Millimeter wave radar detection

Abstract

The present application discloses a millimeter wave radar detection. An apparatus such as a lavatory or a urinal includes a vitreous body, a water outlet, a sensor, and a control unit. The vitreous body includes a user-facing side opposite to a fixture-facing side. The water outlet is coupled to the user-facing side of the vitreous body. The sensor is coupled to the fixture-facing side of the vitreous body. The control unit is configured to receive sensor data from the microwave radar sensor and generate a command to provide water to the water outlet in response to the sensor data from the microwave radar sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a vitreous body including a user-facing side opposite to a fixture-facing side;   a water outlet coupled to the user-facing side of the vitreous body;   a microwave radar sensor coupled to the fixture-facing side of the vitreous body; and   a control unit configured to receive sensor data from the microwave radar sensor and generate a command to provide water to the water outlet in response to the sensor data from the microwave radar sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a main valve configured to selectively provide the water to the water outlet in response to the command from the control unit.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a supply valve configured to provide a safety shutoff to the main valve.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a power supply configured to provide power to the control unit and/or the microwave radar sensor.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the power supply includes a first battery for the control unit. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the power supply includes a second battery for the microwave radar sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vitreous body is integrated in a sink, and the water outlet is a faucet of the sink. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the microwave radar sensor is configured to detect movement in a target area in proximity to the faucet. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vitreous body is integrated in a urinal, and the water outlet is configured to flush the urinal. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the microwave radar sensor is configured to detect movement in a target area on the user-facing side of the urinal. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the movement is a urine stream having a duration. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the command to provide water to the water outlet has a time period proportional to the duration of the urine stream. 
     
     
         13 . A method for operation of an apparatus having a vitreous body having a fixture side and a user side, the method comprising:
 receiving sensor data from a microwave radar sensor at the fixture side of the vitreous body;   comparing the sensor data to a threshold; and   activating a water outlet on the user side of the vitreous body in response to the comparison.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 determining a duration from the sensor data, wherein the duration is compared to the threshold.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the threshold is a position threshold. 
     
     
         16 . A urinal comprising:
 a vitreous body including a bowl, a fixture-facing side, and a user-facing side opposite to the fixture-facing side;   a water outlet coupled to the user-facing side of the vitreous body;   a microwave radar sensor coupled to the fixture-facing side of the vitreous body; and   a control unit configured to receive sensor data from the microwave radar sensor and generate a command to provide water to the water outlet in response to the sensor data from the microwave radar sensor.   
     
     
         17 . The urinal of  claim 16 , wherein the water provided to the water outlet rinses the user-facing side and flushes the bowl. 
     
     
         18 . The urinal of  claim 16 , wherein the microwave radar sensor is configured to detect movement in a target area on the user-facing side of the urinal. 
     
     
         19 . The urinal of  claim 18 , wherein the movement is a urine stream having a duration. 
     
     
         20 . The urinal of  claim 18 , wherein the command to provide water to the water outlet has a time period proportional to the duration of the urine stream.