Patent ID: 6367092
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: E03D

Abstract:
A toilet having a base, a bowl having an interior and a rim, and an air exhaust system for removing air from the interior of said bowl and exhausting it in a region remote from said bowl, said air exhaust system including an air exhaust duct integral with said bowl and extending around said rim of said bowl, said air exhaust duct having an interior in communication with the interior of said bowl, ductwork communicating said air exhaust duct and said region remote from said bowl, and an electric exhaust fan motor connected to a power source through an exhaust fan motor switch, said exhaust fan motor adapted to drive an exhaust fan in communication with said ductwork;a sensing electrode located within the interior of said exhaust air duct of said bowl; and a detection and exhaust fan motor control circuit in electrical communication with said exhaust fan switch and with said sensing electrode, said detection and motor control circuit adapted to charge said sensing electrode and to detect changes in the capacitance of said sensing electrode; said detection and exhaust fan motor control circuit adapted to generate an actuating signal to said exhaust fan motor switch upon detection that the capacitance of said sensing electrode has increased to a minimum triggering level, thereby opening electrical communication between said power source and said electric exhaust fan motor; said detection and exhaust fan motor control circuit adapted to terminate said actuating signal to said fan motor switch to thereby terminate electrical communication between said power source and said electric exhaust fan motor when said minimum triggering level of capacitance of said sensing electrode is not present.