Patent Abstract:
A solar auto-sensing outlet valve without a use of batteries and adapted circuit structure thereof comprises at least one solar board and an outlet valve body. The solar board is disposed near a light source for converting light into electricity and is electrically connected with the outlet valve body via a guiding line, facilitating to a normal operation of a sensor and an electromagnetic valve inside the outlet valve body. For the outlet valve body, the use of batteries or an electrical connection with any commercial powers is unnecessary for reducing the energy consumption and environmental sufferings.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to a structure of an auto-sensing outlet valve, more particularly to a solar auto-sensing outlet valve and its relevant circuit structure. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Along with the gradual development of society and the increasing concern about the environmental protection, numbers of daily auto-flushing apparatus have been recently developed on the market and installed in the bathroom for users to automatically flush the toilet after using and for saving the water. With regard to a common flushing apparatus, it needs to connect with a power source to keep the interior controlling system operating, so the operation of the apparatus always relies on an electrical communication with batteries or other commercial powers. Whereas, the flushing apparatus cannot work when the power is shutdown or the batteries are in low charge, which even causes a smelly environment and increases the difficulty in cleaning. Further, the replacement of batteries and the use of commercial powers are detrimental to the energy saving and environmental protection, thus requiring improvements. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a solar auto-sensing outlet valve without using batteries and its adapted circuit structure. 
         [0006]    The solar auto-sensing outlet valve without the use of batteries in accordance with the present invention mainly comprises an outlet valve body and at least one solar board. The outlet valve body further includes a sensor and an electromagnetic valve. The sensor serves to detect whether users are going nearby and send a corresponding message to the electromagnetic valve for triggering the action of the electromagnetic valve, so as to render the outlet valve body able to automatically output and stop outputting water. The solar board is disposed to separate from the outlet valve body and arranged in the vicinity of a light source. Further, the solar board is electrically connected with the sensor and the electromagnetic valve of the outlet valve body via a guiding line, and said solar board is able to combine with a plurality of other solar boards for satisfying demands. 
         [0007]    The circuit structure adapted to the solar auto-sensing outlet valve without the use of batteries comprises a solar circuit, a microcomputer unit, a voltage determining unit, an object-sensing circuit, and an electromagnetic valve driving circuit. The solar circuit includes at least one solar board, which is able to combine with a plurality of other solar boards for satisfying demands. The microcomputer unit is electrically connected with the solar circuit and comprises a basic circuit and an electronic element for controlling a normal operation of the auto-sensing outlet valve. The voltage determining unit is arranged between the solar circuit and the microcomputer unit and is respectively in an electrical connection with the solar circuit and the microcomputer unit. The object-sensing circuit is electrically connected with the microcomputer unit to detect an approach of an object, accordingly create a message responding thereto, and send the message to the microcomputer unit. The electromagnetic valve driving circuit is also electrically connected with the microcomputer unit to receive an instruction command from the microcomputer unit so as to control the electromagnetic valve to execute an on-off action. From above, the voltage determining unit is able to detect whether a voltage of the solar board is full enough to drive the object-sensing circuit and the electromagnetic valve driving circuit for the auto-sensing outlet valve to maintain a normal operation. 
         [0008]    By electrically connecting the solar board in the vicinity of the light source with the auto-sensing outlet valve via the guiding line, the electricity created by the solar board facilitates a normal operation of the auto-sensing outlet valve, so that the use of auto-sensing outlet valve attains effects of energy saving and environmental protection. 
         [0009]    The advantages of the present invention over the known prior arts would become more apparent to those of ordinary skilled in the art by reading the following descriptions with the relating drawing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a diagram chart showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view showing the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a circuit diagram showing the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart showing the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0014]    Refer to  FIGS. 1 and 2  showing a solar auto-sensing outlet valve in accordance with the present invention. The outlet valve applied to a faucet product is described hereto. The solar auto-sensing outlet valve mainly comprises: 
         [0015]    An outlet valve body  10  has a water inlet  11  and a water outlet  12  disposed at two ends thereof. An interior of the outlet valve body  10  includes a sensor  13  and an electromagnetic valve  14  disposed therein. The sensor  13  serves to detect if users are going nearby and accordingly send a corresponding message to the electromagnetic valve  14  for triggering the electromagnetic valve  14  to work, so that the outlet valve body  10  is able to automatically outlet and stop outputting water. 
         [0016]    At least one solar board  20  is separately disposed from the outlet valve body  10  and disposed in the vicinity of a light source for converting light into electricity. The solar board  20  is electrically connected to the sensor  13  and the electromagnetic valve  14  of the outlet valve body  10  via a guiding line, and an electric plug  21  and an electric socket  22  are respectively and relatively disposed at two sides of the solar board  20 , whereby the user can connect two adjacent solar boards  20  together by relatively plugging the electric plug  21  in the adjacent electric socket  22  for satisfying user&#39;s demands. Herein, the solar boards  20  are in parallel connection as illustrated. 
         [0017]    A full-charge displaying unit  90 , as an LED light, is disposed between the solar board  20  and the outlet valve body  10  and respectively in an electrical connection therewith. The displaying unit  90  is applied to recognize whether a voltage of the solar board  20  is full enough to drive the sensor  13  and the electromagnetic valve  14  of the outlet valve body  10 , so as to maintain a normal operation of the auto-sensing outlet valve. 
