The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 21, 2017
Filed:
Apr. 11, 2011
Natan E. Parsons, Brookline, MA (US);
Fatih Guler, Winchester, MA (US);
Yue Zhang, Nashua, NH (US);
Xiaoxiong MO, Lexington, MA (US);
Kay Herbert, Winthrop, MA (US);
Haiou Wu, West Roxbury, MA (US);
Natan E. Parsons, Brookline, MA (US);
Fatih Guler, Winchester, MA (US);
Yue Zhang, Nashua, NH (US);
Xiaoxiong Mo, Lexington, MA (US);
Kay Herbert, Winthrop, MA (US);
Haiou Wu, West Roxbury, MA (US);
SLOAN VALVE COMPANY, Franklin Park, IL (US);
Abstract
An optical system includes one or several passive optical detectors sensitive to ambient (room) light for controlling, for example, the operation of automatic faucets or automatic bathroom flushers. The passive optical sensors provide signals to flow controllers, including control electronics and flow valves and require only very small amounts of electrical power for sensing users of bathroom facilities, and thus enable battery operation for many years. To control the operation of automatic faucets or automatic bathroom flushers based on ambient light, the controller executes novel algorithms.