Interactive display device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10178928-B2
Application number	US-201715423996-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 3, 2017
Priority date	Feb 3, 2016
Publication date	Jan 15, 2019
Grant date	Jan 15, 2019

Abstract

The invention provides a bathroom fixture in the form of an electronic mirror with a touchlessly operated fluid dispenser. The device provides visual cues to assist in the touchless operation thereof.

First claim

We claim:

1. A material dispensing device dispensing selected materials onto a user's hand wherein the selected materials include a first material and a second material,
the device comprising:
an electronic display configured to display to a user in front of the electronic display computer generated graphics;
at least one sensor configured to touchlessly detect an object placed in proximity to the electronic display;
a computer system configured to determine a position of the object relative to the electronic display based on detection data received from the at least one sensor,
characterized by:
a spout body
having a fluid outlet,
the fluid outlet including a first material dispenser outlet,
a first material dispenser operable when activated to discharge the first material from the first material dispenser outlet; and
the electronic display is configured to display as the computer generated graphics a first graphic element representing the first material;
the computer system is configured to activate the first material dispenser when the position of the object is determined to be within a preselected zone in proximity to the first graphic element,
the fluid outlet including a second material dispenser outlet,
a second material dispenser operable when activated to discharge the second material from the second material dispenser outlet; and
wherein the electronic display is configured to display as the computer generated graphics a second graphic element representing the second material;
wherein the computer system is configured to activate the second material dispenser when the position of the object is determined to be within a preselected zone in proximity to the second graphic element,
a light guide running between the electronic display and the fluid outlet on the spout body;
the electronic display and the light guide are configured to provide a first path of light between the first graphic element and the fluid outlet, and
the electronic display and the light guide are configured to provide a second path of light between the second graphic element and the fluid outlet,
wherein the first path of light between the first graphic and the fluid outlet is illuminated as a function of when the position of the object is determined to be within the preselected zone in proximity to the first graphic element, and
wherein the second path of light between the second graphic and the fluid outlet is illuminated as a function of when the position of the object is determined to be within the preselected zone in proximity to the second graphic element.

2. The material dispensing device of claim 1 wherein:
the selected materials include a third material,
the fluid outlet includes a third material dispenser outlet,
a third material dispenser operable when activated to discharge the third material from the third material dispenser outlet;
wherein the electronic display is configured to display as the computer generated graphics a third graphic element representing the third material; and
the computer system is configured to activate the third material dispenser when the position of the object is determined to be within a preselected zone in proximity to the third graphic element;
the electronic display and the light guide are configured to provide a third path of light between the third graphic element and the fluid outlet, and
wherein the third path of light between the third graphic and the fluid outlet is illuminated as a function of when the position of the object is determined to be within the preselected zone in proximity to the third graphic element.

3. The material dispensing device of claim 1 wherein the at least one first material is a material capable of flowing selected from the group of water, a first-hand cleaner, a second hand cleaner, a hand lotion and drying air, and the second material is a material capable of flowing selected from the group of water and the first hand cleaner.

4. The material dispensing device as claimed in claim 3 wherein:
the first material comprises a first-hand cleaning fluid,
the first material dispenser comprising a first-hand cleaning fluid reservoir containing the hand cleaning fluid and a first-hand cleaning fluid pump operable to discharge the first hand cleaning fluid from the first hand cleaning fluid reservoir out the first material dispenser outlet for the first hand cleaning fluid.

5. The material dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
the first material comprises a first-hand cleaning fluid,
the first material dispenser comprising a first-hand cleaning fluid reservoir containing the hand cleaning fluid and a first-hand cleaning fluid pump operable to discharge the first hand cleaning fluid from the first hand cleaning fluid reservoir out the first material dispenser outlet for the first hand cleaning fluid, and
the second material comprises water,
the second material dispenser a water supply supplying the water and a water valve controlling the discharge of the water from the second material dispenser outlet.

6. The material dispensing device of claim 1 wherein:
the object is a first hand of the user,
the first material outlet located relative to the electronic display such that when the position of the first hand is determined to be within the preselected zone in proximity to the first graphic element, a second hand of the user is capable of being placed at the first material discharge outlet to receive the first material discharged by the first material dispenser, and
the second material outlet located relative to the electronic display such that when the position of the first hand is determined to be within the preselected zone in proximity to the second graphic element, the second hand of the user is capable of being placed at the second material dispenser outlet to receive the second material discharged by the second material dispenser.

7. The material dispensing device as claimed in claim 6 including:
an upwardly open basin,
the basin disposed below the electronic display,
the first material dispenser outlet located for discharge of the first material into the basin with space between the first material dispenser outlet and the basin for one of the user's hands to be placed under the first material dispenser outlet to receive the first material dispensed, and
the second material dispenser outlet located for discharge of the second material into the basin with space between the second material dispenser outlet and the basin for one of the user's hands to be placed under the second material dispenser outlet to receive the second material dispensed.

8. The material dispensing device of claim 6 wherein:
the computer system is configured to identify the first graphic element representing the first material as a selected graphic based on the position of the object relative to the first graphic element representing the first material; and
the computer system is configured to activate the first material dispenser when the first graphic element representing the first material dispenser is the selected graphic and the location of the object is determined to be within the preselected zone in proximity to the first graphic element, and
the computer system is configured to identify the second graphic element representing the second material as a selected graphic based on the position of the object relative to the second graphic element representing the second material; and
the computer system is configured to activate the second material dispenser when the second graphic element representing the second material is the selected graphic and the location of the object is determined to be within the preselected zone in proximity to the second graphic elemen

Assignees

• Op Hygiene Ip Gmbh

Inventors

• Ophardt Heiner
• Duncan David
• Ophardt Hendrik

Classifications

• E03C1/046

  Adding soap, disinfectant, or the like in the supply line {or at the water outlet}(preventing contamination of drinking-water pipes E03C1/10) · CPC title

• E03C1/0404

  Constructional or functional features of the spout · CPC title

• A47K2210/00

  Combinations of water taps, soap dispensers and hand dryers · CPC title

• E03C1/14

  Wash-basins connected to the waste-pipe · CPC title

• G06F3/0482

  Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus · CPC title