IoT connected handwashing monitoring and compliance for various applications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10941547-B2
Application number	US-202017012840-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 4, 2020
Priority date	Feb 22, 2019
Publication date	Mar 9, 2021
Grant date	Mar 9, 2021

Abstract

A plumbing fixture assembly including a fluid flow detection system for monitoring fluid flow and flow characteristics through plumbing fixtures without contacting the fluid. The fluid flow detection system communicates collected data related to the plumbing fixtures to a water management system, which analyzes the data and provides information to a user through a portal and user interface. The fluid flow detection system also tracks users of the plumbing fixtures for compliance with a hand washing routine. The hand washing compliance data is communicated to the water management system as well.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of monitoring a handwashing routine, the method comprising:
detecting, with a controller, an angular position of a magnet disposed on a handle of a faucet to determine whether water is flowing through the faucet;
activating a first timer in the controller when water is flowing through the faucet;
detecting, with the controller, whether activation of a soap dispenser occurred a predetermined time after the first timer was activated;
logging a first time from the first timer, in the controller, when the soap dispenser is activated;
activating a second timer in the controller after activation of the soap dispenser is detected;
alerting a user to turn off the faucet a predetermined time after the second timer was activated;
detecting an angular position of the magnet indicating that no water is flowing through the faucet;
logging a second time from the second timer, in the controller, when the angular position indicates that no water is flowing through the faucet;
determining, with an electronic processor, whether a handwashing routine is in compliance with a predetermined standard based on the time from the first timer and the time from the second timer; and
enabling display of a first indicator representative of a compliant handwashing routine or a second indicator representative of a non-compliant handwashing routine.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the time from the first timer and the time from the second timer to an end point device prior to transmitting the time from the first timer and the time from the second timer to a database.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising converting, at the end point, the time from the first timer and the time from the second timer into a LoRa data packet.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising transmitting the LoRa data packet to a database.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising scanning a user identification upon arrival at the faucet.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising linking the time from the first timer and the time from the second timer to the user identification that was scanned when the user arrived at the faucet.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the display is positioned adjacent to the faucet, and further comprising alerting the user on the display whether the handwashing routine is in compliance with the predetermined standard or whether the handwashing routine is not in compliance with the predetermined standard.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a total flow volume of water through the faucet for the handwashing routine; and
displaying, at a user device, the total flow volume of water through the faucet for the handwashing routine.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
aggregating the total flow volume of water for all handwashing routines over a period of time; and
displaying, at a user device, an aggregated total flow volume of water for the period of time.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining an output temperature of the water for the handwashing routine; and
displaying, at a user device, the output temperature of the water for the handwashing routine.

11. A system for monitoring a handwashing routine, the system comprising:
a sensor configured to detect an angular position of a handle on a faucet;
a controller in communication with the sensor, the controller configured to activate a first timer when water is flowing through the faucet when the angular
positon of the handle indicates that water is flowing through the faucet; detect whether activation of a soap dispenser occurred a predetermined time
after the first timer was activated;
log a first time from the first timer when the soap dispenser is activated;
activate a second timer after activation of the soap dispenser is detected;
alert a user to turn off the faucet a predetermined time after the second timer was activated;
log a second time from the second timer when the angular position of the handle indicates that no water is flowing through the faucet;
determine whether a handwashing routine is in compliance with a predetermined standard based on the time from the first timer and the time from the second timer; and
enabling display of a first indicator representative of a compliant handwashing routine or a second indicator representative of a non-compliant handwashing routine.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to transmit the time from the first timer and the time from the second timer to an end point device prior to transmitting the time from the first timer and the time from the second timer to a database.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the end point device is configured to convert the time from the first timer and the time from the second timer into a LoRa data packet.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the end point device is further configured to transmit the LoRa data packet to a database.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a user identification detector in communication with the controller, the user identification detector configured to a identify a user upon arrival at the faucet.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to link the time from the first timer and the time from the second timer to the user identification that was detected when the user arrived at the faucet.

17. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a display positioned adjacent to the faucet, configured to receive the first indicator or the second indicator.

Assignees

• Zurn Ind Llc

Inventors

• Chakraborty Arindam
• Le Long Larry
• Pynn Michael
• Hemanchandra Thushan Kapilajith

Classifications

• G01K7/42 Primary

  Circuits effecting compensation of thermal inertia; Circuits for predicting the stationary value of a temperature · CPC title

• G01F9/001

  with electric, electro-mechanic or electronic means (G01F9/008 and G01F9/02 take precedence) · CPC title

• 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

• G01F15/06

  Indicating or recording devices · CPC title

• E03C2001/0418

  having temperature indicating means · CPC title