Toilet System

Abstract

A tankless toilet system includes a tankless toilet and a sensor. The tankless toilet is configured to receive water from a water source. The tankless toilet includes a bowl, a first supply conduit, a rim jet, a sump, a second supply conduit, and a sump. The first supply conduit is configured to receive the water from the water source. The rim jet is fluidly coupled to the first supply conduit and configured to provide the water to the bowl. The sump is configured to receive the water from the bowl. The second supply conduit is configured to receive the water from the water source separate from the first supply conduit. The sump jet is fluidly coupled to the second supply conduit and configured to provide the water to the sump. The sensor is coupled to the tankless toilet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A control system for a toilet including a sump and a bowl, the control system comprising:
 a sensor coupled to the toilet and configured to detect a water level in a sump of the toilet; and   a controller configured to cause at least one valve to transition from a first position to a second position in response to the water level in the sump of the toilet detected by the sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one valve includes a first valve and a second valve. 
     
     
         3 . The control system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the second valve to move between a first position, where the second valve facilitates flow of the water from a sump jet to the sump, and a second position, where the second valve prohibits flow of the water from the sump jet to the sump. 
     
     
         4 . The control system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the first valve is operable between a third position, where the first valve facilitates flow of the water from a rim jet to the bowl of the toilet, and a fourth position, where the first valve prohibits flow of the water from the rim jet to the bowl. 
     
     
         5 . The control system of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to receive an input from a flush actuator operatively coupled to the control system and configured to initiate a flush cycle and cause the controller to cause the first valve to transition from the third position to the fourth position. 
     
     
         6 . The control system of  claim 2 , wherein the first valve provides water to clean an interior of the bowl of the toilet. 
     
     
         7 . The control system of  claim 2 , wherein the second valve provides water to prime a siphon in a trapway of the toilet. 
     
     
         8 . The control system of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor is an optical sensor or a float sensor associated with the sump. 
     
     
         9 . The control system of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor is a capacitance sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The control system of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to detect a first capacitance value when a first amount of the water is in the sump and a second capacitance value when a second amount of the water is in the sump. 
     
     
         11 . The control system of  claim 10 , wherein the control system is configured to cause the at least one valve to transition in response to the sensor detecting the second capacitance value. 
     
     
         12 . A method for operation of a toilet including a sump and a bowl, the method comprising:
 detecting, at a sensor associated with the sump, a water level in a sump of the toilet; and   generating, at a controller, an instruction to cause at least one valve to transition from a first position to a second position in response to the water level in the sump of the toilet detected by the sensor.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one valve includes a first valve and a second valve. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 generating, at the controller, an instruction to cause the second valve to move between a first position, where the second valve facilitates flow of the water from a sump jet to the sump, and a second position, where the second valve prohibits flow of the water from the sump jet to the sump; and   generating, at the controller, an instruction to cause the first valve is operable between a third position, where the first valve facilitates flow of the water from a rim jet to the bowl of the toilet, and a fourth position, where the first valve prohibits flow of the water from the rim jet to the bowl.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the controller, an input from a flush actuator operatively coupled to the controller; and   generating, at the controller, an instruction to initiate a flush cycle and cause the controller to cause the first valve to transition from the third position to the fourth position.   
     
     
         16 . A method of controlling a toilet, the method comprising:
 receiving a signal from a flush actuator, the signal indicating a flush cycle;   instructing a first valve to open for a first predetermined time interval to clean a bowl of the toilet;   instructing a second valve to open to clear contents of the bowl of the toilet;   detecting a change in water level in a sump of the toilet; and   determining whether the flush cycle has been completed based on the water level in the sump.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 in response to a determination that the flush cycle has not completed, determining whether or not a maximum allowable water flush volume has been reached.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 in response to the maximum allowable water flush volume being reached, instructing the second valve to close.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 in response to the maximum allowable water flush volume not being reached, instructing the second valve to remain open.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 in response to completion of the flush cycle or the maximum allowable water flush volume being reached, instruction the second valve to close and the first valve to open to refill the bowl.