and the acquired image A″ is moved from the memory
2
(
16
b
) into the vacated memory
1
(
16
a
) (see step
106
).
In succession, the acquired image C″ acquired later in time than the acquired image A″ is stored into the vacated memory
2
(
16
b
) (see step
107
).
Further, same as at step
103
, referring to the memory
1
,
2
, the number of dot changes (a) for composing the image is extracted (see step
108
). That is, in the memory
16
, the acquired image A″ stored first in time and the acquired image C″ stored later in time are compared, and only the position changed in the number of dots is extracted, so that a change image S
2
showing a dot change as shown in
FIG. 15
is obtained.
That is, in
FIG. 15
, comparing two acquired images A″ and C″ as the object of detection during use of the hand washer, the change image S
2
extracting only dot changes in the acquired images A″, C″ is shown.
In this case, when the number of dot changes (a) in the extracted change image S
2
is 64 or more, it is judged that the hand washer is being used (see step
109
), and the acquired images C″ and subsequent images are acquired continuously. Then the process returns to step
106
. On the other hand, if the number of changes (a) becomes smaller than 64, it is judged that the hand of the user U is away from the hand washer
1
, and a close signal for closing the solenoid valve
17
is sent from the microcomputer
15
to the solenoid valve driving circuit
18
(see step
110
).
(2) At step
104
, if the number of dot changes (a) is judged to be out of the specified range, the acquired image B″ stored earlier than the acquired image A″ is deleted, and the acquired image A″ is moved from the memory
2
(
16
b
) into the vacated memory
1
(
16
a
) (see step
111
). Then the process returns to step
102
.
Thus, changes in the number of dots are operated in two consecutive acquired images B″, A″, and A″, C″, and the motion of the object of sensing is detected by the difference, so that the water feed operation can be controlled easily.
On the other hand, the infrared ray sensor
2
b
has a lighting element (light emitting means)
9
e
for illuminating the user by infrared ray (light) and a photo detector (light receiving means)
9
d
for receiving the infrared ray (light) reflected from the user (see, for example, the specification and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-34653 3).
The lighting element
9
e
and photo detector
9
d
are located between the circuit board and light transmitting window
9
b
in a mounted state in the light emitting region and light receiving region respectively formed on the surface of the circuit board; see FIG.
4
.
According to the water feed procedure shown in
FIG. 7
,
FIG. 8
, and
FIG. 9
, the automatic water feed process in the hand washer
1
is explained by referring to FIG.
5
.
In
FIG. 5
, (1) suppose the user U goes to an illuminated hand washer
1
to wash hands (see step
200
). At step
201
, an acquired image B″ when the user U is not washing hands is stored in the memory unit
16
a
(hereinafter called memory
1
).
Next, when the user U projects hands to the bowl
4
to wash hands, an acquired image A″ is obtained, and the acquired image A″ is stored in the memory unit
16
b
(hereinafter called memory
2
) (see step
202
).
At step
203
, it is judged if the artificial retina sensor
2
a
can recognize the user visually or not on the basis of the number of dots (d) composing the dark area
300
of the acquired image A″ stored in the memory
2
. That is, the place of installation of the artificial retina sensor
2
a
is judged to be light enough to recognize the user visually or not by the artificial retina sensor
2
a
(this is called darkness judgement).
Herein, the lightness allowing the artificial retina sensor
2
a
to function is set at the number of pixels (number of dots) of the artificial retina sensor
2
a
of 1024 (32×32) in this embodiment, and the number of dots (d) is set at 960 or less, and the darkness not allowing the artificial retina sensor
2
a
to function is set at the number of dots (d) of more than 960.
This value of 960 is the maximum number of dots in the dark area appearing in the image acquired when the hand is brought closer to the artificial retina sensor
2
a
than in the case of the image A shown in
FIG. 8
of the user U during hand wash. If the number of dots (d) as the reference for darkness judgement is set at smaller than 960, for example, 800, when exceeding 800, for example, if the dark area of the image acquired when the hand is brought closer to the artificial retina sensor
2
a
is composed of 850 dots, it causes an inconvenience of failure of function of the artificial retina sensor
2
a
in spite of enough lightness.
