Did You Know...
...that when IBM conducted a market study of Chester Carlson's invention in 1959, the company concluded that it would take only 5000 units of his new product to saturate the market? IBM therefore declined to be part of the new product introduction. Too bad for IBM. Carlson's invention was the xerography process, and his new product was the beginning of the Xerox Corporation. It is estimated that every day, worldwide, 3,000,000,000 copies are made!!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8171578 | Water discharge system There is provided a water discharge system. A water discharge system includes a water discharge portion; a sensor unit which acquires movement information about an object based on a radiated electric wave, and outputs a detecting signal; and a control unit which con... | 05/08/2012 |
| 8104113 | Position-sensing detector arrangement for controlling a faucet A faucet arrangement includes a sensing device for sensing a presence of a user of a spout. The sensing device includes an infrared emitter installed such that a direction of emission of the emitter is oriented an angle of approximately between 5 and 15 degrees rela... | 01/31/2012 |
| 8042202 | Bathroom flushers with novel sensors and controllers A bathroom flusher includes a body having an inlet in communication with a supply line and an outlet in communication with a flush conduit, a valve assembly in the body positioned to close water flow between the inlet and the outlet upon sealing action of a moving m... | 10/25/2011 |
| 8028355 | Integrated bathroom electronic system An integrated bathroom electronic system including a plurality of sensors to detect conditions within a bathroom and to provide signals indicative thereof to a controller. A plurality of distinct and exclusive modules or subsystems are illustratively provided for in... | 10/04/2011 |
| 7979928 | On demand electronic faucet An on-demand electronic faucet system for providing a faucet with a flow of water in response to a stimulus. A sensor unit is positioned remote from the faucet and in wireless communication with a wireless valve control unit. The wireless valve control unit controls... | 07/19/2011 |
| 7945973 | Fluid control system, device and method A fluid control system, device and method are disclosed. The fluid control device is preferably configured to connect to an outlet of a fluid source. The fluid control device includes a valve, a sensor, a battery and a micro-generator. The sensor is used to measure ... | 05/24/2011 |
| RE42005 | Automatic proximity faucet A hands-free faucet includes a sensing plate, a capacitor-based sensor circuit, a non-conductive valve housing, a non-conductive seating ring, and a conductive connector. Preferably, the capacitor-based sensor circuit is electrically connected to said sensing plate.... | 12/28/2010 |
| 7743438 | Anchor structure for sensors of faucets An anchor structure for sensors of faucets is located in a sensing faucet. The sensor has a detection side and at least one notch on another side opposite to the detection side at an elevation same as an annular groove formed on an inner wall of a faucet body. An el... | 06/29/2010 |
| 7650653 | Modular electrically-operated faucet A self-contained, modular electrically-operated faucets is disclosed which has all of its components which are likely to need replacement over the life of the device contained in removable modules which may be quickly and easily removed and replaced without necessit... | 01/26/2010 |
| 7631372 | Method and apparatus for providing strain relief of a cable An electronic faucet includes a spout assembly having a sensor configured to control the flow of water therethrough in response to the position of a spray head. Methods and apparatus for providing strain relief for electrical cables used in systems configured to pro... | 12/15/2009 |
| 7627909 | Faucet sensor mounting assembly The present invention provides an automatic faucet with a movable cam assembly for mounting the senor and sensor window inside of the faucet body. The cam has an obliquely angled surface and can be moved up against a spring to provide space for assembling the sensor... | 12/08/2009 |
| 7614096 | Control for an automatic plumbing device A plumbing device uses electronic control circuitry with two infrared emitters and one infrared receiver to detect objects in a particular region of space. In one embodiment, detection of an object using both sensors (in sequential scans) results in the plumbing dev... | 11/10/2009 |
| 7472433 | Method and apparatus for determining when hands are under a faucet for lavatory applications A method of controlling a flow of liquid includes calibrating a PSD infrared sensor associated with the spout. The calibrating includes turning on the spout to thereby dispense a stream of liquid from the spout and into a stream space; emitting infrared energy from ... | 01/06/2009 |
| 7464418 | Proximity faucet having selective automatic and manual modes A proximity faucet is provided that includes a housing, faucet and lever support portions and a peripheral housing wall with a spout portion having a neck extending outward from the housing wall and a fluid outlet at a free extent thereof. The faucet support portion... | 12/16/2008 |
| 7406722 | Automatic faucet for lavatory unit of aircraft The invention provides an improved automatic faucet for a lavatory unit of an aircraft. A body 110 of an automatic faucet 100 has on its lower left side (seen from the front) a liquid soap dispenser outlet 200, and the dispenser outlet 200 | 08/05/2008 |
| 7396000 | Passive sensors for automatic faucets and bathroom flushers The present invention is directed to novel optical sensors and novel methods for sensing optical radiation. The novel optical sensors and the novel optical sensing methods are used, for example, for controlling the operation of automatic faucets and flushers. The no... | 07/08/2008 |
| 7364053 | Sink side touchless foam dispenser A soap dispenser, preferably a sink side counter mounted dispenser, to dispense foamed liquid soap by mixing in an outlet of a soap spout liquid, soap and air preferably provided from a liquid soap pump and a air pump located remote from the faucet. ... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7350245 | Liquid level control system A liquid level detection and control system having a shut off gate located near the liquid discharge outlet and a liquid level sensor which sends signal to a wireless transmitter when a preset liquid level is detected. The transmitter then transmits signal to an ele... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7325781 | Automatic bathroom flushers with modular design A bathroom flusher includes a flusher body, a valve assembly, an electronic control system, and a flusher cover. The flusher body includes an inlet and an outlet, and is designed to accommodate the valve assembly that controls water flow between the inlet and the ou... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7320146 | Sensor plate for electronic flushometer An manual activation mechanism for an electronic flushometer system. A manual activation or override plate has a sensor switch directly coupled thereto and is hingedly connected to a sensor bracket. When a user presses the manual activation or override plate, the se... | 01/22/2008 |
