Showerhead presence detection system

Abstract

A system for accurately detecting the presence of a person in a shower by combining presence detection technology, such as an infrared sensor in the showerhead, with a mechanical height adjustment of the showerhead, so that the optimal distance between the sensor and showering person can be maintained for persons of different heights. Alternative embodiments include an electronic control unit to provide power consumption management and safety features. When the electronic control unit is combined with presence detection to predict the identity of a showering person, personal services customized for the identified person are provided. An alternate embodiment teaches a process for intelligently conserving water by intelligently blocking water flow at appropriate times, based on predictable behavior of a contemplated showering person.

1 . A system for automatically controlling the water flow in a showerhead in a showering environment comprising:
 a showerhead, the showerhead further includes a presence detector,   a showerhead height adjuster, wherein the showerhead height adjuster is capable of vertically adjusting the height of the showerhead,   wherein the accuracy of said presence detector is improved by using the showerhead height adjuster to adjust the height of the showerhead.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the showerhead height adjuster further comprises:
 a support arm, the support arm is substantially horizontal, the support arm further includes a first end and a second end, the first end of the support arm is attached to the showerhead,   a vertical pole, the vertical pole is substantially perpendicular to the support arm, the second end of the support arm is slidably attached to the vertical pole,   wherein the height of said showerhead is adjusted by vertically sliding the support arm on the vertical pole.   
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , the presence detector further includes an optimal focal direction, wherein said optimal focal direction is maintained when said showerhead is adjusted. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , the presence detector further includes an optimal focal direction, wherein said optimal focal direction is maintained when said showerhead is adjusted. 
   
   
       5 . A system for automatically controlling the water flow in a showering environment comprising:
 a presence detector for detecting the presence of a person within the showering environment,   a showerhead,   a distance estimator for providing an estimate of the distance between the showerhead and a person within the showering environment,   wherein said estimate is used to predict the identity of a person within the showering environment,   wherein customized personal services based on the predicted identity are provided.   
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the personal services provided are at least one of the following: setting preferred water temperature, setting a radio to a preferred station, playing pre-selected music, setting a television to a preferred station. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the personal service provided is a hot water shutoff wherein when hot water temperature exceeds a predetermined customized temperature setting, the water flow is shut off. 
   
   
       8 . A system for conserving power to a presence sensor in a showering environment comprising:
 an electronic control unit, the electronic control unit is interfaced to the presence sensor, the electronic control unit is configured to be able to switch the power of the presence sensor off and on,   a sensor group comprising at least one environmental sensor, wherein each environmental sensor is capable of detecting the presence of an associated sensor-specific environmental condition of the showering environment,   wherein whenever at least one environmental sensor detects a presence of its sensor-specific environmental condition, the electronic control unit switches the power of the presence sensor on.   
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the showering environment further includes a temperature of water flowing through the showerhead, wherein said sensor group includes a first sensor wherein the sensor-specific environmental condition of said first sensor is the temperature of water flowing through the showerhead exceeding a first threshold. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the showering environment further includes ambient light, wherein said sensor group includes a second sensor wherein the sensor-specific environmental condition of said second sensor is the luminance of the ambient light exceeding a second threshold. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the showering environment further includes water flowing through the showerhead, wherein said sensor group includes a third sensor wherein the sensor-specific environmental condition of said third sensor is the volume of the water flowing through the showerhead exceeding a third threshold. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the showering environment further includes water flowing through the showerhead, wherein said sensor group includes a third sensor wherein the sensor-specific environmental condition of said third sensor is the volume of the water flowing through the showerhead exceeding a third threshold. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the showering environment further includes ambient light, wherein said sensor group includes a second sensor wherein the sensor-specific environmental condition of said second sensor is the luminance of the ambient light exceeding a second threshold. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the showering environment further includes water flowing through the showerhead, wherein said sensor group includes a third sensor wherein the sensor-specific environmental condition of said third sensor is the volume of the water flowing through the showerhead exceeding a third threshold. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the showering environment further includes water flowing through the showerhead, wherein said sensor group includes a third sensor wherein the sensor-specific environmental condition of said third sensor is the volume of the water flowing through the showerhead exceeding a third threshold. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the showering environment further includes a button having an on state and an off state, said button is interfaced to the electronic control unit, wherein said sensor group includes a fourth sensor wherein the sensor-specific environmental condition of said fourth sensor is said button being in the on state. 
   