         [0018]    Refer to  FIG. 3  showing a circuit diagram adapted to the present solar auto-sensing outlet valve, which comprising: 
         [0019]    A solar circuit  30  includes at least one solar board  20  capable of converting the light absorbed by the solar board  20  into electricity. The solar board  20  is able to combine with a plurality of other solar boards  20  for satisfying demands. 
         [0020]    A capacitor  40  is electrically connected with the solar circuit  30  to store the electricity created by the solar circuit  30  and provide the solar auto-sensing outlet valve with electricity for keeping a normal operation. 
         [0021]    A microcomputer unit  50  is electrically connected with the solar circuit  30  for controlling an operation of the whole circuit of the solar auto-sensing outlet valve. 
         [0022]    A voltage determining unit  60  is arranged between the solar circuit  30  and the microcomputer unit  50  and respectively in an electrical connection therewith. The voltage determining unit  60  comprises a first node V 1  and a second node V 2 . The first node V 1  is applied to detect a voltage value of the solar circuit  30  and decide whether the light source is on or off. The second node V 2  is applied to detect the capacitor  40  where the main power is temporarily stored and decide the quantity of electricity of the capacitor  40 . When the microcomputer unit  50  receives that the voltage values of the first node V 1  and the second node V 2  reach a predetermined voltage threshold, respectively, the microcomputer unit  50  thence controls the whole circuit operation of the auto-sensing outlet valve. In the preferred embodiment, the predetermined voltage threshold for the first node V 1  is 5.5 VL, and the predetermined voltage threshold for the second node V 2  is 7 VH. 
         [0023]    An object-sensing circuit  70  is electrically connected with the microcomputer unit  50  to detect and create a message responding to an approach of an object and send the message to the microcomputer unit  50 . 
         [0024]    An electromagnetic valve driving circuit  80  is electrically connected with the microcomputer unit  50  to receive an instruction command from the microcomputer unit  50  so as to control the electromagnetic valve  14  to execute an on-off action. 
         [0025]    A full-charge displaying unit  90  is electrically connected with the microcomputer unit  50 , so that the full-charge displaying unit  90  flashes when the microcomputer unit  50  detects that the voltage determining unit  60  reaches the predetermined voltage threshold. In the preferred embodiment, the full-charge displaying unit  90  is an LED light. 
         [0026]    A stabilizing circuit  100  is electrically disposed between the microcomputer unit  50  and the voltage determining unit  60 , so that the stabilizing circuit  100  is able to keep the voltage converted by the solar circuit  30  firm. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , when the solar board  20  gets ready, the solar circuit  30  begins to convert the light into electricity, increase the voltage thereof, and at the same time charge the capacitor  40 . Then, when the microcomputer unit  50  detects that both the first node V 1  and the second node V 2  of the voltage determining unit  60  reach the predetermined voltage threshold, the full-charge displaying unit  90  flashes once. Whereas, if the voltage of the voltage determining unit  60  still fails to reach the threshold as predetermined, the addition of solar boards  20  can be considered for causing the solar circuit  30  to generate sufficient voltage. Further, when the voltages of the first node V 1  and the second node V 2  are enough, the microcomputer unit  50  then generates an active command P 1  to the object-sensing circuit  70  for the user to influence. The object-sensing circuit  70  promptly generates a sensing message P 2  responding to the approach of the human body and sends the message back to the microcomputer unit  50 . When the microcomputer unit  50  receives the sensing message P 2 , the microcomputer unit  50  accordingly decides whether or not to drive the electromagnetic valve driving circuit  80  and further control the electromagnetic valve  14  to execute an on-off action. It is noted that the microcomputer unit  50  can make deciding instructions relative to the voltage of the voltage determining unit  60 . In the preferred embodiment, the microcomputer unit  50  has five modes. The first mode: when the voltage of the first node V 1  exceeds 5.5 VL, the outer light source is judged to be lasted on for allowing the solar circuit  30  to keep converting light into electricity, and the microcomputer unit  50  thence delivers the instruction command for leading to the object-sensing circuit  70  executing to sense the object without interruption. The second mode: when the voltage of the first node V 1  is lower than 5.5 VL, the outer light source is judged to be off and the solar circuit  30  stops operating, and the microcomputer unit  50  then sends the command for causing the object-sensing circuit  70  stop sensing the human body so as to reduce the power consumption. The third mode: when the voltage of the second node V 2  exceeds 7 VH, the capacitor  40  is judged full and the microcomputer unit  50  begins to send the command to cause the electromagnetic valve  14  to normally execute an on-off operation. The fourth mode: when the voltage of the second node V 2  is between 5.5 VL and 7 VH, the capacitor  40  is judged to be able to temporarily supply electricity but on the verge of insufficient electricity, and the microcomputer unit  50  then sends the instruction command to allow the electromagnetic valve  14  to proceed turning off the water but forbid the valve to turn on the water. Such command prevents the situation that the capacitor  40  is not full enough to provide the electromagnetic valve  14  with sufficient electricity to proceed the off operation after the electromagnetic valve  14  is on. The fifth mode: when the second node V 2  is lower than 5.5 VL, the capacitor  40  is judged insufficient and unable to supply the electromagnetic valve  14  with enough electricity. In this manner, the operation of the electromagnetic valve  14  becomes lagged or inactive. To prevent the problem that the electromagnetic valve  14  cannot execute the off operation as a result of insufficient electricity after the electromagnetic valve  14  is on, the microcomputer unit  50  promptly sends the instruction command to cause the electromagnetic valve  14  to immediately turn the water off once for a fail-safe setting. Accordingly, the solar auto-sensing outlet valve mainly applies the microcomputer unit to determine the voltage value, which controls the whole circuit working and further automatically keeps the operation of the solar auto-sensing outlet valve under control, so as to promote the economic effect of water saving and the using convenience. 
         [0028]    Refer to  FIG. 4  showing the operating steps of the present solar auto-sensing outlet valve, which comprises steps of: 
         [0000]    (S01) Keeping on standby and postponing;
 