| 7314189 | Delivery system for treated water, showerhead and supply pipe for said system A water delivery system is disclosed comprising a showerhead featuring two delivery points, at least one of which has an own on-off valve, and at least a supply tube carrying untreated water, wherein the showerhead features two separate conduits connecting the two d... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7311523 | Method of timing hand washing A hand washing device and method encouraging hand washing includes a display panel, a message “WASH UP with Soap and Water. Get rid of germs in only 15 seconds.” and may have one of a variety of timing means to time the wash cycle or the user may use an ordinary... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7305722 | Facial washer A facial washer is disclosed to include a basin, which has a plurality of water outlets symmetrically arranged on the inside wall thereof at two opposite lateral sides, a plurality of adjustable jet nozzles, which are respectively mounted in the water outlets inside... | 12/11/2007 |
| 7278624 | Automatic faucet with polarization sensor An automatic faucet system includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor includes an emitter constructed and arranged to emit light having a first polarization toward an object. The sensor further includes a detector configured to detect light reflected from the ob... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7278178 | Tub filler and overflow combination device A tub filler and overflow combination device is supported within a common opening formed in a tub wall. Both a flow passage and a drain passage extend through the body of the device to communicate through the common opening in the tub wall. A backflow preventer of t... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7270748 | Sterilizing water faucet An integrated flow through water sterilization device within a sanitary faucet fixture. A portion of the flow path has a plurality of ultraviolet radiation generating LED's arranged around a transparent flow conduit within the faucet. The ultraviolet radiation gener... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7271728 | Method for assessing improvement in hand hygiene practices A method for assessing improvement in hand hygiene practices using sanitation solution dispensers deployed within particular areas of interest in a healthcare facility or the like. Each of the dispensers has a counter associated therewith, with the counter producing... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7242307 | System for monitoring hygiene appliances A hygiene appliance monitoring system for determining washroom element functional status and sequence of operation generally includes a plurality of wireless communication devices with a first number of the wireless communication devices being disposed within or adj... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7232111 | Control arrangement for an automatic residential faucet A hands-free faucet comprises a spout, a valve, a position sensitive device, and a logical control. The position sensitive device is positioned on the user's side of the spout, and has a trigger zone and an extended zone, each defined in part by a distance range fro... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7228574 | Wash basin comprising an illuminating device The invention relates to a wash basin (2) for rinsing or washing hair of the head, comprising an illuminating device (3) having a plurality of light projectors (5) for illuminating an inner region (14) of the wash basin (2). Said w... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7188822 | Enclosures for automatic bathroom flushers A bathroom flusher includes a flusher body, a valve assembly, an electronic control system, and a flusher cover. The flusher body includes an inlet and an outlet, and is designed to accommodate the valve assembly that controls water flow between the inlet and the ou... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7174577 | Automatic proximity faucet A hands-free faucet includes a sensing plate, a capacitor-based sensor circuit, a non-conductive valve housing, a non-conductive seating ring, and a conductive connector. Preferably, the capacitor-based sensor circuit is electrically connected to said sensing plate.... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7156363 | Bathroom flushers with novel sensors and controllers A bathroom flusher (10) includes a body having an inlet (12) in communication with a supply line and an outlet (16) in communication with a flush conduit, a valve assembly in the body positioned to close water flow between the inlet and the outl... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7150293 | Multi-mode hands free automatic faucet A hands-free faucet comprises a proximity sensor, a logical control, a handle including a first touch control, a second touch control, and a mode indicator. The logical control has a manual mode (wherein the proximity sensor is inactive, and water flow is toggled on... | 12/19/2006 |
| 7119451 | Self-powered miniature liquid treatment system with ultraviolet dosing A liquid treatment system that may be self-powered includes a filter, an ultraviolet light source and a hydro-generator. A flow of liquid may be filtered with the filter and used to rotate the hydro-generator to generate electric power. The ultraviolet light source ... | 10/10/2006 |
| 7114510 | Valve with smart handle A valve with a smart handle including a memory module to log relevant data. A sensor on the handle determines when the valve is open, and this triggers the start of timers and recording of the “open” event in a log in the memory module. When the valve is closed,... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7107631 | Device for controlling and/or regulating the supply of a medium, devices of this type comprising washing or drying units and a corresponding method The invention relates to a device (2) for controlling and/or regulating the supply of a medium using a supply unit for an impingement device. Said supply unit comprises at least one shut-off member and each shut-off member can be moved into a closed position ... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7109853 | System for detecting and releasing a person locked in the trunk of a vehicle A vehicle safety system automatically detects the presence of a person sealed in the trunk of an automobile by sensing the CO2 respiration of the person. Visible, audio and radio alarms are generated in response to the detection of a person in the trunk. ... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7104519 | Adapter for touch-free operation of gooseneck faucet An adapter for retrofitting a conventional gooseneck faucet to allow for touch-free activation. The sensor unit of the adapter is attached by simply passing it over the spout of the gooseneck faucet and towards the base of the faucet where it is locked in place by a... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7099649 | System and method for wireless data exchange between an appliance and a handheld device A wireless data exchange system is disclosed. The system includes an electronically operated appliance including a transmitter, a receiver, and a control module configured to communicate with the transmitter and receiver. The control module provides a primary mode o... | 08/29/2006 |