   
       17 . A system for maintaining the temperature of water from a hot water supply and a cold water supply flowing to a showerhead in a showering environment within a specified range comprising:
 a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of water flowing from the showerhead,   an electronic control unit,   wherein the temperature sensor is interfaced to the electronic control unit, the electronic control unit is configured to be able to switch the hot water supply to the showerhead off and on, the electronic control unit is configured to be able to switch the cold water supply to the showerhead off and on,   wherein whenever said temperature sensor detects a temperature above a third predetermined temperature set point, the electronic control unit switches the hot water supply off.   wherein whenever said temperature sensor detects a temperature below a fourth predetermined temperature set point, the electronic control unit switches the cold water supply off.   
   
   
       18 . A method for conserving water in a showering environment having a water supply, a showerhead, an activation detector, a water valve capable of being opened and closed wherein, when the water valve is opened, water flow between the water supply and the showerhead is permitted, otherwise, waterflow to the showerhead is blocked, a temperature sensor capable of detecting when the temperature of water between the water supply and the showerhead reaches or exceeds a given threshold, a person detector capable of predicting when person is correctly positioned in said showering environment comprising the steps of:
 step 1. if the water valve is opened, close the water valve,   step 2. if the activation detector fails to detect an activation event, repeat this step until the activation detector detects an activation event,   step 3. open the water valve,   step 4. if said temperature sensor detects that the water flow between the water supply and the showerhead has exceeded a first threshold, proceed to next step, otherwise, repeat this step,   step 5. if the person detector predicts a person is correctly positioned in the showering environment, open the water valve, otherwise close the water valve,   step 6. proceed to step 5.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further including a step 5b, inserted between steps 5 and 6, that reads as follows:
 5b. if a terminating event is detected, then close the water valve if not already closed, and proceed to step 1.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein step 4 further enhanced to read as follows:
 step 4. if said temperature sensor detects that the water flow between the water supply and the showerhead has exceeded said first threshold, proceed to next step, otherwise, measure the time that has elapsed since step 4 was initially executed, and if the elapsed time exceeds a second threshold, proceed to step 1, otherwise. repeat this step.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the activating event is at least one of the following events: (water temperature exceeding a third threshold, a button being pushed). 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the terminating event is at least one of the following events: (water temperature falling outside a specifed range, the time the water valve is opened exceeding a fourth threshold, the time that water valve is closed exceeding a fifth threshold). 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the terminating event is at least one of the following events: (water temperature falling outside a specifed range, the time the water valve is opened exceeding a fourth threshold, the time that water valve is closed exceeding a fifth threshold). 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the activating event is at least one of the following events: (water temperature exceeding a third threshold, a button being pushed). 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the terminating event is at least one of the following events: (water temperature falling outside a specifed range, the time the water valve is opened exceeding a fourth threshold, the time that water valve is closed exceeding a fifth threshold). 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the terminating event is at least one of the following events: (water temperature falling outside a specifed range, the time the water valve is opened exceeding a fourth threshold, the time that water valve is closed exceeding a fifth threshold). 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein step 4 further enhanced to read as follows:
 step 4. if said temperature sensor detects that the water flow between the water supply and the showerhead has exceeded said first threshold, proceed to next step, otherwise, measure the time that has elapsed since step 4 was initially executed, and if the elapsed time exceeds a second threshold, proceed to step 1, otherwise. repeat this step.   
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the activating event is at least one of the following events: (water temperature exceeding a third threshold, a button being pushed). 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the activating event is at least one of the following events: (water temperature exceeding a third threshold, a button being pushed).