Smart toilet with automatic urine position detecting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12359415-B2
Application number	US-202217681053-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 25, 2022
Priority date	Apr 28, 2016
Publication date	Jul 15, 2025
Grant date	Jul 15, 2025

Abstract

A toilet includes a module including a non-contact temperature sensor that is configured to determine a temperature of urine with the urine in a non-contact position relative to a surface of the toilet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A toilet comprising:
a module including a non-contact temperature sensor that is configured to determine a temperature of urine with the urine in a non-contact position relative to a surface of the toilet; and
a stepping motor coupled to the non-contact temperature sensor, the stepping motor configured to rotate the non-contact temperature sensor, wherein the module is configured to:
compare the temperature to a recorded temperature; and
operate the stepping motor to rotate the non-contact temperature sensor based upon the comparison of the temperature to the recorded temperature.

2. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein the non-contact temperature sensor is an infrared temperature sensor.

3. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein the non-contact temperature sensor is arranged in a side wall of the toilet.

4. The toilet of claim 1 , further comprising a second sensor arranged at a front side wall or a rear side wall of the toilet;
wherein the non-contact temperature sensor is arranged at a left side wall or a right side wall of the toilet.

5. The toilet of claim 4 , wherein the non-contact temperature sensor is configured to facilitate calculation of a first point coordinate of the non-contact position and the second sensor is configured to facilitate calculation of a second point coordinate of the non-contact position.

6. A method of detecting a position of urine in a toilet, the method comprising:
determining a temperature of the urine in a non-contact position with a surface of the toilet using a non-contact temperature sensor;
comparing the temperature to a recorded temperature; and
rotating the non-contact temperature sensor using a stepping motor based upon the comparison of the temperature to the recorded temperature.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising determining a point coordinate of the urine after rotating the non-contact temperature sensor.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
determining the temperature using a second non-contact temperature sensor; and
calculating a point coordinate of the non-contact position by utilizing at least one of: the non-contact temperature sensor or the second non-contact temperature sensor.

9. A method of detecting a position of urine in a toilet, the method comprising:
determining a temperature of the urine in a non-contact position with a surface of the toilet using a non-contact temperature sensor;
determining an environment temperature; and
calculating a point coordinate of the non-contact position by utilizing the temperature and the environment temperature.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein calculating the point coordinate comprises:
calculating a temperature difference between the temperature and the environment temperature; and
comparing the temperature difference to a temperature difference threshold.

11. The method of claim 6 , further comprising mounting the non-contact temperature sensor to the toilet before determining the temperature.

12. A module for a toilet, the module comprising:
a frame;
a non-contact temperature sensor configured to determine a temperature of urine with the urine in a non-contact position; and
a stepping motor coupled to the non-contact temperature sensor and the frame, the stepping motor configured to rotate the non-contact temperature sensor relative to the frame; and
an optocoupler configured to facilitate determination of a zero point of polar coordinates of the non-contact temperature sensor.

13. The module of claim 12 , wherein the non-contact temperature sensor is an infrared temperature sensor.

14. The module of claim 12 , wherein:
the stepping motor comprises a shaft; and
the non-contact temperature sensor is coupled to the shaft.

15. The module of claim 12 , wherein the module is configured to:
compare the temperature to a recorded temperature; and
operate the stepping motor to rotate the non-contact temperature sensor based upon the comparison of the temperature to the recorded temperature.

16. The module of claim 12 , wherein the module is configured to facilitate calculation of a point coordinate of the non-contact position.

Assignees

• Shanghai Kohler Electronics

Inventors

• Qin Zhiyu
• Sun Qintao

Classifications

• E03D9/00 Primary

  Sanitary or other accessories for lavatories (hand tools for cleaning the toilet bowl A47K11/10; seats or covers for closets A47K13/00; body supports, other than seats for closets A47K17/02; devices for preventing contamination of drinking-water pipes E03C1/10 ){; Devices for cleaning or disinfecting the toilet room or the toilet bowl; Devices for eliminating smells (cleaning, disinfecting or deodorising the seat A47K13/30)} · CPC title

• A61B10/007 Primary

  for taking urine samples (measuring urological functions A61B5/20; genital receptacles A61F5/451; urinals for bed-ridden persons A61G9/006) · CPC title

• E03D11/00 Primary

  Other component parts of water-closets (pipe-joints or couplings in general F16L ){, e.g. noise-reducing means in the flushing system (noise-reducing means in combination with flushing valves E03D9/14), flushing pipes mounted in the bowl, seals for the bowl outlet, devices preventing overflow of the bowl contents; devices forming a water seal in the bowl after flushing, devices eliminating obstructions in the bowl outlet or preventing backflow of water and excrements from the waterpipe} · CPC title

• G01K13/223

  Infrared clinical thermometers, e.g. tympanic · CPC title

• G01K2213/00

  Temperature mapping · CPC title