Mirror reflection processing method for position sensitive detector device

Abstract

A mirror reflection processing method for a position sensitive detector device in intelligent bathroom products. The infrared emitter in the position sensitive detector device is provided with two infrared emitting intensity modes. The position sensitive detector device determines whether to consider that no signal is collected in current collection according to the result of comparison between the reflected infrared signal intensity received by the infrared receiver and the preset value therein, thereby overcoming the mis-operation of the position sensitive detector device when being opposite to objects with relatively high reflectivity, and making the position sensitive detector device even more widely applied.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A position sensitive device, comprising:
 an infrared sensor;   a circuit coupled to the infrared sensor, wherein the circuit causes the infrared sensor to transmit infrared light at varying intensity levels during varying periods of time, the varying levels comprising an intensity level lower than the majority of the other intensity levels, wherein the circuit uses an infrared reception measurement associated with the lower intensity level to determine whether or not to ignore the infrared reception measurement as associated with mirror interference.   
     
     
         2 . The position sensitive device of  claim 1 , wherein the circuit is configured to controllably decrease the varying intensity levels when infrared reception measurements are higher than expected. 
     
     
         3 . The position sensitive device of  claim 1 , wherein the circuit is configured to controllably raise the varying intensity levels when the infrared reception measurements are below a threshold used to determine whether or not to ignore the infrared reception measurement as associated with mirror interference. 
     
     
         4 . The position sensitive device of  claim 1 , wherein the circuit is configured to proceed with a distance determination procedure for triggering a switch of an plumbing appliance when the circuit determines not to ignore the infrared reception measurement as associated with mirror interference. 
     
     
         5 . The position sensitive device of  claim 4 , wherein the distance determination procedure comprises causing new transmissions and bases the distance determination on returns associated with the new transmissions. 
     
     
         6 . The position sensitive device of  claim 5 , wherein the distance determination procedure comprises combining return values associated with the new transmissions and to compare the combined return values with a threshold to determine whether or not to activate a plumbing device in communication with the position sensitive device. 
     
     
         7 . The position sensitive device of  claim 6 , wherein combining the return values comprising calculating an average. 
     
     
         8 . The position sensitive device of  claim 1 , wherein the infrared reception measurement associated with the lower intensity level is not used to determine distance or to determine when to activate a plumbing device. 
     
     
         9 . The position sensitive device of  claim 1 , wherein the varying intensity levels comprise at least four intensity levels. 
     
     
         10 . The position sensitive device of  claim 1 , wherein the circuit is configured to repeatedly ignore infrared receptions until the intensity of the reception is below a preset value associated with mirror interference. 
     
     
         11 . A method for use by a position sensitive device, comprising:
 ignoring infrared transmissions by the position sensitive device until the intensity level is increased from a lower level and the return intensity falls below a value associated with mirror interference;   conducting at least two infrared transmissions which are not ignored;   activating a plumbing device in response to a distance detection conducted using the at least two infrared transmissions not ignored.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 varying the intensity of transmission such that the intensity of transmission is lowered to a minimum level while mirror interference is estimated to occur.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 increasing the intensity of transmission when an infrared return is below a threshold set as associated with mirror interference.   
     
     
         14 . A method for use by a position sensitive device which uses infrared light or another type of light, comprising:
 transmitting infrared light at varying intensity levels during varying periods of time, the varying levels comprising an intensity level lower than the majority of the other intensity levels;   using an infrared reception measurement associated with the lower intensity level to determine whether or not to ignore the infrared reception measurement as associated with mirror interference.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 controllably decreasing the varying intensity levels when infrared reception measurements are higher than expected.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 controllably raising the varying intensity levels when the infrared reception measurements are below a threshold used to determine whether or not to ignore the infrared reception measurement as associated with mirror interference.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 proceeding with a distance determination procedure for triggering a switch of an plumbing appliance in response to a determination not to ignore the infrared reception measurement as associated with mirror interference.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the distance determination procedure comprises causing new transmissions and bases the distance determination on returns associated with the new transmissions. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the distance determination procedure comprises combining return values associated with the new transmissions and to compare the combined return values with a threshold to determine whether or not to activate a plumbing device in communication with the position sensitive device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the infrared reception measurement associated with the lower intensity level is not used to determine distance or to determine when to activate a plumbing device, wherein the circuit is configured to repeatedly ignore infrared receptions until the intensity of the reception is below a preset value associated with mirror interference.