(S02) Judging whether the voltage of the first node V 1  is larger than 5.5 VL; if yes, go to step (S03), if not, restart step (S02).
 
(S03) Judging whether the voltage of the second node V 2  is larger than 7 VH; if yes, go to step (S04), if not, restart step (S02).
 
(S04) Flashing the full-charge displaying unit  90  once and turning to step (S05).
 
(S05) Sensing objects via the object-sensing circuit  70 .
 
(S06) Checking if the object-sensing circuit  70  detects any approach of the objects; if yes, go to step (S07), if not, go to step (S08).
 
(S07) Checking whether or not the electromagnetic valve  14  is on; if yes, go to step (S11), if not, go to step (S09).
 
(S08) Checking whether or not the electromagnetic valve  14  is on; if yes, go to step (S10), if not, go to step (S11).
 
(S09) Determining if the voltage of the second node V 2  is larger than 7 VH; if yes, the electromagnetic valve  14  executes turning on the water, if not, go to step (S11).
 
(S10) Determining if the voltage of the second node V 2  is larger than 5.5 VL; if yes, the electromagnetic valve  14  executes turning off the water, if not, go to step (S11).
 
(S11) Determining if the voltage of the first node V 1  is larger than 5.5 VL; if yes, go to step (S05), if not, the object-sensing circuit  70  stops sensing and turns to step (S12).
 
(S12) Checking whether or not the electromagnetic valve  14  is on; if yes, the electromagnetic valve  14  proceeds turning off the water and turns to step (S02), if not, go to step (S02).
 
         [0029]    While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7