Sensor arrangement for detecting a person in an area of use of a sanitary facility

Abstract

A method for operating a sensor arrangement for detecting a person in an area of use of a sanitary device including: a) activation a first sensor when a second sensor, which differs from the first sensor, detects the presence of at least one person in the vicinity of the sanitary device, wherein the activation establishes a previously completely interrupted power supply to the first sensor and wherein the first sensor is a ToF sensor; b) detection a distance information about the spatial distance between the person and the sanitary device by means of the first sensor, wherein a run time measurement of a signal emitted by the first sensor is performed; c) deactivation of the first sensor when the presence of a person in the vicinity of the sanitary device is no longer detected, wherein the deactivation has a complete interruption of the power supply to the first sensor.

1 . A method for operating a sensor arrangement ( 1 ) to detect a person ( 8 ) in an area of use ( 2 ) of a sanitary device ( 3 ), comprising at least the steps outlined below:
 a) activation a first sensor ( 4 ) of the sensor arrangement ( 1 ) when a second sensor ( 5 ) of the sensor arrangement ( 1 ), which differs from the first sensor ( 4 ), detects the presence of at least one person ( 8 ) in the vicinity of the sanitary device ( 3 ), wherein the activation comprises establishing a previously completely interrupted power supply to the first sensor ( 4 ) and wherein the first sensor ( 4 ) is a ToF sensor;   b) detection of at least one piece of distance information about the spatial distance between the person ( 8 ) and the sanitary device ( 3 ) by means of the first sensor ( 4 ), wherein a run time measurement of a signal emitted by the first sensor ( 4 ) is performed;   c) deactivation the first sensor ( 4 ) when the presence of at least one person ( 8 ) in the vicinity of the sanitary device ( 3 ) is no longer detected, wherein the deactivation comprises a complete interruption of the power supply to the first sensor ( 4 ).   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second sensor ( 5 ) has a lower electrical power consumption than the first sensor ( 4 ). 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor ( 4 ) is connected to an electrical energy storage device ( 7 ) of the sanitary device ( 3 ) to establish the power supply. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein for an electronic switch ( 10 ) is actuated to establish or interrupt the power supply to the first sensor ( 4 ). 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one transistor is used to form the electronic switch ( 10 ). 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the electronic switch ( 10 ) is actuated by a monitoring device ( 6 ) of the sensor arrangement ( 1 ). 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the monitoring device ( 6 ) actuates the electronic switch ( 10 ) depending on a sensor output of the second sensor ( 5 ). 
     
     
         8 . A sensor arrangement ( 1 ) for detecting a person ( 8 ) in an area of use ( 2 ) of a sanitary device ( 3 ), at least comprising:
 a first sensor ( 4 ), which is a ToF sensor, for detecting at least one piece of distance information about a spatial distance between a person ( 8 ) and the sanitary device ( 3 );   a second sensor ( 5 ), different from the first sensor ( 4 ), for detecting the presence of at least one person ( 8 ) in the vicinity of the sanitary device ( 3 );   an electronic switch ( 10 ) for establishing or interrupting a current supply from an electrical energy storage device ( 7 ) to the first sensor ( 4 );   a monitoring device ( 6 ) for actuating the electronic switch ( 10 ) depending on whether the second sensor ( 5 ) detects the presence of at least one person ( 8 ) in the vicinity of the sanitary device ( 3 ).   
     
     
         9 . The sensor arrangement ( 1 ) according to  claim 8 , set up for performing a method for operating a sensor arrangement ( 1 ) to detect a person ( 8 ) in an area of use ( 2 ) of a sanitary device ( 3 ), comprising at least the steps outlined below:
 a) activation a first sensor ( 4 ) of the sensor arrangement ( 1 ) when a second sensor ( 5 ) of the sensor arrangement ( 1 ), which differs from the first sensor ( 4 ), detects the presence of at least one person ( 8 ) in the vicinity of the sanitary device ( 3 ), wherein the activation comprises establishing a previously completely interrupted power supply to the first sensor ( 4 ) and wherein the first sensor ( 4 ) is a ToF sensor;   b) detection of at least one piece of distance information about the spatial distance between the person ( 8 ) and the sanitary device ( 3 ) by means of the first sensor ( 4 ), wherein a run time measurement of a signal emitted by the first sensor ( 4 ) is performed;   c) deactivation the first sensor ( 4 ) when the presence of at least one person ( 8 ) in the vicinity of the sanitary device ( 3 ) is no longer detected, wherein the deactivation comprises a complete interruption of the power supply to the first sensor ( 4 ).   
     
     
         10 . A sanitary device ( 3 ) having a sensor arrangement ( 1 ) according to  claim 8 .