No-touch fluid dispenser and method of operating the same

Abstract

A fluid dispenser includes a container configured to store a fluid, a pump for placement in an interior of the container and for pumping contents of the container to an exterior of the container, a motor system for driving the pump and including a rotor for placement in the interior of the container, and a stator for placement on the exterior of the container, wherein an electric current is passed through the stator for causing rotation of the rotor.

1 . A fluid dispenser comprising:
 a container configured to store a fluid;   a pump in an interior of the container for pumping contents of the container to an exterior of the container;   a motor system for driving the pump and comprising:
 a rotor in an interior of the container; and 
 a stator exterior of the container, 
   
       wherein an electric current is passed through the stator for causing rotation of the rotor. 
     
     
         2 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap configured to be coupled to the container, wherein the pump is configured to be seated on the cap. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the cap is threadably coupled to the container. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the stator comprises at least three coils electrically coupled in a delta pattern or a star pattern. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 4 , wherein the three coils are shaped to form a ring and are configured to be driven by three half bridges in an open loop. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a processor for regulating the electric current through the stator; and   a sensor for sensing an object proximate the sensor and for sending a sensor signal to the processor.   
     
     
         7 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein the pump pumps the contents in response to the sensor signal generated by the sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein the electric current through the stator is regulated using at least one of a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal or variable frequency. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein the sensor signal is generated upon detection of a user. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to have the electric current passed through the stator upon receiving the sensor signal. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 6 , further comprising a circuit for carrying at least one of the sensor signal and the electric current through the stator. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the rotor comprises a ring magnet. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a battery for delivering the electric current to the stator. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 13 , further comprising a processor configured to regulate electric current through the stator corresponding to a voltage level of the battery. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a dispensing end fluidly coupled to the pump for dispensing the fluid pumped by the pump. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a drive shaft for coupling the pump to the rotor. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the electric current causes the stator to produce a magnetic field surrounding the rotor for causing rotation of the rotor. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the rotor comprises a plurality of magnets. 
     
     
         19 . A motor system for driving a pump for pumping contents of a container and comprising a rotor in an interior of the container, and a stator on an exterior of the container. 
     
     
         20 . A pump assembly comprising:
 a container;   a pump for pumping contents of the container; and   a motor system for driving the pump and comprising a rotor in an interior of the container for driving the pump, and a stator on an exterior of the container.   
     
     
         21 . A method of dispensing a fluid from a container, the method comprising:
 providing a magnetic field using a stator;   moving a magnet in response to the magnetic field;   driving a pump in response to the motion of the moving magnet; and   pumping the fluid from the container with the pump.   
     
     
         22 . The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the stator produces a magnetic field for rotating the stator. 
     
     
         23 . The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the stator produces an electromagnetic field and wherein the rotor comprises at least a magnet for causing the rotor to rotate due to the magnetic field produced by the stator.