When illuminated, the number of dots (d) for composing the dark area
300
of the acquired image A″ is, for example, 400 and is less than 960. At step
204
, referring to the memory
1
and memory
2
, the number of changes of dots (a) for composing the image is extracted. That is, in the memory
16
, the acquired image B″ stored earlier in time and the acquired image A″ stored later in time are compared, and only the positions having dot changes (difference) are extracted, and a change image S
1
showing dot changes is obtained as shown in FIG.
14
.
The number of changes of dots (a) recognized in the change image S
1
is judged to be within a specified range or not (see step
205
). Since the number of changes of dots (a) is more than 128, an open signal for opening the solenoid valve
17
is issued from the computer
15
to the solenoid valve driving circuit
18
, and water is discharged from the discharge pipe
6
(see step
206
).
(1) In this case, the acquired image B″ stored earlier than the acquired image A″ is deleted, and the acquired image A″ is moved from the memory
2
(
16
b
) into the vacated memory
1
(
16
a
) (see step
207
).
Successively, the acquired image C″ obtained later than the acquired image A″ is stored in the vacated memory
2
(
16
b
) (see step
208
).
At next step
209
, too, darkness is judged. That is, during water feed, if the illumination of the hand washer
1
is turned off by power failure or the like, the number of dots (d) for composing the dark area of the acquired image L″ at this time is more than 960, and the function of the artificial retina sensor
2
a
stops, and the infrared ray sensor
2
b
starts up (see step
210
).
For example, in the time chart shown in
FIG. 6
, the infrared ray sensor
2
b
starts at time T, and during the dark period after the number of pulses set by the timer, the infrared ray S (see
FIG. 3
) is emitted intermittently. In this case, at step
211
following step
210
, the infrared ray reflected from the hand of the user U is received by the infrared ray sensor
2
b
, and the water feed action continues (see N in
FIG. 6
) as far as the user U is projecting hands (see M in
FIG. 6
) even in a dark place. That is, M shows the state of the user U extending hands to the discharge pipe
6
, t
1
is its start time, and t
2
is its end time. Moreover, N shows the water feed state.
On the other hand, at step
209
, in the absence of power failure or the like, while the illumination of the hand washer
1
is lit, by referring to the memory
1
and memory
2
, the number of changes of dots (a) for composing the image is extracted (see step
212
). That is, in the memory
16
, the acquired image A″ stored earlier in time and the acquired image C″ stored later in time are compared, and only the positions having dot changes are extracted, and a change image S
2
showing dot changes is obtained as shown in FIG.
15
.
In this case, when the number of changes of dots (a) in the extracted change image S
2
is more than 64, it is judged to be in the process of use (see step
213
), and images after the acquired image C″ are acquired consecutively. When the number of changes of dots (a) becomes smaller than 64, it is judged that the hands of the user U are away from the hand washer
1
, and a close signal for closing the solenoid valve
17
is issued from the computer
15
to the solenoid valve driving circuit
18
(see step
214
). Then the process goes to step
217
(described later).
Next, (2) suppose the user U uses the hand washer
1
in a darkness without lighting illumination (see step
200
). At step
201
, an acquired image X″ when the user U is not washing hands is stored in the memory
1
(
16
a
).
Next, when the user U projects hands to a dark bowl
4
to wash hands, an acquired image Y″ is obtained, and the acquired image Y″ is stored in the memory
2
(
16
b
) (see step
202
).
At step
203
, darkness is judged, and since the illumination is not lit, the number of dots (d) composing the dark area of the acquired image Y″ is more than 960. Since the illumination is not lit, the infrared ray S has been emitted intermittently before this moment (time F). That is, from the infrared ray light sensor
2
b
already active at step
215
, the hands of the user U are illuminated, and the infrared ray reflected from the hands of the user U is received by the infrared ray sensor
2
b
, and the water feed action continues (see N′ in
FIG. 6
) as far as the user U is projecting hands (see M′ in FIG.
6
). That is, M′ shows the state of the user U extending hands to the discharge pipe
6
, F is its start time, and G is its end time. Moreover, N′ shows the water feed state.
