System and method for touchless actuation of a toilet

Abstract

A trip lever assembly for a toilet includes a body and an infrared sensor. The body is configured to be mechanically coupled to a flush valve assembly of the toilet. The infrared sensor is coupled to the body, and is configured to be electrically coupled to the flush valve assembly. The body is configured to be manually actuated to control the flush valve assembly. The infrared sensor is a time-of-flight sensor configured to detect the distance of an object in a detection region of the infrared sensor to control the flush valve assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toilet comprising:
 a tank;   a power source within the tank;   an electrical wire connected to the power source and a light;   a light housing configured to be coupled to an upper edge of the tank; and   a light channel configured prevent compression of the electrical wire.   
     
     
         2 . The toilet of  claim 1 , wherein the light is a nightlight. 
     
     
         3 . The toilet of  claim 1 , wherein the light housing is U-shaped to fit the upper edge of the tank. 
     
     
         4 . The toilet of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a circuit board including the light and coupled the electrical wire.   
     
     
         5 . The toilet of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a processing circuit within the tank and coupled to the circuit board.   
     
     
         6 . The toilet of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a lens configured to allow light emitted by the light.   
     
     
         7 . The toilet of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a seal between the electrical wire and the lens and configured to prevent contaminants from reaching the circuit board.   
     
     
         8 . The toilet of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a touchless actuation system, wherein the light indicates a status or mode of the touchless actuation system.   
     
     
         9 . The toilet of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a flush sensor configured to generate sensor data for the touchless actuation system.   
     
     
         10 . The toilet of  claim 9 , wherein the light indicates settings of the flush sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The toilet of  claim 1 , wherein the light is concealed behind the tank. 
     
     
         12 . The toilet of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a communication interface configured to control a setting of the light.   
     
     
         13 . The toilet of  claim 12 , wherein the setting of the light includes a color, an intensity, or a lighting schedule. 
     
     
         14 . A nightlight system for a toilet, the nightlight system comprising:
 a power source within a toilet tank;   a cable connected to the power source and a light;   a light housing configured to be coupled to an upper edge of the tank; and   a light channel configured prevent compression of the cable.   
     
     
         15 . The nightlight system of  claim 14 , wherein the light housing is U-shaped to fit the upper edge of the tank. 
     
     
         16 . The nightlight system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a circuit board including the light and coupled the cable; and   a processing circuit within the toilet tank and coupled to the circuit board.   
     
     
         17 . The nightlight system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a lens configured to allow light emitted by the light; and   a seal between the cable and the lens and configured to prevent contaminants from reaching the circuit board.   
     
     
         18 . The nightlight system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a touchless actuation system, wherein the light indicates a status or mode of the touchless actuation system; and   a flush sensor configured to generate sensor data for the touchless actuation system.   
     
     
         19 . The nightlight system of  claim 18 , wherein the light indicates settings of the flush sensor. 
     
     
         20 . A nightlight system for a toilet, the nightlight system, comprising:
 a power source within a toilet tank;   an electrical wire connected to the power source and a light; and   a light housing configured to be coupled to an upper edge of the tank, wherein the light housing is U-shaped to fit the upper edge of the toilet tank.