Fluid dispenser with wake up sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11389035-B2
Application number	US-202017097034-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2020
Priority date	Nov 15, 2019
Publication date	Jul 19, 2022
Grant date	Jul 19, 2022

Abstract

A fluid dispenser with a pump mechanism that dispenses fluid when activated. A light sensor detects light in or around the fluid dispenser, and a controller controls a function of an electronic component of the fluid dispenser based on detection data received from the light sensor.

First claim

We claim:

1. A fluid dispenser comprising:
a pump mechanism that dispenses fluid when activated;
a light sensor that detects light in or around the fluid dispenser; and
a controller that controls a function of one or more electronic components of the fluid dispenser based on detection data received from the light sensor;
wherein the fluid dispenser has a moveable component that moves when the pump mechanism is activated;
wherein the fluid dispenser comprises a light emitter that emits light;
wherein the light sensor detects movement of the movable component by detecting changes in an amount of the light emitted by the light emitter that is reflected from the movable component towards the light sensor; and
wherein the controller determines whether the pump mechanism has been activated based on the detection data received from the light sensor.

2. The fluid dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the light sensor measures an intensity of ambient light in or around the fluid dispenser; and
wherein the controller sets a mode of operation of the one or more electronic components based on the intensity of ambient light measured by the light sensor.

3. The fluid dispenser according to claim 2 , wherein the controller determines whether the fluid dispenser is located in an environment that is illuminated or darkened based on the intensity of ambient light in or around the fluid dispenser;
wherein, when the controller determines that the environment is illuminated, the controller controls the one or more electronic components to operate in an active mode;
wherein, when the controller determines that the environment is darkened, the controller controls the one or more electronic components to operate in an energy-saving mode; and
wherein the one or more electronic components use more energy when in the active mode than when in the energy-saving mode.

4. The fluid dispenser according to claim 3 , wherein the one or more electronic components comprise the light sensor;
wherein the light sensor measures the intensity of ambient light in or around the fluid dispenser at a rate of measurement over time;
wherein the controller sets the rate of measurement of the light sensor based on the intensity of ambient light measured by the light sensor;
wherein, when the controller determines that the environment is illuminated, the controller controls the light sensor to operate in the active mode;
wherein, when the controller determines that the environment is darkened, the controller controls the light sensor to operate in the energy-saving mode; and
wherein the rate of measurement of the light sensor is higher when in the active mode than when in the energy-saving mode.

5. The fluid dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the function of at least one of the one or more electronic components based on at least one of:
the determination as to whether the pump mechanism has been activated; and
a length of time that has passed since the pump mechanism was last activated.

6. The fluid dispenser according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one of the one or more electronic components comprises a pump position sensor that senses a property of the fluid dispenser that is indicative of a position of the pump mechanism; and
wherein the controller controls the function of the pump position sensor based on the determination as to whether the pump mechanism has been activated.

7. The fluid dispenser according to claim 6 , wherein, when the controller determines that the pump mechanism has been activated, the controller activates the pump position sensor.

8. The fluid dispenser according to claim 7 , wherein, when the controller determines that the pump mechanism has been inactive for a set period of time, the controller inactivates the pump position sensor.

9. The fluid dispenser according to claim 6 , wherein the controller receives sensor data from the pump position sensor and determines the position of the pump mechanism over time based on the sensor data; and
wherein the controller calculates or estimates a volume of the fluid that has been dispensed from the fluid dispenser over time based on the position of the pump mechanism over time.

10. The fluid dispenser according to claim 9 , wherein the controller compares the volume of the fluid that has been dispensed from the fluid dispenser during an activation event to a threshold volume, and determines whether the volume of the fluid dispensed during the activation event is equal to or greater than the threshold volume;
the fluid dispenser further comprising an indicator that provides an indication to a user when the volume of the fluid dispensed during the activation event is equal to or greater than the threshold volume.

11. The fluid dispenser according to claim 9 , further comprising a magnet that moves relative to the pump position sensor when the pump mechanism is activated;
wherein the pump position sensor comprises a first magnet sensor that is oriented in a first orientation and a second magnet sensor that is oriented in a second orientation, the first orientation being different than the second orientation;
wherein the first magnet sensor and the second magnet sensor detect a position of the magnet over time; and
wherein the controller receives the sensor data from the first magnet sensor and the second magnet sensor and determines the position of the pump mechanism over time based on the sensor data.

12. The fluid dispenser according to claim 11 , wherein the movable component comprises an actuator that engages with the pump mechanism to activate the pump mechanism;
wherein the magnet is attached to the actuator; and
wherein the light sensor detects light reflected from the actuator.

13. The fluid dispenser according to claim 12 , further comprising a removable cover that is positioned adjacent to the actuator, the removable cover carrying the light sensor, the first magnet sensor, the second magnet sensor, the controller, and a battery that provides energy to the controller, the light sensor, the first magnet sensor, and the second magnet sensor;
wherein the fluid dispenser is a hand cleaning fluid dispenser and the fluid is a hand cleaning fluid.

14. The fluid dispenser according to claim 9 , further comprising a communication device that is operable to communicate with a mobile device carried by a user;
wherein the controller is configured to set the threshold volume or update the threshold volume based on user data received by the communication device from the mobile device.

15. The fluid dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the function of at least one of the one or more electronic components based on at least one of:
the determination as to whether the pump mechanism has been activated; and
a length of time that has passed since the pump mechanism was last activated;
wherein the at least one of the one or more electronic components comprises a pump position sensor that senses a property of the fluid dispenser that is indicative of a position of the pump mechanism;
wherein the controller controls the function of the pump position sensor based on the determination as to whether the pump mechanism has been activated;
wherein, when the controller determines that the pump mechanism has been activated, the controller activates the pump position sensor;
wherein, when the controller determines that the pump mechanism has been inactive for a set period of time, the controller inactivates the pump position sensor;
wherein the controller receives sensor data from the pump position sensor and

Assignees

• Op Hygiene Ip Gmbh

Inventors

• Lang Albrecht
• Senn Adrian
• Müller Michael

Classifications

• A47K5/1205

  Dispensing from the top of the dispenser with a vertical piston · CPC title

• G01J1/4204

  with determination of ambient light (solar light G01J2001/4266) · CPC title

• A47K5/1217 Primary

  Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism · CPC title