When illuminated at step
202
, referring to the memory
1
and memory
2
at step
204
, and the number of changes of dots (a) for composing the image is extracted. That is, in the memory
16
, the acquired image B″ stored earlier in time and the acquired image A″ stored later in time are compared, and only the positions having dot changes (difference) are extracted, and a change image S
1
showing dot changes is obtained as shown in FIG.
14
.
The number of changes of dots (a) recognized in the change image S
1
is judged to be within a specified range or not (see step
205
). Since the number of changes of dots (a) is more than 128, an open signal for opening the solenoid valve
17
is issued from the computer
15
to the solenoid valve driving circuit
18
, and water is discharged from the discharge pipe
6
(see step
206
).
In this case, the acquired image B″ stored earlier than the acquired image A″ is deleted, and the acquired image A″ is moved from the memory
2
(
16
b
) into the vacated memory
1
(
16
a
) (see step
217
).
Successively, the acquired image C″ obtained later than the acquired image A″ in time is stored in the vacated memory
2
(
16
b
) (see step
202
).
In the present invention, the number of photo detector elements is, natually, not limited to 1024.
Also, the present invention is not limited to the hand washer, but may be applied in the flush urinal and other lavatories.
Claims
- 1. An automatic water feed method in a lavatory characterized by controlling the water feed action of a hand washer by visually recognizing a two dimensional image of a user of the lavatory by means of an artificial retina sensor having an array of pixel elements, and separately controlling the water feed action of the lavatory by a sensor unit which has light emitting means for emitting light to the user when the ambient light becomes lower than a specified level and light receiving means for receiving the light reflected from the user.
- 2. The automatic water feed method of claim 1 further comprising aligning the artificial retina sensor to be aligned with a view into a bowl of the hand washer.
- 3. An automatic water feed mechanism in a lavatory characterized by comprising a hand washer, an artificial retina sensor having an array of pixel elements for visually recognizing a two dimensional image of a user of the lavatory, a sensor unit having light emitting means for emitting light to the user and light receiving means for receiving the light reflected from the user, and a controller for controlling the water feed action of the lavatory on the basis of the output from one of the artificial retina sensor and the output of the sensor unit.
- 4. The automatic water feed mechanism of claim 3 wherein the hand washer includes a bowl and the artificial retina sensor has an optical axis extending into the bowl.
- 5. An automatic water feed mechanism comprising:a water feed unit for releasing water; an artificial retina sensor unit for monitoring a target area and providing a two dimensional image signal of any objects within the target area; a memory unit for storing a reference image signal; and a controller unit for receiving a two dimensional image signal from the artificial retina sensor unit and comparing it with the reference image signal, the controller unit activating the water feed unit to release water when a comparison indicates an acceptable match of the two dimensional image signal with the stored reference image signal.
- 6. The automatic water feed mechanism of claim 5 further comprising an infrared emitter unit and an infrared detector unit, the infrared emitter unit is activated by the controller unit at a predetermined ambient light level and the infrared detector unit is activated to provide a signal so that the controller unit can determine when a predetermined amount of infrared is received to activate the water feed unit, whereby the water feed unit can be alternatively activated by either the artificial retina sensor unit or the infrared detector unit.
- 7. The automatic water feed mechanism of claim 5 wherein the controller unit counts the number of pixel elements within the two dimensional image signal to enable a comparison.
- 8. A method of automatically releasing water from a water feed unit monitored by a camera unit for providing a two dimensional image signal and monitored by an infared detector unit that can receive reflected radiation from an infrared emitter unit comprising the steps of:storing a predetermined two dimensional reference image signal representative of a user entering a predetermined target area adjacent the water feed unit; receiving a two dimensional image signal from the camera unit; comparing the stored two dimensional reference image signal with the two dimensional image signal from the camera unit and when an acceptable match is made, activating the water feed unit to release water; determining, when an acceptable match is not made, that the ambient light is too low to permit the camera unit to provide an acceptable two dimensional image and activating the infared emitter unit; and determining if sufficient reflected radiation is received by the infared detector unit to activate the water feed unit to release water.
- 9. The method of automatically releasing water of claim 8 further including, in the comparing step, initially counting pixel elements in the two dimensional image signal from the camera unit.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
2001-011579 |
Jan 2001 |
JP |
|
US Referenced Citations (9)