Patent ID: 7614096
Filing Date: 2009-11-10
Classification: E03C

Abstract:
1. An automatic plumbing device, comprising: a plumbing body; a first emitter oriented to yield emissions in a first region of sensitivity including an inner boundary and an outer boundary diverging from the inner boundary; a second emitter oriented to yield emissions in a second region of sensitivity that intersects the first region of sensitivity, the second region including an inner boundary and an outer boundary diverging from the inner boundary, wherein the first region of sensitivity and the second region of sensitivity overlap to form a sensitivity volume, and wherein a starting point of the sensitivity volume is defined by the intersection of the inner boundary of the first region of sensitivity and the inner boundary of the second region of sensitivity, and an end point of the sensitivity volume is defined by the intersection of the outer boundary of the first region of sensitivity and the outer boundary of the second region of sensitivity, and the first region of sensitivity and the second region of sensitivity diverge at the end point where the sensitivity volume ends; a receiver adapted to receive emitted returns from said first region of sensitivity and said second region of sensitivity and to detect an object in the sensitivity volume by comparing the emitted returns to a threshold value; and a controller in communication with said receiver and said first emitter and said second emitter, said controller operable to open a valve in response to an object detected in the sensitivity volume, and to close the valve in response to a timer or in response to no object being detected in the sensitivity volume.